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Ice Hockey Fights Back But Worcester State Ends Up On Top, 4-3
Stonehill (3-8-0, 1-4-0) 0 1 2 3
Worcester State University (6-5-0, 3-3-0) 1 2 1 4
1st - 12:34 - PP - Matthew Manning (Worcester State University)
2nd - 03:27 - Ryan James (Worcester State University)
2nd - 16:07 - Christopher Page (Stonehill)
2nd - 19:11 - Mitch Purdie (Worcester State University)
3rd - 02:27 - Jack Hall (Stonehill)
3rd - 16:49 - PP - CJ Buckingham (Worcester State University)
3rd - 17:12 - Christopher Page (Stonehill)
G: Christopher Page - 2
A: Shamus Maloney - 2
Sh: Christopher Page - 6
Sv: Billy Palmer - 26
A: 7 Players (#5, #6, #9, #10, #12, #22, #25) - 1
Sh: Mitch Purdie - 6
Sv: Aaron Callan - 23
Page scores his first and second goals of the season
Hall scores his third goal of the season and 16th of his career
WORCESTER, Massachusetts (December 11, 2018) – The Stonehill College men's ice hockey team came from behind, but three goals wasn't enough as Worcester State University topped the Skyhawks 4-3 in non-conference play Tuesday night at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.
For Stonehill, (3-8-0), Christopher Page scored two goals and Jack Hall tallied one goal, while Shamus Maloney tallied two assists, and Connor Collier, Cameron Wright, and Sean Conley chipped in one assist each. Senior goaltender Billy Palmer recorded 26 saves in the game.
Both teams took a while to get a tally on board as both teams skated around in the first minutes of the game to get the feel for the flow of the game. Late in the first period after a faceoff in the Lancers offensive zone, Worcester State was able to capitalize on the first power play of the game as Matthew Manning crashed the cage and put the first tally on the board for a 1-0 lead at 12:34 with an assist from Tim Drevitch. Skyhawks had their first power play with 22-seconds remaining in the period, and kicked off the second period with time remaining. Stonehill was only able to get three shots off during the power play as the Lancers continued pressuring the Skyhawks with a 1-0 lead.
Less than two minutes after the end of the power play in the second period, Worcester State's initial back hander from Ryan James was saved by Palmer and James was able to send a second back hander to the cage as it slid under palmer's pads at 3:27 for a two-goal lead, 2-0. The Skyhawks and Lancers began to get more and more aggressive as 5 penalties were called in the period bringing the total to eight in the game. At 16:07, Collier found Page on the left side of the cage who turned the puck around for his first goal of the season, cutting the deficit to one, 2-1. Worcester State was quick to respond as Mitch Purdie found the back of the net at 19:11 after skating down the ice with a three-on-two against the Skyhawks after passes from Manning and Evan Schieber, extending their lead back to two, 3-1.
Maloney notches two assists totaling six for the season and 12 in his career
Early in the third period, the Lancers' goaltender Aaron Callan pushed the puck behind the cage as Wright took the dish towards the right circle in their offensive zone and found Maloney at the top of the circle. Maloney sent a quick pass to Hall for a one timer at 2:27 cutting the deficit to one, 3-2. Palmer fended off the Lancer's aggressive offensive attack during the Skyhawks' fifth penalty of the game at 3:04 in the third frame. The Lancers' CJ Buckingham dished in the second power play goal of the game as he deflected the initial wrist shot from Sean Gavin at 16:49 to put Worcester State back up by two, 4-2. The Skyhawks did not give up and Stonehill pulled Palmer from the net after their timeout with 17 minutes elapsed. With the extra man on the ice, Stonehill's Page pushed in the puck at 17:12 for his second goal of the game and his ninth goal of the season, cutting the deficit to one again, 4-3. Worcester State continued to defend Stonehill's offensive attack with three minutes left and the Lancers were called for their sixth penalty of the game but time expired as they broke their three-game losing streak.
Stonehill takes a break from play before hosting Johnson & Wales University on Saturday, January 5 for non-conference play with a 5:10 p.m. puck drop before getting back to Northeast-10 Conference play for a two road games against Saint Anselm College.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
September 5, 2019 Ice Hockey Quartet Recognized by AHCA All American Scholars Program
April 5, 2019 Stonehill Presents St. Thomas Aquinas Medals at Academic Excellence Recognition Breakfast
February 16, 2019 Bryn Athyn Clips Ice Hockey in Season Finale, 6-5
February 15, 2019 Ice Hockey Falls in One-Goal Defeat to Bryn Athyn, 5-4
February 12, 2019 Franklin Pierce Fights Back Against Ice Hockey, 3-1
February 9, 2019 Southern New Hampshire Shuts Out Ice Hockey, 4-0, on Senior Night
February 8, 2019 Momentum Sends Ice Hockey Past Southern New Hampshire, 4-2
February 6, 2019 Ice Hockey Holds On Against Saint Michael’s, 3-2, Palmer Breaks NE10 Career Saves Record
February 2, 2019 Assumption Edges Ice Hockey, 5-4
February 1, 2019 Assumption Skates Past Ice Hockey, 6-2
January 29, 2019 Page Named NE10 Rookie of the Week
January 29, 2019 Ice Hockey Falls Short To Saint Anselm, 4-3
January 26, 2019 Five Goal Surge Sends Ice Hockey Past Post, 8-3
January 25, 2019 Ice Hockey Picks Up First Road Win With 4-3 Victory Over Post
January 19, 2019 Schedule Updates: As of January 19 @ 6:00 p.m.
January 19, 2019 Stonehill Skates to 3-3 OT Draw Against Saint Michael’s
January 12, 2019 Saint Anselm Gets Past Ice Hockey, 5-2
January 11, 2019 Saint Anselm Brushes Past Ice Hockey, 2-1
January 10, 2019 Varney Nominated for 2019 Hockey Humanitarian Award
January 8, 2019 Palmer Named NE10 Goaltender of the Week
January 5, 2019 Ice Hockey Downs Johnson & Wales, 6-2
December 11, 2018 Ice Hockey Fights Back But Worcester State Ends Up On Top, 4-3
December 8, 2018 Meade Lifts Ice Hockey Past Wesleyan, 4-3 (OT)
December 4, 2018 Saint Michael’s Five-Goal Surge in Third Period Tops Ice Hockey, 7-2
December 1, 2018 Ice Hockey Drops 4-3 Decision to UMass Dartmouth
November 27, 2018 Ice Hockey Shuts Out Post With 5-0 Victory
November 25, 2018 Becker Edges Ice Hockey, 2-1, in Overtime
November 24, 2018 Ice Hockey Tripped Up By Franklin Pierce, 3-1
November 20, 2018 Stonehill Receives NCAA Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence for Eighth-Straight Year
November 17, 2018 Maloney Hat Trick Propels Ice Hockey Past Franklin Pierce, 5-1
November 16, 2018 NE10 Announces Strategic Plan: Embracing Excellence
November 13, 2018 Southern N.H. Tops Ice Hockey, 4-1
November 6, 2018 Assumption Edges Ice Hockey, 4-3, in Overtime
November 3, 2018 Ice Hockey Falls in Home Opener to Plymouth State, 5-3
October 22, 2018 Men’s Ice Hockey Tabbed Fifth in NE10 Preseason Poll
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SPIRIT | Slovenia Partner Info Hot topics Slovenia Business Week no. 04/2005: Adacta, Helios and Krka Awarded for Robust Credit Ratings Print
Slovenia Business Week no. 04/2005: Adacta, Helios and Krka Awarded for Robust Credit Ratings
The three companies were selected among several thousand for which credit ratings were made
An IT solutions company, a leading chemical group and a leading pharmaceutical group have been awarded as a Slovenian and a global rating firm joined forces once again to honour companies with the best credit rating from 2004 on Tuesday, 18 January.
Presenting the 9th Rating of the Year award, Slovenian firm I and one of the leading global rating companies Dun&Bradstreet honoured IT solutions company Adacta, chemical group Helios and pharmaceutical group Krka for their credit ratings in 2004.
The aim of the award is to promote financial discipline of Slovenian companies. The award has a practical value, as the winning companies will automatically be entitled to more favourable conditions with suppliers, banks and insurance companies.
The three companies were selected among several thousand for which credit ratings were made.
The top rating of A1 means that companies have achieved and even surpassed the required criteria for a top credit rating, and are successful partners to their customers, as well as their banks and suppliers, while also being environmentally-friendly.
According to Andrej Brvar of I, there were a total of 376 companies in Slovenia, which got the top risk rating last year. This is 30 percent more than a year earlier, a sign "that businesses are operating better in spite of the tough conditions at home and on foreign markets".
According to the vice chairman of Dun&Bradstreet Europe, Christophe Favre, the Rating of the Year award demonstrates great progress in Slovenian entrepreneurship. It is the companies with the top risk rating that form the backbone of the Slovenian economy, he pointed out.
Set up in 1990, I d.o.o. is the oldest as well as the leading Slovenian rating firm. Much of its business stems from its partnership with Dun&Bradstreet. Following a D&B pattern, the rating firm each year issues a few thousand reports on Slovenian companies.
Until present, rating services have been mainly ordered by foreign companies, while an interest in this kind of information has been surging among Slovenian companies in recent years. The main subscribers to these kind of services in Slovenia are export companies, banks, insurance companies as well as the state.
Based in the United States, Dun&Bradstreet is one of the world's major firms offering independent assessments of company strength. Via the Internet, it provides information on some 80 million companies worldwide.
Last year's winners of the award were automotive parts maker Iskra Avtoelektrika, vinyl floor coverings producer Juteks and data systems solutions provider Spica International.
Source: Slovene Press Agency STA
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George Best wonder goal, San Jose Earthquakes, 1981
Beat this for close control!
By JP | Posted in Football | Comments (0)
The legendarily brave Brian Close
A tribute (after a drunken cricket conversation in a pub) to Brian Close, Yorkshire, England & Somerset cricketer, legendarily brave batsman and short leg fielder, the man who said that a cricket ball can’t hurt you “because it’s only on you for a second”.
He is also the man responsible for one of the more unusual first-class dismissals: In a game between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, Martin Young was caught at slip by Phil Sharpe after it ricocheted off Brian Close’s forehead. Close was at short-leg, and as he was hit, he shouted, “Catch it!” When his team-mates enquired what would have happened had it hit him a little lower, Close said, “H’d have been caught in t’gully.”.
And here he is in one of his finest (but cricket’s most regretful) incidents:
Michael Holding batters Brian Close, Old Trafford 1976
Close opened with the 39-year-old John Edrich. Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel, a trio of fast bowlers, pounded them for two and a half hours. It was one of the most brutal displays of fast bowling ever seen. Wisden said, “Close and Edrich defended their wickets and themselves against fast bowling, which was frequently too wild and hostile to be acceptable”. Close himself said, “It must have been the worst wicket I experienced in Test cricket. The faster the West Indians bowled the worse it got because the balls broke through the surface of the wicket. They exploded and flew at you.” With this innings of 20 runs off 108 balls in 162 minutes Close completed his Test career, under a vicious barrage, standing tall and taking the damage as he had against the West Indies at Lord’s 13 years earlier. After that, both Close and Edrich were dropped for the fourth Test. The interval between Close’s first and last Test matches was 27 years, the second-longest after Wilfred Rhodes.”
By JP | Posted in Cricket | Comments (0)
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IGR Southern League
IGR League 2019/20
UK IGR LEAGUE RULES 2019/20
IGR UK League Code of Conduct
WRU SITE
IGR is committed to ensuring that equality is incorporated across all aspects of the game in doing so, each club participating in the IGR UK League Championships are to acknowledge and adopt the following Sport England definition of sports equity:
• Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.
• The clubs and members are to respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
• The clubs and members are committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
• All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
• The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.
Fair Play Codes which help remind all of us why we enjoy being part of this great game:
A. The Good Coach’s code
B. The Good Player’s code
C. The Good Spectator’s code
D. The Good Match Official’s code
With rugby at senior level becoming so competitive and too often bringing with it a pervading culture of winning at all costs, it is vital that we do not forget the reasons why players participate in and enjoy the game of Rugby Union. The idea of “fair play” should be a constant reference point for all those people involved in the mini and youth game. To lose sight of this would be detrimental to everyone.
Clubs participating in the IGR UK League Championships agree to support the spirit behind these guidelines and the ethos that they engender within the game.
People come into Rugby Union for a variety of reasons; it is the duty of the coach to recognise this and stimulate continued participation. Coaches have a responsibility to ensure that all players are given the opportunity to fulfil their aspirations in a caring environment where the emphasis is on Fun, Enjoyment & Skill development.
In Rugby Union coaches should:
• Recognise the importance of fun and enjoyment when coaching players. Most learning is achieved through “doing.
• Appreciate the needs of the players before the needs of the sport.
• Be a positive role model – think what this implies.
• Keep winning and losing in perspective – encourage players to behave with dignity in all circumstances.
• Respect all referees and the decisions they make (remember it could be you refereeing next week) and ensure that the players recognise that they must do the same.
• Provide positive verbal feedback in a constructive and encouraging manner, to all players both during coaching sessions and games.
Players should recognise that many people in Rugby Union are working to provide a safe and enjoyable game in which they can develop both as a player and as an individual.
In Rugby Union players are encouraged to:
• Recognise and appreciate the efforts made by coaches, match officials and administrators in providing them with the opportunity to play the game and enjoy the rugby environment.
• Understand the values of loyalty and commitment to adults and team-mates.
• Recognise that every player has a right to expect their involvement in rugby to be safe and free from all types of abuse.
• Control their emotions. Verbal or physical abuse of team-mates, opponents, coaches, match officials or spectators is not acceptable.
• Remember that skill development, fun and enjoyment are the most important parts of the game.
• Play to the IRB Laws of the game and accept, without question, all referees’ decision even if they appear to make a mistake.
Rugby players are impressionable and their behaviour will often reflect around them. In Rugby Union we welcome spectators on our touchlines who embrace the ethos of the game as one of fun, enjoyment and skill development.
In Rugby Union spectators are encouraged to:
• Act as positive role models to all players.
• Never engage with any verbal or emotional abuse to any player, match official, fellow spectator or coaches.
• Respect the rugby club policy with regard to spectator behaviour.
• Acknowledge good individual and team performance from all developing players irrespective of which team they play for.
• Respect match official’s decisions. Remember, they are volunteers providing an opportunity for people to play rugby.
• Acknowledge effort and good performance rather than the “win at all costs” ethic.
• Condemn bad language, rude behaviour and violence.
• Encourage all players irrespective of their ability – never ridicule any individual player, regardless of the team they play for.
• Remember – It’s only a game!
Match officials are an integral part of the development of new players to rugby. They have a responsibility to ensure that games are managed in such a way as to ensure both the safety and enjoyment of all players. Equally, match officials should gain respect from players, coaches and spectators through the quality of their officiating.
In Rugby Union match officials should:
• Recognise the importance of fun and enjoyment when officiating development players.
• Provide positive verbal feedback in a constructive and encouraging manner during games
• Emphasise the spirit of the game.
• Appreciate the needs of the developing players before the needs of the sport.
• Understand the physical, social and psychological development of developing players.
• Be a positive role model. You set an example and, as such, comments you receive should be positive and supportive.
• Recognise that the safety of developing players is paramount.
• Explain decisions – all developing players are still learning.
• Always penalise foul play.
• Play advantage whenever possible in order to let the game flow.
• Show empathy for the ability of newer players
• Be consistent and objective.
• Ensure that verbal abuse from players, coaches or spectators is not tolerated and is dealt with by club officials immediately.
P3t3rM4rt1nAdm1n on Give it a Try – Social
Aidan Pike on Give it a Try – Social
Welcome to our new look site Dismiss
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Dreaming The Dark: Technologies of Immanence
[“Visions” by Jefferson Muncy]
“Magic is the technology/psychology of immanence, of understanding that everything is connected.”
~ Starhawk, “Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex & Politics.”
Before advertising stole our souls and scientific materialism denied its existence, dogmatic religious institutions held our souls hostage. The result has been a continually morphing and adapting form of systematic soul erasure in the Western world.
Author & activist Starhawk calls this “removing content.” She notes that it allows for power relationships in which human beings are exploited, and for a worldview that results in the exploitation of nature, because the inherent value of being has been denied.
[KingaBrit]
“I call this consciousness estrangement,” Starhawk details, “because its essence is that we do not see ourselves as part of the world. We are strangers to nature, to other human beings, to parts of ourselves. We see the world as made up of separate isolated nonliving parts that have no inherent value. Among things inherently separate and lifeless, the only power relationship possible is manipulation and domination.
“As we become separate, and are manipulated as objects, we lose our own sense of self worth, our belief in our own content, and acquiesce in our own exploitation.”(“Dreaming the Dark.”)
In this worldview emptied of spirit, a tree becomes merely timber to be measured in feet, given value only by its profitability; not its being, its beauty, or its part in the larger ecosystem.
Considering that Western society sees virtually nothing as sacred, it’s easy to see why we are poised on the brink of collective self-destruction.
[Robin Wood]
And so an effectively soulless society is created, inhabited by shells who struggle to see their own value beyond doing & having. A sense of nonreality permeates our lives. As my dear poetry mentor, Barry Spacks, once phrased it: “Waiting to arrive, we’ve been here all along.”
“We live our lives feeling powerless & inauthentic—feeling that the real people are somewhere else, that the characters on the daytime soap operas or the conversations on late-night talk shows are more real than the people and conversations in our lives; believing that the movie stars, the celebrities, the rock stars, the People Magazine-people live out the real truth and drama of our times, while we exist as shadows, and our unique lives, our losses, our passions, which cannot be counted out or measured, which were not approved, or graded, or sold to us at a discount, are not the true value of this world.”
[“Blessed Art Thou” by Kate Kretz]
Starhawk notes that estrangement permeates our society so strongly that to us it seems to be consciousness itself. Even the language for other possibilities has disappeared or been deliberately twisted.
“Yet another form of consciousness is possible. Indeed, it has existed from earliest times, underlies other cultures, and has survived even in the West in hidden streams,” Starhawk notes.
“This is the consciousness I call immanence—the awareness of the world and everything in it as alive, dynamic, interdependent, interacting and infused with moving energies: a living being, a weaving dance.”
[Victor Tongdee]
“Magic is a word that makes people uncomfortable,” notes Starhawk, “so I use it deliberately, because the words we are comfortable with, the words that sound acceptable, rational, scientific, and intellectually sound, are comfortable precisely because they are the language of estrangement.”
She details that magic can be very prosaic—a leaflet, a lawsuit. Anything that changes consciousness at will. It can also be esoteric—inner work, interacting with the cosmos at large. At its heart, magic is moving energies.
“Ironically, as estranged science and technology advance, they have begun to bring us back to a consciousness of immanence. Modern physics no longer speaks of separate, discrete atoms of dead matter, but of waves of energy, probabilities, patterns that change as they are observed; it recognizes what shamans & witches have always known: that matter & energy are not separate forces, but different forms of the same thing.”
Starhawk defines: “To say something is sacred is to say that we respect, cherish and value it for its own being.”
In a world stripped of sacredness, it is a revolutionary act to see the innate beauty and value in being—one’s own and others’—to cherish & respect, to view life with reverence. When we remove the veil of Western materialism, the world comes alive again; and anything is possible.
This paradigm shift—from viewing reality as composed of separate, isolated, nonliving parts; from seeking power-over-–must be replaced by a worldview that acknowledges the living ecosystem of our dynamic inter-connectivity, to seeking power from within.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the survival of our species depends on it. And change starts within. Like seeds, we dream in the dark earth, but inside us we hold a blueprint for blooming.
So let us feel into our own aliveness today, let us expand our attention to include our own being; let’s look for it in others, in animals and plants. The world is shot through with immanence… for those who care to see.
[Gregory Colbert, “Ashes & Snow” series.]
If you liked this post, check out:
“Beyond Division: Studies in Bliss”
“Unveiling The Mystery of The Higher Self”
“Connectivity Through Form”
Carl Marx described man as being estranged from his Gattungswesen (“species-essence”).
You are currently viewing the archives for March, 2017 at PARALLAX:.
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What is the current Job Outlook for a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics?
The job outlook for Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics is considered Average because:
1. Employment grew at an average rate.
2. Hourly wages ($20.21) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average.
3. The unemployment rate (4%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).
Career Related Questions
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Heavy-duty equipment mechanics perform some or all of the following duties: A. Heavy-duty and farm equipment... more
What education do you need to become a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics?
1. You usually need a high school diploma. 2. To gain trade certification, you usually need either a three- to... more
What is the future Job Outlook for a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics?
Your job outlook will continue to be Average because: 1. The employment growth rate will likely be close to the... more
How much does a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics make?
The average hourly wages for Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics is $20.21/HR, which is close to the average for... more
What is the currently unemployment rate for a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics"?
4% of Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional,... more
How many Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics are employed part-time?
2% of Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 49,800 workers employed in... more
How many Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics are self-employed?
Roughly 8% of Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics are self-employed. This is considered Average for the industry as a... more
What is the average age of a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics?
The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average reflecting the age/retirement structure of the occupation. more
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Our Inspiration, Our References, Our History
“Companies We Keep, Employee Ownership and the Business of Community and Place”
By John Abrams & Chelsea Green
In Abram’s follow up book he explores employee ownership and workplace democracy on a broader scale. A must-read for anyone interested in creating a sustainable company and community.
John Abrams tells a wonderful story about his journey with South Mountain Company from sole proprietorship to full employee ownership.
“Bennett’s Small House Catalog 1920”
By Ray H. Bennett Lumber Co. Inc. with 217 illustrations
In the years following World War I many homes in the Twin Cities were built from kits. Bennett’s was one of the most famous. In this republication, you will find over 56 home designs (maybe yours!) as well as plumbing, lighting fixtures, stairways etc. used during that era. A valuable reference for renovation and preservation.
“Shop Class as Soulcraft, An Inquiry Into the Value of Work”
By Matthew B. Crawford
Based on his own experiences in the trades, Crawford makes the case for the kind of work that requires mastery of real things.
“The Lead Carpenter Handbook”
By Timothy Faller
The hands-on guide for successful job site management.
Fine Homebuilding magazine is the most widely read construction magazine in the country with articles covering all aspects of residential building and remodeling.
The online resource for Green Building practices, designs, and products.
“A Carpenter’s Life, As Told By Houses”
By Larry Haun
A compelling memoir of a life building homes over 60 years.
“The Very Efficient Carpenter”
“An insider’s guide to framing efficiently.
“Journal Of Light Construction”
JLC magazine provides residential and light commercial contractors with practical job site and business advice.
“Green From The Ground-Up”
By David Johnston and Scott Gibson
A primer for sustainable, healthy, and energy efficient home construction.
“A Field Guide To American Homes”
By Virginia & Lee McAlester
This classic identifies homes and places them in their historical and architectural context. Lists architectural features typical of various styles.
By William McDonough
A sustainable approach to waste. This book has you think about the end of things- in the beginning.
“Sears, Roebuck Home Builder’s Catalog, The Complete Illustrated 1910 Edition”
By Sears, Roebuck and Co. with 8 color plates
More famous than Bennett, The Sears, Roebuck Home Builder’s Catalog is as American as apple pie. It features period home designs and kits.
“A Reverence for Wood”
By Eric Sloane
A history of the building practices and wood use in early America
“The Not So Big House- A Blue Print for The Way We Really Live”
By Sarah Susanka
Re-examines how we live in order to configure smaller, well designed homes that respect our not so big planet while honoring our habitats, families, and spirits.
https://terrafirmamn.com/about/resources
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Tag Archives: Charlie Murphy
Geeking out on GGN
Tags: Charlie Murphy, GGN, Snoop
There's more to Bobby Mickey than a big penis and wonderful smile.
I suppose growing up watching Groucho Marx and JerryLewis films will have a weird effect on you.
You start thinking about the road you’ve taken and you realize just how much the little things can afffect you in a big way.
When people aske me why or how I got started in comedy, the easiest and most direct answer is that I met a girl in San Francisco who worked as a Cocktail waittress at a comedy club.
I fell in love with her and wanted to impress her so I started going to the place she worked. Realizing I was just as funny if not funnier than the guys I was paying to watch, I decided to get on stage myself.
But that’s not the whole story.
I grew up reading comic strips Dagwood, Dilbert, Pearls for Swine, Calvin and Hobbes, Boondocks, and Foxtrot are some of my all-time faves.
As for cartoons, there was Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Loony Tunes, Pink Panther, Rocky and Bullwinkle (obviously if you’ve seen my stand up), Dudley Do Right, George of the Jungle, Yogi Bear, Boondocks, Aqua Teen, Family Guy, Simpsons, The Venture Brothers, Frisky Dingo, Stroker and Hoop…I was and still am a serious cartoon junky (hell Bobby Hill was one of my first inspirations to become a stand up), especially when i realized how much they are really for big kid/adult types.
then of course there was Beavis and Butthead, Daria, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiam. These shows helped me get in touch with my inner, dark, cynical, asshole self. Quite freeing.
When I was 13 I started watching Def Comedy Jam as a kid, Shucky Ducky, Hamburger, Dave Chappelle, Martin, Joe Torry, Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker, Eddie Murphy, and Chris Rock
were some of my first comedic influneces.
I preferred In Living Color to Saturday Night Live, and the Kids in the Hall were a weekly Sunday night treat for me.
I lvoed comic sitcoms also, Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, My Favorite Martian, Get Smart, Gomer Pyle, My Three Sons, Mr. Ed, the Munsters, The Addams Family..the list goes on and on.
I just always liked to laugh.
When Nixon died in 1993, I wrote a skit about him parodying the Jim Rome show.
When I was a junior in college, I started writing my own blog called Raving and Drooling. It was sophomoric and bratty, but occasionally I had nuggets of insight.
Most of the time I just took potshots at my ex-girlfriend and wrote crazy things like “Dear Machiavelli” or “You’re a good man Charlie Murphy.”
Around this time I started watching lots of stand up, Pryor, Rock, Redd Foxx (I was raised on Sanford and Son) and Chris Rock.
Last Comic Standing was just getting on television and I felt like I had a legitimate shot at being just as funny as any of those yahoos.
So I got up at an open mic and did jokes about shaving my pubes, ex- girlfirends and other silly mundane things….I sucked…(and almost swallowed a condom) but it was like the first time I went surfing, I realized it was something i wanted to do the rest of my life.
5 years later I’ve finally disgarded the soggy biscuit jokes and I”ve had my share of groupies (can’t turn them into girlfriends I’ve learned)
and I’ve learned a lot from touring, and performing all over
and there still isn’t a better feeling than making someone barrell over in laughter. It brings me more pleasure than giving a girl an organism err– orgasm.
But if you really want to know what got me into comedy, it was this article in playboy
20 Q’s with Jamie Foxx. He said in it “that being funny is an awesome gift to have because women love funny dudes. Even you’re not sleeping with them, they will always want to be around you because they love dudes who can make them laugh.”
I took this to heart and realized that I wanted to be funnier and to be funnier I needed to be smarter.
So I enrolled back into university and took classes, and the rest of course, is history.
Tags: Calvin and Hobbes, Charlie Murphy, Chris Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dave Chappelle, Def Comedy Jam, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Seinfeld, Venture Brothers
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Time to Kill your Legalese Darlings
Published on 18th April 2019 18th April 2019 By Laure Latham
Is it necessary to use complex language in a legal contract? As lawyers know all too well, legal documents are often wordy and complex, and legal precision gets in the way of clarity. Understandably, this legal jargon, commonly referred to as legalese, hampers the way business is done because non-lawyers find it difficult to get around the complex language. If you want to go forward with a business idea quickly, the legal ‘transcription’ should follow smoothly yet it doesn’t. Hence the need to simplify legal drafting. How do you do that? Certainly, legaltech has done a lot in terms of simplifying how contracts are drafted but that does not cover documents that need to be personalised or that are less frequent (or not yet legaltech-able). Easier than building a legal AI solution, lawyers could do something revolutionary: write in plain English.
The Historical Case for Plain English Contracts
It is important to explore the historical context of this topic and where this shift from complex to straightforward legal contracts began.
For centuries, drafters of law have loaded and compounded legal contracts with archaic and overbearing language. The movement towards promoting the use of plain legal language has been spearheaded in 2004 by David Melinkoff’s Language of the Law in which he strongly criticised complex legal language used by lawyers. By moving away from the common practice of saturating contracts with legalese, the goal is for legal proceedings and contracts to be completed at a significantly quicker rate. Agreeing with this notion is scholar Robert Eagleson who states, simple language “lets the message come through with the greatest of ease.”
In the US, this has long been a topic of discussion. In 1972, President Nixon ordered that ‘laymans’ terms be used in the federal register. President Carter also issued an executive order stipulating that government regulations should be as simple and clear as possible.’
As Shawn Burton of Harvard Business School puts it, “a contract should not take countless hours to negotiate. Business leaders should not have to call an attorney to interpret an agreement that they are expected to administer. We should live in a world where contracts are written in accessible language—where potential business partners can sit down over a short lunch without their lawyers and read, truly understand, and feel comfortable signing a contract. A world where disputes caused by ambiguity disappear.”
Where does that leave us in practice in the business world?
How GE Aviation opted for Plain English Contracts
A lot of companies, motivated by a desire to conduct business matters more efficiently, now promote their services on the premise of producing simple and straightforward legal contracts.
Take GE Aviation. When they combined their three businesses into a single Digital Solutions unit in 2014, their sales representatives were eager to drive sales, however their lengthy contracts threw off many potential customers. Customers often needed to review and sign contracts more than 100-pages long before they could start doing business.
Shawn Burton, Digital Solutions General Counsel decided to use plain language contracts and to ensure that the resulting documents were understandable, applied a litmus test. Could high school students decipher what the contract was referring to by looking at the contract alone? When they couldn’t, Burton and his team worked intensely on abbreviating unnecessarily long winded terms.
It took Burton and his team more than a month to write an initial draft from scratch without referencing the existing contracts or any other GE contract. The new contract covered the necessary legal concerns of all the digital services, thus reducing the number of contracts from seven to one. Even better, the draft was only five pages long.
How do other industries fare?
Legal UX in the Banking and Insurance Industry
The private banking industry, in particular, is guilty of using legalese to death in marketing messages to customers, sending them dense messages closely resembling product brochures. This certainly doesn’t help their business when other market players offer a simpler solution – often viewed as more transparent.
In 2018, Commonwealth Bank, the leader in Australian mobile banking, cemented its top ranking for the second year in a row in a study by Forrester Research, which evaluated the mobile apps of Australia’s big four banks. The report found that CommBank led the pack by blending “…extensive functionality with a stellar user experience.” As an example, they use visual cues beyond the standard lock iconography by displaying information about the last login on the home screen, a strategy that engages younger customers to use the app and interact with their bank more frequently.
In the insurance industry, the legalese problem is also acute as insurers are sometimes seen as trying to wriggle out of paying claims by citing language buried in the fine print of policies. Two insurers, Lemonade and Beazley, have begun issuing personalized digital policies designed for humans and lawyers alike. Available in HTML format, these policies are easier to navigate than flipping through pages of small script. Lemonade’s policy 2.0 also includes open source policy wording, enabling consumers to suggest coverage extensions and other changes.
The business results speak for themselves. In the months following the launch of Beazley’s digital policy, the company saw sales increase strongly, and was also able to sell digital policies in a number of states where they hadn’t before.
Plain English legal documents make complete business sense but there’s always room for improvement.
Comic Contracts
If plain English isn’t enough in the way of simplifying contracts, how about Comic Contracts? These are contracts represented by characters and the agreement is in fact captured in pictures. The inspiration for company founder, Robert de Rooy, was illiterate people or people who may not thoroughly understand the language that the contract was written in. Making these sorts of contracts transparent and accessible for most people benefit all parties and can prevent misunderstandings.
What’s next – emoji contracts?
Helping you Kill your Legalese Darlings
To conclude, long and drawn out contracts may soon be a thing of the past. Individuals and businesses are finding alternative ways of condensing the terms of their contracts by making them more straightforward and easier to get through.
To find inspiration, head over to Twitter where Ken Adams and Bryan A. Garner share their pet peeves.
Happy drafting and remember that as always, less is more.
Tagged with: business, Contracts, Lawyer, Legal Drafting
Laure Latham
Laure Latham is editor of The Attic and a former lawyer specialised in corporate tax at Clifford Chance. She regularly reports of current legal topics, whether on diversity in the legal profession or on legaltech or legal pop culture. She is also a blogger and journalist on the outdoors and health, as well as the author of a hiking guidebook and of an art history biography.
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Common and Nas Spit ‘Ghetto Dreams’ on New Single
jpistudios.com | Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards
Back on the scene with a new recording home at Warner Brothers, a new album produced by No I.D. and an entire conservative party outraged at his poetry, Common has returned spitting some of his hardest rhymes in over a decade with his new single 'Ghetto Dreams.'
The Chicago MC kicks an ode to the hood over the No I.D. banger, replete with a scratched chorus and verse by Nas, who leaked the song on Twitter over the weekend.
"I decided to write about ghetto dreams just in a way that was raw," Common told MTV, of his inspiration for the song. "I almost approached it like I was a character because I don't smoke cigarettes and blah, blah, blah. But I still was talking abut those things 'cause it's like, if I step in the shoes of myself and my other friends and people that just dream about higher things coming from a tougher place. I told it in respect to the relationship I got with my lady, it's ill. It's not a love song or none of that; it's just raw. It's ill lyrics man, I'm telling you."
Calling on No I.D. -- the revered Chicago producer, who previously crafted Com's 1994 classic LP 'Resurrection' -- to produce the entirety of 'The Dreamer, The Believer,' was a long-overdue move for Common. While the music marks a return to form for the MC and his longtime collaborator, the artwork is a throwback as well, depicting a skinny young Common and Nas, in a photograph from a video shoot in the mid '90s.
"We was at a Fat Joe video, I think," Common said of the shot. "Two young MCs, young dudes, just real young cats, one from Chicago, one from Queens that just ended up reconnecting and connecting and always being cool. I ain't going to say 'reconnected,' 'cause every time me and Nas always would chop it up, I felt like we was two musicians that really just loved and respected each other, two voices that really mean something to the culture and respect the culture. So, we always had on a personal level just a respect for each other."
Common's highly anticipated ninth album 'The Dreamer, The Believer,' will be in stores this fall.
Listen to Common and Nas' 'Ghetto Dreams'
Follow @theboombox on Twitter | Like the BoomBox on Facebook
Download Common Songs | Buy Common Albums
Filed Under: Common, ghetto dreams, GhettoDreams, Nas, No I.D., NoI.d., single, song
Categories: Hip-Hop, Songs
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Medical journals retracting more research
You may trust what your doctors tell you, but studies show they might be working off bad information.
Physicians and researchers share breakthroughs in medical science and treatments in journals. Sometimes, however, these publications have to retract stories when they turn out to be wrong. The number or retractions is going up according to a Wall Street Journal investigation conducted by Thomson Reuters. It says there were only 22 retractions in 2001, but 339 last year – a fifteenfold increase.
John Budd’s research also shows an increase over time. He’s a professor at the University of Missouri who spent years studying why publications are retracted. He found that between 1997 and 2008, 47% of the articles were pulled because of "misconduct or presumed misconduct." Errors accounted for 25 %; 21% were taken down because the authors could not get the same results consistently. The remaining 7% were unclassified.
Budd says errors such as an accidentally contaminated tissue sample can be understandable - “it is just the way human beings are” –but the misconduct and fraud "is harder to understand.” Budd’s research suggests it’s “almost certain that some people are motivated by the need or desire to advance.” Publication in a major medical journal can help a researcher’s career and lead to promotions or funding for additional research.
"A single paper in Lancet and you get your chair and you get your money. It's your passport to success," Richard Horton, editor of that journal, told the Wall Street Journal.
The number of retractions is small compared with the overall amount of research published, but it can have a big impact.
For example, a British study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in 1998 reported that autism was linked to childhood vaccines. The paper led to some parents not vaccinating their children for measles, mumps and rubella. In January 2011 the journal BMJ retracted Wakefield's study, calling it an "elaborate fraud." Fiona Godlee, BMJ's editor-in-chief, told CNN it was a “deliberate attempt to create an impression that there was a link by falsifying the data.” Wakefield has defended the research.
In 2005, the journal Science published an article by South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk who claimed to have cloned human embryonic stem cells. A year later the journal retracted it saying "data presented in both papers is fabricated." Woo later admitted to faking his findings saying, "It is true that the research papers had fabricated data, and I will take full responsibility. I acknowledge this and apologize."
When retractions happen journals publish notices, and on their websites many indicate in red type that the published report has been retracted. Since the initial publication, however, other authors may have based their research or cited parts of their studies on the now retracted study. Budd finds that most troubling. His research shows only 5% of the citations for works retracted in 1999 acknowledged the cited work had been retracted.
There are several ways you can be an empowered patient and protect yourself against treatment based on error and misconduct in medical journals.
– Review your own research. Budd recommends searching online libraries for research relevant to your health care that may be retracted. The website RetractionWatch also monitors studies that have been pulled.
– Remember that new treatments are not always necessarily the best.
– Keep following up with your doctor to make sure any treatment that you are on is still the best.
Follow CNNHealth on Twitter
Post by: Aaron Cooper - CNN Media Producer
Filed under: Drug Safety • Empowered Patient
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I know of one Princeton guy who made a career out of libelously misquoting research that was obsolete 40 years ago. Nobody cared to check his references. Once this stuff is published it stays out there a long long long time.
So Mr. smarty pants, sensationalism at it's best, what percentage of treatments have been influence by retracted papers? I would be surprised if a single medical treatment can be traced to a retracted paper. Also works are published based on the merit of their data, so just the act of siting a retracted paper does not mean their data is null. It is one thing for an individual to draw conclusions based on a retracted paper but quite another to assume the medical community would be so flippant. Even when a sound paper changes the norm, such as the recent breast cancer testing age paper, doctors err on the side of caution.
retractions are a big deal
Jim, did you read the article at all? The 1998 paper supposedly linking autism with childhood vaccines has sparked a major trend in parents choosing not to vaccinate their children for all those years. Epidemics of measles and mumps have appeared throughout the USA and spread directly as a result of so many unvaccinated kids. That article (now retracted) spurred a major clusterf-ck among foolish parents choosing to not protect their kids. I'd say that's a huge impact.
I know of a prostate cancer paper that many people in the field agree needs to be retracted because the results can't be repeated and it concludes the very opposite of what is now known about those conditions. I've had reviewers of failed grants cite that paper as why a proposal should NOT be funded when the proposed work is excellent and the paper cited is wrong. That is BAD! That stops good research from being funded. It's a big deal and it needs to be handled.
Don't take Jim seriously. No potential employer would. If his resume has even half the grammatical and spelling errors as his comment, it would go directly to the circular file.
I love the suggestion-"review your own research." As a researcher I sometimes have trouble grasping some papers and I have been actively doing research for years. The author expects the public to be able to go though the literature and make conclusions on the science? And 339 papers retracted out of the estimated 1.4 million published is not bad in my book. And like Jim said retracted data does not even make it to the clinic becasue it has to be repeated by so many people. Bad data does influence research direction and control future hypothesises but it does not make future data bad, just may influence how it is interperted. But then again thats what a hypothesis is, an educated guess there is always the posibility that you think A =B and you show this. But A may = B only when C is present, but this does not mean the hypothesis is incorrect.
What do you expect from Elizabeth Cohen? Her primary goal is to create fear and distrust among patients.
Tl-90, Thallium is number 81. Is Tl-90 a calculator?
Remember that less scrupulous scientists will carefully study published data and when they base experiments around that expected set of outcomes, they may try to force their own data to fit the expected published data. I've seen it happen. I have also seen more junior people try to replicate published results and not be able to and lose the confidence of their mentor. That is VERY bad if the junior scientist did everything correctly and multiple times. Many people believe that if it's published, the paper is right and your data must be wrong. We must all keep an open mind and sometimes question whether the published values represent what their authors claim.
Xondra
The public is, of course, stupid. There isn't a single person outside of the medical community who can understand research or statements such as "this paper has been retracted because the author falsified data". Of course not. Everyone but some guy who got a diploma in medicine because he wanted the fame and the money is stupid, everyone but that money-hungry guy.
It wouldn't surprise me if most of those retracted papers are coming out of China. Their level of academic integrity is next to nil. I don't think they even have a word for plagiarism.
"What percentage of treatments have been influence by retracted papers?" (sic)
Wakefield's retracted paper has singlehandedly caused massive issues with vaccines in industrialized countries, created pockets of painful (and sometimes deadly) outbreaks of previously controlled childhood diseases, and sent autism research on a wild goose chase after vaccines for a decade. That's a lot of damage. Granted, it may be a rare case, but bad research can have a huge impact on the health of all of us, not just a single person.
Barney Bishop
It is ironic that in writing an article/report that questions the integrity of scientific publications the authors themselves have cherry-picked their statistics and not properly analyzed or worse yet are intentionally misrepresenting their data by not putting the number of retracted publications in the proper context, being the total number of scientific publications for the years in question and trends in the growth in the number of publications over the same period. Also, the authors fail to give appropriate credit to the fact that the reported errors and falsifications were likely identified by other scientists in the field. Suggesting that scientific papers really have two or more layers of review... through peer review at the time of publication, and later by peers in the field trying to reproduce or build upon the published science. The authors also make me question their familiarity with scientific writing when the refer to scientific papers and "articles".
This smacks of a poorly researched and biased article intended to cause fear and distrust of scientific research in order to sell Ms Cohen's book. If only "articles" like these were peer reviewed, perhaps they would be more accurate and honest in their analysis.
thomas englemuff
So, E cohen has 0 published scientific papers and she has a B.A. in History so just wondering how she is quaified to make all of these terribly wrong conclusions...back to history cohen, back to history
The medical journals have the best studies money can buy. If the funding for the study depends on getting the right answer then you are dealing with propaganda, not science. If there was an advisory board that would do blind funding for research the results would carry more weight. That is the people doing the research study would not know who funded it and would not know the answers they are expected to find. If a funding organization is not willing to submit their project to such requirements they are announcing that they only want a predetermined result and are not really interested in science. The problem is that if funding organizations were exposed to valid research many research groups wold be out of business overnight.
Doctors and patients shouldn't be making medical decisions based on single studies– ever.
Scientific research is supposed to slowly guide medicine towards better patient care... it's not meant to direct specialties on a month-by-month basis. If your doctor is making major deviations from standards of care (e.g, by recommending your child not be vaccinated) you have bigger problems than worrying about whether or not the study he's citing is valid. No scientific paper is entirely true, and no paper ever makes the final remark on a subject. It takes years of peer-reviewed research to produce long-term, major changes in theories and how we care for patients. It really shouldn't matter if certain papers are retracted or not because no research or policy should ever be constructed off a single study.
Our failure as a country to grasp this isn't because the public is stupid, it's because scientists are lousy communicators, reporters are scientifically illiterate, and because neither the public nor the media seems to understand that physicians are NOT scientists... They aren't trained to interpret data, studies or conduct research; they have a 4 year degree largely dedicated to honing technical skills, which differs sharply from a graduate education where the focus is on conducting and interpreting research properly and appropriately.
Trish Groves
Just a quick note to point out that the paper discussed in the above blog was published in (and this year retracted by) the Lancet:
Wakefield AJ, Murch SH, Anthony A, Linnell, Casson DM, Malik M, et al. Ileal lymphoid nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children [retracted]. Lancet1998;351:637-41.
The BMJ is a separate medical journal which published an investigation into the integrity of the Wakefiled et al study and publications.
(I'm deputy editor, BMJ)
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The 10 Best Brunches In Midtown, Sacramento
The center of Sacramento’s art, music, and cultural scene, Midtown, is one of the city’s most diverse communities and home to numerous boutiques, bars, clubs, upscale, and casual dining. Its brunch options include everything from hipster cafés to old school diners to trendy bar brunches. No matter what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find something you’ll love among our picks for the best breakfasts and brunches in Midtown Sacramento.
© Janice Marie Foote/Flickr
Old Soul Co.
A boutique coffee roaster and baker, Old Soul Co. is dedicated to the artisanal aspects of its chosen trades, preferring good old fashioned craftsmanship and letting the products do the talking over gimmicky marketing and celebrity chefs. Originally a wholesale only business, the company eventually began selling to the public in late 2006 as a sort of ‘speakeasy’ with no set business hours and a pewter jar that served as the cash register. Today, Old Soul has turned into a popular café and event space, making everything from scratch seven days a week. Popular breakfast items include the chocolate and the almond croissants, the quiches, and the English muffin with farm fresh egg, cheese, and grilled veggies. The lattes with beautiful foam art are also well loved by the café’s patrons. With both indoor and outdoor tables, comfy couches, an open kitchen, rotating art work, and friendly staff who get everyone’s morning off to a great start with smiles and warm greetings, Old Soul is the perfect place for people to relax, study, or hang out with friends.
Address & telephone number: 1716 L St, Sacramento, CA, USA, +1 916 443 7685
© Larry Conlin/Flickr
Magpie Café
Janel Inouye and Ed Rohr began Magpie as a catering company in 2005, and since then, it has grown into a popular spot for delicious food and cocktails that incorporate seasonal and local ingredients. Patrons love the chicken and waffles with fruit and honey and the biscuits and gravy topped with bacon and eggs for breakfast, as well as the smoked trout omelette and the two egg plate with bacon that includes organic eggs, yummy potatoes, and fresh vegetables. The large interior with contemporary decor and the spacious outdoor patio that opens up directly to the street corner are both perfect for accommodating the the crowds of people who love to dine at the café, and the excellent service makes every experience a great one. People also rave about the carrot cake cookies, the summer skillet, and the French toast with fresh fig, strawberry, and peach. They even serve amazing coffee from the local Chocolate Fish Coffee roaster.
Address & telephone number: 1601 16th St, Sacramento, CA, USA, +1 916 452 7594
© bionicgrrrl/Flickr
The Golden Bear
Bar, Restaurant, American
The Golden Bear, Sacramento | © Larry Miller/Flickr
The Golden Bear is Sacramento’s friendly midtown bar, serving up great cocktails and draught beers as well as one of the best Happy Hour menus in town, in addition to weekly lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. A great place to go on weekend mornings if you’re in the mood for bottomless mimosas or a tasty Bloody Mary, The Golden Bear is a nice casual spot with a comfortable outdoor patio and quick, attentive, and entertaining service. Patrons are fans of the unique breakfast items like chilaquiles, breakfast tacos, a Juicy Lucy burger, Greek strata, and breakfast pizza. Lemon and berry french toast, comprised of perfectly battered bread with a hint of lemon zest and served with fresh berries and whipped cream, and braised chicken hash served with an over easy egg are other favorite choices, and they even make great breakfast burritos and an eggs and bacon plate. Everything comes beautifully presented and with all of the best ingredients, making The Golden Bear easily stand out from many of the other brunch places in town.
2326 K Street, Midtown, Sacramento, California, 95816, USA
© Larry Miller/Flickr
The Porch Restaurant And Bar
Bar, Restaurant, South American, $$$
The Porch Restaurant & Bar, Sacramento | © Cam Evans/Flickr
Since its establishment in 2012, The Porch Restaurant and Bar has paid homage to the South Carolina coast by creating an ambience that captures the essence of Southern charm and elegance as well as a menu that reflects the artful comfort and distinctive flavor of Low country cuisine. Located in the heart of Sacramento, The Porch offers a California approach to authentic Southern dishes with a menu that changes daily featuring the finest local, seasonal, and organic ingredients. All of the food is made from scratch and inspired by Low country, Cajun, Creole, and other Southern regional classics. Because they care about sustainability and protecting the environment, the restaurant uses bio-degradable and eco-friendly products, fruits, vegetables, and grains provided by local farmers, as well as heritage breeds of pork, grass-fed beef, organic farmed seafood, and free range chicken. Customers love ordering the brunch items like Brisket and Biscuit Eggs Benedict, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, crab cake Benedict, vegan pumpkin waffles, and beignets.
© Cam Evans/Flickr
Crepeville
Restaurant, French, Canadian
Crepeville, L Street | © C.M. Keiner/Flickr
A family owned restaurant established in 1990, Crepeville got its starts in San Francisco under a different name, and when several other Bay Area locations opened to great success, the family moved to Sacramento, opening Crepeville restaurants in Davis, Sacramento Midtown, and Sacramento Curtis Park. The Crepeville family of restaurants is committed to providing a unique menu of fresh, delicious, and healthy alternatives to fast food at reasonable prices, with friendly and professional service and a relaxed atmosphere. Midtown residents have loved the restaurant for years, thanks to its vast selection of crepes, omelettes, bagels, salads, sandwiches, soups, pastas, and burgers, all at affordable prices. An inviting interior complete with chalkboard menus, several tables that wrap around to the side and rear of the building, and a spacious outdoor seating area perfect for enjoying nice weather give the restaurant an ideal atmosphere for friend and family gatherings. Menu highlights include the Canadian Benedict, the strawberry and Nutella crepe, the fried egg sandwich, and the Hawaiian crepe with cheese, ham, pineapple, and brown sugar.
1730 L Street, Midtown, Sacramento, California, 95814, USA
© C.M. Keiner/Flickr
Lucky Café
Cafe, Diner, American, $$$
For over 60 years, Lucky Café has served up delicious home cooked meals prepared to order in a genuine diner setting from the counter to the booths. Locals know it as the place to go for a typical greasy spoon experience with an old timey nostalgic feel and great prices on tasty breakfast classics. Fluffy pancakes with a hint of sweetness drowning in butter, a spinach and cheese omelette with crisp savory hash browns, tasty chorizo and eggs, biscuits and gravy, chicken fried chicken, corned beef hash, and yummy sausages are all consistently excellent and always cooked fast. People love coming to Lucky again and again because they know that they will always have a great experience, great food, and great service at the best prices. With many fantastic combo options, Lucky is the perfect place to go when you’re looking for a simple classic breakfast and don’t want to spend a lot of money, but also don’t want to sacrifice quality by visiting the typical chain restaurants.
1111 21st Street, Sacramento, California, 95814, USA
© Yelp Inc./Flickr
INK Eats & Drinks
Bar, Restaurant, American, $$$
INK Eats & Drinks, Sacramento | © melfoody/Flickr
Midtown’s cultured American bistro, INK Eats & Drinks, was created in 2003 by Chef Chris Nestor, bringing a hip, funky atmosphere and late night hours to Sacramento. It quickly became a hit with the locals thanks to its approachable yet inspired menu, great prices, and down-to-earth attentive service. They were the first to bring sliders to the city, adding to a menu of American classic food with a contemporary spin. Weekend brunch includes an amazing build-your-own Bloody Mary bar as well as endless champagne for bottomless mimosas. Gorgeous painted murals on the outside walls advertise the hipster vibe you’ll find on the inside of this tattoo-themed restaurant. People love coming to INK to dine on an early meal with friends, hang out on the quaint outdoor patio perfect for people watching, and enjoy helpful attentive service. Popular menu items include the hearty country burrito, fresh and brightly flavored turkey omelette, delicious Fork and Knife breakfast sandwich, tasty brunch pita pizza, and satisfying house made chicken fried steak.
2730 N Street, Midtown, Sacramento, California, 95816, USA
© melfoody/Flickr
The Original Mels
Diner, Restaurant, American
The Original Mels Diner, J Street | © Ralph Daily/Flickr
Serving up fun and great food since 1947, The Original Mels has locations all throughout Northern California and Nevada, known as the place to go for a bygone era that offers simple pleasures and a friendly atmosphere. Folks might recognize the diner from the 1973 release of the classic ‘American Graffiti,’ which was set at The Original Mels, and people can still experience the fun and excitement of the movie while there, all while listening to the hits of the fifties. The 24 hour diner serves up great deals on delicious breakfasts all day long, including large omelettes with hash browns, the California Benedict that comes with fruit and potatoes, a great breakfast sandwich, and yummy biscuits with sausage gravy, in addition to endless coffee refills and fantastic milkshakes. Another popular item is the juicy and tender New York steak with eggs, only served from midnight to 11am on weekdays. Patrons love sitting at the tables with personal jukeboxes, the cute fifties decor is complete with old photos and neon lights, and the prompt and friendly service is perhaps the one aspect of the restaurant heralded the most.
3000 J Street, East Sacramento, Sacramento, California, 95816, USA
© Ralph Daily/Flickr
Firestone Public House
Restaurant, American, Beer, Pub Grub, $$$
Firestone Public House, Sacramento | © Kimberli/Flickr
Featuring 60 beers on tap and a large, American-inspired creative menu, Firestone Public House has made a name for itself as one of the best places to go to enjoy happy hour, game day entertainment, and get-togethers. With 22 flat screens, an unrivaled sound system, and two outdoor patios, the restaurant is an ideal sports and entertainment venue. Bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys at brunch are always a favorite, and popular entrees include blueberry pancakes, avocado egg rolls, breakfast pizza, chicken apple sausage scramble, breakfast nachos, and chipotle pulled pork Eggs Benedict. They have an outdoor patio that is the perfect place to sit on days with nice weather, and the service is always top notch. The place can get extremely packed on weekend mornings, especially if there is a game on, so it’s usually best to get there early if you don’t want to wait long.
1132 16th Street, Downtown, Sacramento, California, 95814, USA
© Kimberli/Flickr
Café Bernardo
Cafe, American, $$$
Inspired by the European tradition of café dining, Café Bernardo is a comfortable place to go anytime for fresh, high quality food at a reasonable price. It’s the kind of place where you walk up to the counter, place your order, grab a seat, and then they bring your food to you. With everything from eggs, pancakes, and waffles, to sandwiches, salads, little pizzas, and vegetarian options, Café Bernardo can satisfy anyone’s appetite. Patrons love the perfectly cooked fried egg sandwiches, the carrot cake, biscuits and gravy, egg scrambles with smoky mozzarella, squash frittatas, bread and jam, Amaretto French Toast, and Eggs Benedict on amazing rosemary bread, just to name a few. The café also offers free refills on its excellent coffee, and people watchers love the tables near the windows in addition to the great outdoor patio. The atmosphere is cute, friendly, and hip, and the servers are very nice, often chatting with the customers, making the café a popular hangout spot among locals.
1431 R Street, Downtown, Sacramento, California, 95814, USA
These recommendations were updated on November 21, 2016 to keep your travel plans fresh.
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Tag Archives: Ms. Marvel
Avengers Assemble: Secret Wars – Rescuing the Heroes
It is not usual for me to review Avengers Assemble in bits and pieces. Previously, the closest I came to doing that was with season three of the series. And that was because the showrunners and writers did not air the episodes one after another – not on a regular basis, at least.
This is what they are doing again now, but with longer breaks between installments. Remember, readers, “Avengers No More” came out in August. It is now October, and they have aired eleven other episodes only in sporadic chunks over the course of two months.
Personally, I find this irritating. I do not know enough about television schedules to say why Disney XD is splitting the series up like this; maybe it is to make room for shows from other series that air on weekends. The timetable seems to have no rhyme or reason, though, and that always drives me a little crazy.
Since I did a review of “Why I Hate Halloween,” I will not include that episode in this post. Although I will say that it is definitely one of my favorite installments in this series so far, and it seems to have been set before the Avengers were teleported across the Marvel universe. I say this because (spoiler alert), in “The Once and Future Kang” we find one of the Avengers has been transported into the future. And he has subsequently aged.
By this episode, the Avengers’ B Team has been keeping Earth safe while Dr. Jane Foster searches time and space to find the original Avengers. In “The Once and Future Kang,” she tells the B Team that she has discovered their locations. In order to rescue the team, however, she has to send the Mighty Avengers after them. The way they will return is by using a “tether” – a device that acts as a teleporter – to pull themselves and the Avengers back to the present time and place.
Jane does this after the B Team has had to stop a monster from destroying the Statue of Liberty. She accidentally brought said creature to NYC when working on the devices to bring back the Avengers. And while I still do not like her, I admit that watching Carol Danvers rescue a deaf girl from the Liberty torch was a good scene. Yes, I still think she is useless, but the fact is it was a good scene.
Anyway, “The Once and Future Kang” shows Wasp and Vision teleported to the future to rescue the Avenger trapped there. They do not know who it is, but they know who is running the place – Kang. They soon learn that the Avenger they are after is none other than Falcon, now twenty years older than he was when the cabal transported him out of the present time.
My main problem with this episode is: what’s his mom going to say? Sure, it is cool to have a Falcon who looks and sounds like Anthony Mackie’s film counterpart. But what in the world is Sam’s mother, who is alive in the Assemble universe, going to say about his rapid growth? One day he was a seventeen/ninteen year old kid going to college. Now he is suddenly an adult. Both she and the Avengers missed his transition from boy to man, meaning there should be a period of adjustment needed on all sides.
This is not the first time Marvel has pulled such a stunt, of course. In the X-Men comics, Colossus’ baby sister was kidnapped by an interdimensional bad guy who trained her in his arts and her powers for six or seven of his dimension’s years. But for the X-Men, seconds passed between Ilyana Rasputin/Magick’s disappearance and reappearance. She vanished as a frightened six year old and returned as a scarred, yet bright and chirpy, thirteen year old girl.
Colossus, as you might imagine, had a hard time wrapping his head around this. I am having a similarly hard time wrapping my head around Falcon’s transformation. It is not that I do not like him – I think Falcon is a really cool hero. It is just the whole idea of sending someone off into the future (or another dimension), and bringing them home at an older age which gets me.
Other things to like about this episode were Vision and Wasp. Vision, as usual, stole at least half of the show without really trying. And it appears that Wasp has finally lost that chip on her shoulder. Hooray!
There is also the fact that we got a glimpse of Kang’s face beneath the blue mask he wears, showing he grew older, too. I may have a hard time reconciling my heroes’ accelerated ages, but when it comes to the bad guys, I rarely have any sympathy for them. Kang does not get any tears from me.
Next on the list is “Dimension Z.” Scott Lang, a.k.a. Ant-Man, gets sent to rescue an Avenger from what is apparently 1930s New York. This version of the city is under the thumb of Arnim Zola. Here, Scott finds three of his teammates: Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow. He helps them escape Zola’s HYDRA goons and they take him to their hideout, explaining that they are not actually in the 1930s when they get there. (Whew! I had had enough time travel at that point, anyway!)
Zola captured the gang early on, but they escaped and have been trying to free the people of Dimension Z from his control ever since. This has not been easy because Zola has the people wired with cybernetic implants. If they disobey him, he fries them. This also rules out using an EMP to fry him. That certainly is convenient, isn’t it?
The episode is a good one for Hawkeye. Although he plays around with the 1930s New York accent and slang, it’s less of a joke this time and more him trying to lighten the mood. Widow is usually aggravated by his period repartee, but she slips a couple of times and uses the lingo herself, showing his attempts to cheer everyone up aren’t wholly failures. Cap does not seem to mind the fun Hawkeye and Widow have with the jargon either way, which is nice.
Despite her fussing, Widow comes through the show with flying colors, too. While growling at Hawkeye for his attempts at humor, she works well with him here. This is a far cry from their earlier team-ups in the series, which had her constantly bickering with him when they were on a mission. She gets to give Scott a “suck it up and have some confidence in yourself” pep talk as well, which is in keeping with her character.
Scott does nicely here, as compared to previous episodes in season four which present him as a bumbling, fumbling fool. (No, I am not counting “Sneakers” when I talk about those shows.) He gets to prove his brains and his heart, which is a pleasant change from the writers’ earlier treatment of him.
Captain America does not, sadly, get by nearly so easily. For some bizarre reason, the show writers decided to reference Marvel’s HYDRA Cap fiasco in “Dimension Z.” Though Cap is freed of the HYDRA influence fairly quickly, and while I can see how having him under Zola’s spell serves the episode’s plot, I really wish that the writers had not done this to him. Bad enough they have to demean me and other readers by mistreating him in the comics; when they start messing with him in their other media, I become even less amused.
With this caveat out of the way, I have to say Steve did not do terribly outside of this event, which literally was not his fault. The whole reason Zola wanted him in Dimension Z was so he could highjack Steve’s body; doing this would mean he would not have to rely on those mechanical bodies we have seen him using thus far in the series.
At first, Steve resisted Zola’s attempts. But he and Hawkeye were captured together, so Zola zapped Clint to make Cap stop fighting him. While I still do not approve of the HYDRA Cap reference, I have to admit, this scene hit me right in the “feels.” It showed the brotherly affection between the First Avenger and Hawkeye, who stubbornly insisted Steve not surrender despite the fact that another zap would have killed him.
In a way, this scene bridged the gap between the original – and better – comics and the new ones today. I only wish the writers would show these relationships between the Avengers more often in Assemble. It is truly inspiring.
T’Challa got sent after the Hulk in “The Most Dangerous Hunt,” which was actually more fun than I was expecting. Transported to Asgard, Panther finds Hulk being hunted for sport by Skurge the Executioner. Using a magic crystal in the head of his axe, the Executioner can control Banner’s transformation. When Banner gets too tired to run, Skurge says a spell to make him the Hulk. When the Hulk gets within a hair of smashing him, the Asgardian hunter speaks a counter spell which makes him Banner again.
The whole yo-yo effect has left Bruce terrified. He has been in control of his power for so long now that not being able to change at will scares him more than his previous, involuntary transformations did. It is actually kind of nice to see Banner this vulnerable; before we only saw his distaste for becoming the big guy, period. Since the writers have allowed him to control the change, it adds a new dimension to his character.
Only one thing in this episode really annoyed me. This was Hulk returning to his old baby speech pattern for most of the adventure. While I doubt I will have much of a problem with it in Thor: Ragnarok, here it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I guess it was because it made Hulk sound more like a beast than a person – which was the point. Skurge considered him nothing more than an animal, after all, not a fellow sentient being.
Panther came out of this show very well, too. He got to demonstrate his intelligence, his honor, and his heart. We also got to see what he is like when enraged, since Skurge was able to reverse the spell and use it on T’Challa. No one understands wrath like Bruce does, and watching him assist the suddenly helpless Black Panther was a great moment.
I have to admit, though, that I did not see the Hobbit reference coming. Really, Marvel writers? Stealing from Tolkien now, are you? Too bad you won’t study him rather than pilfer from the surface of his work. Maybe if you actually learned from him, your comics would be entertaining again.
“Under the Spell of the Enchantress” was not quite as torturous as I thought it would be, mostly because by the end, Thor got to be Thor. I still find Captain and Miss Marvel to be awful, flat characters, but having the Son of Odin break Amora’s spell when he saw Miss Marvel in danger was a good scene for him. I think the reference to Frozen might have been a bit much, though.
Thor’s characterization was just as good in “The Return.” Here we learn that Loki orchestrated the events of “Avengers No More.” We also see that he is now suddenly taller and has more brawn here than he did in prior episodes. By the way, fellow writers, what the Sam Hill is up with that five o’clock shadow you gave him?
Anyway, this episode was pretty good. Though no one seemed the least bit phased by Falcon’s age, which felt a little off, the story was quite the pick up from the season’s earlier fare. Cap got his shield back and Hawkeye actually got to figure out how to save the day – using an idea this author had considered five or so minutes before the crisis point of the show arrived, no less. 😉
Thor, as I said, shined in “The Return,” but so did Vision. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that Loki badly underestimated him. Scott got to notice an important fact, which Miss Marvel unsurprisingly missed and dismissed, while Jane Foster was allowed to be the super genius she is. And she did not even have to leave her apartment to do it. I really hope they do not give Mjolnir to her. It would spoil her part in “The Return” so badly.
Finally, I have to say that I enjoyed the various nods to Thor: The Dark World in this show. The film itself did not have a great plot and got bad reviews for it. I liked Dark World nonetheless, mostly because I never go to a Marvel movie to watch the bad guys. I go to see the heroes, and I thought the second Thor movie did right by them. Watching the writers tip their hats to it was fun.
On the whole, I was more impressed with these five episodes than I was with four of the ones I reviewed previously. But as I said in my post on “Why I Hate Halloween,” now is not the time to become complacent and think Marvel is cleaning up its act. Certainly, these recent shows offer us fans some hope that the company will value our patronage more than PC grandstanding. But now is not the time to bank on such an assumption.
Part of the reason I say this is Loki’s gleeful warning at the end of “The Return.” “Strange things are coming,” he tells Thor’s back when the Prince of Asgard leaves the detention center. Tony still has not come home yet, and the writers here did nod to the HYDRA Cap debacle. I find these small instances in the show more than a little worrisome.
So we are not out of the woods. These are hopeful signs and, if unaltered by the future, I could say they were a turning point. But the future is not the present. Therefore, I advise caution before commitment, as well as the firm hope matters will change for the better.
But to quote Aragorn, son of Arathorn, the only thing we can do now is say, “We shall see.”
Avengers – Assemble!
This entry was posted in Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, TV Shows and tagged Ant-Man/Scott Lang, Avengers Assemble, Black Panther/King T'Challa, Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, children's animated tv shows, Colossus/Peter Rasputin, David Kaye, Disney TV Shows, Disney XD, Falcon/Sam Wilson, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Hulk/Bruce Banner, Jane Foster, Kang the Conqueror, Loki, Magick/Ilyana Rasputin, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, marvel tv shows, Ms. Marvel, Roger Craig Smith, Skurge, The Enchantress/Amora, The Wasp, Thor, Thor Odinson, Travis Willingham, Troy Baker, TV Shows, Vision, Wasp, X-Men on October 27, 2017 by The Mithril Guardian.
Avengers Assemble’s Secret Wars – I Am Not Impressed
Forgive the deep sigh, readers, but after Avengers Assemble’s satisfying third season I did not expect to begin tearing into the show’s writers again. I never seem to learn my lesson about these people.
Avengers Assemble is taking a dive into the current comics’ attempt to rewrite reality through its “All New, All-Different” character roster. Now I have absolutely no problem with the addition of Black Panther, Vision, and Ant-Man to season four’s character lineup. I have already stated that I wanted them on the team, so actually having them here is great. But I was surprised and saddened at this series’ depiction of the Wasp. Since I have already listed my issues with the two Marvels elsewhere, I will not go into that here.
The two-part introductory episode “Avengers No More” began well enough. In this installment we had our wonderfully forged team of interesting, fun, beloved heroes trying to rescue Tony Stark from whatever dimension Dr. Strange sent him to last season.
We also got to meet this universe’s Jane Foster, who did quite nicely during her debut. The hint that she and Thor know each other from a prior time, not to mention the romantic spark which passes between them in the first episode, was a nice touch. Hawkeye and Panther trading quips was a great throwback to the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and I had hoped we would get to see them do it more often.
There was only one thing which bothered me in this episode, and that was Thor’s fixation on protecting his teammates. It seemed to be a bit overplayed; the writers looked like they were trying to give him PTSD or something. At the very least, I would say they were a tad too heavy-handed with this aspect of the show.
The second half of “Avengers No More” is where I had A LOT of problems. Panther came through the show with flying colors, naturally, and Vision is always fun to see. I actually rooted for the Enchantress when she tangled with Captain Marvel, but I was not happy with Scott Lang’s reduction to the team joke. I enjoy his quips and his fun-loving attitude, but the man is NOT stupid. He can get touchy-feely from time to time, not to mention be serious when the situation calls for it. The episode “Sneakers” proved this.
But it seems that the writers have decided that if they cannot make Hawkeye the class fool, they will do it to Scott Lang instead. Newsflash, people, we do NOT want our heroes to be fools of any kind. We do not mind it when they make mistakes, or goof up, or when they occasionally pull pranks. They are human and we like to see them behaving like real human beings do.
What is going on here, however, is none of the above. One of the reasons that this overdose of juvenility on Ant-Man’s part does not work is because it is so utterly inhuman (pun intended). No one who is that goofy can last in a position of authority, power, and danger for very long. To make us try to believe that they can will not work because the world will not let it work. Sooner or later, it will beat the truth into us that humor and goofiness has its place – and that place is not in the middle of a firefight.
Wasp (Hope Van Dyne)
My other problem is with the Wasp. Originally, I looked forward to having her in the series; Janet Van Dyne is one of my favorite Marvel heroines. She has been since EMH. So although this Wasp is her daughter, Hope, I thought she might at least come close to the fun, cheerful character Jan was in Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. I had also thought to see her come into the series perfectly synchronized with her partner, Scott Lang.
Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)
What I got instead was a character with a chip on her shoulder, determined to dominate the man who should be her colleague. As in “Prison Break,” Hope has realized that no one can or is holding her back except herself. However, she still comes across as hard nosed, grim, and anti-social. This prevents her from connecting in any meaningful way to Scott, something I have faint hopes of seeing as the season progresses.
More to the point, readers, this is not the Wasp I enjoy watching. Hope is not her mother, and I respect that difference. But I will not accept a character which is so obviously designed to carry a grudge against the world in general and her teammates in particular. I do not want or need that kind of negativity.
To tell you the truth, I find the difference in her deportment in this series puzzling. From what I saw of Hope in the Ant-Man film, she was not angry with her father because he would not let her use the suit. That was part of it. Most of the reason she was angry at him was because he would not tell her what had actually happened to her mother; he shut her out of his life after Jan’s disappearance, and this is what made her so angry with him.
By this point, Hope should have no reason to carry her anger into Assemble. While she has thrown out some good zingers in the show (not counting the ones at Ant-Man’s expense), the fact is that Wasp was never an “I am Woman, hear me roar!”-type character. Even in the film, there was none of the “Girl Power!” motif to be found in the axe she ground against Hank Pym.
Her dad wanted to keep her safe, both because he loved her and because she was the living link he to the wife he could not protect. Kevin Feige went to the trouble of specifically saying that Hank did not think Hope couldn’t handle the power of the Ant-Man suit. Feige said the reason Hank would not let her use the suit was because he did not want to lose his only daughter as he had his wife. There was no “holding Hope back” in the mission statement; there was only “shield Hope at all costs.”
Is this impractical? Yes, but any mother or father worth her or his salt will have that kind of reaction regarding their child/children. It is how they handle it which may need work or may deserve praise.
Also, my heart hit my shoes when the phrase “All New, All-Different” was used in the second half of “Avengers No More.” In the comics the “All New, All-Different” tagline is shorthand for “let’s make the elites and critics happy and who cares if we alienate our loyal, paying fanbase while we do it.” This has led to Captain America being reworked as a Nazi/Fascist and many other equally destructive “rewrites” to well-beloved heroes and heroines.
Marvel, as I have said elsewhere, is no longer run by people who want to build up the characters and tell good stories with them. It is managed by those who have an unhealthy and destructive agenda which they are now trying to force feed us through the cartoons.
This must make you wonder why I bothered to watch the next five episodes of season four. Aside from the fact that it is good to know what the other side is doing, I have already invested a lot of ink/pixles in reviewing the series Avengers Assemble for you. If I were to stop now I would fail you, my audience, as well as myself. No one said I have to watch the season or like it, but my duty seems clear to me here: I started reviewing this series and so it behooves me review it to the finish, whatever that may be.
I must admit to disliking most of the episodes which follow “Avengers No More.” Not only do these shows avoid telling us where the original Avengers are, they essentially try to sell us a silk purse made from a sow’s ear. For instance, “The Sleeper Awakens,” wherein the Avengers’ B Team has to face down the Red Skull, is only saved by Vision.
When the newbies move into Black Panther’s ambassadorial mansion, their headquarters for the season, Ant-Man suggests Vision get a pet calculator after the android makes a comment about his large pet ant. Scott comes to regret this proposal when Vision reprograms one of Red Skull’s robots to think for itself and asks if he can keep it for a pet.
The byplay between Vision and “Skully” is the only saving grace for the show. Panther has to pull the rest of the weight for the episode while Scott is allowed some helpful hints. But in the end, the only reason to watch “The Sleeper Awakens” is Vision.
As for “Prison Break,” watching that show was nothing short of pure torture. It started out on a good note, with Wasp promising to take down Captain Marvel in a ping-pong match. While I would still like to see that happen, the rest of the episode was nothing less than “I am Woman, hear me roar!” pandering.
The major battle in this installment takes place in the Vault, a high security supervillain prison built into a mountain. Yelena Belova, now going by the moniker Crimson Widow, attacks and tricks the B Team into taking her to the prison. This is so she can get rich by freeing the villains held there.
Once inside, she takes down her escorts – Danvers and Wasp – before freeing Zarda and Typhoid Mary. Danvers and Wasp come to and then have an insipid heart-to-heart, during which Hope admits she thinks everyone in the universe is trying to hold her back. The only thing which was even mildly entertaining here was watching Zarda throw Danvers around. Why?
During “Prison Break” there was no sense of tangible threat to the heroines. We knew going in that Zarda would get beaten by Danvers; just because the writers and animators let her get kicked around first didn’t change that fact. We also knew that Crimson Widow and Typhoid Mary were going to lose. Danvers was the big stone around the show’s neck, but the second biggest was the chip on Hope’s shoulder.
Her “daddy/Scott/the Avengers held me back” speech was moronic. She is new to the gig, so the Avengers either did not know about her or they wanted her to get some more experience under her belt before they gave her a call, the same way you have to have something on your resume before you send it in to get a high-paying job. Scott could not hold Hope back, up, or down if he tried, and we already discussed the fact that her father was not holding her back from her full potential at the beginning of this post. It was blatantly obvious in “Prison Break” that the only thing holding the Wasp back was Hope Van Dyne.
And I am sorry, but the contest between Captain Marvel and Zarda was not worth getting excited about in any way. They are two macho women who like to punch down people/walls/buildings, and hearing Zarda list Danvers’ myriad false praises to the skies almost made me physically sick.
If the writers had pitted an actual heroine such as Mockingbird, Lady Sif, the Scarlet Witch, Spectrum, Firestar, or even She-Hulk against Zarda, I would have been more interested. But a struggle between equally strong opponents when the outcome can never be in doubt is a boring way to spend an episode.
Some of you are now doubtless shouting at the screen, saying, “How can you say that Zarda and Danvers are equally strong opponents, Mithril?! Zarda’s an immortal from Utopia – she’s even more powerful than Thor! How can you say that Danvers, who only has Kree DNA bonded to her body, is Zarda’s equal?!?”
My response: Oh, give me a Hulk-sized break!!!! First, we do not know if Zarda is more powerful than Thor. Her Sledge of Power operates on a different principle than Mjolnir does. It takes more power to be worthy than to be strong or “powerful,” readers. Zarda will never be able to lift the hammer for the simple reason that all her strength and prowess does not make her worthy. It just makes her a good bully.
Also, remember that Danvers and Zarda are both narcissistic, they both have more muscles in their upper bodies than between their ears, and there is no way in Nick Fury’s underwear drawer that the writers would ever avoid letting Danvers K.O. Zarda. We knew that going in because the big, flashing neon sign screaming “Girl Power!” was melting our eyes from the minute that Wasp and Danvers first clashed with Belova in Panther’s mansion. This told us everything we needed to know about the plot and the outcome of the episode before we were ten minutes into the show.
Now the reason that I say having Sif fight Zarda would have been more interesting is because Sif is not a Femi-Nazi. She made it into Asgard’s warrior corps on her own merit; she is interesting, vulnerable, and fun. And, what is more, she would never have let Zarda throw her around like a ragdoll just so she could look cooler when she finally flattened the Princess of Utopia.
Spectrum (Monica Rambeau)
Put Spectrum up against Zarda, and you have the potential for a good to great fight. Monica Rambeau can become intangible and fire energy beams from her hands, not to mention turn her own body into a beam of light or energy. She is a former cop and a member of the New Orleans Harbor Patrol. She maintains her own patrol boat for this reason, she has spunk, and she has her weaknesses. Are you telling me she couldn’t handle Zarda? She could take her down without strain or sweat if she wanted to do so!
If you threw the Scarlet Witch at the Princess of Power, she would be dancing to keep up with Wanda’s skillful, smart attacks. Firestar is a mutant capable of flight and generating heat/fire blasts from her hands. You think she couldn’t have handled Zarda in an interesting way and still beaten her? Yeah, right!
Firestar (Angelica Jones)
Heck, putting Zarda up against She-Hulk would have been more interesting. While Jennifer Walters’ alter-ego barely escapes the Strong Female Character stereotype, the fact is that she is no pushover and she is (rarely) bland. A fight between her and Zarda would have at least been attention worthy; the fight between Danvers and the Princess of Power was so dull that I barely glanced at more than a few scenes of it.
Mockingbird (Bobbi Morse)
But for my money, setting up a match between Mockingbird and Zarda would have been the ultimate catfight. Bobbi Morse has no superpowers (or she should not). A normal woman with extensive hand-to-hand combat and SHIELD training, I would have loved to have seen Mockingbird wipe the floor with Zarda by continually outsmarting her.
But the writers did not go for smart, just as they did not go for classy. And they certainly did not set up a battle between equally deadly foes. “Prison Break” was nothing but a root-for-us-because-we-are-strong-women piece with Marvel-ous window dressing. It was a rigged match from the start that meant absolutely nothing because it had no stakes, which gave the audience zero satisfaction when the conflict finally ended. The chip on Wasp’s shoulder made her defeat of Belova just as tedious.
Things did not improve overmuch in “The Incredible Herc.” I do not know if Marvel’s Hercules has always been this much of a nitwit, but color me unimpressed with his exploits in this chapter. This is a shame because I like the mythical stories about Hercules. I am also a fan of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys with Kevin Sorbo. Show this character (or Sorbo) any disrespect and you sink in my estimation.
Another irritating thing in this episode was watching Captain Marvel and Black Panther vie for leadership of the B Team. It is not that I cannot see this fight occuring; I can totally see Danvers trying to wrest control of the team from Panther. What I cannot see is Panther claiming “male privilege” to secure his position.
This is obviously the point behind his words when he says “I am a king!” during the debate over who should be leader of the Avengers’ B Team. The fact is that Panther is not a better leader than her for the reason that he is a king or due to the fact that he “sees the big picture.” He is the better leader because he is actually capable of analytical thought and all she wants to instinctively do is smash obstacles to pieces while taking all the glory from the battlefield.
My ability to swallow his respect for Captain Marvel, whom the writers have set up in Cap’s place in the series while he is bopping around the multi-verse, is nil. Danvers is a loose cannon, just like Hercules, but with far less charm and value. The writers think they can keep the message they want her to bear and not lose her while doing it.
But the fact is that this will not work. It never has. This is why she was never allowed to “take center stage” before. Danvers melts in the spotlight, demonstrating spectacularly to the audience that the Feminist claims she embodies are nothing more or less than lies.
This is something Marvel’s previous writers knew and which they did not allow to happen. But Marvel’s new writers have bought the lie hook, line, and sinker, leading them to try and amp up the power behind the broadcasting system. So they are surprised that people have continued to tune out the message, leading them to try to increase the power to the circuit so they can get the “necessary” attention.
It will be interesting to see their reaction when the whole thing self-destructs in their collective face.
I managed to miss the first few minutes of “Show Your Work,” readers, but the truth is that there was not much to miss. The episode was nothing less than an attempt to make Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan look good, and you cannot make a token character look good any more than you can make pyrite real gold.
Not once during this installment did Khan show any real vulnerability to Taskmaster’s supposed charm. Her claim that she saw through his charade from beginning to end also defeated the purpose of the entire subplot between the two of them. Other characters might have pulled it off, but because of her flawed design, Khan is completely incapable of making her emotional reactions look real – even when she geeks out while meeting a new hero/heroine.
Besides, in Ultimate Spider-Man, Taskmaster did not show near this much interest in or respect for any of the kids he encountered. The one-eighty degree turn he does in this episode for Ms. Marvel’s benefit absolutely smacks of politically correct condescension on the part of the writers.
Taskmaster is not a nice guy, readers; he respects nothing and no one. He fights and kills for cash, and he would keep doing it until the Earth blew up underneath him. Whoever he is/was under that skull mask, he is a ruthless murderer bent on getting as much money and pleasure out of his job as he can. Softening him up for Khan’s benefit is nothing short of patronization toward the audience on the part of the show’s writers.
Khan’s statement to Taskmaster that “Reboots are all the rage right now” was another demerit for the show in my book. A reboot, as I understand things, is supposed to revive a television series and its characters in a fresh way for a new generation. They do this by tweaking the original stories and characters, not by fundamentally rewriting them and their universe.
This means there is nothing fresh or good in the “reboots” Marvel has been feeding us since 2015. If we can have the ancient myths, the Tales of King Arthur, and The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood retold to us over and over and over again with just a few minor changes to the original platform, then what makes Marvel’s writers think we cannot handle the same thing in regard to their heroes?!?!
Vision was the only bright spot in this show, and he did not save it. Duct tape would not have been able to save this episode. Wasp still had a visible chip on her shoulder here, Scott was made to look the fool again, and Panther was not allowed to really flex his leadership muscles. As a result, “Show Your Work” earns one big, long, drawn-out “Booo!” from this viewer.
Now “Sneakers” was actually a good chapter because it played to T’Challa’s strengths and Scott was allowed to be more than the team pratfall. The two had to work together to save Wakanda from Baron Zemo (strange how I knew his redemption in season three would not last).
They did it in an interesting way and, while Scott did not come out of the battle totally free of juvenile “humor,” he did not play the useless waste of skin the writers made him appear in the earlier episodes. Vision also had a cameo or two which lent vigor to the show and the dialogue. All of this made “Sneakers” the only one of the five premier installments for Secret Wars worth watching.
So far, I am more than a little frustrated with Avengers Assemble’s season four. I had a sense it would disappoint – the title Secret Wars was the giveaway. And the retitling of the series’ fifth season (Black Panther’s Quest) does not inspire confidence in the upcoming period, either. How can it be Avengers Assemble if Black Panther is the lead – or possibly the ONLY – character in the series at this point?
None of this is to say that I would not love to see him in season five. T’Challa is one of the best, most well-developed and intriguing characters Marvel has, and I enjoy watching him. But I do NOT want to see more of T’Challa at the expense of Cap, Hawkeye, Hulk, Black Widow, Falcon, Iron Man, and Thor. I want to see him fighting alongside them, learning with them, and integrating into their team. A Black Panther and Avengers team up, or a Black Panther plus his Avenging sidekicks storyline, will not deliver on this.
With the arrival of new villains such as Skurge and the Enchantress, I would also like to know why we cannot have more heroes and heroines added to the Avengers’ roster in this series. I am still waiting for the appearance of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, everybody. And I would like to have Spectrum, Bucky Barnes, Mockingbird, War Machine, Firestar, Lady Sif, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and many others appear here as well. Having Songbird and at least one or two of the Thunderbolts return would be great, too, as would the reappearance of Inferno.
And seriously, why do we not have the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and other Marvel heroes weaving in and out of this series? Just what is wrong with that idea? No one ever seemed to have a problem doing it before. Why the hesitation now?
The Marvel Universe is – or was – a dynamic and varied place with plenty of amazing characters to enjoy. The fact that the writers will now build stories using only the critically “sanctioned” heroes and heroines (often with a liberal twist) is assinine. It limits them as storytellers; they have gone from “going where no man has gone before” to “going where no one wants to go.”
It is a weak, stupid move, and it is hurting them just as much as it is hurting their audience. But Marvel’s current writers and hierarchy won’t stop doing this – not in short order, anyway – which means we are going to suffer along with our heroes through mile after mile of relativist swampland until the people in charge clean up their act.
This seems like a sour note to end a post with, doesn’t it? I will not end a post on a sour note if I can help it, so here goes with the positivity: things can be repaired. New, good stories can be told using the same great characters. The continual retellings of the ancient myths, the stories about King Arthur and Robin Hood, prove that you do not need to “get with the times” to have relevant heroes, heroines, and stories, readers. A good story, well told, with great characters is all you need to entertain/instruct an audience.
One of these days, someone at Marvel is going to figure this out. Or they will hire someone who knows this. Or they will be bought out by someone who knows it and who will hire people who know it. Eventually, the tide will change, the trash will be swept out, and the house will be refurbished.
We just have to hold out until that happens. We have to hold on to the characters and stories so we can clean up the mansion and put everything to rights again at some point in the future. So, rather than say, “Make mine Marvel no more!” I will say this –
Avengers – ALWAYS!!!
This entry was posted in Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, TV Shows and tagged Ant-Man/Scott Lang, Avengers Assemble, Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes, Black Panther/King T'Challa, Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Bumper Robinson, Captain America, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, Carol Danvers, Crimson Widow, Disney TV Shows, diversity in Marvel Comics, Falcon/Sam Wilson, Firestar/Angelica Jones, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Hope Van Dyne, Hulk/Bruce Banner, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Kamala Khan, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, Marvel Female Superheroes, marvel tv shows, Mockingbird/Bobbi Morse, Ms. Marvel, Princess of Power, protagonist girl characters marvel, Red Skull, Roger Craig Smith, Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff, She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters, Spectrum/Monica Rambeau, Taskmaster/Tony Masters, The Hulk, The Wasp, Thor, Thor Odinson, TV Shows, Typhoid Mary, Vision, Wasp, women in Marvel Comics, Yelena Belova, Zarda on September 14, 2017 by The Mithril Guardian.
Spotlight: X-Men – Rogue/Anna Marie
Recently, I found a number of posts dealing with a topic I have addressed on my own blog. Apparently yours truly is not the only one to notice and take umbrage with the current fascination for creating so-called “strong female characters.” There have been a couple of articles on other sites dealing with the subject. I have read them and they have gotten the gears in this cranium turning, which lead me to today’s subject: the X-Man Rogue.
First off we will go down the list of Rogue’s abilities. Those familiar with her history in the comics and television will have to bear with me, because I am going to rehash some old storylines to keep everyone in the loop.
The Marvel newcomer who is not entering the multi-verse via the poisoned comics will find Rogue in the X-Men films. This version of Rogue is close but not quite the same as the one found in older comics and cartoons. There is no slight intended when I say that the film portrayal of the character is actually a poorer presentation than the original. Anna Paquin does a good job as Rogue; it is the writers and director(s) of the X-Men films who have mishandled the character.
Anyway, if you “met” Rogue in these films, then you know that her mutant ability is to absorb the memories, talents, and/or mutant powers of anyone with whom she comes into skin contact. You also think she got that white streak in her hair after Magneto force-fed his abilities to her before the final battle in the first movie, but she had that from the moment she appeared in the comics. (I do not like how they gave it to her in the films; it takes away from her character – in my ‘umble opinion.)
I have stated many times that I do not like the X-Men films, so I am going to stop talking about them here and go straight to Rogue’s comic book and cartoon histories. Similar to the films, Rogue’s mutant power manifested when she and her boyfriend, Cody, were having their first kiss. Rogue was thirteen at the time and so she was more than a little frightened when Cody suddenly passed out mid-smooch.
Rejected by her family for being a mutant, Rogue ran away from home, afraid to make skin contact of any kind with anyone. Mystique, in a guise other than her real blue-skinned, red-haired form, found Rogue and recruited her into her latest cabal of mutant trouble makers. She practically adopted Rogue as her own daughter….
…But she treated her as a secret weapon, using Rogue to her advantage in fights with the X-Men. Rogue was completely loyal to Mystique because she had taken her in and given her direction when no one else had and when no one else would give her the time of day. She rarely balked when told to use her absorption abilities on an X-Man, security guard, or some other person Mystique wanted knocked out or who had information she desired.
The one instance I know of in the comics where Rogue refused to use her power was when Mystique told her to absorb Angel’s abilities. Rogue was afraid that she would grow wings like his, so she did not want to touch him. As you may know from watching the films, readers, the powers Rogue absorbs eventually fade away. The memories and skills she “downloads” along with them remain like “ghost files” in her head, but they do not (usually) bother her after a while. Prior to 2015, the writers made it possible for Rogue to “recall” individual powers and abilities she had previously stolen from people, something I consider cheating. But in the case I mention above, Rogue did not have that power and she feared she would be stuck with Angel’s wings permanently if she touched him, so Mystique did not get her way in that episode.
Eventually, Rogue’s servitude to Mystique led her into a fight with Carol Danvers. At the time Danvers’ codename was still Ms. Marvel, and so her uniform consisted of a black swimsuit with a yellow lightning bolt emblazed on the front. Because her suit had no sleeves or pants, she was a perfect target for Rogue’s absorption abilities.
Thinking Danvers would be easy enough to overcome, Rogue grabbed hold of her and started draining her powers.
But unlike Rogue’s other opponents, Danvers did not immediately pass out. Since her powers come from Kree DNA that was somehow bonded to her body, Danvers possesses almost as much physical strength as Ben Grimm. She also has the ability to fire bolts of energy from her hands, sub-supersonic flight, indestructability, a ferocious Kree temper, and a precognitive “seventh sense” that allows her to see her opponent’s next move before it happens. I have never seen this last power demonstrated – and the number of times that Danvers has been smacked, thrown around, or otherwise hit makes me think she does not actually have this power.
Anyway, the Kree DNA kept Danvers awake longer than any of the other people Rogue had touched. It also fueled her anger and she started fighting back. Frightened by Danvers’ unexpected reaction to her powers, Rogue tried to let the woman go and make good her escape.
But Danvers would not let Rogue go. The two struggled for an eternity of minutes before they crashlanded. Once that happened Rogue discovered that, not only was she physically unharmed along with Danvers, but the other woman was out cold at last beside her in the dirt.
After this, Rogue found she had absorbed Danvers’ capabilities of flight, indestructibiliy, and superhuman strength. These powers did not fade over the next two or three days, as all her other “borrowed” powers had, and it looked like they were hers for keeps.
But she soon discovered that these fantastic powers came with a terrible price. Her prolonged contact with Danvers’ meant that she didn’t just have the woman’s memories and powers; Danvers’ psyche was stuck in Rogue’s mind and body at the same time Danvers’ own body remained in a hospital in a coma. Her personality – almost her entire being – was seemingly just as much Rogue’s property now as her powers were.
This unintended arrangement left Ms. Marvel less than pleased, and Rogue soon found she didn’t like it either. If Ms. Marvel really made an effort at it, she could commandeer Rogue’s body. Rogue would black out in one place and wake up in another, sometimes wearing Danvers’ suit or accoutrements and surrounded by the things Danvers enjoyed. This was more than a little frightening and upsetting for her, and it brought her to the realization that she had practically committed murder by absorbing Danvers’ mind into herself.
As Rogue’s guilt grew, she asked her “Mama” to find a way to make Danvers go away or to transfer her out of her body. But Mystique did not know how to do that and, what is more, she did not want to do that. She might have thought that Rogue could adapt to having Danvers in her mind or something like that, too, because she wanted Rogue to go on using her powers – despite the fact that her “daughter” was sharing space with another woman who could take control of Rogue’s body at the most unexpected or unwelcome moments.
This led Rogue to run away again. Knowing the X-Men as well as she did, she went to them for help in removing Danvers’ psyche.
Her reception was not a warm one. Danvers had worked with the X-Men on more than one mission, so they considered her a friend (for what reason, I have no idea). Wolverine was especially upset, since he and Danvers were particularly close. (Again, I have no idea why they were such good friends. Danvers should have driven Wolvie half crazy ninety percent of the time, but this did not happen, probably because the writers were working overtime to make their “uber woman” more acceptable to their audience through her acceptance by the other characters in the Marvel Universe.) Aside from the Professor, no one on the team saw anything likeable about Rogue, and she was a virtual outcast in the team she had sought out for help, as well as to begin to make amends for her past misdeeds.
But Rogue did finally earn full acceptance by the X-Men, becoming one of their most valued members and friends. Wolverine ultimately thawed to her as well, to the point that he became her informal protector and mentor during her early days on the team. She has since become one of the most recognizable and loved characters in Marvel Comics, as evidenced by the fact that yours truly is a fan of her.
What does Rogue have to do with the push for feminization in fiction? For a long time in the comics and cartoons, Rogue’s most apparent abilities were the ones which she had stolen from Danvers, to the point that I, as a young viewer, thought they were her actual mutant powers. Throughout the 1990s comics and cartoons, Rogue would punch or throw the villains into walls, knock down buildings, or hold up heavy pieces of buildings during different battles.
This meant that she was able to shake off resultant punishment in a battle as well. While fighting several Sentinels in the 1990s pilot, one of the robots hit Rogue in the back with his fist, sending her smack into the floor. Lifting herself up on her hands and knees at the bottom of the crater, Rogue shot the robot a smile and chided it for its bad behavior. Then she flew up, grabbed it under the arm, and threw it to the floor, where it promptly flew to pieces.
That is a pretty impressive display of strength, you have to admit. And I was young enough that such displays excited me. I happily rooted for Rogue whenever she pulled off an amazing feat of strength like that. I was a young, impressionable child who loved superheroes. I wanted to be strong when I grew up, strong enough to fight evil the way that I saw my heroes fighting it every Saturday morning. It is completely normal.
I do not know when it happened, but after a while Rogue’s apparent superpowers stopped being the main reason for my interest in her. It might have been the episode where she and Nightcrawler learned they were related through Mystique, or it might have been a different show entirely. All I know is that, after a while, I liked Rogue for Rogue and not for her superpowers.
Again, you ask, what does all this have to do with the strong woman trope we are having forced on us in fiction today? Some people have said that the feats of strength Rogue pulled off in the ‘90s might have been overdone.
This is entirely possible, even probable, but I would like it if these critics would keep a few things about her in mind. Some of the reasons Rogue’s fighting style in the ‘90s (and before and after in the comics) may have looked improbable were because Rogue herself did not actually know how to use her strength, or she was relying on Danvers’ understanding of how to use increased strength during a battle.
And, because she had Danvers’ indestructability, Rogue might have thrown herself into certain situations for no other reason than to protect a teammate who would squish far more easily than she would. These are possibilities I would suggest for any maneuvers the writers had her perform which people find hard to believe. I think they should remember that, from Rogue’s point of view, these maneuvers might have seemed totally normal or reasonable to her, given what she knew of using her super strength. Rogue did not have the best education, which we’ll cover in more depth below, and so she did not and does not know as much about physics as readers/viewers and others do.
The other thing viewers and readers should keep in mind when they watch Rogue fight is her absorbing ability. If she suddenly acquires the strength of the Unstoppable Juggernaut and begins throwing him around, it can look a little silly to us. Here is a girl who barely comes up to Juggernaut’s hip whirling him around over her head like a ragdoll. Under normal circumstances, it is totally implausible and stupid looking.
But Rogue is not normal, especially when she absorbs the powers of others. If she absorbs Juggernaut’s power, then she has his strength. Whether she has it in proportion to her size, weight, and height does not matter; you could drop a building on her while she has Juggernaut’s powers and she won’t even get a bloddy nose, for the simple reason that he would not get a bloody nose. Unfair? Maybe, but this is fantasy we are talking about here. We enjoy it precisely because it allows us to imagine stuff we cannot actually do.
The other thing to remember is that Rogue cannot just activate the powers she steals willy-nilly. She has to access the memories of the people who actually own these powers so she can avoid blowing up the countryside or flooding Manhattan. If she wants to use Juggernaut’s own strength against him, she will rely on his memories – muscle and conscious/subconscious – to make the best possible use of his powers. Juggernaut’s fighting style is not Rogue’s, nor should it be. But when she immerses herself, however shallowly she does it, in his memories this means that we will see her fighting the way that he does. It looks ridiculous, but when you keep this aspect of her powers in mind it becomes understandable and allowable.
Now this does NOT mean the writers should not be held to a high standard when they portray her pulling off these feats, but it does mean that it behooves us, as the audience, to remember the McGuffin that allows Rogue to survive these battles and/or perfom these stunts. It is a balance between the writers knowing their craft and the audience accepting the parameters of the story they are telling. Writers who abuse or talk down to their audience must rightly be called out for their arrogance. But an audience that will accept a good story with thousands of impossible McGuffins scattered throughout it should not throw stones in glass houses. That is my opinion, anyway.
Now we will discuss why Rogue is not an “SFC” or “Strong Female Character” in the vein that Carol Danvers, Thorette, and Thundra are.
Long story short, Rogue does not qualify as the modern strong woman. First, her character design has fluctuated since the ‘90s and she no longer has the muscle structure of Ms. Marvel. Rogue is nothing like Carol Danvers, Thundra, or Thorette. These female characters are cardboard cutouts designed to appease and appeal to the Femi-Nazis, who are forever unhappy and whose hunger for the destruction of Western culture is utterly insatiable. It may appear from her 1990s debut – and, for all I know, some of Marvel’s newest stories – that Rogue qualifies as a “SFC,” but the fact is that Rogue is not a cardboard cutout, nor is she a strong woman in the sense that she is faster, smarter, and stronger than the guys.
One of the first people to admit that she is not smarter than almost anyone you could name would be Rogue herself. She is capable of outwitting an opponent and she is not stupid, but she is not a scholar, or a mechanic, or a super genius, or any of the other “SFC” tropes. What is more, she does not – or did not – pretend to be any of the above when I watched her on television and knew her in my limited way in the comics.
Most of the knowledge that Rogue possesses of higher mathematics, scholarly enterprises, etc., is knowledge that she stole from others. In the comics, Rogue ran away from home when she was thirteen. She spent years on the road after this, and a few more years under Mystique’s “guidance” before joining the X-Men. I do not think there was a lot of time in there for regular schooling, do you, readers? No, there was not. So this means her formal education ended, practically speaking, after she left home.
Now Danvers went through all the schooling necessary to become an Air Force pilot and Jane Foster – who used to be a perfectly respectable character – had to go through extensive schooling and training to become a nurse. We are just supposed to accept that Thundra, being from an alternate universe where women are the dominant sex (ignore the barfing sounds on the other side of the screen, please, readers) is naturally smarter than any man on this Earth or her own – though it is funny how she never shows it.
None of the above applies to Rogue. Everything she has learned since she discovered her powers has been taught to her by circumstance and by the consequences of her choices; her smarts were earned in the school of hard knocks, not in a brick and mortar building. Danvers, for all her supposed superiority to men, learns nothing from the battles she takes a part in. The evidence of this is that she is one of the few Marvel characters with no ability to resist telepathic control for even a fraction of a second. Rogue has had to learn to be tough to survive; Danvers survives through the writers’ stubborn intent to keep her alive.
In moments of downtime in the 1990s series, Rogue also had a generally cheerful demeanor. She smiled, laughed, and joked regularly; this showed that she was someone who genuinely loved life, despite the numerous punches she had been dealt by it.
In contrast, Danvers’ sense of humor is thinner than cellophane plastic. When she teases or jokes, it sounds tinny and unreal; when she smiles, it does not soften her features. It makes her look like she is stretching her face to the breaking point.
Something else that differentiates Rogue from the “SFC” trope is that she is vulnerable. I read a book some time ago by Fr. Dwight Longenecker called The Romance of Religion. One of the interesting things he mentions in the book is that hero(es) of stories tend to have a fault or a wound that they must bear as they do their duty or carry on their quest.
Looking out over most of fiction – and especially Marvel – I have to think he is on to something here. From Spider-Man to T’Challa, from Captain America to Punisher, from Hawkeye to Ben Grimm, most of Marvel’s characters have some sort of emotional injury that they carry with them wherever they go. And ninety-nine point nine percent of them have character flaws they have to either overcome or continually wrestle to control – although by now, that fact is out the window. In Marvel’s – and our – brave new world, flaws are to be embraced, not resisted. They are natural to us while self-control is just an artificial restraint society uses to keep us down. (Yes, I am being sarcastic, readers.)
In the original stories, Rogue’s great emotional weakness was her inability to make skin contact with another human being – or any other being, for that matter. She had to wear longsleeved shirts and long pants, as well as gloves, all the time. She could not pat Wolverine on the hand with her own bare hand. She could not let someone brush up against her arms if her shirt, jacket, or suit somehow lost its sleeves – and she could never, ever kiss a man for more than a few seconds. And even the briefest of kisses would be dangerous for him.
This last was particularly painful for her because, during the ‘90s, Gambit was actively courting her. Oh, he would flirt with plenty of other girls during the series, but the one he consistently went after with every ounce of charm he could muster was Rogue.
Usually, Rogue would flirt back, but that was as far as she could and would let it go. Aside from two different times that I know of where Gambit kissed her, Rogue had to put her glove over his mouth and kiss that to show her feelings for him. On more than one occasion, her frustration with her inability to safely touch someone, anyone, would drive her to anger and/or cause her to make an avoidable mistake.
This was Rogue’s greatest vulnerability, but she had others. When captured along with the other X-Men by Mr. Sinister and his Nasty Boyz in the ‘90s TV series, Rogue admitted to Gambit that she was scared. Sinister had found a way to block mutant powers in this episode, which meant that both Rogue’s innate absorption abillities and the powers she had taken from Danvers were suppressed. “I don’t know how to fight these guys without my powers,” she admitted to Gambit.
Now, readers, can any of you name one single time that Carol Danvers has admitted that she is afraid of something/someone? I cannot. To the best of my knowledge, Danvers has never once shown fear. She might – MIGHT – show concern, but most of the time when she is captured or in a situation that looks grim, she just becomes angry. Thorette seems to be going the same route, while Thundra has always had a demonstrable temper and no real sense of, or respect for, fear.
Rogue certainly has a temper, but in this episode, anger was the furthest thing from her mind. Her primary emotion was fear because she did not know how to fight without using her powers. What “SFC” shows or admits to fear? I do not know of any, but if you can name me one, readers, I will look into her.
In the series that followed the ‘90s X-Men, the writers changed Rogue’s appearance. They dropped Ms. Marvel from the series’ storyline and left Rogue to rely on her absorption ability alone. They also gave her and the rest of the teenage X-Men close combat and weapons’ training.
While this was a plus for Rogue, leaving her a way to protect herself if she could not somehow bring her mutant powers to bear, in my opinion the writers did make one mistake with her characterization in this series: Evolution showed Rogue as an anti-social teenage girl who was into Gothic makeup and clothing. Forget that her makeup would not have lasted five seconds in battle (yet it somehow lasted the entire series), the change in her demeanor was not something I think was really necessary. Rogue did well in the series but I did – and do – miss the cheerful zest for life she exhibited in the ‘90s.
Personally, I suspect the writers gave Rogue more angst because they thought it would sell. It must have, because the series lasted four seasons. Her tendency to brood and lose her temper did not detract from her willingness to help others, which was good, and this demeanor did give her a chance to connect with Wolverine as a father figure. While this last was especially nice, I still miss her earliler deportment a lot. If Marvel ever rights itself and starts telling good stories again, I hope they give Rogue back the joi de vive she had in the ‘90s.
One other good thing about Rogue’s appearance in Evolution was her shorter hair. It is a well known fact that sexual predators target women with long hair because then they can grab hold of it and use that hold to force the woman to go where they wish. Such a hold is painful – if you do not believe me, readers, try it on yourself. (Trust me, it hurts.)
One of the strange things that writers for modern films and stories – including comics – keep doing is they are sending their heroines into combat with long hair. This is silly, as it can be a weakness; the heroine’s hair could catch in a machine and suck her down a hole, or her opponent(s) could grab it and use that hold to keep her still. Your heroine may look great with long hair, but remember, readers and writers, that even Princess Leia’s hair was done up in such a way that a Stormtrooper couldn’t grab it and yank her back. There was also no chance of her long locks getting caught in the Millenium Falcon’s inductors because it was pinned up and out of the way.
Allowing men into combat with beards is no more practical than sending women into a fight with long hair. (Yes, I AM looking at Cap’s beard in Infinity War.) One of the reasons the Romans shaved was so that, when they got into personal combat with an enemy, he would not be able grab the Roman’s beard and hold him immobilized long enough to behead him. Ask the Romans how they know about this.
Now most stories are fantasy, of course, and in some cases you can actually excuse the female characters’ long hair (who is going to be able to get close enough to Storm to grab her hair, I’d like to know?). However, Rogue’s shortened hair is not a problem for me, nor is her more feminine muscle tone.
This is why I do not and cannot see Rogue as the Feminist ideal of female superiority. Rogue is a normal woman with a power that she sees, with justification, as a curse rather than a gift. She has insecurities and fears; she makes mistakes and she is not well-educated outside of life’s hard lessons. Her strength does not come from her superpower or the powers she steals – it comes from her williness to fight evil. It comes from her desire to protect her friends and to make up for her errors in judgement. It comes of her willingness to consistently choose to be a heroine, even when doing so hurts her the most.
This is why she is one of my favorite X-Men and one of my favorite Marvel characters. This is why I cannot consider her a member of the “SFC” club, at least in her previous portrayals in the comics and cartoons. These days I can believe that Marvel would erase her from its canon if the banana brains in charge thought that would get them new subscribers and buyers. If they are going to try and make her the big, strong female character stereotype, they will ruin her as they have ruined all the other characters they are abusing.
But there is nothing I can do to stop them from torturing themselves like this. And at this point, telling them, “Hey, your company is bleeding money all over the place,” appears to be a waste of breath. If they want to bankrupt themselves, then nothing I say or do will stop them. I can only hope that when that happens, someone who loves the characters will buy the company and that they will hire good writers to clean up the mess. And yes, I would volunteer to be one of those writers in a heartbeat.
I hope it does not come to that, but it looks like it might. But if there is one thing Marvel’s myriad heroes have taught me, Rogue included, it’s that even when you get punched in the teeth, it does not mean the battle is over. It just means you got punched in the teeth. That is no reason to give up the fight.
So no, I do not intend to stop fighting. Only dead fish go with the flow, and I do not intend to be a dead fish. There is more than one way to fight, and the best way to fight Marvel’s current hierarchy is to introduce potential new Marvel fans to original Marvel fare.
In the interest of doing that, I recommend that you look up the 1990s X-Men televsion series, readers. Then study up on the characters in it, along with Marvel’s other heroes and heroines. Read between the lines; it is not the battles the characters take part in that are important, or the powers they wield, or the atrocities the current writers are making them commit –
It is who they are as characters that is important. This is what Marvel has decided to forget….
…..So this is what we have to remember and pass on to others.
EXCELSIOR!!!!
This entry was posted in Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, Spotlight! and tagged "mainstream" Marvel Universe, 1990s X-Men TV series, Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, Destiny, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Gambit/Remy LeBeau, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, Marvel Female Superheroes, Marvel films, Marvel movies, marvel tv shows, Marvel's X-Men, Mr. Sinister, Ms. Marvel, Mystique/Raven Darkholme, Nasty Boyz, Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, Professor Charles Xavier, Professor X/Charles Xavier, protagonist girl characters marvel, Rogue, Rogue/Anna Marie, SFC, Spotlight!, Strong Female Character, The Romance of Religion, the X-Men, Wolverine and the X-Men, women in Marvel Comics, X-Mansion, X-Men, X-Men films, X-Men movies, X-Men: Evolution on August 20, 2017 by The Mithril Guardian.
Do Marvel Fans Hate Women and Diversity? Not Hardly.
Hey, readers! Did you happen to hear that Marvel’s comic book sales are declining? If you did not, then you probably missed what Marvel’s VP of Sales, Mr. David Gabriel, had to say about it. Read on to find out just what he said:
“What we heard was that people didn’t want any more diversity. They didn’t want female characters out there. That’s what we heard, whether we believe that or not. I don’t know that that’s really true, but that’s what we saw in sales. We saw the sales of any character that was diverse, any character that was new, our female characters, anything that was not a core Marvel character [sic], people were turning their nose up against. That was difficult for us because we had a lot of fresh, new, exciting ideas that we were trying to get out and nothing new really worked.” (Source: http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/787249/Marvel-comics-diversity-Ironheart-Kamala-Khan-female-Thor-Iron-Man-Avengers-Infinity-War)
This is news Marvel apparently got from the retailers selling its comics. While some retailers saw an influx of new clientele, most saw a big drop as people ignored the new comics because their favorite characters – Captain America, Iron Man, Falcon, Hulk, Thor, etc. – were being killed off and/or humiliated, which means that their audience felt depressed and/or mortified. Marvel’s comic book sales have weakened in proportion to the steady stream of replacement, politically correct characters and stories the company has been trying to shove down our throats for the past three or four years.
I was astounded to see this statement from Mr. Gabriel. I have known for years that Marvel would lose revenue if it abused its audience by maltreating or destroying its characters. If you have followed my blog for a while, you know this is so. What surprised me was that a member of Marvel’s hierarchy actually admitted that sales were dropping because of the “new materiel” they were introducing. I told ‘em this was going to happen, but did they listen to me? ‘Course not. And now they are shocked that people do not want to buy comics that make fools of and/or destroy their favorite characters. Well surprise, surprise, surprise, Marvel! How could you have missed that fastball?
I can hear some of you fainting right now. You think I am an awful person for celebrating this news, no? That I hate women and diversity, too, n’est pas?
Well, no, I don’t. Allow me to explain what made me rejoice over Mr. Gabriel’s statement: what made me happy about his announcement was that he has finally admitted, on behalf of the company he serves, that politically correct characters are turning fans off of the Marvel franchise. He has finally acknowledged the obvious; that so-called “characters” like Jane Foster/Thorette, Amadeus Cho/New Hulk, Riri Williams/Ironheart, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, and Gwen Stacey/Spider-Girl, along with other “new,” “diverse,” and “legacy” protagonists – which are supposedly “meant to bring women and minorities to the forefront of social consciousness” – are really hurting instead of helping Marvel’s brand.
So if I like what Mr. Gabriel had to say, then why am I writing this post? I am writing this post because he and his colleagues are missing the point of why their sales are falling. Mr. Gabriel says what they believe; that legions of Marvel’s fans hate women and diversity, and so they need to keep doing what they are doing in order to win their “deplorable” fans – you and me – over to their view of the world. In essence, they are accusing the thousands of people who support their business of widespread bigotry, intolerance, and stupidity; completely ignoring the beam in their own eye to pluck out the mote in ours.
This is what has Marvel fans so upset. This is why they have stopped buying the new comics. Marvel fans definitely do not hate diversity or women. The latter is proved by the fact that Marvel already has hundreds of established female characters with existing fanbases – although you would not know that if you were new to the Marvel multi-verse or have only heard about it from the mouths of twits (most comic book film critics). Go to my post “Offended, Insulted, and Not Shutting Up” for a roll of Marvel’s female characters and a link to a longer list where you can learn about more of them. The fact is that these reviewers could care less that Marvel has a panoply of female characters for the simple reason that it is not part of their agenda.
As for the idea that Marvel fans hate diversity, this is a laughable argument because it is so easily invalidated. Marvel has been diverse since it was founded, something that is shown through characters like Storm, Falcon, Black Panther, Misty Knight, and Luke Cage, all of whom are black. Separate sources have consistently claimed that either Black Panther or Falcon was the first black superhero to appear in comics, beating out DC’s Black Lighting. I think that Storm might predate the three of them, but I am not sure.
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are Gypsies, readers. Red Wolf, Mirage, and Thunderbird are American Indians; and Colossus and the Black Widow are Russians who have become U.S. citizens. Then there is Nightcrawler, who is German and who barely resembles a human; Silverclaw, who is Brazilian; Sunfire, a Japanese man who follows the tradition of the samurai, and Bengal, a Vietnamese superhero who lives and works in Vietnam.
If Marvel were not diverse, readers, then these characters would never have been created by Stan Lee and the original writers. If Marvel’s fans hated diversity, none of these characters would have lasted more than one issue. Before 2015, they were all alive in the Marvel multi-verse, which means they have, collectively, been around for nearly seventy years. How can people who have kept these characters “alive” for so long hate diversity? Answer: they cannot, and therefore they do not, hate diversity.
So if Marvelites do not hate women or diversity, then why is Marvel losing revenue on its new comic books? Hmmmm…. Maybe these books are doing poorly because the fans, new and old, actually like Thor Odinson as the Prince of Thunder and not some prancing female using his hammer and claiming to be something she is manifestly not. Maybe fans truly liked Bruce Banner as The Incredible Hulk and really hate the fact that Marvel had one of his best friends kill him. Maybe fans are in fact more than a little bit upset by Marvel’s decision to make Steve Rogers a secret agent of HYDRA and a flaming NAZI. Maybe they genuinely like Tony Stark as the Invincible Armored Iron Man who can build his way out of a trap with a broken laptop and some chewing gum, instead of a fifteen year old science whizz-kid who could do her own thing instead of shoehorning herself into his act.
And maybe they do not like one of the first black superheroes – Falcon – being shoved into the role of Captain America, since it smacks of condescension and patronization. This move by Marvel is obviously meant to appease the PC police. And by doing this to the Falcon, Marvel’s writers are essentially stating that they think Sam Wilson – and therefore his fans – should not be satisfied that he is one of the first two black superheroes in comicdom. They would rather destroy the Falcon to make a new, “modern” Captain America that is anything BUT an American.
So maybe the reason sales are dropping is because fans think that pushing Falcon into Steve’s suit, handing him Rogers’ shield, and leaving him to spout anti-American claptrap like a ventriloquist’s dummy actually demeans African-Americans instead of “elevating” them or making Sam “more relevant” to the times.
Yeah, I think these facts may have more to do with your declining sales than sexism or racism, Mr. Gabriel. Too bad you and everyone else at Marvel have not realized this yet. Or, realizing it, you have decided that you know what we want because you are the “better and the brighter” of society and YOU are never wrong. We are just peons who cannot see the mote in our eye. That might be true, but you are missing the enormous beam in your own eye, buster.
So much for the customer is always right, eh, readers?
The reason I am writing all of this is because the people presently helming Marvel – and their enablers/cheerleaders in the world of critics – do not want more diversity or female characters. They want an emasculated male populace and homogeneity. They want black to be white, left to be right, and the population of the world to be nothing less than mental clones of them. Though they are doomed to failure, this does not mean that we can simply sit on the sidelines and let them ruin the Marvel universe(s). It means that we have to fight back against their dehumanizing push for sameness.
This leads me to another problem that Marvel is currently experiencing. An article at http://io9.gizmodo.com/marvel-vp-blames-women-and-diversity-for-sales-slump-1793921500 states that another reason for the drop in Marvel’s sales is due to the increasingly schizophrenic story arcs the company has been churning out for two years. I actually think this problem goes back to at least the Disassembled and House of M story lines. The reason I trace the problem back that far is this is when I noticed that Marvel was going off the rails. Disassembled and House of M may not have been the starting points, but they were the arcs which made me bite my lip and think, “@&*!, here we go with the death, despair, darkness, your-heroes-are-really-villains-in-disguise downward spiral.”
Just think about it, readers. After House of M the Marvel universe – which was originally upbeat, positive, and generally told decent to good stories – took a nosedive into the muck. After House of M we were fed the atrociously immoral and disgusting “Ultimate Universe.” Then we were handed the insipid “New Avengers” storyline and endured the advent of the largely lukewarm “Young Avengers” crew. We were handed the demoralizing Civil War arc next. Then we had the sickening Avengers vs. X-Men event; the asinine “Unity Squad” story line, and the Original Sin plotline which led to the putrid rewrite of the Marvel universe(s) in the Secret Wars event of 2015.
According to Beth Elderkin, the writer of the article at io9.gizmodo.com, there have been “at least 12 events and crossovers [in the past two years]. Events, in particular, have become more of a chore than a reward. There’s little build-up or anticipation because you know another one’s right around the corner. They also can completely screw over beloved characters for the sake of drama, like turning Captain America into a fascist as Sam Wilson has taken [on] his mantle.”
She says this makes it hard for new readers to focus, and I will not argue that these endless events do not help new fans to get their footing in the Marvel multi-verse – or, rather, what is left of it. But the problem she does not address is that none of these events or crossovers is positive. These stories are all negative and thus display brazenly the idea that Marvel’s management, who believe themselves the “best and the brightest” (but are truly the dumb and the dimmest), know what’s best for the rest of us. They also continue to drive the homogeneity mantra onto readers’ minds like a suffocating pillow. Not one of these events leaves a reader feeling uplifted and ready to face the world again. How do I know this?
Because that is what simply reading descriptions of these story arcs did and still does to me. And I am not alone, something which Mr. Gabriel’s admission about moribund comic book sales proves. Every last one of the story arcs I listed above may be compelling and addictive to some readers, but to most of us they reek of negativity, despair, and nihilism. How many people want to stew in an emotional/mental/spiritual refuse pile like this? If the downturn in Marvel’s comic book sales is as steep as Mr. Gabriel seems to believe it is, then I think I am safe in saying that ninety percent of normal, everyday people do not want this junk. This means that Marvel is selling to a narrow market which is shrinking day by day.
But why is Marvel having this problem at all? If the difficulty is too many dispiriting events, the company could easily fix the problem by turning the characters over to new authors, right? Possibly, but from what Beth Elderkin says this entire problem is born of the fact that “….There’s been a steady decline in Marvel’s talent pool, because of better offers and independent retailers. One retailer mentioned at the summit that it’s especially hard to keep talented writers and artists when they can make creator-owned books at publishers like Image. Not only does it give them more flexibility to tell the stories they want, but they also keep way more of the revenue.”
Again, I will not argue with her. Though I have no idea what Marvel pays its artists and writers, I do know that the writers they are allowing free reign in their universe(s) at the moment should not be allowed anywhere near a keyboard or a pen. The “stories” that many of these writers are pumping out are evidence that they are intellectual hamsters running inside fetishified exercise wheels decorated with death’s heads.
So finding new writers for Marvel who have positive attitudes and a love of truth, beauty, and goodness is going to be a challenge. Believing that Marvel would hire these people seems to be asking for a miracle. And if Marvel currently has writers who want to tell true, good, and beautiful stories with their characters, these writers appear to be few and far between. And these people are either barely hanging on to their jobs or they have left for greener pastures.
“All right, Mithril,” some of you say, “if these are the problems, just what are we supposed to do about them? Marvel is a big company and they won’t let just anyone in. They specifically tell aspiring artists and storytellers, ‘Don’t call us, we’ll call you.’ How are we going to fix a company that doesn’t want to be fixed?”
Good question. There are several options available to fans, readers. If you are like me and my friends, and you do not like the stories which Marvel is publishing, keep doing what you have been doing: avoid their new comics like the plague. This means that their sales will keep plummeting and they will, sooner or later, be forced to clean up their act in order to stay in business. Or they will finally hire people who will do this service for us. Either way, remember that money talks. If your money is not going into their pockets, then the silence will get their attention.
Another option is to become a writer yourself. If you write good stories and books and they sell well, are positively reviewed, and have the masses talking with mouths and wallets, then Marvel will probably notice you. Then maybe – just maybe – you will get lucky and they will tap you to write for them.
If you do manage to accomplish this feat, then I would add the caveat that you do your best to keep your eye on the prize. Put your slippers under your bed, as Denzel Washington advised, so that you always have to kneel down to get them in the morning. You got where you are by telling good, true, and beautiful stories, and this is what you want to do with Marvel’s heroes. Keep that goal in mind and you should be fine.
If you are not much of a storyteller, and you are already speaking by not buying Marvel’s comics, then you can always write letters to Marvel in order to explain your displeasure with them. This is what I do; I watch Marvel’s movies, read the older comics, and critique the cartoons. Besides blogging about the characters I enjoy as much as I can, I also write letters to Marvel’s top echelons, telling them what I think of their new comics (and I don’t think much of them).
You can do this, too, readers. Marvel has five different email addresses where you can send letters, as well as a section for general feedback on their website. I have never gone that route, so I cannot tell you what to expect if you try it. However, if you write letters to Marvel, put OKAY TO PRINT alongside your email’s subject heading and send it to one or all of the following addresses: onlinesupport@marvel.com, spideyoffice@marvel.com, officex@marvel.com, mheroes@marvel.com, and/or mondomarvel@marvel.com. And do not be threatening when you write to them. Believe me; they will notice your letters, even if they are politely phrased.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and we Marvel fans have more right to be squeaky than that posse of small-minded critics and “cultural gatekeepers” do. Unless these people actually buy Marvel’s comics in droves (which they very obviously do not), they are not the audience the company has to please. It was our money that made Marvel what it is today, not the critics’ pens. I say it is high time we reminded Marvel of this fact.
For myself, I will continue to do all of the above. I know I sound as though I am crusading against Marvel’s hierarchy, and I guess I am, after a fashion. But I am doing so as a customer who desperately wants to preserve an enjoyed and admired product, so that I can pass it on to others to enjoy in the future.
I want to be entertained by Marvel for many more years, readers. Right now, they are not entertaining me OR legions of their fans. They are trying to force their view of the world on us through these “new,” PC characters, destroying the good and great and true ones in the process. That is cultural bullying, which is a form of intellectual tyranny. It must be stopped. The only way that we can convince Marvel’s management to right the ship is to tell them why we are not buying their product. But we have to actually tell them if we are to have any hope of returning Marvel Comics to the good, the great, and the true, which is timeless.
Until next time, readers….EXCELSIOR!!!!
This entry was posted in Essay, Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories and tagged "mainstream" Marvel Universe, #nohydracap, All-New All-Different Marvel Comics, Amadeus Cho, Avengers, Bengal, Beth Elderkin, Black Panther/King T'Challa, Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Captain America Nazi, Captain America/Sam Wilson, Captain America/Steve Rogers, comic books, David Gabriel, Death, declining sales, Denzel Washington, Disassembled, diversity, diversity in Marvel Comics, Essay, Falcon/Sam Wilson, female superheroes, first black superhero, Gwen Stacey/Spider-Girl, House of M, hulk, HYDRA, Ironheart/Riri Williams, Jane Foster, Jane Foster/Thor, Kamala Khan, letters, Luke Cage, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, Marvel fans, Marvel Female Superheroes, Marvel Generations, Marvel's 2015 Secret Wars, Marvel's hierarchy, Mirage/Danielle Moonstar, Misty Knight, Ms. Marvel, Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, politically correct, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, Red Wolf, sales, Scarlet Witch, Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff, Silverclaw/Maria Santiago, Stan Lee, Strong Women, Sunfire, superheroes, The Scarlet Witch, Thor Odinson, Thorette, Thunderbird, Ultimate Marvel Comics, Vietnam, women, women in Marvel Comics, writing, Young Avengers on June 27, 2017 by The Mithril Guardian.
Season 3 of Avengers Assemble Review
Last year I did a post called “Avengers Assemble Season Three – How Is It So Far?” That post covered the first eight episodes of the third season. Reading it, you will find that I was most pleased with what I had seen at the time.
Now that the “Ultron Revolution” has run its course and “Secret Wars” – hopefully no relation to the lousy 2015 comic book event – are in our viewing future, you might be asking yourselves: what did I think of the rest of season three?
Let’s find out.
Since I wrote individual posts on the episodes “Inhumans Among Us” and “Captain Marvel,” these stories will not be discussed at length herein. If you wish to know what this writer thought of those episodes, use the search engine to find the posts about “Inhumans Among Us” and “Captain Marvel,” readers.
“The Inhuman Condition” was much better than its predecessor, “Inhumans Among Us,” in my book. There was no angst, no fuss, no muss, just cooperation between the Avengers and Black Bolt. Lockjaw giving Cap a few licks was good, too, since it showed that even a dog can recognize how great Steve is. It was wonderful to watch Hawkeye being his usual confident self instead of a doofus. It was also nice to hear Tony actually ask for help for a change, and watching Thor smash Ultron is always fun. Ah, I love the sound of Mjolnir hitting maniacal robots in the morning, don’t you?
Now “The Kids Are Alright” I had some problems with, and there are friends of mine who have issues with it as well. One, for instance, hated that Khan interrupted Cap when he gave the kids a tour of the Tower. Another friend considers Khan to be nothing more than an annoyance during the episode’s run, since she has no purpose in the narrative of the show. She did not demonstrate any depth of character, either; she is just a fangirl who got lucky and ended up with superpowers.
What is this author’s opinion? I am no fan of Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. To me, she is no more entertaining than her namesake. Also, Khan was not allowed by the writers to make any mistakes in combat during this show. She and Inferno had been using their powers for all of, what, a week? And yet she is a better fighter than he is? I am sorry but no, no, no, and no. Rookies do not do that well on the job in their first weeks; it does not happen unless they are extremely talented and/or lucky. Luck I will admit Khan has, but as for talent, it does not take much to imitate Mr. Fantastic – who should at least be mentioned in this series, by the way!
I thought that Inferno got short shrift here, too, being portrayed as the cocky kid who runs into a situation without thinking. I can handle a callow youth or a hothead, but the fact is that these often unwelcome traits do not necessarily add up to stupidity, which is the direction the Marvel writers appeared to be heading with the character in “The Kids Are All Right.” Inferno can do much better, but it does not seem that the writers want him to do better. They ought to bring Dante into “Secret Wars” as part of the Earth-bound Avengers just to give him a better showing than the one he got in season three.
On the bright side, Cap and Hawkeye did well in this show. Cap was his usual charming and encouraging self while Hawkeye got to prove (again) that although he may not be a super genius, this does not mean he is stupid. The sad thing is that they are the only saving graces in an otherwise politically correct, namby-pamby, wishy-washy, feel-good episode. You can tell I was not “feeling the love” from this show, can’t you, readers?
In contrast, I thought that “The Conqueror” and “Into the Future” were much better installments in the series. Bringing Kang into the story sets up a primary villain for season four, and no one can say that Kang is a fifth rate villain. He is no Dr. Doom (despite his mysterious relation to him), nor is he Magneto, but he probably ranks third behind those two masterminds of evil. Having Tony tweak him and get him angry was a good trick for the first episode, and showing Cap best him in the Jurassic period was the highlight of “Into the Future.”
My one problem with “Into the Future” is that none of the male rebels, aside from Thor, got a speaking part. Layla was a good character, and the hint that the red-headed girl who had tried to improve Tony’s Omega suit could be his great-great-great-great-great granddaughter was nice. The nod to Kate Bishop also did not go unnoticed by yours truly. In fact, the whole idea of a rebellion against Kang’s rule was genius, in my opinion. I wish someone had thought of it years ago! (For all I know they did, but if so, I never heard about it.)
But the fact remains that some of the guys in Thor’s rebellion should have been allowed to say at least one word. Having Thor as their leader and letting him give the speeches was good; along with the rebellion twist, it made a lot of sense. He is Asgardian and immortal – practically speaking, anyway. Of course he would live into the thirtieth century, where he would start a rebellion against Kang’s tyranny, and of course he would end up bald as Odin. But at least ONE of the male rebels in Thor’s band should have been allowed to talk instead of being used as scenery filler.
This is a minor quibble with an otherwise excellent episode, but it is an important one to make. Marvel is trying to feminize its franchise, from Iron Man to Thor to Hawkeye and beyond. I am tired of it. The company already has great female leads; they do not need a bunch of milksop fems strutting across the screen, attempting to be something they are not. If they want to add new characters to help tell new stories, that is fine. But trying to replace the originals with newbies like Khan does not work; to the best of my knowledge, it never has. And when they try to make all their heroes female, the writers make matters worse. Remember, I like Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, Tony Stark, Thor Odinson, Bruce Banner, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, Vision, Quicksilver, and many of the other male leads in Marvel because they are male. And I am not the only one. I wish that Marvel would get this fact through its thick, corporate head already and let me save my breath on this issue.
Now we will go back to business. In “Seeing Double” we watch as Natasha faces off against Black Widow wannabe Yelena Belova. I have read about the character but never seen her, and this episode is a very impressive introduction for her. It fleshed out Natasha’s character in the bargain, and the hint that maybe she did not throw away the thumb drive said to contain her real memories was an unexpected twist. Making the Hulk into a large, green version of the Winter Soldier was something that I did not see coming. My only disappointment is that we never got to see Bucky here or during season three.
Then we have “A Friend in Need,” where Vision is introduced to the team. It was a nice installment, from Thor’s taking him to Asgard and teaching him about friendship to Vision’s nearly permanent sacrifice to save his friends. The three-way training session with Cap, Widow, and Hawkeye was a good bonus point, as was Vision playing video games with Hulk and Thor at the end. Very cute scene!
After this we had “Panther’s Rage,” an episode that presented T’Challa/Black Panther, Wakanda, and the Dora Milaje in an interesting way. Hawkeye’s flirting with Aneka was somewhat irritating, but their resultant friendship had a much better vibe to it. Cap and Thor’s ability to understand Panther and their subsequent friendships with him were believable and fun as well. And watching the pack of them kick Klaue’s fanny was great, as usual. But I am kind of getting tired of T’Challa always showing up on the Avengers’ doorstep angry. How about a little variety next time, Marvel writers?
“Ant-Man Makes It Big” was a fun episode in which Marvel proved that, despite many changes over the years, they still like to poke fun at themselves from time to time. Thor teaching a snobby actor the reality of life was a plus, as was Hawkeye’s easy acceptance of Scott and his new job. Having Widow angry at Scott for leaving the Avengers was an interesting and compelling development. It is nice to see that they have completely separated her from their original Amazonian stereotype and allowed her to be the character she always has been.
After this came “House of Zemo.” This show is one of my favorites and it had many good points, one of these being the redemption of Cap’s father after the debacle where Marvel tried to make the First Avenger a secret operative of HYDRA in the comics last year. In search of a photo he can use to draw a picture of his father, Cap leaves Avengers Tower on his birthday (July 4th), in order to clear his head and jog his memory. Hawkeye, who actually had a lousy father in the comics and apparently in Assemble as well, still palpably empathizes with Cap’s desire to remember and draw his father’s face. The rapport between the two is handled with an artist’s touch here and makes this episode an adventure worth remembering. 😉
There was one thing about “House of Zemo,” however, that felt off to me: Helmut Zemo’s “redemption” at the end of the show. It felt forced and tacked on. I agree that he can reform; that is not what bothered me. It is that the writers brought about his change of heart too fast to be believable and satisfactory. They jammed it into an otherwise moving story, as though they thought no one would like an episode where Hawkeye, the fatherless, anchorless Avenger, helped the most grounded member of the team reconnect with his own father.
Maybe they were right, but I doubt it seriously. Of course, perhaps they thought Helmut Zemo could make the leap with ease, since in this series he is in fact a very old man, but he looks and acts young thanks to taking his father’s variant of the Super Soldier Serum. It still feels cheap to me, though, and that is why I make such a fuss about it.
The episodes “U-Foes,” “Building the Perfect Weapon,” and “World War Hulk” were great installments. The U-Foes, I think, would make viable fifth-rate villains in season four, but I do not like Widow’s taking offense when Red Hulk labeled everyone on the team “men” at the end of “World War Hulk.” No, she is not a man, but his use of the term is normal and hardly material for an affront, unless he is addressing a room full of women. This he definitely did not do within the show. I would think any female Avenger would ignore this unimportant phrase and deal with the bigger issue – the fact that Red Hulk thought he was the team’s leader. Who died and made him king?
Another thing which irritated me in these shows was how Cap acquiesced to Hulk wearing the inhibitor collar. His unabashed appreciation of Red Hulk’s military analysis of situations was equally bothersome. Just because Ross was once a U.S. general with a modicum of talent, it does not make him a great guy. I found it irksome that the writers thought Cap should appreciate Red’s ability to tactically assess a base –especially since he showed that this skill did not stretch nearly far enough. Cap is better than that, people. Stop treating him like a cookie-cutter tin soldier. He is no such thing!
One of the things I did enjoy here is that Hulk got to stay on Earth, instead of being tossed off-world and ending up in a gladiatorial arena. Another beautiful touch to the “World War Hulk” episode was the hint of romance between Big Green and Black Widow. Though they have done it before, in this Hulk-centered episode, it had more than its usual impact for viewers.
The romance the writers have developed between Natasha and Hulk in Avengers Assemble is something I have come to like quite a bit. It fits the narrative and it gives me hope that, should the writers bring Mockingbird and/or Sharon Carter on the scene, they will be able to handle a Romance Reel with them and their guys as well as they have managed Natasha and the Hulk’s duet. It also lets me hope that when Cap and Tony meet Peggy Carter in season four, the writers will be able to portray that romance with the same adroit touch they have used for Natasha and Hulk.
The “Civil War” story arc was truly impressive. For one thing, it was really, really, REALLY nice not to have Tony and Cap trying to kill each other here. The pluses continued to mount when the Mighty Avengers were formed as the antagonistic team, with Princess Sparkle Fists (a.k.a. Captain Marvel) at the head of the group. My only regret is that the writers did not hand her off to the Hulk during the battle. At least he would have actually hit her.
The moment when Hawkeye convinced Songbird to leave the Mighty Avengers for the Avengers was superb. I had hoped to see Songbird before season three’s conclusion as part of the Avengers or as the leader of the Thunderbolts. The writers surpassed my wildest dreams in this regard for her, and they outdid themselves on Hawkeye’s characterization in this moment. His general deportment throughout the “Civil War” conflict was perfect. I am really happy with the fact that they have stopped using him as the team pratfall in every episode. 😀
Ant-Man and Falcon fighting while flying was a great nod to the film franchise, as was Vision’s accidentally injuring Cap with Mjolnir. It was also highly satisfying to watch Little Miss Stretch pull one of Iron Man’s moves from Age of Ultron, hitting Hulk when he was not expecting it. Rookie though he is, even Inferno would have known better than to do that.
But the most surprising moment in the season finale came when Ultron hacked Tony’s suit and arc reactor, thereby taking control of both his mind and body. It was the biggest shock of the event. I did not see that coming, which was the entire point. The Marvel writers truly pulled a rabbit out of their hat when they did it. I only hope the team can purge Ultron from Tony’s system during season four’s “Secret Wars.” Otherwise, I am not going to be a happy camper.
To sum up, there are only a few things I have left to say, and they are about the next season of Avengers Assemble. Season three broke new ground for the team by bringing in new players such as Songbird and the Thunderbolts, along with Inferno, Vision, and Black Panther.
The additions of villains such as Yalena Belova, Kang the Conqueror, the U-Foes, Egghead, and others expanded Assemble’s villain cadre nicely. Not every season has to revolve around Ultron, Thanos, and Red Skull, after all. And the Avengers do not have to fight Dracula or MODOK every day, either. It is nice to see old enemies with new schemes fighting our heroes. They should get to fight some B, C, and D rated villains like Egghead every now and then. Save a city instead of the planet – piece of cake. Although I do miss watching the team as they tangle with Dr. Doom and Magneto. Doom has disappeared from Assemble and since Marvel is not interested in mixing mutants into its Avengers cartoons anymore, any chance to see how the team would slap down the Master of Magnetism has evaporated. Rats. I would have liked to view that.
The upgraded characterizations of our favorite heroes righted the problems I noted in posts about the first and second seasons of the show. They were overdue, but better late than never. These changes have made Assemble much stronger as a series than when it began. I hope that, when it comes time to replace Assemble, I will not have to lecture the writers again on the issues which I pointed out in those prior posts. I will not, however, be holding my breath on that hope.
With regard to the original seven Avengers on the team, I would like to ask the Marvel writers to keep up the good work. Leave the stereotypes in the trash, where they belong, and run the characters according to the tried and true formula which you know actually works.
Secondly, I would like to ask the writers to please, please drop Jane Foster/“Thorette” from the line-up for season four!! She will be a DISASTER, people! Do not shoot yourselves in the foot here!
Three, let Inferno grow and learn from the Avengers. And while I applaud the addition of Black Panther, Songbird, Vision, and soon the Wasp to the series, do not stop there. We want Mockingbird, Spectrum, War Machine, the Winter Soldier, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Power Man, and many of the other heroes from the comics to at least get a mention in season four. If we are going to have more than the four seasons, then by all means, add them to the cast list. Just because they are not part of the films and live action TV shows, this should not prevent the writers from adding them to the cartoon series. And Scarlet Witch is, in fact, part of the film franchise. So why have she and Quicksilver been left out of Assemble?!?!? It makes no sense to leave the twins out, Marvel writers!
Last but most important, I wish to remind the writers that we watch the Avengers because we like good stories with great characters, not because we are looking for a lecture on social justice or the latest cause celeb. If we want any of that junk, we will turn on the news or go to a tabloid stand. Since we are coming to you, it means we want to get away from those things for a little while.
Just tell us some good stories, okay? That is all any of us want out of fiction writers. Good stories, well told, with enduring characters. All right?
Avengers – ASSEMBLE!!!
This entry was posted in Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, TV Shows and tagged Ant-Man/Scott Lang, archers, archery, arrows, Avengers, Avengers Assemble, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Bolt, Black Panther/King T'Challa, Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, cartoons, children's animated tv shows, Civil War, Disney TV Shows, Dr. Doom, Dracula, Egghead, Falcon/Sam Wilson, General Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, hulk, Hulk/Bruce Banner, HYDRA, Inferno/Dante Pertuz, Inhuman Among Us, Inhumans, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Jane Foster/Thor, Kamala Khan, Kang the Conqueror, Layla, Lockjaw, Marvel Comics' Characters and Stories, marvel tv shows, Marvel's 2015 Secret Wars, Mjolnir, Mr. Fantastic, Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards, Ms. Marvel, Odin, political correctness, Princess Sparkle Fists, Red Hulk, Rocket Raccoon, Secret Wars, SHIELD, Songbird/Melissa Gold, Songbird/Screaming Mimi, superheroes, superpowers, supervillains, The Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, The Inhuman Condition, The Kids Are All Right, Thor, Thor Odinson, Thor/Jane Foster, Thorette, Tony Stark, TV series, TV Shows, ultron, Vision, Yelena Belova on May 12, 2017 by The Mithril Guardian.
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CW Looking to Add New Arrowverse Series in 2020 — Any Guesses?
By Matt Webb Mitovich / August 4 2019, 10:18 AM PDT
Courtesy of The CW
As Arrow approaches its final 10 episodes, and even with Batwoman set to swing into action this fall, The CW is already eyeballing another addition to the Arrowverse.
Appearing at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Sunday, CW president Mark Pedowitz told reporters that the network is looking to add another DC Comics property to its slate, for the 2020-2021 TV season.
Arrowverse 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' Crossover: Everything We Know
Pedowitz firmly declined to hint at what that property might be, though he later confirmed that it would be immediately set in the Arrowverse (as opposed to Black Lightning, which will have aired for two-plus seasons before officially joining the fold via the five-part “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover airing late this fall).
As for whether the “next generation” of Arrow characters — including 2040 versions of Mia and William — introduced in the Arrowverse flagship series’ seventh season and continuing into the farewell run might be considered for their own offshoot, Pedowitz told TVLine, “There’s a possibility, but we haven’t fully had the discussion about that one way or another.”
Want scoop on any of the above shows? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
TAGS: Arrow, The CW
GET MORE: Arrowverse, TCA Press Tour
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Category: Dear White People
Dear White People (S02E04) “Chapter IV”
Chapter IV begins with a group of white students airing out their thoughts about Armstrong Parker’s integration to Coco (Antoinette Robertson).… More
Dear White People (S02E03) “Chapter III”
Episode 3 of Dear White People focuses on former journalist Lionel Higgins (DeRon Horton). This episode looks at the aftermath of The Independent’s demise and Lionel’s relationship with former editor, Silvio (D.J.… More
Dear White People (S01E02) “Chapter II”
Episode two of Dear White People focuses on Reggie Green (Marque Richardson). Three weeks ago Reggie stared down the barrel of a campus police officer’s gun.… More
Dear White People (S02E01) “Chapter I”
Sam goes on a social media rampage against and alt-right troll
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HomeClassic Christian Manifesto (see pages below as well)6. Basic Bibliography
(Texts marked with * I own. Texts with + I don’t own but have used/read.)
Anthologies of Classic Christian Texts
Bettenson, Henry, ed. Documents of the Christian Church, 2nd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1963.)*
Foster, Richard J. and Emilie Griffen, eds. Spiritual Classics. (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2000.)*
Foster, Richard J. and James Bryan Smith, eds. Devotional Classics. (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1993.)*
Richardson, Cyril C. Early Christian Fathers. (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1953.)*
Rowell, Geoffrey; Kenneth Stevenson, and Rowan Williams, eds. Love’s Redeeming Work: The Anglican Quest for Holiness. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.)*
Series of Classic Christian Texts for those who want more than a taste but aren’t sure where to look
The Early Church Fathers. This comprises the three series The Ante-Nicene Fathers and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers vols. I & II. Hendrickson, 1994. (cbd.com)
Loyola Classics is a series of classic Catholic novels published by the Loyola Press; I have Helena and Mr. Blue from this series, and it is definitely worth a perusal. (loyolapress.org)
The Library of Christian Classics. This 26-volume set covers from early church fathers (the volume I own) through Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Reformation. (cbd.com)
The Popular Patristics Series. Published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, this series of 33 volumes offers Eastern Patristic writers in readable, affordable English translations. (svspress.com)
Some books in the Cistercian Studies Series are translations of classic texts, such as the sayings of the Desert Fathers.
Protestant Books Concerning “Classic” Christianity & The Disciplines
Foster, Richard J. Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.*
—. The Celebration of Discipline.*
Hall, Christopher A. Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers.*
—. Learning Theology with the Church Fathers.*
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity.*
Oden, Thomas C. The Rebirth of Orthodoxy. HarperCollins, 2002.+
Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines.*
Lives of Those Who Have Gone Before
Butler’s Lives of the Saints
The Dictionary of Christian Biography
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
The Oxford Dictionary of Saints*
There are also series of missionary biographies.
The Christian Classics Ethereal Library: ccel.org
The Cyber Hymnal: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/
Early Christian Writings: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/
The Fathers @ New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers
The Internet Medieval Sourcebook (not strictly Christian, but some good stuff is here): http://www.fordham.edu/halsall.sbook.html
The Oremus Hymnal: http://www.oremus.org/hymnal
The St. Pachomius Library (EO): http://www.voskrese.info/spl/index.html
The Tertullian Project (about Tertullian with his works, life, and links to other Fathers): http://www.tertullian.org/
Likeminded Organisations
The Prayer Book Society of Canada: http://www.prayerbook.ca/
More to come later!
Anglican Mainstream, “Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Charismatic”: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/
Gloria Deo: Wesleyan-glican Ramblings: http://gloria-deo.blogspot.com/
Hyperekperissou: http://uperekperisou.blogspot.com/
The Internet Monk, “Dispatches from the Post-Evangelical Wilderness”: http://www.internetmonk.com/
John Michael Talbot: http://johnmichaeltalbot.blogspot.com/
Ancient Faith Radio: http://ancientfaith.com/
Orthodox Saints and Feasts: http://www.abbamoses.com/
The Catholic Encyclopedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/index.html
Jeremy’s Blog: http://classiccanadian.blogspot.com/
The Rest of New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/
Eastern Orthodox Resources
Carlton, Clark. The Faith: What Every Protestant Should Know About the Orthodox Church. Worth a look, although you may find yourself not fitting his description of “Protestant.”+
The Orthodox Study Bible. The entire Bible is coming out now, not just the NT, with a new translation of the Septuagint.+
The Philokalia+. There is a multi-volume English translation of the complete Philokalia. There are also anthologies of selections from throughout this work, chiefly ones on prayer.
Schmemann, Alexander. For the Life of the World.*
Ware, Kallistos (Timothy). The Orthodox Way.
Ware, Timothy (Kallistos). The Orthodox Church.*
The Way of a Pilgrim. Excellent book available in various English translations. I lost my first copy and gave away my second. Someday I’ll get a third.+
Roman Catholic Resources NB: With many thanks to Jeremy Johnson (books marked with # are his recommendations)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church*
Chesterton, GK. Orthodoxy.*
—. St. Francis of Assisi.*
—. St. Thomas Aquinas.
Howard, Thomas. On Being Catholic. #
Knox, Ronald. What Catholics Believe. #
Ratzinger, Joseph. (Benedict XVI) Introduction to Christianity. #
Talbot, John Michael. The Music of Creation.*
—. The Lessons of St. Francis.*
—. Any of his CDs, my favourites being The Regathering, Meditations from Solitude, and the one that is all music from the Mass.
—. His blog (see link above).
Wilken, Robert Louis. Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God. #
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Soft Murmuring
Posted by thepygmygiant in Flash Fiction on September 29, 2010
by Michael Ross
Coming full circle. That makes it sound something geometrically perfect. Not this raggedy mess of a journey which has brought her here, back to where she started.
Downstairs she can hear her father scurrying around the house; old noises, predictable squeaks of doors, the clanking of a teapot on the clapped out Aga. But sadly just one pair of feet shuffling from room to room.
She closes the bedroom door, applying the usual pressure to get past the aged door frame. She closes her eyes, not sure if she wants to travel back, but knowing her head has no choice. The delicate dampness of the rectory’s old walls smells no better or worse, the bed creaks in agonies as she lies on it for the first time in twenty odd years. How long ago? The maths make her a thirty six year old schoolgirl, the oldest school prefect in the world, hiding away from the real world which batters away outside these walls. Nothing has really changed. Maybe some things, as she realises she has been waiting for her mother’s soft murmuring of Methodist hymns as she potters around the house. It used to irritate her like mad, now she would give anything to hear her sweet distant voice again. Father must miss it a million times more, a million times more. As if he is reading her thoughts he breaks into song: “And did those feet in ancient times…” word perfect, pitch perfect. He breaks off and shouts up the stairs.
“Jenny. Tea’s ready. Do you want a toasted tea cake?”
A few more minutes to compose herself would be good.
“Yes please Daddy, I will be down in a minute.”
She walks to the bedroom window, resting her left hand on the dull pink wash basin as she stares out at the world. In twenty years the oak tree has grown strong, thick and bushy. Thin branches which she used to look down on her are now firm and strong, and meet her at eye level. A spindly branch, full of leaf, brushes a scratchy welcome on the window pane; her head turns and twists as she studies this one leaf which is saying:
“So you’re back,” scratch, scrape, scuff.
“Jenny – it’s ready.”
She opens the window and snaps the end off the branch; it cracks like a broken finger. Then she throws the leaf and its family onto the lawn. Sometimes it is easy to end a relationship without too much pain, she thinks, and then shivers as she pictures the broken branch with bark torn like broken skin.
The sweet smell of the teacake passes her on the stairs as she makes her cautious way to the kitchen. The clutter of the room remains a homage to her mother; pots, pans, jars, bottles, colanders, graters, herbs, spices, magazines, books fight a rearguard action to retain their sovereignty, although their ruler passed away more than five years ago.
She studies her father from behind as he fusses away with a blunt knife buttering away at the teacake, his back slightly hunched, his hair lank and thinning, his shirt unknowingly flapping outside his crumpled trousers. Not so long ago a hundred strong congregation would hang on his every word. The same hymn is whispering over the kitchen table, he spins about to call out to her again, then sees her stood before him. His eyes thunder feelings of love across to her; she cannot meet his gaze, because he knows her too well, he reads those lying eyes and still forgives her every time, every single time.
They share the table, chit-chatting about everything and nothing, when the kitchen clock emits the sound of a robin warbling, it must be six o’clock. He leaps to his feet, “Come, come.”
The old routine, every evening whenever possible the whole family had to sit down together and watch the evenings news, followed by vigorous debates between the six of them, their father acting like a chairman, stimulating conversation, provoking thought amongst them. They had all been glad to grow up and leave those evenings behind them, now she ached for just one more chance to hear brother John’s strident liberalism, Ann’s feminist dogma, her mother’s silent observation. Her father’s joy at the family community.
The national news drifted by, bank profits, fires in Spain, royal visits to Pakistan. Not a word meant anything to her. Then the local news; another local factory closed down, a man’s unidentified body found in local woods.
She walked over to the television and pressed the off button and turned to face her faithful father.
“Daddy, I have something terrible to tell you.”
Michael Ross is a mature (very old) student at Bristol Uni who loves writing short stories.
You are currently browsing the archives for September, 2010
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THE HISTORICAL IMPEACHMENT OF A PRESIDENT
On Wednesday the full House of Representatives votes on two articles of impeachment against President Donald John Trump. The charges are on constitutional grounds. The first article is that Trump misused the power of his office by soliciting and pressuring a foreign government, Ukraine, to investigate his domestic political rival and interfering in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. The second article charged that the President categorically obstructed the congressional impeachment inquiry into his conduct. The report to the congress before voting said, “Trump is engaged in a pattern of misconduct that will continue if left unchecked.” The report also said “Trump sought to write the impeachment clause out of the constitution.” The Trump Administration hasn’t been forthcoming and has stonewalled the hearings at every turn. The trial will be held in the Senate that Speaker Mitch and Senator Lindsey Graham have already declared will not be a fair trial. Mitch is working with White House and Trump lawyers to plan strategy and “Little Lindsey,” the prosecutor in the senate, says, “Dead on arrival.” It’s really sad watching what is happening to our country.*****I’ve got to move on. Come along, I promise it won’t do you no harm.
REMEMBERING “MISS JENNY”
Virginia Nell Cox, 91, passed away Dec. 12, 2019. Funeral service was held Dec. 14 with burial at Greenlawn Cemetery. I had known Jenny and Millard Cox for 25 or so years. They had been married 71 years. Mark first introduced me to Cox as our neighbor and from that day on he became “Neighbor Cox.” His family calls him Billy. Our newspaper was located in the Creaux’s Nest building, in Mr. Cox’s neighborhood. Cox and I spent a lot of time at an old spool table under the Hackberry tree until Hurricane Ike drove us off. Those were great years spent with Cox and Miss Jenny. She was a pretty lady, very nice and I always found her to be soft spoken, always a lady. Cox would plow the soil and Jenny’s green thumb planted the seeds. They produced great crops that the Cox’s shared with the neighborhood. All the original folks in that neighborhood are now gone except Bill Nickum and Cox. Over the last three years Jenny had spent her time at Golden Years Assisted Living. Putting her in a nursing home is something Cox prayed he would never have to do. He wanted to take care of her but because of her dementia that became impossible. It broke his heart. He had loved her since they were youngsters in Joaquin. He visited her every day, usually bringing her fruit or nuts which she enjoyed. I often felt sadness for him. He is blessed with good health for a 95 year old but living alone after he and Jenny’s long life together can be very lonely. He has a great family. Their marriage produced a son Rodney and a daughter Karen and many offspring. Cox, a WWII veteran, has weathered the storms of life, losing parents and all his siblings. He’s left with a family who he’s been a great example to. He’ll miss Jenny as we all will but Cox knows she’s better off now in her Heavenly home. May she rest in peace. Our condolences to all the family members and friends. I’m proud to have shared the friendship of Jenny and Neighbor Cox. He and I will ride the rest of the trip together in friendship.
THE LONGHORNS FIRST BLACK PLAYER
Last week’s column on the 50th anniversary of the big Texas vs Arkansas “Shootout,” that Texas won 15-14, brought a lot of response, some from far away. What got the most attention was that the national championship game featured only all White players. The first Black letterman at Texas was Julius Whittier, who made his debut in 1970, one season after the all White national championship team. Texas Board of Regents dropped its ban on Black players in 1963, but integration was painfully slow and difficult. Whittier, from San Antonia, was one of only 300 of the 35,000 students who were Black. Whittier starred two years at guard then switched to tight-end as a senior in 1972. That season he caught every touchdown pass the Longhorns threw. In Whittier’s three seasons Texas was 20-1 in the Southwest Conference, 28-5 overall. He earned a Philosophy and Law degree from Texas. He went on to be a criminal prosecutor in Dallas. He died Sept. 25, 2018, at the age of 68. He had been battling Alzheimer’s. In 2014, his family sued the NCAA on behalf of college players who suffered brain damage. The case is still pending. The rest is history at Texas with Roosevelt Leaks, Earl Thomas and many former NFL stars to follow, including Earl Thomas of Orange. Julius Whittier started it all.
TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME
10 Years Ago-2009
We would like to wish some of our special senior citizen friends a very Merry Christmas to Wilson “King” Dunn, married 72 years.***To our friend Dot Eshbach, the former world traveler with her late friend Margaret Saint.*** Millard “Neighbor Cox” and Ms. Jenny, who received an early present Tuesday from grandson Kevin Duplechain and wife Erin. They are the proud new parents of a baby girl. His mom, Karen, former Bridge City teacher, was traveling from her home in Oklahoma to Dallas to see she and Keith’s first grandchild.*** Best wishes to WWII veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor Cedric Stout and his bride Cherry. He makes us proud to know him.***A very Merry Christmas to a new friend we found this year, Pearl Burgess Stanfield, age 89, a remarkable, lovely lady.***To Anabel Anderson, our friend of many years. We will always cherish the friendship A great lady with an outstanding family.***To one special gal, Inez Hearn, who has been a joy to know.***To Joyce “Poche” Bernard, a Cajun queen.***Shannon Messer, a prince of a guy.*** Adolph “the old coach” Hryhorchuk. (Editor’s note: Today all are gone.)***** We were saddened to learn of the death of Joel Elliott Jeffcote, 64, who passed away Sunday. Services were Wednesday (Dec. 23). In his life Joel accomplished a lot. We knew him as a power broker with Gulf States who blazed a trail in both Louisiana and Texas. Joel was a doer, very active and exceptionally smart, no matter where he traveled Bridge City was always home.*****Texas Monthly published their Bum Steer of the Year awards. The 2010 Bum Steer of the Year goes to Tom DeLay. I believe he should get it for the last decade. Gov. Perry made the list also with a host of others.
Obituaries 10 Years Ago-2009
Bravo Frederick Jr., 82, of Mauriceville, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16. Funeral services were Saturday. Bravo worked as a safety inspector for Mobil Oil and retired after 36 years. He served in the U.S. Army and was also a member of Masonic Lodge. Bravo is survived by his son Russell Frederick; grandchildren, Michael Frederick and Becky Frederick; four great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter and sister, Wanda Linscomb.***** Edith L. Rhoads, 95, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 15. Services were held on Friday. In 1954, they moved their family to Orange, and took ownership of the Dairy Queen on Park Avenue. That store was built in 1945, and when it was demolished in 1974, to make way for the new building now still standing, was the oldest continuously operating Dairy Queen in the State of Texas. They owned the Orange County franchise for Dairy Queen, and continued in the business, eventually opening three more stores in Orange County. She is survived by her three children, Benny Rhoads, Bartley Rhoads; daughter, Claire Rhoads Smith; five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
Editor’s note: Below are some of the people who were in our lives, friends we have written about, folks who played an important part in our community. We can’t cover them all but here are some who have made an impact 40 years ago. Judge Sid Callavet, W.T. Oliver, Sheriff Chester Holts, Dewey “Teddy Bear” Cox, A. J. Judice, Cecil Beeson, Louis Dugas, T.L., Sue and Buzzie Gunn, Jimmy Conn, Judge James Neff, Henry and J.D. Stanfield, Jackie Harmon, Paul Cormier, Bill and Elaine Townes, Tony Dal Sasso, Frank Zeto, Jim Morris, Bubba Hubbard, Fred Gregory, Leon Parish, Elmer Newman, Gus Harris, Maurice Collier, Sally Frazier, P.M. “Red” Woods, Arthur Simpson, D. Roy Harrington, Judge Graham Bruce, Alvin Keown, Ann and Jimmy Segura, Major Inman, Larry Gunter, Jim Stelly, Bob Montagne, Jim Gilliam, C.R. Nash, Larry Ward, Leland and Vivian Morrow, Marlin Thompson, Judge Malcolm Dorman, Davis Cooper, Charlie and Juliet Patton, Patsy Fisette, Tim Lieby, Joe and Inez Runnels, Bill Cunningham, Bill Hughes, Henry and Tony Houseman, Ed Bacon, Allen and Viola Bendy, Butch Lusigan, N.J. “Vic” Vicnair, Aton Williams, Dick Bevins, Tony, Frank and Betty Em Giarratano, Frank Manshack, Charlie Fredrick, Grover Halliburton, Lowell Scribner, Houston Baker, Gordon Baxter, Ed Lovelace, Vivian Dorman, J.B. Thibodeaux, A.J. Broussard, Uncle Jim McKay. (Editor’s note: All of the above people were mentioned in the pages of our newspaper in 1979 and are all today deceased. Their contributions while on this earth were many. Over the years they have been thought about often by friends and family.
A FEW HAPPENINGS
Our condolences to George Sehon and his large family on the death of his mother, Mary, who passed away Dec. 12, on George’s birthday. Funeral service was held Monday, Dec. 16, with burial at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches. Mary gave much of herself for the good of others. May she rest in peace.*****Condolences to Chief Deputy John Tarver and his family on the loss of his mother Marie Tarver, age 82, who passed away Dec. 10.*****We also were sorry to learn of the death of Larry Stringer, 80, who died Dec. 10. He was a great guy and will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Our deepest sympathies to Judge James Stringer and his family.*****We were glad to hear that Court-at-Law judge Troy Johnson ended up without an opponent. Judge Johnson has earned a second term. He cleared a clogged docket and earned the praise of most Orange County bar members. We hope to see Troy around a little more in the next term.*****We got a nice visit from longtime friend Lyle Overman. He suffered a stroke sometime back but has come a long way in regaining his physical abilities and speech. Unfortunately, the lifetime entertainer has lost his ability to play the piano and sing. He has entertained many over the years and was considered the best. Lyle was H.D. Pate’s favorite entertainer.*****Speaking of Pate, Henry Aimsworth, longtime union man, brought me a picture of Pate and his daughter Penny, then about 12 years old, meeting presidential candidate Michael Dukakis at Jefferson County airport. Pate and Henry both were “Yellow Dog Democrat.”*****A few of our friends celebrating in the next few days. Mayor Brown Claybar celebrates a birthday on Dec. 18.***Longtime friend Gina Cessac has a birthday Dec . 19.*** A great guy, Drainage District board member, longtime union leader Kenny Pigg celebrates another birthday Dec. 20.***A guy we’ve known since he was a young lawyer, the boy from Sanderson, in West Texas, retired district judge Buddie Hahn celebrates a birthday on Dec. 21. Two days later, on Dec. 23, he and Carol mark their 53rd wedding anniversary.***On Dec. 22, Dan and Manon Mohon celebrate their 57th anniversary. They are the mayor and first lady of Pinehurst.***Our buddy, a boy I remember in short pants, Buzzy and Dayle’s first born, Chris Gunn, celebrates a birthday Dec. 23. His claim to fame is that he’s married to pretty Cindy. Also happy birthday on Dec. 23 to Sue Cowling.***Al’s other half, Helen DeRoche, celebrates Dec. 24 and best wishes to Billy Moore and Mikey Dillon who have birthdays on Dec. 24.*****Houston Astros Gerrit Cole became a New York Yankee pitcher for a $324 million, nine-year contract plus other incentives. This figures to be $36 million a season, about $1.2 million per game or for an average of 110 pitches in seven innings of pitching. Not bad pay to play.*****Our friend John Heard came through with our Christmas citrus. We got a couple of bags of fresh picked grapefruit and a large bag of Orange County Navel oranges. The crop was a little late this year. Merry Christmas to John, Linda and their family. *****Sean and Collin Gros, of Bridge City, attended the big history making game Monday night at the New Orleans Superdome. Sean, an avid Saints fan, has watched the team at home and away. He was in the right place to witness the Saint’s 34-7 win over the Colts. He and Collin were able to watch Drew Brees break Payton Manning’s touchdown record of 539 by tying him, then Drew broke the record with another TD pass, making it 540. He then set a new record with touchdown 541. Today, Brees is four ahead of Tom Brady, who has 538. Sean was so excited he sent Ms. Phyl, his grandmother, a picture of what was happening in the stadium at the time. It was a special outing for the brothers. Brees is a Texas native who played high school at Austin West Lake.*****The Wednesday Lunch Bunch will hold its annual Christmas gathering at Robert’s this week. Hope to see many friends. The Lunch Bunch will not meet again until Jan. 8, 2020 to start the New Year. Everyone always welcome.
BREAUX BIRTHDAYS
On Dec. 18, Mandy Hoffman, Tracey Lynn Broussard and Mayor Brown Claybar celebrate birthdays. Also actors Brad Pitt 56, Ray Liotta, 65 and singer Christina Aguilera, 39.*****Dec. 19, finds Kirstie Parkhurst, Gina Cessae, Kristen Broussard, Christina Carpenter, Mitch Hidalgo and Bill Cardner celebrating birthdays. Joining them are actors Jake Gyllenhaal 39, Alyssa Milano 47, Jennifer Beals, 56.*****Celebrating on Dec. 20 are Joy Boyd, Jeremy Granger and Kenneth Pigg. Also celebrating are actor Jonah Hill 36, singer David Cook, 37 and baseball player David Wright, 37.*****On Dec. 21, Glenda Granger, Paula Hall and Rachel Guidry celebrate birthdays, also actors Samuel L. Jackson 71, Kiefer Sutherland 53, Jane Fonda 82, Ray Romano 62.*****Celebrating on Dec. 22 are Rodney Harmon, David Mohon, Yvonne Veillon, Debi Foster. They are joined by singers Meghan Trainor 26, Jordin Sparks, 30, new anchor Diane Sawyer, 74.*****On Dec. 23, longtime friends Chris Gunn and Sue Cowling celebrate birthdays. Also celebrating are actors Susan Lucci 73 and Sofia Black D’elia, 28 and model Holly Madison, 40.*****Dec. 24 finds Billy Moore, Terri Estes, Helen DeRoche and Mike Dillion having birthdays. Also celebrating are singer Ricky Martin 48, TV host Ryan Seacrest 45 and MMA fighter Jason Miller, 39.
CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK
A letter from Cuzzin Sostan.
Dear Cuz,
I’m dropping you a line to let you know wat’s going on with some of da old folks here. Miss Florene , Sugar Bee’s 93 year old aunt, drove to Lafayette las week to do some Christmas shopping. Da family didn’t know she was gone. While dere she call 911 on her cell and told dem dat her car had been broken into. Florene is hysterical her, she explains to da dispatcher, “Dey stole da stereo, da steering wheel, da brake pedal and even da accelerator.” Da dispatcher say, “Stay calm officer Comeaux is on his way.” A few minutes later Comeaux radios in, “Disregard,” da officer says, “She got in da back seat by mistake.”
I went to Abbeville Sunday to visit our old uncle Harold Breaux. I axe him, “Wat do you old folks do now dat you retired?” Uncle Harold say, “I’m fortunate me, I have a chemical engineering background. One of da tings I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, scotch and margaritas into pee and me, I’m damn good at it too.”
I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Sostan
C’EST TOUT
TECHNOLOGY HAS AND WILL CHANGE US
Over my lifetime we have come from a pair of mules pulling a load of sugar cane, four party phone link and electric lights to the internet and Smart phones. Who could have imagined that? The changes I’ve witnessed would take this entire column to cover so let’s just take a peek at just the last decade. Ten years is a long time for most every industry and in consumer tech it might as well be a lifetime. At the turn of the decade, 2010, Alexia was just another female name, self-driving cars were just a pipe dream, the IPad hadn’t launched yet or the photo sharing phenomenon Instagram, Folks being consumed by Facebook was yet to come. When Steve Jobs unveiled the IPad in January, 2010, it was considered the most famous tablet, second only to Moss’s tablets. It was always unrealistic to expect tablets to fully replace laptops that through the decade had been made possible by speedy advances in wireless bandwidth. Digital downloads gave way to streaming. Most of the products since 2010 have been labeled “Smart,” Smart thermostats, Smart refrigerators, Smart watches, Smart TV’s and Smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google Home. A big thing for consumers this past decade are the voice based personal assistants that live in Smart speakers in our phones, cars and even in our bathrooms. The Google assistant and Seri were not yet a thing 10 years ago. Consumer tech has come a far way in a short span. Now we can ask Alexa to flush the toilet. In just a few weeks we will embark on a new decade with changes coming so rapidly that it will blow our minds if it comes all at once. By the end of the new decade, in 2020, today’s progress will be old hat, just like the pair of mules is today. I won’t be here with you when that New Year’s Eve rolls around in 2029 and a new dawn, in a new decade, reveals things not yet thought of. Meanwhile, I hope to have finally mastered this old Smart phone that has been dumped for the newer Smart phone. As a boy I’ve drawn water from a pump well and read by the light of a coal-oil lamp. A sad iron pressed our clothes which had been washed on a scrub board. We shaved with a straight razor, kept sharp on a razor strap that doubled as a spanking tool for Mom to mostly threaten with. Yes, technology has followed me all these years and I’m not done yet.*****I’ve gotta go. Take care and a special blessing to all.
Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux's Nest
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Episode Review: Series Premiere of USA’s ‘Rush’
This weekend, I finally got around to watching the new medical drama on USA called Rush.
I was really looking forward to watching it since seeing the previews all month. I was especially excited because Sarah Habel, the girl who played Daphne in MTV‘s Underemployed is Eve in this show, and if you’ve read my latest Buzzfeed post, you’ll know that I miss seeing her on MTV very terribly.
So the big deal about this show is the fact that Dr. Will Rush isn’t your typical doctor. Sure, he went to Harvard, graduated top of his class, and makes some serious dough as a private doctor, but he’s got his flaws.
We’re talking smoking weed in the bathroom at his about 8-year-old godson’s birthday party flaws. And snorting cocaine with a woman that he’d soon have to admit to the emergency room in the wee hours of the night flaws. “A club called ‘Emergency’,” to be more specific.
His romantic life’s a mess, and his patients? They’re not really the kind of people you’d want to run into at the grocery store.
My favorite scenes of the pilot episode are the parts where a patient calls with a broken cock and when Rush decides to give the girlfriend of one of his patients a taste of his own medicine.
And I don’t mean that in the doctoral way AT ALL.
I’ll admit that some of the scenes are a bit gory, like the spleen removal towards the end, but it’s bearable.
I loved the soundtrack for this episode, which included “Fifteen” by Goldroom ft. Chela and “All Eyes on You” by St. Lucia. I hope they keep it up with the good music!
I’m looking forward to next weeks episode.
Catch the pilot on USA‘s site, and watch this drool-worthy interview with the man that plays Dr. Rush, Welsh actor Tom Ellis. Love that accent, man! Gah!
Don’t forget to watch next week’s episode on Thursday night at 9/8c on USA!
private doctor
Underemployed
Will Rush
← Watch Mamrie Hart, Mazzi Maz, Fred, Alexa Losey and More Lip Sync To Your Favorite Songs
Conan and Dave Franco Take Tinder For a Spin →
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CMF Trends
CMF Trends’ Five Most-Read Articles of 2019
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Home Business Practices A few lessons learned from the Out with Dad Crowdfunding Campaign
A few lessons learned from the Out with Dad Crowdfunding Campaign
Industry & Market Trends | Veille stratégique
When Jason Leaver came up with the idea for Out with Dad, the young director with no credential from Ontario knew very well that no producer would let him tell the story of a lesbian teenager and her father. “I therefore said to myself that I would produce and distribute it directly,” recalls the creator.
Project name: Out with Dad
Production/project type: webseries
Funding platform: Patreon
Type of crowdfunding: subscription-based funding
Amount raised: $1,603 per month (April 2016)
Number of contributors: 171 (April 2016)
Average contribution: $9.37 per month (April 2016)
Initially a volunteer effort
The following year, Out with Dad made its debut in the form of a volunteer project. “My day job consisted of filming corporate videos, so I had most of the equipment I needed. The cast and crew were all volunteers and I paid for the occasional expenses out of my own pocket,” explains Jason Leaver.
After two seasons of volunteering during which a button on the page used to collect donations and revenue generated by YouTube did not contribute much more than to pay for the catering, the director and his team made a decision: there would not be a third season of Out with Dad unless the public got onboard and contributed to a crowdfunding campaign.
A first “in-house” campaign
Instead of turning to Indiegogo or another one of the rare crowdfunding sites available at the time in Canada, Jason Leaver opted for his very own strategy, i.e., he created his own platform.
“Commercial platforms keep a portion of the revenue they generate and, besides, I didn’t think that I would have the time to lead a concentrated 30-day campaign anyway,” points out the director.
He therefore created a web page resembling the Kickstarter interface, proposing several different rewards and displaying a thermometer to indicate the campaign’s progress. The idea here was not to lead a blitz campaign but instead to generate funds gradually until enough money had been raised.
“There were inconveniences such as not having access to the statistics and graph viewing tools made available by commercial platforms. However, I knew how to use a spreadsheet and it therefore wasn’t much of a problem,” adds Jason Leaver.
After sufficient capital had been raised and thanks to funding received pursuant to a distribution agreement with French station France 4, a third 22-episode season of Out with Dad was shot.”
A second subscription-based campaign
“At the end of season 3, I was satisfied with the creative work we had accomplished. I believed that the series was over, but the fans were asking for more. I did not want to go through yet another long funding campaign, so I turned to Patreon,” continues Jason Leaver.
Patreon is a subscription-based crowdfunding platform. Instead of making one-time donations, fans donate funds on a fixed monthly basis.
Out with Dad now receives $1,519 per month via this platform. “It’s not enough to make a living, but it’s enough to decently pay all of the team members,” estimates the director.
However, Jason Leaver had to adjust the series to the budget generated through Patreon. “In season 4, we filmed at a single location per episode and only two characters took part in each shooting,” states a slightly disappointed Jason Leaver.
The advantage is nevertheless that the series can always be readjusted if the budget increases over time. Moreover, the team hopes to reach the level of $2,000 per month. This would enable it to cover the travel expenses incurred by an actress who moved to Calgary to participate in occasional shootings in Toronto.
“We even built that into the storyline. Her character was filmed with her phone in Calgary for one scene in particular. She said that she wanted to come back but couldn’t afford to. It’s really a big wink-wink to the public,” adds the director.
For the latter, by having a direct influence on the show’s content, subscription-based crowdfunding becomes an inherent component of Out with Dad.
A few lessons learned
Attract fans before launching the campaign
“The secret of our success is that we worked on Out with Dad during a three-year period before launching our crowdfunding campaign. You need to build up a public and earn its trust before asking for money,” upholds Jason Leaver.
“Today, when I promote my crowdfunding campaign, I no longer do it through my personal Facebook page. I no longer ask my family and friends for money. It’s a series I produce for the public. It’s everyone’s series,” he adds.
Privilege virtual rewards
If he could do things differently, the director would change a few aspects of his different crowdfunding campaigns.
“I would certainly not offer rewards that need to be mailed out,” he says laughingly. “Such rewards require time and effort and mailing costs consume a portion of the profits generated.”
“Today, I propose rewards that require no effort whatsoever on my part. Things that I would do anyway,” explains Jason Leaver. For example, he provides his scripts to those who fund his campaign and allow them advance access to episodes’ rough versions before they are broadcast.
Shoot several episodes at a time
Beyond reducing the scope of episodes, the team behind Out with Dad also changed its ways of doing things since it adopted a subscription-based crowdfunding model.
“At the beginning of season 4, when we began using Patreon to solicit funds, we did not dispose of the necessary capital to film an entire season in a single stretch. We therefore adjusted by shooting one episode per month as the money came in,” recalls Jason Leaver.
In his opinion, this mode of shooting had a negative effect on the quality of the product and the public noticed.
Now that Patreon generates stable financing, the team intends to shoot several episodes at a time, as it used to do, which should make things more efficient.
Build a crowdfunding community
“The most important thing to do during a funding campaign is to build a community,” believes Jason Leaver.
And, in this regard, Out with Dad fans are well served. Not only do the project’s funders get to see their names listed in the credits but also the director is constantly interacting with them and goes so far as to ask them for their opinion on things such as episode titles. “Several titles were suggested by the fans themselves!”
Jason Leaver is also active on Patreon, which platform he compares to a social network. “I want them to feel like the series belongs to them,” says Jason Leaver. After all, it is due in part to their sense of belonging that fans keep coming back year after year and continue to finance Out with Dad.
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The Industry and Market Trends team is composed of Director Catherine Mathys, analysts Pierre Tanguay and Sabrina Dubé-Morneau, as well as editorial coordinator Laurianne Désormiers. Once a year, the team publishes a Trends Report that draws a portrait of the macro trends that are shaping today’s screen-based industries.
At the Heart of Discoverability: Where Are We At?
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The year 2019 is slowly coming to a close – and what a year, what a decade, it has been. As we put the...
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This article was co-written by Marie-Odile Duchesneau and Guillaume Déziel. Over the last few years, we have observed a buzz, at both the federal and...
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16 killed, 38 wounded by blast in southern Afghan city
minivan packed with explosives detonates as security forces try to defuse it, authorities say
Representational image of Afghan Police. PHOTO: REUTERS
KANDAHAR: At least 16 people were killed and 38 wounded Tuesday when a minivan packed with explosives detonated as security forces were trying to defuse it in southern Afghanistan, officials said.
Security forces in Kandahar had already cleared the area around a bus station where the van was found, provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said.
“As the security forces were trying to defuse the van, it detonated,” said police spokesman Mohammad Qasim Azad.
“The latest figures show 16 dead and 38 wounded people brought to the hospital. We still have two ambulances at the site because there might be more people under the rubble,” Dr Nehmat Barak, chief of the Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar, said.
Ahmadi confirmed the toll, adding that the dead included four security forces personnel. At least five children and 10 members of the security forces were among the wounded.
The blast was so powerful that the majority of the casualties were passers-by outside the cleared area.
Ahmadi said security forces also found a large container of explosives, rocket-propelled grenades, suicide vests, and ammunition near the site.
Afghan government under pressure as Taliban threaten new district
“The terrorists planned to conduct a big attack at end of Ramadan in the city among crowds of people as they went out shopping for Eid… security forces prevented a disaster from happening,” one security official told AFP.
No group immediately claimed responsibility. The blast comes as the Taliban step up their spring offensive across the war-torn country.
Last week the insurgent group attacked western Farah city, but were repelled by commandos backed by the Afghan and US Air Force.
On Monday, the Taliban warned Kabul residents to avoid “military centres” in the heavily fortified city, saying they are planning more attacks in the Afghan capital.
A US government watchdog also warned Monday that upbeat assessments of improving security in the country did not match facts on the ground.
The Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General said there were “few signs of progress” in the fight against the Taliban.
Top US officials and military commanders insist the Afghan security forces — which have suffered thousands of casualties and are beset with low morale and corruption — are now doing a better job of maintaining order.
But the Taliban still control swathes of the country and are staging repeated attacks, while the Islamic State group has conducted a series of high-profile suicide blasts in Kabul and elsewhere.
Read more: Afghan Taliban , Afghanistan , bomb blast
Afghan police shoot would-be suicide bomber in Kabul
Apart from the bomber, no casualties have been reported as yet and there was no claim of responsibility
Pakistan wants lasting peace in Afghanistan: Nasser Janjua
Janjua urges Kabul to avoid blame game
At least 11 children killed as third blast rocks Afghanistan
Earlier today, at least 25 people were killed, including AFP chief photographer Shah Marai and five other journalists
Surly America makes countries more peaceful… Like Syria , Iraq , Afghanistan and American occupied Ukraine. A few rich families are making big money off of war…. Like The Rockefeller’s bush’s Rothschild’s Recommend
China’s foreign minister to visit Washington
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700 fans, and a hell of a lot of other stories
To begin, I told my fiancé Seán (who had begged me to write something for months on end) that I'd write something once I reached 700 fans. That day is finally here, and follower number 700 is @Cyberdevil. Thank you for all the support ;_;
I'd been mentally shot for a long time, and past newsposts can explain why.
My birthday fell on the 12th, and it was a good one. An intimate party with Seán and six other friends in the house, having pizza and playing Cards Against Humanity. Outside of the chocolates and alcohol that I received, I also got a project book, a small case of art supplies, and a toy bow and arrows! (Adult-sized, of course, and with rubber tips on the arrows. Still gotta handle with caution.)
I'll be using the project book for music video projects and anything of a large scale. Speaking of music videos, there is one I'm planning right now. #ReReveris
I am also in the midst of reworking https://troisnyx.co.uk/ -- so you likely won't see any updates from there for a while yet. Those of you who have been following the progress on my Discord server and in other chats will have noticed that I've been drawing and trying to figure out what the new layout should look like. I've been heavily at work of late -- just unable to express it all in words, and it's been hard to write this post because of all the ideas swimming in my head.
Here, have a teaser of what it might hopefully look like. Yes, I use Wix. I don't think it's any secret, really.
Now, on to Newgrounds-related stuff.
The Newgrounds Audio Portal 15th Anniversary drama is plodding along; the music is coming along reasonably well for people mostly stuck with exams. The voice actors for Pico, Nene and Darnell have been confirmed -- namely @Raayo, @jessieyun0404 and @RealFaction. Work has begun on the voice acting.
The person chairing this project -- @Whirlguy -- and I, we both have been keeping track on all the workings of the project. Jessie Yun is still casting minor roles, if I recall correctly. @SourJovis is ironing out inconsistencies in the otherwise finished script, and I have been doing my best to assign music to people according to the script.
There are meant to be four episodes of the audio drama, each lasting about 40 or so minutes long. Hopefully, all being well, Act 1 should be up around the time of Pico Day. We'll release the others periodically thereafter.
OH BY THE WAY: Are there any female voice actors out there who can pull off, or have a native British or Irish or continental European accent? We are looking for one female VA with any of these accents to join us!
Second, moderating.
With everything that I've been involved in, moderating has slowed down for me. I do occasionally see the flags and remove what's on there, and sometimes I've been proactive and looked for tags containing potentially offending songs (e.g. NCS, Daft Punk) in the search bar. But of course, my priorities at the moment to go my bigger projects. One of them is the audio drama I spoke of above. The other is right below.
I have been taking part in a doujin circle called A Reyvateil's Melody. Which has something to do with the Hymmnos language from the Ar tonelico games.
Yes, after seven years of not touching Hymmnos and Ar tonelico with the end of a barge pole, I got drawn into it; I was actually invited into the group in January this year after its members had watched the Mio/Homura music video.
Now they're quite new to the scene if I remember this correctly, and the last thing they did was called COSMOCRYSTAL II ~ clalliss re leat, maya re pat - 奏響濫色 (Soukyou Ransyoku). The kanji has multiple meanings, but one of its sounds means 'reflective indigo'. Among Hymmnos circles we call this 'Side Blue' because through all the games, the soundtracks have been released in two halves with separate themes, Side Blue and Side Red.
I had no involvement in Side Blue, but the crossfade of what they've released so far is below.
I will, however, have involvement in Side Red -- I have composed, and am in the midst of recording the opening track to Side Red. It's called Ocurp Omnis, which in the Hymmnos language means 'the flow of everything.' You can hear a short, relatively unmixed preview of it here.
A Reyvateil's Melody are completely nonprofit. None of us individuals earn a penny from the distribution of this. Any and all sales are basically handled by our publicist in Japan, and all doujin creations basically get distributed at Comic Markets (or Comikets for short; you may have heard about those). They take place in a few parts of Japan and happen during the summer and the winter. We're hoping to get Side Red of COSMOCRYSTAL II distributed at the Summer Comiket. All the proceeds basically go into a kitty that allow us to produce more -- and again, the publicist handles the funds altogether. As for the rest of us? We do it for love of the music.
I do have one thing to say about the doujin culture: only in Japan will you get people making comics, whether for profit or otherwise, about Batman fighting Godzilla, and none of them will be slapped with a takedown request, DMCA, or any of that shit. Doujin is like self-publishing, but with a lot more respect attached to it -- and there's an immense grassroots movement for indie support. Doujin is either original or parody under Japanese laws, and this enables it to flourish. Look up "Comic Market" on Wikipedia and you'll realise just how immense the gatherings are; that's how much they're supported. If something like that were to happen in the West, it'd be slapped down immediately -- unless, of course, there's a big enough lobby that supports something like this and gets it going and makes it an annual thing.
And for the part of A Reyvateil's Melody, we're quite new on the scene, having been only active for... is it two years? three years? and there's at least 1,000 Japanese fans, to say nothing about the scant few international fans scattered in different parts of the world. It's mind-boggling that we got that kind of support that quickly.
With regards to other things, like Une Nouvelle Chance, those are coming along. We're just having trouble mixing them. But hopefully, we should see some results by the summer!
I also have a few original things planned, but will go into them in more detail after some of the pressure has been taken off my shoulders.
Anyway, that's it from me for now. How have you all been?
Subscriptions: @Mich @ADR3-N @Akuaitance @ChazDude @RealFaction @BraydogNG @Cyberdevil
Kieran 2018-04-18 06:19:04
im glad you've been alright and also the japanese comic (or manga) scene is very great, i read some online sometimes
Mmhm; I only occasionally keep track of it. Our affiliates at the doujin circle Stellatram are a good one to listen to, and they've been at it for far longer than we have.
Cyberdevil 2018-04-18 06:52:24
Well that went fast! XD Was the main part of this maybe already written? Tagged twice in the first post since I subscribed... and it seems like I got myself a small space in history here too! :) Nice. Thanks. And Congrats! Again.
The new site mockup looks pretty good, and yes just the favicon does reveal the Wix. ;) Curious how the source code turns out with a site builder like that - back in the day it was pretty messy and slow, though I assume they've evolved a lot since then. Shall be interesting to see!
Good news overall, inspiring to hear bow big the comic game is in Japan (looks like 1988 was the year that market really started growing!), and regarding the AP's 15th anniversary: is it too late to join at this point? Pico Day seems to be closing in fast...
It was pretty messy and slow to begin with; they have improved but sometimes, cracks of the old habits start to come up again. With regards to the plugins they've got, they're functional, but you're going to need to code your own if you want something specialised for your own page. And this, of course, is where I struggle. I've been wanting to get into coding but I feel as if I don't have the mind to wrap around it.
With regards to the AP's 15th anniversary: what would you be putting yourself forward for?
(also, thank you meep~)
Good to know. Well if you need help with any simple specifics let me know, might be able to assist. :)
Regarding the AP collabo I'm not sure, possibly voice acting, unless there's some simple bit missing in other areas. There's still room/time then?
There should be, if you're wanting to VA, best ask @jessieyun0404 what's still available and how you can help. There's still time yet.
I'd like to have a much, much better music player than what I have on Wix already, and I could draw out a concept of how it'd work -- but having zero funds kinda precludes me from getting the help I need ;A;
EMBL3M 2018-04-18 08:06:40
congrats on 700!!
As for me, I'm helping out in the Audio Portal drama. Still figuring out which to do... elevator music maybe? Idk
I'm also breaking out of a digital-orchestra phase, so I'm happy that my old electronic style is making a comeback.
Keep your eyes open; I do post lists on the Discord occasionally and I've been quite mentally shot so I haven't been updating the thread. I need to.
A new list was released yesterday so it'd be nice to assign you something; what are your strongest genres? @Whirlguy Please can you help me update the thread? I wish not to ask this of you but my mind is slipping.
ChazDude 2018-04-18 09:27:50
700. It's like 7 but even luckier!
(btw anyone wanna help me reach 400 lol)
I'll see if I can't put in a little word elsewhere...
Well there are plenty of music player scripts floating around out there (many free), might be one that's similar enough; can be customized a bit further. :) No idea what type of scripts Wix allows but should be easy to find some info on... feel free to send a concept.
Akuaintance 2018-04-18 15:49:08
@ChazDude 397
@Troisnyx my strongest genres are: Dance, Ambient, and Strings and Piano ensemble-type stuff blended with electronic. I could try new things, though. Could help hone my skills further, which I'm always glad to do.
Right. I'll keep a lookout for things you can do as the lists start pouring in. Just because you don't get anything in Act 1, doesn't mean you won't get anything at all. I just need to see what the script asks of us at any given time.
Cool. Glad I can help out!
Whirlguy 2018-04-19 10:32:15
Sure, I guess I can do that.
Bonnot 2018-04-26 23:23:08
Wix honestly is the cheapest option about budget websites for those who begin to design them. I mean you don't have to host them, and all you need is a domain. If you aim for cheaper option I would recommend you to get your own domain from Namecheap and continue to use Wix service.
I agree, they're also a fixed price no matter how many pages they've got -- my only problem with Wix is that if you optimise your site for desktop, it'll look crap on mobile, and vice versa. Methinks I need to mail them asking for two editors.
@I0TA I have recently found cause to correct myself. They finally have a separate mobile editor at last! :D
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Home » Canadian TV shows » CBC » The Romeo Section
September 1, 2018 September 1, 2018 John Debros 768 Views
Download all seasons of The Romeo Section
The Romeo Section Season 2
Original Title: The Romeo Section
Country: Canada, CBC
Genres : Drama
Cast: Andrew Airlie, Leeah Wong, Juan Riedinger, Eugene Lipinski, Chris Britton, Brian Markinson, Fei Ren, Brandi Alexander, Kimberly Sustad
Awards : 5 wins & 10 nominations.
TV show The Romeo Section is a drama created by Chris Haddock which is broadcast on Canadian CBC tv channel.
You will not be bored surely while watching this drama series, because the creators have made a lot of efforts to make it very interesting and exciting. That’s why, absolutely every viewer should download and watch all seasons of The Romeo Section tv series. This page contains direct links where you can download full episodes of all seasons. Excellent video quality, high download speed, moreover absolutely free and no registration! The Romeo Section tv show download in the formats MP4, MKV, AVI. This popular tv series (season 1, 2) are available downloading for free at the tv series list below.
X Company Shoot the Messenger Pure Bellevue Burden of Truth
The Romeo Section season 2 continues the story of the intelligence agent Wolfgang McGee and his team. At the beginning of the new season, he's investigating the terrorist incident in Vancouver. McGee is forced to use his old ties with his former colleague named Norman. At this time, the former espionage assets are trying to succeed in their operation without Wolfgang, but using their Romeo skills. Rufus almost got to the most influential people in the heroin business. Lily became a rookie in the Intelligence Service.
The Romeo Section is a canadian espionage TV series. Professor Wolfgang McGee teaches at the University o f Vancouver. But this work is only a cover for the real activity of McGee. He's a former special agent of intelligence, who heads a special espionage department called "Romeo". Their job is a very specific - they must seduce the target and fish out the secret information. Romeo and Juliet recruits learned to understand the psychology of the people. They're passionate lovers and best friends. High-end spy must be able to attract people and come closer to them, but don't feel real feelings.
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STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENING is the blog for THEE PSYCHEDELICATESSEN. We are always happy to be sent stuff to listen to and write about (we would prefer physical copies of singles/EPs/albums but we do realise that in some cases it is just not practical). Contact us via our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/TheePsychedelicatessen or email us at theepsychedelicatessen@gmail.com
BEECHWOOD - INSIDE THE FLESH HOTEL (Live Natural S...
ICARUS PEEL’S ACID REIGN - THE WINDOW ON THE SIDE ...
PRANA CRAFTER - ENTER THE STREAM (Sunrise Ocean Be...
TREMBLING BELLS - DUNGENESS (Tin Angel Records LP,...
THREE DIMENSIONAL TANX - A COMPULSION FOR PROPULSI...
SUN DIAL - SCIENCE FICTION : A COMPENDIUM OF SPACE...
THREE DIMENSIONAL TANX - A COMPULSION FOR PROPULSION (CD, D/L).
Veterans of endless live shows, Lancastrian Space Punx Three Dimensional Tanx are back with a new album……….. and like their previous release, 2016’s Attack!, it’s a full on barrage of unpretentious Nuggety Psychedelic Punk Rock guaranteed to get the party started. Whereas Attack! was a mad mix of “The Stooges in space, Astral travel with the Buzzcocks, The Doors and The Damned jamming on one of the moons of Jupiter and The Ramones on acid”, 3D Tanx have really found their groove on A Compulsion For Propulsion, smoothing out the rough edges and expanding their sonic palette with Post Punk, Krautrock and Psych Pop influences. Featuring 15 tracks in less than 40 minutes, it’s a monster of a record, still wild and energetic but tightly focused and their best collection of songs to date. This is the album 3D Tanx have been threatening to make for years……….an album that finally manages to bottle much of the spirit that have made them such a hit with live audiences.
Once you get your head round the concept that 3D Tanx are a Punk band playing Psych infused Garage Rock and Krautrock then A Compulsion For Propulsion starts to make perfect sense. Free of any excess, 3D Tanx are a lean and mean machine with most of their songs stripped down to around the 2 minute mark…………the album does includes a couple of epic trippy wig outs where the band channel the Psychedelic smarts of Pink Floyd and CAN, but bear in mind that in Three Dimensional Tanx Psychedelic five dimensional world epic is around 5 minutes long. The record opens with the frantic ‘His Latest Apparatus’, which sounds like Devo and The Seeds crashing together, and doesn’t let up till the fade out of the very Psychedelic ‘Racing Car #9’………it’s a white knuckle ride all the way and a total blast, bristling with infectious stabs of pop-inflected modern Garage Rock. It’s the much needed antidote to shit Stoner Rock bands that think playing one riff for fucking ever is somehow cosmic. There is some great stuff here, from the swirly Sonics vibe of ‘The Human Stupid’, the Stooges-esque riffing on ‘E is For Engine’ to the kinetic groove of ‘Spiderman Pinball’, A Compulsion For Propulsion is packed with loads little gems, short and sweet with no messing. Recommended.
Out NOW, A Compulsion For Propulsion is available on CD or as a D/L direct from the 3D Tanx Bandcamp site. Check it out/stream it/buy it here……..
https://threedimensionaltanx.bandcamp.com/album/a-compulsion-for-propulsion-studio-album-2018
THEE PSYCHEDELICATESSEN
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Transmissions From The Psychedelic Basement #4
Astounding Sounds From Another Dimension
Transmissions From The Psychedelic Basement
Saturday 27th Feb - Turn On, Tune In, Trip Out
Further Transmissions From The Psychedelic Basement
3hrs of mind melting psychedelia. Turn On, Tune In.....Trip Out
THEE PSYCHEDELICATESSEN presents PSYCH-OUT
Garage Rock, Classic Psychedelia And New Psych Sounds
THEE PSYCHEDELICATESSEN on BigJaf.Net 21/2/15
Psychedelic Radio for groovy people
THEE PSYCHEDELICATESSEN present PSYCH-OUT
Garage Rock, Psychedelia and New Psych Sounds
TWINK AND THE TECHNICOLOUR DREAM - SYMPATHY FOR THE BEAST (Area Pirata Records LP).
Not content to rest on his laurels as a 60s Psychedelelic legend, having played with Tomorrow, The Pretty Things, The Pink Fairies and Sy...
JUJU - MAPS AND TERRITORY (Fuzz Club LP, CD).
JuJu's third album, Maps And Territory, reaffirms and at the same time transcends JuJu's unique formula. Refining JuJu’s signatu...
MOTT THE HOOPLE - MENTAL TRAIN : THE ISLAND YEARS 1969 - 1971 ( UMC 6 x CD).
Before David Bowie gifted Mott The Hoople ‘All The Young Dudes’, the song that would turn their fortunes around, they were on the verge o...
THEE PSYCHEDELICATESSEN'S PSYCHEDELIC ALMANAC 2017 (Weird Scenes, Strange Things and Top Tunes from the Psychedelic Basement)
Well that was 2017, not a classic year for astounding records but there were enough great records to keep us more than interested. We aga...
FAIRPORT CONVENTION - COME ALL YE: THE FIRST 10 YEARS (Universal Music 7 x CD Box Set).
From the stages of the UFO Club, Mothers and Middle Earth to Cropredy in Oxfordshire and f rom a fresh faced very English version of Je...
ALICE TAMBOURINE LOVER - DOWN BELOW (Go Down Records LP, CD).
Previously described as “ w andering between lazy Mazzy Star/Cowboy Junkies atmospheres and more gritty moments reminiscent of Mark Laneg...
WOODEN SHJIPS - V. (Thrill Jockey LP, CD, D/L).
It’s been a while……………. Wooden Shjips are back with a surprisingly mellow record that is destined to be the Psychedelic sound of the sum...
THE EGO RITUAL - THE EGO RITUAL (Kool Kat Musik CD).
Kicking in the doors of perception into 2019 is the first release from former Popdog and B-Leaguer Jim Styring’s new band The Ego Ritual...
GLORIA - IN EXCELSIS STEREO (Howlin’ Banana Records CD, D/L).
With a sound that can only be described as “the Shangri-Las on acid”, the enigmatic French band Gloria have recorded a stunning debut alb...
THE MARSHMALLOW OVERCOAT - SONGS FROM ALL YOU NEED IS FUZZ (Area Pirata Records CD).
American Garage / Psych band The Marshmallow Overcoat , straight outta Tucson, Arizona, were founded by singer/Garage Rock obsessi...
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GOP hopefuls hit Obama on absence
By Jesse Byrnes - 01/12/15 02:38 PM EST
Several potential Republican presidential candidates have dinged President Obama for not joining dozens of world leaders at Sunday's unity rally in Paris following two terrorist attacks in the French capital.
Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioApple under pressure to unlock Pensacola shooter's phones Senators offer bill to create alternatives to Huawei in 5G tech Surging Sanders draws fresh scrutiny ahead of debate MORE (Fla.), Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzSunday shows preview: Lawmakers gear up for Senate impeachment trial Senate GOP mulls speeding up Trump impeachment trial The Hill's Morning Report — President Trump on trial MORE (Texas) and outgoing Gov. Rick Perry Rick PerryOvernight Energy: Appeals court tosses kids' climate suit | California sues Trump over fracking | Oversight finds EPA appointees slow-walked ethics obligations Warren calls for Rick Perry's resignation from pipeline company Lev Parnas implicates Rick Perry, says Giuliani had him pressure Ukraine to announce Biden probe MORE (Texas) on Monday said Obama erred by not showing up to lock arms with other leaders.
In a tacit admission that those criticisms were legitimate, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday that the administration had made a misstep.
“It’s fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile,” Earnest said at the White House media briefing.
His comments came in the immediate wake of the Republican remarks.
“This is simply no way to treat our oldest and first ally," Perry told The Washington Post.
"President Obama should have stood with France in person, defending Western values in the struggle against terrorism and showing support for the victims of this despicable act of terror," Perry said.
At least 40 world leaders joined French President François Hollande in Paris on Sunday, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Obama stayed at the White House while Vice President Biden was at his home in Delaware. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is set to travel to France later this week, was in India. Attorney General Eric Holder, who had recorded several interviews that aired on Sunday shows, was in France discussing counterterrorism efforts but did not attend the rally.
U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley represented America and tweeted photos from the march.
Obama has not personally commented on the absence of high-profile U.S. leaders at the rally.
Earlier in the day Monday, Rubio acknowledged that the security and staff requirements for an overseas visit by an American president can be "disruptive," but said "it was a mistake not to send someone" and that "people will take cues."
"You recall what it felt like after 9/11 to have all these nations around the world rally to our side and take up our cause after we suffered so greatly," Rubio said. "The French are going through a similar trauma."
Cruz took an even stronger tone, emphasizing the presence of American allies at the rally.
"Our president should have been there, because we must never hesitate to stand with our allies," he wrote in an op-ed in Time magazine on Monday.
"The absence is symbolic of the lack of American leadership on the world stage, and it is dangerous," Cruz added.
More than a million people marched in the rally, according to multiple reports. It capped off a tumultuous week in France, in which a dozen people died after gunmen attacked the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper in Paris known for its cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, and a later standoff left four people dead.
The lack of U.S. representation at the event was also panned by many in the American media.
MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell on the "Today Show" called it a "stunning absence."
"There was higher-level Obama administration representation on this season's episodes of 'The Good Wife' on CBS," CNN anchor Jake Tapper wrote Monday.
The New York Daily News’s front page claimed that Obama, Biden, Kerry and Holder "let the world down" by not making an appearance at the rally.
Former Obama White House spokesman Jay Carney told CNN that the admission of error from the administration was “unusual but very wise.” At the same time, however, Carney suggested that the episode was unlikely to bring lasting problems.
“I do think that this is, while important and symbolically important, not a story that is likely to cause a lot of damage to the White House, the administration or the country for the long term here,” he said. “There's just more substantive issues the administration is going to have to contend with and that reporters will turn to."
Tags France President Obama Rick Perry Marco Rubio Ted Cruz Jay Carney Charlie Hebdo Paris Charlie Hebdo attack
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Theiapolis > Cinema > Titles > D... > De... > Dea... >
Dead at the Box Office2005
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Dead at the Box Office
Shawn Stutler
"Dead at the Box Office" is a Horror film directed by Shawn Stutler, released on September 16 of 2005 in the USA . Michael Allen Williams is starring, alongside Isaiah Robinson, Jennifer Popagain, Chris Fitzpatrick, Carole Stueben and John Paul Puglisi.
Now PREYING at a theatre near you.
Who is the director of "Dead at the Box Office":
Dead at the Box Office was directed by Shawn Stutler, a producer, director, and actor.
When was "Dead at the Box Office" released:
Dead at the Box Office was first released on Friday, September 16, 2005, in the United States. Also released on Friday, September 16, 2005 have been Lord of War (dir. Andrew Niccol), Corpse Bride, Cry_Wolf (dir. Jeff Wadlow), and Just Like Heaven (dir. Mark Waters). This was fourteen (14) years ago.
What is the casting of "Dead at the Box Office":
At the casting of Dead at the Box Office we find Michael Allen Williams (Starship II: Rendezvous with Ramses (2007)); Isaiah Robinson (Hook (1991)); Jennifer Popagain (Crazy Eyes (2012)) [ more... ]
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Michael Allen Williams
Isaiah Robinson
Jennifer Popagain
Chris Fitzpatrick
Carole Stueben
John Paul Puglisi
Dead at the Box Office ➤ Cast
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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa leads the week-end box office.
1 message - Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa leads the week-end box office with a $63.5 million gross earning, surpassing the first Madagascar film , which debuted at...
Hancock led the Fourth of July Weekend Box Office
1 message - $66 million debut for Hancock...
Tropic Thunder number One at the Box Office
1 message - After 6 weeks of supremacy, The Dark Knight yielded first place at the Box Office to Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder. Tropic Thunder grossed an...
( 2007 )Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane
Directed by: S. Thomas, starring D. Chisum, K. Kerr, K. J. O'Connor, R. Tyson...
( 1972 )Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Starring: A. Ormsby, V. Mamches, J. Gillen, A. Ormsby...
( 2004 )Dead & Breakfast
Directed by: M. Leutwyler, starring E. Carradine, P. de Rossi, B. Lawson, D. Carradine...
Resources: Throbbing Temple Productions, Wikipedia and contributions from movie fans. Anyone can submit additionnal information and corrections, you can post a message into the forum, or you can contact me by e-mail. Information and materials are submitted by users and thus may not always contain up-to-date and correct information, so do not hesite to report mistakes, and submit corrections.Thank you!. Direct editing is no longer available, sorry.
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theiapolis CINEMA
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Experimental, Psychedelic Folk, Singer-Songwriter
I’d forgotten all about The Marble Index, such a crushingly pessimistic listen, that each and every remnant of its shimmering beauty seemed to have been catheterised by some dark unbearable grief. But recently I found my way back to it alongside it’s shining sister Desertshore, through an obsession with the last few Left Outsides albums, whose forest-spirit avant-folk seemed to rekindle some latent inclination towards the vaguely morbid. Or perhaps that was simply the onset of winter.
Nico had already recorded her first solo album, an exquisite assemblage of chamber folk, Chelsea Girl – by the time she reunited with former VU companion John Cale. I know of at least two people who believe that album to be the greatest record ever made, period – and I must say I like it a lot myself – but Nico detested it, seething with frustration when she first heard its neutered production. Even so, few could have predicted what would emerge from the sessions at the recording studio on Cienega Boulevard in LA in September ‘68. After all, Christa Päffgen had a face made for superstardom – icy blonde, geometric cheekbones – but there had been signs on Chelsea Girl (in particular on ‘It Was A Pleasure Then’ where accompaniment was provided not by Jackson Browne, but by the Velvets’ core, so it came out howling and droning like a wrung out ‘Black Angels Death Song’) that she was striving to be taken seriously as an artist too.
To that end, she rejected her own beauty, dyed her hair dark red, wrapped herself in a shroud of death and like Scott Walker – a contemporary also at pains to prove he was more than simply a pretty face – reinvented herself as existential goth queen. I’ve always suspected an additional element of contrariness in this transformation which happened just as she moved from NYC to sunny California, but who knows? For certain the timing must have made the contrast in her appearance seem even sharper.
The album’s desperate bleakness resulted from a confluence of factors. Cale cultivated in its timbre a sound reflecting his interest in modern European classical music and Nico had been feeding off the mad ramblings of Jim Morrison who encouraged her to explore her inherently darker sensibilities, and gorge upon the opium-fuelled poetry of Coleridge. She had also acquired a harmonium and it’s droning wheeze perfectly captures the album’s dark spirit.
According to some accounts, Nico and Cale reputedly spent the whole time feuding whilst strung out on smack. All too much for in-house producer Frazier Mohawk, who could barely bring himself to put the finishing touches to the album, first of all consigning four of its bleakest compositions to the dustbin of history and then handing over the reins to Cale who became defacto producer. Cale claimed Nico’s harmonium was out of tune with everything but that didn’t matter, and in some ways it was entirely fitting. When after being left alone for two days, he played back his mix of the album to her, Nico reputedly wept with joy.
The album’s title is taken from a line in Wordsworth’s Prelude, which also lends its title to the short but incredibly beautiful opening instrumental. After that brief moment of transcendence darkness descends, beginning with ‘Lawns Of Dawns’ whose sonic refractions – like mirrors on the ocean, now glistening on the surface, now submerged beneath – parallel its author’s psychological disintegration. “Can you follow me?/Can you follow my distresses/My caresses, fiery guesses?/Swim and sink into/Early morning mercies”
There are dissonant chamber pieces (‘No-one Is There’) and ‘Ari’s Song’ (named after her son) which promises some relief but replete with droning pump organ entangled in some strange sonic barbed wire, was reckoned by Rolling Stone to be “the least comforting lullaby ever recorded”
On ‘Facing The Wind’, whose bizarre martial piano comes across like a discarded instrumental from Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs, Nico’s voice is electronically distorted giving it an even eerier more expressionistic quality: “It’s holding me against my will/And doesn’t leave me still/Amazons are riding out/To find a meaning for the name, my name.”
Cale’s fingerprints are everywhere in evidence but nowhere more so than on ‘Frozen Warnings’ whose bubbling ‘Baba O’Riley’ type pulse is underwritten by the insistent and unfluctuating drone of his viola.
And as far as apocalyptic finales go, the sinister spiralling ‘Evening Of Light’ takes some beating. “In the morning of my winter/When my eyes are still asleep/A dragonfly laying in a coat of snow/I’ll send to kiss your heart for me/Midnight winds are landing at the end of time/The children are jumping in the evening of light/A thousand sins are heavy in the evening of light.” It is ‘Tubular Bells’ turned inside out by Beelzebub, an agonising descent – as the last rays of light are slowly extinguished by the clattering noise and chaos of the welcome party for Hades.
The album clocks in at a mere half hour. Not everything about The Marble Index is black, but almost everything is. Its doomed unremitting litanies suggest catastrophe but it possesses an undeniable ‘slash your wrists’ nocturnal beauty and marks the moment Nico’s career as an artist truly began. (JJ)
December 24, 2017 January 30, 2018 tejopa Tagged Chelsea Girl, Christa Paffgen, Desertshore, Evening Of Light, Facing The Wind, Frazier Mohawk, Frozen Warnings, Jim Morrison, John Cale, Lawns Of Dawns, Rain Dogs, Scott Walker, The Left Outsides 6 Comments
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The Huffington Post to launch a UK version this summer
by Courtney Boyd Myers — in Media
As reported in the FT tech blog, The Huffington Post will be crossing the pond this summer to launch its first international version in Britain.
Arianna Huffington announced the news today at the Guardian Changing Media Summit with Tim Armstrong, AOL’s chief executive. (See our post on the AOL Huffington Post acquisition.) The Huffington Post UK edition will start out as a local homepage featuring British content. Huffington also mentioned that she still plans to launch sites targeting French and Brazilian audiences in the future.
While The HuffPost will likely be hiring, AOL also hired 100 journalists in the UK last year that could also provide content for the new local edition. In the meantime, I’ll be in London this weekend, so come find me and I’ll give you a two good reasons (#1, #2) why you wouldn’t want to work there.
Read next: IDAPT i1eco -- The smartest charger you'll ever own
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The Overspill: when there's more that I want to say
Charles Arthur's site for links, observations and writing
Tag Archives: #error53
Start up: FBI v Apple redux, Google’s Cloud Vision, fixing #error53, Iraq’s lost iridium, and more
Posted on February 19, 2016 by charlesarthur
You can always sign up to receive each day’s Start Up post by email. Try it. Unless you’re reading the email.
A selection of 12 links for you. Remember, Friday is for life, not just for Christmas. I’m charlesarthur on Twitter. Observations and links welcome.
Statement on FBI-Apple court order » Congressman Ted Lieu
This might not be what you expect:
»Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement regarding the APPLE court order. Congressman Lieu is one of only four computer science majors in Congress. Congressman Lieu is also the author of the ENCRYPT ACT of 2016.
“The terrorist attack in San Bernardino was horrific and the tragic loss of innocent lives demands a strong response. I have several deep concerns, however, about the unprecedented court order that forces Apple to create software it does not have in order to provide a “back door” way to weaken its smartphone encryption system.
This FBI court order, by compelling a private sector company to write new software, is essentially making that company an arm of law-enforcement. Private sector companies are not—and should not be—an arm of government or law enforcement.
This court order also begs the question: Where does this kind of coercion stop? Can the government force Facebook to create software that provides analytic data on who is likely to be a criminal? Can the government force Google to provide the names of all people who searched for the term ISIL? Can the government force Amazon to write software that identifies who might be suspicious based on the books they ordered?”
link to this extract
A Linux-powered microwave oven [LWN.net]
Neil Brown:
»Adding a smartphone-like touchscreen and a network connection and encouraging a community to build innovative apps such as recipe sharing are fairly obvious ideas once you think to put “Linux” and “microwave oven” together, but Tulloh’s vision and prototype lead well beyond there. Two novel features that have been fitted are a thermal camera and a scale for measuring weight.
The thermal camera provides an eight-by-eight-pixel image of the contents of the oven with a precision of about two degrees. This is enough to detect if a glass of milk is about to boil over, or if the steak being thawed is in danger of getting cooked. In either case, the power can be reduced or removed. If appropriate, an alert can be sounded. This would not be the first microwave to be temperature sensitive — GE sold microwave ovens with temperature probes decades ago — but an always-present sensor is much more useful than a manually inserted probe, especially when there is an accessible API behind it.«
Just wait until you get onto the bit about making sure the door is shut (which is what stops you blasting the room with microwaves that would cook you).
Learning the Alphabet » The Verge
Ben Popper:
»For the most part, [Flint, Michigan schools technology director Dan] Davenport’s repository consisted of eight- to 10-year-old Dell desktops and laptops he had robbed of RAM and other components to help speed up or repair machines used by teachers. “We are left with these mismatched parts.” And yet, when he set the machines up to run Neverware’s Cloud Ready version of Chromium, they outperformed newer Windows machines the school was using. “If you are comparing what we used to run, Chrome and Neverware is a better experience for the end user.”
Davenport estimates that to get a new machine and the proper license, it would cost around $400 for each new Windows computer and $200 for each new Chromebook. “With Neverware it’s costing me 50 bucks.” The school is now adapting several computer labs to run Neverware chromebooks. “Hey, that’s an interesting model,” says Davenport with a chuckle. “Run on your oldest junk for next to no money.” The transformation at Ovid-Elsie is striking, but far from unique. It’s just one example of a much larger trend toward cloud computing, a paradigm shift that has radically reshaped the technological landscape at schools across the United States.
Popper says – in the first comment on the article – “I’ve been writing about Neverware since 2009. Pretty crazy how much things have changed since then.”
But the general point about Neverware, which tried to get Dell and HP interested but found none for lengthening PC life cycles, and cloud computing in schools, is well made. Certainly a threat to Microsoft in schools.
Google Cloud Vision API enters Beta, open to all to try! » Google Cloud Platform Blog
Ram Ramanathan, product manager:
»Today, we’re announcing the beta release of Google Cloud Vision API. Now anyone can submit their images to the Cloud Vision API to understand the contents of those images — from detecting everyday objects (for example, “sports car,” “sushi,” or “eagle”) to reading text within the image or identifying product logos.
With the beta release of Cloud Vision API, you can access the API with location of images stored in Google Cloud Storage, along with existing support of embedding an image as part of the API request. We’re also announcing pricing for Cloud Vision API and added additional capabilities to identify the dominant color of an image. For example, you can now apply Label Detection on an image for as little as $2 per 1,000 images or Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for $0.60 for 1,000 images. Pricing will be effective, starting March 1st.
I feel like this is partly the work of Pete Warden – it looks so like his work at Jetpac.
Apple fixes iPhones disabled by Error 53 caused by unofficial repairs » Techcrunch
Matthew Panzarino:
»Today, Apple is issuing an updated version of iOS 9.2.1 for users that update their iPhones via iTunes only. This update will restore phones ‘bricked’ or disabled by Error 53 and will prevent future iPhones that have had their home button (or the cable) replaced by third-party repair centers from being disabled. Note that this is a patched version of iOS 9.2.1, previously issued, not a brand-new version of iOS.
A new support document on Apple’s site has been issued that details the causes and repair methods for Error 53.
The update is not for users who update their iPhones over the air (OTA) via iCloud. If you update your phone that way, you should never have encountered Error 53 in the first place. If, however, you update via iTunes or your phone is bricked, you should be able to plug it into iTunes to get the update today, restoring your phone’s functionality.
That was quick. And it disables TouchID, or leaves it disabled – which is the course of action you’d hope for. (Thanks Jonathan Davey for the link.)
Data broker defendants settle FTC charges they sold sensitive personal information to scammers » Federal Trade Commission
»“LeapLab purchased sensitive information, including Social Security and bank account numbers, from pay-day-loan websites, and then sold that information to entities it knew had no legitimate need for it,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “That allowed scammers to steal millions of dollars from people’s accounts.”
In its complaint, the FTC alleged that the defendants collected hundreds of thousands of loan applications submitted by financially strapped consumers to payday loan sites. Each application contained the consumer’s name, address, phone number, employer, Social Security number, and bank account number, including the bank routing number.
The defendants sold 95 percent of these sensitive applications for approximately $0.50 each to non-lenders that did not use the information to assist consumers in obtaining a payday loan or other extension of credit and had no legitimate need for this financial information. In fact, at least one of those marketers, Ideal Financial Solutions – a defendant in another FTC case – used the information to withdraw millions of dollars from consumers’ accounts without their authorization.
Classy. It’s a $5.7m judgment, but suspended.
The hidden homescreen » Medium
Matt Hartman:
»The move to chat-based interfaces is mainly developer driven: relative to a native iOS or Android app, development of a chat-based app is faster and marketing is less crowded (for now). It is also partly consumer driven in that it is a painful for consumers to have to switch in and out of different apps — or even to have to download an app at all. However the developer pain point is more significant at present.
For app developers, marketing is often hard. #Homescreen data shows that apps on users’ homescreens are pretty calcified. In January 2016 over 50,000 apps were submitted to the app store. However, most smartphone users download zero apps per month.
We’re probably going to see more chat interfaces, as Hartman points out (look at Quartz’s new news app), but as he also points out, lots of them will struggle to gather enough context to be useful compared to the interfaces we already have.
Exclusive: Radioactive material stolen in Iraq raises security fears » Reuters
Ahmed Rasheed, Aref Mohammed and Stephen Kalin:
»Iraq is searching for “highly dangerous” radioactive material stolen last year, according to an environment ministry document and seven security, environmental and provincial officials who fear it could be used as a weapon if acquired by Islamic State.
The material, stored in a protective case the size of a laptop computer, went missing in November from a storage facility near the southern city of Basra belonging to U.S. oilfield services company Weatherford WFT.N, the document seen by Reuters showed and officials confirmed.
A spokesman for Iraq’s environment ministry said he could not discuss the issue, citing national security concerns…
…A U.S. official said separately that Iraq had reported a missing specialized camera containing highly radioactive Iridium-192 to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog, in November.
“They’ve been looking for it ever since. Whether it was just misplaced, or actually stolen, isn’t clear,” said the official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The environment ministry document, dated Nov. 30 and addressed to the ministry’s Centre for Prevention of Radiation, describes “the theft of a highly dangerous radioactive source of Ir-192 with highly radioactive activity belonging to SGS from a depot belonging to Weatherford in the Rafidhia area of Basra province”.
More about Ir-192: “has accounted for the majority of cases tracked by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in which radioactive materials have gone missing in quantities large enough to make a dirty bomb.” More reading from 2007 from the New Yorker.
The most important Apple executive you’ve never heard of » Bloomberg Businessweek
Brad Stone, Adam Satariano, and Gwen Ackerman:
»A little over a year ago, Apple had a problem: The iPad Pro was behind schedule. Elements of the hardware, software, and accompanying stylus weren’t going to be ready for a release in the spring. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and his top lieutenants had to delay the unveiling until the fall. That gave most of Apple’s engineers more time. It gave a little-known executive named Johny Srouji much less.
Srouji is the senior vice president for hardware technologies at Apple. He runs the division that makes processor chips, the silicon brains inside the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The original plan was to introduce the iPad Pro with Apple’s tablet chip, the A8X, the same processor that powered the iPad Air 2, introduced in 2014. But delaying until fall meant that the Pro would make its debut alongside the iPhone 6s, which was going to use a newer, faster phone chip called the A9.
This is the stuff that keeps technology executives up at night. The iPad Pro was important: It was Apple’s attempt to sell tablets to business customers. And it would look feeble next to the iPhone 6s. So Srouji put his engineers on a crash program to move up the rollout of a new tablet processor, the A9X, by half a year. The engineers finished in time, and the Pro hit the market with the faster chip and a 12.9in display packed with 5.6 million pixels.
Useful profile (and a little scoop-ette in the intro), though of course Apple – and Srouji – won’t indicate what direction the chip design there is going. There’s also the question of quite what delta it gives it over those using chips from TSMC et al; aside from the reference to the 64-bit shift, that isn’t addressed clearly.
Apple, the FBI, and the San Bernadino iPhone
Dan Wallach:
»Q What’s so bad about Apple doing what the FBI wants?
A Apple’s concern is the precedent set by the FBI’s demand and the judge’s order. If the FBI can compel Apple to create a backdoor like this, then so can anybody else. You’ve now opened the floodgates to every small-town police chief, never mind discovery orders in civil lawsuits. How is Apple supposed to validate and prioritize these requests? What happens when they come from foreign governments? If China demands a custom software build to attack a U.S. resident, how is Apple supposed to judge whether that user and their phone happen to be under the jurisdiction of Chinese law? What if the U.S. then passes a law prohibiting Apple from honoring Chinese requests like this? That way lies madness, and that’s where we’re going.
Even if we could somehow make this work, purely as an engineering matter, it’s not feasible to imagine a backdoor mechanism that will support the full gamut of seemingly legal requests to exercise it.
If you want life insurance, think twice before getting a genetic test » Fast Company
Christina Farr:
»Jennifer Marie* should be an ideal candidate for life insurance: She’s 36, gainfully employed, and has no current medical issues.
But on September 15 last year, Jennifer Marie’s application for life insurance was denied.
“Unfortunately after carefully reviewing your application, we regret that we are unable to provide you with coverage because of your positive BRCA 1 gene,” the letter reads. In the U.S., about one in 400 women have a BRCA 1 or 2 gene, which is associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Jennifer Marie provided a copy of the document to Fast Company on the condition that she and her insurance company remain anonymous, as she is still hoping to appeal the rejection.
You’re thinking “surely that’s illegal!” It would be for health insurance, under a 2008 law in the US – but that doesn’t apply to life insurance, long-term care or disability insurance.
Unlock your Windows 10 phone remotely » Windows Help
»Try unlocking your Windows 10 phone remotely if you get this message: “This device has been locked for security reasons. Connect your device to a power source for at least two hours and then try again.” The key is to reset your PIN through account.microsoft.com.
Go to account.microsoft.com/devices
Sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on the phone.
Click the Find my phone link.
Press Lock.
Enter a new PIN. Now you’ll be able to unlock your phone with your new PIN.
You can’t do this with an iPhone – you need to enter the existing PIN first. Clearly, the answer is for the FBI to issue would-be terrorists with Windows Phones running Windows Mobile 10 (it doesn’t work on 8) to simplify subsequent investigations. (Thanks Tero Alhonen for the link.)
Errata, corrigenda and ai no corrida: none noted.
Posted in links | Tagged #error53, apple, chromebook, encryption, ftc, google, linux, microwave, radioactive, security, vision | 4 Replies
Start up: Samsung’s adblocker’s back, cement – solved!, #error53 redux, the Useless Hackathon, and more
Your plumber remembers one version of a call from Yelp, but the recordings show another. Who’s right? Photo by eldeeem on Flickr.
Oh, go on- sign up to receive each day’s Start Up post by email. Who knows, it might make your inbox happy.
A selection of 9 links for you. Smoosh them into mush. I’m charlesarthur on Twitter. Observations and links welcome.
Pirate group suspends new cracks to measure impact on sales » TorrentFreak
One of the hottest topics in the game piracy scene in late 2015 surrounded the Avalanche Studios/Square Enix title Just Cause 3.
Released on December 1, 2015, pirates were eager to get their hands on the game for free. However, JC3 is protected by the latest iteration of Denuvo, an anti-tamper technology developed by Denuvo Software Solutions GmbH. Denuvo is not DRM per se, but acts as a secondary encryption system protecting underlying DRM products.
All eyes had been on notorious Chinese game cracking group/forum 3DM to come up with the goods but last month the group delivered a killer blow to its fans.
According to the leader of the group, the very public ‘Bird Sister’ (also known as Phoenix), the game was proving extremely difficult to crack. In fact, Bird Sister said that current anti-piracy technology is becoming so good that in two years there might not be pirated games anymore.
And now the group isn’t going to crack any single-player games. Won’t stop all the other cracking groups, of course.
Sky Q now available in the UK » Ars Technica UK
Sebastian Anthony:
Sky Q, the next iteration of Sky’s subscription TV service, is now available to buy in the UK. Prices start at £42 per month, climbing to £88.50 per month, and there’s a £250 setup fee that you have to swallow as well.
The headline feature of Sky Q is that you’re able to record three shows simultaneously while watching a fourth channel. If you stump up £54 per month for the upgraded Sky Q Silver box, you can record four channels and watch a fifth. Of course, whether there are actually five channels worth watching is a slightly more complicated question.
Other interesting features include a new touchpad-equipped remote control, downloading content for offline viewing, watching Sky TV on a tablet, and the possibility of streaming Sky TV to other rooms in the house via Sky Q Mini boxes.
Sky Q is a really smart response by Sky to the incursion of the web into TV; it folds it in (at a price). I’ve seen a demo, and it really is very slick, and the integration into tablet apps is terrific. Plus because it uses the satellite signal it’s fast – a big advantage in rural areas where broadband is slow.
(Here’s a piece I wrote on Sky Q before its details were fully known.)
Google restores ad blocker for Samsung browser to the Play Store » The Verge
Dan Seifert:
Following a little bit of drama last week, Google has restored an ad blocking plugin for Samsung’s Android browser to the Play Store today, according to a blog post from the developer of the app. The plugin, Adblock Fast, was removed from the Play Store last Tuesday after only being available for a day, with Google citing that the plugin violated a section of the Store’s developer agreements. The specific rule that was violated relates to plugins modifying other third-party applications, which is prohibited by Google.
Now things start to get interesting.
How WIRED is going to handle adblocking » WIRED
“Wired Staff”:
So, in the coming weeks, we will restrict access to articles on WIRED.com if you are using an ad blocker. There will be two easy options to access that content.
You can simply add WIRED.com to your ad blocker’s whitelist, so you view ads. When you do, we will keep the ads as “polite” as we can, and you will only see standard display advertising.
You can subscribe to a brand-new Ad-Free version of WIRED.com. For $1 a week, you will get complete access to our content, with no display advertising or ad tracking.
This presumes that adblocking readers will accept that they are worth $1/week to Wired, and that Wired is worth the same amount to adblocking readers. Is that proven? Given how small the amounts earned from ads per person are, this seems to be herding people who don’t know their true value towards a funnel. Premium ad display costs $10 per CPM – that is, per thousand showings. That’s 1c per premium ad you view. Multiply by the number of ads on a page – perhaps 10, for 10c? So if adblocking readers pay up but view fewer than 10 articles per week, Wired is making a solid profit from them, minus credit card costs.
Discussion on Hacker News suggests that people would rather go for a “bid to show me ads” model – which, to be fair, is how Google Contribute works. If you set your per-page view at, say, $0.35, then you’ll only see ads where an advertiser has bidded more. But of course that means you get all the tracking malarkey that goes with it (and of course if you truly don’t like tracking, why are you using Google?)
And as is also pointed out, you can subscribe to the physical magazine for a lot less than the $50 per year this implies – in fact you can get it for about a tenth of that.
Another point, finally – the page is 3.3MB, of which only half is content. The rest is ads. Still sure you want them?
Exclusive: Top cybercrime ring disrupted as authorities raid Moscow offices – sources » Reuters
Joseph Menn:
Russian authorities in November raided offices associated with a Moscow film distribution and production company as part of a crackdown on one of the world’s most notorious financial hacking operations, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.
Cybersecurity experts said a password-stealing software program known as Dyre — believed to be responsible for at least tens of millions of dollars in losses at financial institutions including Bank of America Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co — has not been deployed since the time of the raid. Experts familiar with the situation said the case represents Russia’s biggest effort to date to crack down on cyber-crime.
A spokesman for the Russian Interior Ministry’s cybercrime unit said his department was not involved in the case. The FSB, Russia’s main intelligence service, said it had no immediate comment.
Menn is a terrific journalist on this topic. I highly recommend his book Fatal System Error. (He’s written others too.)(Thanks Richard Burte for the pointer.)
Inside the Stupid Shit No One Needs & Terrible Ideas Hackathon » Motherboard
Cecilia D’Anastasio:
Featuring hacks like 3Cheese Printer, a 3D printer using Cheez-Whiz as ink, and NonAd Block, a Chrome extension that blocks all non-ad content, the New York-based Stupid Hackathon is disrupting hackathon culture. While other hackathons churn out useless projects in earnest, the Stupid Hackathon strips pretension away from tech developers’ money-backed scramble to satisfy every human need. Satirizing the hackathon community’s naive goals for techno-utopianism, co-organizers Sam Lavigne and Amelia Winger-Bearskin solicit projects that use tech to critique tech culture.
“Is a need being filled or is the need manufactured and then constantly reinforced?” Lavigne asked. “The Stupid Hackathon is the perfect framework for satirizing the whole tech community.”
Three Stupid Hackathon teams set out to create wearables that detect boners. Categories for hacks included “edible electronics,” “commodities to end climate change” and “Ayn Rand.” Participants, in general, ignored them.
Lavigne and Winger-Bearskin, who met at the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at NYU, became disenchanted with hackathons when they noticed that many aimed to “hack” world hunger or income inequality in one weekend. As a student at ITP, Winger-Bearskin, now director of the DBRS Innovation Lab, applied to participate in a hackathon on the theme of love hosted at ITP but was rejected.
“I couldn’t even eat the food that was on the table next to me,” she said, referring to the free food often provided for hackathon participants. “And I couldn’t hack about love!” Lavigne has never attended another hackathon.
There used to be an Apple Mac hacking contest – called MacHack – in the 1990s where hacks that could actually be thought helpful were derided as “useful!”. Seems the idea is back, in a bigger way.
Riddle of cement’s structure is finally solved » MIT News
Concrete forms through the solidification of a mixture of water, gravel, sand, and cement powder. Is the resulting glue material (known as cement hydrate, CSH) a continuous solid, like metal or stone, or is it an aggregate of small particles?
As basic as that question is, it had never been definitively answered. In a paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team of researchers at MIT, Georgetown University, and France’s CNRS (together with other universities in the U.S., France, and U.K.) say they have solved that riddle and identified key factors in the structure of CSH that could help researchers work out better formulations for producing more durable concrete.
What a time to be alive, eh? That solid/particle question had been bugging me for ages. Seriously, though, it’s an important topic: this stuff is everywhere.
Apple are right and wrong » Consult Hyperion
Dave Birch:
Bricking people’s phones when they detect an “incorrect” touch ID device in the phone is the wrong response though. All Apple has done is make people like me wonder if they should really stick with Apple for their next phone because I do not want to run the risk of my phone being rendered useless because I drop it when I’m on holiday need to get it fixed right away by someone who is not some sort of official repairer.
What Apple should have done is to flag the problem to the parties who are relying on the risk analysis (including themselves). These are the people who need to know if there is a potential change in the vulnerability model. So, for example, it would seem to me to be entirely reasonable in the circumstances to flag the Simple app and tell it that the integrity of the touch ID system can no longer be guaranteed and then let the Simple app make its own choice as to whether to continue using touch ID (which I find very convenient) or make me type in my PIN, or use some other kind of strong authentication, instead. Apple’s own software could also pick up the flag and stop using touch ID. After all… so what?
Touch ID, remember, isn’t a security technology. It’s a convenience technology. If Apple software decides that it won’t use Touch ID because it may have been compromised, that’s fine. I can live with entering my PIN instead of using my thumbprint. The same is true for all other applications. I don’t see why apps can’t make their own decision.
Birch’s point that this could put people off buying Apple phones is surely one that has already occurred to its management, and will be – like the prospect of being shot in the morning – concentrating their minds.
Reviews Rashomon: plumber remembers Yelp threat that never actually occurred » Screenwerk
Greg Sterling:
I had a plumber replace my kitchen faucet. As I do with all service professionals I engaged him in discussion about how he marketed himself and where his leads were coming from. Yelp was one of the primary sources.
He then told me that he had been solicited to advertise on the site and that he declined but was told by the telephone sales rep that his reviews could potentially be affected if he didn’t. This was the first time I’d directly heard this from a business owner.
In my mind this was the first real “evidence” that some sort of sales manipulation might be going on. I informed Yelp of my exchange with the plumber and it was immediately disputed: “That didn’t happen,” I was told.
To make a longer story short, Yelp invited me in to listen to the sales calls with this plumber, whom I identified to the company. Yelp records its end of sales calls but not the business owner’s conversation.
I sat in Yelps offices and listened to what must have been 25 – 30 calls to this plumber. Most of them were trying to set up appointments to discuss Yelp advertising. And there were at least two Yelp sales reps who were trying to close the account; a second one took over after the first one was unsuccessful.
There was nothing that sounded like a threat or any suggestion that reviews would be removed or otherwise altered by Yelp if the guy didn’t advertise. There wasn’t anything that could be construed as even implying that.
Sterling concludes that this is a “Rashomon” – a scene where every recounting differs subtly. One possibility: the calls with the threats actually come from scammers. Or plumbers just misinterpret what they hear.
Errata, corrigenda and ai no corrida: Yesterday’s link to VTech’s horrendous security came via Chris Ratcliff. Thanks, Chris.
Posted in links | Tagged #error53, adblocker, apple, cement, cybercrime, google, piracy, samsung, sky, yelp | 1 Reply
Explaining the iPhone’s #error53, and why it puts Apple between conspiracy and rock-hard security (updated)
Posted on February 8, 2016 by charlesarthur
The TouchID system on the iPhone 6 is difficult to fix because it’s linked to Apple Pay. Photo by Janitors on Flickr.
There’s been a huge amount of coverage on the topic of “error 53”, which is a message thrown up by iTunes when it detects a particular fault on newer iPhones. But of course the rewriting hasn’t actually tried to add any value or understanding, for the most part. (Oh, internet journalism, if you only knew how crap you are.)
Techmeme coverage of “error 53”: did any of it add any detail?
So here’s my attempt to explain it, starting from what we know, and what we can find out, and what we can deduce. On with the show!
What is #error53?
It’s the error shown in iTunes for an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S or 6S Plus after an operating software upgrade (eg upgrading from iOS 8.1 to iOS 8.2, or 8.1 to 9.0, or 9.2 to 9.2.1) if the phone has had its TouchID sensor replaced or its cable interfered with since the last software upgrade.
Error 53 (almost) bricks the device: it tells you to plug it in to iTunes and recover it, but in the instance above it won’t work. There is a way to bring the phone back to life if you’ve had Error 53, which we’ll come to presently.
Update: Apple has now (February 18, ten days later) released an iOS update for those using 9.2.1 and updating via iTunes which fixes this. Read the support document.
This is just Apple trying to stop third-party repairs, isn’t it?
That’s the conspiracy version of the explanation, but it isn’t self-consistent. Third-party repairers say they can still replace batteries, screens, and various other bits. What they’ve learnt though is that doing anything with TouchID on the iPhone 6/etc can kill the phone. So they avoid doing those repairs, and tell people to take affected phones to Apple repair shops.
Note that third-party repair shops have known about the home button problem for a long time. However, it’s only just come to media attention.
Why doesn’t it happen to the iPhone 5S?
The fact that this only began happening with the iPhone 6/Plus sharpened the conspiracy that this is Apple trying to shut down third-party repairs. (But it also weakens the conspiracy theory, because wouldn’t Apple seek to block it on all devices?) The reason is down to the key difference between the 5S and the 6/Plus: the 5S doesn’t have NFC, and so can’t do Apple Pay.
Why does Apple Pay matter in this?
Apple Pay means the phone contains Secure Elements, which are cryptographic stores with credit card and payment data – including (I surmise) how to turn a credit card number into an NFC payment mechanism, which is not the sort of information that banks want to be leaked everywhere.
Why does it only happen after an OS upgrade, rather than right after a replacement?
To understand this, we have to go to Apple’s security documents about iOS 9, and how security works with TouchID (the fingerprint reader), the Secure Enclave (which stores a hashed version of your fingerprint) and the Secure Elements, which store key financial data in an encrypted form.
Here’s a diagram from Apple’s security document, showing the direction of trust as the device boots up: it travels from the bottom to the top. We’re only interested in the stuff at the bottom of this stack at present (from “Apple root certificate” upward to the top of the “hardware/firmware” part).
Apple’s explanation of how the security system works in the iPhone: booting starts from the bottom and progresses upwards.
On bootup, the system goes through various hardware checks to ensure that everything is tickety-boo, cryptographically speaking. If it finds something wrong, then it gives you the “Connect to iTunes” screen, and if you’re lucky, throws up an error message. Note that if something is wrong at this bootup stage, you don’t reach the higher level of the file system and OS partition; you’re stuck at the hardware/firmware level.
If you replace the TouchID system on a device, the system doesn’t throw an error at this point. Why not? I’m not completely sure, but I think that the TouchID subsystem doesn’t have an entry in the device’s own hardware/firmware listing, so the device can’t tell whether the TouchID system that’s installed is the same one it originally had at manufacture.
Update: on thinking some more about it, I think this is why. The security model is one which doesn’t trust values that are stored on-device but not burnt into hardware. So any value in a firmware register could have been changed. Now, if the TouchID serial were stored on hardware, it could be checked on boot to see if it’s trusted – but you’d never be able to replace the TouchID sensor, because the old serial is burnt into the chip. A firmware value on startup can’t be trusted because it might have been changed.
Therefore the device doesn’t brick when it’s first turned on after repair. It has to rely on something external which has stored the TouchID serial – that is, Apple’s installation authorisation server./Update
What happens on a software upgrade is subtly different from simply booting. From Apple’s document, on p6:
During an iOS upgrade, iTunes (or the device itself, in the case of OTA [over-the-air] software updates) connects to the Apple installation authorization server and sends it a list of cryptographic measurements for each part of the installation bundle to be installed [emphasis added] (for example, LLB, iBoot, the kernel, and OS image), a random anti-replay value (nonce), and the device’s unique ID (ECID).
The authorization server checks the presented list of measurements against versions for which installation is permitted and, if it finds a match, adds the ECID to the measurement and signs the result. The server passes a complete set of signed data to the device as part of the upgrade process.
Adding the ECID “personalizes” the authorization for the requesting device. By authorizing and signing only for known measurements, the server ensures that the update takes place exactly as provided by Apple. The boot-time chain-of-trust evaluation verifies that the signature comes from Apple and that the measurement of the item loaded from disk, combined with the device’s ECID, matches what was covered by the signature.
These steps ensure that the authorization is for a specific device and that an old iOS version from one device can’t be copied to another. The nonce prevents an attacker from saving the server’s response and using it to tamper with a device or otherwise alter the system software.
What I think is happening is that the new TouchID system’s serial number is in included in the cryptographic data sent to the authorisation server, and when that is compared against what it should be for the given ECID, the numbers don’t match.
At that point, the authorisation server decides that Something Bad is going on, and blocks the update. The device now fails the low-level boot – it can’t get past the kernel level to the OS boot – and so the device is bricked.
And that is why it bricks on a software update.
Why doesn’t it check with the authorisation server after the repair?
The phone doesn’t have any way of “knowing” whether it’s restarting after a repair, or after it ran out of battery, or you just turned it off for the night. If every phone were to check in with the authorisation server on being powered on, three things would happen: (1) the authorisation server would die (2) people would be furious because their phone wouldn’t boot because it would need connectivity to check the details for its ECID, and you don’t always have connectivity when you turn your phone on (3) Apple would get majorly dinged for “snooping on when people turn their phone on.”
That doesn’t explain why it doesn’t happen on the 5S, though.
Damn right. At which point we have to consider that the “cryptographic measurements” sent back for an iPhone 6/etc differ from those of an iPhone 5S, specifically because of the Apple Pay-related Secure Elements.
Why does the device still work after the third-party replacement?
Let’s qualify this: it does work, but TouchID (and so Apple Pay and others) don’t work after a third-party fix that affects TouchID. The pairing there between the Secure Element/Secure Enclave/TouchID, which was set up when the device was manufactured, is lost. It carries on not working; then at some point, you get a software upgrade notification. And then – disaster.
Considering this, I think what is stored for communication with the server is the TouchID pairing status. If it’s unpaired, the update can’t go ahead.
Update: the fix issued by Apple must tell it to go ahead if the TouchID pairing status is changed, but leaving TouchID disabled.
What if you’ve never set up Apple Pay?
Doesn’t matter. The issue is not the data you’ve stored in the device, but the data that’s built into the device – cryptographic keys used for creating payment authorisation for credit cards. Those are in the Secure Elements.
What are the Secure Elements, and what do they contain?
Here’s a definition:
An SE is a tamper resistant hardware platform, capable of securely hosting applications and storing confidential and cryptographic data. For example, in the finance industry SEs are used to host personalized card applications and cryptographic keys required to perform financial (EMV) transactions at a point-of-sale terminal. SEs used in the identity market may hold biometric data or certificates which can be used for signing documents. Whichever purpose, the secure environment provided by the SE protects the user’s credentials ensuring the safety of the user’s data.
The reason why Error 53 happens when you change or interfere with the TouchID sensor on a more-recent-than-5S phone is that the system detects – during the software upgrade – that something has changed, and that the embedded trust system has been broken. And so the device doesn’t get authorisation to update.
Why does the Secure Elements stuff matter, though?
The banks/financial institutions specify that the operating system must not be able to directly access the data in the “trusted zone” (the Secure Elements).
How can you recover from Error 53?
Quite simple: replace the new TouchID processor with the old one. (People say they have successfully done this.) However, saying it is a lot easier than doing it. Some people don’t have the old one. Or the old one might just be broken.
How does Apple replace TouchID systems?
We don’t know, but we know it can, because it does. There must be a method for updating the cryptographic measurement list held by the authorisation server for a particular ECID. I’d imagine that involves logging into a server, entering an ECID (or connecting the phone) and letting the two talk to each other.
Note that when you have your screen repaired by Apple, it will tell you to disable TouchID first. And afterwards, you’ll have to recalibrate it. So there might be something there.
Why can’t Apple do that to devices which have failed on Error 53?
We don’t know. (Possibly it can.)
Could Apple change things so that in future it just disables TouchID and software updates still work?
Perhaps. I suspect it would need some sort of adjustment to what gets sent to the authorisation server, or what the server considers OK to approve. But if Apple is tied here by what the financial institutions demand around the Secure Elements, it might not have the choice.
Why hasn’t Apple explained that this is a risk of third-party replacement?
Ah, now we come to the challenge of Being Apple. Its mystique (for that’s what a lot of it is) lies in saying very little about how it does things, and asking people to take this stuff on trust, or for granted.
Thus when it comes to repairs, Apple’s implied assumption is that everyone will bring their device to an Authorised Apple Dealer, or Apple, to get it fixed. This ignores the fact that it now sells phones in countries where you’d have to travel for hours and hours to reach either of those – if you were lucky.
Naturally, people go to third-party repair shops to get these things done. And then problems start, because you’re talking about a pocket supercomputer with embedded cryptographic systems that are sensitive to being fiddled with.
But Apple has done a bad job here in communicating the risks of getting anything around the TouchID system replaced. It really needed to get the message out there.
Why didn’t Apple get the message out there?
Probably it’s been difficult to separate the signal from the noise on this. If someone comes in to an Apple Store with an Error 53 phone, it’s hard to know at first why it has done it. The device gets replaced, and the old one sent back to Apple, but that’s barely half of the feedback loop: it has to reach Apple, someone has to figure out why it doesn’t work, and then inform stores, and also inform the marketing people that this can be a problem which needs to be communicated.
Very likely there are people in Apple Engineering, Apple Retail and Apple Marketing who are right now looking at an email trail and smacking their foreheads as they realise what the problem they missed was. Those phones sent back from the stores marked as “will not boot”… ohhh.
That’s the problem with big organisations, though: that sort of feedback loop is really, really hard to organise well. Alternatively, perhaps it has been noticed, but it hasn’t affected a large number of people, and so isn’t as high a priority as.. something else. (We don’t know what.) Of course, to the affected people, it’s a bloody high priority.
Shouldn’t Apple allow third-party TouchID repairs, though? After all, the phone is your property.
The “property” argument isn’t a great one, to be honest. Apple sells you a device, but it doesn’t give you untrammelled rights to it; you aren’t legally allowed to (try to) decompile the software, or the firmware, or to dig into things like the Secure Elements. You don’t own the entire thing.
That’s how things are these days; the open-software absolutists run into a problem with mobile phones, because even if you can download and compile the operating system (a la Andy Rubin) you won’t be able to do that on the baseband software which actually provides the mobile functions. So it’s never completely “your” phone. That’s the case with PCs too these days – there’s stuff on the motherboard you don’t get to mess with.
None of this proves it isn’t Apple just shutting out third-party repairs, though.
Ah, proof. It’s so hard to prove the imaginary, or to refute it. However the scenario where some Apple executives gather round a table and say “You know what? We’re losing valuable revenues and profits from people using third-party repairs! We need to brick those phones!” fails both Occam’s Razor and Hanlon’s Razor, the two logical tests that help you filter through a lot of modern crap.
Occam’s, you’ll recall, is “don’t let entities multiply unnecessarily – aka “the simplest explanation is probably the right one.” Hanlon’s, meanwhile, is “never ascribe to conspiracy what can more easily be ascribed to cockup.”
Why does “shutting out third party repairs” fail Occam’s? Because it requires a lot of people putting in varying amounts of effort to make it happen.
For the malicious version: Apple has to have decided (1) it doesn’t like third-party repairs; (2) it wants people to have a bad experience when they try to upgrade their software (is it certain people will connect the third-party repair with the bricking, given that the events might be weeks or months apart? They might even have had an Apple fix of some sort in the meantime) (3) to set in motion an internal program whereby third-party replacements using correctly-sourced parts will fail, but its own repairs using the same parts won’t (quite risky) (4) to keep all this secret while also instructing its repair shops how to do this.
For the accidental explanation: the new TouchID system on the iPhone 6/etc now pairs with the Secure Elements and its cryptographic signature is sent to the update server on device activation. If the signature doesn’t match on subsequent update requests, the device isn’t authorised.
See how much simpler the latter one is? It doesn’t require any executives, or nefarious planning; just some work by the engineers updating the TouchID/Secure Elements systems. That satisfies Occam.
But equally, the second also satisfies Hanlon’s Razor. Nobody has been malicious; if anything, they’ve been trying to safeguard customers by making sure that sensitive (to financial groups) information can’t get hacked off your phone. However, in doing that, they’ve created a situation where customers get a bad experience and Apple gets bad publicity over something it would have hoped would give it kudos.
The shibboleth
In all the coverage of this topic, it is quite amazing how ready people are to assume the worst. Apple is uniquely capable of polarising people, who find it exceptionally hard to be indifferent about what it does. Either it’s a sort of wellspring of ideas and direction in all sorts of markets, from PCs to mobile phones to smart watches; or it’s a malicious money-grabbing marketing machine seeking ever more ways to rip people and governments off, while foisting commodity products on people at sky-high prices.
For instance, where do you think Cory Doctorow stands on it?
Error 53: Apple remotely bricks phones to punish customers for getting independent repairs https://t.co/GsJYY6ig6F pic.twitter.com/9esKmVwh7M
— Cory Doctorow (@doctorow) February 5, 2016
Punish. There’s a verb.
Or Dan Gillmor?
Even for control-freak Apple, this is despicable — bricking people’s phones if they get non-Apple service repair: https://t.co/2MZcGnvpJ2
— Dan Gillmor (@dangillmor) February 5, 2016
(Both links in those tweets are to the same Guardian article that kicked this all off on Saturday.)
Yet if you look on Hacker News, you’ll find the tenor of the discussion is much more like “oh, that makes sense from a security point of view”. And security experts on Twitter such as Steve Bellovin and Matthew Green could discuss the matter without invoking conspiracy theories.
I find it odd that people who write publicly for money seem more willing to go for the conspiracy theory than those who don’t. Doesn’t exposure to enough organisations teach you that the bigger they get, the more easily screwups happen, and the less communication there is between their many arms?
And Apple really is big these days, stretching across an incredibly broad area of the computing market – from Macs to mobile phones to tablets to smart watches to iPods, from desktop operating systems to mobile operating systems (tweaked differently for the tablet and the phone), to smartwatch and TV set-top box operating systems, to desktop and mobile applications, to cross-platform music programs (iTunes is on Mac OSX and Windows; Apple Music is on iOS, Windows, Mac OSX and Android), to web services (CloudKit) and even chip design.
I’m pretty confident in saying that no other company is doing as many things across as many hardware and software platforms. Google is huge, but doesn’t make hardware in anything like that volume; Microsoft is huge too, but doesn’t make hardware in any appreciable volume. Apple does the whole thing, including chip design. The combination of hardware and software challenge in adding just one new feature to any individual device line is mind-boggling, because you have to consider how it’s going to affect everything else.
In that context, an engineering team working away on an improved TouchID system which authenticates against tampering probably thought they were doing just the right thing. Instead, they were throwing their retail and PR people into a media storm. The size of the teacup is yet to be determined.
Quite how Apple is going to get its explanation across will be educative to watch. (I haven’t spoken to Apple in writing this.) The more interesting question though is: what will happen once lots of Android devices start using Android Pay (which has pretty much the same trust requirements) and those start breaking? Will third-party repairers be able to fix them, or will they have to be sent back to the manufacturer? And if it’s the latter (or if people try the former) how much hell is there going to be to pay?
Though you suspect you know the answer already. It won’t arise, because not that many OEMs will implement Android Pay, and the people who get inconvenienced won’t make as much noise about it. Who cares if someone with an HTC phone has to swap it and loses their data? You’d struggle to get most newsdesks to know what an HTC phone was. Say “iPhone”, though…
Posted in analysis | Tagged #error53, apple, iphone | 20 Replies
Start up: hedge funds like AI, Facebook’s close separation, what if Twitter died?, BlackBerry cuts, and more
A break like this, affecting the home button, is probably going to lead in time to an #error53 fault if you don’t get it repaired by Apple. But what causes it, exactly? Photo by wZa HK on Flickr.
You can now sign up to receive each day’s Start Up post by email. You’ll need to click a confirmation link, so no spam.
A selection of 12 links for you. Use them wisely. I’m charlesarthur on Twitter. Observations and links welcome.
Will AI-powered hedge funds outsmart the market? » MIT Tech Review
Will Knight:
Anthony Ledford, chief scientist of MAN AHL, explains that the company is exploring whether techniques like deep learning might lend themselves to finance. “It’s at an early stage,” Ledford says. “We have set aside a pot of money for test trading. With deep learning, if all goes well, it will go into test trading, as other machine-learning approaches have.”
Trading might seem like an obvious place to apply deep learning, but actually it isn’t clear how comparable the challenge of finding subtle patterns in real-time trading data is to, say, spotting faces in digital photographs. “It’s a very different problem,” Ledford admits.
Academic experts also sound a note of caution. Stephen Roberts, a professor of machine learning at Oxford University, says deep learning could be good “for extracting hidden trends, information, and relationships,” but adds that it “is still too brittle with regard to handling of high uncertainty and noise, which are prevalent in finance.”
You just know that this isn’t really going to work, but also that it’s going to be used by a ton of funds to try to get ahead of the market – a market composed of other funds also trying to use the same processes.
iOS security – iOS 9 or later » Apple
Let’s try to get on top of this #error53 stuff:
During an iOS upgrade, iTunes (or the device itself, in the case of OTA software updates) connects to the Apple installation authorization server and sends it a list of cryptographic measurements for each part of the installation bundle to be installed (for example, LLB, iBoot, the kernel, and OS image), a random anti-replay value (nonce), and the device’s unique ID (ECID).
The authorization server checks the presented list of measurements against versions for which installation is permitted and, if it finds a match, adds the ECID to the measurement and signs the result. The server passes a complete set of signed data to the device as part of the upgrade process. Adding the ECID “personalizes” the authorization for the requesting device. By authorizing and signing only for known measurements, the server ensures that the update takes place exactly as provided by Apple.
The boot-time chain-of-trust evaluation verifies that the signature comes from Apple and that the measurement of the item loaded from disk, combined with the device’s ECID, matches what was covered by the signature.
To recap, with #error53, people who have had third-party replacements of screens and/or home buttons on the iPhone 6/Plus and 6S/Plus (but not the 5S) find that it works fine – though they can’t use TouchID (it’s greyed out as an option). But when they do an OS update, the phone bricks: can’t get data, can’t restore.
So my understanding of this is: the reason why devices which have had third-party replacement parts only brick after an OS update, yet work fine before it, is this: on trying to install the update they connect to the auth server. The server decides that the cryptographic measurements no longer match what it has on record. So it decides the chain of trust is broken, and effectively shuts down the device.
But it’s poor decision-making by Apple, and equally poor communication. Why doesn’t it happen on the 5S? Update: because the 5S doesn’t have NFC for Apple Pay. (Thanks, Andy.) What’s the process that Apple uses when it does the repair to revalidate the TouchID system (which fails even with valid parts)? Why can’t the system tell that it’s just TouchID that’s affected? The safety process has overshot its requirements. Every part of what happens makes sense from a security perspective – but not if considering that many people will get third-party repairs.
Three and a half degrees of separation » Research at Facebook
How connected is the world? Playwrights, poets, and scientists have proposed that everyone on the planet is connected to everyone else by six other people. In honor of Friends Day, we’ve crunched the Facebook friend graph and determined that the number is 3.57. Each person in the world (at least among the 1.59 billion people active on Facebook) is connected to every other person by an average of three and a half other people. The average distance we observe is 4.57, corresponding to 3.57 intermediaries or “degrees of separation.” Within the US, people are connected to each other by an average of 3.46 degrees.
Our collective “degrees of separation” have shrunk over the past five years. In 2011, researchers at Cornell, the Università degli Studi di Milano, and Facebook computed the average across the 721 million people using the site then, and found that it was 3.74 [4,5]. Now, with twice as many people using the site, we’ve grown more interconnected, thus shortening the distance between any two people in the world.
Apparently my average is 3.26 so ya boo. Zuckerberg is 3.17. Sheryl Sandberg is 2.92 – blimey.
On your cute release notes » The Brooks Review
Ben Brooks:
We’ve all seen them. Notes about a fictional engineer who was hired and then fired. A cute story about something completely irrelevant to the matter at hand. Recipe for ‘squash bug soup’ or something along those lines.
With disturbingly increasing frequency, companies are deciding to let their marketing departments handle their release notes instead of the engineering team or product manager.
And we are all worse off for it.
As a user I mostly look at release notes to find out about one (or more) of three things:
• Have you added something new to the app which will make it better for me? That is: what are the new features, what do those features do, and perhaps how do I get to them.
• Have you fixed that bug which was making the app hard for me to use, perhaps even impossible for me to use? Aka: What bugs did you fix?
• How active is development on this app? Before I invest or move to most apps I look at recent release notes to get a sense of whether they are in maintenance mode (just major bug fixes), or under some kind of active development (minor bug fixes and feature releases, optimized for current version of iOS, etc).
BlackBerry cuts 200 jobs in Ontario and Florida to trim costs » Reuters
Alastair Sharp:
The layoffs will affect 75 manufacturing jobs in Sunrise, Florida, a state government website showed.
The company also confirmed that Gary Klassen is one of the people who has departed in the latest round of cuts. Klassen was one of its longest-tenured employees and the inventor of its BBM messaging service.
One source familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue, said many of the Canadian cuts were people working on its BB10 handset software at its Waterloo, Ontario, headquarters.
A spokeswoman for BlackBerry declined to comment on which divisions will be affected by the cuts, but said the company stood by its commitment to release further updates on its BB10 software.
BB10 is so, so dead.
“Dangerous ramifications” » Medium
Rohin Dharmakumar, with some examples of things that didn’t happen:
In January 2015, users of Microsoft’s Office in India were suddenly greeted with a pop-up asking them to “Support Microsoft Office”. The Indian government under PM Narendra Modi was said to be formulating an “Open Source Policy” under which all government offices were to either mandate or prefer open-source software for official work.
Clicking the “Support Office” button caused Microsoft to send the PMO and the Ministry of IT a letter from the user’s name with a pre-determined format. It said the user’s loved Microsoft’s products and wanted their government interactions to be based on the same. “I urge you not to ban Microsoft Office,” it ended.
The same message popped up on users of various Microsoft products in India – Windows, XBox, Windows Phone, Skype etc.
Within a few weeks, over 7 million emails had been sent in support to Microsoft.
“Support Monsanto”
In January 2014, farmers in the southern Indian state of Karnataka were surprised to see a notice attached to every bag of seed they bought from Mahyco, the market leader.
“Tell the Karnataka Govt. not to ban MMB”, said the notice. MMB was Monsanto-Mahyco Biotech, the joint-venture that licensed Monsanto’s crop technologies in India.
He has some more examples of things that didn’t happen – and then one which did.
Why most A/B tests give you bullshit results » Mixpanel
We’ve all seen the articles. Company X increases conversions 38% with this simple trick. Hell, I’ve written some of them.
But those success stories have hidden the grey underbelly of testing and experimentation.
AppSumo revealed that only 1 out of 8 tests produce results. Kaiser Fung estimates that 80 to 90 percent of the A/B tests he’s run yield statistically insignificant results.
Yet many new testers walk into A/B testing thinking it’ll be quick and easy to get results. After running a handful of simple tests, they think they’ll find the right color for this button or the right tweak to that subject line, and conversions will, poof, increase by 38% like magic.
Then they start running tests on their apps or sites, and reality suddenly sets in. Tests are inconclusive. They yield “statistically insignificant” results and no valuable insights about the product or users. What’s happening? Where’s that 38% bump and subsequent pat on the back?
Don’t get frustrated. If you’re going to be running A/B tests, you’re going to have some tests that fail to produce meaningful results you can learn from. But if you run good tests, you’ll have fewer failures and more successes.
Advice for companies with less than one year of runway » The Macro
Dalton Caldwell:
Let’s imagine that you are the founder of a company that has successfully raised an angel or institutional round and are currently in a situation where you have 12 months or less of runway.
The hardest part of dealing with a low runway situation is managing your own psychology. You have to simultaneously manage your own anxiety to not be overly negative about your prospects, but also not be irrationally positive. It’s a delicate balance.
Watch companies do the various things in this post over the next year or so.
Technology: the rift with reality » FT.com
Tim Bradshaw:
With so many [virtual reality] headsets hitting the market this year, the challenge may be figuring out what people will do with them. Video games are seen as the first popular application, and some are experimenting with VR versions of films including The Martian. Futuresource Consulting believes the VR content market could be worth $8.3bn within four years.
Beyond entertainment, advocates say these headsets could transform education, travel, real estate and architecture, not to mention videoconferencing and social networking. Some inside Uber are worried that Oculus could one day prove disruptive to their business by removing the need for people to travel. Why hail a taxi when you can teleport?
“Whenever a market is this early, you have to have strong convictions loosely held,” says Nabeel Hyatt, a venture partner at Spark Capital, which also backed Oculus. “We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
That uncertainty provides fertile ground for entrepreneurs. “There will be billion-dollar companies started by college students because someone gave them a Rift as a present and they solved a very specific problem,” says Anjney Midha, a partner at KPCB Edge.
However, as any sci-fi reader knows, new technologies have inherent risks, too. The futures depicted in Ready Player One and Snow Crash are dystopian and chaotic.
In December, academics led by Christian Sandor of the Nara Institute, Japan, wrote that “true augmented reality”, where the digital is indistinguishable from the physical, “will be the most powerful medium that humanity ever had at its disposal”.
What if Twitter Died? » Tech.pinions
Bob O’Donnell:
this seems to be one of the fundamental problems of Twitter. It’s appealing to Hollywood, TV, music and sports celebrities as a means to interact more intimately with their fans and share the kinds of details they’d never provide to traditional celebrity media. It’s appealing to the tech industry as a mouthpiece for those who want to determine the course of what is or isn’t important. The digital taste-setters, so to speak.
But for mainstream business and consumer users? Not so much. Arguably, this is the biggest problem with Twitter—it can’t seem to stretch beyond its celebrity, celebrity follower, and tech roots. If you aren’t into celebrities or the tech industry, Twitter just isn’t that appealing, especially given all the other options for online social interactions.
Despite these points, I think the navel gazing value of Twitter to the tech industry is so high, I seriously doubt they’ll let Twitter actually die. Someone with enough money and enough self-interest will likely make sure that, no matter what, Twitter will continue in some shape or form. Eventually, it’s value may start to fade, as some have already started to argue, but at least the Twittersphere will have a few years to adapt and find new alternatives.
The fundamental challenge is a publishing service that’s essentially based on self-promotion, self-aggrandizement, and self-importance at some point is going to run into the wall of indifference. Not everyone cares to read about what the self-elected are all doing all the time.
Yahoo loses mobile entrepreneur Arjun Sethi to venture firm » WSJ
Douglas MacMillan:
Mr. Sethi helped lead Yahoo’s effort to compete with Facebook Inc.FB -2.29% and Snapchat Inc. in the emerging area of mobile chat apps. Last July, his team released Livetext, a mobile app that lets users send live video and text without any sound.
Livetext failed to take off with users. In its first month, the program dropped out of the ranking of the 1,000 most popular apps in Apple Inc.’s app store and never returned, according to data from App Annie.
Yahoo’s struggles to produce a hit mobile app has hurt Ms. Mayer’s chances at turning around the 20-year-old Internet icon. This week, Yahoo said its board is weighing “strategic alternatives” to the turnaround which likely include a sale of its core Web business…
…Mr. Sethi is one of dozens of startup founders Ms. Mayer brought into Yahoo through a series of small acquisitions. In her three-and-a-half years as CEO, Yahoo has spent more than $2.3bn on at least 53 acquisitions, largely for small mobile-software developers whose apps were shuttered and whose founders were enticed to work on new projects at the company. At least 26, or over one-third, of the more than 70 startup founders and CEOs who joined Yahoo through an acquisition during Ms. Mayer’s tenure have left the company, according to their profiles on LinkedIn Corp.
As has also been pointed out, Yahoo last week wrote down the value of those acquisitions by $1.2bn. The idea of a video app without sound appears dumb, but then again lots are like that; but Instagram, Facebook and Vine were all there ages earlier. Yahoo’s problem is that it’s late and has no traction in mobile, not that the ideas are of themselves bad.
Sacked in Dublin by a boss in… London » Private Eye
Private Eye is always anonymous:
Google’s claim that all its real business is handled through its European HQ in Dublin while its multiple UK offices exist merely to count the paperclips, organise staff leaving collections and do the morning coffee run is further undermined by evidence it gave to an employment appeals tribunal in the Irish capital in 2013.
Rachel Berthold had been sacked in May 2011 from a position as a “level six” manager, which the tribunal heard put her in the top 7% of employees in Google’s Dublin office.
Anne-Catrin Sallaba, her former boss as Google Europe’s Head of Publisher Services, gave evidence to the tribunal that Berthold had failed to meet performance targets – but Sallaba had to cross the Irish sea to do so, given that as Berthold’s line manager she was employed in, er, London.
Berthold was eventually awarded €100,000 for unfair dismissal. Sallaba has in the meantime been promoted twice, and now rejoices in the job title “Senior People Development Manager, Head of Global Onboarding” – still in London!
As it happens, Matt Brittin of Google UK will be testifying before the UK Parliament this week.
Errata, corrigenda and ai no corrida:
Posted in links | Tagged #error53, ai, apple, blackberry, facebook, google, hacking, iphone, machinelearning, security, startup, twitter, virtualreality, yahoo | 3 Replies
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The Parent Trope
Parenting for Nerds
Revisiting The Witcher 3
I started playing The Witcher 3 back in November and now if my estimations are correct, I’m about halfway through the game. I’m playing the main story and side quests I read about in various “best side quests from The Witcher 3” articles online. This technique is helping me with a trap I often get myself into with open world games where I find myself with a todo list of quests. I feel like I need to finish all of them, and I’m not sure which ones to do first, or which ones are fun and which ones are just “go kill something.”
(I did do a couple of contracts (“go kill this monster” quests) because I needed more gold, as being Mr. Nice Witcher was causing my armor and weapons to wear out.)
Everything here in disrepair.
When I’m playing the game, I’m enjoying myself, but when I find myself with some time to game, I often have to talk myself into playing it. Few of the quests have had the sort of plot where I really want to know what happens. Plus, a lot of the characters are continually referencing things that happened in the past in previous games, and I have no desire to play those at this point. But for the most part when I play, I enjoy myself.
I also want to finish the game so I can watch the show. I know the show and game don’t have the same plot, but it seems like a good idea in my head and is a good motivator for finishing the game. I think the story might work better for me as a show than a game–we’ll see. Rock, Paper, Shotgun compares the bathtub scenes from the show and the game! It’s hilarious. As in, which would be the better bathing experience (I did think the tub in the game was rather small.)
In other words, I’d say the game is pretty good, and I’ll keep playing for now.
Cover Image from this wallpaper site.
January 18, 2020 January 18, 2020 games, Gaming, netflix, Video Games, witcher, witches 3Leave a comment
The Parent Trope’s Top 5 Games of the Decade
Before writing this, I had to decide if I wanted to base this list on games I played from 2010-2020, or games that were released between 2010 and 2020. I ended up going with the release date, mainly because I couldn’t remember if I played Dragon Age: Origins in 2009 or 2010. (I think it was 2009.)
5. The Sims 4
I didn’t like The Sims 4 as much as The Sims 3, but 3 came out in July 2009. And even though I miss many things about 3, I’ve still enjoyed 4 quite a bit after I got over the fact that it just wasn’t going to have the create-a-style tool. The graphics in The Sims 4 are gorgeous, and even with more limited options I’ve had a lot of fun building various things in the game. Such that I’ve clocked a lot of hours in the game. I don’t know how to check that in Origin, and frankly I’m not sure I want to know.
4. Life is Strange
I like adventure games. Life is Strange is an amazing adventure game. I was completely hooked by this story, and the time travel piece added just the right extra element. I played quite a few adventure games in this decade, but this one has to be my favorite. The plot, the characters, the choices, the incredible length of the thing. It somehow manages to be a classic adventure game and a modern game at the same time.
3. Civilization 6
Civ 6 was my game of the year last year, and honestly I thought about making it game of the year again for 2019, because it’s that good. The Gathering Storm added many fun new systems to the game that made it exciting all over again. It might even be my favorite Civ game, although I still have a special place in my heart for Civ 3.
2. Don’t Starve
This is one of my favorite games ever. Top five for sure. If we’re just going by hours played it would probably be number two (after The Sims 3). Let’s not find out, though, because that would be embarrassing. The point is, I love this game. A friend told me about it when it was released in 2013 and then I spent so much time trying not to die.
Don’t Starve made me think I like survival games, but eventually I realized that I don’t. I just like Don’t Starve. I like the artsy graphics that look hand-drawn. I like the little characters and their quirks. I like the weirdness of it all. That’s what I like the best. Running into something and not knowing if it’s going to kill you or if you can chop it down or eat it. Maybe it will make you go insane and start seeing shadow creatures. If it chases you, jump down a wormhole and end up who knows where.
1. Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 barely scrapes into the list having a release date of January 2010. I played Mass Effect 2 after finishing Dragon Age: Origins and hearing that Mass Effect was “like Dragon Age in space.” It did not disappoint. I don’t know why I started with 2 and not 1, but I loved 2 enough that I went back to play 1.
Mass Effect 1 had overly complicated combat and that terrible mako vehicle you had to drive around on occasion (see why I never got past the 4 hour mark in Mass Effect: Andromeda). But by now I was hooked on this whole universe and I wanted to start Mass Effect 2 with choices I actually made in the first game. Plus, I’d discovered the joy of playing renegade–and I really wanted to be able to recruit Morinth.
This game is, to me, what an RPG should be. Intriguing plot, exceptional characters, smooth combat, and not wasting countless minutes getting from quest point A to quest point B because someone decided all RPGs have to be “open world.” It’s the best. I don’t think we’ll ever get a game quite like it.
Cover image via xbox wallpapers.
December 21, 2019 adventure games, civ 6, don't starve, games, Gaming, life is strange, mass effect 2, open world, rpg, rpgs, strategy games, The Sims, the sims 4, Video Games3 Comments
Parenting, Video Games
Finding Time for Gaming as a Parent
I’m writing this with my almost-four-year-old hanging on my arm. He’s at the age where he wants to spend 100% of his waking hours (and let’s be honest, his sleeping hours as well) with me or his dad. With jobs and other responsibilities, it’s hard to find time to play video games. Gone are the weekends where I used to spend all day in front of the computer, immersed in another world. I still want to play video games, though, and I know I’m not alone. I belong to a Facebook group for parents who like video games. Many of my fellow gaming bloggers happen to be parents as well. We have kids, we want to game, but how do we find the time? I asked the Facebook group for their tips and compiled my own, and the result is this list.
Game With Your Kid
This works best for older kids. Indy is just getting to the age where he’s able to play some basic games with grown-ups. Sometimes we take turns playing fruit ninja on my phone. He spends more time meticulously choosing his blade and background than actually slicing fruit, but that’s fine. He plays Mario Kart with my brother. He’s terrible at it, but he has fun and you have to start somewhere. Nintendo Wii and classic systems and lego games come highly recommended for playing with your kid.
Not all games are kid-friendly, though. I’ve been playing Witcher 3 and I don’t want to play that with my kid around, much less play it with him. Although, I remember my husband playing Witcher 3 on the xbox while holding our child as a tiny baby.
Game During Nap Time
This works particularly well if you’re a Stay-At-Home-Parent, but there is one important requirement: your kid has to take naps. Indy stopped taking naps at about 2 1/2, and no longer having nap time cut big into gaming time. We miss nap time.
On weekends, we’ve replaced it with…
Game During Screen Time
We give our kid some screen time on weekend afternoons that usually turns into game time for me. The feasibility of this technique depends on your kid’s age, how much screen time you want them to have, and if they’re the sort of kid who will sit happily in front of a screen and not bother you for a few hours. Plop the kid down with some educational games on the tablet and go play some less educational games yourself.
Hire a Babysitter
Babysitters don’t have to just be for going out! Recently my parents took Indy for the weekend and while my husband and I did go out for dinner, we spent most of the following afternoon playing video games. (This might sound like a cute couple bonding experience, but he played City of Heroes in the living room while I played Witcher 3 upstairs.) I played the game straight for about four hours.
Take a Day Off Work
I used to take a day off work whenever Bioware launched a new Dragon Age or Mass Effect game. I know I’m not alone in this technique–a former coworker took a day off for Fallout 4. If Dragon Age 4 ever comes out, I’ll probably do this again. Having a SAHD husband makes me feel a bit guilty about it. This method only works for working parents.
Game While Your Kid’s Sleeping
This technique came up the most in the Facebook group and it’s something we do, too. My husband does group content with his City of Heroes guild Sunday evenings after the kid goes to bed. I don’t game every night, but sometimes I’ll get an hour of playtime after he goes to sleep.
If after bedtime doesn’t work for you, early morning is possible. One person on the Facebook group noted that her husband gets up at 5am to play. I’m definitely not a morning person, but if you are, that’s an option.
Make Gaming a Priority
Before you have kids, it’s easier to find time to game. I remember getting off work for the weekend and having two whole days of nothing to do stretched out before me. Now that I have a kid, I have to be more strategic. If I want to game, I have to keep in mind that it’s something I want to make time to do. After you have kids, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to fit all your leisure activities into your now much busier schedule. You might have to drop a thing or two. For me, I don’t binge watch TV anymore. I realized it was very time sucking and not as gratifying as gaming or reading.
Gaming might take precedence over other activities, too. One person in my Facebook group said, “We definitely play instead of, like, cleaning, which isn’t the most adult decision we’ve ever made.”
Maybe none of these ideas will work for you and your family, or maybe you’re just too tired and need to prioritize sleep. That’s understandable. Hopefully one day our kids will be grown, the economy won’t have collapsed so we’ll all have ample money to retire on, and we’ll have all the free time in the world. We can move into a comfy nursing home with great wifi and game the day away until our 5pm dinner.
When my kid was a newborn, I didn’t game. I was too exhausted. Having a newborn took every ounce of energy out of me. But eventually he got bigger, started sleeping though the night, and taking regularly scheduled naps. Then I could game again.
Several people in the Facebook group commented that they no longer have time to game, but for now enjoy living vicariously through the group and enjoy the memes.
Cover Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash. This is not my kid and I don’t own a Switch.
December 7, 2019 December 7, 2019 city of heroes, dragon age, facebook, games, Gaming, Gaming and Kids, lego, nintendo, Parenting, Parenting and Technology, Parenting Choices, Video Games, witcher 3Leave a comment
Trying VR at Revery in Atlanta
Early this month I went to Atlanta to do some in-person work with my team. Since I’m remote, I hardly ever get to see my coworkers. After a day of group work, we headed to a place called Revery. It’s a Virtual Reality bar in Atlanta. I know VR’s been a thing for a while, but I hadn’t tried it yet. Being a lifelong fan of VR-based fiction (hello, Holodeck!) it seemed too primitive to warrant dropping $400+ on a device.
The VR bar turned out to be the perfect place to check it out. The floor was a bit sticky, but the delicious (and reasonably priced) cocktail I had made up for it. I’d recommend not drinking too much if you’re there to play. This activity requires quite a bit of moving around!
Marilyn dodges bullets like a pro in SUPER HOT.
We tried out several games, many recommended by the staff. My favorite was probably Fruit Ninja–I used to play that game obsessively on my phone. I could see myself getting really into that one in VR. There are a ton of games to choose from, although selecting one or another was a bit tricky. The staff was always around to help so we got the most of our game time.
The bathroom had some cool lighting, so I took a bathroom mirror selfie: something I hadn’t done in a while!
If you ever make it out to Atlanta, and you want to give VR a try, I recommend checking it out. More cities might have VR bars, too. It’s a great way to try without having to buy your own device.
Cover Image: Another game we played, Beat Saber, which is like Guitar Hero with light sabers in VR. Image via Dual Shockers.
August 24, 2019 August 24, 2019 atlanta, beat saber, Blaugust, blaugust 2019, cocktails, fruit ninja, games, holodeck, revery, super hot, Video Games, virtual reality, vr2 Comments
MMOs, Video Games
Alli Tries Albion Online
I tried Albion Online. I picked it from my list of MMOs to try first because I was traveling and it would run on my MacBook Pro.
ProTip: Don’t play a game where you do a ton of clicking on a laptop without a mouse.
I’ve got a mount already, so that’s cool (that’s me, Plixxa, with the yellow text).
I think I have about 30 minutes of game time in, and that’s enough to know this game’s not for me. Here’s why:
While I like the graphic style, everything looks kind of the same. I’d tolerate this for a quirky indie game, but in an MMO I need more variety. This also means the character creator is boring.
If I wanted to play a game where I just clicked a bunch, I’d play Diablo III.
I got lost in the tutorial area.
Yup. I really wanted to at least get to the real game before deciding this wasn’t for me, but that’s not going to happen if I get lost before I can even get there. You start off the game, like most MMOs, in the character creator. Playing as a woman, you get to pick from various skin colors, hair colors, and faces. All of the faces look about the same, like Lego faces but with less detail. Then you pick your underwear, from a potato sack style garment to extra-revealing. I went with the potato sack.
You get in the game and you get quests where you go out and gather materials for new things. You don’t pick a class, but eventually you can pick a skill from a choice of two. Oh, goody. Eventually you get a mule. It’s definitely the fastest I’ve ever gotten to ride a mount in an MMO. After a couple more gathering quests, I had to go to some new mountain area. I couldn’t find it.
Sometimes getting lost is good, if you find interesting things, but I just found this tower full of identical mage-types that were easy to kill. I did not find anything that made me sit up a little straighter or want to play more. And so, I logged off for good.
Cover image from Albion Online. I always go for the quaint medieval village concept art.
August 10, 2019 albion online, Blaugust, blaugust 2019, games, MMOs, Video GamesLeave a comment
MMOs, Nerdy Stuff, Video Games
I’m Not Playing MMOs, But I’m Still an MMO Fan
I love MMOs. I consider MMOs a hobby. I’m not playing any MMOs right now. Last year I played some WOW and tried out the LOTRO legendary server, but neither stuck. Once in a while I’ll get into Secret World Legends for a bit, but does it really count as an MMO if I never see another player? Here’s why I’m not playing any MMOs, even though I love them.
Empty like SWL. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
I’d be starting from behind
ESO looks like a cool game. I know a lot of people who play it. But I feel like I’d be starting from so far behind and have to drop so much money on expansions and content to ever catch up. See also Guild Wars 2.
You log in and see people with amazing costumes and mounts and weapons and think it’s going to take me months and months of playing to even get halfway there. I feel tired just thinking about it.
It wasn’t quite what I wanted
Two games come to mind when I think of MMOs that were almost there but not quite: Wildstar and World’s Adrift. Both of those games start with W. Both of those games no longer exist. (Okay, technically World’s Adrift hasn’t shutdown yet, but it will soon. Don’t @ me.)
Wildstar promised bright graphics, fun raids, and not to take itself too seriously. Then it went too far. The graphics were too cartoonish. I could’ve lived with that. The raids were too serious. I think that’s all that needs to be said. I wanted to like the game so badly. I’d leave and come back and feel the same disappointment all over again.
I was very excited about World’s Adrift when I first hear about it, until I got to the part about the perma-pvp. I like PVP, but I don’t want to be forced to PVP. As a casual player, I can’t play something where the hardcores can just come and kill me. It’s not fun. By the time World’s Adrift announced a PVE server, I’d already as much as dismissed the game. And it hadn’t even launched yet.
It’s not out yet
Honestly, the only MMO that’s really on my radar right now that’s not out yet is Fractured. It looks like they’re trying to have a decent PVP and PVE balance.
It’s all about the balance. Image via FracturedMMO
I even kickstarted the thing, after I said I wasn’t kickstarting video games anymore unless they’re from Red Thread Games. (Ikenfell, will I ever get to play you?)
I am keeping an eye on Crowfall, but it’s not looking casual-friendly enough for me.
I’m just sick of it
And finally we get to WoW. After playing for about a month it started to feel like a chore again, likely due to their lackluster latest expansion. The Vanilla server doesn’t appeal either–I’ve already done all that stuff.
Pokemon Go was my only MMO-like game for a long time until they added so many features it became a chore and wasn’t fun anymore. Wizards Unite just launched and is already bloated, so I’m passing on that one.
I’ve thought about making an effort to try some lesser-known MMOs, but I’m not sure where to start. I think many of them have the same PVP issues as World’s Adrift. The games would have to be, at least, free-to-try so I can see if they float my boat before I invest my hard-earned cash. (Or on Steam so I can get a refund, like I did with Project Gorgon.)
But for now, I think I’ll continue playing vicariously through the Massively OP Podcast, which I’ve been listening to in some iteration for over five years now.
By the way I wrote a post on Medium a while back about working from home. Check it out!
Cover image via World’s Adrift. Their island creator was so cool, I hope other games pick up that idea in the future.
June 29, 2019 June 29, 2019 crowfall, eso, fractured, fracturedmmo, games, guild wars 2, ikenfell, kickstarter, lotro, medium, MMOs, pc games, Pokemon Go, project gorgon, pve, pvp, red thread games, secret world legends, steam, vanilla, Video Games, wildstar, wizards unite, World of Warcraft, world's adrift, wowLeave a comment
Anthem? No Thank You
Anthem. It’s coming soon, people are talking about it, there was a demo, and yet I wish it didn’t exist. Let me explain why.
I primarily play four types of video games: adventure games, RPGs, strategy games, and MMOs. Let’s put aside strategy games and MMOs for a second and focus on story. For me, both RPGs and adventure games are all about the story. The story is my reward. In adventure games it’s more obvious: solve some puzzles, unlock more stories. When I play RPGs, what hits my reward center in the brain is the same: more story. Kill some baddies, do some quests, unlock more story.
Loot and gear doesn’t interest me aside from that it allows me to complete more content and get more of the story. If I could play the entire game with the same armor and weapons I’d be fine with that. Gaining new skills is fun, but also not my primary motivation.
It should be no surprise that I loved Dragon Age: Origins. It was completely story-driven and everything I did unlocked more pieces of the story. I knew next to nothing going into the game; I’d only heard from others that it was good. I called in sick the next day because I had to keep playing. I’d become attached to the characters and I needed to know what would happen next. Someone told me I’d probably also like Mass Effect 2, so I played that. When I finished, I wanted to play the first one to play the story I’d missed. The first one wasn’t as good: the combat was clunkier, but the story was still there so I didn’t mind. I was just killing baddies to get more story. The one part I hated was driving the mako around desolate planets looking for stuff.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy exploration. I particularly dig it in MMOs. What I hate is being unable to find something specific, which is exacerbated by trying to maneuver a vehicle with difficult controls.
People gave Dragon Age II a hard time, but I loved it. Yeah, the combat zones were all repeated, but who cares? The combat isn’t the point of the game! And the story was good and not your typical fantasy RPG story. Plus Hawke is the best player character since April Ryan. I didn’t love the Mass Effect 3 ending, but it didn’t bother me as much as most people. I still loved those games.
Then Inquisition came out. Before Inquisition there was Skyrim. It was very popular and featured an “open world.” I played it. It took me a while to get into it. I hadn’t played a non-Bioware modern RPG. I found the NPCs incredibly boring and my quest log just filled up with so many quests and I didn’t know what to do. I’d about given up on it when I read somewhere about certain quest lines that were interesting, and after a lot of mods, I finally got into it. When I heard Inquisition was going to be more open-world I was very disappointed. I didn’t want Bioware following trends and trying to make their next game more like Skyrim. I just wanted another Dragon Age game.
The intro started off well enough. We had some returning characters and intriguing new ones. Then we were dumped in this Hinterlands place—and it was an open world and we had 101 things to do there. I didn’t want to do these things. They were boring. I don’t like side quests. They distract from the main story. (Unless it’s Skyrim and the main story is boring and the side quests are more fun, but I’d prefer a brilliant main story and a handful of side quests that tie in to the plot—which I thought Mass Effect 2 did the best.) I found out I just had to do enough to get out of there and unlock more main quest, but I kept getting lost. My objective would be just beyond that mountain that I couldn’t climb over! I’d run around in circles and just get mad at the game. I’d still say I loved Inquisition—there was enough story and character development to make up for all the frustration of not being able to find silly side quest objectives.
But then we got Mass Effect: Andromeda. Which seemed like Inquisition, in space. And the mako came back. My least favorite thing in the entire original Mass Effect trilogy was a big part of the new game. I have 4 hours into my trial on Origin and I keep thinking maybe I’ll come back, but my play time is limited.
All I want is for Bioware to make the kind of game they’re good at. No trend chasing. I don’t love open-world RPGs and I like playing Bioware games alone. By myself. Aren’t video games supposed to be an introverted hobby? I like MMOs because they’re a mix of playing solo and being social. I like RPGs because you can play by yourself. I’m not a trend chaser. I’m not interested in MOBAs or battle royale, and Don’t Starve is the only survival game I’ve ever loved.
This is a very long explanation of why I’m not interested in Anthem to the point of being disgruntled about its existence. While I know there is a story, from what I’ve read, it’s not _about_ the story. Gear collection and customization seems to be a primary goal, which as I’ve said, does not interest me. After the game releases, if the reaction is positive, I might watch some Let’s Play videos and decide if it’s something I want to spend money on, but I’m not feeling optimistic. The flight suits are a turn-off for me: if I’m going to be playing a game that involves just running around fighting things, I don’t want to have to navigate a 3D space. I’m a bad enough navigator in real life. My biggest hope for Anthem is that it flops and Bioware can go back to making Bioware games. It seems more likely that it will flop and Bioware will fold into EA’s all-encompassing bosom. Even more likely that it will succeed and Dragon Age 4 will be an open world RPG focused on multiplayer and crafting where you fly around on a dragon.
Jetpacks? Power suits? Sounds fun in real life, but more trouble than they’re worth in a video game.
I want _story_. I think video games are the best way we have to tell a story. Better than TV, film, and even books. Because they’re the most immersive, they have the biggest impact. I was thinking recently about the huge emotional impact I felt after playing Life is Strange. I wondered if my feelings would have been as strong if I’d read it as a book. Probably not. A major part of the impact comes from actually being a participant in the story.
Bioware was a major studio actually leveraging the amazing storytelling power of video games. Now their next major game gives story a backseat. Where do we go from here?
Cover image is from Dragon Age: Inquisition. Still a good game, despite all the boring bits.
February 6, 2019 February 6, 2019 anthem, bioware, dragon age, games, Gaming, mass effect, rpgs, story9 Comments
Having Fun Horde-Side – Nazmir Delivers
On Alliance side, my fiancé and I decided to visit Stormsong Valley, because of how pretty it looked from the preview. It starts off interesting enough—you have to figure out why the fleet is missing. You get to a monastery and everyone is a jerk and doesn’t want to talk to you.
It felt like we played that for a while and suddenly we were helping bee keepers with their evil globs of honey. A tad cool on it’s own, but really disjointed and unrelated to why the fleet’s gone. Because I’m not really invested in these evil honey globs, my motivation dies as we kill each one.
Careful there, Pooh!
On my own I decided to play my Horde character. Sneaking into Stormwind was more exciting than breaking out of prison, and don’t get me started on how cool Princess Talanji is. Daza’alor is much more navigable Boralus. It feels like it was actually planned, instead of things haphazardly built up on top of each other. It’s all angles. Plus, you get the royal treatment.
Soon I was faced with the question of where to go quest. The answer turned out to be easy: Talanji was going to Nazmir, so I would go to Nazmir, too. I had no idea the place was going to have a Temple of Doom vibe which is like catnip for me. You’ve got these Blood Trolls who are worshiping this mysterious G’huun character. They’re creepy Trolls with paper white skin and red markings that might be gashes.
Come on, they’re creepy! Concept art via Blizzard Entertainment.
The Blood Trolls are out and about doing what looks like draining blood from victims to make blood orbs. If you play WoW with your kids, I don’t recommend this zone. Although I was pretty young when I saw Temple of Doom of the first time.
Talanji realizes things are dire and we need to get the Loa to help, so they’re around, too. I always found them particularly fascinating. I’ve met two so far and both of those quest lines have been completely engrossing.
I don’t think I’ve ever been this into the quests in WoW. I want to stop writing now and play for the rest of my lunch break. I want to find the rest of the Loa and figure out who G’huun is! (My guess is he’s an Old God. We’ll see.)
The concept art for Nazmir is well done, but it’s not a zone I’d describe as pretty. Cover image via Blizzard Entertainment.
August 27, 2018 August 27, 2018 Battle for Azeroth, Blaugust, Blaugust Reborn, games, horde, nazmir, Questing, trolls, Video Games, World of WarcraftLeave a comment
Video Game Motivation
Yesterday I talked about motivations for blogging, today I’m talking about motivations for gaming. I’ve taken the Bartle test (I’m an Explorer) and the Quantic Foundry Motivation Profile (I’m Calm, Spontaneous, Relaxed, Deeply Immersed, and Creative!). Given my results and my own experiences, I’ve come up with a list of my own motivations for gaming.
While I’d place them both high, I’m surprised Creativity surpassed Immersion.
When I’m playing video games I like to be surprised. One of my favorite gaming moments was playing Don’t Starve. If you’re not familiar, it’s a survival game with stylized graphics and a creepy atmosphere. I didn’t expect it to be my cup of tea, but a friend raved about it and it was on sale for five dollars. I hadn’t gotten very far and was exploring when I came across a chest. I opened it and it suddenly became winter, but inside was a bunch of treasures to help me survive the season. Woah! My reaction was “Holy crap, what is happening?”
Exploration for exploration’s sake doesn’t do it for me. I need a reason to explore. In Don’t Starve, if you don’t explore and collect things you need, you’ll die. The reason might be that you’re trapped in a giant virtual maze and need to find the way out. Or perhaps you’re looking for clues to solve a mystery.
Photo by Fineas Anton on Unsplash.
I love a good story. I like reading them, hearing them, writing them, but most of all playing them. Here’s another gaming moment. I was playing Dragon Age: Origins for the first time. I didn’t know what to expect from the game, but I met the character Alistair and he was sarcastic and funny. I thought to myself, “This character is awesome! I hope he sticks around for a while!” You know what ruins a good story in a video game? Bioware clearly forgot: Pointless. Side. Quests.
I have yet to find a game that successfully blends story and exploration. The closest I can think of us Skyrim, but I had to force myself out of a “I have this list of quests and I must go do them” mindset to enjoy that game. Firewatch comes to mind. I remember moments where I felt like I was exploring, but the game was linear. Myst perhaps; but I don’t remember the story of Myst. I remember the puzzles. I used to want this: a game where you explored and it told a story. I’ve begun to think that every game that tries this fails. I’d rather have one or the other.
The Sims 3 is my favorite Sims. I like the creation part of the Sims games: outfits, houses, public places, etc. The Sims 3 let you be meticulous about design elements with the create-a-style tool. It broke my heart when it wasn’t in The Sims 4. (I’ve still been playing 4 because the graphics are so pretty.) I haven’t really found another game that scratches my creative itch.
I was so into having all my wood styles match. Image from The Sims Wiki.
This is where the programmer in me comes out: I like to solve puzzles. I like to figure out the best way to win. I’m not into making spreadsheets to determine the best stats for my WoW character. I prefer trial and error: If I do this, will I get more points? What does this weapon do and is it effective for my play style? My favorite way to find out is to try it.
What motivates you to play video games?
Strategy is why I’ve been playing Civ 6, but if you want to know why I often quit halfway through the game and start over, look back to Exploration. Cover image from the very beginning of one of my games. What’s out there?
August 24, 2018 bartle test, bioware, Blaugust, Blaugust Reborn, civ 6, create-a-style, creativity, don't starve, dragon age, exploration, games, Gaming, gaming motivation, motivation, pointless side quests, story, strategy, The Sims, Video Games, World of Warcraft2 Comments
Books, MMOs, Video Games, Writing
Reading, Playing, Writing, Doing – August 19 Edition
It’s the end of one week and the beginning of another. Here’s what I’ve been up to this past week.
I finished Spinning Silver and added a brief review on Goodreads, then picked Song of Achilles back up. I loved the book at first, but now that they’re at war I’ve found it less interesting.
Next on my list are these two books. I actually bought paper copies, so I took a #bookstagram photo:
Up next on the reading list. I actually bought paper books! #bookstagram
A post shared by Alli Rense Treman (@allirense) on Aug 16, 2018 at 2:17pm PDT
I think I may have just ended my Civ 6 addiction. As in, just now. I was playing away and thought I’d switch governments. I thought we could handle 3 days of anarchy. We could not handle three days of anarchy. Now America is ahead. Darn you, Teddy!
My fiancé has gotten more into WoW than me. He’s been leveling up a new character from the beginning during nap time while I’ve been trying to take over the world. We hit 112 on our mains last night.
I decided I want to write some short stories. The trouble is, I’m stuck when it comes to short story ideas. Short stories have constraints that can be both helpful and bang-your-head-against-the-wall inducing. I picked up Damn Good Story because I wanted to improve my writing of short stories in particular, but I couldn’t find a short story-centric book that looked good. I love Chuck Wendig’s blog so I thought I’d give his book a try.
Several months ago I started going to Physical Therapy because of related problems in my neck and left hand. It was keeping me awake and hindering my knitting. My therapist discharged me earlier this week and I can knit again! I’m starting a hat for my mom. I finished the swatch yesterday:
My swatch sitting on my sticker covered laptop. It’s Malabrigo Rios in Chamaleon.
Next I need to cast on but the Long Tail Tubular Cast On is giving me trouble. You have to finish all the stitches in one go and it requires attention. It’s not mistake-friendly at all. I have the hang of the mechanics but mess up the pattern. I’m hoping to get it done before bedtime tonight.
Do you knit or crochet? Friend me on Ravelry!
I’ve got some reading to catch up on! Cover photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash.
August 19, 2018 Blaugust, Blaugust Reborn, Bookstagram, civ 6, games, hat, Instagram, knitting, long tail tubular cast on, physical therapy, purl soho, ravelry, reading, reading playing writing doing, short stories, Spinning Silver, Video Games, World of Warcraft2 Comments
Alli Rense is the proud mother of one amazing toddler. She enjoys video games, books, writing, spending hours reading TV Tropes, and other nerdy activities. She daylights as a Software Engineer.
My Top 2 Books for 2019
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National Geographic photographer Carsten Peter joins climbers Matt Segal and Cedar Wright on their journey to climb the ancient limestone karsts of China, an otherworldly dreamscape rarely experienced by Western climbers.
The National Geographic Live series brings thought-provoking presentations by today’s leading explorers, scientists, photographers, and performing artists right to you. Each presentation is filmed in front of a live audience at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C. New clips air every Monday.
Upcoming Events at National Geographic Live!
Matt: You're climbing the natural wonders of China. Cedar: Everything you can hope for as a climber is to be the first person to stand on something that incredible and that iconic. Woo-hoo!
Matt: So, when Carsten and I were discussing of a team of climbers to bring and where to go Cedar Wright, why don't you come up here, was the first on the list. And that's really because Cedar's kind of one of those kind of all-around climbers that, you know, when you're climbing with Cedar, the rope goes up. As well as Emily Harrington, who is not here with us. She is kind of known for her sport-climbing skills and now mountain skills. As well as Keith Ladzinski who did a lot of the video clips that you're about to see tonight.
And our biggest thing with this and what Carsten wanted, Carsten was like, “I want to see you guys climb the craziest formations, you know, above ground in China.” So we did a lot of research and one of the areas that we were all most excited about is Enshi Canyon. And that's where we're going to start. I mean, this place was like-- is fantastic looking I mean, this is... you know one of the craziest, limestone formations I've ever seen, it's like super-slender towers. And you know, we were walking around there and it looks like a wonderland. We're all getting super-excited. And then we start seeing signs. And we're like, you know I'd like, I know, I had emailed with everybody from the park and everybody was like, “Oh, yeah, permission, no problem.” It's not going to be a big deal. And, yeah, we're walking around and not so positive. They gave us this piece of paper. And told us to sign it. And here is Emily's description of what she thought she was--
It just says, “Don't die and if you do we're not responsible.” Basically. And I have to sign it and put my fingerprint. Totally legal. We were good to go. And there was a couple of stipulations with... when we could climb and that was mostly we could not climb during the hours of the park. So, we had to be down by like eight in the morning. Yeah, so basically we are on the dawn patrol waking up in the dark every night. Cedar: Not optimum climbing times.
Matt: No, not at all.
Matt: Yeah, buddy.
Cedar: Having fun yet?
Matt: Oh, yeah.You know, keeping the dream alive.
Cedar: That's your, that's your rope?
So needless to say, stress was a little high. And then, you know we're climbing at night and in the dark, which is normally fine but a lot of this rock was really loose. So, it was a little bit sketchy. But at the end of the day, we were really having a good time. And it was really fun to work with Carsten. Carsten was shooting it all. Shooting it all, documenting it all, kind of, we had radios-- Directing us, constantly, constantly directing us then directing us more. -Then just when you think--And Then complaining...He'd be like, “Your t-shirt, your t-shirt... You're not bright enough, make more dynamic-- I can barely see you, I can barely see you.”
Carsten: I see only your t-shirt. It would be nice to see a little bit more of your body. Cedar: Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
You can also see the quality of climbing there, it's super good. - Super good. - It was all vegetation. Yeah. It's like... just clearly super high quality rock climbing there. Hard to call that rock climbing. But then Carsten came up on the wall.
Cedar: What did you think?
Carsten: Well, it was amazing. I mean for me, I would've never been able to climb these towers. I mean, I'm a technical climber and not a free climber, like Cedar or Matt. Well, they were fantastic riggers. And well, I was able to make it up there. It's really... an incredible view from up there. It's just amazing to be so exposed on these pillars. About 140 meters, 400 feet high. Incredible!
The Chinese always, they didn't want to allow us to climb there because they were afraid the pillars could be knocked down. - Fall over, yeah-- - To them it was, it looks like it could fall over. No, trust me I'm not climbing anything that's gonna fall over. That was their biggest fear was that we were gonna actually knock the towers down. Yeah. These were like six or 700-foot towers.
Matt: Something like that, yeah.
Cedar: They were massive and so just completely incredible. And obviously a great way to see these towers is with drones. So what happened here? Tell us the drone story, this is a terrific story.
Carsten: Well, the drone story? A drone went out of control. And I mean, we were in the most beautiful landscape. I saw via video link how beautiful it looks. And I saw already what I could do and my plans were really big and then it crashed after two flights. So it was horrible to lose all these options at once and look how sad this drone looks and that's by the way the gimbal with the camera, just ripped off.
With the drones flying in the air, it does add like a kind of an uneasiness 'cause... It could definitely cut your rope. It feels real close and you know it can cut your rope. Or just chop you just... just like, just like blood everywhere. But... - Here's a-- But yeah, no it's a great tool. - Yeah, a great tool. Carsten was really psyched to use it. He's like, “a little closer.” I am up, “uh-uh, no! - Back it up! Long shot. Landscape.” - Here's-- No close ups. Yeah. And here's a little video that Keith cut while we were there about the terrible drone crash.
Carsten: Holy ****!
- Brad: There it goes, man!
Whoa! I think you crashed! Just wonder if someone has seen where exactly the copter impacted. Emily: 100 metres, I think. Oh, I found the copter. I found the copter.
Emily: Okay, good, that's awesome.
But it doesn't look awesome.
The crazy thing about that is that Brad fixed it. Where is Brad? He needs applause for that. Yeah! Applause for Brad! Where is he? It was like... Like a pot of coffee later and just like... like 24-hours of non-stop soldering and... he somehow fixed it. it was incredible. - It's amazing. How he fixed that thing. And we got it up in the air again.
And eventually once the copter was fixed we got to climbing and back to climbing. And we were able to summit. Here's a little video of Cedar on the summit. Woo-hoo! He was, he was pretty sure that he was like the man in China afterwards, he was like the first person to stand on this tower, you know.
Cedar: incredible.
And he was like, “I'm a big deal in China.” He was like really stoked on being a big deal in China. And as it turns out, he was actually kinda big in China.
Matt: He really was.
Cedar: Proportionately large.
Proportionately large.
It was... I mean, yeah, I was just, I mean... Look at that, we got to be the first people to stand on that. You know, quite possibly the only people to ever stand on that because of the restrictions in the national park, I mean-- To me that's like everything you could hope for as a climber is to be the first person to stand on something that incredible and that iconic and... just to like kind of talk about some of the climbing up there, a little bit. It was, it was really, really dangerous and loose. There wasn't a lot of protection. For people who are familiar with climbing, you know we were climbing traditionally placing cams in the rock and this is, you know limestone is really terrible for that style of climbing 'cause there's not-- it just doesn't offer a lot of points for protection. So it was pretty serious and at one point I was like about to fall on a ledge and I pulled off this giant block. And I was like, kinda did one of those, where you are like... and you're like... and then you're like... And you have this huge block, It's heavy. And you don't want to drop it. And I was just, I did one of these, I was all... And then I was like, went... and I was like, Matty, are you alive? And, you know, we summitted. We were super stoked, we were relieved because obviously that's like one of the most incredible places that you're ever going to see on the planet.
The Karsts geography of China is really something special.
Cedar: And then, it was time to move on because we had four areas that we wanted to visit. And we arrived here and Carsten is like, “It's amazing.” He's all, We've got to get in the air. And I'm like, “Are you gonna put that drone back up in the air?” I'm like “No dude! No, the perspectives and all the stuff...” And I don't know, what did you think when you arrived there, I mean...
Carsten: For rock climbers, it must be like a paradise. Also for me visually, I mean this is like knife blades out of the ground and really edges. Absolutely amazing. So incredible-- an incredible area...
Cedar: But I have to admit, this really is an unreal place. They call this the Stone Forest and you can totally see why. And just to think 200-300 million years ago, it was an ancient shallow sea bed and that through erosion, corrosion, just the magic of time it became this surreal landscape. And, you know, this was like coral. These were like coral beds. And to think that you're basically climbing on the skeletons of like 200 million-year old life forms is totally cool and surreal.
One of, one of the coolest things about being in the Stone Forest was we started interacting with locals a little bit more. And wildlife, as you can see, that was a little scary sometimes. In the Stone Forest, you know, all the locals would come up like this guy, he was really excited. Cedar: He had some good stuff. - Matt: Had some good stuff, clearly. And was just like really fascinated with what we were doing. You know, and they are just going along doing their thing, harvesting corn and... Yeah, it was just really cool to see.
One of the other crazy things about the Stone Forest was it was kinda the first time that we got to do like kinda bouldering climbing. So, the Stone Forest, these formations really offered cool, technical difficult moves. Cedar: Yeah, and Matty, this was the hardest climb of the trip. He like did a tunnel through this hole here and he actually stripped most of the flesh off his stomach. I was trying to impress Carsten with my caving-- His crawling! He's all, “I love the color.”
Well, the next area that we travelled to was Yangshou, Moon Hill. Matt: One of the first places that sport climbing was established in China. And Moon Hill is kind of an interesting thing because there's all these steps built to the base of Moon Hill. And they were built for Nixon because he was the first American President I believe, to visit China. So they kind of wanted to build him something to show, you know the natural wonders of China. Another really crazy thing about Moon Hill was it was the first time we ever saw locals climbing there.
Cedar: And there are some incredibly talented Chinese climbers here coming up in that scene.
Matt: It's definitely the epicenter of sport climbing in China. These natural arches are so wild because they are basically collapsed caves, is that correct, Carsten?
Carsten: Actually, yes, it's... it's a huge cave which just eroded away. You have maybe a tunnel and the tunnel got smaller and smaller and eventually a bridge just remained.
It was definitely an interesting scene at the base.
Cedar: Got to get your Oba Mao—
Unison: Yeah, Oba Mao shirts!
Cedar: That's so quality.
Matt: And this was Emily's last day. She decided to get her feet cleaned. She had to leave the trip a little bit early. And then Cedar, Carsten, myself and Keith journeyed on to Getu.
Cedar: This is the Great Arch in Getu. And it's truly one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. This is one of the most incredible cave systems in the world, as well as one of the most incredible natural arches in the world. You can see that bottom arch down there, it actually goes in-- Carsten: Actually this is where Miao Chamber is situated. So, it's by volume now the biggest chamber in the world. So, it's a really special place.
Cedar: As you can see this lower tunnel, there's actually a river that runs through this, and then it drops down deep into one of these huge chambers and goes who knows where. And it's really one of the most radical things I'd ever seen and so we started to just wander around and check it out. One of the really unique things about this arch system is that every morning the sun just shines perfectly through it to create, to cast this incredible beam of light. And it's really other-worldly, it's super unique, it's super beautiful. And the other thing about this, is the scale. this thing is massive. - Matt: Huge! The height of that light beam is probably at least 400-500 feet tall at this at its smallest point there as it shoots through that archway. So, to climb all the way from the bottom of the arch to the top is probably like 700-800 feet. It's massive, it's a huge monolithic arch, probably one of the top largest arches in the world.
We started to just kinda cruise around and check it out. And I noticed that there was a lot of construction going on. The Chinese are really there like “Oh, we've got this great national treasure. How can we make it more accessible, how can we get more tourism coming in here and stuff.” Which is I understand is a wonderful thing but when you see something like this, I find it a little discouraging. I'm like really, do you really need a glass elevator to take you from the bottom shaft to the top. And there's been a big backlash here. A lot of climbers have created this petition basically trying to stop this because they, they're actually going to put a hotel up, basically inside of the upper arch.
But at the same time we are up there to climb and up there in that main arch, it was just incredible. We were looking around at all these possibilities for climbing. And we saw this one line that really stood out that went from bottom to top right out of the belly of the arch all the way up to the very top of the cliff and followed this really radical line of stalactites and tufas. You can see that's actually like a melted tufa wax formation I'm grabbing there. You know, so what a unique feature.
Matt: We kind of have like a lot of these photos that just portray, just how over-hanging and bizarre the climbing is.
Cedar: The climbing was super three-dimensional.
Matt: Yeah, the most three-dimensional climbing I've ever done. Like you can see here and I don't even know how to describe it like Carsten is almost parallel with me looking in, you know like his ropes go up here and he is like looking straight at me through these caves. It's almost like you're like swinging, swimming, you know you're like going from one stalactite to the next, like you're not necessarily climbing like you would normally climb with your feet below you, like your feet are below you except you are like you're turning around and just bear-hugging the stalactite and like when I say bear-hugging-- Or doing like bridges, at one point, I was just kinda like I was just like... just kinda like did one of these I went... I got it, I got it. And when I say bear-hugging I mean like fully wrapping your legs like around and hugging these tufas for dear life, because your forearms are starting to get tired but you could you know, literally wrap your legs all the way around it and lock your legs and you know, rest your upper body.
Alright, so we are headed up to the high-point of this amazing route. And as you can see it is insanely steep. We're going to fix lines right now to check out the last pitch. And I mean it is, it's almost nauseatingly steep. Oh, it's like, there's the rope, going up. There's Matty hanging tough on the portaledge. There's the ground. There's my feet. Oh, yeah! Extended selfie there, for your viewing pleasure. Really good about the extended selfie, Cedar. Thank you. It's an art form.
At the end I was like, “oh, this would also make like a really great, like, short festival piece.” And I'm happy with this little edit you guys are about to watch.
Cedar: China has one of the most surreal landscapes that I've ever experienced. These ancient karst formations have been sculpted by wind and water and millions of years of erosion into these beautiful, natural sculptures. Behind me is the Great Arch which is a prime example of just how unique and beautiful these formations are. The next month is for sure going to be an adventure. I'm here with my good friends, Emily Harrington and Matt Segal and we're here to explore the limestone karst formations that are unique to this part of the world. The legendary National Geographic photographer Carsten Peter is going to be documenting the entire journey. So, I'm pretty psyched to see the photos.
Carsten: I need to shoot now. We are probably in the most extreme environment for limestone formations. And it's always nice to have people for scale or just the adventure to climb.
Cedar: The whole mission started at the Stone Forest which 270 millions years ago was sea floor and now through time and erosion, is hundreds of square miles of free-standing limestone spires. So, one of the craziest things about limestone in general especially the limestone in China is to think about at one time this was a sea floor and all the limestone was living coral essentially, which-- it's really wild to think about how you know, you're climbing on these things and you know a really long time ago, probably millions of years ago they were alive.
Carsten: Walking inside that Stone Forest, yeah, it's like a labyrinth. What nature can form-- I was stunned by the beauty.
Matt: Running around in a wonderland, just having fun and getting to climb on some of the coolest and most unique formations any of us have ever climbed on.
Cedar: Really good.
Matt: was it fun? Really fun. I need food and some beer.
Emily: I need a beer and some water.
That's the kind of spirit behind these expeditions. Things develop always different than you expect. There are funny, quirky situations. The drive was supposed to be five hours, we drove for 11 hours! And now it's night time and we're eating street food. Bit too much of the grill. All the weird shit we're eating. What is that? We're supposed to be eating clearly the most adventurous-- It is damn delicious. Oh! We're at the kissing fish spa. The fish eat your, the dead skin off your feet. This tickles. It really tickles.
Cedar: And it feels kinda good actually.
Matt: The trip to Yangshou was long but it was definitely worth it when we got there and we saw what an amazing place it was.
Emily: Yangshou is the city that sits next to this beautiful river the center of countless, massive karsts. The Arch, the Moon Hill Arch is-- It really is a surreal place.
Carsten: And these arches are maybe the relics of former caves. They just got eroded and what just stays behind is a giant arch. And it was just mind-blowing what our climbers were able to do there.
Cedar: The stone here from climbing perspective is just, it just calls to you. It's just very inviting and you know, not only is it spectacular but it's amazing to climb on and offers a super-gymnastic athletic movement but it can also be very adventurous, sometimes dangerous, but always beautiful. I'm really hoping that this half-an-hour drive takes three hours.
Matt: We thought Moon Hill was going to be like the most amazing arch we were going to see. We arrived to Getu and we're like, “Oh, wow! Okay, this is the great arch.” Every morning the sun shines right through the arch.
Cedar: So we spent the first couple of days working on this huge route that went all the way up the left side of the arch. And then with one day left we gave it the full Hail Mary attempt. This is our chance to ascend the route so, hopefully things go well but no matter what, we're going to get to climb on a spectacular route and a spectacular location. Hopefully we can put it all together and there's a lot of hard climbing up there so, hopefully luck shines upon us.
Cedar: Holding on for dear life, getting winded and your muscles are pumped and you're sweating and you're scared and-- but you're loving it, you know, that's kinda-- that's what we came here for. You gain a lot of energy and power from interacting with these amazing landscapes.
Carsten: They are amazing. I don't know how they climb these walls, how they manage these walls, over-hanging walls, it's unbelievable to me. I don't know how you can do it.
Cedar: Come on, Matty, come on! Oh, yeah! Totally against all odds. - Boom! Yes! Yeah, it's like a geologic wonderland. It goes through some of the wildest formations of tufas and stalactites. How do I get back down is the big question mark... It's not like you just drop down the rope or else you'd just drop out of space and be like, well that was dumb. That was heinous. - I'm going to push off... I'm serious, I'm going to push you in. Don't do that. I got this. After the Great Arch we were basically like well, nothing's going to top that. And then we headed out to Enshi Grand Canyon, Based on some photos that we'd seen on the internet, they looked like some pretty cool spires. And then we arrived to the most incredible unclimbed spire we'd ever seen.
Carsten: You're at the forefront of exploration it's making new discoveries or you venture into new territories or onto new summits. I mean, it's exciting. We're going to be heading to the summit of one of the wildest towers we've ever seen. Frigging psyched, slash a little gripped. And here we go. Hold on. Oh! Holy shit! you wanna put me on belay? Yeah. About to blow. Watch here.
Matt: Nice, Cede.
Emily: Hold the branch.
Emily: Hell yeah, dude!
That was pretty mellow. Cedar: It's one of the most beautiful towers in the world. And we were the first people ever to climb it. It was incredible.
Matt: What's really crazy about this is we spent one month in China and we went to so many different areas that were totally unique and different. Whoopee! It just goes to show how unexplored China is.
Cedar: Looking back on all of the wild formations that we've seen, it's just-- It's incredible that this is all in one country. You go into a landscape like this and it affects you and it changes you as a person, it inspires you.
Carsten: I got great satisfaction and also, a great desire to continue, it makes you hungry for more because you want to have more of these experiences and you want to maybe stand on more of these towers.
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Behe-McWhorter Back Online
Posted on August 31, 2009 August 31, 2009 Author William DembskiComments(104)
[Update 8.31.09: The McWhorter-Behe interview is back online at Bloggingheads; Robert Wright, who heads Bloggingheads, was incommunicado during the interview’s removal and on his return to wired reality decided to put the dialogue back up. For his explanation of what happened, go here: bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/22075]
[Update 8.28.09: Michael Behe has just posted his take on the bloggingheads matter — behe.uncommondescent.com]
Isn’t the Internet wonderful. Bloggingheads takes down the Behe-McWhorter discussion one day. A few hours later it’s back up:
View on ExposureRoom
More coffee!! Darwinism and popular culture: If this is love, please hate me instead
Sean Carroll takes his bat and ball home
104 Replies to “Behe-McWhorter Back Online”
William Dembski says:
McWhorter has a wonderful set of lectures on language from The Teaching Company. In those lectures it became clear that he is prepared to step outside the reigning orthodoxy.
McWhorter is an interesting guy and I also highly recommend his Teaching Company courses on linguistics. If you want to understand what the difference is between a creole and a dialect or how languages developed all over the world or how certain sounds for a concept is similar in many languages get his course. He is down to earth and easy to understand.
He is a mixture of conservative and Black politics who has been critical of black attitudes on education and affirmative action but is also highly critical of many policies that hurt Blacks. He would like to legalize drugs because a lot of Black crime is drug related and thinks it would ease pressures in the Black community to legalize drugs.
I have some affinity for him since he grew up close to where I used to live in Philadelphia and went to schools where some of my acquaintances went. My initial assessment of him is that he is basically honest and a whole lot of sh__ was probably dumped on him after the posting on Blogging Heads.
Somebody make a copy of this so we do not lose it again or at least make an mp3.
IRQ Conflict says:
I have the full thing on my hard drive. Actually the video posted is my reduced version with less sound quality.
As soon as I figure out how to split it I will re-upload it in it’s full uncompressed glory. 😉
GilDodgen says:
I downloaded the .wmv file from ExposureRoom and have it archived. (Note the “Download Original” link.)
I think it’s pretty obvious why the original was removed from Bloggingheads. John McWhorter was far too sympathetic and expressed too much skepticism concerning Darwinian orthodoxy. He even upbraided Behe’s critics for scoffing and not evaluating or addressing Behe’s arguments sufficiently. In addition, Behe is far too rational, calm, and persuasive. The clincher was probably John’s comment about Behe’s arguments and evidence bringing him close to becoming a believer. This is heresy, and warrants excommunication from the church of Darwin.
The removal of the original from Bloggingheads says far more than words about the frailty and vulnerability of neo-Darwinism.
I am very impressed with McWhorter in the interview. He has done his homework, actually read the material, and is very open-minded to a point of view that may challenge his worldview. It is hard to imagine how he thought that this interview didn’t represent him well. He has had over a decade to think about DBB and he commented intelligently on it.
It’s a shame that something happened after airing the video that made him think it was better to shelf it after taking the time to prepare and taking both his and Behe’s time in recording.
I think in the aftermath he learned a little more than he would like to have about the way ID is treated.
yakky d says:
I like the blurb given to the file on ExposureRoom. McWhorter praises Behe extensively and gives him a very friendly venue in which to air his views, yet is labeled a “Darwin cultist” by the IDer who uploaded the video.
I don’t believe that the “Darwin cultist” comment was necessarily aimed at McWhorter, but at those who attack Behe so mercilessly and who probably forced the removal of the interview.
Dr. Behe’s arguments are so air-tight and influential that the Darwin cultist’s only tactic is a combination of strawman arguments (Ken Miller, Sean Carroll, Jerry Coyne, etc.) and censoring his views, as was the case with this video.
tragic mishap says:
Hey thanks to McWhorter and bloggingheads for this video. McWhorter you are asking all the right questions and I’m sure Behe had a great time addressing the issues instead of the more common discrimination.
Where do you read that yakky d? This is all I see:
“The infamous bloggingheads debate between John McWhorter and the legendary biochemist and ‘Darwin Slayer’, Michael Behe.
Heh, there is the ‘cultist’ thing. Didn’t see it for some reason the first time round.
It doesn’t take much thought to realize it he wasn’t referring to John but the people that went off-side on him and made hie take the video down because of “offense”.
In other words he took the video down after being lambasted by those offended.
yakky d:
I could be wrong, but I assume that “the Darwin cultist” is meant as a generalisation (as in ‘patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel’) not a reference to McWhorter or any specific individual. I presume that Allen Factor sees McWhorter as relaying the arguments of the “Darwin cultists” (an annoying label, I agree) not being one himself. But you could ask Factor himself.
Yeah, after reading it again, I think you are likely right about the intended target of the “Darwin cultist” label.
I’m going to wait until Mr McWhorter tells his side of the story before I speculate about who “probably forced the removal of the video”, however.
anonym,
Yes, I think you and Gil are probably correct.
idnet.com.au says:
The video was available for free and open download from bloggingheads.tv up until it was pulled.
I’m glad I could listen to the interview, so thanks to all involved. I remain skeptical about ID, but I agree with others here that the decision to pull it was bizarre and smacks of contemptible censorship. Whoever was behind it will probably soon learn something about the Streisand effect.
Check out the Bloggingheads comments here:
http://bloggingheads.tv/forum/.....7#poststop
This comment
John McWhorter feels, with regret, that this interview represents neither himself, Professor Behe, nor Bloggingheads usefully, takes full responsibility for same, and has asked that it be taken down from the site. He apologizes to all who found its airing objectionable.
reeks of a confession made with a gun held to one’s head. Furthermore, it makes no sense. McWhorter said what he said and obviously meant it, and Behe did the same, as he always does. What in the hell does “not represent usefully” mean?
Are only non-objectionable ideas allowed to be heard? According to the frothing-at-the-mouth Darwinists in the comments section, I guess that’s what they think, and want to enforce through threats and intimidation.
CannuckianYankee says:
It’s because ID is a “pseudo-science.” They’re used to dealing with pseudo-sciences that don’t make any sense, or that have no backup data. It’s easy to dismiss them. What they are not used to dealing with is a “pseudo-science” like ID, that does make sense, and which does have backup data. Therefore, since they can’t easily dismiss ID, their only ammunitions are censorship, threats and intimidation.
All this talk of guns held to people’s heads and censorship, threats, and intimidation is exciting, to be sure, but what actually is being suggested here? Do y’all really think PZ or Dawk called up McWhorter and told him to get Bloggingheads to withdraw the video or else?
Are you a high school student perchance? Let me tell you how the real world works. McWhorther gets a call from his boss at the Manhattan Institute: “Say, John, several of our biggest donors are threatening to withdraw funding because of your recent stunt at Bloggingheads. Knock it off and get that video pulled.” Of course, I’m not saying that this is what happened. But something like this could easily have happened. I’ve witnessed this sort of stuff first-hand.
Dr Dembski,
I’m sure I could also create lots of dramatic scenarios to explain the removal of the video, but again, they would be based on exactly zero evidence.
Is the Manhattan Institute a likely culprit in your view? I gather it’s a conservative think tank which has or had some overlap with the Discovery Institute. It would certainly be ironic if they were responsible for the video’s removal.
yakky d
Excuse me, you raised the ridiculous scenario about Dawkins directly approaching McWhorter. I sketched a much more realistic scenario. No, I’m not accusing the Manhattan Institute of anything. I am, however, sketching a much more realistic scenario. More realistic still would be Columbia University putting pressure on him.
But please, answer my question: are you a high school student?
No, I am not a high school student.
But who at Columbia do you have in mind? Fellow faculty members? His dean? The president?
I’m not sure why, but my earlier post didn’t go through. I was able to split the original video in two parts so I could upload it to windows live.
They are 50MB’s a piece in case your on dial-up.
http://cid-279eee3e1f797824.sk.....38;lc=4105
For the sorts of shenanigans that can occur at those bastions of academic freedom known as universities, check out:
http://www.uncommondescent.com.....ign-fatal/
http://www.uncommondescent.com.....atics-lab/
lamarck says:
Yakky, what do you do when your in a hole? Google it.
yakky,
Read the quote again. John McWhorter is a guy on his knees begging forgiveness for an unpardonable sin, and promising repentance. How could this not be obvious?
Listen to the interview, and then ask yourself, Why would he do this?
Here we find a classic case of a design inference. John did not suddenly (in a matter of hours), accidentally come to his senses and realize that ID is a bunch of BS based on pseudo-science, and conclude that everything he said in the interview was wrong.
He was obviously coerced — by what means and by whom I cannot say – but he was obviously coerced.
I cannot identify the coercer, but I am confident that he (she, it, they, or whatever) exists, because logic and evidence make it the most reasonable inference.
I am aware that all sorts of things can happen at universities.
But you’ve already floated theories involving McWhorter’s associates at the Manhattan Institute and Columbia with absolutely no evidence in hand. Perhaps it would be best to wait until the facts come out before speculating like this.
Give it a rest. You started the wild speculation. I made it more realistic. Yes, it’s still speculation, but the scenario I sketched certainly has precedent.
skynetx says:
Enough of this useless talk! Let’s start banning darwinists! If they can do it, why can’t we?
I suggest we ban a few of them. In any case they contribute absolutely NOTHING to UD.
Let me just clarify that I wasn’t speculating that PZ or Dawkins actually were responsible in any way; I was trying to be a little facetious there. I think it would be totally out of character for either one of them to be involved in something like this.
My sense however was the more visible scientist/bloggers who are active in the ID debate were considered the most likely suspects in the alleged censorship of the video. For example, vjtorley (whom I have a lot of respect for) said this in the other thread on this topic:
This is pure speculation on my part, but my guess is that some influential biologists sensed the damage that an interview like this could do if it became publicly available, and quietly brought pressure to bear on McWhorter to yank it off the air.
You could be right. I just think it would be wise to wait until McWhorter explains before using such charged language or referring to mysterious unnamed parties acting on behalf of a Darwinist cabal.
You could be right. I just think it would be wise to wait until McWhorter explains…
By now he is surely aware of the conversation going on here at the world’s most prominent ID blog.
My guess is that he will crawl under a bed and hope that his sins will be forgotten and forgiven by the Darwinian thought police.
We’ll see. He would certainly be welcome here to explain it all.
vividbleau says:
“I think it would be totally out of character for either one of them to be involved in something like this.”
I alost choked on my sandwich when I read this. PZ and Dawkins trying to shut down Mcwhorter would be totally out of character for them???
Now I am laughing so hard I m spewing food everywhere!!!
Totally out of character for Dawkins and PZ
http://www.vermontnewsguy.com/.....urlington/
DATCG says:
Yakky?
Hahaha…. totally out of character for PZ and Dawkins?
Is not PZ on record as stating he would not allow a PhD candidate or professor that gives weight to ID? Outright censorship of professional education?
And everyone knows Richard Dawkins record of Stalinista tactics to indoctrinate children against parents. He has been at the forefront of censoring ID and all kinds of vile accusations, calling people wicked, dumb, stupid. And he is supposed to be a man teaching public understanding of science? Yet he did not attempt to reach out in kindness. Instead he spits on people verbally with abuse daily.
It is obvious that McWhorter was immediately slammed for his reasonable discussion with Behe.
Why else would he state the exact opposite several hours afterwards amidst the Darwinist clamour and outrage? Unless he was 1) shamed, 2) coerced, 3) threatened, or 4) intimidated by massive Darwinist uprising.
How can anyone with common sense think McWhorter suddenly reversed and had a Simpson Doh! moment? He did it strictly out of fear.
What a sick religious cult many darwinist live in today.
Yakky, are you familiar with the fascist actions of the NCSE and other Darwinist at Smithsonian against Dr. Sternberg?
Are you familiar with the NCSE’s big brother Orwellian thought police moments of telling scientist which words are allowed in scientific publications? What do you think about NCSE members telling scientist which words they can and cannot use?
I assume you are a “liberal.” Where in the definition of liberalism does it say that other liberals, leftist and Darwinist have authority to edit out words of other scientist? They’ve become Orwell’s worst nightmare. They’ve become big brother. They’re acting like a bunch of scummy commies acted with thought minders making sure that anyone gets out of line is reported and forced to get back in line.
It is sick and disgusting.
Scientific Stalinistas is what this has turned into. Anyone out of line, hammer them.
Maybe Yakky you are unfamiliar with the warfare tactics of the Darwinist, but it has gone on now for a long time.
Charlie,
Thank you for posting that article about Ben Stein.
Richard Dawkins voted for censorship of Ben Stein…
But according to a widely read scientific web site, UVM President Daniel Mark Fogel wrote Sunday that, “Mr. Stein will be unable to receive the honorary degree here or to serve as Commencement speaker .”
Fogel wrote that in a letter to Richard Dawkins (pictured above), the well-known evolutionary biologist who was the most prominent of several scientists protesting the choice of Stein, an outspoken advocate of “Intelligent Design,”…”
Get that Yakky? Richard Dawkins in favor of censoring Ben Stein. Here’s a question. Did Richard Dawkins protest anti-freedom Communist and Terrorist bomber William Ayers university invitations and speeches and tenure?
Of course not, because Ayers is a fellow atheist brother in arms against the Christians. The so-called “wicked” people as Dawkins puts it.
Censorship by those who claim to be liberal-minded, “freethinkers” and “brites.”
Ben Stein in exposing the evil of people like Dawkins and other censors around our nation, has now become the target of censorship by the…. yes… Darwinian Cultist.
Dawkins is not a freethinker, nor is PZ Meyers, nor any of the zealot cultist Darwinist. They’re close-minded bigots.
What other group of scientist behave in such irrational and fascist like behavior? Where they work to eliminate all and any dissent from the public sphere?
These guys are scummy people, without any ethics, dishonest and intentionally misleading to the public. They purposely spread disinformation and propaganda and constantly attack, with intent to defame character of those who challenge their god-like authority.
They have become everything they supposedly hated in the past, due to their own hatred of anything outside of atheism. Their bitterness and anger darkens their blogs like at PZ Meyers or Pandas Thumb and Dawkins. Viscious attacks daily, weekly and in vile, false accusations, mocking, scoffing and ridicule.
They refuse to allow decent discussions about facts. Instead they call IDist like Stephen Meyers liars.
They fear open discussions like this getting into the public. They fear losing their own religion. They tremble at the notion that their religion is a fake cult.
It is that simple. I’ve seen it one to many times now. It is disgusting actions by supposedly superior intellects. But I guess if you believe so vehemently in Darwinian evolutionary psychology, they cannot help themselves. They’re nothing but a pile of steaming selfish genes fighting to survive.
The two incidents are quite different, AFAICS. I really doubt that PZ or Dawkins would attempt to erase the McWhorter/Behe interview from the internet after it had occurred. I know PZ at least generally doesn’t disappear items from his blog even when he makes a mistake. I can think of a few threads here at UD that are no longer available, however.
The University of Vermont episode was about whether a man who claims “science leads you to killing people” is a good choice to receive an honorary degree and deliver a commencement address to a class which must contain a considerable number of students majoring in, erm, the sciences. BTW, UD is a science blog, isn’t it?
DATCG,
Allow to do what? Do you have a source?
… Stalinista …
Nothing about the interview there…
Has anyone here tried to contact McWhorter? I’d like to hear his version of the events, even if it turns out there was a massive Darwinist uprising.
…fascist actions of the NCSE …
… NCSE’s big brother Orwellian thought police moments …
…They’re acting like a bunch of scummy commies acted with thought minders…
Scientific Stalinistas …
Again, nothing there about the Behe interview.
…Darwinian Cultist…
They’re close-minded bigots.
What other group of scientist behave in such irrational and fascist like behavior?
These guys are scummy people, without any ethics, dishonest and intentionally misleading to the public.
They tremble at the notion that their religion is a fake cult.
They’re nothing but a pile of steaming selfish genes fighting to survive.
That last line is actually quite good 😀
But seriously, I don’t agree with Dawkins on everything. He takes a harder line against religion than I do, and I think it’s sometimes unproductive. I don’t think he would attempt to have the video removed, however.
Some words from McWhorter at the beginning of the video. Read this introduction carefully and ask yourself reader, does it match his total opposite response and withdrawal after the Darwinian cultist uprising?
“Well, Michael Behe, I am so glad to meet you and thank you for agreeing to do this. This is one of the rare times that I have actually initiated a bloggingheads pairing and its because I just read your book; Edge of Evolution, from 2007 and I found it absolutely shattering. I mean this is a very important book.
And yet I sense from the reputation or reception of your book from 10 plus years ago; Darwins Black Box, that it may be hard to get people to understand why it is so important.
So I just wanted to go back and forth with you a little while to get a sense of what your intent with this book was and ask you a few questions and just allow this book the wide airing it deserves.
Most readers will read the above and with common sense interpret McWhorters words as a very open dialogue who wants to encourage people to read Dr. Behe’s book.
Just in these few paragraphs…
“wide airing it deservs”
“so glad to meet you”
“rare for me to initiate blogginheads pairing”
McWhorter is excited to speak with Behe, considers his work “shattering” and deems it worthy of “wide airing it deserves” as in he thinks it has not been given the daylight in media and science publications in a fair debate.
He takes it upon himself to now air the books “shattering” information to the public.
Now compare the above words to his words after the Darwinist cultist attack him…
posted by an Administrator… hmmm. Boy that reeks of totalitarian control of opinion. How often has Putin, Fidel, Chavez recently, or any other tyrannical leaders from the past invoked the forced obligatory confession by the “guilty” party without them actually appearing in public?
This reeks of Smithsonian style fascist tactics against a fellow academic who open-mindedly discusses a difficult topic or allows the dissenter to speak freely about his ideas about evolution.
As a result of such bold fresh open talk, what happens?
McWhorter suddenly repents and states that his excitement was wrong, his thoughts about the book being “shattering” truly do not represent him.
Bada Bing, Bada Boom, welcome NCSE mind police. Darwinian shock troops.
What a shame for science. What a shame for America and Americans in general. And how embarrasing to any scientist who dare to say this type of treatment is justified. In condemning others to silence, they condemn themselves to similar treatment.
McWhorter asked many normal and refreshing questions. At one point he tells the story of an unidentified colleague and Darwin’s Black Box. The colleague’s reaction was to “literally throw the book across the room.”
So much for “liberals” “freethinkers” “brites” and the “open-minded” scientist and professors.
This shows that their beliefs have been “shattered” and in a gut, knee-jerk pavlovian response indoctrinated since elementary training classes, they are repulsed and revolted by any new information which may challenge their Darwinian religion.
The video does not represent…”bloggingheads… usefully.” huh??? Doh! It did not compute to the selfish gene clan?
What kind of loons post such words about an open discussion on a book?
I’m surprised they’re not burning the books.
Does not “represent” “usefully” whom?
Michael Behe? Truly? LOL… is Michael Behe complaining about the interview? Where is the press release from Behe about not being represented “usefully” in this open discussion about evolution?
I’ve seen no memo that Dr Behe feels shorted or abused in anyway, shape or form. I think since Behe’s name is included in such a ruse by the administrator, we need to hear his opinion.
Finally, a question. Is McWhortor tenured by chance? If so and if he reads any of this. Mr. McWhorter, do not allow any beat down of your truly open and honest discussion by a rabid bunch of robots who refuse to allow dissent and open discussion of highly complex subjects. The entire idea behind America’s Constitution is protection of free speech.
It appears the Darwinist do not believe in free speech except for themselves and are now acting like tyrants.
Thank you sincerely John McWhorter for trying to cross the bridge, engage in reason, discuss openly the real problems of modern day science. It is refreshing to hear. I can only hope there will be many more of you in the future to be open in their inquiry for the truth. Even if the truth means we do not know everything yet.
Here is the key sentence that says it all.
“He apologizes to all who found its airing objectionable.”
Obviously there were those who found the airng objectionable thus the reason for pulling it. Now who would that be that found it so objectionable?
Yakky D,
LOL… well, steaming pile of selfish gene bacteria arose from a steaming vent, pond scum or what have ya.
No one really knows, but the stories are good. Millions are spent yearly on TV about steaming piles of selfish genes.
Its late, my poorly designed genes need rest so I may go forth and conquer other steaming piles of selfish genes tomorrow. 😉
Whatever McWhorter says from here on out, if its not like his initial video with excitement about the book, then he is under diress.
It is obvious a total 180 degree turnaround has been manufactured by the outrage of the Darwinist. One would have to be a blind, unguided, steaming pile of selfish genes not to see this.
I listened to that entire video. McWhorter was excited the entire time about the discussion and the challenges that remain unanswered by Darwinist.
Intelligent and informed experience from past episodes and in life leans towars his turnaround is not due to some moment of Dawinian nirvana.
ps. PZ Meyers is own record on his own blog about ID professors and granting tenure. Its probably discussed on here as well. I’ll check tomorrow.
bevets says:
I can not believe that the typical view among scientists is such that they’re not as fascinated by that question and this possible boundary to our knowledge as you are. It’s so utterly fascinating. And yet I remember when Darwin’s Black Box came out I grabbed it. I was fascinated by this. It opened my eyes. And I had a scientist friend, eminent one, I will not name them or even give their gender, but I had that scientist over to dinner and when I gave that scientist your book and said ‘Have you read this one?’ That scientists literally, and they, yes singular ‘they’ were being kind of theatrical but they, literally, threw it across the room. They just could not entertain that this book, and it was gaining a reputation, could possibly be making any sense. But of course that wasn’t a discussion — I could not get this person to discuss what was so wrong with the ideas. ~ John McWhorter
yakky d @ 38
I get to vote on tenure decisions at my university, and I can assure you that if someone comes up who claims that ID ‘theory’ is science, I will vote against them. ~ PZ Myers
Yep… that is typical politico speak easy.
Bevets, thx.
I’m perfectly open to lots of possibilities. Of course it’s possible that McWhorter was contacted by Darwinian shock troops a scientist who critiqued his interview, and on that basis, he decided to withdraw it. Lots of things could have happened. I’d just like to hear McWhorter’s version before I lock myself in the basement and prepare for an attack by Darwin cult zombies.
We have searched for an email address or phone number for McWhorter. We would like to ask him what happenned. Can anyone supply an email address?
idnet,
Here’s a link on his website:
http://www.johnmcwhorter.com/contact
His wikipedia page also has a link to his directory page at Columbia with another email address.
Clive Hayden says:
It’s not Darwinist cult zombies, it’s Darwinist thought police, get it right.
“I’m perfectly open to lots of possibilities.”
yakky who would find the airing of his interview with Behe objectioonable?
“Lots of things could have happened.”
“I’d just like to hear McWhorter’s version”
Unfortunately it is very likely that we will never know. Mcwhorter ran into a shit storm he is not likely to want to go through that storm again.
“…before I lock myself in the basement and prepare for an attack by Darwin cult zombies.”
oops “objectionable”
Just to plug the updated video Post #24. In case someone missed it.
Please let me know that is works for you. Cheers!
Cabal says:
Since wild speculation seems to be well within what’s acceptable here, may I voice my 2¢:
Do I sense a tendency towards paranoia? I may be biased, but I sincerely believe claims about Darwinist censorship are more than a little exaggerated.
Isn’t it a fact that we see more censorship on ID or creationist sites than on Darwinist sites?
An example from:
http://www.uncommondescent.com.....#more-8303
Sibley wrote:
Let’s be frank, Dawkins is in reality more dangerous than a harmless travelling charlatan
When Skew Jones posted an almost exact ‘qoute’ of Sibley’s words except ‘Dawkins’ had been replaced with ‘Dembski’, it didn’t take long before his entry disappeared, and Skew has not been visible here since.
So adhom against Dawkins is ok, but Dembski is protected?
Or take a look at what the poster Daniel Smith got away with at AtBC.
Id’ists like BA77 and others have been invited to post at AtBC, and I think they know there would be no risk of banning unless they threatened hacking the site.
What conclusion may we draw from that? Or from my habit of saving copies of what I post here?
William J. Murray says:
First, McWhorter has commented and has thoroughly explained his position on the matter: listen to the interview. He spoke several times that he beleived that Behe’s book was important, needed to be discussed and that Behe’s views and arguments need a fair hearing, and he expressed both incredulity and disappointment that Darwinian evolutionists react the way they do to Behe.
What is unclear about McWhorter’s opinion or position? Was he lying when he said that he’s felt this way for years? Was he lying throughout the discussion with Behe?
I guess it shouldn’t shock me that Darwinians can ignore the obvious and cling to thin, imagined explanations that contradict the facts as long as such inventions allow them to keep their faith.
Can someone answer the question? What was it about the interview that can possibly, to any reasonable person (that isn’t zealously defending the religious faith of Darwinism to the point of blatant, coercive censorship of ideas) be remotely considered “offensive”?
kairosfocus says:
Cabal:
Even paranoids sometimes have enemies.
And, there is a longstanding pattern of evidence that makes it clear — morally certain in fact — that especially the NCSE and ACLU have served as shock/ storm troopers that deploy at once to drive any ID supportive bridgeheads back into the sea.
Using rather ruthless tactics, as can be seen for instance here. And remember, that was not for a SUPPORTER of ID, it was for someone willing to allow a place in the forum.
For shame!
Denial of such is enabling behaviour for thought police tactics and institutions, Cabal.
Thanks for letting us know what you are, and what you are willing to turn a blind eye to.
Do you see where such totalitarian, thought control censorship tactics lead, on far too many historical exemplars?
GEM of TKI
PS: Onlookers, here is Richard von Sternberg’s summary of what happened to him (go to the above link for the documentation and details, shocking details):
>> In 2004, in my capacity as editor of The Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, I authorized “The Origin of Biological Information and the Higher Taxonomic Categories” by Dr. Stephen Meyer to be published in the journal after passing peer-review. Because Dr. Meyer’s article presented scientific evidence for intelligent design in biology, I faced retaliation, defamation, harassment, and a hostile work environment at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History that was designed to force me out as a Research Associate there. These actions were taken by federal government employees acting in concert with an outside advocacy group, the National Center for Science Education. Efforts were also made to get me fired from my job as a staff scientist at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Subsequently, there were two federal investigations of my mistreatment, one by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in 2005 , and the other by subcommittee staff of the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform in 2006. Both investigations unearthed clear evidence that my rights had been repeatedly violated. Because there has been so much misinformation spread about what actually happened to me, I have decided to make available the relevant documents here for those who would like to know the truth. >>
“Because there has been so much misinformation spread about what actually happened to me, I have decided to make available the relevant documents here for those who would like to know the truth.”
Quite like Muslims, “Taqqyia”, Darwinists are more than ready to lie and behead those who insult Darwin.
No wonder the atheist religion prefers islam over Christianity. They have the same god.
Yakka “This site is not affiliated with John McWhorter. It is a fan site and part of the Epik.com direct navigation network. To contribute content to this site, please contact us “
More likely than the scenario of the Manahattan Institute telling McWhorter that its donors want him to pull the video is the scenario that some collection of McWhorter’s friends, colleagues, and book agent emailed him saying, “What on earth are you doing? You don’t want to be associated with the ID movement. You’ll be labeled as a kook, you’ll always be looked on with suspicion (remember what happened to Guillermo Gonzalez), and you’ll never get a good book review in the New York Times again.”
What happened to Guillermo Gonzalez. (See what we mean about thought police tactics?)
Rude says:
Well, so that’s John McWhorter the linguist! Linguistics should have been in the forefront of the war on materialism. Nevertheless the linguistics of the 30s and 40s was dominated by Leonard Bloomfield’s subservience to B F Skinner, a sad situation not finally overcome until Noam Chomsky’s 1957 A Review of BF Skinner’s Verbal Behavior. Virtually nothing of interest can be said of human language within a purely materialist, stimulus-response model. Chomsky liberated linguistics from the constraints of materialism by granting that human language issues from a creative source for which we haven’t the foggiest of a materialist theory. Chomsky’s project was to open the field to the study of syntax—the code—universal grammar—something that had been denied modern linguists.
Yet though Chomsky never cozied up to the Darwinists he placed himself and his linguistics on the far, far radical left. And whereas his early Transformational Grammar provided a great model for discovery and description, he was forced to abandon it because of his insistence that syntax have no inherent meaning or function. Chomsky was proposing an innate linguistic mechanism separate from general cognitive function and any higher level of semantics. Such has never been found. And so there was rebellion in the ranks and in the 70s a split between formalist and functionalist camps. And so alas! Chomsky’s linguistics, as Paul M. Postal and Robert D. Levine point out, came to resemble his politics with “a deep contempt for the truth, descents into incoherence, and verbal abuse of those who disagree with him.” A Corrupted Linguistics, in The Anti-Chomsky Reader, edited by Peter Collier & David Horowitz (Encounter Books, 2004).
So, I would say, it remains for a future generation of linguists sympathetic to Intelligent Design to rescue the field from the radical left and an encroaching postmodernism. Here, let me suggest two areas that may be of interest to young Turks in ID.
1. Language reflects the soul
This was Chomsky’s original contribution—it needs to be expanded. Language is not a restricted code such as, say, the dance of the bees. Rather the average sentence is a novel creation. ID identifies design, language offers us an opportunity to peer into a source of design.
2. Language codes information
Language is a code in constant flux, i.e., languages are constantly changing over time (which helps to explain why there are so many languages). But this change is within bounds. The semantic and functional categories that underlie all human languages appear to be rather static, such as you might savor at WALS. The future tense, for example, always appears to derive from a verb of motion (‘go’ or ‘come’) or volition (‘will’ or ‘take/hold’)—English has innovated both: “It is going to rain” and “It will rain”.
If you are a mathematical Platonist you will immediately sense the possibility that many of these categories are “out there” and not hard-wired in neural networks by any Darwinian process. Little children tune in to this Platonic realm as they construct language from the data at hand. This is not to say, of course, that our physical structure and environment are not reflected in our language—just that these alone are not sufficient to explain universal grammar and the ease with which children learn the same.
If the creativity of language reflects the soul, let me suggest that semantic and functional categories reflect the spirit.
For those who like ancient quotes, how about this mysterious biblical reference that I cannot say I understand: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit …”
A psychiatrist to his patient: I have good news and bad news. You are not paranoid. People really are out to get you.
The following from Bloggingheads might be of interest. How ironic.
Bloggingheads is in some ways a classic expression of the Internet: the ever-dropping cost of information-processing allows people to interact in new ways, and a whole new tribe-the Bloggingheads tribe-is formed. But we hope to be in one sense an unusual expression of the Internet. Almost all blogs have a dominant ideology and a fairly homogeneous comments section to match. We pride ourselves on having a diversity of views in our diavlogs and an accordingly diverse comments section, where thoughtful disagreement is expressed in civil terms. (OK, usually thoughtful, and usually civil.) We thank our commenters-and for that matter our less-vocal viewers, and of course all the bloggingheads-for making this website a place where great minds don’t think alike.
Oops, sorry about that. Did you get the email address from Columbia?
Cabal 54 supports the Darwinist cabal by denying it exists. What he doesn’t see is that no website be it Darwinist or Idist owes anyone a right to speak. It bothers me not a whit if Darwinist sites rage with Darwinist hysteria, and I do like alternative ID sites that shut them up.
It’s only in the public square as supported by our tax dollars that the materialist cabal must be ousted.
I didn’t find it objectionable. Watching the video was not the most productive 44 minutes I’ve ever spent, because there wasn’t much information there that was new to me.
My best guess as to where the word “objectionable” came from was the criticism that appeared on the bloggingheads forum after the interview was posted. McWhorter was getting panned for asking softball questions, and people were posting links to critical reviews of Behe’s work. There’s nothing wrong with that of course—the purpose of the interview is to generate discussion.
Again, it would be most useful if McWhorter were to come forward and tell us what happened. I hope idnet can get in contact with him.
IRQ Conflict,
An abundance of over-the-top rhetoric ITT.
Rude @62, Wow! That needs it’s own thread! Really didn’t know that.
@yakky @67, I wish it were. And so does Guillermo Gonzalez et al I’d wager.
The beheading thing was not rhetorical, but proverbial.
I think this about sums it up.
bjkeefe from BHTV Wrote:
“And finally, I think it’s better to search for explanations that work for the time being, and not worry overmuch about whether they are actually The Truth.”
“If you’ve got a theory that explains the data and lets you make useful predictions, fine! Let’s go with that!”
http://bloggingheads.tv/forum/.....tcount=236
So this is progress is it? God help the next generation of Scientists.
Great response Professor Behe. And I concur with your observation. Gutless.
tsmith says:
absolutely right…the same dark, bloodthirsty god…
I doubt it seriously. I’ve seen your post here. And please try to recognize satire and humor. I see that you recognized at least some of it earlier. Satire is a tool to tear down the establishment. In this case, it is the Darwinist. Maybe my sarcasm is to hyperbolic for most taste.
It is obvious that the criticism from the commenters is just one part of the issue. I had no idea far left, New York Sulzberger Slimeballs were involved, that explains another “possibility”
I think Behe’s comments are on target. Bloggingheads reacted in shocking horror to the attention they received and pulled the video.
I know. Here’s a good suggestion for the Darwinist. Have the Bloggingheads setup Dawkins vs Behe. Hows that for true fireworks? Would that be more “representative” of Bloggingheads video? Dawkins couldn’t handle Behe. He’d eventually end up salivating with drivel running down his mouth, mumbling, mumble, mumble about aliens seeding earth.
Bloggingheads are not as advertised. They are politically correct leftist, or shaking and afraid of the Darwinist.
“Of course it’s possible that McWhorter was contacted by Darwinian shock troops a scientist Thought Police who critiqued threatened his interview career, and on that basis, he decided to withdraw it. Lots of things could have happened. Abiogensis is true. I’d just like to hear McWhorter’s version mia culpa and genuflection before Darwinian gods, before I lock myself in the basement and prepare for an attack by Darwin cult zombies. smoke a joint with my dead head friends”
I’d like to hear his version as well, but I suspect he’ll be subdued and afraid to say anything that publically supports Behe after this episode, or admit that he was slammed down by anyone he’ll name.
I’m curious YakkyD, what do you think of the fascist at NCSE and Smithsonian that attacked Dr. Sternberg?
What do you think of PZ Meyers bigotry against a possible tenure candidate that supports possible ID positions?
Those are known cases of prejudice, bigotry and one-sided, double-standard hypocrites.
What do you think about Richard Dawkins writing to a universty to cancel Ben Stein’s honorary degree?
The evidence shows Dawkins, Meyers, NCSE, even unfortunately the Smithsonian act like fascist when their religion is found unbelievable. They censor and admit it.
Lets review again one of the so-called freethinkers are in “science” today.
Richard Dawkins… demanded Ben Stein not speak at Vermont University.
“But according to a widely read scientific web site, UVM President Daniel Mark Fogel wrote Sunday that, “Mr. Stein will be unable to receive the honorary degree here or to serve as Commencement speaker.”
Not only did Dawkins get Stein’s speech canceled, but his honorary degree pulled as well.
“Fogel wrote that in a letter to Richard Dawkins (pictured above), the well-known evolutionary biologist Fascist Selfish Gene who was the most prominent of several scientists other fascist selfish genes protesting the choice of Stein, an outspoken advocate of “Intelligent Design,” scientific dissent.”
As to holing up in your cave Yakky, you should really learn about the second amendment, freedom and liberty as our Founding Fathers intended this nation to be. Don’t live in fear. Speak up and fight for what you believe in. Understand that the government answers to We the People, that includes scientific grants awarded by tax payor moneys. We the People determine what is useful and good for our tax dollars.
Time to stop the wasteful spending of tax dollars by hacks who tell fictional stories about a past they never observed or could possibly pretend to know.
Better we look forward with the new scientific paradigm of Design. The country that first shifts its focus and money toward a design paradigm and away from antiquated theories will be first in line technically for the race in new business, new research, new medicine, new cures.
This is only the beginning of things to come. Darwinisn is a failed and dying paradigm. The sooner you stop your denial and come out of the dark into the light the faster the healing begins.
Don’t retreat into a Darwinian cave.
The exposure of sunlight is a good disinfectant to cronyism, corruption, fascism, Owellian thought police and old-beard Darwinians.
Hmmm, strikeout edit…
There, thats better.
Speculation that a Darwinist Mob leaned on Dr McWhorter seems unnecessary. Posts get deleted at UncommonDescent.com from time to time; presumably because the author decided that on balance they’d rather not have posted it, and not as a reaction to a cabal threatening their career. If even at UncommonDescent – which is surely a safe harbor from Darwinist intimidation – people sometimes remove their postings, then clearly Darwninist Men In Black are not required.
Maybe Dr McWhorter just felt he came out the whole thing looking monumentally silly and would prefer it hadn’t happened. I’ve got no evidence for that, but neither does Dr Dembski have any evidence of sinister influences leaning on him to pull the interview.
well… guess not… must I use “strike” instead of s /s
lol…. preview is not well “designed” by intelligent agents. Hmmmm… maybe it’ll evolve by itself overtime.
Emails sent to McWhorter via bloggingheads.tv and his fan site have not been responded to. He may be busy or he may have decided that keeping quiet will allow the whole incident to die.
To bad IDnet.com.au,
I hope he eventually feels safe to speak.
Reg,
Chuckles, you’re a hoot.
“Maybe Dr McWhorter Darwinist just felt he came out the whole thing looking monumentally silly and would prefer it hadn’t happened.”
Did you listen to the video at all? Did you hear or read what he said about Dr. Behe’s book?
He is most likely being “reprogrammed” by NCSE and other Darwinist right now.
Hey Reg,
What you think about the fascist NCSE shutting down Dr. Sternberg after he published an ID friendly paper?
The only ones looking silly today are the Darwinist and moonbats on that site that attacked him.
Anyone notice that the Darwinist do not care about the censorhip by the other side at all? From Dawkins to PZ Meyers and the NCSE.
But by golly, it “just appears” McWhorter got his religion back and according to Reg, “looked silly.”
Please do tell Reg. What in that video looks silly? Care to expand on which questions or answers were silly?
I’ve been away today enjoying a nice late-summer day hike, so missed the new developments. First, thanks for explaining that some of your comments are in jest; I have to admit you do have a way with words.
I don’t want to get sidetracked into the Vermont issue or PZ’s views on tenure. All I claimed was that I didn’t think it was PZ’s or Dawkins’ style to request that a video such as McWhorter’s be taken down after it had been posted.
Now it appears McWhorter has explained the situation to Behe:
After I found out the video was removed I emailed John McWhorter and the editor to ask for an explanation, and John emailed back that he himself requested the video to be pulled because people thought he was too easy on me, which was supposedly contrary to that old Bloggingheads spirit.
which is more or less what some bloggers had conjectured. Of course, this is the internet, so no one (not even Behe) is going to believe McWhorter’s rather humdrum explanation. Not enough Darwinian shock troops or NCSE thought police, I guess.
If McWhorter’s explanation is true, I think he made a pretty big mistake. Maybe he didn’t what an uproar pulling the video would cause.
Correction to #83, last sentence: Maybe he didn’t realize what an uproar pulling the video would cause.
For some reason this response to DATCG didn’t post after I submitted it, so I’ll try again.
I’ve seen the first few minutes of the video and Dr McWhorter comes across as a bit of an awestruck fan-boy lavishly praising Behe’s book. And his mystification at how skunks could possibly have come to be without an Intelligence crafting their stink-squirters was funny.
I don’t much care about Dr Sternberg being let go, but I’d love to see you give some evidence that the NCSE are fascists. I’ve not noticed them herding opponents into extermination camps, wanting to implement a policy of “racial hygiene” or trying to eradicate Jews.
Could someone let me know if my links work OK or not? Thanks!
Well, well:
he himself requested the video to be pulled because people thought he was too easy on me, which was supposedly contrary to that old Bloggingheads spirit.
A civil-toned, respectful discussion on the merits that raise issues and challenges and heard out the answers was “going too easy”?
Why wasn’t there simply a follow up panel discussion which raised the issues and moderated the exchanges to be just as civil and serious, between say Behe and PZM, with McWhorter as moderator?
(In short, the excuses sound lamer and lamer . . . at least, to anyone who has listened to the interview. I am pretty sure that if Behe did not have his ducks in a row, he would have had a rout not an interview! [that is,t eh objection from the thought police is that Behe — given a level playing field — came across very well. And that will not do, Mr McWhorter, tut tut: time for brass knuckles, spiked baseball bats — so much more useful as a club than a cricket bat — and spike nailed boots.])
PS: Went over to Behe’s UD blog. turns out the Nelson-Numbers discussion was also on Blogginheads. And, it was a very civil and thoughtful discussion. H’m m m . . .
Here is Behe’s context for the remarks cited above:
Because of the magic of the internet, it turns out that shortly after the show’s posting the comments section of the site was overrun by “bitterly virulent” (in the words of one principal in this saga) cyber bullies, some murmuring darkly about a grim future for Bloggingheads. After I found out the video was removed I emailed John McWhorter and the editor to ask for an explanation, and John emailed back that he himself requested the video to be pulled because people thought he was too easy on me, which was supposedly contrary to that old Bloggingheads spirit. I find that quite implausible (other shows on the site feature discussions between people who agree on many things). Rather, I suspect the folks at the website weren’t expecting the vitriolic reaction, began to worry about their good names and future employment prospects, pictured themselves banished to a virtual leper colony, panicked, and folded.
Shades of Sternberg!
[Remember, Sternberg’s thought crime was to have HOSTED a successfully peer reviewed pro ID article. So we see the uncivil spirit we are up against in full cry once again.]
EndoplasmicMessenger says:
Speaking about Dawkins…
it seems to be very easy to get on Dawkins’s wrong side:
… Dawkins was typically scathing: “A clergyman in charge of education for the country’s leading scientific organisation — it’s a Monty Python sketch.”
He said this about Michael Reiss.
That Reiss possessed better pro-evolution credentials than most (a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Cambridge) counted for nothing…
Michael Reiss was dismissed as director of education at the Royal Society, due to the misrepresentations of Dawkins and others.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t.....425138.ece
ShawnBoy says:
I don’t much care about Dr Sternberg being let go, but I’d love to see you give some evidence that the NCSE are fascists.
I’d recommend the website NCSE Exposed: No Victim-Blaming Allowed!
KF,
Have you read the thread over at BloggingHeads?
I would challenge you to do so and compare it to some of the comments in this very blog post. Do you approve of accusing “Darwinists” of “proverbial” beheadings? You’ve even referred NCSE and ACLU “shock/storm troopers” yourself in #56. And I’m not even sure what this means:
And that will not do, Mr McWhorter, tut tut: time for brass knuckles, spiked baseball bats — so much more useful as a club than a cricket bat — and spike nailed boots.
but it sounds as if you are accusing “Darwinists” of plotting physical violence. Not a very “civil spirit” I would say.
Clarification to my post #92: I probably didn’t choose the best portion of KF’s post to quote; I’m addressing Behe’s allegation of and KF’s commentary on alleged “cyberbullies” at BloggingHeads.
yakky d Wrote:
“Do you approve of accusing “Darwinists” of “proverbial” beheadings?”
Would you have taken offense if I had said ‘they gave him the axe’?
Is there any way we can confirm that Yakky’s actually pro-ID?
Yakky it was a brilliant scheme to pose as a darwinist with underhanded softball after softball, and striking out each time when you’re up to bat.
But it’s getting played out. Conspiracy after conspiracy is unearthed and confirmed, making your clever ruse too obvious.
Come on back over to our side with your other username bro, well done.
Quite like Muslims, “Taqqyia”, Darwinists are more than ready to lie and behead give the axe to those who insult Darwin.
It’s a bit less graphic, but still needs improvement IMHO 😀
On a more serious note, while I’m not a big fan of Islam, I do have a lot of respect for many of the Muslims I have gotten to know over the years. There’s no need to make these insulting stereotypical statements to support the case for ID.
lamarck,
So I’m a double-secret-reverse deep cover sock? Interesting hypothesis! 😀
There are decent people that have been raised as Muslims yes. But by far they are the minority. Why do you think it is that the so-called ‘moderate’ Muslims rarely if ever cry out at the atrocities committed by adherents to Islam? It’s not rocket science.
There are things you need to know about true Islam. Here’s but the latest sampling: http://www.americanthinker.com.....rifqa.html
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
There are decent people that have been raised as Muslims yes. But by far they are the minority.
When you say decent Muslims are by far in the minority, about what percentage are you talking about? Give me a rough estimate.
Also, to what extent are your views about Muslims determined through person-to-person interaction rather than reports from the media? Do you have many Muslim friends or coworkers?
IRQ,
I have been to muslim countries.
Muslims by far are very decent people.
It is only the very few who do bad things.
Why don’t the moderates speak out?
Two reasons that I can see:
1- They do not want to die
2- It is up to Allah to judge and punish.
But anyway if there are 100 million muslims and 1% are “bad” people, that makes 1 million.
1 million is 1000 people in 1000 cities.
Sure that seems like a lot but in context it isn’t.
Now look at Christians- they fight each other. And they form groups that don’t like different skin colors.
BTW Islam, Christianity and Judaism trace back to Abraham- IOW they all worship the same “God”.
No more discussion about Muslims.
Sorry Clive. Didn’t see you post till after I made mine.
Heh, BHTV doesn’t want to look biased/bad. Too late. But I’m still glad they re-posted it. It’s really the honorable thing to do.
O'Leary says:
IRQ Conflict 102: I joined the discussion late, but restoring the link was indeed the honourable thing to do, and good for Bloggingheads!
A strict Bloggingheads policy of not removing vlogs is wise because it protects all parties.
One party may be under pressure from various sources to demand the removal of the vlog – but that creates the impression that he believes he has lost a debate.
How does that help him?
Also, there is no clear way for his supporters to defend his position.
Various parties may have archived the vlog, but discussion then becomes a huge mess, as there is no one single official Bloggingheads link that we reasonably believe no one has tampered with.
YakkyD
You need to read the material Sternberg has at the linked.
Then, think very, very carefully about where institutional science, government, law enforcement and the civlisation are headed on this track.
(Perhaps a glance at this book may help.)
pw “based on their lab experiments and statistical models, should have... – Researchers: Basic tenet of evolutionary theory...
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COMP348 – Document Processing and the Semantic Web
Document Processing and the Semantic Web
Assessment Standards
Changes Made to Previous Offerings
Diego Molla-Aliod
diego.molla-aliod@mq.edu.au
Contact via diego.molla-aliod@mq.edu.au
E6A331
See: http://comp.mq.edu.au/~diego/
Rolf Schwitter
rolf.schwitter@mq.edu.au
Contact via rolf.schwitter@mq.edu.au
Fridays 11-12
(39cp at 100 level or above) including (COMP249 or COMP257)
This unit explores the issues involved in building natural language processing (NLP) applications that operate on large bodies of real text such as are found on the world wide web. With the web full of unstructured and largely text-based data, the applications needed to handle this have their own particular characteristics. In this unit we discuss some core applications for dealing with data on the web, such as spam filtering and search engines. The unit also explores some developments of web, such as emerging semantic web technologies which support the exchange of XML metadata on the web, and Web 2.0 technologies (such as social networking, folksonomies, wikis and blogs). Application areas covered include information retrieval, web search, document summarisation, machine translation and information extraction.
Explain the main techniques that are used to develop and implement intelligent document processing applications.
Describe the functionality of the key components in document processing architectures.
Implement text processing applications using a programming language.
Apply web technology to document processing.
Assignment 1 5% No Week 3
In this assignment you will implement a simple document processing application that uses pre-packaged tools.
The assignment will be submitted using iLearn.
This assignment will use more powerful techniques such as those used in commercial and research applications. You will experience the processing of real text data, which can be messy and unpredictable at times. At the end of the assignment you will submit a report describing the system, its implementation, and its evaluation.
In this assignment you will experiment with the integration of Semantic Web technology into document processing. You will be asked to study a particular domain and report on the integration of Semantic Web technnologies suitable for the domain, including what sort of SPARQL queries would be applicable to solve specific user needs.
The final exam will focus on the theoretical aspects of the unit. There will be few questions about implementation issues.
Most of the contents of the unit will be based on the following two books:
Steven Bird, Ewan Klein, Edward Loper. Natural Language Processing -- Analyzing Text with Python and the Natural Language Toolkit. Online at http://www.nltk.org/book.
Christopher D. Manning, Prabhakar Raghavan and Hinrich Schütze, Introduction to Information Retrieval, Cambridge University Press. 2008. Online at http://www-nlp.stanford.edu/IR-book/.
Additional material will be made available during the semester, in conjunction with the lecture notes. See the unit schedule for a listing of the most relevant reading for each week.
The following software is used in COMP348:
Python: www.python.org
iPython notebook: ipython.org/notebook.html
NLTK: nltk.org
scikit-learn: scikit-learn.org
rdflib: pypi.python.org/pypi/rdflib/
Protege Desktop: protege.stanford.edu
Saxon HE: saxon.sourceforge.net
BaseX: basex.org/products/download/all-downloads/
XML Copy Editor: xml-copy-editor.sourceforge.net
This software is installed in the labs; you should also ensure that you have working copies of all the above on your own machine. Note that many packages come in various versions; to avoid potential incompatibilities, you should install versions as close as possible to those used in the labs.
Unit Web Page
Note that the majority of the unit materials is publicly available while some material requires you to log in to iLearn to access it.
The unit will make extensive use of discussion boards hosted within iLearn. Please post questions there, they will be monitored by the staff on the unit.
Week Topic Reading
1 NLP Systems + Text Processing in Python NLTK Ch 1
2 Information retrieval Manning et al. (2008)
3 Text Classification (I) NLTK Ch 6
4 Text Classification (II)
NLTK Ch 6
Manning et al Ch 13
5 Sequence Labelling NLTK Ch 6
6 Information Extraction and Summarisation
Hovy (2003)
7 The Semantic Web; XML XSLT Tutorial at W3School
8 RDF, RDF Schema and SPARQL
RDF Primer
9 Linked Data DBpedia
10 Ontologies
Kroetzsch et al (2012)
OWL Primer
11 Rule Languages
RIF Primer
12 Semantic Web Applications and Recent Trends
13 Revision
The following table shows an indication of achievements required for each learning outcome. The standards of a level also include the standards of a lower level. For example, the standards of Proficient includes the standards of Functional and Developing.
Learning Outcome Developing Functional Proficient
1. Describe the range of applications that require intelligent text processing. Limited ability to describe the main applications. Ability to describe the main characteristics of the main applications. Ability to describe and compare a wide range of applications, providing insight about their key issues and current state of the art.
2. Explain the main techniques that are used to develop and implement intelligent document processing applications. Ability to describe only some of the main techniques. Ability to describe the main techniques. Ability to apply the techniques to specific problem instances.
3. Explain the main components of the Semantic Web and how they relate to Document Processing. Limited ability to explain the main components of the Semantic Web. Ability to describe the main components of the Semantic Web. Ability to explain the main components of the Semantic Web, with insightful references about the interplay between Semantic Web and document processing.
4. Implement text processing applications using a programming language such as Python. Ability to implement trivial applications that are not much more complex than the examples given in standard textbooks and tutorials. Ability to implement, document and evaluate simple end-to-end intelligent text-processing applications. Ability to implement and evaluate complex intelligent text-processing applications. Ability to document and evaluate the implementation in a manner that shows insight.
5. Integrate Semantic Web technology into Document Processing. Limited ability to implement core elements of Semantic Web applications. Ability to implement and document simple Semantic Web applications. Ability to implement and document Semantic Web applications that require the use of Document Processing technology, in a manner that shows insight.
All the unit assessed tasks will be marked on a numerical scale that reflects how well the student meets the relevant learning outcomes. This mapping of learning outcomes to marks will be specified in the assignment descriptions.
In order to pass the unit, you need to obtain at least 50% of the sum of marks of all individual assessments.
Compared to last year, the first half of the unit will have less emphasis on the theoretical aspects of machine learning, and a stronger emphasis on the use of packaged solutions currently available. The reason for these changes is the increasing availability of text processing APIs, and the creation of a new unit COMP257 for data mining.
Those students interested on the details of machine learning are encouraged to enrol in the new unit COMP257 "Data Science". The first offering of COMP257 will be in the second semester of 2017.
The learning outcomes and grading policy have been simplified.
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Farrah Abraham says she 'can't be replaced' amid 'Teen Mom OG' rumors
Farrah Abraham poses in Greece. [Photo via Facebook]
Mackenzie Standifer and Mackenzie McKee are reportedly in the running to replace Farrah Abraham.
by Lindsay Cronin (article) and Jane Flowers (video)
February 12, 2018 at 3:02 PM February 12, 2018 at 3:02 PM
Mackenzie Standifer or Mackenzie McKee may replace 'Teen Mom OG' Farrah Abraham - Video
Farrah Abraham appears to have gotten wind of the recent rumors claiming she will soon be replaced by another woman on "Teen Mom OG." Weeks after viewers watched as MTV producer Morgan J. Freeman confronted Abraham about her horrible treatment of his crew, Abraham took to her Twitter page and shared a sexy video of herself with her fans and followers.
"I’m that once-in-a-lifetime kind of woman that can’t be replaced," Farrah Abraham wrote on Twitter on February 10. While Abraham didn't say exactly what it was that she was referring to, she did name the MTV reality series in a hashtag in her post.
She also included the MTV hashtag.
Why was Farrah Abraham fired by Morgan J. Freeman?
Throughout the past several weeks, rumors have been swirling in regard to the end of Abraham's role on the show and why exactly she was fired. While Farrah Abraham appeared to insinuate that MTV had fired her due to her ongoing involvement with the adult industry, the latest episodes of the seventh season of the show seem to suggest that the company was actually fed up with Abraham's treatment of their staff.
Following her exit from the show, Abraham blasted MTV and Morgan J.
Freeman on Twitter and Instagram, claiming she was "s***-shamed" by the network and targeted with harassment. She then confused her online audience when she said that she was actually not fired, nor had she breached her contract.
Who will replace Farrah Abraham during the upcoming season of the MTV series?
Earlier this month, The Ashley's Reality Roundup shared a report in regard to the future cast of "Teen Mom OG," revealing that "Teen Mom 3" star Mackenzie McKee and "Teen Mom OG" star Mackenzie Standifer are in the running to replace Abraham.
As the outlet explained, both women have been filming in recent weeks but it appears far more likely that Standifer, the wife of Ryan Edwards, will be the one who MTV moves forward with in the coming weeks.
“They are planning to pay [Mackenzie Standifer] around $3,000 an episode to take the fourth spot on ‘Teen Mom OG.' That would obviously be significantly less than the other [cast members] make.
It is not a done deal yet, but the consensus is that [she] will get the spot," an insider told the outlet.
To see the last of Farrah Abraham and her co-stars, including Catelynn Lowell, Maci Bookout, and Amber Portwood, don't miss new episodes of "Teen Mom OG" season seven this and every Monday night at 9 p.m. on MTV.
Follow lindsay on Facebook Follow lindsay on Twitter
Read more on the same topic from Lindsay Cronin:
'RHOBH' star Camille Grammer explains why she talks about ex-husband Kelsey 'RHOC' star Tamra Judge says Kelly Dodd likes to 'destroy' 'Teen Mom 2' star Jenelle Evans suggests she wasn't happy with husband David Eason
Evan Morgan
Follow evan on Facebook Follow evan on Twitter
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Other bike / News
BSB: Bike Animal canceled Ulster Grand notes
ULSTER GRAND PRIX Following on torrential rainfall, organisers were left with a difficult decision to cancel today's Ulster Grand Prix at the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland. Despite early hopes of the weather improving and the organisers ...
ULSTER GRAND PRIX
Following on torrential rainfall, organisers were left with a difficult decision to cancel today's Ulster Grand Prix at the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland.
Despite early hopes of the weather improving and the organisers delaying proceedings until just after lunch, Clerk of the Course Noel Johnstone confirmed that despite his best efforts to try and postpone racing until tomorrow, it wasn't possible and announced the cancellation of this year's races.
It meant disappointment for Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin who has had a less than successful season this year and the Ulster GP was his last hope of the big win on the roads.
"I've never seen so much water in my life. There's nobody to blame apart from the good old British summer. The organisers did as much as they could to get the races on but it was never going to happen. I'm bitterly disappointed for myself as this would have been a good chance to have boxed off a big win this year, but I'm equally disappointed for the fans who turned out in their thousands and got absolutely drenched hoping to see some action. It wasn't very good weather for bikes, but it was most certainly good weather for ducks" said Guy, a point echoed by team owner Shaun Muir.
"It's disappointing all round after all the hard work that has gone in by both the team and the organisers but there was absolutely nothing we could do because it was impossible to race in those conditions. You have got to feel sorry for Guy who was really up for this race after winning here for the past couple of years and I feel he could have had a big result here. It's been a bad weekend but hopefully we can all bounce back from this and we now need to concentrate on the job in hand at Cadwell next weekend."
Martin, along with team mate James Ellison will be in action at the ninth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park over the August bank holiday weekend with Guy threatening to put in a late entry in the CJ Fund cycle race on Sunday evening!
-credit: bikeanimal.com
BSB: Bike Animal Ulster GP qualifying report
MOTO-ST: Heartland Park Topeka Saturday summary
Drivers Guy Martin , James Ellison
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The best of Croatia
The Adriatic /
Cruise The Mediterranean , The Adriatic
from 6 September 2016 to 13 September 2016
Departure Port : Venice
Arrival Port : Venice
From Venice, we set sail for Croatia and its many hidden treasures. Le Lyrial slips effortlessly through the turquoise Adriatic Sea, wending her way between necklaces of islands dotted here and there off the Dalmatian Coast.
There are cities which thrive on their legend – and Venice, the City of Doges is one of these with its many offshoots lined with multi-colored stonework and its black gondolas.
You will be exploring the wild beauty and pearls of the Adriatic: ancient ruins, a wealth of art, and timeless cities just waiting to be discovered, such as Dubrovnik, Kotor and Rovinj.
Proud and eternal, Venice has reigned on its lagoon ever since the 6th century. You may think you know this city before even setting foot here. You will inevitably fall in love with the charm of the innumerable treasures of the Serenissima: Saint Mark’s square, the basilica, Doges palace, the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Yet, secret Venice is also waiting for you to explore its little interlacing streets and canals, to ramble through its squares and to push open the doors of its churches. The city’s extraordinary heritage shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a glass of Spritz and a few tramezzini.
7 September 2016 – Korcula
Arrival 07/09/2016 early afternoon. Departure 07/09/2016 evening.
This harbour town has a very special location, presiding on a spur on the north-eastern coast of the island of Korçula. The ramparts in its medieval district provide perfect vantage points over the Pelješac peninsula. To get there, you can take the monumental staircase in the Revelin Tower. Another way is to climb the steps in the shade of palm trees from the MorskaVrata (Marine portal). As you make your way through the little streets, you’ll see the bell-tower of Saint-Mark’s cathedral rise above you. This landmark will help you locate the house where Marco Polo was born. The island also has some of its own famous wines like the red Plavac and the white Posip.
8 September 2016 – Sibenik
Arrival 08/09/2016 early morning. Departure 08/09/2016 early morning.
Located at the heart of central Dalmatia, Sibenik is proud of its pure Croatian architecture, unlike its neighbours which were founded by the Romans. Behind its walls, along its steep narrow streets with their almost Italian charm, the old town has conserved a prestigious built heritage of churches and palaces dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The magnificent Cathedral of Saint James is one of the emblematic sites of the city. The remarkable ornate frieze of 71 sculpted portraits of women, men and children, illustrates the successful merger of Gothic and Renaissance art.
8 September 2016 – Split
Arrival 08/09/2016 midday. Departure 08/09/2016 evening.
On the Dalmatian coast, the town of Split offers cultural visits in a seaside atmosphere. Close to the seafront shaded by palm trees, the historical centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts a unique building: the Diocletian’s Palace. Here you will explore its galleries, courtyards with carved columns, as well as a former mausoleum converted into a church, namely Saint Domnius Cathedral. If you get peckish, stop off at a terrace in the Pjaca, the main square in the old town, where you can try a palacinka, a kind of pancake topped with melted cheese.
9 September 2016 – Dubrovnik
Arrival 09/09/2016 early morning. Departure 09/09/2016 late evening.
Emblem of the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is magnificently positioned on a rocky spur. History is sovereign here, in this ancient city, now a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. You will perhaps be surprised by the proportions of La Placa, the central drag through the city. The sheer width of it can be explained by the fact that it straddles a former lagoon. The elegant houses along La Placa are built in the legendary travertine stone. At Pile gate, you will be greeted by the statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, and you can admire the coastline as you walk along the ramparts. But what’s inside Fort Saint John, adjoining the outer walls? A maritime museum and an aquarium featuring rare fish from the Adriatic.
10 September 2016 – Kotor
Arrival 10/09/2016 early morning. Departure 10/09/2016 evening.
Situated in one of Montenegro’s most beautiful bays, the medieval city of Kotor is a small town full of charm, truly imbued with the traditions and stories of another time. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, this village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has preserved many historical monuments from this epoch. During your stop, be sure to admire the impressive castle that dominates the town, and let yourself fall under the charm of its maze of small streets and intimate squares on which folk festivals featuring magnificent colourful costumes are often organised.
11 September 2016 – Hvar
Off the coast of Split, Hvar will surprise you by its traditions that haven’t changed since Antiquity. The country’s oldest town, Stari Grad, is here on this Dalmatian Island. The town nestles by a cove on the north-west coast, surrounded by dry stone wall structures on the Stari Grad plains. These have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site because they were built in the time of the Ancient Greeks. From these parcels of land come wines and olive oil manufactured manually. In the upper part of town, it is possible to discover hams and cheeses made by local producers. The picturesque village of Vrisnik is also a good place to try some of local produce.
12 September 2016 – Pula
The Pearl of the Adriatic, lying at the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula, Pula is undoubtedly the most Roman of all Croatian towns. Some of the greatest pages in history were written here, as the breathtaking ancient remains testify. Take your pick exploring the amphitheatre, the Twin Gates, the Gate of Hercule and the triumphal Arch of the Sergii. Stroll through the busy lanes in the old town, enjoying the warm welcome of the locals, and perhaps you will be tempted to try the famous Kvarner scampi or Istrian ham.
12 September 2016 – Rovinj
Rovinj is located in Istria, a region bordering Slovenia. This becomes apparent as you walk through its old cobblestoned town. There are many monuments of Venetian influence here. If you study the Balbi arch, you will see the winged lion, symbol of Venice. The bell-tower erected beside Saint Euphemia Cathedral was designed like the bell of St. Marc in Venice. From the top of the tower, you can scan the entire historical district. To absorb its quaint atmosphere, take a walk in the ochre and sepia-coloured streets leading to bustling squares and terraces shaded by canvas awnings.
05/09/2016 – Venice on your own (2 days/ 1night)
September 05, 2016 Venice
Meet and greet at the airport by your English speaking driver, look for PONANT sign in the arrival hall. After a short drive to the quay, you will have a private transfer by a private water taxi to the Monaco and Grand Canal hotel 4*.
Hospitality Desk (if a minimum of 10 guests are staying at same hotel).
Check in superior Room. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Venice.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Group transfer from hotel to pier by a chartered water taxi in time for embarkation (departure time will be communicated by our local ground operator).
•Official check-in time is:03:00pm
•Official check-out time is:10:00am
•Early check-in and /or late check-out are available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
It is imperative that your flight arrival details be communicated at least 30 days prior to arrival, in order to secure the proper meet and greet service at the airport.
Rate does not include:
•Tips and gratuities
•All personal expenses (meals, beverages, sightseeing….)
•Early check-in, late check-out
The Monaco and grand hotel is a 4 stars hotel. You are in a unique position in Venice, looking out directly over the Grand Canal, near Ca’ Giustinian, historic Biennial venue. You’re just a short step away from Piazza San Marco with its Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, vibrant heart of Venice and the drawing room of true Venetians. All the rooms you can choose from are decorated in grand style to live and feel Venice down to the smallest details.The rooms are elegant and simple, with the Venetian style represented by fine fabrics, murrine glass, mosaics and sumptuous chandeliers of Murano Island.
Monaco and Grand Canal Hotel
Phone numer: +39 041 520 0211
Website: http://www.hotelmonaco.it/en/
06/09/2016 – Panoramic transfer in Venice
Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organizes your transfer day time between Venice, airport to Venice, port.
Meet at Venice airport in the Arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT. Your luggage will be taken directly to the ship by coach.
You will depart the airport for a short distance to the airport dock where you will embark on a private water taxi for a one-hour panoramic transfer to the pier. You will appreciate the beauty and the charm of the ride passing by the islands of Murano and San Michele, and along the Fondamente Nuove via the Canale della Giudecca.
Upon arrival at San Basilio, you will embark on your ship.
Transfer by a private water taxi as mentioned in the programme.
Services of a local English-speaking hostess at the airport.
Separate transfer by coach for the luggage.
13/09/2016 – Transfer from the port to the airport of Venice
After disembarkation procedures have been completed, you will be welcomed by our local representative. You will be taken by coach to the airport in time for the flight AF1427 selected by PONANT.
The scheduled arrival time at the airport is 10:30am
We recommend you choose your flight at least 2 ½ hours after scheduled arrival time.
Transfers by coach
Services of a local English-speaking assistant
13/09/2016 – From Paris to Venice, Journey in the Venice Simplon Orient-Express Train (2 days/2 nights)
3339.00 $ **
Day 1 Venice
Disembarkation.
Meet and greet by your English speaking driver.
You will be transferred by a chartered water taxi to the Monaco and Grand Canal hotel 4*.
Check-in Deluxe Room. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2 Venice / Paris
Private transfer from the hotel to the Santa Lucia station.
Upon arrival at the train, you will be greeted by the steward in his distinctive uniform. A memorable journey has begun.
Embark in the World’s most celebrated train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Say the words “Orient-express” and evocative images invariably float through your mind: glamorous passengers – Royalty, film stars, spies and Agatha Christie – opulent carriages, thrilling, timeless destinations… all laced with a frisson of romance and intrigue. Using faithfully restored original 1920’s and 1930’s carriages, the VSOE provides an unsurpassed level of personal service and recreates the golden age of travel. The carriages which today form the famous VSOE each have a history of their own, with long years of service criss-crossing the frontiers of Europe.
You will settle into your private cabin.
By 11.00am, the train will depart from Venice to Paris via Verona, Italy and Innsbruck, Austria.
After you have refreshed, it will be time for lunch. A leisurely three-course lunch will be served in one of the splendid restaurant cars.
You can spend the morning in the Bar Car chatting to fellow travellers over coffee. By noon, the train will make a stop at Verona, Porta Nuova station in Italy. By 12:30pm, the train will make a stop at Innsbruck, Hauptbahnhof in Austria.
Afternoon tea served in your cabin.
A delicious four-course dinner will be served in another of the three beautiful restaurant cars.
After dinner, you will retire to your cabin, which has now been transformed into a cosy bedroom.
Night on board the train.
Day 3 Paris
Breakfast is served in your cabin.
It is time to prepare to disembark into Paris Gare de l’Est station.
By 8.20am, arrival at Paris Gare de l’Est station.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express:
We have prepared these practical considerations to answer questions to make this trip the most enjoyable experience.
Cabin Assignment: Cabins are assigned before departure. During the day each double cabin is configured as a lounge with a banquette sofa, footstool, small table and a washbasin cabinet with hot and cold water. At night it becomes a cosy bedroom with an upper and lower bed.
Restaurant cars: Be aware that restaurant cars have limited seating capacity. The actual meal timings/sitting will not be confirmed until the day of departure.
Luggage: In compartments, space for luggage is limited. We recommend a small suitcase for the
train journey and the big pieces of luggage will travel in a baggage car, inaccessible during the journey. Upon arrival at the destination, luggage collection can sometimes take as much as 30 minutes. You may be able to wait on board the train while the luggage stored is unloaded.
Dress code: Although black-tie and cocktail dresses are not a requirement, it does create a sense of occasion and add to the atmosphere on board. Many people do take the opportunity to dress up, sometimes adopting period costume as the theme. A minimum of jacket and tie is required for gentlemen in the evening. Smart casual day wear is acceptable, but jeans and trainers/sneakers are not.
On board Extras: Wine and bar drinks, and items ordered from the Compartment Service menu are charged on board. You can purchase some souvenirs on board as a Limited Edition of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ by Agatha Christie.
Smoking: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express operates a NO SMOKING policy.
Staff: Your contact throughout the train journey will primarily be the Train Manager who will ensure that you have all you need. Each carriage will have a Steward or Attendant who will be available 24 hours a day. The Maître d’Hôtel will supervise the dining arrangements and bar staff and restaurant waiters take care of meal and drinks service.
Security: Luxury trains are very security conscious and operate a discrete security presence on board. Personal safes are fitted in some compartments and the steward can lock the compartment from the outside if required.
Itinerary: During the voyage from Paris to Venice, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will make two stops of about 15 minutes each, one in Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof station, Austria and one in Verona Porta Nuova station, Italy.
What is included :
1 night accommodation at the Monaco and Grand Canal 4* (or similar)
Transfers by a private water taxi as mentioned in the programme
1 night accommodation in the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice Santa Lucia station to Paris Gare de l’Est station based on double occupancy of a twin bedded cabin
All Table D’hôte meals on board the train (dinner and lunch served in the restaurant cars, breakfast and afternoon tea served in your cabin)
No alcohol included throughout your journey
Dinner and Lunch in Venice
Tips for the train staff
Make sure you comply with all passport, visa, customs and other formalities and regulations. Failure to obtain necessary visa will result in the guest being unable to travel
Official check-in time is 03:00pm / Official check-out time is 11:00am at the Monaco and Grand Canal 4* hotel.
Early check-in and /or late check-out are available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
The double cabins are accommodated with an upper and lower bed; we reach the upper bed by a ladder.
No socket on board the express train.
IMPORTANT: the Venice Simplon Orient Express is submitted to SNCF regulation and circulation. Timings mentioned on your train ticket cannot be guaranteed. Thank you in advance for taking into consideration this information for the organization of your correspondence before and after your trip on board the Venice Simplon Orient Express.
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NFL Week 16 – Over and Under Picks & Picks Against the Spread
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, we have a really good idea of the playoff picture and which teams will still be playing with some extra juice with postseason life and seeding in mind.
In the AFC, the Ravens, Pats, Chiefs and Bills have already punched their ticket to the postseason. The Texans would need some truly miserable luck to not clinch a playoff berth and the last spot, with greater than 99% certainty will go to either the Titans or the Bills. The Ravens and Pats have the inside track to first round byes. The Browns and Raiders have not been mathematically eliminated but are cooked for all intents and purposes. The eliminated teams are the Jets, Dolphins, Broncos, Chargers, Bengals, Colts and Jaguars.
In the NFC, the punched playoff tickets include the Saints, 49ers and Packers. For all intents and purposes the remaining three slots will go the Seahawks and Vikings, with the final spot going to the team that wins the NFC North between the Eagles and Cowboys. The Rams are not mathematically eliminated but are a real longshot. The eliminated teams include the Redskins, Giants, Cardinals, Bears, Lions, Bucs, Panthers and Falcons.
With so many eliminated teams, it’s not a task to see which teams are playing just for pride and which teams are playing for something bigger.
We have a different scheduling structure this week with no more Thursday Night Football. Instead, this week we have a three game slate on Saturday with the remaining games played on a typical Sunday and Monday schedule. Next week will be unique as well with all games being daytime on Sunday.
Let’s get to the games.
🔥 Play Of The Week 🔥
New Orleans Saints 11-3 at Tennessee Titans 8-6
1PM EST
Opening Line: Saints -1.5 and 51
Current Line: Saints -1 and 51
Drew Brees has bounced back in a big way the past couple weeks after looking very ordinary and potentially washed when he came back from the thumb injury. He certainlt had wildly concerning games against the Falcons and Bucs, but has turned it back on the last two weeks, throwing for a combined 656 yards and 9 touchdowns. This should be a spot he needs to keep that streak rolling as the Titans look to keep their playoff hopes alive and bounce back from a back breaking loss to the Texans in which they “only” scored 21 points. This was a step back for a Titan offense that had been wrecking the league and it is likely there was something learned in that game about sticking to the run too long if its not quite working. The outcome may have been different if they turned exclusively to Tannehill earlier in the second half. The Saints defense played great at home against the Colts on Monday night, but this remains an exploitable secondary and we should get a fun entertaining game with a great scoring pace. The Saints are scoring 36 points per game over their last five and the Titans are scoring 34.2 points per game in that span. While there is a slight lean to the home team in this one, the over is the way to go with two teams playing very high end offense.
Betting Pick: Over 51
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Saturday Slate
Houston Texans 9-5 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-7
Opening Line: Buccaneers -1 and 53
Current Line: Texans -3 and 51
The Texans came up with a mammoth win last week, being the first team in over a month to keep Derrick Henry in check and beating the Titans in a close game to take the inside track on the divisional crown. The Bucs are eliminated but continue to be quite effective with their passing game on offense, and continue to be the most likely team to be involved in high scoring games in the NFL. The bummer for the Bucs is that after losing Mike Evans in week 14, they lost both Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller to injury in week 15, and are down to just replacement level players at the wide receiver position. The Bucs secondary continues to be exploitable by the wide receiver position, and Deandre Hopkins and Will Fuller should truly have a field day in this one. The passing volume and scheme of the Bucs will be enough to put some points on the board, but I don’t believe this game ends up being all that close. The Texans individual matchups for the wide receivers are truly going to be the difference maker in this one. The Texans will get a reasonably easy win in a high scoring affair. The over becomes very attractive being bet down to 51 quickly. Take both the Texans and the over.
Betting Picks:
Texans -3
Buffalo Bills 10-4 at New England Patriots 11-3
Opening Line: Patriots -7 and 38.5
Current Line: Patriots -6.5 and 38.5
While both teams are locked into the postseason already, there is still a good deal to play for on both sides. The Bills can still win the division with a win in this game and some help in another Pats loss in week 17. The Patriots are still fighting to get a first round playoff bye so this one should be intense, even though there is playoff safety for both teams. Both teams have offensive limitations and the defenses are the strengths of the respective teams. The Bills are stout across the board and their defense came up big last week in Pittsburgh, securing five takeaways to punch their playoff ticket. On offense, the scrambling and called running ability of quarterback Josh Allen should have them moving the ball at least somewhat consistently and it brings a scoring floor. The Patriots limited offense doesn’t have a go to wild card like that, and they could have even more problems scoring than the Bills in this very low total game. The first matchup was a 16-10 Patriots win and we have every reason to expect another game with offensive anemia on both sides. When 6.5 points are available in a game like this, it is extremely attractive. The line is far too wide and the Bills have a real shot at winning this one. Take the points.
Betting Pick: Bills +6.5
Los Angeles Rams 8-6 at San Francisco 49ers 11-3
Opening Line: Pickem and 46.5
Current Line: 49ers -6 and 45
The Rams tricked us a little bit in weeks 13 and 14. They switched up the offensive structure to be designed more around the power run game and utilizing Tyler Higbee at TE and Robert Woods at WR in the passing game. This design worked well at Arizona and at home against Seattle, but it was wildly ineffective as they were dismantled in Dallas last week. Each week of film on something from a scheme perspective mitigates the advantages it has and it appears the Cowboys were the scheduling beneficiary of what to look for and how to stop it. In the first matchup with the 49ers, the Rams weren’t able to do much at home in a 20-7 loss. Jared Goff completed just 13 passes in that game for a mind numbing 73 yards. While I don’t expect a full blown repeat of this, I do think there are schematic components to the 49er defense that will continue to give Goff problems. On the offensive side of the ball, the 49ers are improved since their week 6 matchup with the Rams. They have switched to Raheem Mostert as their lead running back and the trade for WR Emmanuel Sanders has opened up the passing game with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel already in place. Look for the 49ers to end the Rams playoff hopes and to keep themselves in position for a first round bye in the playoffs with a home win on Saturday night.
Betting Pick: 49ers -6
Sunday Slate
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-9 at Atlanta Falcons 5-9
Opening Line: Falcons -7 and 46
Current Line: Falcons -7.5 and 45.5
The Jaguars were left for dead after five consecutive blowouts and shockingly went to the west coast and stole a win away from the Raiders, essentially crushing their playoff hopes. It was shocking because the Jags were a turnstile to opposing running backs and Josh Jacobs played with a full workload and did next to nothing. So the Jaguars are still capable of showing some fight, but its not something to bank on. The Falcons passing offense is back to full strength with Austin Hooper in the lineup and they scored 29 on the 49ers last week in an impressive road win. The Falcons pass defense is still quite exploitable and DJ Chark is likely to be back for the Jaguars this week. Even with all the flaws and warts of the Jaguars overall, their offense is still capable of putting some points up and this total just sits at far too low of a figure. Since we don’t know the level of effort the Jags will be putting in on defense, we can’t fully trust the Falcons as a play but we can certainly play the over.
Betting Pick: Over 45.5
Pittsburgh Steelers 8-6 at New York Jets 5-9
Opening Line: Steelers -3 and 38.5
Current Line: Steelers -3 and 38.5
The Steelers offense had real problems against the high end Buffalo unit this past week, and the lost put a real damper on their playoff hopes. The high end Bills secondary was too much for game manager Duck Hodges, but the Jets secondary is quite the opposite. They are highly exploitable and just what is needed for the Steelers to get back on the right track. The Steelers defense is, by my view, the best in the league and one that is opportunistic and puts points on the board. This matchup will be one where Sam Darnold reverts to “seeing ghosts” as he famously said with a hot mic on the sideline of his four interception game this season. Assuming Duck Hodges gets away from the interceptions that killed the team against the Bills, this one should be far wider than the betting line suggests. The Jets have had a mostly easy stretch of matchups over the second half of the season, but this one mist closely resembles the 33-0 shutout they had laid on them at home against the Patriots. Take the Steelers to smash the Jets.
Betting Pick: Steelers -3
Carolina Panthers 5-9 at Indianapolis Colts 6-8
Opening Line: Colts -6.5 and 46.5
Current Line: Colts -7 and 46.5
The Panthers played the Seahawks tough last week and scored 24 points on the back of the usual suspects, Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore. These two will keep continue to keep the team afloat and competitive in most weeks, but have a rookie quarterback making his first career start this week, in Will Grier. Grier will likely not make the interception mistakes Kyle Allen has quickly become notorious for. Protecting the ball and letting the playmakers make plays has been the recipe for the Panthers offense all along and they should be better off for making the change. The Colts have quietly fallen apart on the same level as the Panthers, losing four straight games and five of six. Their run game has fallen apart and that was the lifeblood of this offense. I view this game as being very close but I believe the Panthers will have the better ability to sustain drives and a full touchdown spread here is extremely attractive. Taking the Panthers and the points in a matchup of two bad teams.
Betting Pick: Panthers +7
Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
Opening Line: Chargers -6.5 and 47
Current Line: Chargers -5.5 and 45.5
What appeared to be an ascending quicker than expected Raider team has quickly fallen apart as they have now lost four straight games, including a loss the Jaguars and a mind blowing 31 point loss to the Jets. They have been exposed as a team that was overachieving earlier in the season and one that can’t continue to put teams away, even if playing from ahead. What has been consistent is their inability to remain competitive and keep pace in games where they face a negative game script (trailing early). This has very much been the case in their last two road games, games in which their margin of defeat is a combined 74-12. Despite the Chargers propensity for laughable errors, they are likely in a spot where they can get away with said mistakes or, unthinkably, not make them at all for a week and roll to an easy win. The Chargers are certainly the more talented team and any lead created is likely an insurmountable one for Derek Carr and co. It feels gross to bet on the Chargers, but hold your nose and fire away in this one.
Betting Pick: Chargers -5.5
Dallas Cowboys 7-7 at Philadelphia Eagles 7-7
Current Line: Cowboys -2.5 and 46
This is the most straightforward game of the week in terms of playoff implications. The winner of this game controls their own destiny or clinches the NFC East outright. If the Eagles win, they would also need a win in week 17 or a Cowboys loss in week 17 to win the division. If the Cowboys win, they clinch the division by way of owning the divisional record tiebreaker and week 17 will be irrelevant for both teams. This is a game where I don’t expect the world from Dak Prescott as he is dealing with minor injuries to his left hand and index finger on his right (throwing) hand. In 12 career games against the Eagles, he has just an 8/7 TD to interception ratio and has been sacked 17 times. Both the interception and sack figures are the highest against any opponent. Carson Wentz has been better against the Cowboys. In six career games he holds an 11/2 touchdown to interception ratio and has been sacked 12 teams. I view the quarterback and passing stats as wildly important in this game as I don’t believe either team will find success running the ball, and the more effective passing game is likely the winner. The Cowboys wide receivers could have problems as Amari Cooper has been mostly ineffective on the road this year and has the widest gap of all wide receivers between home and road games. It’s been Michael Gallup and others that the Cowboys have been forced to lean on in road games, and the team is 3-4 on the road. It should be noted that the Cowboys are 3-1 against teams below .500 on the road and 0-3 against teams .500 or better. If this game were in Dallas I would very much be interested in the Cowboys, but it is a complete flip with the game in Philly. The outdoor conditions and homefield advantage will prove to be the advantage for the more playoff atmosphere tested Eagles and I believe they win outright.
Betting Pick: Eagles +2.5
Arizona Cardinals 4-9-1 at Seattle Seahawks 11-3
Opening Line: Seahawks -9.5 and 48.5
Current Line: Seahawks -9.5 and 50
The Seahawks laying more than a touchdown continues to be an automatic attack spot for me. Despite having 11 wins, they have won just one single game by more than a one score margin. I’ve covered weekly the way they embrace close games and generally don’t make attempts to pull away. The Cardinals are also a more complete team with Kenyan Drake elevated to being the top running back. He had his career game last week in their trouncing of the Browns and will be a large factor in this one. This play is simply one of attacking exploitable coaching philosophy and will find success far more often than failure. Take the points against the Seahawks.
Betting Pick: Cardinals +9.5
Kansas City Chiefs 10-4 at Chicago Bears 7-7
Opening Line: Chiefs -4 and 45
Current Line: Chiefs -5.5 and 45
The Bears will continue to have significant limitations on offense as long as Mitchell Trubisky is under center, but they have been competent enough of late. The problem they are facing is a fully healthy Patrick Mahomes and company that are quietly playing at as high of a level as last year. I don’t believe the Bears to be at a level that will slow the Chiefs enough to win this game, and the Chiefs are on a four game winning streak that includes a road win at New England. The Bears level of success this season has been very well correlated with their level of competition, as six of their seven wins have come against teams .500 or worse. Of their seven losses, five have come against teams .500 or better and all five of those losses have been by at least seven points. Look for that trend to continue Sunday night as the Chiefs seek a first round bye against the eliminated Bears.
Betting Pick: Chiefs -5.5
TJ Calkins – NFL Expert
TJ Calkins was raised in a gambling loving household. He knew how to handicap horse races and follow line movements well before his tenth birthday. Follow@tjcalkins
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The Science on Vegan Diets for Dogs
Thinking about switching your dog to a vegan diet? Choosing your pup's diet can be a big deal, and it's important to research what's best for their overall health and happiness. That's why we're taking a look at the top vegan dog studies to break down what they did, how they did it, and what the results mean for your pup.
Can dogs digest plants?
The studies:
Axelsson et al. 2013. "The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet"
Arendt et al. 2014. "Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes"
Ollivier et al. 2016. "Amy2B copy number variation reveals starch diet adaptations in ancient European dogs"
The results: Researcher Erik Axelsson and his colleagues at Uppsala University in Sweden discovered that dogs have anywhere from four to 30 copies of a gene, AMY2B, that allows them to digest starchy (plant-based) foods. Wolves typically only have two copies. The duplication of this gene in dogs dates back at least 5,000 to 7,000 years, according to paleontological data. These findings indicate that dogs adapted to relatively starch-rich diets early in their domestication.
Learn more: Parallels in Dog and Human Evolution: How Agriculture Changed the Dog's Diet
How digestible are starches and grains for dogs?
Murray et al. 1999. "Evaluation of selected high-starch flours as ingredients in canine diets"
Carciofi et al. 2008. "Effects of six carbohydrate sources on dog diet digestibility and post-prandial glucose and insulin response"
Cargo-Froom et al. 2017. "227 Apparent and true digestibility of minerals in animal and vegetable ingredient based adult maintenance dog food"
The results: In their 1999 study, Murray and his colleagues looked at the digestibility of corn, barley, potato, rice, sorghum, and wheat in dogs. They found that the digestibility for all was greater than 99%. A subsequent study by Carciofi discovered similar results for rice, corn, sorghum, cassava, brewer's rice, peas, and lentils. The study confirmed starch digestibility to be greater than 98%. In 2017, Cargo-Froom compared digestibility of minerals in dogs on meat-based diets versus dogs on plant-based diets. Their results concluded that digestibility of endogenous minerals is similar or greater in dogs fed diets that are largely vegetable based.
Learn more: Study Shows Plant-Based Dog Foods Excellent for Nutrient Absorption
Does bloodwork indicate that dogs maintain proper health on vegan diets?
Brown et al. 2009. "An experimental meat-free diet maintained haematological characteristics in sprint-racing sled dogs."
Semp 2014. "Vegan nutrition of dogs and cats"
The results: In 2009, Brown studied sprint-racing huskies fed a nutritionally complete meatless diet over a period of 16 weeks, including 10 weeks of competitive racing. Blood tests found that red blood cell counts and hemoglobin values were within the normal range throughout the study, and the consulting veterinarian determined all participating dogs to be in excellent physical condition. In a 2014 study, researcher Semp of Vienna Veterinary University hypothesized that dogs fed a complete vegan diet would exhibit iron and B12 deficiencies, but instead found that there were no significant deviations from dogs fed a conventional meat-based diet. She concluded that plant-based diets, if nutritionally complete, can assure a healthy lifestyle in dogs.
Study Finds Sprint Racing Huskies Excel on Vegan Diet
Study Shows Normal Blood Tests in Vegan Pets
Are vegan diets heart-healthy for dogs?
The study: Cavanaugh et al. 2019. "Amino Acid Concentrations and Echocardiographic Findings in Dogs Fed a Commercial Plant-Based Diet"
The results: Cardiologist Dr. Sarah Cavanaugh of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine examined amino acid concentrations and left ventricular echocardiographic findings in dogs who switched from a conventional meat-based diet to a complete and balanced vegan diet (v-dog kibble). She found that three-fourths of the amino acids (including taurine) increased on the plant-based diet, suggesting that animal ingredients are not necessary for amino acid homeostasis in dogs. Echocardiographic data showed no evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Learn more: New Study Assesses Amino Acid Levels in Vegan Dogs
Are vegan diets appropriate for sensitive and allergy-prone dogs?
The study: Mueller et al. 2016. "Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats"
The results: Mueller analyzed food allergies (including hypersensitivities and food intolerances) in a population of 297 dogs and discovered that the most frequently reported food allergens were beef (34%), dairy (17%), chicken (15%), wheat (13%), and lamb (5%). These findings indicate that the majority of the top food allergens for dogs are animal-based, and that plant-based diets may provide relief for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities.
Learn more: Study Shows Meat & Dairy are Most Common Allergens in Dogs
Can dogs thrive on vegan diets?
The study: Knight 2016. "Vegetarian versus Meat-Based Diets for Companion Animals"
The results: Veterinarian Dr. Andrew Knight analyzed four previous studies that assessed the nutritional soundness of plant-based diets for dogs. Based on his own data as well as the growing body of population studies and case reports surrounding this topic, he concluded that dogs can thrive on vegetarian diets, given that they are nutritionally complete and balanced, and may even experience a range of health benefits.
Learn more: Veterinarian Publishes Study on Vegan Dogs
If you'd like to be notified about future vegan dog studies, please email us at support@v-dog.com.
V-dog is a San Francisco-based dog food company that makes animal products without animal products. Since 2005, thousands of dogs of all shapes and sizes have been thriving on our complete and balanced food. Check out their stories here! Our kibble meets AAFCO standards and is free of byproducts, fillers, and common allergens. Learn more about what we do at v-dog.com.
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Top 10 Reasons Dog Parents Choose Vegan Dog Food
Meat in Dog Food: an Elephant in the Room?
Top 10 Predicted Vegan Food Trends of 2020
Can High-Quality Pet Food be Sustainable?
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Wolfenstein 3D for DOS/4GW!
Posted on July 12, 2013 by neozeed
After reading about the Blake Stone compile fixes, as it was a Wolf3d port, I came across a post on the forum Wolf3d Haven about trying to find the source code to something called wolf4gw. Now wolf4gw is a port of the Borland C source of Wolfenstein 3d to Open Watcom C++‘s 32bit MS-DOS extender DOS/4GW, done by ‘ripper’.
The project eventually gave way to wolf4sdl, and as they say the rest is history.
Sadly it seems that just about all the source copies of wolf4gw were lost, except I did manage to find an ‘improved’ version simply refered to as wolf3dx. From the blurb:
Tricob has released the Wolf4GW-based source code of WolfDX. Included is a text file called (Tricob).TXT.
So I have been using Watcom 10.0 for Duke Nukem 3d, however, this version relies on the _asm inline assembler which was introduced in Watcom 11. However Watcom 11c had issues with some of the assembly forcing me to go even further to OpenWatcom 1.3. For me the install was easy, I used CrossOver to install OpenWatcom for DOS-DOS32bit only, copied the compiler into DOSBox, and played mostly with the makefiles, and finally got a working exe!
I know it may not look like much, but really it is running in 32bit protected mode!
Since all of this is open/freeware/shareware I can redistribute OpenWatcom, the source to wolf3dx, and the shareware levels of Wolfenstein. Naturally I’m using DOSBox to compile and test, but you can use anything that can run MS-DOS 32bit stuff.
Download my archive here.
This entry was posted in dos extenders, DOSBox, Watcom C++ by neozeed. Bookmark the permalink.
17 thoughts on “Wolfenstein 3D for DOS/4GW!”
Michal Necasek on July 12, 2013 at 11:47 pm said:
Very cool! Unless the build process is really strange, it should be possible to build the binary on Windows or possibly even Linux natively.
And a nit-pick… it’s spelled “DOS/4GW”, not “DOS4G/W”. The full product was called DOS/4G, it’s predecessor was DOS/16M (of Lotus 1-2-3 R3.0 fame).
neozeed on July 13, 2013 at 12:58 am said:
I’m sure it can even cross build from OS/2.. Watcom was pretty cool with things like that.
It is interesting to me that not only is Tenberry still in existence, but they still sell DOS extenders. I guess someone must still buy them? Although Phar Lap seems to have been absorbed and phased out.
I believe Tenberry has some aerospace industry customers… there it’s all about certified tools and being a known quantity. New/shiny/cool doesn’t count.
There is also probably enough need for embedded systems which need very little from an OS and are 99% custom development. For those, using Linux or Embedded XP instead of DOS isn’t a win.
And yes, in general if you can build something with (Open) Watcom on one host platform, you can build it on the others, too.
neozeed on July 13, 2013 at 4:57 pm said:
DPMI into the stratosphere & beyond… now that is. … scary. and sad, it should have been OS/2’s domain.
But there is a lot to be said for magical ‘IJW’ when it comes to old/existing systems.
Tor on July 14, 2013 at 7:45 pm said:
.. and it’s Wolfenstein, not Wolfenstien 😉
Tobis87 on July 13, 2013 at 9:11 pm said:
I was able to find some of the source files:
http://www.canadianphilatelics.com/choksta/patch4gw.zip
But I need the rest as well to compile SoD DOS/4GW.
Is there a reason that the makefile compiles Wolf3dx with debugging and no optimisations enabled?
neozeed on July 13, 2013 at 11:14 pm said:
if Optimizations are enabled, it will hang the system upon exit. I haven’t even checked out why. You can remove debugging safely though.
neozeed on July 16, 2013 at 5:04 am said:
when I just drop these ‘fixed’ files in place I get a red split up screen, and good locks/crashes…. not exactly 100% 🙁
Yes, I found it!!
http://homepage.o2mail.de/mkroll/downloads.html
Compiling is possible with OpenWatcom 1.8 using the Makefile from WolfDX.
But you need to rename Gamepal3d.cpp to Gamepal3.cpp.
For compiling for Spear of Destiny you have to change defines in wl_def.h.
I will try other compiler options tomorrow. Btw I patch the file with DOS/32A, can I compile directly for it?
Tobis87 on July 16, 2013 at 11:34 pm said:
Wolfenstein 3D and Spear of Destiny complied with OpenWatcom 1.8 with Optimisation (-ox) and DOS32/A 9.1.2
http://www.file-upload.net/download-7848273/wolf4gw.zip.html
neozeed on October 25, 2013 at 3:13 am said:
Cool, I went ahead and added in the source from o2mail.de and set wolf4gw as the default build, but I left in wolfdx for the heck of it.
Michal Necasek on July 14, 2013 at 10:20 am said:
While I’m nit-picking… it’s spelled “Wolfenstein”, not “Wolfenstien” 🙂
Yeah I never could spell it right, then worse it gets entered into my user dictionary spelt wrong and… well here we are 😉
Michal Necasek on July 14, 2013 at 9:10 pm said:
I’m sure I don’t need to point out that the correct spelling is right there in the screenshot as a possible aid 😉
But where is the fun in that?
Michal Necasek on July 15, 2013 at 8:07 am said:
Who cares, the fun is in virtualization 😀
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Legion - Season 3 Episode 8 - Chapter 27
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State Granted Greenidge Fast-Track Startup and ‘The OK’ to Mangle Fish for Five More Years
Peter Mantius November 1, 2018 November 3, 2018 Uncategorized
DRESDEN, Nov. 1, 2018 — Since its restart in the Spring of 2017, the Greenidge Generation power station has been skirting federal law governing its use of cooling waters drawn from Seneca Lake.
The Clean Water Act requires electric power plants to recycle or filter the tens of millions of gallons of water used daily to cool their condensers. Greenidge does neither, and the Cuomo Administration says it doesn’t have to correct problem until Oct. 1, 2022.
In contrast, a power plant on Cayuga Lake recently spent millions of dollars to install a massive array of intake filters to comply with the law, which aims to protect fish and other aquatic life.
“A single power plant can obliterate billions of fish eggs and larvae and millions of adult fish in a single year, and the heated water it discharges also alters surrounding ecosystems, compounding the damage,” the Sierra Club said in a 2011 nationwide study that preceded new federal rules for cooling water recycling.
“The death toll of wildlife from power plant intakes is staggeringly high.”
Judith Enck, a former regional head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said there was no excuse for the state Department of Environmental Conservation to allow long-term noncompliance with major environmental laws.
“Where are the DEC fishery biologists on this?” Enck said. “They should be explaining the importance of fully regulating these water intakes.
“It is imperative that the DEC step in and stop this damage to fish and other aquatic species. And if the DEC does not step in, EPA clearly has the legal authority to do so.”
The Dresden power plant had operated for decades as a coal-fired plant before it was shut down in 2011. Atlas Holdings, a private equity firm based in Greenwich, Conn., bought the facility in 2014 with a plan to convert it to run on natural gas.
In order to obtain operating permits from the DEC, the plant had to address two major environmental obstacles: intake pipes for its once-through water cooling system lacked filters and an ash landfill adjacent to the plant was illegally discharging leachate into Keuka Lake Outlet.
In August 2015, the DEC announced a decision that made Atlas’ task easier, faster and cheaper. It ruled that the plant’s owners could skip a full environmental impact statement on the grounds that — in the DEC’s words — the restart “will not have an adverse environmental impact.”
That agency decision, amended slightly in July 2016, rankled neighbors of the plant and triggered a pair of lawsuits.
State law requires an EIS whenever a project has “potentially significant environmental impacts,” and it encourages public participation in the analysis.
In Greenidge’s case, the DEC opted for a more cursory environmental assessment that effectively excluded the public and narrowed the scope of issues.
For example, after the agency categorically dismissed noise as a concern, Dresden residents were sufficiently disturbed by loud screeching sounds that they purchased a decibel meter to measure them and complained to plant officials.
Furthermore, the DEC assessment never mentioned the plant’s potential contribution — through its massive warm water discharges — to a rapidly spreading toxic algae crisis that began menacing Seneca Lake in 2015. Nor did it analyze the fish kills that would inevitably result before corrective action was completed on its water intake system.
As for the landfill’s leachate leaks into Keuka Outlet, the DEC dismissed them as irrelevant to the decision to allow the power plant to operate.
So the plant reopened in the spring of 2017. During its first year, it operated one 107-megawatt generating unit for about 158 days.
The DEC had given Greenidge the green light to open even before it issued the plant updated water withdrawal or discharge permits. When those permits were finally issued in late 2017, they granted a five-year grace period to comply with the Clean Water Act.
Several Dresden residents, including some who draw their unsafe-to-drink tap water from the bay near the plant, responded to the restart with sworn affidavits detailing their concerns about its effects on local water quality and fishing.
“I am concerned that high levels of fish mortality resulting from the plant’s operations with no protections against fish impingement and entrainment are having a negative impact on fish populations in the lake, harming the ecology of Seneca Lake, and harming my ability to catch fish in the lake,” wrote Carolyn McAllister, who owns a home on Dresden Bay.
Another affidavit filed by Syracuse biochemist Gregory Boyer stated that the plant’s warm water discharges could fuel future toxic algae blooms in Dresden Bay. Boyer has written peer-reviewed articles on the role that water temperature and nutrients play in promoting algal blooms.
While the causes of blooms are complex and multi-faceted and are not necessarily related to warmed water, Boyer’s warning proved prescient. This summer five blooms in and around Dresden’s bay produced levels of microcystin, a potent nerve and liver toxin, that far exceed the DEC’s threshold for “high toxins.”
The affidavits from Boyer and the Dresden residents were filed in two lawsuits brought by the Sierra Club and others against Greenidge and the DEC. The first case, filed in 2016, challenged the plant’s air quality permits. The second, filed last year, challenged its water withdrawal and discharge permits.
Judge William Kocher has presided over both cases in Yates County Supreme Court. Judge Kocher dismissed the air quality suit, and the Sierra Club has appealed that dismissal. He heard oral arguments in the water permit lawsuit in May, but hasn’t issued a ruling. Kocher’s decision will address a formal court motion filed by the DEC (supported by Greenidge) to strike Boyer’s affidavit from the case record.
While the lawsuits have been working their way through the court system, the DEC has been trying to help Greenidge achieve compliance with both the Clean Water Act and the state’s own standards for power plant water cooling systems.
The federal rules are spelled out in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 316(b) regulations from 2014, while the state’s “Best Practices Available” (BTA) are described in a 2011 policy memo.
The goal of both is to minimize aquatic impingement (when fish are trapped against intake pipe screens) and entrainment (when fish are sucked into the cooling system and killed).
The gold standard BTA — recommended by the Sierra Club and required for new plants — is a system that recycles intake water. Such closed-cycle systems use only about 5 percent of the water withdrawn by a once-through cooling system’s like Greenidge’s, and they cut fish mortality by an estimated 95 percent.
But the state memo says older plants may keep once-through cooling if, though advanced filtering systems, they reduce fish mortality by 90 percent of the mortality reduction achieved by closed-cycle cooling.
“This policy establishes closed-cycle cooling as the performance goal for all new and repowered industrial facilities in New York,” the state memo says. ”The performance goal for all existing industrial facilities in New York is closed-cycle cooling or the equivalent.”
Because the DEC waived an environmental impact statement, the public had no input into choice between the primary options: closed-cycle cooling or a sophisticated filter system. Neither has the public had any say on the deadline to install the chosen alternative.
The DEC allowed Greenidge to take the less expensive of the two options: wedge wire screens and variable speed drive pumps.
But even those systems cost millions of dollars. One filter engineering firm estimated that installation costs for a 1.0 millimeter wedge wire system ranges from $350,000 for a plant withdrawing two million gallons a day to $9 million for a plant withdrawing 290mgd.
Since Greenidge is permitted to withdraw 139 mgd, a wedge wire system is likely to cost the company several million dollars.
But that future compliance cost was excluded when Greenidge plant manager Dale Irwin said in a June 2018 court affidavit that construction on the Greenidge project was “100 percent complete” in March 2017 at a total cost of $12.9 million.
Costs aside, filtering systems can be challenging to design and install because they must be integrated with pumping systems.
The DEC has imposed an Oct. 1, 2022 deadline for Greenidge to install both the screens and variable speed drives for the pumps. But plant officials have hinted that the timelines established to meet that target may need to be adjusted.
“Unless the (screens) and (pumping equipment) are designed together, which the permit timelines do not allow, the actual performance and integration of the (screens) and (pumping equipment) cannot be predicted,” Irwin wrote in a June 27, 2018 letter to the DEC.
Meanwhile, the Greenidge intake pipes continue to mangle aquatic life in Seneca Lake in violation of the Clean Water Act.
A wooden structure that supports the pipe above water level extends some 600 hundred feet along a shallow shoal where the Seneca Lake water is only about 12 feet deep.
Much deeper water would be required to install a wedge wire screen assembly remotely similar to the system Cayuga Operating Co. uses in Lansing.
That array of fine-slot (0.75 mm) screens weighs more than 50 tons and rests on the bottom of Cayuga Lake in 44 feet of water. As the design engineers describe it, “vertically oriented cylinders are placed on a distributed manifold that equally distributes flow” through each screen unit.
Those engineers produced a silly but instructive cartoon video about how power plants can install filters to comply the Clear Water Act rules.
The DEC has allowed Greenidge to be more casual about compliance than the company depicted in the cartoon.
First, it allowed the plant to restart without requiring an EIS, intake filters or an updated water withdrawal permit.
When it finally issued the withdrawal permit six months later, it allowed Greenidge five more years — until Oct. 1, 2022 — to install fine-slot (0.50-1.0mm) screens. Even the pilot study for the screens doesn’t begin until next year.
The DEC has also taken a relaxed approach to deadlines related to leachate leaking from Greenidge’s coal ash landfill.
The restarted plant dumps roughly 6,500 tons of ash a year into the landfill, known as Lockwood Hills. That’s small fraction of Lockwood’s waste permit limit and considerably less that the plant dumped when it burned coal.
But untreated contaminated leachate from Lockwood continues to flow north into the Keuka Outlet, which empties into Seneca Lake.
Under the terms of a 2015 consent agreement with the DEC, Lockwood agreed to a complete cleanup of its leachate discharges by Oct. 1, 2016. That cleanup hasn’t happened yet, and the deadline has been pushed back twice to Nov. 1, 2019.
Yet Greenidge’s latest proposed solution to the problem — a “constructed wetlands treatment system” — faces several obstacles that pose new threats to the deadline, according to the DEC.
“The (DEC) is not confident that such a system will be in place and fully operational by the deadline of November 1, 2019 as required under the Consent Order (as revised July 10, 2017),” the DEC’s Gregory MacLean wrote in a recent letter to Greenidge’s engineers.
“No further extensions to this deadline will be granted due to timeframes required of one treatment method over another,” MacLean continued in his July 19 letter. “As such, plans must be provided for an alternate and more expedient/readily-implementable treatment method (such as the use of holding tank(s) and hauling to a permitted POTW) that will be operational and in use no later than November 1, 2019.”
While the DEC and Greenidge wrangle over whether that deadline is enforced or extended once again, the leachate continues to leak into Keuka Outlet.
The DEC said today that Greenidge is on schedule to meet both the October 2022 deadline for wedge wire screens and the November 2019 deadline to address the leachate.
The agency defended its permitting decisions in a court brief filed in July that argues for dismissal of the appeal in the first Sierra Club lawsuit. Greenidge also filed a brief requesting dismissal.
Irwin did not return phone calls. The EPA did not respond to an email request to speak with an impingement/entrainment expert.
Previous New York Must Improve Procedures for Measuring and Disclosing Data on Algal Toxins, City of Auburn Argues
Next Cuomo Administration Rushed Greenidge’s Restart — But Was It Legal?
Connie Mather says:
Meanwhile the company continues its operations!!!
It’s a shame the fly ash cannot be revisited or an emergency shutdown of the plant cannot be forced given the alarming increase in algal blooms.
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Workday 108 Trivia, Week of August 7, 2017
If you have one of these in your house, your insurance will cost an average of 78% more than someone who doesn't have one. What is it?
A teenage driver. Congratulations to today's winner, Julie Borlaug from Grand Blanc.
Industry analysts say by the end of the year, in select American airports, we'll start to see vending machines selling this. Selling What?
Clothing! Congratulations to today's winner, Hannah Daniel from Flushing
When these started getting popular about 100 years ago, some of the favorite kinds were named 'Milk Nut Loaf,' 'Chicken Dinner,' and 'Vegetable sandwich.' What are we talking about?
Candy Bars. Congratulations to today's winner, Teresa Bower of Davison.
Experts say 42% of these test positive for unpleasant bacteria. What?
Dollar Bills! Congratulations to today's winner, Kristole Hill from Imlay City.
In which of Foreigner's sons do they say the word 'Urgent' 24 times?
'Urgent.' (Duh!) Congratulations to today's winner, Jennifer Zinn from Burton.
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The American International School · Vienna
Co-Education (4-18)
http://www.ais.at/
Salmannsdorfer Str. 47, 1190 Wien, Austria
Year of Foundation
Enrollment Phase / Grades
Pre-K-12
Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Council of International Schools (CIS), Authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School
Stephen M. Razidlo
Yearly Tuition Fee (Min)
EUR 11'000
Yearly Tuition Fee (Max)
Set within the rich cultural context of Austria and beauty of the Vienna Woods, The American International School · Vienna is one of the top international schools in the country. Founded in 1959, AIS today proudly serves around 800 students, representing more than 50 countries, from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 (IB Diploma, Austrian Matura Equivalency, or American Diploma). The AIS core values — nurture, include, challenge, and respect — ensure that students develop intellectually and interculturally, while internalizing the commitment and leadership necessary in today’s globally-minded world.
International Baccalaureate, American Curriculum, Others
Languages of instruction
German, French, Spanish, English
IB, US Diploma, AP, Austrian Matura
University counseling
AIS offers a plethora of clubs and activities at all levels, ranging from academic subject like English and math to film and journalism, as well as the chance for students to start their own HS clubs in areas that interest them. ES: http://www.ais.at/activities/after-school-activities MS/HS: http://www.ais.at/activities/activities-clubs-list
The easiest way to get in touch with this school. Just fill in the form and school representative will answer.
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How to Maximize Your Child’s Education with After-School Activities
How School Drama Programs Help Students ‘Perform’ Better, Inside and Outside the Classroom
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IB World Schools Honors AIS for 40th Anniversary
New Sports Facilities Unveiled at the The American International School · Vienna
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Liberty University upsets Mississippi State 80-76 in NCAA tournament
Posted 10:09 pm, March 22, 2019, by Web Staff, Updated at 10:16PM, March 22, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Keenan Gumbs #5 of the Liberty Flames drives to the basket during the first half against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion on December 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, Va. — No. 12 seed in the East bracket Liberty University upset No. 5 seed Mississippi State 80-76 on Friday to win their first game of the NCAA tournament.
Liberty will go on to play the winner of Virginia Tech and St. Louis, who play Friday night at 10:15 p.m. EST.
Tune into CBS 6 tonight for full March Madness coverage.
Topics: NCAA Tournament
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Petersburg youth team hopes to play for a national title.
Virginia college students weigh in before Election Day
A List
Programs and Events to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
NCAA says athletes may profit from name, image and likeness
A-List Weekend Events: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk & More
🦃Thanksgiving Weekend Events: Legendary Santa, Model Railroad Show, Illuminate Light Show and more
Final Score Friday 2019: Week 8 scoreboard
Troopers arrest Virginia driver who walked away from ambulance after deadly crash
Bryce Perkins repeats as Dudley Award winner
Man accused of abducting 14-year-old rushed to hospital for medical emergency
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Being deafened by the “silenced”
Jan20 by weegingerdug
The job of most media commentators in Scotland is to criticise the SNP. To do so they use a Scottish media which overwhelmingly takes as its starting point that British nationalism is the norm and is a norm which is not nationalist at all. The job of the media in Scotland is to judge Scotland by the standards of Britain. Their job is to shoehorn criticism of the SNP and Scottish independence into any topic you care to think of. Their job is to undermine Scottish self-confidence and instill in us the fear that we couldn’t cope as a normal nation. But don’t you dare criticise them back, and for the sake of all the gods don’t dream of mocking them. That means you’re a tyrant who is silencing them.
The state capitol building in Hartford Connecticut has a domed roof covered with golf leaf. It’s a big building, it’s a big dome, but the amount of the precious metal used to gild it works out at a couple of gold coins’ worth. That’s because gold leaf is incredibly thin, a mere couple of hundred of atoms thick. If you could cut a leaf of gold leaf into cubes with the length and breadth equal to the thickness, each would be smaller than a virus. A single gold sovereign coin, if beaten out into gold leaf, could cover the floor of a room in your house. That’s how thin gold leaf is, but it’s still a whole lot thicker than the skin of your average media apologist for Scottish Unionism. And unlike British nationalism, gold leaf won’t tarnish.
One of the iron-clad laws of Scottish politics is that those who have greatest access to publicity, to the media, and to the corridors of British power, are those who complain most about how they are being silenced. Generally it turns out that they’re being silenced by people who write blogs which get only a fraction of the readership of a newspaper, or by ordinary punters who tweet mockery. Public figures with a platform in a national newspaper and who make regular appearances as a commentator on the telly are being bullied because a granny in Grangemouth tweets a cutting remark. Oh the irony, the British state with its military fetish, its nukes, its Brexit, its nostalgia for empire, and it’s complaining that it’s being bullied by a guy in Invergordon with an internet connection. The privileged always regard a challenge to their privilege as discrimination. The privileged are always the first to rush to claim victim status.
They’re being victimised and silenced because they no longer can lecture us without push-back. Their definition of democracy is one where they should be allowed to tell us how bad an independent Scotland would be without being challenged. Dare to challenge, and there will be anguished articles in several newspapers and right wing magazines bewailing how silenced they are. Talking heads will pop up on politics programmes to lecture us about how they’re being silenced. We’re being deafened by the silenced. The bullies are complaining that the bullied are threatening them.
Those who are really silenced, those who really struggle to make their voices and opinions heard, are being told by those who disproportionately dominate the mass media that the silenced are silencing those with the megaphones. People who oppose independence are far more likely to be given a platform than those who support it. Scotland has a legion of Conservative commentators, far out of proportion to the number of Conservatives. Meanwhile the likelihood of a pro-independence voice in Scotland being granted access to the TV, or to the vast majority of Scotland’s print media, is directly proportional to that voice’s willingness to attack and criticise other pro-independence voices.
It’s now day three of The Biggest Scandal in Scottish Politics Since Last Week, beardy-glasses-guy-gate. The SNP party political broadcast featuring a beardy guy with hipster glasses, who may or may not have been based upon the Herald columnist and proponent of SNPbadness David Torrance, has spawned outraged articles in the Herald, the Scotsman, the Times, the Express, and on Saturday Stephen Daisley piled in with a piece in the Spectator. That’s the Daisley who was silenced by the SNP and who told us all, at great length, about how silenced he was in his columns for the Mail and the Spectator. No doubt there will be more pieces decrying the SNP’s intolerance of criticism in the Sundays.
Mind you, for a party that’s supposedly intolerant of criticism it does seem to come in for an awful lot of criticism. It is impossible to open a newspaper or view a news broadcast in Scotland without being subjected to a barrage of stories telling us just how terrible the SNP is. So it does appear that what those who complain about the SNP’s supposed intolerance of criticism are really upset about is when the party turns the tables on its critics and gently takes the piss out of them.
Hysterical voices like the Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton have complained about the “tyranny” of the SNP. In Alex’s world, tyranny is when a party produces a video featuring a guy who bears a passing resemblance to a right wing columnist who’s a pal of Alex’s. If Alex had never stoked the fires by submitting his ridiculously petulant complaint to Ofcom, the entire episode would have passed as nothing more than a little bit of piss-taking on Twitter. Instead Alex wants to liken it to the oppression of journalists by authoritarian regimes. That’s the very definition of victimhood seeking.
It has all been counterproductive. All that has happened is that a party political broadcast which would have struggled to have attracted an audience of a few thousand people will now be seen by considerably more. By complaining loudly and vociferously that they’re being silenced, the apologists for British nationalism have only amplified the audience for the video that they claim is silencing them.
The real silenced in Scotland is the half of the population who support independence but who rarely see their viewpoint given airtime or column inches in a Scottish media which is overwhelmingly British nationalist in outlook. When apologists for British nationalism complain that they are being silenced, what they really mean is that they are appalled that other voices, voices which disagree with them, demand to be heard as well.
weegingerdug.scot
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← What has David Torrance ever done for us?
How propaganda works →
82 comments on “Being deafened by the “silenced””
Gordon Ross says:
Rule one in the British Nationalist Big boys book of political media, is of course Accuse your tiny outnumbered opponent of what ever it is you’re doing to them.
Brilliant writing- spot on
Being deafened by the “silenced” | speymouth says:
[…] Wee Ginger Dug Being deafened by the “silenced” The job of most media commentators in Scotland is to criticise the SNP. To do so […]
thomaspotter2014 says:
Perfect summary of where we are.
Happy New Year Paul to you and yours
Paul I’m just in from the rubadudub.
I am sick fed up of giving these idiotic chancers a veneer of respectability.
The\y are out to destroy Scotland.
We are at war.
More tomorrow.
You put it in a nutshell. So frustrating!
VERY. WELL. SAID.
Metrocentric fuckwittery and political bumtrumpetry gone overboard. Tyranny? Victimhood? Totalitarian regimes? They have no idea what these terms mean. That they use them so casually against their own opposition in Scotland (of all nations on earth), when a simple perusal of any news channel can show you the reality in action across a fair chunk of the globe is beyond tragic. In fact it’s downright insulting.
Countries where journalists risk a tad more than the cutting edge wit of that granny from Grangemouth when speaking truth unto power. Countries where ‘dae as yer telt’ means that ANY variation from the instruction by the ruling body of the population means jail time at best or massive armed repressive reaction at worst.
Fair to say, that if the SNP are a repressive regime, then they are particularly shite at it. Why there’s not a gulag to be found anywhere. No access to the meeja and therefore no meeja to control or send out waves of mind altering propaganda. No riot/shock troops (other than that granny) to beat people senseless in the streets or whisk them away to the aforementioned gulags in the middle of the night. Not even the odd sinister bloke in a long black leather trenchcoat, who could probably throw you a right unnerving stare if you broke into a spontaneous rendition of Rule Britannia.
Pretty fecking rubbish at the whole tyranny thing if you ask me. Shoddy standards of oppression all round.
Howzabout this though. As an end user of both media output and political practice, in what purports to be a democracy, yer average punter in the street reserves the right to take the pure pish when media commentators act all up themselves, or when the political class act like complete twat hats? Howzabout we vote empathy free, thoughtless and careless politicians into oblivion with our ballots? Howzabout we simply withhold our cash and support from a media that deliberately places our population in harms way?
We can do those things with nary a harsh word said you know. That would save the poor dears from having to put up with that granny’s harsh critique.
Sam, Paul, you have summed it up perfectly.
They are too big, too rich, too clever to fail.
Coca Cola rose without trace, ponces about in Edinburgh society, the darling of the afternoon tea set in Auld Reekie’s leafy suburbs, while refusing to take responsibility for his party’s coalition with the blue Tories, a Partnership from Hell which killed tens of thousands and reduced Scotland to near fatal insignificance.
Along with the rest of the Lib Dem Famous Five, Rumbles, Bumbles, Humbles and Crumbles he lolls about on the Holyrood benches, laughing his fucking head off, and contributes less than nothing to the good governance of Scotland.
His hands are smeared in Austerity blood.
260,000 Scots children live in Yoon engineered poverty.
Half a million of our citizens live in grinding penury.
They are a Better Together united front whose sole aim is to destroy democracy Up Here.
They are the enemy within.
We have loosened the Establishment’s vice like grip on communications once and for all.
We have destroyed the Inner Circle.
And by Christus, they don’t like it one little bit in the Morningside tearooms.
In twenty years time youngsters will laugh at the notion of print media with the same incredulity and derision with which we view town criers.
Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye.
Your days are numbered.
So says this grizzled frae Glasgow.
You’ll have had yer tea.
A'bh NicCoinnich says:
Brilliant, Sam! Absolutely right on the money.
Paul, can you post a link to the PPB? We wouldn’t want anyone to miss it.
hettyforindy says:
Anne, Macart posted link to it on 19th, on WGD, 2.25pm I think…
Fab article, spot on comments. Always fascinating to look at how these tyrnanies operate. Textbook psychology stuff I would have thought. Tyrants ,play the victim, blame the people they need to be rid of, win win.
More, encore, more! And it’s only third week in January. Only 345 days or so to go, plenty time for the Britapnats to think up some more silliness. It’s why these Britnats are there and why they are paid a nice big fat wage as well. Meanwhile people are going hungry, people are homeless and it’s actually 2018.
Nice one British nationalists and your dodgy pals, way to go eh! Keeping Scotland poor and begging, it’s been a long time. Scotland has had enough, stand on your own two feet now England, honest you will be fine! 🙂
Brilliant. (I finally manage to say after picking myself up after falling off my chair laughing. Though my sides are still sore.)
And dead on target.
Hell’s grannies (fae Grangemouth even). Now that was another Monty Python sketch. Instead of history being repeated as farce, it seems that now, farce is being repeated as history!
This is the thing, everything is the wrong way around, all twisted. Rich is the new poor, innocent the new guilty, environmental activists the new enemies of the planet, the powerful the new oppressed. The ugly the new beautiful, the devils are the new angels. The parasites the new philanthropists.
It’s a topsy turvy world for sure. Wait, is this earth, or a parallel universe!
Oh and old is the new young. Crikey, hope we don’t see the dead becoming the new living! Argh! Help!
Hetty, Under Blair, the unemployed became ‘job seekers’, the bog poor, ‘less well off’, a burning passion to join the rat race was ‘aspirational’, and the country constantly referenced by that Dick ‘The Scarf’ Leonard today on Brewer’s Droop, wasn’t Scotland, it was the UK, a political construct of 4 nations, which is not ‘the country’.
He means of course ‘England’, his England, as ‘the country’ who out vote us all on everything.
He heads the Red Tory Branch Office, yet he ignores the 62% Remain vote.
I look forward to the day when they pack their bags and head back to the Motherland.
A thought; when will the Yoons reclassify the homeless as ‘house seekers’?
Nit-pick alert! Hell’s Grannies were the creation of The Goodies, not Monty Python. Otherwise, absolutely spot on!
weefoldingbike says:
Do these guys have any idea about the intarwebs?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
Anne Martin says:
Brilliant, and it’s true that it works. I never listen to/watch PPBs from any party because they are normally the most boring thing out there, but, because of all the furore, I did watch this one (and enjoyed it). I suspect that there will be many more who are the same.
Aye, I’ll second that 🙂
With this PPB the SNP have stumbled on to a winning formula IMO.
With the weight of the yoon media against them, the SNP have to be clever and use judo techniques – use your opponents weight and strength to turn the tables. The way this is done is to be controversial – trigger the usual Pavlovian responses from yoon politicians and their media chums and suddenly a barely noticed PPB goes viral.
Another technique the SNP could use is to be a bit more outrageous and “visionary”. For example following Boris’s idea of a channel bridge, why does the Scottish government not commission a feasibility study of a connection (road/rail bridge tunnel link) between Scotland and Ireland? And publicise the fact that you are doing so. Boy would the yoons scoff – the media would have a field day. But that is the point – it gets talked about and for every person rubbishing it, there will be two others that (whatever they think of the idea) admire the Scottish Government for its vision. How about planning to electrify the entire rail network by 2040?
So come on Mr Yousaf et al. – become outrageous – come up with some really daft transport plans (that may not be so daft after all) and stir up the yoon media. Get them talking about it – that’s the point. You have demonstrated competence. The public now need to know you and your SNP colleagues have vision. 🙂
To win indyref2 it is vision that will do it, not the past.
Spot on Luigi
Kenzie says:
Has the engineer been born yet who can design a bridge that spans the distance between Boris Johnson and Reality?
Jamie MacDona!d says:
Well said Luigi, et all..
electrify the rail network by 2040?
-YES!!
And could we utilise these wind turbines that’d are paid to be idle when power is not required.. SNPs fault of course.. But the taxpayers money still ends up in some landowners fat pocket more often that not-funny that..
If our wind farms could be linked to an electric rail network covering the country perhaps it could work as a national grid for Scotland sending surplus green energy where it’s needed for trains or wherever at the time it gets generated??
Thanks Paul, a star turn as always- treats for the Dug..
Statgeek says:
“The bullies are complaining that the bullied are threatening them.”
Electric blue says:
As usual- fantastic. Your last two blogs have really made me laugh and I will seek out the PPB which I normally wouldn’t do!
elaine bryce says:
Fantastic! Loved it! So true! People need to know about their projection onto us! Wonderful Keep up the great work! Saor Alba! Elaine 😊
Sent from outer space and beyond
June Stewart says:
Reblogged this on scottishactivist0.
Being deafened by the “silenced” « Wee Ginger Dug – Smeddum's Hotpotch says:
[…] Source: Being deafened by the “silenced” « Wee Ginger Dug […]
Just clocked the video on youtube – for some inexplicable reason, it isn’t being broadcast on BBC Lancashire, which is a shame. One of the funniest pieces of politicking for many a year – clearly the poor boys don’t have a sense of humour or realise they’ve been given a ‘gift’…
O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An’ foolish notion:
What airs in dress an’ gait wad lea’e us,
An’ ev’n devotion!
Excellent piece. And yes, The Libdem guy’s complaints, supported by the MSM will likely encourage more unionists to watch the PBB than ever would have without them. And who knows, some might be convinced by the SNP litany of achievements.
Brian Sinclair says:
If possible the SNP should now do a follow up ppb of beardy guys ‘Journey to Yes’. So giving publicity to the excellent journey to yes short films.
I would give a body part to see the yoon press reaction!
PURE. DEAD. BRILLIANT. IDEA!
A crowd funder?
stuart colligan says:
Sunday Politics Gordon Brewer had a journalist, with a beard, wearing glasses, appering as a guest speaker today!
Obviously selected as a dead ringer for Torrance then!
Question is, was BBC’s Brewer taking the mickey out of Torrance then?
Les Bremner says:
In the continuing spirit of poking fun at David and Alex Two Names, here is ‘Davey I Love You’ performed by Half Bam and Half Whisky.
Les, ya bas. I’ll be humming this all day.
Gavin C Barrie says:
I doubt that the bloggers are done with Alec Cole-Hamilton Esq yet, ACHE for brevity.His behaviour towards Michelle Thomson would be worth a visit. And his “nothing to see here” campaign expenses. Oh and Jo Swinson has swung into action to defend ACHE, aggrieved over the treatment of her colleague, and taking time out from squaring her own campaign expenses issues.
Not to mention she’s busy lying about the demonstation at Pacific Quay held to protest against the bias of the BBC. She wasn’t there. But she feels she has a right to push how dreadfully the protesters acted, refusing to let the journos, newsreaders etc out of the building. They KNOW that all that is just a pack of lies from beginning to end. But nevertheless, they feel the lies are worth another punt. And in the same breath, she’s accusing the SNP of closing down freedom of speech. ??? When it’s the public that criticises their lie punting, that’s bullying of journalists, apparently…
1) It WASN’T the SNP that organised that protest. So they are lying & ‘blaming’ totally the wrong people.
2) NO entryways to the building were blocked & the demonstrators were held weeeell away from the doors. The Police in attendance made quite sure of that So NO staff members were prevented from leaving the building. NO staff was harrassed or ‘fought to get to their cars’. That too was an absolute lie.
3) The protesters were in good humour, friendly and there was NOTHING frightening about the demonstration! To suggest otherwise was THIRD whopper of a lie!
4) The police were there and THEY THEMSELVES remarked how friendly & good-natured it all was and how NO ONE was having any problems or issues about intimidation! So the suggestions it was an unruly mob baying for blood, was a FOURTH LIE.
These policians & journalists have a platform whereby they can lie with impunity & can and do refuse the ‘other side’ of an issue a platform to give the correct facts. Then think they can make up stories, prevent the other side from protesting about their lies, then step in and shout, “You’re trying to close us down! You’re trying to destroy our right to freedom of speech!” Thankfully, Social media can and does put this right. And so blogs like this are ACE at making fun of their lying nature and showing it up for what it is! While I hate a lot of what he stands for, I DO think that I should be a little less rankled by Bill Gates… 😉
And while we spend all too much precious time and energy that cannot be recouped talking about this waste of space, that other Dick, ‘The Scarf’ Leonard appears on the Brewdog’s Sunday Politics blog, sounding like, and appearing equally as unhinged as, his archetypal Shop Steward hero, Fred Kite played so mercilessly accurately by Peter Sellers, in ‘I’m All Right, Jack’.
Customs Union, protecting workers’ rights, workers’ jobs, ‘open minded’ about Single Market…..fade to grey.
As Hang On A Minute mused:
‘Why not advocate staying in the EU?’
‘Ah, no, ‘the country’ (That would be his country, England’ ) voted to Leave..fade to grey.
He was mumbling for England now.
Following Kelly’s Dusgrace last week, The Scarf promises some great tax reforms coming up in 10 days time..wealth tax, penny in the pound…Didn’t they lose last year’s election on this tax grab?
He sounds what he is ; an old style Fred Kite shop stewards who is now operating ‘way above his pay grade, rather like the previous half dozen Branch Office Red Tory leaders, come to think about it.
Brewer tried to lump the SNP Government in with the Yoon Carpetbaggers who conned us into paying for PFI.
No, Gordon, it was your mate, the other Gordon, the Clunking Fist, who mortgaged our children’s future to hedge fund Offshore shysters.
The 17 schools which were built with the crumbliest flakiest concrete were built under Labour, as was the Skye Bridge.
The SNP Government outlawed PFI, and the Right to Buy Council Houses, two of the biggest sell offs under the Blue and Red Tory Governments.
Repeatedly reminded of this by the SNP Rep, Brewdog didn’t feel the need to ‘hang on a minute, just to be clear, for the avoidance of any doubt, what you are saying is, that the SNP Government saw PFI for the New Labour Tony Blair/Gordon Brown neo conservative con that it was, which cost Scotland tens of billions of pounds, and the SNP Administration immediately moved to scrap the schemes completely?’
Well, just to be clear, Gordon, there are no PFI/PPP schemes Up Here.
The Yoons and their wee propaganda progs just look tired jaded and downright irrelevant now.
You just got one bit wrong the PfI wasn’t Gordon the vow brown it was his old boss Tony I kill people blair.
Robert, if you can get a hold of Andrew Rawnsley’s excellent expose of the Brown Blair Years. ‘The Party’s Over'(?) From memory, it’ll be on Google or wiki.
AR writes, with plenty of corroborative evidence and quotes,that Brown ran the Budget, and eh and the Treasury kept the Cabinet and his PM Blair completely in the dark about his budget proposals, right up until he announced the Reforms in his budget speech.
Of corse Blair was the Great Privateer, he went to the US and sat at the feet of Clinton, his Democrat neo liberal hero to learn the ropes before becoming PM.
But The Clunking Fist was the Chancellor, remember prudence, no more boom and bus?
That was all Broonie.
Blair famously took nothing to do with running and managing the economy.
It was all 100& Brownomics.
Major of course kicked it all off before B/B and Cool Britannia berthed on the Thames.
Blair took un to war, Brown took us to the 2008 Crash.
Peter Mandelson is reported as believing that Brown was not quite right in the head.(ahem)
His words are much more scathing and pejorative.
The PfI was supposed to be Blairs economic miracle jack brown just tryed to keep it going brown was a fuck up himself he had the banks bailed out here when they crashed the global economy yet had the check last year to say they should of been jailed labour are two faced no matter who’s the captain of that junk of a ship.
As I say, Rawnsley blames Brown for the Finance Bunglefuck, Blair for war atrocities.
It has a book-ends neatness, non?
wm says:
Blair & Brown continued with the atrocities started by their hero Thatcher in the eighties, and proceded to put the final nails in the Labour Parties coffin, and there is no way back as long as they are depending on the London & the south for votes. Bunglefucked I say.
Spot on, as usual, Jack.
Puzzled Puss says:
It speaks volumes about Holywood Labour that it was their newest recruit that got the top job.
Even Gordon brewer today jumped on that bandwagon of the britnats saying the snp ppb is inaccurate shows how out of touch the opening part of the Torrance lookalike line goes in 10 years what has the snp ever done for us that’s when there record gets mentioned it’s all true take the tolls for example under the snp they went bye bye but before under labour you had to pay just to cross the 4th road bridge and how much depended on the vehicle the baby box is snp that was recently same with the queensferry bridge the english didn’t even know till it was completed so it’s desperation on there part to attack and yes its got more publicity now than it would have if they’d left it alone.
Y’know, another thought occurs. The SNP and the indy movement have taken a helluva beating from both the unionist political class and the media for well over the past five years. Their intimidation and saturation of the narrative has been the daily routine for all of that time. Unchallenged and unfettered. It has of course been specifically aimed at the soft nos of the last referendum. Those who were and are independence ‘not yet’.
Imagine if you will the effect this has had on their psyche, their opinion and their emotions. They see the Scottish government and the independence movement continually under ideological assault. Intimidation, denigration and disenfranchisement without let up. That’s going to leave an indelible mark, which of course was always the intention. The powers that be are fully aware that those already converted are pretty much a lost cause. A demographic they can never win back under almost any circumstance. These bastards are targeting those whose vote they require to maintain their slim majority.
Now, were I one of those folk I’d initially feel pretty intimidated. (I’ll get back to that) They’ve been looking for a reason to feel motivated, protected, cared for, wanted. They’ve been looking for some sign that reversing their vote of last time out will mean something better.
They’ve been looking for some of that vision, that imagination, that hope, Luigi is talking about above. Something for the SNP government to think about given the response to their PPB. People are looking for a government with the ability to stand up on their behalf. To be seen to fight back against the real bullies and stand by their population and their support. That they have the strength and the will to do so in a far more visible and imaginative fashion.
We know the SNP form competent government. Certainly more competent than anything else in the current UK. We know that outside of the more belligerent of opposition and their support, the First Minister is well regarded as a caring, intelligent and respected leader. What folk need now is something to lift their eyes from ditch that’s been dug for them. A spark to light the bonfire as it were.
And something more for those soft nos. You’ve been given a lot to think about in the past few years and yes the media assault is most definitely aimed at affecting your vote. How and ever this should give a clue as to how much power you actually hold in your hands and just how much the political class and the media are afraid of that power.
Another hilarious but cuttingly accurate piece, Paul. Keep ’em coming!
Dan Huil says:
The British nationalist media is institutionally anti-Scottish. I really can’t see that pro-indy politicians have anything to lose in publicly stating, at every opportunity, just how biased the Britnat media is.
I wish a pro-indy politician would publicly support the boycott of Britnat media and the non-payment of the bbc tax.
We could all help by starting a “never buy a Britnat paper” campaign.
NAB never buy a Britnat
That’s why the only paper I buy is the national
@ Macart – “The Indy movement have taken a helluva beaten…from the media… over these past five years” Yes, and yet we are sitting now at 49% pro-independence. And we Indy supporters do seem to becoming increasingly defiant and dismissive of the Yoons. And the Yoons increasingly discomfited.
The SNP PPB is superb in it’s content and timing. Brexit truly is a disaster looming towards us so the PPB draws attention to the benefits achieved by the SNP, and we will lose with Brexit,There is little time to lose to campaign for Indy, to shake out the complacency of the 25% undecideds.
And as for Leonard: a Yesterday’s man, scarf or no scarf. A not very bright cuckoo. As mentioned elsewhere, just as a leopard cannot change it’s spots, a Leonard cannot move from a career long deputy role to being a leader.
Well who knew?
https://archive.is/oxbQk
So we’re all clear then? Labour, once again, reneges on home rule. The federal solution. The VOW a complete lie. Any such pledge made in future by Labour. Any pledge at all of a devolution ‘journey’ whether it be at cooncil level on upward. That pledge was, is and always shall be utterly worthless.
stewartb says:
Thanks Macart for this and previous posts on this thread – you’re on fire today!
So Labour backtracks on constitutional change – no federalism in prospect. Who would have guessed? (I wonder how near to federalism the current Labour leadership thinks we have achieved, as promised by Gordon Brown and the Vow?)
Add this to no abolition of the Lords in prospect from Labour; no change to the FPTP electoral system for the Westminster Parliament from Labour (and Labour still supporting Trident) – always the radical alternative that really, really isn’t anymore! Just a British nationalist party that is useful to sustaining the British establishment, with a branch office in Scotland.
The emerging preference by Labour for devolution to local authorities/regions across the UK, decided upon by a prospective Labour government in Westminster, rather than federalism, is as much of a ‘one nation’ party policy as we expect from the Tories i.e. diminish the role of our Holyrood Parliament. Labour policy’s only merit would perhaps be the implicit acceptance that the British state would never agree to federalism – never agree to reducing the status of Westminster, the de facto English parliament that rules over us all.
The Tory/Labour future: Scotland = Yorkshire or Essex or the East Midlands, except when the Rugby Football Union, the Football Association and/or the corporate media see value in having ‘four nations’ in the UK for money-making sporting occasions. A sop to ProudScotbuts at Murrayfield in their kilts and ‘national’ antheming. I am a nationalist for a purpose – and it is most certainly not this!
A follow on from that post?
https://archive.is/8qOjD
This is why I always say you can’t trust the English and labour is an English party and just like the conservatives labour will sell Scotland up the river all to please their English masters in westminster.
Lanark says:
The thing is, if it wasn’t for the SNP/Yes movement, what would Torrance, Cochrane, Wilson and the Massies have to write about?
We’re keeping these folk in a job and this is the thanks we get? Charming.
Alarm! Cultural Assault on Unionists! | the mirror@wordpress.com says:
[…] https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/being-deafened-by-the-silenced/ https://www.cps.org.uk/files/reports/original/111220142628-thepriceofpeace2000MichaelGove.pdf Ending ‘truth friction’ in Northern Ireland’s culture war? http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/arlene-foster-criticises-simon-coveneys-aggressive-behaviour-815849.html […]
excellent article Paul which I have sort of re-blogged here as it inspired some further thoughts on the issue. Enjoy everybody
https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/alarm-cultural-assault-on-unionists/
Good stuff, lads.
Let us know when the date for the independence referendum is.
A move back to the independent nation of Scotland would feel like the right thing to do.
Canada is a fine place, but Scotland is home.
Seconded! When the day comes it will be “Ontario no more” and back to Lochaber!
Wendy and Asty, forgive me if this comes across as being rude or even critical but I am genuinely puzzled. You say that you will return to an independent nation but you are not coming back now.
What is wrong with Scotland at the moment which will change after independence?
Les, you are forgiven.
Well, for a start, we would govern ourselves. That’s pretty significant.
Big decisions (for example, will we join in a US led war on Iraq/Libya/Syria/Outer Mongolia/etc, bloody etc) would be ours to make.
Scotland would be an actual country, with a seat at the table, instead of a colony of England.
To my eyes and mind, EVERYTHING would change.
(ok sure, we might still not win the fitba’ World Cup ).
I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. Went to Glasgow Uni in the Thatcher years. Felt that things were going off the rails in the early 80’s with the “greed is good” mentality.
Spent much of my working life in the Antarctic over a 25 year period. (84-09). Largely with the British Antarctic Survey (a fine outfilt, and one which will suffer from Brexit). Latterly flying planes with a Canadian outfit.
New Labour and Blair lost all credibility, (Iraq war, etc, etc) and I buggered off to Canada in 2002.
Still with frequent visits to Scotland (family and friends). Was there last week in fact.
Would I come back to live in the UK with the Conservatives in power? No.
(May/Gove/Johnson, etc, etc. Not exactly inspiring leadership, is it?)
To me, Scotland is, and always has been, a socialist country.
A man’s a man for a’ that. An’ a’ that.
And the ladies too.
Good honest people. That’s how I was brought up. To be a decent honest person, like my mother and father, and their mothers and fathers.
The world has problems, no doubt about it.
An independent Scotland is not going to be the cure for all that ails us, but it’s a good starting point. People, in Scotland, could work towards a better future for themselves. With an emphasis on the word work. To actively engage in meaningful work; is that not a lovely thing?
I look at the UK right now and I see people getting shafted, every which way. (Excuse my imagery). It is a miserable government, with a miserable mentality. Do I want to come back to live in Victorian Englandshire? No, I bloody well don’t.
Meanwhile, the SNP, and the Greens, have a vision of a future. Nicola Sturgeon is far and away the best political leader in a long time. Scotland would do well to remain in the EU, as people wanted. We would do well to be rid of nuclear weapons, as people want.
Aah, ok, I can hear some Unionist say “we wanted to stay in the UK”. Yes, in 2014, Scotland said “no” to being an independent country, that is true.
But that was then, and this is now, and times have changed, as they always must.
And if and when Scotland votes yes in the next referendum, Les, then that will be a game changer. I won’t be the only one returning from overseas.
Well, that is nowhere near as erudite and eloquent as the WGD (who I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting in Corpach last year), but it is a quick tap over morning porridge in BC. All the best to everyone, and keep fighting the good fight. World Peace and harmony. Slainte.
Well said – much more eloquently expressed than I could have managed. Did you live in Corpach at that time? Hubby and I lived at Achaphubuil (just across the loch) and down at Inverailort in the 1990s.
A lovely part of the world, Wendy.
I worked at Loch Eil OB in the 80’s.
A lovely heart felt piece of writing, sir.
In the second half of the ‘sixties. my older brother, along with most of his mates, my uncle, and his young family, in-laws, and latterly some of my buddies, had to leave Scotland to seek work elsewhere.
The Brit Establishment could build ships in the Philippines a lot more cheaply.
Wages were paid in bags of rice, scaffolding made of bamboo.
No nasty Unions or workers rights to get in the way of making a quick buck for the City’s investors.
Even then Scotland was a colony of England.
Hundreds of thousands of highly skilled men and women were simply tossed on the scrap heap by English Governments, as the Red Blue and Yellow Tory neo liberal laissez faire de’il tak the hindmost took hold across the ‘Free’ World.
‘Letter from America’ still engenders sadness, quiet rage, and a solemn determination among us who strive for Self Determination. We shall not allow England to treat us as their Golden Cash Cow ‘no more’.
Today in Scotland, in many citizens’ eyes an occupied English colony now, I have as much control over my destiny as part of the Unionist version of a ‘UK’ as a lumberjack in Port McNeill BC.
WE have English Laws for Scottish People every time. That stops now that England is leaving Europe.
The Unionist Better Together defenders of the Elite, the Privileged, the Lairds, the Dukes, the Filthy Rich, the Established Christian Churches,( it is now reported that 1% of Scots own more wealth than the bottom 50%), will never give up their power, and are doing anything, including issuing threats and warnings of reprisals, to hold Scotland in tow.
Well it is too late. They have pushed us too far.
I have a welcome bed in Vancouver, Toronto, Maryland, Philadelphia, Pisa, Brittany, Cairns, Sydney, Amsterdam, and Melbourne, to name but a few wonderful parts of the world who offered shelter to Scots Irish and Welsh citizens thrown on the scrap heap by their English Overlords as they dismantled Industrial Britain in the second half of the 20th century.
I understand perfectly why you, asty, and Wendy, and tens of thousands more may decide to return ‘home’ when we achieve nationhood once more.
I can see that there may be an ‘Independence Ripple Effect’ and many tens of thousands of ‘Les Exiles’ will seriously consider returning ‘home’, an unintended positive consequence of seizing the thistle of Self Determination.
We are ‘taking back control’, asty, Wendy.
Welcome home, there’s plenty of room.
Thank you, Jack.
Only this, Les. Today, Scotland is controlled by Westminster and must, perforce, adhere to rules with which it completely disagrees, and which would make my life very difficult, not to say impossible. Independence would change all that and I would be able to live out my life without fear. Have a look at this if you want more detail: https://wordpress.com/post/abhniccoinnich.wordpress.com/431
I cannot access the wordpress account.
My apologies, Les, try this: https://abhniccoinnich.wordpress.com/2016/09/22/that-way-madness-lies/
Wendy, Asty, thank you.
I confess that I was a little ambiguous in my question. What I was trying to ask was not so much what is wrong with Scotland but rather what prevents you coming back to Scotland today. You have answered that.
I agree. If I lived abroad, I wouldn’t volunteer to be in this rapidly deteriorating midden. But I am here, and have little choice but to work at solving things.
I do the best I can from over here, Les. I pay my SNP dues regularly, I support specific campaigns with financial donations and I disseminate “The Dug” and other pro-Indy posts as widely as I can. When we have a date for the next IndyRef I hope to come back to Scotland in time to vote, whilst keeping my Canadian options open in case (perish the thought) we lose again! “Ahm daein’ ma best”. 😉
The hard fact about the mass media in Scotland is that it is not Scottish. The print media is almost entirely English owned, English controlled and has an arrogant English attitude towards Scotland and any idea that Scotland should be independent. As for television media, and that is primarily the BBC (a.k.a. the EBC) and STV, they are also English owned and English controlled, and exhibit the same arrogant attitude towards Scotland.
The strange thing about all this is that the English (like their American puppet masters) regularly slander the Russians for having state control of their media, and rant on about how the Russians don’t have a free press etc. etc. What exactly do they think about English control of the media in the YUK? Do they consider that it is fair and reasonable to totally control the media in Scotland?
We are also regularly fed the blatant lie that Scotland is subsidized by the English. If that was true, surely they would be glad to be rid of us. Whereas the truth is that, among other things, all the major construction in the YUK, including, for example, the M25, the HS2 fiasco, and even their nuclear weapons and submarines, are paid for by money stolen from Scotland. We subsidize them, not the other way around.
The English colony of Scotland (and we are treated like a colony) has only the voice of blogs like the Wee Ginger Dug and Wings Over Scotland, to try to get some truth out to the Scottish people and fight the propaganda and blatant liars that control the English owned and controlled media in Scotland. We have to speak out, loud and often, against these liars and Quislings who, for their own ends, continually disparage Scotland and the Scottish people.
Well said, Guga.
Everyone that is for an independent Scotland needs to up their game!
(I’ve almost finished chapter one of ma’ book, it’ll be oot soon, inshallah.)
Victors write the History. – Barrhead Boy says:
[…] https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/being-deafened-by-the-silenced/ […]
“Being deafened by the ‘silenced’” | Wee Ginger Dug | COMRADE BOYCIE: VIVA THE ANTI-TORY/BIG BROTHER REVOLUTION! says:
Cormag Rangvald says:
Surely the way to break the Brit nat’s hold on the media, is for there to be media that is pro-scottish indy? the WGD blog is awesome, but it doesn’t get a mainstream audience ditto that for WOS and the thenational.scot whilst being kind of what we need. Still has one foot firmly in the 20th Century. What we need is high production value You-Tube ‘station’, with pod-casts, regular (daily) output, countering the mainstream narrative. Something akin to the Young Turks, but for Scotland.
Victors write the History. — Barrhead Boy – VIRTUAL BORSCHT says:
[…] others more eloquent than me have covered this already,none more so than the very talented WGD. https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/being-deafened-by-the-silenced/ This is the classic unionist cringe strategy to protect the Union at all […]
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This event has ended. The moment has come and gone, and you are dwelling in the past. The future is on our home page. You can also look at other events coming up at Spaces Gallery
Dec 07-
INTERPLAY: An Evening of Ekphrastic Dance
Art Dance
Six local choreographers converge to create movement poetry in a vivid portrayal of modern art. View original works from diverse perspectives and watch art literally come to life! December 7 and 8.
Choreographers:
Mary-Elizabeth Ruthann Fenn is a mover from Wisconsin. Her choreography has a detailed quirkiness to each story, sometimes she thinks of her pieces as Polly Pockets, a tiny detailed world. She loves going out and dancing like a weirdo, listening to podcasts and reading about creativity and the moon. You can often find Mary-Elizabeth talking with her hands and saying “Ok, cool!”, as well as hanging out with her really cool human husband and loving dogs, Fritz and Cody.
Anne Howard is a unique mover with an extravagant imagination who draws upon eclectic observations. Anne danced for Alyssa Lee Wilmot’s ‘group a dance’, apprenticed with Inlet Dance Theatre and Elu Dance Company, and studied with Pig Iron Theatre Company. Anne has created original work for Cleveland Public Theatre and Maelstrom Collaborative Arts. Her journey has fostered a natural proclivity to humor and fun, and she loves making you laugh.
Akane Little is a freelance dancer and choreographer who makes work about non-linear time, systemic and interpersonal violences, queernes, and intimacy. A Mississippi-raised Ohio transplant, they are based in Cleveland and dance with the Cleveland Dance Project. Recent projects includemukou // home, a duet contemplating Japanese diaspora with Heather Sakai at the FireFish Festival in Lorain, OH; and Aerobics Class, exploring habitual violence and intimacy as resilience in US society with original music by Richmond-based Hayden Arp, performed at TheatreLAB in Richmond, VA. They can be followed on Instagram at @akane.little.
Samuel McIntosh is a dancer and choreographer specializing in the genre of Popping and Animation. He competes in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Montreal. Samuel holds a degree in arts administration from Baldwin Wallace University. In 2016, he received the Arts Administration Fellowship from the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture in Cleveland, Ohio. He currently works at the historic Karamu House and as an Adjunct Hip-Hop Dance Instructor at Kent State University.
Erin Pennebaker graduated with a BFA in Modern Dance from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS in 2011. She moved to Cleveland, OH in 2012 to continue her dance career as an Apprentice with Inlet Dance Theatre, where she was promoted to Company Member in 2014. Dancing with Inlet Dance Theatre has allowed Erin to teach and perform in events throughout the region including Jacob’s Pillow Inside Out Series in Beckett, MA.
Robert Rubama is a native of Virginia Beach, VA. He is a graduate of George Mason University with a BFA in Dance. Robert has had the opportunity to perform works by Andrea Miller, Donald Byrd, Mark Morris, Soon Ho Park, Nick Pupillo, Ivan Perez, and Yin Yue. He has presented work in New York City and Washington D.C. Robert is currently in his first season as a dancer with GroundWorks Dance Theater.
Where? Spaces Gallery
More Events in Art
Conundrum Co-op
Winter Opening Night Party @ MOCA
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Arrested Vatican prelate acted as private banker
Philip Pullella and Massimiliano Di Giorgio
ROME, July 21 (Reuters) - A senior Catholic prelate arrested last month used his influence at the Vatican to provide private, illegal financial services for rich friends, Italian investigators say in a judicial document.
They say Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, who is the target of two Italian investigations and had accounts at the Vatican bank, engaged in "totally private, illegal activity which was also aimed at serving outsiders".
Scarano was arrested in Rome on June 28 along with a self-styled financier and a member of Italy's secret services and formally accused of taking part in a plot to smuggle 20 million euros ($26.28 million) into Italy from Switzerland.
Reuters has obtained the 28-page document in which magistrates in Rome had asked a judge to order his arrest.
Scarano's lawyer, Silverio Sica, denied the accusations it contains. "They don't have any evidence to prove all of this," he said on Sunday. "These are just suspicions".
Pope Francis, who has made cleaning up the Vatican a goal of his papacy, has set up a commission of inquiry to reform its bank. On Friday he announced he was forming another commission of lay experts to help him overhaul the Holy See's economic and administrative departments.
Account holders at the Vatican bank, officially known as the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR) and which has been plagued by scandal for decades, are obliged not to let them be used, even indirectly, by third parties.
The IOR has long been in the spotlight for failing to meet international standards intended to combat tax evasion and the disguising of illegal sources of income.
Its stated purpose is to provide financial services for religious orders of priests and nuns, Holy See officials and Vatican employees.
Scarano, a former banker who became a priest at the relatively late age of 35, worked as a senior accountant in the Vatican's central financial administration office, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, or APSA.
In the document, the magistrates say Scarano, who worked at APSA for 22 years, offered his friends "a series of services ... in the area of financial transactions, in particular when there was a need or a request for them to remain secret".
They say the prelate carried out "a series of illegal activities by unscrupulously using his network of contacts in different areas, including businessmen, clergy who looked the other way, secret service agents and Vatican bank (IOR)personnel".
The IOR's director and deputy director, who are under investigation by Italian magistrates, resigned on July 1, three days after Scarano's arrest. On July 12, the Vatican froze Scarano's accounts in the IOR and said its own investigation could extend to other persons.
In an interrogation after his arrest, a transcript of which was obtained from legal sources and whose contents were confirmed by Sica, Scarano says he was to have received 1.5 million euros as a loan to pay off a business debt connected to one of the real estate companies he had a stake in.
SALERNO INVESTIGATION
Scarano has had two requests to move from jail into house arrest turned down. He is also under a separate money laundering investigation by magistrates in his hometown of Salerno, where he is accused of withdrawing 560,000 euros in cash from his account at IOR and giving small amounts to friends in exchange for 61 cheques drawn on Italian banks, according to court documents.
He later cashed the cheques, which ranged from 2,000 euros to 20,000 euros, in what magistrates say was an attempt to mask the origin of the money. His lawyers say that money came from donations to build a home for the elderly.
Magistrates say Scarano used that money to pay off a mortgage on his luxury apartment, filled with expensive works of art. Scarano's lawyers say he intended to sell the apartment at a profit in order to help build a home for the terminally ill.
In the document, magistrates say Scarano received 20,000 euros each month from Cesare D'Amico, a member of a wealthy shipping family in Salerno. The payments, which came from foreign bank accounts, were marked "for works of charity" but the magistrates say Scarano used them "for totally personal ends".
It says that in a tapped telephone conversation Scarano says that he and D'Amico had a joint account at the IOR. But in the interrogation after his arrest, Scarano said he had lied during that telephone conversation and that there was no joint account.
D'Amico's lawyer, Vincenzo Crupi, also denied that his client had a joint account with Scarano at the IOR.
Crupi told Reuters the D'Amico family was "very religious" and had made many donations to Scarano over the years, particularly to a fund to help the elderly in Salerno. He denied that the 20 million euros that Scarano is accused of plotting to smuggle into Italy belonged to the D'Amico family. ($1 = 0.7611 euros) (editing by David Stamp)
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Extend Jenkins
Hint on retaining backward compatibility
XStream Tips
Created by Unknown User (kohsuke), last modified by Unknown User (bshine@yahoo-inc.com) on Nov 15, 2009
Hudson is primarily a set of Java classes that model the concepts of a build system in a straight-forward fashion (and if you are using Hudson, you've seen most of those already). There are classes like Project, Build, that represents what the name says. The root of this object model is Hudson, and all the other model objects are reachable from here.
Then there are interfaces and classes that model code that performs a part of a build, such as SCM for accessing source code control system, Ant for performing an Ant-based build, Mailer for sending out e-mail notifications.
Those Hudson classes are bound to URLs by using Stapler. The singleton Hudson instance is bound to the "/" URL, and the rest of the objects are bound according to their reachability from this root object.
For example, there's the Hudson.getJob(String) method. So the URL /job/foo/ will be bound to the object returned by Hudson.getJob("foo") (which would be a Project object that corresponds to the "foo" project. See stapler documentation for more about how it binds Java object model to a URL hierarchy.
Hudson model objects have multiple "views" that are used to render HTML pages about each object. Hudson uses Jelly as the view technology (which is somewhat similar to JSP+JSTL.) Views are really like methods, and each of them work against a particular class. So the views are organized according to classes that they belong to, just like methods are organized according to classes that they belong to. Again, see the stapler project for more about how this works.
Hudson defines a few Jelly tag libraries to encourage views to have the common theme. For example, one of them defines tags that form the basic page layout of Hudson, another one defines tags that are used in the configuration pages, and so on.
Hudson uses the file system to store its data. Directories are created inside $HUDSON_HOME in a way that models the object model structure. Some data, like console output, are stored just as plain text file. Some are stored in Java property file format. But the majority of the structured data, such as how a project is configured, or various records of the build, are persisted by using XStream.
This allows object state to be persisted relatively easily (including those from plugins), but one must pay attention to what's serialized in XML, and take measures to preserve backward compatibility. For example, in various parts of Hudson you see the transient keyword (which instructs XStream not to bind the field to XML), fields left strictly for backward compatibility, or re-construction of in-memory data structure after data is loaded.
More persistence topics
Evolving data structure
Hudson's object model is extensible (for example, one can define additional SCM implementations, provided that they implement certain interfaces), and it supports the notion of "plugins," which can plug into those extensibility points and extend the capabilities of Hudson.
Hudson loads each plugin into a separate class loader to avoid conflicts. Plugins can then participate to the system activities just like other Hudson built-in classes do. They can participate in XStream-based persistence, they can provide "views" by Jelly, they can provide static resources like images, and from users, everything works seamlessly --- there's no distinction between functionalities that are built-in vs those from plugins.
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View source for Adalimumab
← Adalimumab
<div style="float: right; clear: right; margin: -1em 0 0 1em; font-size: 85%"> {| class="wikitable" width="300px" |colspan="2"|[[File:adalimumab.png|300px]]<ref name="[1]">Drugbank (2005). Adalimumab. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00051 ''https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00051''].</ref> |- !style="text-align:left;"|Drug Name |Adalimumab |- !style="text-align:left;"|Systematic name |Immunoglobulin G1, anti-(human tumor necrosis factor) (human monoclonal D2E7 heavy chain), disulfide with human monoclonal D2E7 light chain, dimer<ref name=”[2]”>U.S. National Library of Medicine (2018). Adalimumab. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [https://chem.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/rn/331731-18-1 ''https://chem.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/rn/331731-18-1''].</ref> |- !style="text-align:left;"|Synonyms |ADL,<br />adalimumab-adaz,<br />adalimumab-adbm,<br />adalimumab-atto<ref name="[1]" /> |- !style="text-align:left;"|Type |Monoclonal antibody (mAb),<br />Biologics,<br /> Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD)<ref name="[1]" /> |- !style="text-align:left;"|Target |Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-⍺) |- !style="text-align:left;"|Molecular formula |C<sub>6428</sub>H<sub>9912</sub>N<sub>1694</sub>O<sub>1987</sub>S<sub>46</sub><ref name="[1]" /> |- !style="text-align:left;"|Molecular weight |148 kDa<ref name="[1]" /> |- !style="text-align:left;"|Half life |~20 days<ref name=”[3]”>Ternant, D. et al. (2014). Pharmacokinetics and concentration–effect relationship of adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis. ''British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 79''(2), 286–297. [https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12509 ''doi:10.1111/bcp.12509'']</ref> |}</div> == Structure and History == === Structure === Adalimumab is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds specifically to TNF-α. The molecule consists of 1330 amino acids and its molecular weight is approximately 148 kDa.<ref name=”[4]”>Medsafe (2012). Humira solution for injection: Data Sheet. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp ''http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp''].</ref> It is composed of two H and two L polypeptide chains, with each containing three complementarity-determining regions in the heavy (VH) and light (VL) variable domains. Like the structure of IgG, adalimumab has two antigen-binding Fab domains linked to the Fc domain via a hinge. Six complementarity-determining regions of each H:L chain pair compose the antigen-binding site on the Fab domain of the mAb.<ref name=”[5]”>Tracey, D., Klareskog, L., Sasso, E.H., Salfeld, J.G., Tak, P.P. (2008). Tumor necrosis factor antagonist mechanisms of action: A comprehensive review. ''Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 117''(2), 244-279. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.10.001 ''doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.10.001'']</ref> In addition to heavy and light variable regions, adalimumab consists of human IgG1:κ constant regions that are engineered by phage display technology. The phage display facilitates selection of a fully human antibody specific for a specific antigen, in this case tumor necrosis factor (TNF), from a large range of antibodies. If the desired antibody is rare in this range, a two-stage process is applied for a more rapid guided selection. For the generation of adalimumab, the first step is the usage of anti-human TNF murine antibody MAK195 for the isolation of a human antibody that can recognize the same neutralizing epitope as MAK195. This antibody has a low off-rate and high affinity for human TNF. VH and VL MAK195 are paired with human cognate repertoires. For these phage antibody libraries, recombinant human TNF serves as the antigen for the antigen binding selection. A fully human anti-TNF antibody is then generated by combining the selected human VH and VL genes. Early human anti-TNF antibodies were optimized in a second phase that mirrors the natural process for antibody optimization. It is produced in a Chinese hamster ovary host, transfected with a plasmid vector containing the expression cassettes for adalimumab light and heavy chains.<ref name=”[6]”>Boehncke, W.H., Radeke, H.H. (2007). Adalimumab. In Salfeld,J., Kupper, H., ''Biologics in General Medicine.'', 14-31, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29018-6 ''doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29018-6'']</ref> [[File:structure.png|thumb|Structure of adalimumab<ref name=”[7]”>Mitoma, H., Horiuchi, T., Tsukamoto, H., Ueda, N. (2018). Molecular mechanisms of action of anti-TNF-α agents – Comparison among therapeutic TNF-α antagonists. ''Cytokine, 101'', 56-63. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2016.08.014 ''doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2016.08.014'']</ref>|150px]] === History === The first version of adalimumab was engineered in the 90s and was named D2E7. BASF Pharma started the development of a TNF neutralizing human antibody with the use of phage display technology in 1993 in collaboration with Cambridge Antibody Technology. Phage display repertoires were used to guide the selection of human antibodies to a single epitope of antigen TNF-⍺. This technology was developed in 1991 by Cambridge Antibody Technology. A phage antibody library technology was developed that could be used to discover human antibodies of therapeutic value. To select the antibodies that bind to a desired antigen, enormous repertoires of human antibodies are displayed on the surfaces of millions of bacterial phages, i.e. phage antibody library.<ref name=”[8]”>Jespers, L.S., Roberts, A., Mahler, S.M., Winter, G., Hoogenboom, H.R. (1994). Guiding the selection of human antibodies from phage display repertoires to a single epitope of an antigen. ''Bio/Technology'', ''12''(9), 899–903. [https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0994-899 ''doi:10.1038/nbt0994-899'']</ref><ref name=”[9]”>Den Broeder, A. et al. (2002). A single dose, placebo controlled study of the fully human anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody adalimumab (D2E7) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. ''The Journal of Rheumatology, 29''(11), 2288-2298</ref> The compound that later became adalimumab was identified within two years after the start of the development.<ref name=”[10]”>McCafferty, J. (2010). The long and winding road to antibody therapeutics,''mAbs, 2''(5), 459-460. [https://dx.doi.org/10.4161%2Fmabs.2.5.13088 ''doi:10.4161%2Fmabs.2.5.13088'']</ref> In 2002, Abbott received approvement of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sales of Humira for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).<ref name="[1]" /> It became to be the first fully human monoclonal antibody to be approved by the FDA. The patent on Humira belonged to AbbVie, a spin-off from Abbott, and is approved for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, uveitis and plaque psoriasis.<ref name=”[4]”>Medsafe (2012). Humira solution for injection: Data Sheet. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp ''http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp''].</ref> The patent expired in October 2018 in Europe, which led to the immediate launch of other biosimilars. In the US, AbbVie’s patent on Humira expired in 2016 but the company has managed to prolong its protection until 2023.<ref name=”[11]”>Loftus, P. (2017). AbbVie, Amgen Reach Settlement in Humira Patent Dispute, ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved from [https://www.wsj.com/articles/abbvie-amgen-reach-settlement-in-humira-patent-dispute-1506635070 ''https://www.wsj.com/articles/abbvie-amgen-reach-settlement-in-humira-patent-dispute-1506635070''].</ref><ref name=”[12]”>Derbyshire, M. (2015). Patent expiry dates for best-selling biologicals, ''Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal, 4''(4), 178-179. [https://dx.doi.org/10.5639/gabij.2015.0404.040 ''doi:10.5639/gabij.2015.0404.040''].</ref> == Mechanism of action == === Pathophysiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis === TNF-⍺ is a proinflammatory cytokine and is part of the type II cytokine family. It is a ~26 kDa protein that is produced by activated macrophages, monocytes, and activated T-cells. Synthetization occurs as a transmembrane TNF (tmTNF). The ~15 kDa soluble form of TNF (sTNF) is released after proteolysis by a TNF-⍺ converting enzyme in the extracellular domain. It can bind to its receptors, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2). Both receptors are naturally monomeric and occur on cell surfaces and in soluble form.<ref name=”[13]”>Deora, A. et al. (2017). Transmembrane TNF-dependent uptake of anti-TNF antibodies. ''MAbs, 9''(4), 680-695. [https://doi.org/10.1080/19420862.2017.1304869 ''doi:10.1080/19420862.2017.1304869'']</ref><ref name=”[14]”>Haraoui, B., Bykerk, V. (2007). Etanercept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. ''Therapeutics and clinical risk management'', ''3''(1), 99–105. [https://doi.org/10.2147/tcrm.2007.3.1.99 ''doi:10.2147/tcrm.2007.3.1.99'']</ref><ref name=”[15]”>Wang, J., Al-Lamki, R.S. (2013). Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2: Its Contribution to Acute Cellular Rejection and Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma. ''BioMed Research International, 2013''(1), 1-11. [https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/821310 ''doi:10.1155/2013/821310'']</ref> Both sTNF and tmTNF bind to TNFR1 and TNFR2. The biological functions of TNF-⍺ are expressed by its binding to receptors. One of these biological functions is starting the inflammation process. The pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is generated by B- and T-cells, with a prominent role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-⍺ and IL-1. The permeation of CD4+ T cells into the synovium of the joint plays an important role in the inflammatory process. CD4+ T cells, activated by an antigen, stimulate the production of TNF-⍺, IL-1 and IL-6. This stimulation is the driving force behind ongoing inflammation in RA. It is thought that these CD4+ T cells also stimulate B cells in the production of immunoglobulins such as rheumatoid factor. Rheumatoid factor and IgG can form an immune complex, and this, in turn, contributes to the RA pathogenesis by activation of the complement system.<ref name=”[6]”>Boehncke, W.H., Radeke, H.H. (2007). Adalimumab. In Salfeld,J., Kupper, H., ''Biologics in General Medicine.'', 14-31, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29018-6 ''doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29018-6'']</ref> In patients with RA, elevated TNF-⍺ levels are found in the cartilage-pannus junction and the synovial tissue. It is produced locally in the synovium of joints. TNF-⍺ induces the production and secretion of cartilage-degrading matrix metalloproteinase enzymes (MMPs) from synovial fibroblasts. The MMPs inhibit tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase. In total, this leads to the breakdown of collagen and joint destruction, due to matrix-degrading activities.<ref name=”[16]”>Alldred, A. (2001). Etanercept in rheumatoid arthritis. ''Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2''(7), 1137-1148. [https://doi.org/10.1517/14656566.2.7.1137 ''doi:10.1517/14656566.2.7.1137'']</ref> Under the influence of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand are activated. As a result, osteoclasts maturate and the osteoprotegerin ratio decreases, which leads to constant osteoclasts differentiation. Matured osteoclasts attached to the matrix, secrete hydrochloric acid and a proteolytic enzyme cathepsin K. These acids and enzymes destroy osteonectin and aggrecan, which result in chronic joint destruction.<ref name=”[17]”>Fazal, S.A. et al. (2018). A Clinical Update and Global Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune disorders - Drug Targets, 18''(2), 98-109. [https://doi.org/10.2174/1871530317666171114122417 ''doi:10.2174/1871530317666171114122417'']</ref> === Mode of action === Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like adalimumab are used to reduce disease progression and to improve function by inhibiting the inflammation process. Adalimumab is a highly specific TNF-⍺ neutralizing antibody. Unlike other mAbs, adalimumab does not bind to other forms of TNF, like lymphotoxin-⍺. With its binding to soluble TNF-⍺, adalimumab inhibits the interaction of TNF-⍺ with TNFR1 and TNFR2 and prevents it from expression its biological function. With its Fab arms, it has the ability to crosslink two trimeric sTNF at the same time, which causes multimeric complexes to form.<ref name=”[5]”>Tracey, D., Klareskog, L., Sasso, E.H., Salfeld, J.G., Tak, P.P. (2008). Tumor necrosis factor antagonist mechanisms of action: A comprehensive review. ''Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 117''(2), 244-279. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.10.001 ''doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.10.001'']</ref><ref name=”[6]”>Boehncke, W.H., Radeke, H.H. (2007). Adalimumab. In Salfeld,J., Kupper, H., ''Biologics in General Medicine.'', 14-31, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29018-6 ''doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29018-6'']</ref> Adalimumab can also bind tmTNF. In a study that used a system with Jurkat T-cells to study the effect of adalimumab, the drug was found to induce complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). The first component of complement activation (C1) is activated by the CH<sub>2</sub> region of the Fc portion, which eventually leads to cell lysis. At the same time, adalimumab induces antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). The CH<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>3</sub> domains of the Fc domain of IgG1 play a role in the binding of adalimumab to the Fc receptors on a NK cell. This sets the lysis of the target cell in motion by granzyme B and perforin. Moreover, adalimumab is involved in reverse signaling. After the binding of adalimumab to tmTNF, cell apoptosis and cell cycle G0/G1 arrest are induced.<ref name=”[18]”>Horiuchi, T., Mitoma, H., Harashima, S., Tsukamoto, H., Shimoda, T. (2010). Transmembrane TNF-α: structure, function and interaction with anti-TNF agents. ''Rheumatology'', ''49''(7), 1215–1228. [https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keq031 ''doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keq031'']</ref> === Pharmacokinetics === Adalimumab is administered by the subcutaneous (SC) route. The absorption of adalimumab after SC administration is not fully understood. It is suggested that the absorption occurs like the diffusion of IgG across blood vessels and its relocation through lymphatic vessels. Flow through lymphatic vessels is slow, which causes the adsorption to last several days with a large interindividual variability.<ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref> Peak serum concentrations of adalimumab are reached after around 5 days post administration. The absolute bioavailability after a single 40-mg dose was 64%. Concentrations of adalimumab in the synovial fluid of RA patients ranged from 31-96% of those in serum.<ref name=”[4]”>Medsafe (2012). Humira solution for injection: Data Sheet. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp ''http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp''].</ref> As adalimumab is a large hydrophilic molecule, it should be confined to lymphatic vessels and blood vessels and report low tissue penetration. However, adalimumab penetrates cells through fluid phase endocytosis or through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Size prevents it from glomerular filtration and adalimumab is thus not eliminated via renal or biliary excretion. Elimination of adalimumab occurs non-specific (linear). The half-life is around twenty days.<ref name=”[3]”>Ternant, D. et al. (2014). Pharmacokinetics and concentration–effect relationship of adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis. ''British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 79''(2), 286–297. [https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12509 ''doi:10.1111/bcp.12509'']</ref> This long serum half-life can be explained by the binding of neonatal Fc receptors on endothelial cells to the Fc domain of IgG at acidic pH. This protects IgG from catabolic activities and contributes to its long half-life. As adalimumab is much like IgG, it is thought that it goes through the same process as IgG.<ref name=”[7]”>Mitoma, H., Horiuchi, T., Tsukamoto, H., Ueda, N. (2018). Molecular mechanisms of action of anti-TNF-α agents – Comparison among therapeutic TNF-α antagonists. ''Cytokine, 101'', 56-63. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2016.08.014 ''doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2016.08.014'']</ref> The mechanisms by which antibodies are cleared from the circulation are not fully understood.<ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref> Interpatient variability of the pharmacokinetics can be explained by several factors, including antigenic burden, the presence of anti-drug antibodies (ADAbs) and body size. For most mAbs, the clearance and volume of distribution of mAbs increase with body size. These parameters are also reported to be higher in men than in women. For adalimumab, the clearance rate is around 40% higher in men. As the response to adalimumab is reported to increase with serum concentrations, a dosage adjustment by the influence of body weight and body surface area can be justified.<ref name=”[3]”>Ternant, D. et al. (2014). Pharmacokinetics and concentration–effect relationship of adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis. ''British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 79''(2), 286–297. [https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12509 ''doi:10.1111/bcp.12509'']</ref><ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref> === Efficacy === Adalimumab is an overall well-tolerated drug. However, some patients show an inadequate response to the drug. Around 10–30% of patients do not respond to the initial treatment and 23–46% of patients lose response over time.<ref name=”[20]”>Roda, G., Jharap, B., Neeraj, N., Colombel, J.F. (2016). Loss of Response to Anti-TNFs: Definition, Epidemiology, and Management. ''Clinical and translational gastroenterology'', ''7''(1), e135. [https://doi.org/10.1038/ctg.2015.63 ''doi:10.1038/ctg.2015.63'']</ref> Because adalimumab is an exogenous protein, it can induce an immune response. While the risk of the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAb) are very high for murine mAbs, the risk is also present for human antibodies like adalimumab. A decreased response in treatment of adalimumab can be associated with the formation of ADAb.<ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref> For patients that show an inadequate response to adalimumab and by whom the presence of ADAb is registered, an increase in the dosage or dose frequency of adalimumab can lead to a decrease in detectable ADAb. By increasing the dosing frequency, it might overload the ability of the immune system to produce sufficient ADAb or it may induce immunotolerance to adalimumab.<ref name=”[21]”>Bartelds, G.M. et al. (2007). Clinical response to adalimumab: relationship to anti-adalimumab antibodies and serum adalimumab concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis. ''Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases'', ''66''(1), 921-926. [https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2006.065615 ''doi:10.1136/ard.2006.065615'']</ref> This could potentially increase clinical outcome. Not only the presence of ADAb is a predictor of a non-response. Some non-responders have no detectable ADAb or have adequate or high drug levels without clinical response. In patients without detectable drug levels, however, no clinical effect of adalimumab was registered.<ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref><ref name=”[22]”>Pouw, M.F. et al. (2015). Key findings towards optimising adalimumab treatment: the concentration–effect curve. ''Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 74''(3), 513–518. [https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172 ''doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172'']</ref> [[File:meandas28.png|left|thumb|Mean DAS28 improvement for adalimumab concentrations<ref name=”[22]”>Pouw, M.F. et al. (2015). Key findings towards optimising adalimumab treatment: the concentration–effect curve. ''Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 74''(3), 513–518. [https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172 ''doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172'']</ref>|500px]] A good clinical response is characterized by a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) improvement of 1.2 and higher. Serum concentrations of around 3 µg/mL are sufficient to reach this threshold. Serum levels up to 8 µg/mL have a positive effect on the DAS28 score, therefore the probability of clinical response to adalimumab increases with the trough serum concentrations. It should be noted that serum levels surpassing 8 µg/mL do not contribute to further clinical improvement. The cut-off value to distinguish between good responders and non and moderate of responders was determined to be 5 µg/mL. Therefore, adalimumab serum trough concentrations in the range of 5-8 µg/mL were found to be predictive of good clinical response. A DAS28 improvement score below 0.6 is classified as a no response.<ref name=”[22]”>Pouw, M.F. et al. (2015). Key findings towards optimising adalimumab treatment: the concentration–effect curve. ''Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 74''(3), 513–518. [https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172 ''doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172'']</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="border: none; background: none;" ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="border: none; background: none;"| ! colspan="3"| DAS28 improvement |- ! >1.2 !! >0.6 and ≤ 1.2 !! ≤0.6 |- ! rowspan="3"| Present DAS28 score ! ≤3.2 | good response || moderate response || no response |- ! >3.2 and ≤5.1 | moderate response || moderate response || no response |- ! >5.1 | moderate response || no response || no response |}<div style="margin-bottom:1em"><sub>''Table 1: EULAR response criteria DAS28.<ref name=”[23]”>Fransen, J., Van Riel, P.L.C.M. (2005) The Disease Activity Score and the EULAR response criteria, ''Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 23''(39), S93-S99.</ref>''</sub></div> The use of serum trough levels along with an assessment of disease activity, can serve as an early prediction of response to adalimumab in RA. The level reached in serum depends on factors like adsorption rate, distribution rate and clearance. Furthermore, these factors are influenced by physical states like gender, age and disease state.<ref name=”[22]”>Pouw, M.F. et al. (2015). Key findings towards optimising adalimumab treatment: the concentration–effect curve. ''Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 74''(3), 513–518. [https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172 ''doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172'']</ref> For mAbs in general, patients with high disease activity have an increased amount of TNF-⍺. Due to target-mediated elimination, this increase leads to a increased target-mediated clearance which in turn leads to lower concentrations of TNF targeting mAbs. Consequently, patients that express a high disease activity have a lower exposure to anti-TNF-⍺ mAbs. RA patients should therefore receive higher mAb doses according to disease activity. To solidify this and to propose rational treatment strategies, more pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic studies are needed.<ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref> As the half-life of adalimumab is around twenty days, steady state is only achieved after 4 months after initiation of treatment. No loading dose is recommended for RA patients and therefore the time to reach steady-state is delayed. Instituting a higher loading dose to reach steady state faster could potentially decrease the risk of a non-response. This is seen in Crohn’s disease patients, in whom the use of loading doses was shown to increase treatment efficacy and decrease the risk of developing ADAb.<ref name=”[3]”>Ternant, D. et al. (2014). Pharmacokinetics and concentration–effect relationship of adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis. ''British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 79''(2), 286–297. [https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12509 ''doi:10.1111/bcp.12509'']</ref> == Safety == Biological DMARDs like adalimumab have a unique mechanism of action. Adalimumab blocks the overexpressed cytokine TNF-⍺ and with its binding, inhibits an important signaling protein in the normal immune response. TNF plays a critical role in the formation of post-infectious granuloma and its maintenance, which are important components for the host defenses against microbial pathogens, such as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, histoplasmosis and other opportunistic infections. Deactivation of TNF can give way to granulomatous infectious diseases, like tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and other less common conditions.<ref name=”[14]”>Haraoui, B., Bykerk, V. (2007). Etanercept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. ''Therapeutics and clinical risk management'', ''3''(1), 99–105. [https://doi.org/10.2147/tcrm.2007.3.1.99 ''doi:10.2147/tcrm.2007.3.1.99'']</ref><ref name=”[24]”>Wallis, R.S., Broder, M.S., Wong, J.Y., Hanson, M.E., Beenhouwer, D.O. (2004). Granulomatous Infectious Diseases Associated with Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists. ''Clinical Infectious Diseases'', ''38''(9), 1261–1265. [https://doi.org/10.1086/383317 ''doi:10.1086/383317'']</ref> The most common adverse effects of the usage of adalimumab are infections and immunological reactions, like hypersensitivity, injection-site and infusion-related reactions. More serious adverse events include the reactivation of tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Therefore, patients with a history of chronic infections and recurrent infections should avoid biologic therapies. Adalimumab is contra-indicated for patients with sepsis or who are at risk of sepsis, with active tuberculosis or other opportunistic infections.<ref name=”[4]”>Medsafe (2012). Humira solution for injection: Data Sheet. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp ''http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp''].</ref> Some studies report an increased risk of infections with higher doses of adalimumab. However, this correlation is not completely certain.<ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref><ref name=”[25]”>Bongartz, T., Sutton, A.J., Sweeting, M.J,, Buchan, I., Matteson, E.L., Montori, V. (2016). Anti-TNF Antibody Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Risk of Serious Infections and Malignancies Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Rare Harmful Effects in Randomized Controlled Trials. ''JAMA, 295''(19), 2275-2285. [https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.295.19.2275 ''doi:10.1001/jama.295.19.2275'']</ref> Therefore, caution has to be taken with prescribing DMARDs and for prescribing the right dosage == Lab protocols == Adalimumab in solution should be refrigerated between 2ºC to 8ºC and protected from light. It should not be frozen.<ref name=”[4]”>Medsafe (2012). Humira solution for injection: Data Sheet. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp ''http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp''].</ref> It can be harmful if inhaled and cause respiratory tract irritation. To prevent harmful absorption through the skin and prevent possible skin irritation, protective gloves are recommended. Moreover, swallowing the compound could be harmful.<ref name=”[26]”>BioVision (2018). Anti-TNF-a (Adalimumab): Datasheet. Accessed on 9 November 2018, at [https://www.biovision.com/anti-tnf-adalimumab-humanized-antibody.html ''https://www.biovision.com/anti-tnf-adalimumab-humanized-antibody.html''].</ref> Samples containing adalimumab have to be analyzed within 72 hours. Otherwise the samples must be frozen at ≤ -18 °C for 12 months. Disposal of samples are to be performed according to your laboratory regulations.<ref name=”[27]”>MabTrack level adalimumab (2018). Leaflet ''MabTrack level adalimumab''. Sanquin.</ref> == Medical Use and TDM == The drug is supplied as a solution for injection with a pH of 5.2. Current available dosage forms are 40 mg/0.8 mL, 40 mg/0.4 mL, 20 mg/0.4 mL and 10 mg/0.2 mL single-use prefilled syringe. There also exist prefilled pens of 40 mg/0.8 mL and 40 mg/0.4 mL.<ref name=”[4]”>Medsafe (2012). Humira solution for injection: Data Sheet. Accessed on 6 November 2018, at [http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp ''http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/SearchResult.asp''].</ref> ADL is administered once every week or every other week. The target steady state trough concentration is between 5 and 8 µg/mL. In current practices, a patient can be classified as a non-reponder, when the concentration of adalimumab is at a normal range, but the patient has no decreased disease activity. A switch to a different medicine is often advised. When serum levels of adalimumab are too low, the underlying cause, either non-compliance or ADAb, is investigated. If the concentration is not extremely low, an increase of dosage can be considered. Measurements of adalimumab levels are not routinely done. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is the practice of measuring the concentration of a specific drug in the bloodstream with the aim of using this data to optimize the individual dosing schemes of patients. TDM could provide a means to optimize the treatment with adalimumab. The introduction of a biosensor for adalimumab as a means for TDM would allow for better drug monitoring. It gives the possibility to detect non-responders in an early stage of treatment or to optimize dosing strategies. For patients with too high serum levels, dosage reduction to obtain serum levels between 5 and 8 µg/mL could be beneficial for the patient as the expensive drug is used more optimally. As ADAb can be the cause of the lower adalimumab serum levels, measurement of ADAb with a biosensor is also a possibility. However, as adalimumab can interfere with an assay that measures ADAb, measurement of adalimumab itself is to be prefered.<ref name=”[22]”>Pouw, M.F. et al. (2015). Key findings towards optimising adalimumab treatment: the concentration–effect curve. ''Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 74''(3), 513–518. [https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172 ''doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172'']</ref> A treatment based on TDM has the potential to ensure a maximal clinical benefit with the lowest dose of the drug.<ref name=”[22]”>Pouw, M.F. et al. (2015). Key findings towards optimising adalimumab treatment: the concentration–effect curve. ''Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 74''(3), 513–518. [https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172 ''doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204172'']</ref> Next to the health benefit, treatment could have an economic benefit, as it can be cost-saving in the long-term, especially in the case of dose reduction. A possible difficulty in the implementation of personalized dosing schemes are the fixed dosing regimens. Drugs that are administered via SC route are provided in fixed dosing regimens, for example a 40-mg prefilled syringe. In case of intravenous dosing (IV), dosing adjustments for body size and disease activity are possible for anti-TNF-⍺ mAbs.<ref name=”[19]”>Ternant, D., Bejan-Angoulvant, T., Passot, C., Mulleman, D., Paintaud, G. (2015). Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Monoclonal Antibodies Approved to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 54''(11), 1107-1123. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9 ''doi:10.1007/s40262-015-0296-9'']</ref> == State of the art of adalimumab assays == In the table below, a selection of the available adalimumab assays is listed. {| class="wikitable" style="margin-bottom:0" !Company !Product !Test name !Sample Volume !Reportable range !Dilution ratio* !Precision !Incubation time |- |Sanquin<ref name=”[27]”>MabTrack level adalimumab (2018). Leaflet ''MabTrack level adalimumab''. Sanquin.</ref> |M2910 |MabTrack level adalimumab |5 μL |1–30 µg/mL |1:199<br />1:1499<br />1:1999 |Total CV < 15%<br /> Inter-assay: CV < 15.4% |2 hours 10 min. |- |apDia<ref name=”[28]”>apDia Adalimumab ELISA (2016). Leaflet ''apDia Adalimumab ELISA.'' apDia.</ref> |710201 |apDia Adalimumab ELISA |10 μL |0.5-12 µg/mL<br />2.0- 48 µg/mL |1:99<br />1:399 |Intra-assay: CV < 10.1%<br />Inter-assay: CV< 14.2% |1 hour 40 min. |- |Theradiag<ref name=”[29]”>LTA002 LISA-TRACKER Adalimumab (2017). Leaflet ''LTA002 LISA-TRACKER Adalimumab''. Theradiag.</ref> |LTA 002 |LISA-TRACKER Adalimumab |5 μL |0.3 - 16 µg/mL |1:200 |Intra-assay: CV < 13.3%<br />Inter-assay: CV< 9.7% |2 hours |- |R-Biopharm AG<ref name=”[30]”>GN3043 RIDA®QUICK ADM Monitoring (2018). Leaflet ''GN3043 RIDA®QUICK ADM Monitoring''. R-Biopharm AG.</ref> |GN3043 |RIDA®QUICK ADM Monitoring |20 μL |0.5 - 25 μg/ml |1:499 |Intra-assay: CV < 16.8%<br />Inter-assay: CV< 16.6% |15 min. |- |BÜHLMANN<ref name=”[31]”>LF-TLAD25 Quantum Blue® Adalimumab (2018). Leaflet ''LF-TLAD25 Quantum Blue® Adalimumab''. BÜHLMANN.</ref> |LF-TLAD25 |Quantum Blue® Adalimumab |10 μL |1.3 - 35 μg/mL |1:19 |Intra-assay: CV < 28.6%<br />Inter-assay: CV < 12.6% |15 min |}<div style="margin-bottom:1em"><sub>''Table 2: Selection of currently available systems for measuring adalimumab.''<br />*Note: the dilution ratio is defined as 1:x, with x the volume of added reagents relative to the volume of plasma sample</sub></div> To determine the trough levels of adalimumab, the samples must be taken within 24 hours prior to the drug administration.<ref name=”[27]”>MabTrack level adalimumab (2018). Leaflet ''MabTrack level adalimumab''. Sanquin.</ref> These assays are sandwich-type assays with enzymatic labelling, except for the RIDA®QUICK ADM Monitoring and Quantum Blue® Adalimumab, which are based on lateral flow immunoassays. Mabtrack by Sanquin uses polystyrene microtiter wells with immobilized TNF-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies. These bind recombinant TNF. The adalimumab that is present in the sample binds to the bound TNF on the microtiter plate and an adalimumab/TNF/anti-TNF complex is formed. Next, a monoclonal ADAb labeled with horseradish peroxidase is added which binds to the complex. A substrate solution leads to the formation of a colored product, proportional to the amount of adalimumab present in the sample.<ref name=”[27]”>MabTrack level adalimumab (2018). Leaflet ''MabTrack level adalimumab''. Sanquin.</ref> The Adalimumab ELISA and LISA-TRACKER Adalimumab both have immobilized TNF-⍺ on the surface of the microwell plate. While the apDia Adalimumab ELISA makes use of ADAb conjugated with peroxidase to form a TNF-⍺/adalimumab/conjugated-ADAb complex, the LISA-TRACKER uses anti-human IgG biotinylated antibodies to form the complex, whereafter horseradish peroxydase labelled with streptavidin is added that binds to the complex.<ref name=”[28]”>apDia Adalimumab ELISA (2016). Leaflet ''apDia Adalimumab ELISA.'' apDia.</ref><ref name=”[29]”>LTA002 LISA-TRACKER Adalimumab (2017). Leaflet ''LTA002 LISA-TRACKER Adalimumab''. Theradiag.</ref> == Numbers == Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 1% of the world population per year.<ref name=”[32]”>Marita Cross, M. et al. (2014). The global burden of rheumatoid arthritis: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. ''Annals of Rheumatic diseases, 73'', 1316-1322. [https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204627 ''doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204627'']</ref> Global estimates in 2010 reported a prevalence rate of 0.35% for women and 0.13% for men. The prevalence of RA is higher in more developed countries.<ref name=”[33]”>Fazal, S.A. et al. (2018). A Clinical Update and Global Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune disorders - Drug Targets, 18''(2), 98-109. [https://doi.org/10.2174/1871530317666171114122417 ''doi:10.2174/1871530317666171114122417'']</ref> A study in the US reported an overall lifetime risk for RA of 3.6% for women and 1.7% for men. This corresponds to around 1 in 28 women and 1 in 59 men that will develop RA in their lifetime.<ref name=”[34]”>Crowson, C.S. et al. (2011). The lifetime risk of adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory autoimmune rheumatic diseases. ''Arthritis and Rheumatism, 63''(3), 633-639. [https://doi.org/10.1002/art.30155 ''doi:10.1002/art.30155'']</ref> Globally in 2010, RA represented 0.49% of years lived with disability (YLD) and 0.19% of disability-adjusted-years (DALY). Across 31 nations in the period of 2009–2011, a total of 219,189 patients died, in whom RA was registered as the underlying cause of death. The YLDs for RA were 55/100000 population and the total DALYs were around 4.8 million.<ref name=”[33]”>Fazal, S.A. et al. (2018). A Clinical Update and Global Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune disorders - Drug Targets, 18''(2), 98-109. [https://doi.org/10.2174/1871530317666171114122417 ''doi:10.2174/1871530317666171114122417'']</ref> The US reported having approximately $128 billion of direct and $47.0 billion of indirect costs billable to arthritis and related rheumatic conditions. In the UK, this number came down to £560 million a year in health care costs.<ref name=”[33]”>Fazal, S.A. et al. (2018). A Clinical Update and Global Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis. ''Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune disorders - Drug Targets, 18''(2), 98-109. [https://doi.org/10.2174/1871530317666171114122417 ''doi:10.2174/1871530317666171114122417'']</ref> In 2017, adalimumab (Humira) was at the top of pharmaceutical products by sales worldwide. The drug generated more than 18.4 billion US dollars. Almost twice as much as Rituxan, who took second place with 9.2 billion dollars generated.<ref name=”[35]”>Statista (2018). Top 15 pharmaceutical products by sales worldwide in 2017. Accessed on 7 November 2018, at [https://www.statista.com/statistics/258022/top-10-pharmaceutical-products-by-global-sales-2011/ ''https://www.statista.com/statistics/258022/top-10-pharmaceutical-products-by-global-sales-2011/''].</ref> In 2015, Humira costs around $2669 per month in the US and $1362 in the UK.<ref name=”[36]”>Statista (2018). Average prices of Humira in selected countries in 2015. Accessed on 7 November 2018, at [https://www.statista.com/statistics/312014/average-price-of-humira-by-country/ ''https://www.statista.com/statistics/312014/average-price-of-humira-by-country/''].</ref> == References == <references />
Return to Adalimumab.
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How we respond to defamatory posts – policy
The following article deals with three major questions in our unions.
Abolish Australian Building & Construction Commission
Stop the NT Intervention
WorkChoices – History of local action in Brisbane against WorkChoices
The articles also provide links to other posts relating to these issues.
Ian Curr
PLEASE PLACE ANY COMMENTS CORRECTIONS BY CLICKING REPLY BELOW.
The building unions in Australia are trying to get rid of the Australian Building & Construction Commission (ABCC). It was a recommendation of the Cole Royal Commission to attack building unions.
Union members support these attempts.
The ABCC is a commission that was set up under the Howard government and continued under the Rudd Labor government. It is used to harrass and intimidate unions and their members. Over 200 workers have been dragged up before the ABCC since it was set up. They are threatened with imprisonment.
WA CFMEU official Noel Washington was threatened with prison under the Labor government. Because of pressure from the unions an inquiry was set up, called the Wilcox Inquiry which has recommended that the ABCC legislation to be moved across to Fair Work Australia, the ALP government’s IR legislation. Labor has also retained the secondary boycott legislation that was used against the meatworkers union during the Hawke labor government.
Now this legislation, design for times when capitalism is is crisis, is to be used against workers during the current recession.
Click on the following which is a speech given by David Noonan and one of the members, Ark Tribe, who is a rigger in SA and a proud member of the CFMEU Construction division
Ark received a standing ovation for his speech.
Be patient it may take a little while to load but it is well worth listening to (30 mins playing time). LIsten to it in the background while you read the rest of this peice.
The recording begins with a video (sound only) that was played to the ACTU congress on 2 June 2009 in Brisbane. Then Dave Noonan speaks followed by Ark, the rigger who has been threatened with jail by the ABCC for refusing to dob in his mates at work.
Just before the 1983 election Ralph Willis, the future minister for employment & industrial relations in the Hawke govt, told public sector workers at a mass meeting of the ACOA and other public sector unions at Festival hall that we could expect nothing if Labor won the election. He was true to his word.
They gave us the Accord and never repealed the laws against secondary boycotts. So the ALP distanced itself from the unions even before the election that time around. We suffer no illusions, this may be the last
throw of the dice for the unions and, ironically, for many of us older workers.
This time around the unions have distanced themselves from the Rudd ALP government quicker than they did last time in 1983. Then the ACTU stuck with the ALP throughout the term of the Hawke & Keating governments, only unions like the Builders Labourers Federation BLF broke free. The BLF in Qld stuck with the ALP government whereas down south they were deregistered & made illegal by the Hawke government.
After the Waterfront – the workers are quiet
Blacks Deaths in Custody and the NT Intervention have given rise protest action, ABC current affairs programs (Who Killed Mr Ward?) and court actions by the state (the Trial of lex Wotton). We don’t hear much of what goes on in Australia’s other parliament, the ACTU. Well this year the ACTU congress was held in Brisbane and the following is a recording of speakers who oppose the intervention.
ACTU delegates passed a motion opposing the Rudd labor government’s support of the NT intervention.
The first speaker is Kara, an aboriginal woman working in the ACTU and Qld unions on indigenous issues.
The second was the President of the Federal Police Officers union who spoke strongly against the federal intervention in the Northern Territory.
Sharan Burrows (ACTU president) summed up and put the motion to the congress. The audio file of these speeches is below. Just click on it.
ACTU on NT Intervention
Be patient the sound file will take a little time to load.
WorkChoices
History of local action in Brisbane against WorkChoices
Rank and File Group Speaking Platform at WorkChoices Rally on Thursday 30th November 2006
Some unions (including ETU and LHMU) will march to and from the Union rally at South Bank on Thursday morning.
The West End Rank and File group has organised a speaking platform at South Bank on Thursday morning.
Contact Bernie Nevile on 3300 1405 or annacal@uqconnect.net
The QCU website states:
“Take action on November 30 – all around Queensland! Attend a venue from 8:30am onwards to watch the ACTU broadcast from the MCG”
So no march is planned and no speakers apart from the broadcast from the MCG.
In Brisbane, the Rank and File platform may be the only live platform on the day! I heard from a couple of rank and file people on the weekend that the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) are marching from Musgrave to South Bank for the broadcast and then marching back after.
The Qld Council of Unions (QCU) do not appear to be even pretending that they are doing anything anymore.
If the Left were properly organised it could (in alliance with the Communications Electrical & Plumbers Unions (including the ETU), Construction Forestry Mining & Engineering Union & Builders Labourers Federation (Qld), the Qld Teachers Union, the LHMU (Misos) and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union) probably take over the entire day.
It is clear that these unions will be the mainstay of the protest.
Come to the open platform organised by the Rank and File Group.
<strong>Inside the ACTU</strong>
<blockquote>The building unions in Australia are trying to get rid of the Australian Building & Construction Commission. It was a recommendation of the Cole Royal Commission to attack building unions.
The ABCC is a commission that was set up under the Howard government and continued under the Rudd Labor government. It is used to harrass and intimidate unions and their members. Over 200 workers have been dragged up before the ABCC since it was set up. They are threatened with imprisonment. WA CFMEU official Noel Washington was threatened with prison under the Labor government. Because of pressure from the unions an inquiry was set up, called the Wilcox Inquiry which has recommended that the ABCC legislation to be moved across to Fair Work Australia, the ALP government’s IR legislation. Labor has also retained the secondary boycott legislation that was used against the meatworkers union during the Hawke labor government.
Click on the following which is <a href=”https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/building-unions-oppose-abcc-at-actu-congress.mp3″ rel=”nofollow”>a speech given by David Noonan and one of the members, Art, who is a rigger in SA and a proud member of the CFMEU Construction division</a> . He receive a standing ovation for his speech. Be patient it may take a little while to load but it is well worth listening to. It begins with the audio of a video that was played to the ACTU congress on 2 June 2009 in Brisbane. Then Dave Noonan speaks followed by Ark, the rigger who has been threatened with jail by the ABCC for refusing to dob in his mates at work.</blockquote></strong>
Just before the 1983 election Ralph Willis, the future minister for
employment & industrial relations in the Hawke govt, told public sector workers at a mass meeting of the ACOA and other public sector unions at Festival hall that we could expect nothing if Labor won the election. He was true to his word.
They gave us the Accord and never repealed the laws against secondary
boycotts. So the ALP distanced itself from the unions even before the
election that time around. We suffer no illusions, this may be the last
This time around the unions have distanced themselves from the Rudd ALP government quicker than they did last time in 1983. Then the ACTU stuck with the ALP throughout the term of the Hawke & Keating governments, only unions like the Builders Labourers Federation BLF broke free. The BLF in Qld stuck with the ALP government whereas down south they were deregistered & made illegal by the Hawke government.
<a href=”http://wpos.wordpress.com” rel=”nofollow”>After the Waterfront – the workers are quiet</a>
Audio file = https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/building-unions-oppose-abcc-at-actu-congress.mp3
3 responses to “Inside the ACTU”
Viola Wilkins | June 5, 2009 at 7:15 am | Reply
Some good solidarity action during the ACTU event :
Aussie unionists block traffic to support Air New Zealand workers
Australian transport unions blocked the busy intersection outside Air New Zealand’s Brisbane HQ on 3rd June in solidarity with the Air New Zealand 320 crew. The solidarity protest by the Transport Workers Union, Maritime Union of Australia and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union came against the backdrop of the triennial Australian Council of Trade Unions congress and shows anger over Air New Zealand’s behaviour toward workers in its subsidiary is spreading across the Tasman.
VIDEOS Check out the “Air New Zealand Shame On You” chants & footage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S1Oi1r0l3Q
Zeal crew member and EPMU delegate Kirsty Barrett-Hamilton addresses the Australian solidarity protest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUF7sKeLwHU&feature=related
PHOTOGRAPHS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/epmu/sets/72157619215305246/detail/ There’s more, including speeches, at http://www.epmu.org.nz/youtube
License public domainThis work is in the public domain.
Thursday 11th June 09 marks the launch of Unite’s Campaign for a Living Wage – to get an immediate rise in the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and then to set it at 2/3rds of the average wage.
When: 11 June 2009 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Where: Mt. Albert War Memorial Hall 751 New North Road, Mt Albert Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.unite.org.nz
campaign@unite.org.nz
450,000 people are paid less than $15 an hour. 100,000 workers are on the minimum wage of $12.50. That’s not enough to live on. We’re standing up against poverty wages and we’re going to need you. It’s time to put workers first.
Gary MacLennan | June 2, 2009 at 11:14 pm | Reply
thank you for the report on the ACTU. I hope the building workers win. However I think it is important to understand that this is yet another defensive struggle. The unions do not seem to be going on the offensive at all. Of course this is mostly because the ALP is in government and the ACTU thinks getting the ALP elected is going on the offensive.
But it is extremely worrying that there does not appear to be a challenge to the status quo along the ecological and the economic fronts. Stephens and Henry have been given a free hand with the economic crisis.
Meanwhile Rudd has caved into the propaganda from the Bosses that to do anything about the environment is to be anti-job and by implication anti-working class.
Of course the truth is that the most heavily polluting industries such as mining are not job intensive. Indeed if we moved seriously to green transport and renewable energy then thousands of jobs would be created.
Michael Moore has just penned a piece on solutions to the crisis at GM and something like these ideas need to be raised here in Australia.
However I see no sign at all that the union movement even suspects that there is a need for ideas beyond the election of the Labor Party.
It is indeed in the area of ideas that I feel we can make the best contribution. The alternatives of tailing the union bureaucracy and waiting for them to do something or of waxing sentimental over tales of rank and file militancy are truly hopeless.
Let’s do some serious thinking and propagandizing.
Inside the ACTU | June 2, 2009 at 1:50 pm | Reply
The building unions in Australia are trying to get rid of the Australian Building & Construction Commission. It was a recommendation of the Cole Royal Commission to attack building unions.
Click on the following which is a speech given by David Noonan and one of the members, Art, who is a rigger in SA and a proud member of the CFMEU Construction division . He receive a standing ovation for his speech. Be patient it may take a little while to load but it is well worth listening to. It begins with the audio of a video that was played to the ACTU congress on 2 June 2009 in Brisbane. Then Dave Noonan speaks followed by Ark, the rigger who has been threatened with jail by the ABCC for refusing to dob in his mates at work.
employment & industrial relations in the Hawke govt, told public sector workers at a mass meeting of the ACOA and other public sector unions at Festival hall that we could expect nothing if Labor won the election. He was true to his word.
Audio file = https://bushtelegraph.wordpress.com/files/2009/06/building-unions-oppose-abcc-at-actu-congress.mp3
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78 Steps Health Journal
» Insect Physiology
Nutritional physiology and ecology
Last Updated on Thu, 02 Jan 2020 | Insect Physiology
An understanding of insect ecology has been nutritional physiology.
Diverse insect diets are associated with entirely different constraints: liquid diets come with a weight or volume problem, solid diets require mechanical breakdown without damage to the gut, plant diets are poor in nutrients, and animal meals are unpredictable in time and space (Dow 1986). Most species of holometabolous insect could be represented in Fig. 2.1 by two linked circles, as a result of vastly different diets in the larval and adult stages. Folivory necessitates an increase in mass of the gut and its contents, with longer retention time, which is incompatible with flight (Dudley and Vermeij 1992). Although this applies to relatively sessile caterpillars, they metamorphose into nectar-feeding adults. About half of known insects are phytophagous, and among these some feeding guilds have been relatively well studied, in particular the leaf-chewers, which are mostly larvae. The nutritional ecology of immature insects was the subject of a classic review by Scriber and Slansky (1981). The present chapter is inevitably biased towards grasshoppers and caterpillars and, to a lesser extent, cockroaches and various fluid feeders. Recent technical advances and the advent of molecular biology have made it possible to study in some depth the nutrition of aphids, another group of agricultural pests, and their simpler diet means that synthetic diets are closer to the real thing. We consider the physiological constraints on feeding behaviour and the physiology of digestion and absorption, before turning to the difficulties of plant feeding and the longer-term consequences of feeding for hampered by an inadequate knowledge of Scriber and Slansky (1981)
growth, development, and the life histories of insects.
A major theme of this chapter is compensatory feeding. In spite of the enormous variation in the quality of plant food, insects obtain their requirements by means of flexible feeding behaviour and nutrient utilization (Slansky 1993). There are three basic categories of compensatory responses shown by phytophagous insects (Simpson and Simpson 1990): increased consumption in order to obtain more of a limiting nutrient such as nitrogen, dietary selection of a different food to complement a limiting nutrient, or increased digestive efficiency to make the best use of a nutrient. The mechanisms of compensatory feeding have been studied in some detail for the major nutrients, proteins and carbohydrates. To avoid difficulties in interpreting experiments, the use of artificial diets is essential, in spite of their ecological limitations (Simpson and Simpson 1990). Another pervasive theme is nitrogen limitation. Insect herbivores tend to be limited by nitrogen because their C : N ratio is so much lower than that of the plants they eat (Mattson 1980).
It is feeding that makes insects into agricultural pests and disease vectors, although the choice of species and problems for research has often been very selective as a result (Stoffolano 1995). Knowledge of food consumption and utilization is of great importance in managing problem insects, and consequently there is an enormous literature on basic and applied insect nutrition and nutritional ecology. As examples of major reviews, the more
Plant Animal
Figure 2.1 Classification of insect diets according to Dow (1986), based on plant/animal and liquid/solid dichotomies.
Note: Many insects can be placed in borderline positions, for example, adult female mosquitoes which feed on both nectar and blood.
Source: Reprinted from Advances in Insect Physiology, 19, Dow, 187-328. © 1986, with permission from Elsevier.
mechanistic aspects are covered in nine chapters of volume 4 in the 1985 series Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology (Kerkut and Gilbert 1985), regulation of insect feeding behaviour by Chapman and de Boer (1995), and the ecological context is represented in the 1000-page text of Slansky and Rodriguez (1987), with emphasis on feeding guilds, and by a substantial book on caterpillar foraging (Stamp and Casey 1993). Schoonhoven et al. (1998) list two pages of books and symposium proceedings devoted to insect-plant interactions. The treatment that follows is necessarily extremely selective.
Two areas of research in particular are providing new opportunities and motivation to investigate the effects of plant quality on insect herbivores (Awmack and Leather 2002). These are global climate change, a long-term experimental system involving gradual changes in host plant quality, and the development, since the mid-1990s, of transgenic plants expressing genes for insect resistance (first Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, then antinutrient proteins). Transgenic plants expressing antinutrient proteins permit direct measurement of the costs and benefits of plant defences. Very recently, the emerging field of elemental stoichi-ometry (Sterner and Elser 2002) is adding a new dimension to insect nutritional ecology. Fagan et al. (2002) have shown that insect predators contain on average 15 per cent more nitrogen than herbivores, even after correction for phylogeny, allometry, and gut contents (which could dilute the body nitrogen content of herbivorous species). There is also a phylogenetic trend towards decreasing nitrogen content, with the more derived Lepidoptera and Diptera showing significantly lower nitrogen values than the Coleoptera and Hemiptera.
2.1 Method and measurement
2.1.1 Artificial diets
Artificial diets are widely used in nutritional studies. Often they are semi-synthetic and contain crude fractions of natural diets; for example, the widely used diet for rearing Manduca sexta (Lepi-doptera, Sphingidae) larvae contains wheat germ, yeast, casein, and sucrose, together with salts, vitamins, and preservatives, combined with agar in water (Kingsolver and Woods 1998). For food specialists it may be necessary to include extracts of the host plant in the diet. The advantage of artificial diets is that single nutrients or allelochemicals can be omitted or their concentrations changed, and the effect on performance measured. An essential nutrient can be detected from the effects of its deletion on growth, development, or reproduction, but the determination of nutritional requirements tends to be laborious. Protein and carbohydrate are the major macronutrients, so lipids are generally minimal components of artificial diets, even those for wax moths (Dadd 1985). In compensatory feeding studies, animals may respond differently to diets diluted with water or indigestible agar (Timmins et al. 1988).
Artificial diets have certain limitations. They are based on purified proteins, such as the milk protein casein, which are probably easier to digest than plant proteins because they contain little secondary structure and are not protected by cell walls (Woods and Kingsolver 1999). Artificial diets are rich, and caterpillars raised on them have much higher fat contents than those fed on leaves (Ojeda-Avila et al. 2003). Laboratory selection experiments using Drosophila are influenced by the abundance of food, so that the responses of flies to various forms of selection have tended to involve energy storage rather than energy conservation
(Harshman and Hoffman 2000). These diets are also much softer than plant material, and this can lead to a reduction in the size of the head and chewing musculature in caterpillars (Bernays 1986a). Experiments using natural forage are ecologically more realistic, but are complicated by the fact that plant tissue is highly variable in chemical composition and levels of nitrogen, water, and allelochemicals tend to covary. Nitrogen and phosphorus also covary in plant tissue (Garten 1976). The use of excised leaves is not recommended in assays of herbivory, because induced plant defences may reduce their nutritional quality (Olckers and Hulley 1994).
2.1.2 Indices of food conversion efficiency
Standard methods have been extensively used for quantifying food consumption, utilization, and growth in insects, especially phytophagous larvae (Waldbauer 1968; Scriber and Slansky 1981). The efficiency of food utilization is assessed using various ratios based on energy budget equations. Waldbauer, in his classic paper, defined three nutritional indices:
Approximate digestibility (or assimilation efficiency) AD = (I — F)/I;
Efficiency of conversion of ingested food (or growth efficiency) ECI = B/I;
Efficiency of conversion of digested food (or metabolic efficiency) ECD = B/(I — F), where I — dry mass of food consumed, F — dry mass of faeces produced, and B — dry mass gain of the insect. Performance is expressed in terms of relative (i.e. g per g) rates of consumption (RCR) and growth (RGR). Various interconversions between nutritional indices and performance rates are possible, for example, RGR — RCR x AD x ECD — RCR x ECI. An insect may maintain its growth rate over various combinations of these parameters because there are trade-offs between rates and efficiencies, for example, a higher RCR lowers retention time and thus AD. Slansky and Scriber (1985) discussed the methodology and summarized an enormous amount of data on the nutritional performance of insects in different feeding guilds. Slansky (1993) recommended measuring food consumption based on fresh weight as well as dry weight, otherwise compensatory feeding (see below) may not be evident when the foods differ in water content. Errors resulting from inaccurate measurement of food water content (especially leaves) are common and potentially serious.
Dry mass measurements (most of the data) can be converted for calculation of energy or nitrogen budgets (Wightman and Rogers 1978). ECI and ECD of a phytophage will be higher when expressed in terms of energy content than when expressed in dry mass because insect tissue has a higher energy content than plant tissue (Waldbauer 1968).
2.1.3 Use of a geometric framework
Ratio analyses in ecophysiology are problematic (Packard and Boardman 1988; Raubenheimer 1995; Beaupre 1995), and statistical problems can be avoided by direct analysis of measured variables. This approach has been convincingly advocated over the past decade by Simpson and Raubenheimer (Simpson and Raubenheimer 1993a; Simpson et al. 1995; Raubenheimer and Simpson 1999) for nutritional analysis in insects at both ingestive and post-ingestive levels. Their geometric approach has been valuable for demonstrating how animals eating unbalanced or suboptimal foods compromise between intakes of different nutrients, and is briefly explained here.
The concept of an 'intake target' provides a new way of looking at the regulation of nutrient intake (Simpson and Raubenheimer 1993a). Intake targets, which vary with growth or reproduction, are defined as the optimal amount and balance of nutrients that must be ingested for post-ingestive processes to operate at minimal cost to fitness. In the simplest case of two nutrients (such as protein and carbohydrate), with each represented as an axis on a two-dimensional graph, an insect given a single food type consumes a fixed proportion of nutrients so that its intake lies on a line passing through the origin, termed a 'rail' to suggest movement in a fixed direction (Fig. 2.2). The insect will not be able to achieve its intake target for the two nutrients if the rail does not pass through the target. It may have to compromise by eating an
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Examples of Autocrine Regulation
Evaporative cooling in ectothermic cicadas
Molecular Mechanisms Of Insect Amino Acid Absorption
Responses to osmotic stress
Anaerobic pathways and environmental hypoxia
Natural Dietary Supplements, Carbohydrates
How is digestion and nutritional physiology of insects?
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Qld Science Network launched
The QSN website provides a link to the AAQ and other science oriented websites
On Thursday 13th June, his Excellency the Governor of Queensland, The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC officially launched the Queensland Science Network (QSN).
The QSN is a collaboration between Queensland’s knowledge-based science societies to promote science events and activities and to share knowledge. New groups are added by decision of the Council of the Royal Society of Queensland, on the advice of the existing member groups.
One index page has been allocated to each member society, along with a central News stand, Events calendar and Resources library. Most content however will be found on their organisations’ home pages, to which this site directs inquiries.
The Astronomical Association of Queensland is a member of QSN, and President Claire Houston and Education Section Director David O’Driscoll attended the launch event at Government House.
David O'Driscoll
Amateur astronomer with a particular interest in photometry, astrometry and robotic telescopes. In his spare time, David develops and manages websites for astronomical groups, and is the Section Director for the AAQ's Education Section.
News2019.06.23Qld Science Network launched
News2019.06.21Want to view the stars?
Science Sites2019.06.14AAQ Eclipse website
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New Edge & Mondo: A Personal Perspective – Part 1 (Mondo 2000 History Project Entry #8)
“We talked and tripped. I decided to know God at any price, but when I came down and found some 10 Chaos guys spread around in my living room snoring and shouted, I greeted them as God, but he was with so many! We also discussed the Silicon Brotherhood idea while sitting both in that bathtub.”
As I explore Mondo 2000 History, I find myself unreasonably surprised by my own recollections — particularly by the degree to which “new age” influences flowed through both the scene and the magazine.  My own exploration of this cultural and memetic milieu  is shaping up to be fairly critical, but in this commentary sent to me for use by the Mondo 2000 History Project, Dutch writer, publisher, and entrepreneur Luc Sala eloquently embraces Mondo as “a door to understanding and experiencing the convergence and integration of technology, new age, philosophy and art”… while also noting our distinctions from some of the more formal “spiritual” practitioners.  I’m always happy to have inspired anything… well, just about anything.
Luc sent us a long ramble… a mini-memoir for the project, which he has graciously consented to my publishing here.  I’m going to run it in two parts — today and Friday. I think it provides one of the many flavors of Mondoid reality.
R.U. Sirius
Mondo 2000 has been, for me, a door to understanding and experiencing the convergence and integration of technology, new age, philosophy and art. I believe the magazine and the scene were at the root of the development of the late twentieth century cyberculture and have helped bridge the gap between the more traditional new age (fairly conservatively focused on eastern traditions, health and body; somewhat negative and Luddite about technology) and the computer/information wave.
My involvement with the actual magazine was limited, I sponsored with money and was international distributor (paying in advance helped to print the magazine). My involvement with the people of and around Mondo was what was most important for me, those contacts opened a door into the world of cyberspace, cyberart, psychedelic (ontological) philosophy, design and counterculture. The Mondo scene was where one would meet the great alternative thinkers and writers. They were easy with their contacts and networking; opened many, many doors for me and I am very grateful for what I took home — not so much in material things, but in thinking for myself. Mondo inspired me to publish a similar magazine in Dutch, called Ego2000, and has been a source of contacts and new ideas for my activities in the nineties. Apart from writing and publishing. this encompassed my broadcast television station in Amsterdam. This Kleurnet channel (colored net) produced some 8000 television programs between 1995 and 2001, covering a wide range of subjects, many with a similar focus and taste as to what Mondo offered.
Mondo 2000 was a focal point where the counterculture, psychonauts and mind-researchers met, physically in Berkeley, and at various events in SF and elsewhere. They met in person, but also communicated via the then emerging email and budding internet communications of the times such as The Well. It united the greatest out-of-the box thinkers and change agents of the era, but was not a commercial success. Money to pay the printer had to be found every time. Lack of commercial talent and financial savvy hampered its development so that the newer Wired was able to capture the flag of the cyberculture. Wired was more of a hit, but remained more gadget-oriented and lacked the heart and zeal of the Mondo initiative. Funny enough, founding publishers Louis Rosetto and his partner Jane Metcalfe (after their Electric Word venture in Holland) contacted me in early 1990 to ask for funding for a new magazine in the US, which later became Wired (1991 trial, 1993 first issue). Jane was a great networker and organizer and I actually employed her for a while. She set up the seminal September VR-party in my house in Hilversum, near Amsterdam. I always considered Wired as overly commercial and not so ethical and was proven right when Wired tried to go public and failed because their data were not very honest, to say the least. While many contributors wrote for both magazines, the Wired–Mondo dichotomy; the difference in focus taught me a lot about the soul, the root energy of a venture, how the initial thrust kind of shaped its future. Wired in a sense was a cheap market oriented venture, it lacked the quality and integrity of the Mondo format.
In the early Eighties (1982) I started my computer magazine publishing company, after working as a launch editor and roving reporter for Pat McGovern of IDC/IDG, before that being employed by Fasson, Bruynzeel and Philips. As a then new journalist (I never trained as such) I travelled extensively to the USA, as the rise of the home computer (Commodore, MSX, Apple, PC) was partly a European thing with English makers like Sinclair, but obviously the USA was the motherlode for computernews. I went to shows like the NCC, the Comdex and the CES shows, often in Las Vegas, where I hooked up with the Californian crowd of computer journalists, afficionado’s and hobbyists. Those were exciting years, the computer spread from the highbrow DEC/IBM scene to the home, hobbyists became involved, the Commodore 64 opened a new world of low level ICT. I rode that wave with magazines, end-user shows (PC Dumpdag), books and even a retail operation. I was familiar with computers already during my studies (Physics at Delft University and Economics in Rotterdam), in my early career followed trainings in Industrial Engineering and was groomed by Philips for an executive commercial position in telecom in a year-long worldwide training program. When the personal computer emerged, I jumped in with a 16 KB Philips P2000 unit I used for my first books about home-computers, computer games and programming and then gradually developed my publishing and writing activities in telecom, the home computer field and later in more general ICT. I am happy I went through the rigorous mathematical and physics programs at university, because it taught me to think straight and systematic; this being in line with the slight Asperger syndrom behaviour I sometimes display. Apart from that I have always read extensively and my journalistic and media skills were acquired and learned by doing and supported by some guts, I was always in for a new venture.
Homebrew computers
In my travels for the computer press I met people like Lee Felsenstein, Jan Lewis, Mary Eisenhart (Microtimes), and of course Allan Lundell, Amara Angelica, Saint Silicon (Jeffrey Armstrong) Dusty Parks and friends. We were hanging out together; meeting at the computer shows in the press rooms. We joined the insider parties at these events with what then were budding entrepreneurs like Gates and Philippe Kahn (Borland), and opinion leaders like John Dvorak and Jerry Pournelle. I felt part of the new wave of ICT for the masses, but as an insider. I wasn’t only a journalist and writer, but invested a bit, started trading computers and basically used my publications to get in touch with interesting people. This is something I have always done, even my Kleurnet TV station was a kind of front, a mousetrap to catch the inspiring and interesting ones, the change-agents, the mavericks.
However, in those days it was all very straight; computers, ICT, business, the alternative wasn’t on my mind, but I was connected. This all changed in 1989. I got in touch with new age thinking, had some deep and life-changing personal mystical experiences and opened up to the alternative side of computers, like brain machines, mindware (Bruce Eisner’s focus) and saw the much broader horizon opening with multimedia, pictures, video. There were visits to Xerox Parc, contacts with fringe scientists, hackers, game-developers… I realized that the days of alphanumeric number-crunching were over. Another notion that dawned upon me then was that data and information are not the same; “a bit is only information if it bytes†was the keyphrase I used and use to make that clear.
Then around the first big Hacker Conference august 1989 in Amsterdam (Hack-Tic/Paradiso), I was approached by my friend Allan Lundell (his book Virus was just out… and the famous Captain Crunch — John Draper — was there too) who proposed to me that I support a new magazine which was to be called Mondo 2000 and showed me a mockup. It looked fantastic, desktop publishing really applied to creative publishing, in color, with visual effects that were, at that time, revolution in action. At the closing day of this conference (The Galactic Hacker Conference/ICATA) we had a party at my house in Hilversum (25 km from Amsterdam), where many showed up. The hacker folks, the Chaos Club people with Wau Holland, the local hack and Digitale Stad luminaries like Rop Gonggrijp and Caroline Nevejan came. It was a nice party, that cemented many connections made at the hacker conference, which was in itself a major networking node in the pre-internet times (we had some email, but no web then). Allan and I dropped acid, sitting in the bathtub of my house. We talked and tripped. I decided to know God at any price, but when I came down and found some 10 Chaos guys spread around in my living room snoring and shouted, I greeted them as God, but he was with so many! We also discussed the Silicon Brotherhood idea while sitting both in that bathtub. Allan has some video from that party.
Locally this GHC stemmed from Hack-Tic and resulted in what later became XS4all and De Digitale Stad, but I personally had little empathy for what then was labeled as technoanarchistic hacking and focused myself on the USA and international side of things. However, this GHP brought together ‘the crucial network’ as Caroline Nevejan describes this and certainly influenced the cyberculture and cyber-counterculture. She, in a way, sees this as a consciously staged and orchestrated process, bridging the incommensurability (see 1962 Thomas Kuhn ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’) between participants. I tend to see it more as an autoconspiracy (again a notion Barlow inspired), an energetic exchange that fits the times and the place, and kind of inevitable happens. Maybe this is because I always more liked less staged parties and the mixing of people, ideas and disciplines that can then happen, more the be-in philosophy (Michael Bowen 1967). We come together because we had to, and for an outsider this might look like a conspiracy, but it is more a play. There usually is a spielmeister or facilitator, who sets the stage, but does not know or plan the outcome. This all of course has to do with my understanding of time, future and energy and how things come to pass,. The malleability of reality and the laws of nature is a major issue in my further work and development.
These events, like the GHP and the 1990 Linz Ars Electronica were pivotal events. The people that mattered in what later was coined the new edge movement met and started to make it happen.
As a result of meeting the Mondo people in Amsterdam and my promise to help them out financially, somewhat later in 1989 I went to the USA, partly because of my regular visits to computer shows and Silicon valley as a journalist/entrepreneur, but also to renew contact with Lundell and the Mondo crowd. That late summer many things happened in my life. I discovered spirituality and had some amazing mystical experiences, got in touch with the Esalen new age crowd and began to see computers in a much wider and more spiritual context. Before, I was already interested in what computers could do for psychology, like with brainmachines and even started a small shop called Egosoft. There I was selling all kind of mind-enhancing devices, the early smart drugs, and all kinds of brain-tools, hypnotic audio, isolation tanks, even some magic mushrooms — stuff that was totally legal then. But in the late summer of 1989, there came the interest in the more esoteric, even the mystical aspects, like in techno-paganistic work of Marc Pesce (the VRML guy) and how information is a dimension in itself, related to consciousness. These thoughts and notions have kept me busy ’til today, with Infotheism and the legality of Cyberspace still on my mind. Information in that sense is a path, the Silicon path, as in the Silicon Brotherhood Creed from 1989 (see adendum).
In the USofA
In the USA that autumn I got more in touch with the Mondo house and the Mondo crowd, even stayed there for some time. I wasn’t so much working on the magazine but just being helpful, paying for the first Apple Postscript laserprinter, for food and many things — as cash was rather scarce in those days. R.U. Sirius did have the most amazing collection of weird psychedelics.
It was an old house, above a creek and fairly complex of structure, with offices and rooms tucked away here and there. Alison Kennedy aka Queen Mu and Ken aka R.U. Sirius were living there. Jas Morgan was running around and the whole house was full of rubble, books, stuff, ideas, notes and half-worked articles. Mu and R.U. then were in a strange quasi-relationship. There were lovers and would-be lovers (a guy kind of lived in a van outside); many guests and some people working on the magazine. One of them was Linda Murman, then with Allan Lundell, who did some admin and money chasing. I had a great time there, not doing much apart from sending editorial articles back to my magazine staff. I remember that as the place was messy, even filthy, with rubble everywhere, I tried to clean here and there.
One day I decided to clean out the big fridge in the kitchen, and kind of put aside or in the bin the weird little packages there that I thought were just old pieces of meat or something. This caused a panic, as there wasn’t only a bear’s penis, but also spider venom and a few other outlandish ingredients, related to Queen Mu’s work/hobby. Anyway, I met amazing people there, among them John Perry Barlow, whom I liked and had many and deep conversations with. He had an apartment on Potrero hill in SF, but his family was living in Wyoming. One day he went to visit them. I hitched a ride across the bay, and then our conversation was so animated, that I stayed with him (I could always take a train back was the idea) for the whole trip, some 15 hours through snow and ice, to his family house in Wyoming. I flew back after a nice meeting with his wife and kids. On my 40th birthday, the Mondo people, always in for a party, especially as I was paying for the food and drinks, threw a great birthday dinner for me. Timothy Leary, Barlow, Claudio Naranjo and his wife (Enneagram); the weird professor of Asian religions that Queen Mu was more or less married to (a great dinner entertainer), R.U. Sirius , Linda and some more.
There was a catch, however, as Mu, in her role as grand witch, had secretly decide to match/couple me to Linda. As I was not very experienced with psychedelics at that time, the kind of concoction they half-jokingly slipped me caught me by surprise. Before that summer I had never taken anything, only one toke of a marihuana cigarette when I was 16 or so.
Her recipe in a way worked, I ended up with Linda in bed and for the next few months that was it. She had a house in Boulder Creek, full with Allan’s stuff and took me there. As I had no car, I was kind of stranded for the week out there. I remember how I sifted through Lundell’s gear. He was a writer for electronic and AV magazines, not a great organizer, but assembled the most extensive collection of video gear one could imagine, most lying around in the Boulder Creek house on the hill or stashed in a shed outside. I cleaned out a lot of rubble, read, and watched video’s (no web then!). Sometime in the spring of 1990 I decided to go back to Holland and pick up my activities as publisher. My company kind of ran itself, while away, I just wrote articles and editorials and emailed (complicated procedure in those days with modems and 12kbps connections) them, for the computer magazines we produced, In those days there were magazines for specific machines like Commodore, Atari, PC-DOS, MSX and one about general computer news.
I was (at that time and still) an outspoken and somewhat obnoxious journalist, publisher and entrepreneur and I made money in ICT, and therefore I was a bit the “enemy†of the alternativo’s in the Dutch hacker scene. When the hackers sold out for big money a few years later (Xs4all), I felt they had betrayed their original creed. I however always believed their stance was worth protecting, and the Silicon Brotherhood Creed at the end of my Virtual Reality book (written in 1990, but this creed evolved in and from meeting with Lundell in 1989) acknowledged the importance of the deviant, the alternative, independent hacker).
Barlow was, in those days, a good friend and inspiration. He spent quite some time in SF. We travelled and tripped together, he got me backstage at the Grateful Dead new years concert, we visited trade shows and discussed the world, copyrights, God and psychedelics. His thinking inspired me a lot. I had used so many of his ideas and visions in my VR book, that I decided to put his name on the cover too. We differed in opinion in some ways. I never sided with his belief that copyrights don’t matter, that information should be free. His Cyberspace Independence Declaration/Manifesto was, in the context of his EFF work, a great statement and has been very influential; one of the few articles that really address the need for clear cyberspace rights and laws. It was, at the same time, somewhat naive, expressing a belief in the power of information and freedom that didn’t reckon with the traditions and forces concerning copyrights and the fear of institutions and governments for total freedom. I think Barlow was also inspired by Leary’s Declaration of Evolution (1968). The whole subject of cyberspace rights, legislature and freedom has been the subject of many articles I wrote in Dutch, also in the context of Infotheism and my personal notion of evolution as “a remembrance of the future” and what DNA is (an antenna into the future).
Sacramento 3220
The San Francisco scene in those days had (for me) two poles. One was Henry Dakin’s outfit on Sacramento 3220 (Henry’s Playhouse full with nonprofits and a secret Apple multimedia lab, the SF-Moscow Teleport, Jack Sarfatti and, later, Faustin Bray). The other was the Mondo House, up the hill a bit in Berkeley. Henry was a humble and softspoken millionaire, heir to the Dakin Toys fortune but fascinated by the alternative; be it waterbirth, East-west bridging, dolphins, new physics (Jack Sarfatti), Damanhur or psychedelics. He facilitated so many and was so helpful in organizing, promoting and financing the new, the different, the small and great innovators, I always liked him and his gentle approach. He was easy, slept in the back of my Egosoft new-edge shop in Amsterdam. He was an inspiration for me and many.
The Mondo house, with Queen Mu in charge and at the purse (and the editing!), was a different story. More egocentric, Mondo wasn’t about helping the world. It was an ego-statement by what my kids called catch-up hippies, flippo’s obsessed with the new, the different, who saw the potential of the new technology, as a mind changing and world changing tool. The spirituality that Henry Dakin lived was part of the Mondo culture too, but more as a tool, an experience, as part of the psychedelic awareness, the transcendental in action. Of course the house was full with esoteric art and books. All present were very well read. With people like Claudio Naranjo (enneagram), Barlow and Jaron Lanier around, philosophy and spirituality were part of the daily smorgasboard of discussions and exchanges, but not in a formal way. Although all had some deeper understanding and awareness of the mystical, the transcendental or deep contemplative was not on the agenda. Many had (had) contacts with Alan Watts or John Perry and the beat-generation poets like Ginsberg were not far off, but Mondo was more worldly than that. It made connections with the New Physics crowd via Nick Herbert (and Fred Wolf); dabbled in whatever was new in arts and music, but kind of stayed away from the health scene, the new age body work, Gaia folks and soul searching. But there was enough; the connections from Mondo with what was happening in the Bay area and beyond were fascinating. I really laid the foundation of my network there, which became the basis for my later work (writing, television, esoteric studies) and inspires me till today.
Before Lundell and friends made me aware of Mondo and got me involved, I was familiar with the technological side of things, the ICT industry and its outgrowth into brain machines, mind technology, but was not really hip to the general counterculture of those days. I was more a new age person with an ICT interest. Of course when I got to the Mondo house, I caught up. I have seen and read the earlier publications that R.U. was involved with — High Frontiers and Reality Hackers, but those were more traditional in appearance and layout. It was Mondo (and of course Bart Nagel and Heide Foley who made that jump in layout perspective happen) that really opened up to PostScript and the integrated layout possibilities that so markedly made Mondo 2000 a new wave in publishing.
When the Mondo people asked for support, I donated money to help print the first issue, as did John Perry Barlow and I also subsequently helped out here and there with some funds and became international distributor, not with much success. It came down to preordering and prepaying for some 800 issues (and that helped to get it printed anyway) every run, and having them shipped to some distributors in the Netherland and England. However, I never made money out of Mondo and ended up with serious stacks of Mondo’s, still in my cellars.
As R.U. was not only a keen observer and gifted writer, he also supplied all kinds of things to the Bay area cognoscenti and therefore had a real interesting network. Psychedelics were the not so secret but illicit link between the various subworlds of art, literature, music, new age and technology. Morgan Russell, R.U., Queen Mu, St. Jude (Jude Milhon/Hippie) were all broadly interested, but in different directions, with different networks and it was this convergence that was the hallmark of Mondo. They covered the whole gamut of alternativity, with a distinct “highness” underlying the meetings, events and discussions.
As this was the Bay Area and Silicon Valley was close, the link with the computer industry was easy and logical, There was the money and the excitement, in those days everybody looked at the new possibilities, whether it was in music with synthesizers; in broadcasting with digital media; in entertainment with the emerging computer games — and virtual reality was definitely the magic potion that would free us from the limitations of space and time, the ultimate trip, the electronic drug. Most of the people involved had a sixties background, although there were also the catch-up hippies like myself, who missed out on but were fascinated by the likes of Leary and the Zeitgeist of the sixties.
Part 2 will be published Friday, 3/30
Adendum
The Silicon Br/otherhood :
` We acknowledge the Silicon Path ‘
By Luc Sala and Allan Lundell
Hilversum, August 14, 1989
The computer and information technology, with the word Silicon as its main symbol, is one of the identifiers of the 20th century. This has challenged some to explore its possibilities beyond the mere superficial, utilitarian aspects of it. In arts, media, psychology, Artificial intelligence, consciousness projects, religion and creative crime, new applications are discovered and new interactions mapped. As has happenend in the history mathematics, the quabala, martial arts, building technology etc., such powerful new knowledge is first applied to the relatively mundane fields of economics, warfare and the suppression of people before one acknowlegdes and then explores the transcendental possibilities.
All through the ages people have concentrated on parts of the reality to gain access to the greater or even ultimate reality in themselves and the perennial wisdom of our species and the earth, our Silicon Mother Goddess.
The computer offers us new, and at the same time, age-old, possibilities of concentration and expansion, of communication and isolation, ego-discovery and letting go, that are largely untapped. Those who are now so deeply involved in the computer are, even unconsciously, part of a new tradition, the Silicon Path.
Now we, the initiators, explorers, guardians and even exploiters of the Silicon awareness revolution are concerned about its uses and abuses, and above all, acknowlegde its potential for growing awareness and human transcedence. We owe today’s hackers and whiz- kids, and ourselves, the opportunity to follow the Silicon Path, becoming the magi(cians) and mystics of our times. If the computer is nothing but another way to get in touch with the ultimate reality (and what else could it be), it needs some `small’ br/others to safeguard that path.
Tags: Alan Watts, Allen Ginsberg, artificial intelligence, autoconspiracy, Captain Crunch, Chaos Computer Club, Claudio Naranjo, Esalen, Galactic Hackers Conference, Grateful Dead, Hack-Tic, Henry Dakin, Isolation tank, Jack Sarfatti, Jame Metcalfe, John Draper, John Perry Barlow, Louis Rosetto, Luc Sala, magic mushrooms, Mondo 2000, Mondo 2000 History Project, new age, Nick Herbert, psychedelic drugs, Queen Mu, R.U. Sirius, Rop Gonggrijp, smart drugs, Terence McKenna, Thomas Kuhn, Timothy Leary, virtual reality
Uncategorized | R.U. Sirius | 28 March 2012 |
The Seeker: A Psychedelic Suburban Youth Doesn’t Find It Tripping. An Interview with Peter Bebergal
“Psychedelic music  functions as tool for exploring all the myriad aspects of the psychedelic experience; the bliss, the dread, the melancholy of coming down, and the joy of having felt as though you have glimpsed the infinite.”
I could have quibbled with Peter Bebergal about the purpose and value of psychedelic drugs and psychedelic culture, but I decided to just let him share his experience and views.
Bebergal has written a deeply personal and very moving story about seeking god and transcendence through psychedelic drugs and mysticism in the cosmic desert that was late ‘70s/early ‘80s suburban youth culture. Too Much To Dream: a psychedelic american boyhood takes us from the innocence of a young pothead learning mystic secrets from a likely schizophrenic old tripster while working at his job in the mall through happy acid flashes and big bummers; through hanging with ‘80s punks in Boston, and eventually through hard drug addiction and finally sobriety. All the while, Bebergal seeks spiritual satisfaction and understanding.
Bebergal also encloses satisfying bits of psychedelic history and a manifest love for psychedelic music that will make you want to punch up Sid Barrett on Pandora and absorb all the influences.
RU SIRIUS: Yours is a very interior story of psychedelic seeking, despite some cultural referents. My experience – in turning 18 in 1970 – was more like, “Oh yeah. I caught a glimpse of the infinite divine again last night. That’s cool… but on with the revolution!â€Â  I wonder if the focus on finding god is peculiar to you or peculiar to the times you found yourself coming of age in.
PETER BEBERGAL: My generation was certainly lacking a cohesive counterculture. Even the punks couldn’t agree on what we were actually fighting for. The only thing we knew for sure was that the hippies failed. Charles Manson and Kent State were the ubiquitous images of the sixties when I was growing up in the late 70s and early 80s. Along with these dark shadows was a restless spiritual need. The aquarian age never materialized and the normative Judeo/Christian teachings felt hypocritical and empty. There were no teachers, no gurus, no grown ups we felt we could really trust. For many, myself included, this resulted in an overreaching for meaning. Looking for spiritual insight, it was impossible not to find yourself browsing through the Occult/New Age section of the bookstore. What was there but more overreaching?… a kind of schizophrenic brew; Carlos Castaneda, The Tao of Physics, the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, and Chariots of the Gods.
Nevertheless, I also think there is something peculiar to the makeup of the addict/alcoholic, an underlying feeling of disconnection and loneliness; a deep need for divine communion of some kind. Sadly it often results in desperation towards self-destruction. So this combined with my generation’s own lack of social/spiritual authenticity meant I was essentially doomed.
RU:Â It strikes me that psychedelics are both an enhancer and distorter of
pattern recognition. It’s like once the mind becomes too conscious and too obsessive about pattern recognition, it becomes delusional.
PB:Â This is probably the most succinct way of putting it I have heard. It’s essentially what we see happen with Phillip K. Dick. It’s part of the reason why no matter how non-addicting psychedelics might be from a chemical point-of-view, the capacity for the human mind to compulsively search for the same connection/insight over and over again is boundless. This same phenomena can be seen with a certain kind of occultism. Hermeticism can become an exercise in endless connection making and it’s amazing how even the most thoughtful occultists can become conspiracy theorists overnight. Psychedelics, and other forms of non-ordinary consciousness, can readily show that there is more to the human mind, and possibly the universe, than we can perceive normally, but when we lose the ability to critically distance ourselves from these experiences, the danger for delusion is great.
RU:Â Could you say something about what your peak experience was with psychedelics… and then… without it?
PB:Â Sadly, despite my best efforts, I never had what I call a peak experience with psychedelics. They always seemed just out of reach. I would have glimpses, moments where I could literally feel certain doorways open, but they would snap shut if I tried to walk over the threshold. During one trip I felt deeply connected to the woods I was in. It was an autumn day and the leaves rose up and applauded, winking and dancing all around me. I felt a spirit of the world moving around me and I was ready for a true communion, but of course some giggling friend I was with took me out of the reverie. I was trapped in the suburbs. The holy places for me were the copse of trees adjacent to the golf course or a rooftop overlooking the train tracks. But for whatever reason they did not signify deeply enough, and I was always looking around the corner of my experiences for something deeper.
Without psychedelics, I have had what I could call essential peak experiences, but they were more about immanence than transcendence; watching my mother die in the arms of my father as the cancer took her. I felt the spirit of the universe descend into the room that night and I believe I experienced a profound state of non-ordinary consciousness, brought on by the amazing chemistry of deep sadness and wonder. Similarly watching my son being born, and then in even more subtle moments, as when a giant blue heron flew along the window of a train as I looked out.
RU:Â It always struck me as interesting that psychedelics can be used as a cure for addiction and yet — in a certain percentage of trippers — it seems to bring out the addictive personality. Â How would you describe that seeming contradiction or odd contrast?
PB:Â When used a cure, psychedelics are administered in a very specific context by a therapist or within a ritual context as in the Native American Church who use peyote and see a dramatic decrease of alcoholism. I cannot imagine someone getting to the other side of their addiction self-dosing and tripping on their own, but you never know. Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous used LSD after meeting Humphrey Osmond who believed that LSD could induce states akin to delerium tremems and possibly scare alcoholics away from booze. But Wilson saw another potential, a way of bringing about a spiritual experience that he believed was essential for a drunk hoping to get sober. He eventually had to give up the experiments for the overall good of AA, and later was said to have remarked that even though he had deep insights on LSD, that he also discovered there was no escaping from himself. Real recovery was going to have to be a slower, more deliberate process after all.
RU: Throughout the book you talk about a love for psychedelic rock music, which could only have emerged from the street use of psychedelic drugs, even if some who play it didn’t – or don’t imbibe. What would you say about what this music evokes and do you feel some ambiguity about your love for it?
PB: Music has become one of the most important sources I have for experiencing and recreating current and past altered states. Psychedelic music in particular functions as tool for exploring all the myriad aspects of the psychedelic experience; the bliss, the dread, the melancholy of coming down, and the joy of having felt as though you have glimpsed the infinite. Music is capable of containing so much and it’s the best “language” I know for expressing the psychedelic experience.
It was music that started me on the path of writing this book. I found myself collecting psychedelic music again and uncovering an entirely new generation of artists working with these tropes. From the psych folk of Woods, Blithe Sons, and United Bible Studies to the dangerous stoner rock of Black Mountain to the transcendent groove of White Rainbow. And all these artists are doing something remarkable. They are, for the most part, looking inward, towards a more immanent and pantheistic notion of divinity at least musically if not personally.
As for ambiguity, I only wish that I had the sense to listen to more Stooges and Soft Machine than all that bloody Syd Barrett when I was a kid.
RU: You remain interested in the psychedelic movement even though you feel you can’t risk taking them yourself. What do you hope for people today who take psychedelic drugs in a way that is conscious of set and setting and so forth?
PB: I have come to believe in the absolute necessity of ritual and community, whether it’s the Native American Church or your local OTO lodge. However you can find it, try to access a group of people that share your spiritual/psychological sensibilities and that hopefully have a few seasoned elders and teachers. This is not to say there aren’t those that can handle the solitary journey, but I still think however one can position oneself into a larger context with its own myths and symbols can only be a good thing.
But more importantly I hope that those who use these drugs will see them not as a path but as doorway towards a spiritual/conscious way of life. As Alan Watts is often quoted as saying, “When you get the message, hang up the phone.”
RU:Â Was it difficult writing this personally revealing book and do you hear from other American suburbanites who resonate with your experience?
PB: Writing this book was a challenge because it forced me to do away with how I had continued to romanticize my past and at the same time see that I was not unique, that I was just a kid doing the best I could during a time of great spiritual and social confusion. Being predisposed to addiction made my experience a little more dramatic than some, but in the end, I was a teenager trying to negotiate something very human that had revealed itself to me at an early age in a very intense way; there is meaning to be found beyond the conventional, beyond the mainstream. I am so glad I learned this. I have kept it close to my heart my whole life. Despite it all, I am glad to be one of the freaks.
I have some very nice conversations with others who identified with this journey, and who also see that while drugs can reveal some interesting and important things, at the end of the day we must trudge a road without special aid, with merely our own malleable and precious consciousness and that music, art, meditation, a little fasting here and there, and people to share our stories with is a path that can take us to places we never could have imagined.
Tags: Alan Watts, Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson, Carlos Castaneda, Charles Manson, Drug culture, Hippie, Humphrey Osmond, Lysergic acid diethylamide, Native American Church, OTO lodge, Peter Bebergal, Phillip K. Dick, Psychedelia, Psychedelic, Psychedelic drug, Psychedelic therapy, Set and setting, Sid Barrett
Uncategorized | R.U. Sirius | 06 November 2011 |
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Current Country: Luxembourg
Bonsucro: Transforming their supply chain
Preparing a technology roadmap to help inform and enable the strategic vision
Bonsucro is a global multi-stakeholder non-profit membership organization, dedicated to reducing the environmental and social impacts of sugarcane production, while recognizing the need for economic viability.
Following the establishment of a global metric for sugarcane production (the Bonsucro Production Standard), the organization wanted to support its members and wider stakeholders in their sustainability efforts.
Working together with Bonsucro, the team drew on experience from its Sustainability and Accenture Development Partnerships resources to prepare a technology roadmap incorporating priorities, dependencies, enablers and potential risks as well as suggested effort and deployment timelines.
VIEW ARTICLE [PDF]
Following the establishment of a global metric for sugarcane production (the Bonsucro Production Standard), the organization wanted to support its members and wider stakeholders in their sustainability efforts, especially in emerging markets such as Bolivia and Guatemala.
Bonsucro’s vision included helping its members accelerate the pace and scale of change through increasing the impact and improvement of mills and farms, supporting and leveraging assured supply chains, and creating a new narrative for the sector.
The organization engaged Accenture Strategy for guidance on potential technology solutions to support and inform this strategy. Effective solutions would need to be globally-credible, yet locally-relevant; include the identification and leveraging of strategic partnerships; and enable the capture and transfer of knowledge across Bonsucro’s global member network.
Over an eight-week period, a combined team from Accenture Strategy and Accenture Development Partnerships collaborated closely with Bonsucro to understand how technology can drive transformational change in the sugarcane sector.
To shape a relevant set of activities, the project team surveyed the full Bonsucro membership base and conducted 12 interviews with representatives from each membership group (farmers, mills, intermediaries, end users and civil society) and key geographic regions. Following a mid-project checkpoint, Bonsucro and Accenture Development Partnerships agreed to develop a technology roadmap to help inform and enable Bonsucro’s strategy. In the roadmap, the team captured a number of key technological and operational activities for the core team to complete over the course of a year.
The technology roadmap incorporated priorities, dependencies, enablers and potential risks as well as suggested effort and deployment timelines. Three primary areas for improvement were identified: benchmarking, knowledge management and collaboration. Supported by a series of operational activities, the technology deployed could both inform and enable the desired improvements.
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Home / Columnists / Ricky Dimon / 2019 U.S. Open Tennis Draw Analysis: Djokovic In Tough Quarter, Nadal Sitting Pretty In Bottom Half
2019 U.S. Open Tennis Draw Analysis: Djokovic In Tough Quarter, Nadal Sitting Pretty In Bottom Half
Photo by 10sBalls
By Ricky Dimon
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were in the same quarter of last year’s U.S. Open draw. That matchup never happened. They could not be in the same quarter this time around as fellow top-four seeds, but the two recent Wimbledon finalists did land in the same half. While Djokovic and Federer are on a collision course for the semis, Rafael Nadal is on the other side with Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Nick Kyrgios.
Ricky breaks down the U.S. Open men’s singles draw:
Djokovic section
The best top-four seed (Djokovic) and the best 5-8 seed (Daniil Medvedev) make this a tough section of the draw. Medvedev is completely on fire, having made it to three consecutive finals in Washington, D.C. (runner-up), Montreal (runner-up), and Cincinnati (champion). The fifth-ranked Russian could first run into trouble in the third round against either Taylor Fritz or Yoshihito Nishioka, while Fabio Fognini and Nikoloz Basilashvili are potential fourth-round foes.
A Djokovic-Medvedev rematch (Medvedev pulled off a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 upset in the Cincinnati semifinals after also beating Djokovic in Monte-Carlo) is probable but not a lock. Even Djokovic could be tested prior to the quarters, as he may have to face 2016 U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the last 16. Wawrinka and 2017 runner-up Kevin Anderson were on a collision course for the third round, but Anderson unsurprisingly pulled out due to recurring injury problems.
Best first-rounder — (11) Fabio Fognini vs. Reilly Opelka
From a talent standpoint, Fognini can beat anyone on any given day (see: vs. Nadal at the 2015 U.S. Open as one example). The same can almost be said of Opelka—not because of natural talent but because he owns one of the biggest serves on tour. The 6’11’’ American recently upset Wawrinka at Wimbledon and he can be similarly dangerous on hard courts at home in the United States. If Opelka’s onslaught of serves puts Fognini in a foul mood, an upset could be in the cards.
Possible surprises – If Djokovic gets knocked out prior to the quarterfinals, it will be at the hands of Wawrinka. Medvedev, of course, is more likely to falter. He has been playing an incredible amount of tennis over the past month and while a week off in between Cincinnati and the U.S. Open helps, it is not an automatic lifeline. An in-form Fritz or the Fognini-Opelka winner could eventually capitalize.
Federer section
Federer probably would have preferred to be in Nadal’s half rather than Djokovic’s, but he certainly cannot complain about his quarter. His road to the second week will likely go qualifier-qualifier-Lucas Pouille, which should not cause any serious problems. Guido Pella, David Goffin, and Pablo Carreno Busta are possible fourth-round opponents for the Swiss. Goffin is coming off a surprising runner-up performance in Cincinnati.
The other side of this quarter could go in any number of directions. Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic are almost always less than 100 percent, Borna Coric has been dealing with physical problems of his own, and Christian Garin has no business being seeded at a non-French Open slam. This is wide open for an unseeded floater to make some serious noise and perhaps face Federer in the quarterfinals.
Best first-rounder — (19) Guido Pella vs. Pablo Carreno Busta
Pella produced his Grand Slam breakthrough at Wimbledon, making a run to the quarterfinals. Carreno Busta is a former U.S. Open semifinalist (2017). The Spaniard is not in the kind of form that carried him to the Nitto ATP Finals as an alternate entry two years ago, but he currently finds himself in the Winston-Salem quarters and is never an easy out. This will be a baseline slugfest between two players in fine form.
Possible surprises — Don’t laugh; Grigor Dimitrov has a chance of reaching the quarterfinals. All of the seeds in that eighth of the bracket are vulnerable and first-round opponent Andreas Seppi is also slumping. If the Bulgarian can work his way into the tournament at the expense of Seppi and Coric, confidence could lead to bigger and better things. An even more likely unseeded quarterfinalist, however, is Atlanta champion Alex de Minaur.
Thiem section
This by far the most intriguing section of the draw, and not just because there is no obvious favorite being Big 3 free. Thiem is joined by Tsitsipas, Kyrgios, Roberto Bautista Agut, Gael Monfils, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, Denis Shapovalov, and Cincinnati semifinalist Richard Gasquet. It will be wild right from the start, when Tsitsipas runs into Rublev in the opening round and Auger-Aliassime goes up against Shapovalov in an all-Canadian affair.
Both Thiem and Tsitsipas know a thing or two about flaming out in the first round of a slam. It just happened at Wimbledon, where the Greek went down to Thomas Fabbiano. It is none other than Fabbiano whom Thiem will play in his U.S. Open opener. The Auger Aliassime-Shapovalov winner could eventually get Monfils in the last 32 and Thiem in the fourth round. If Tsitsipas scrapes past Rublev, he could eventually meet Kyrgios in the third round and Bautista Agut in the fourth.
Best first-rounder — (18) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Denis Shapovalov
Auger-Aliassime vs. Shapovalov in the first round for a second year in a row? You can’t make this stuff up, folks. Perhaps it is fitting, as the 2018 U.S. Open showdown between these good friends and fellow Canadians never reached the real finish line. Auger-Aliassime retired due to illness while leading 7-5, 5-7, 4-1. Shapovalov was a considerable favorite at the point in time, but now the tide has turned with Auger-Aliassime ranked 19 spots ahead at No. 19 in the world.
Possible surprises — Would any top-four seed making it to the semifinals constitute a surprise? Given that Thiem is much better on clay and the rest of his quarter is littered with danger, the answer may be “yes.” But it could definitely happen. The Austrian’s draw through three rounds is friendly, two out of the Monfils-Auger Aliassime-Shapovalov group will be gone early, and either Tsitsipas or Kyrgios will also be ousted in week one. Also look for Shapovalov and Rublev to go a long way if they pull off first-round upsets.
Nadal section
Perhaps no one will like his draw more than Nadal. It is true that the second-ranked Spaniard is kicking off his campaign against the man who beat Federer and reached the quarterfinals last year (John Millman), but lightning is not going to strike twice. Nadal should sleepwalk into the second week before going up against either John Isner or Marin Cilic. Both Isner and Cilic can be extremely dangerous, but they are shadows of their former selves at the moment.
Isner and Cilic could easily bow out prior to the fourth round, just as Zverev may not make it far enough to meet Nadal in the quarterfinals. The sixth-ranked German awaits an in-form Radu Albot in round one, perhaps followed by either Frances Tiafoe or Ivo Karlovic and then Benoit Paire. A fourth-rounder against Montreal semifinalist Karen Khachanov would also be rough. Khachanov, Paire, or Diego Schwartzman are arguably the most likely quarterfinal foes for Nadal.
Best first-rounder — (6) Alexander Zverev vs. Radu Albot
Zverev has reached back-to-back French Open quarterfinals. But that’s it; that’s the entirety of his good news at Grand Slams throughout an otherwise impressive career. The 22-year-old German is just 4-4 lifetime in main-draw action at Flushing Meadows, with especially disappointing losses the last two seasons to Coric (2017) and Philipp Kohlschreiber (2018). Albot boasts a 27-19 record in 2019 and he is the kind of player who will make Zverev work extremely hard—maybe too hard.
Possible surprises — Albot beating Zverev would not be that big of a surprise. But it could open the door for a deep run by Tiafoe, who began his season with a quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is slowly rounding into form and may have a chance to beat Khachanov in the last 64. Also watch out for Jan-Lennard Struff, who has a great shot at emerging from the Isner-Cilic section. In this quarter, no seed other than Nadal is safe.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.
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1Rad-Reader Reviews
We're a family of readers. Meeting the most interesting people. Reading Romance, Christian Romance, Contemp, Chick Lit., Suspense Romance, New Romance, YA, Some can sizzle your blood. My hubby will be writing on Hist., Sports, Cookbooks, Bio. & Mystery. What type of genres do you enjoy? Some good author interviews coming. We're on Twitter:@1RadReader59 Instagram:@1radreader and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksreviewedauthorstoo/. Enjoy reading, we will.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT (Pilots Hockey #4)
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT SOPHIA HENRY
Kristen Katsaros wants a life full of adventure and laughter. After a difficult childhood, her motto is to live each day like it’s her last—because it just might be. So when Kristen’s parents send her on a post-grad singles cruise in the Caribbean to meet a Greek husband, she promptly hooks up with the hottest guy she’s ever met. Pasha’s decidedly not Greek, but Kristen gives him a pass because he’s got fun written all over his rock-hard abs.
Pavel Gribov, the cocky playboy of the Detroit Pilots hockey team, can score any girl he wants. But when a teammate drags him on a singles cruise, he can’t resist the chance to help out a drop-dead gorgeous damsel in distress by pretending to be her boyfriend. Before long, the fake fling turns intimate, fueled by something much deeper than lust.
Kristen and Pasha both agree to walk away once the cruise is over, but reality hits like a slap shot when Kristen finds out Pasha lied about everything. Just when she’s ready to start living again, the two stubborn survivors must decide if they can bear to lose the best thing that ever happened to either of them.
HUBBY'S REVIEW:
Another good story about hockey players and the life they live. Pavel Gribov is a star player for the Detroit Pilots, and is on a cruise with another player who is dealing with his break up. Kristen is on the cruise because it is a singles cruise for Greeks. She is there with a friend and a cousin and a guy who both their families think they should marry because they have known each other since children. She is not attracted to him at all and when she meets Pavel he changes his name and they spend the week on the cruise being together and enjoying each other’s company and Pavel gets Kristen out of her comfort zone. They open up to each other and when it is time to leave she wants to continue after the cruise only to be shot down by him. When she is back in Detroit and celebrating her best friend’s wedding announcement, and who does she met Pavel but she does not know him by that name and when she hears that name her whole idea of him has fallen apart. He realizes what he has done and moves on to the Charlotte team which is the top club only to be sent back down to the minors and back to Detroit to fix his game. Can it be fixed, and when they do run into each other what will happen? Read the book to find out. Another fabulous book. I got this book from netgalley. I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
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Successful launch of EUTELSAT KONNECT - Source: Eutelsat
Public-Private Collaboration commits to Accelerate Access to Health Services in Africa, reaching 1.7 Million People - Source: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Novartis, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Last Mile Health, Lilly, Living Goods, Pfizer Inc
The Africa Forum sets the Date and Location for the Symposium on Cameroon - Source: Africa Forum
Future Females & Ideas Cartel: Driving female-focused entrepreneurship through coworking and community - Source: Ideas Cartel
Africa Oil & Power launches Renewables, African LNG and Energy Finance Events at Africa Oil & Power 2020 in Cape Town - Source: Africa Oil & Power Conference
Source: Embassy of the United States - Accra - Ghana | Jan 16, 2020
Statement on the End of U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa Restrictions in Ghana
All pending non-immigrant visas (NIV) to domestic employees of Ghanaian diplomats posted in the United States that were received during the visa restrictions will now be processed
The United States has lifted the visa restrictions applied under Section 243(d) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. As of Friday, January 17, 2020, visa processing will return to the normal procedures. The validity period and number of entries on new tourist and business visas (B1, B2, and…
Source: Embassy of the United States - Accra - Ghana | Nov 22, 2019
U.S. Ambassador Congratulates 125 Young African Leader Participants of the YALI Regional Leadership Center
The completion of this training brings the number of young African graduates from the West Africa Regional Leadership Center (RLC) to more than 5,300 since the U.S. Government launched the program in 2015
On Friday, November 22, 2019, U.S. Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan addressed and presented plaques to outstanding participants in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) West Africa Regional Leadership Center (RLC) training program. One hundred twenty-five (125) participants representing nine countries in the sub-region completed the three-week on-site training in Business…
USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Global Health Bureau visits Ghana
The senior delegation also travelled to the Northern Region to visit health facilities and water, sanitation, and hygiene sites sponsored by the American people through USAID
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) for the Bureau of Global Health Kerry Pelzman visited Ghana from November 13 – 15, 2019, accompanied by a travel delegation including USAID Global Health Bureau Senior Advisor Aye Aye Thwin and USAID Africa Bureau West Africa Coastal Team…
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Travels to Ashanti Region to Promote USA-Ghana Partnerships
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Lamora traveled to Ejura on November 19 to commission the Ejuraman Integrated Community Center for Employable Skills (ICCES) Training Center’s new classroom block
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Christopher J. Lamora traveled to the Ashanti Region from November 19-20 to promote partnerships on economic development, education, and good governance between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana. While in the Ashanti Region, DCM Lamora traveled to Ejura on November…
Study in the United States: Ghana Takes Number Two Spot in Sub-Saharan Africa
Over half of the Ghanaian students in the United States are studying at the graduate level and this number increased by 21.3% over last year
The 2019 Open Doors Report on international education has shown an overall 13.9% increase over 2018 in the number of Ghanaian students attending universities and colleges in the United States, from 3,213 to 3,661. This brings Ghana into second place in Sub-Saharan Africa, a spot previously held by Kenya. The…
USA Supports Ghana to Advance and Strengthen Community-level Health Service Delivery
The project expanded evidence-based, high-impact interventions to prevent child and maternal deaths, increased family planning use, reduced malaria-related morbidity and mortality
On November 12, 2019, the United States of America, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), joined dignitaries from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ghana Health Service to celebrate collaborative efforts to improve the health of Ghanaians at the USAID Systems for Health learning event. The…
U.S. and Ghana Launch Seed Sector Workshop in Ghana
Discussion topics included the current state of the seed sector, the role of government in the production and distribution of quality seed
The U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a Seed Sector Workshop from November 5-6 at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement. A part of the Borlaug Higher Education for Agriculture Research and Development (BHEARD) Program, this two-day workshop hosted representatives from the Government of…
Source: Embassy of the United States - Accra - Ghana | Oct 28, 2019
Deputy Secretary Censky leads Trade Mission to West Africa
The mission will be based in Accra, Ghana, and will also include buyer delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky will lead a trade mission to West Africa, October 28-31, to help United States exporters unlock new opportunities in a region where strong economic growth is driving demand for imported food and farm products. The mission will be based in Accra, Ghana, and…
From left to right: Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, Chairperson of the Inter Agency Coordinating Committee for Health Promotion; Ms. Joan Schubert, Communicate for Health; Dr. Anthony Nsiah -Asare, Director General of the Ghana Health Service; Ms. Janean Davis, USAID/Ghana Acting Deputy Mission Director; Mr. Thaddeus Pennas, Technical Advisor, FHI 360
USA partners with Ghana to promote Healthier Behaviors
The Ghana Health Service aired 14,900 television and 62,600 radio spots promoting healthy behaviors to improve the health and well-being of Ghanaians
The United States of America is partnering with Ghana’s Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to encourage all Ghanaians to “Live a Good Life!” In 2016, the Ghana Health Service revived the GoodLife brand, a mass media campaign to promote healthy lifestyle messages through television, radio, posters, and…
Statement from the Embassy of the United States of America Regarding the Termination of the Private Sector Concession by the Government of Ghana under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Power Investment
The U.S. Government, through MCC will continue to implement the Tranche I funds of $308 million with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA)
On October 19, 2019, the Government of Ghana (GoG) informed the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Washington, D.C. of its decision to terminate the concession agreement between Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and private operator Power Distribution Services Ghana Ltd (PDS). The United States of America notes this decision with…
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Source: Eutelsat | Jan 17, 2020 Successful launch of EUTELSAT KONNECT
Built by Thales Alenia Space, the EUTELSAT KONNECT communications satellite, features all-electric propulsion and operates in Ka-band
Source: Africa Forum | Jan 17, 2020 The Africa Forum sets the Date and Location for the Symposium on Cameroon
The Africa Forum has set the date and venue for the Symposium as April 2020 in Kenya
Source: Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) | Jan 16, 2020 Push for playoff qualification intensifies as action enters match day 11; Eldoret hosts double header as Championship enters match day 11
Seventh placed Stanbic Mwamba, Kenya Cup semifinalists last season are at home to sixth placed Top Fry Nakuru at the Railway Club
Source: Ideas Cartel | Jan 16, 2020 Future Females & Ideas Cartel: Driving female-focused entrepreneurship through coworking and community
The Future Females community isn’t only forward thinking in what they work for, but also how they work
Source: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Novartis, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Last Mile Health, Lilly, Living Goods, Pfizer Inc | Jan 16, 2020 Public-Private Collaboration commits to Accelerate Access to Health Services in Africa, reaching 1.7 Million People
Healthcare companies and philanthropies to fund training of thousands of community health workers as part of larger initiative led by Last Mile Health and Living Goods to advance universal health coverage
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Source: United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) | Jan 17, 2020 Statement of Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Special Representative for West Africa and The Sahel, on The Gambia
The Special Representative urges all political actors to refrain from violence while exercising their right of free assembly
Source: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) | Jan 17, 2020 Libya: Tens of thousands of children at risk amidst violence and chaos of unrelenting conflict
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore
Source: United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) | Jan 17, 2020 Six months following the enforced disappearance of Siham Sergewa, UNSMIL calls for her immediate release
Siham Sergewa, an elected member of the House of Representatives, was seized at night from her home in the heavily fortified Buhedima District of Benghazi
Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Sierra Leone | Jan 17, 2020 Chinese Embassy launches Training Course on Pottery Production Techniques in Freetown
In recent years, human resources development has been one of the highlights in the cooperation between China and Sierra Leone
Source: Global Affairs Canada | Jan 17, 2020 Minister Gould concludes visit to Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo
The Minister announced Canadian assistance to provide support to families affected by the floods that have devastated areas of the country
Source: International Rescue Committee | Jan 16, 2020 Injured civilians attacked while being rushed to hospital for life saving care in International Rescue Committee (IRC) ambulance
South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous places for aid workers
Source: Africa Oil & Power Conference | Jan 16, 2020 Africa Oil & Power launches Renewables, African LNG and Energy Finance Events at Africa Oil & Power 2020 in Cape Town
This year’s event will have a major focus on the driving factors behind Africa’s energy transition
Source: The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) | Jan 14, 2020 Capitalism for everyone: The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) join forces with the AFRICA CEO FORUM to rethink the role of Africa’s private sector
With the role of capitalism sparking intense debate around the world and as the need to “do good” becomes increasingly pressing in Africa, 1,800 leading decision-makers from industry, finance and politics will come together in Abidjan to boost the impact of African companies
Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) | Jan 13, 2020 African Development Bank approves €8 million technical assistance grant to support preparation of Ruzizi IV Hydro Power Project in the Great Lakes region
The project will provide electricity to millions of households, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises and industries, thereby improving the living conditions of the regional population
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3/13/12 Maryville Daily Times: Editorial: Sen. Alexander would end ‘Big Wind,’ ‘Big Oil’ special tax breaks
3/8/12 Scripps Howard: Sen. Alexander seeks end to wind energy tax credit
3/7/12 The Washington Times: Alexander attacks tax break for wind power
3/5/12 Knoxville News Sentinel: Michael Collins: Alexander lauds new reactors, working on waste
3/1/12 Memphis Commercial Appeal: Former Army ranger, now a Memphian, praised for World War II heroics
2/24/12 Knoxville News Sentinel: Freedom and belonging: 163 newest American citizens naturalized in Blount ceremony
2/22/12 Weekly Column by Senator Lamar Alexander: “It’s Time to End Big Wind’s Big Loophole”
2/19/12 Knoxville News Sentinel: Harry Moskos: Author Alex Haley's legacy endures two decades after death
2/9/12 Roll Call: Alexander Spreads His Wings Post-Leadership
2/3/12 National Review Online: Op-Ed by Sen. Lamar Alexander: Obama Undermining Checks and Balances in Our Constitution
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Based on events that led to the 2008 financial meltdown, this film set inside a fictitious Wall Street investment firm finds an entry-level analyst (Zachary Quinto) in possession of disturbing information about the corporation's financial health, which soon makes its way to the two men (Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons) at the top of the executive chain. Sensing looming disaster, they make decisions about preserving their wealth...at any cost. With Paul Bettany, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci.
Genre: Drama, Thrillers & Suspense
Director: J C Chandor
Starring: Demi Moore, Jeremy Irons, Kevin Spacey, Mary McDonnell, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Simon Baker, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley
Rating: M - Offensive language
Location in store: Drama
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Argentina's tango under threat
Government launches campaign to protect heritage of instrument that gives dance its sound.
04 Sep 2010 04:36 GMT
The 2010 International Tango Festival has just concluded in Argentina, and it paid special tribute to the instrument that gives the dance its unique sound: the bandoneon.
But the sound of the tango as we know it could be under threat.
In this week's Latin American Focus on Al Jazeera, Lucia Newman reports on efforts to protect this age-old instrument from extinction.
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Gladys Knight Tour Dates and Concerts
Motown Acts
Disco Acts
Jazz/ Pop/ Soul
Multi award-winning lead singer with Gladys Knight and the Pips, who recorded many a hit throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s - 37 top forty songs in the UK and America from 1961 to 1987. Gladys also sang the theme tune for the 1989 James Bond film 'Licence to Kill'.
Has Worked With
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Ashford & Simpson
Leela James
Gary Bartlett
Dancing in the Streets
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Jun 2019:The Week Ahead with The Eagles, Kylie Minogue, Lana Del Rey, The Beach Boys, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones '80s Soundtracks, Nocturnal Live, Pink, Tears for Fears,
The Week Ahead with Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Isle of Wight Festival, Download, Biffy Clyro, Nick Cave, The Courteeners, Garbage, Bryan Ferry, Pete Tong, Backstreet Boys and more
Feb 2019:Fat Friday: k.d. lang, Snarky Puppy, Stone Temple Pilots, Mumford and Sons, Peter Doherty and more
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How blockchain technology will transform the supply chain
Blockchain drives a new industrial revolution. At least, that is what many people claim. Others are still questioning the disruptive potential of blockchain technology.
Blockchain drives a new industrial revolution. At least, that is what many people claim. Others are still questioning the disruptive potential of blockchain technology. Didn’t Gartner recently announce that blockchain has entered the ‘Trough of disillusionment’ in their Hype Cycle, meaning the technology will come to maturity in 5 to 10 years?
This coming to maturity can be considered good news or bad news, depending on the way you look at it. It will see the light before we see the impact of blockchain in our daily business environments. But new business cases with blockchain technology see the light every day. Not only in the finance sector, but also in logistics and supply chain.
What is blockchain?
Frank Blau, one of the blockchain specialists at inet-logistics, part of Alpega, explains:
“A blockchain is a series of data blocks. One or more transactions – such as payments or deliveries – are recorded in these blocks, laid out one after another and thus chained cryptographically – i.e. with electronic encryption. What is so special: the data is not located on a central server, but rather is stored in a network accessible to all users. Everyone therefore always has the same information – the Blockchain is like a public cash book.”
The benefits of blockchain are threefold. Firstly it is transparent because all users have access. It also cannot be edited. Owing to the chain, a transaction which is carried out is permanently stored. Thirdly, blockchain is secure because it is encrypted using state-of-the-art cryptographic technology.
Blockchain in logistics and supply chain
As supply chain networks are becoming increasingly collaborative, information becomes fragmented and gets stored in silos. Many digitisation projects still suffer from the effects of broken processes, difficult data reconciliation and a lack of visibility along the entire supply chain.
Answering three questions allows to determine whether your organisation can benefit from blockchain technology:
Do multiple parties in the collaborative network need read/write access the same data, like for example updating timestamps?
Is there a need for authenticity - the assurance that all the parties involved, really are who they claim to be?
Are third-party intermediates involved in the supply chain network that bring no real added value, other than storing information?
Putting future blockchain-based solutions in place will be no less than disruptive: it will create an opportunity to reinvent entire processes, rather than digitising existing processes as we have done so far.
But there are drawbacks: how about the processing power and ‘Quality-of-Service’ in a distributed peer-to-peer network? What about the cost per transaction, which some use cases show it’s more expensive than with traditional applications?
Ashton Gooding, Product Manager at Transwide TMS (Alpega Group): “We are excited by what is happening in the blockchain market right now. At Alpega Group, we cannot ignore the disruptive power this will have in the future. Think about Smart Contracts between shippers, logistics service providers and carriers in a collaborative supply chain, or about building a new generation of freight exchanges where supply and demand are intelligently matched against each other. At the same time, we also must acknowledge that the technology still needs to come to maturity.”
Business cases for blockchain
There are countless examples in which blockchain and smart contracts are beneficial and yield many advantages. Blockchain applications are being tested, and the infrastructure must be created to enable smart contracts. Still, there’s a long way to go, but a unique opportunity for logistics.
One could mention Walmart, who traces pork from China using a blockchain. After some food safety scandals – mislabeled or expired food – Walmart partnered with IBM to build a blockchain allowing to determine the origin of every single piece of pork meat.
A similar example in Europe: Carrefour will use blockchain technology to trace the journey of their premium Auvergne chicken. The customer will be able to find out where each animal comes from, how it was fed, the treatments it got, where they were slaughtered, etc.
The world’s Largest mining company, BHP, uses blockchain to manage collaborative supply chain processes. The company relies on external partners at nearly every stage in the mining process, from collecting samples and conducting analyses to driving business decisions that occur with parties distributed across continents.
Frank Blau highlights other examples of blockchain in logistics: “The software company IBM and the shipping company Maersk are working on a pilot project worth millions. Here, Maersk is using the IBM Blockchain solution Hyperledger to reduce bureaucracy and costs in the transportation of containers.
The Port of Antwerp is also testing a project for container logistics. A container passes through many locations, hundreds of interactions and a great deal of paperwork – a Blockchain platform simplifies all stages. Large shipping companies thus share the space on the cargo ships and reduce their costs.”
Blockchain at Alpega
Inet is working on a digital model of a container and the common events used in container management (filling, moving, delivering, etc.). After a digital class has been defined, smart contracts can be created on the blockchain. That allows partners to interact with the shipping container using blockchain protocols and architectures. While inet is still in the early stages of blockchain development, Frank Blau believes that this will be a powerful example of the kinds of transactions and processes that can deliver high business-to-business value using blockchain. Blau: “I am looking forward to seeing where this decentralised technology and the structured world of transportation management software can join forces to enable more efficient and profitable ecosystems.”
The latest insights from the world of transport, logistics and supply chain from our team of in-house experts
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Google Keyboard v1.1 update brings long-press numbers, bug fixes, and the promise of future improvements
Kyle Wiggers
Google’s ongoing initiative to divorce applications and core services from Android releases has borne many fruits in recent months. Google Play Services continues to bring new features to older (pre- Ice Cream Sandwich) devices, as does Hangouts and the Google Play Store. An especially major move this past June was the migration of the stock Android keyboard to the app store, which served the dual purpose of (1) providing an AOSP keyboard solution for those stuck with third-party bloat, and (2) establishing a mechanism for updating a major part of Android without the need for OTAs. Though the initial listing offered few (if any) enhancements over the pre-installed keyboard, today’s release makes clearer benefits of Google’s larger strategy.
Though the additions and fixes aren’t many, they’re welcome as always. The requisite bugs have been squashed, of course, and stability improved. Previously a feature restricted to phones, the top row of letters can be long-pressed to quickly access numbers. In addition, external dictionary packs can now be loaded (the official changelog doesn’t mention this), and the keyboard layout has been tuned to better support unspecified languages
Perhaps more exciting is the promise of improved functionality in future releases. Android Police uncovered code that points to a number of features in testing, including space-aware gestures. (Android Police compares it to SwiftKey’s Flow Through Space.) Unfortunately, the feature is restricted to Googlers for now, but don’t be surprised to see it resurface soon. Rest assured, this isn’t Reader – don’t expect the folks at Mountain View to abandon Android keyboard users any time soon.
App Updates, Google Play Store
Google Play StoreApp Updates
Source: Play Store
10 best rhythm games for Android!
10 best calendar apps for Android!
5 best PlayStation emulators for Android!
10 best medical apps for Android!
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Engadget - Your Favorite Tech Guys In App Form
5 min read 5 min 2 comments 2
Authored by: Yan Matusevich May 1, 2011
Anybody who’s anybody knows that Engadget is the website to go to for the latest news on cameras, phones, TVs and every other kind of electronics. It’s a great way for people to remain up to date on the latest pieces of hardware and software. As a leading tech site, Engadget also comes with a complementary app.
Can the internet's most trusted tech guys get an app right? Find out in our test.
Jump directly to:
Features & Use
Screen & Controls
Speed & Stability
Price/Performance Ratio
Reviewed version Latest version
1.0.6.4 4.0.1.9
The cell phone market is expanding at breakneck speeds. Whether it’s an OS update or a new device – there’s always some fresh news related to Android, iPhone and the rest of the smartphone family. The new Samsung Galaxy II, a new feature with the next Android update, tests of new devices or yet another smartphone legal battle – these are all examples of fun and exciting news that fill the pages of tech blogs all over the globe.
Besides our own wonderful AndroidPIT Blog & News section – which we all love very dearly – few can deny the importance of Engadget in the tech world. Not only does Engadget keep you up-to-date on the latest Android news, but it also offers more general technical information for cameras, TVs, sound systems, cars as well as interesting reports on the impact of technology on modern life and the environment.
Personally, I visit the site on a daily basis to read all the articles and reports. This works really well with the Android Browser on my 4 inch Nexus S display. The only problem is that the website is so huge, data-wise, that it takes a while to load all the pictures and tabs on smaller screens. It’s also difficult to navigate the site with a slow internet connection or a limited data plan. That’s why there’s a new practical Engadget app. But is it a good alternative to the site?
Well, sort of. After start-up, you select which website you would like to read -- Engadget, Mobile, EngadgetHD or Alt. Engadget. Don’t worry because switching between the sites within the app is a piece of cake. Just click on the little arrow at the top right corner, which opens up a menu with all of the Engadget sites. But which site does what?
Engadget: This is the most informative site with reports on every possible kind of technology.
Mobile: This site collects all the reports and articles related to cell phones from the main page.
EngadgetHD: Here you’ve got TVs, streaming services (Hulu & Netflix), TV accessories and more.
Alt.Engadget: More general articles and news related to technology (new trends, environment-friendly technology) as well as the latest information on robotics, space technology and other fun stuff.
The articles may be arranged by category, but it’s possible to access virtually all of the articles directly from the main Engadget website.
In the list of latest news, you can easily scroll through and click on any article that you wish to read. Things are not so pretty when you hold your phone horizontally. When the screen adjusts to your phone’s horizontal position, you can’t see most of the article because the tabs at the top and bottom of the screen appear wider. People from one of the world’s leading tech site should know better! In addition to scrolling, you can read an article by tapping the arrows on the side of the screen. There’s also a share button at the bottom of the page (Facebook, Email, Bluetooth).
In addition to the latest news, the bottom navigation tab also includes videos, podcasts, picture galleries and topics. Videos are played in the default Android player, which worked perfectly during our test. Podcasts can be heard using the music player and the picture gallery is also well-done. There are 12 picture galleries available and just click them to start browsing. Slide your finger across the screen to switch between the pictures in the gallery. The topics category is also very useful: you’ll find everything from announcement to gaming, from laptops to wireless and much much more.
The app is especially practical for devices with small screens or people with slow internet connections. There’s another slight problem, though: videos integrated into the text (e.g. flash videos) cannot be played. Otherwise the app is not too shabby, although I would still prefer to use the website with a decent Android device.
The app is very easy to use and navigate. Anyone can figure out how to use the app right from the start. Although the scrolling feature works well, you can't zoom in onto the picture. The Engadget app looks great on both the Nexus S and the Galaxy Tab. Unfortunately, they really screwed up with the horzitontal view.
All five stars for Engadget! Absolutely brilliant speed!
Engadget can be downloaded at no charge and ad-free from the Android Market.
Apps App review
dave bones May 2, 2011 Link to comment
yeah gsmarena is There
Niels Christiansen May 1, 2011 Link to comment
It's a nice app for an ok site. I prefer GSMArena since the staff and visitors seem more neutral in their views.
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Pastoral Appointments
Pastoral Appointments 2014
Effective Dec. 9, 2014
Reverend Vicente Antonio Gaibor Garcia, Parochial Vicar – St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Rev. Julian "Mike" A. Barrosa, Chaplain – Catholic Chaplains Corps
Rev. Carlos V. De La Torre, Administrator, St. Alphonsus and Chaplain, Port Ministry
Rev. Jones Jayaraj, Hospital Ministry – The Woodlands
Deacon Allan Frederiksen, St. Christopher Church and Chaplain, Port Ministry
Effective Oct. 1, 2014
Rev. George Okeahialam, M.S.P. Regional Superior, Missionary Society of St. Paul, Pastor, St. Nicholas Catholic Church
Effective Sept. 16, 2014
Rev. Brendan J. Cahill, Administrator Pro-Tem, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Houston
Effective September 3, 2014
Rev. Joseph L. Eliscar, M.S., in residence, Mary Queen Church, Friendswood
Rev. Joseph A. Doran, Administrator to Pastor, St. Pius V, Pasadena
Rev. Gerald G. Goodrum, Administrator to Pastor, St. Juan Diego, Pasadena
Rev. Lawrence W. Wilson, Administrator to Pastor, Shrine of the True Cross, Dickinson
Rev. C. James Courville, Administrator to Pastor, St. Helen, Pearland
Rev. Daniel Massick, L.C., Legionaries of Christ, Houston
Rev. Daren Weisbrod, L.C., Legionaries of Christ, Houston
Rev. Jacob DuMont, L.C., Legionaries of Christ, Houston
Rev. Julian Gerosa, C.R.S., pastor, Assumption Church, Houston
Rev. Romualdo Lopez, C.R.S., pastor, Christ the King Church, Houston
Effective August 19, 2014
Rev. John Hung Manh Nguyen, parochial vicar, St. Michael Church, Lake Jackson
Effective August 5, 2014
Rev. Luke Millette, Archdiocesan Tribunal with residence at St. Theresa Church, Houston
Rev. Mary Pham, administrator, St. Michael Church, Needville, and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, Damon
Rev. Maynard Parangan, parochial vicar, St. John Neumann Church, Houston
Rev. Anthony J. Wieck, S.J., Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston
Rev. Peter Thien Hoang, O.P., St. Dominic House, Houston
Rev. Martin Nhan Thai Bui, O.P., St. Dominic House, Houston
Effective July 22, 2014
Rev. Thomas Dung Ha, C.Ss.R., parochial vicar, St. Charles Borromeo Church, Houston
Rev. Joseph B. Aluthwatte, O.M.I., parociahl vicar, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Houston
Rev. Francis M. Macatangay, pastor, St. Cecilia Church, Houston
Rev. Joseph Son Thanh Phan, pastor, St. Francis de Sales Church, Houston
Rev. Jude Umunna Uche, M.S.P., parochial vicar, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Humble
Rev. Joseph Tien P. Bui, parochial vicar, St. Justin Martyr Church, Houston
Rev. Jaison T. Pezhaithinal, M.S.F.S., parochial vicar, St. Laurence Church, Sugar Land
Rev. Webert Merilan, O.M.I., parochial vicar, Immacualte Heart of Mary Church, Houston
Rev. Ralph O. Roberts, parochial vicar, Christ the Redeemer Church, Houston
Rev. Thomas Joseph, O.S.H., parochial vicar, Epiphany of the Lord Church, Katy
Effective July 8, 2014
Rev. Urbano A Araiza-Soto, M.J., parochial vicar, St. Stephen Church, Houston
Rev. Lawrence I.V. Hyginus, C.C., pariochial vicar, Queen of Peace Church, Houston
Rev. Andy Dinh Vu, S.V.D., parochial vicar, Holy Name Church, Houston
Rev. John Kha Tran, pastor, St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, Houston
Rev. Wayne W. Wilkerson, pastor, St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, Katy
Rev. James M. Burkart, pastor, Christ the Good Shepherd Church, Spring
Rev. Douglas J. Guthrie, pastor, St. Luke the Evangelist Church, Houston
Rev. John E. Cahoon, pastor, St. Angela Mereci Church, Missouri City
Rev. Hai Duc Dang, pastor, St. Thomas More Church, Houston
Rev. Santy Kurian, msfs, pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Sugar Land
Rev. Dat Hoang, founding administrator, new parish in Fulshear
Rev. Linh Ngoc Nguyen, administrator, St. John of the Cross Church, New Caney
Rev. John Kare Taosan, administrator, St. John the Baptist Church, Alvin
Rev. Ramon J. Arechua, administrator, St. Raphael the Archangel Church, Houston
Rev. Martial F. Oya, parochial vicar, Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston
Rev. Raymond Cook, O.M.I., chaplain, campus ministry, Rice/TMC Newman Center, Houston
Rev. Michael Faneye, M.S.P., parochial vicar, St. Thomas More Church, Houston
Rev. William A. Oliver, parochial vicar, St. Michael Church, Houston
Rev. J. Phong Nguyen, parochial vicar, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Houston
Rev. Jude E. Ezuma, parochial vicar, Holy Family Church, Galveston
Rev. Joseph Oanh Dang, S.V.D., parochial vicar, St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, Spring
Rev. Rafael Becerra, c.s., parochial vicar, St. Ambrose Church, Houston
Rev. Jesus Jesse Garcia, first priestly assignment, parochial vicar, St. Christopher Church, Houston
Rev. Oscar H. Dubon, first priestly assignment, parochial vicar, Sacred Heart Church, Conroe
Rev. Richard Hinkley, first priestly assignment, graduate studies at North American College in Rome
Rev. Thomas J. Dolce, Director, Archdiocesan Office for Vocations
Rev. John Rooney, Director of Spiritual Formation at St. Mary Seminary
Rev. Paul G. Felix, Vicar Forane (Dean), Central Deanery
Rev. Giuseppe Barbieri, C.P., Retreat Director, Holy Name Retreat Center, Houston
Effective June 30, 2014
Rev. Joseph K. Kalladan, granted retirement
Rev. John F. Ulm, granted retirement
Father James M. Long Hai Do, CMC, parochial vicar, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Houston
Rev. Felix I. Osasona, M.S.P., pastor, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Humble
Father Evaristus C. Chukwu, M.S.P., Assistant Promotion Director for the Missionaries of St. Paul Development Office, Houston
Father Cesar Lomeli-Flores, M.J., pastor, St. Stephen Church, Houston
Effective March 28, 2014
Father Leonardo Nunez, L.C., Legionaries of Christ, Spring
Father Mario Beccar Varela, EP, Heralds of the Gospel, Houston
Father Leopoldo Werner Benjumea, EP, Heralds of the Gospel, Houston
Father Ronan Newbold, C.P., Holy Name Retreat Center, Houston
Effective February 3, 2014
Father Juan M. Zuniga, M.M., Maryknoll Mission Promotion House, Houston
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These 18 Hotels Feature Breathtaking Views of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Many hotels cluster around these stunning destinations, but a select legion are close enough to capture them
By Keith Flanagan
Jiwo Entrance with view through to BorobudurPhoto: Courtesy of Amanjiwo
The United States’ looming departure from UNESCO has the best of us clenching our fists. But instead of stamping our feet, there’s all the more reason to put one foot in front of the other and travel to international horizons that honor their heritage cities, sites, and natural wonders. Offering sensational, unobstructed views of the world’s celebrated landmarks, here are the best UNESCO-adjacent hotels on the planet:
Photo: Courtesy of The St. Regis Langkawi
Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark
The St. Regis Langkawi, stilted in the waters of Malaysia’s 99-island Langkawi Archipelago and designed by architecture firm Gensler, is the first luxury resort to open inside the Global Geopark in over a decade.
Photo: Courtesy of Monastero Santa Rosa
Soaring high above the heaving towns of the Amalfi Coast, ruins of a 17th-century monastery are reimagined as the boutique Monastero Santa Rosa. Sweeping views of the storied coastline swell from every vantage—from the rooms, terraced gardens, and spa.
Photo: Francis Gagnon / Courtesy of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
Château Frontenac
Over 125 years old, the regal Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a double dose of history: It’s not only a designated heritage property itself but also it overlooks the historic district of Old Québec.
Photo: Courtesy of Longitude 131°
Already an outpost of luxury in Australia’s raw Northern Territory, the tented camps at Longitude 131° upped the ante: The new Dune Pavilion, designed by architect Max Pritchard, frames unparalleled views through glass walls of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta (typically, rooms are lucky enough with just one or the other).
Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons
Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve
Opened just last year, The Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah, Baa Atoll, is the first private island for the brand as well as the world’s only sole-use retreat located within a World Biosphere Reserve.
Photo: Mark Williams / Courtesy of Belmond
Brand-new to Botswana, Belmond Eagle Island Lodge soaks in wildlife—some of the world’s most endangered mammals live within the interior delta at its doorstep, from cheetah to black or white rhinoceros.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Cartesiano
Historic Centre of Puebla
The historic city, backdropped by the Popocatépetl volcano, Puebla pops with tile-covered homes and religious architecture dating back to the 16th century. At a few months old, Hotel Cartesiano offers a fresh perspective from the city’s only rooftop pool.
Photo: Courtesy of Viceroy Resorts
Pitons Management Area
St. Lucia’s inspiring Pitons—twin volcanic mountains jutting from the Caribbean Sea—are like bookends to Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort. The property nestles between the iconic landmarks along a coveted bay (a slice of which you can own—for $15 million).
Photo: Courtesy of Amanjiwo
Borobudur Temple Compounds
Upon arriving in Java at the sweeping Amanjiwo retreat, a dramatic stairway leads straight through toward a framed view of Borobudur, Indonesia’s—and the world’s—largest Buddhist monument.
Photo: Sivan Askayo / Courtesy of Pikaia Lodge
Thankfully extinct, two volcanic craters form the base of Pikaia Lodge, offering a lofty, low-impact perch over the Galápagos Islands—not to mention its own wild giant tortoise reserve.
Photo: Courtesy of Another Place, The Lake
The English Lake District
Inside an original—and expanded—Georgian building, Another Place, the Lake is among the newest luxury boutiques clutching the shores of Ullswater, part of the U.K.’s first national park to receive heritage status.
Photo: Tom Sullam / Courtesy of Park Hyatt
Park Hyatt Zanzibar, which was the first Park Hyatt in Africa, opened inside a UNESCO heritage–appointed building dating back to 1847—located on the coast of historic Stone Town, replete with charmed alleys, winding markets, and brilliant mosques.
Photo: Courtesy of the King David Hotel
From inside the lobby or outside on the terrace, the King David is a fixture of luxury that was originally built in the 1920s and overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem—just over the Old City Walls, the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, and the Second Temple are in full view.
Photo: Courtesy of Casa San Agustin
Surveying another walled city (this time, from within) Casa San Agustin, overlooks the historic fortified city of Cartagena from a clutch of three colonial heritage homes unified with Colombian flair.
Photo: Courtesy of Mukan Resort
Just beyond the walled cities of the Maya, the coastal Mukan Resort opened last month in Tulum—the first luxury property in the tropical biosphere reserve of Sian Ka’an.
Photo: Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Expect few walls at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, where the Relais & Châteaux–approved canvas tents line the westernmost reaches of Vancouver Island, tucked within Clayoquot Sound biosphere reserve’s forested valleys and lakes.
Photo: Courtesy of The Yeatman Hotel
Historic Centre of Oporto
Near Europe’s western coast in Portugal, The Yeatman Hotel, a wine-forward retreat (right down to the spa treatments), offers a poolside view of Porto, a city that climbs the hillside at the mouth of the Douro River.
Photo: Nikolas Koening / Courtesy of Strawberry Hill
From the Strawberry Hill’s whitewashed cabins, Jamaica’s undulating Blue Mountains sprawl across the horizon like a rumpled landscape where every inch seems blanketed in forest—a natural comfort zone.
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Two men arrested on suspicion of murdering Malcolm McKeown
Detectives investigating the murder of 54-year-old Malcolm McKeown in Waringstown on Monday night (19th August) have arrested two men this morning (Saturday 24th August).
The men, aged 25 and 24 years old have both been arrested on suspicion of murder and have been both taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite.
They remain in police custody at this time.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery continues to appeal for information in relation to the investigation.
He said: “CCTV footage shows Mr McKeown entering the shop at Dewart’s Garage at approximately 7.15pm on Monday and then walking back to his car approximately four minutes later. It was around this time I believe that the gunman or gunmen shot him.
“Were you in Dewart’s Garage or in Waringstown Main Street at that time and did you see anything?
“I am keen to trace the driver and passengers of a dark blue or black VW Passat, registration RK62 PLX, which was seen at 6.20pm in Cambrai Heights before the shooting.
“I believe the gunman or men may have got out of this car, walked around the back of Dewart’s to shoot Malcolm McKeown, before fleeing and leaving Cambrai Heights in the car at 7.20pm.
“Did you see this car leaving Cambrai Heights and then travelling along the Dunkirk Road towards Summerhill Road at 7.20pm? If you were driving in these areas and have dashcam I would like to see it.
“If you live in Cambrai Heights or the adjoining streets and have private CCTV please let me know.
“This car was found burnt out on the Glenavon Lane in Lurgan just after 7.30pm. Did you see the occupants get out of it and get into a dark coloured Jeep? If so, do you know where they went? Or did they make off on foot?
“I would also like to hear from anyone who saw Mr McKeown at any stage during Monday in Lurgan or Craigavon.”
Detectives are urging anyone with information to contact them on 101. Alternatively, information can be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.
RelatedMalcolm McKeownWaringstown
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By: Simone Milasas
Narrated by: Simone Milasas
Categories: Business, Leadership & Management
Simone Milasas was $187,000 in debt when she realized she needed to make a big change. With the help of the tools featured in this audiobook, she was totally out of debt within two years. Simone's point of view - No one should have a money problem. This audiobook will support you in creating massive amounts of change and invite you to create massive amounts of money. Getting Out of Debt Joyfully is the beginning of a totally different possibility.
Who'd imagine anything with Debt could be Joyful?!
By Passion for Books on 17-12-18
By: Dr. Dain Heer, Gary M. Douglas
Narrated by: Megan Hill
What does money mean to you? Have you decided that money is more valuable than you? "Money is never the problem in our lives," says Gary Douglas. "It's about what we're willing to receive. And what we're willing to receive is just a choice." What are you choosing to receive? Are you choosing to have money in your life? What if generating money and having money was fun and joyful? What if, in having fun and joy with money, you receive more of it? What would that be like? Money follows joy; joy does not follow money.
Money Isn't the Problem, You Are
By: Dain Heer, Gary M. Douglas
Narrated by: Connor Hill
This audiobook offers you out-of-the-box concepts with money. Money Isn't the Problem, You Are is written for people who live in a constant state of difficulty around money, whether it's spending too much, not having enough, or having too much. In Money Isn't the Problem, You Are, Gary Douglas and Dain Heer share processes, tools, and points of view that you can use to change the way money flows into your life.
Some good points, let down by ridiculous claims
By: Donnielle Carter, Gary M. Douglas
Narrated by: Donnielle Carter
What would it be like to begin enjoying your body no matter what size, shape, age, or fitness? Isn't it time to stop the patterns and habits with your body that keep you stuck? Is your body an ease or burden? This is a very different perspective about bodies and your ability to change yours. It might all be easier than you ever knew was possible!
Loved it totally
How to Become Money Workbook
By: Gary M. Douglas
Access Consciousness founder Gary Douglas gives you information about how you can obtain greater clarity about money. Discover simple steps to get clarity, and learn how you can receive more money.
Must read for spiritually awakened
By Nithish Singha on 24-12-19
By: Dr. Dain Heer
Narrated by: Dr. Dain Heer
This is a very different book: It is written for the dreamers of this world - the people who KNOW that something different is possible - but who have never had the tools before.... This is a Handbook for Generating Infinite Possibilities and Dynamic Change. For you. And the world. Ten years ago, Dr. Dain Heer started as a chiropractor in California, USA. Seemingly successful and happy, Dain Heer was on the verge of suicide when he came across Access Consciousness. With this modality, based on question and choice, Dr. Heer's life began to expand and grow with more ease and speed than even he could have imagined possible.
Life changer for sure
By Jane Pettitt on 03-04-15
Beyond the Utopian Ideal
Narrated by: Sul Wynne-Jones
Most people operate from a fixed idea or concept of how things are supposed to be, rather functioning in the moment, where they can change anything as needed to accomplish and create more. This creates a tremendous limitation. We use conceptual constructs to create a purpose and a sense of rightness. Relationship, sex, sexuality, family, and the future are examples of conceptual constructs. Society is a construct. Culture, religion, and reputation are constructs. These things are not actually real; they are conceptual realities that have been dropped into our existence.
Would You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree?
A Different Take on Kids with ADD, ADHD, OCD, and Autism
By: Dain Heer, Gary M. Douglas, Anne Maxwell
Narrated by: Anne Maxwell
Would You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree?: A Different Take on Kids with ADD, ADHD, OCD and Autism provides us with a refreshing and new perspective on these children who are so different from their peers. Co-authored by three practitioners who have had remarkable success working with them, this audiobook is filled with practical tools, stories, observations, and life-changing questions that can be used by anyone who has one of these kids in their life.
This is not a helpful book.
By Pauline on 07-06-18
The Lies of Money: Who Are You Being?
By: Dr. Lisa Cooney
Narrated by: Dr. Lisa Cooney
The Lies of Money: Who are you Being? is dedicated to all of you out there struggling with money. To all of you feeling like the debt or financial worry you are in is a big black hole that you will never climb out of or get beyond. You can have the living you desire. You can create the money, cash, currencies, investments, and vacations you like.
Talk to the Entities
By: Shannon O'Hara
Narrated by: Max Zoulek
Welcome the first book written by Shannon O'Hara, founder and creator of Talk To The Entities®; a global company educating and empowering people in the area of entities using the amazing tools of Access Consciousness®. Come along on Shannon's amazing journey growing up, talking with and seeing ghosts, as well as all the struggles, difficulties, joy and magic along the way. If you have ever had any curiosity about this subject at all, this book is for you.
Amazing inspiring stories but not so practical
By Sylven Claessen on 12-06-19
Narrated by: Suzy Godsey
alk to the Animals by Gary M. Douglas & Dr. Dain Heer gives you pragmatic tools and techniques to actually talk to the animals and contribute to the earth! What if peace was a natural state for animals? When you create or tap into a place of peace for your horse, dog or cat, then everything becomes calm, cool and collected...you're in the zone. Did you know that every animal, plant and structure on this planet has consciousness and desires to gift to you? If you are unwilling to receive, then you miss out on what they wish to give you. You also limit your ability to receive in every area of life...the money you can have, what you can experience and what is possible for you! Did you know animals can talk? It's interesting to observe animals misbehaving when we don't listen to them.
Narrated by: Gary M. Douglas
As Jake Rayne travels through Idahaho in his classic '57 Thunderbird, a devastating accident is the catalyst for a journey he isn't expecting. Alone in the deep forest, with his body battered and broken, Jake calls out for help. And the help he finds changes not only his life but his whole reality.
Fantastic story but very poorly read.
By emma deyn on 06-12-16
Everything is Figureoutable
How One Simple Belief Can Help Us Overcome Any Obstacle and Create Unstoppable Success
By: Marie Forleo
Narrated by: Marie Forleo
Whether you dream of starting a business, launching a new career, learning to moonwalk, adventuring through Italy, or completely remodelling your happiness, health or relationships, there is something you should know. And that is that everything is figureoutable.
Marie reminded me of who I am...
By Canesha on 12-10-19
It's Not Your Money
How to Live Fully from Divine Abundance
By: Tosha Silver
Narrated by: Tosha Silver
Tosha Silver, internationally beloved spiritual guide, has created a practical and powerful financial audiobook unlike any other. Leading you through a deeply transformative eight-week process, she shares the mental, emotional, and spiritual steps that anyone can take to learn to fully receive and prosper. Her step-by-step guidance is filled with prayers, meditations, and stories to help you find and heal the source of these fears and unworthiness.
Brilliant. A must read.
By Tam on 20-06-19
Creative Living Beyond Fear
By: Elizabeth Gilbert
Narrated by: Elizabeth Gilbert
Listeners of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert's books for years. Now this beloved author shares her wisdom and unique understanding of creativity, shattering the perceptions of mystery and suffering that surround the process - and showing us all just how easy it can be. By sharing stories from her own life as well as from her friends and the people who have inspired her, Elizabeth Gilbert challenges us to embrace our curiosity....
Big Magic indeed!
By Andy F. on 01-12-15
The Sophia Code
A Living Transmission from the Sophia Dragon Tribe
By: Kaia Ra
Narrated by: Kaia Ra
A declaration of your sovereign divinity, The Sophia Code is a visionary, sacred text for the Divine Feminine Christ movement sweeping the planet now. This book is a living transmission encoded with direct revelations to activate your important role as a revolutionary wayshower for humanity's awakening.
Stunning divine feminine empowerment
By Priya Mahtani on 11-09-18
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself
How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One
By: Dr. Joe Dispenza
Narrated by: Adam Boyce
You are not doomed by your genes and hardwired to be a certain way for the rest of your life. A new science is emerging that empowers all human beings to create the reality they choose. In Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, renowned author, speaker, researcher, and chiropractor Dr. Joe Dispenza combines the fields of quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology, and genetics to show you what is truly possible.
Very interesting...
By Kzee on 21-01-18
What if BUSINESS was JOYFUL and FUN? What if it was so much more than you ever perceived possible? If you were creating your business from the JOY of it - what would you choose? What would you change? What would you choose if you knew you could not fail? Business is JOY, it's creation, it's generative. It can be the adventure of LIVING. Australia's Simone Milasas is a dynamic business leader with a difference. She is the worldwide coordinator of Access Consciousness (www.accessconsciousness.com), the founder of Good Vibes For You (www.goodvibesforyou.com), and the creative spark that ignited The Joy of Business (www.accessjoyofbusiness.com).
©2012 Simone A. Milasas (P)2012 Simone A. Milasas
sue cotts
I got this book 2 days ago and I am truly amazed
I have already began creating a different business as well as choosing more in my existing biz 😄
just finished and will read again as so full of good vibes for you ;)
Passion for Books
Business as the adventure of living!
I'd always thought that work and business had to be hard. The harder you worked, the better it was. That being miserable in your work was expected and that work and play didn't mix.
How delighted I am to be wrong!
Simone Milasas exudes an ease and joyfulness throughout this book.
She shines joy into "work" taking the "hard" out of it and still being about action and creation, but when that's fun, it doesn't have to feel hard.
This book is an irresistible invitation to a different reality with business.
A Joyfulness, a fun, playfulness while still taking the required actions to move the business forward and receive money in abundance.
It's such a relief to take the dull, drab, seriousness out of business and still have pragmatic, flexible tools to create a successful business that is joyful and works for you!
This book invites us to business as creation, exuberant and expansive - to create your business as the adventure of living.
Nanc3
Joy of Business--A Great Read
What made the experience of listening to Joy of Business the most enjoyable?
I enjoyed Joy of Business. In fact, I enjoyed it enough that I keep onlistening to it.Each time I listen, I find something new that I am excitedtry out, or some new awareness, and I am again eager to seewhat actually might be possible that I hadn't considered beforeabout business (or even life).
The book is a bit autobiographical so the author was the "main character," I enjoyed hearing about her own life, travels, and experiences as she traveled internationally for her businesses. I especially appreciated how she learned about the cultures she was in and honored their customs and practices. She tells of once being put in the position of having to eat some newly butchered raw baby goat fat in its warm milk in order not to offend her hosts, so she did. The friend she had with her took pictures and laughed at her.
Have you listened to any of Simone Milasas’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
So far as I know she doesn't have any other books.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me laugh. She has a good sense of humor and is very upbeat in her presentation.
I find it a happy, upbeat book with lots of useful information, and every time I "reread" it, I am left felling optimistic and happy.
??? How does it get any better than this
Yeaaaa !
??? What else is possible
Money follows joy and Being you changing the world
were What I've learned from this amazing book !
Thank you Simone ! 😊😊😊
Noeleen Clements
A must for entrepreneurs...
Or if you are just interested in a different approach to business - this is for you! Easy to listen to and interesting to apply and experience for yourself how it can impact your business!!
great book... listening so many times.. changing m
loved it ..changing reality.. amazing listening again n again.. would recommend one n all read
I feel how this book helps me with my busines.
thank you Simon for this.
What did you love best about Joy of Business?
I loved and enjoyed the energy of Simone's voice and the way she speaks and how it totally matches the energy of what she is saying. Whether someone is an entrepreneur of magnitude or not, this book can be for anyone. It inspired me and showed me it's possible to create anything. I love the simple steps, and how it's about getting each person to their own awareness.
Simone of course ;-)
Yes. Getting Out of Debt Joyfully. Both are phenomenal in different ways! Whatever you do, don't get both of them, you might change your life.
I didn't have a point of view. I've listened to it multiple times though. Track 6 or 8 are the one's I like to start at, frequently.
Thank you for creating this book Simone!! and thank you for being the one to narrate it, too!
absolutely exactly what I was looking for to bring
I had an incredible start early years of my life and I wondered why things flowed so differently and this book is helping me understand where I stand today and where I want to be tomorrow.
Christopher Alesi
how does it get any better than this? Great book
How does it get any better than this? Great book to increase your business awareness.
Cosmin M. Tutunaru
A fair book for your daily commute
What did you like best about Joy of Business? What did you like least?
It was an average book. Nothing spectacular, nothing unspectacular. I enjoyed listening to this book, though I don't find it very useful.
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AutoServiceWorld.com
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News February 12, 2013 by CARS Magazine
Automakers steer back towards gas-powered vehicles, finds KPMG Survey
As the love affair with the electric car continues to wane, automakers will focus on improving the efficiency of the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE), while also putting a greater investment in hybrid plug-ins, according to KPMG's...
As the love affair with the electric car continues to wane, automakers will focus on improving the efficiency of the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE), while also putting a greater investment in hybrid plug-ins, according to KPMG’s 14th annual Global Automotive Executive Survey.
“Costly batteries, comparatively low driving distances and availability of recharging stations have slowed the charge towards electro-mobility,” said Peter Hatges, Partner, KPMG and Canadian Automotive Head, KPMG Corporate Finance. “This continued uncertainty over e-mobility technologies, along with rapid urbanization and evolving consumer behaviour are driving forces behind the expected shift in the automotive landscape over the next five years.”
KPMG’s Global Automotive report, Managing a Multidimensional Business Model, found:
Over half of respondents say ICE optimization will offer the greatest potential for clean, efficient engines for the next 6 to 10 years
Investment in plug-in technology is an area of interest for 24 percent of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and supplier respondents; only eight percent will invest in pure battery technologies
Ninety-two percent of survey respondents consider fuel efficiency the primary vehicle purchasing factor, while environmental concerns fell from second to fourth place from 2012
Over two-thirds of respondents envision new alternative solutions to single vehicle ownership
“Increased daily congestion and skyrocketing parking costs in Canada’s urban hubs are giving rise to alternative mobility solutions such as vehicle-sharing or pay-per-use,” said Hatges. “Where automakers could formerly concentrate exclusively on producing ICE cars, they must now address consumer trends such as this shift towards mobility-as-a-service, while considering a range of new propulsion technologies.”
Automakers and suppliers alike must continue to consider a host of factors as they look to make the right investment decisions to fund a profitable future. As the industry adjusts to the changing landscape, some automakers are expected to fare better than others. Respondents anticipate Volkswagen will see the greatest increase in global market share, followed by BMW and Chinese manufacturer BAIC, with Toyota close behind. Ford finds itself just above General Motors, slipping from 8th to 14th in this ranking from the KPMG 2012 Global Automotive Survey.
The annual Global Automotive Executive Survey interviewed 200 auto executives including automakers, suppliers, dealers, financial service providers, rental companies and mobility service providers from 31 countries. Twenty-four percent of respondents are from the Americas. KPMG has released an annual survey of automotive executives expressing their views on the state of the industry since 1999.
KPMG Releases Annual State of the Industry Report
Automotive Market’s Future is “Murky” According to KPMG Study
Number of car owners expected to plummet
COMMENT: Tire Reviews
ALI joins Pettys Garage Performance Tour
Browse Print Archives
Taking A First Look At Permanent DTCs
EYE SPY: Hole-y unfit for the roads!
BY THE NUMBERS: How technology could impact jobs
COMMENTARY: The future we’re hurtling toward
Brake Pedal Pulsation
How To Identify The Correct Coolant
CATEGORY FOCUS: Brakes
© 2020 Newcom Media Inc
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How to encourage newts into your garden?
There’s something especially thrilling about finding newts in the garden. These lizard-like amphibians eat bugs and slugs that would damage precious plants, and finding them in your garden is a sign of a healthy eco-system.
Identifying your newts
The UK has three native newt species – the common or smooth newt, the palmate newt and the great crested newt.
Common newts are grey-brown with orange undersides and black spots all over their bodies. In the mating season, males have a smooth crest running along their back and tail.
Palmate newts look very similar to common newts, but in the mating season, the males develop black webbing on their hind feet.
Great crested newts are rare and are protected by law. They’re black, with white-spotted flanks, a warty, rough-looking skin and orange underside. In the mating season, males have a long wavy crest along their body and tail. If you think you have great crested newts in your garden, contact Natural England, Natural Resource Wales or Scottish Natural Heritage who can advise you what to do next.
Newt lifestyle
Like frogs and toads, newts hibernate over winter and emerge in spring to find water in which to mate and lay their eggs. Newt courtship is a flamboyant affair, with the males taking on brighter colours, growing distinctive crests, and flicking their tails to attract females. After mating, females lay their eggs in the water, wrapping each egg up in the leaf of an aquatic plant.
The eggs hatch into tadpoles that feed first on algae and later on insects and small pondlife. Gradually these tadpoles develop legs, become adult newts and move out of the water onto land, living in damp shady places under logs, in hedgerows or under stones. Compost heaps are a favourite hibernation spot in winter, so watch out for newts when digging in your compost heap in spring.
How to encourage newts into your garden
Newts like damp shady environments with easy access to water, so to encourage newts into your garden, build a pond (but don’t put fish into it, as they’ll eat the young newts). Make a slope at one end, so that newts and other wildlife can get in and out easily, and add aquatic plants for the females to wrap eggs in – water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) and water mint (Mentha aquatica) are ideal. Marginal plants such as irises around the edge of the pond give newts and other wildlife protection from predators, and a log pile makes a good winter hibernation home.
It can take a year or two for newts to find your pond but resist the temptation to bring in newts from other locations, as this can spread disease. Be patient, and let the wildlife find you.
Once you have newts in your garden, other amphibians will follow, and your garden will reap the benefit. For advice on ponds and pond plants, why not pop into our garden centre?
garden animalsnewts
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Family Independence Initiative Advances Effective Solutions for Ending Poverty Including Direct Investment and Social Support Networks
By: Adam West
Experts share their tips and advice on BadCredit.org, with the goal of helping subprime consumers. Our articles follow strict editorial guidelines.
In a Nutshell: Family Independence Initiative takes a novel approach to ending the cycle of poverty by providing funds to low-income families and giving them full autonomy in using the money. The only request is that families report how they’re spending the funds, which allows FII to track their progress and see how that investment enriches communities. And the organization’s UpTogether digital platform connects families to share inspiration, information, and advice with each other across the nation. So far, the results have shown that low-income families can lift themselves out of poverty if given the chance.
Dalva Franks was living on a small income, but was tired of her credit holding her back, so she decided to seek help to improve her score — and her overall financial standing. Then, she decided her next step would be to return to college after a 30-year hiatus. Franks purchased a laptop, a printer, and enrolled in Laney College of Oakland.
Franks’ goal — besides her own education — was to teach her grandchildren that it’s never too late to learn something new, improve yourself, and achieve greater financial and socioeconomic success.
“What’s really best is for low-income individuals and families to have the flexibility to pursue the next step that’s most important to them,” said Danielle Coates-Connor, National Director of Communications at Family Independence Initiative (FII). “There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to ending poverty.”
The partnership with FII provided Franks with a cash investment, which she used to go back to school and improve her life. And the organization does the same for many other low-income individuals and families. FII was founded in 2001 by Mauricio Miller, a Mexican-American social entrepreneur, when Oakland mayor — and future California governor — Jerry Brown challenged him to find a more effective means of ending the poverty cycle.
After nearly 40 years since President Lyndon Johnson had introduced legislation in response to a national poverty rate of around 19%, the War on Poverty had failed to achieve measurable results. So Miller, who would write “The Alternative: Most of What You Believe About Poverty Is Wrong” in 2017, set about finding a better route to upward socioeconomic mobility.
According to FII’s research, nearly 50 million people live in poverty in the United States. Within four years, 75% of those people will move above the poverty line. But within the next five years, 50% of those people will lapse back into poverty due to financial hardships, including layoffs, medical expenses, and other unanticipated events.
“Society is not investing in this economic transition. When somebody begins to expand and earn more money and become financially stable, there’s a disproportionate amount of support that gets stripped. That makes it so that people lack financial resiliency when life hits, such as sickness, changes in work conditions, or other unknowns in life,” Coates-Connor said. “What we’re showing is that direct investments allow families to do what they need to do with their money so they can maintain upward mobility.”
Direct Family Investments Empower Economic Mobility
FII’s approach to economic mobility prioritizes families having choice and control over the decisions that impact their life. When trusted to take the initiative and move themselves up out of poverty, families tend to not only help themselves but also help others in their communities to do the same.
“We track the ways they are investing in one another through social capital — giving someone a ride, offering childcare, sharing a meal, or lending circles — all the different ways that underinvested communities provide each other with a great deal of wealth,” Coates-Connor said. “We take this approach, and we leverage it to try to influence decision-makers in government and philanthropy to adopt more of these qualities in the ways they approach poverty.”
FII has established demonstration sites at Austin, Chicago, Albuquerque, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Northern California, and New Orleans. Families come into the FII environment for two years, and at no point during that period are they assigned caseworkers or required to follow specific programs. They meet monthly with a group of self-selected peers to discuss their situations and to help each other find solutions to looming problems.
Additionally, participating families keep monthly journals that detail their income, current goals, family situation, and social exchanges. These journals allow FII to track their progress and give families access to the UpTogether Fund, which provides direct financial support.
The results of this approach are striking. Among enrolled families, 22% realized an increase in overall income while 75% saw an increase in monthly income. They enjoyed a decreased reliance on subsidies, higher monthly savings, and a quadrupling of liquid assets. Children earn higher grades, and more students stayed in school and earned degrees.
FII also saw a 62% increase in new family-owned businesses, which illustrates one of the initiative’s most important effects: the ability people possess to seize control of their financial futures and pursue their life goals.
“We find that at the end of the two years, families can often point to tangible accomplishments relating to having the flexible funds,” Coates-Connor said. “They also point to how powerful it is to be in an environment where they’re not being told what to do but instead actually advancing their own solutions.”
Shedding Light on the Invisible Economy of Social Capital
Social capital is, in essence, the informal way that human beings help one another in communities. You’ve probably engaged in many exchanges of social capital in your life, like that time you helped a friend get a new, better job, or when your neighbor let you borrow her lawn mower. Maybe an online acquaintance shared your crowdfunding project on a social network and helped it gain support, or you looked after a niece or nephew for an afternoon.
“Social capital is what has always made communities tick,” Coates-Connor said. “These types of exchanges are happening everywhere in society. They are what makes us work as a civilization, really — the referrals and the favors that people do for each other.”
Danielle Coates-Connor spoke with us about FII’s modern approach to ending the poverty cycle.
These interactions make up the fundamental foundations of human societies, and they remain an essential part of many so-called symbolic economies — as opposed to modern restricted economies narrowly defined as the flow of currency. In these alternative economies, wealth moves through gift giving and symbolic exchange. The basic principle is that, when someone gives you a gift or shows you courtesy, it’s disingenuous not to return the gesture and do the same for others.
Until now, no organization has tracked these types of exchanges in low-income communities, and so their tangible value has gone unrecognized. However, FII brings bootstrapping via social capital to the forefront of the conversation on poverty.
“The exchange of social capital happens in ways that directly affect the economy, like job placement and business growth, but it also happens in all the invisible parts of our economy that are related to health and family — where community members are helping one another out,” Coates-Connor said.
UpTogether Platform Provides a National Support Network
Families can participate in FII through local demonstration sites as well as online through the UpTogether platform. The latter is a national support network for low-income families, and it functions similarly to a social media platform, allowing users to connect with others who share their concerns and situations.
Through the platform, families can share information, including monthly household income data, asset levels, liabilities, and social capital exchanges. Providing information on these activities qualify participants to receive financial benefits, scholarships, and products that include matched savings and loans.
The UpTogether platform allows users across the U.S. to connect and share insights on their situations.
One of the most valuable social resources on UpTogether is its Find the Expert, Be the Expert section. This forum enables families to provide advice and guidance to others on topics including homebuying, improving credit, and other vital issues.
“Families know the order in which they need to work on things, and they can organize it all themselves if they decide they want to bring in an outside expert,” Coates-Connor said.
UpTogether currently has a waiting list, but FII is working to open up the platform to more users. Anyone interested in joining the network can sign up to receive a notification when membership becomes available to additional users.
Advocating a More Impactful Approach to Ending Poverty
Poverty continues to impact our society today, as the biases and misconceptions regarding low-income people and communities remain widespread. But FII’s approach to fostering upward socioeconomic mobility is proving many of those notions false.
“The more prescriptive solutions to end poverty, after 50 years of testing, still have not proven successful. We’ve got philanthropy and government putting in more than $400 billion to try to solve the problem of poverty and seeing minuscule results because people are not incentivized to grow in the system,” Coates-Connor said. “You’re so forced, in this system, to present yourself as weak and broken to access any benefits that we’re not tapping into the assets of these families and communities.”
“We know that if you put cash into the hands of hardworking families, great things happen.” — Danielle Coates-Connor, National Director of Communications at Family Independence Initiative (FII)
Instead of giving people funding and dictating what they should do with it, FII’s solution is to provide people money with the only stipulation being that they report on how they’re using it.
That approach is founded on the belief in direct investment, family choice, and paying careful attention to the invisible wealth of the social capital economy that is at work in low-income communities. And the results speak for themselves.
“We know that if you put cash into the hands of hardworking families, great things happen,” Coates-Connor said.
Adam West is a finance editor for BadCredit.org, where he regularly coordinates with financial experts and industry movers and shakers to report the latest information, news, and advice on topics related to helping subprime borrowers achieve greater financial literacy and improved credit scores. Adam has more than a dozen years of editing, writing, and graphic design experience for award-winning print and online publications, and specializes in the areas of credit scores, subprime financial products and services, and financial education.
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ADVICE & REVIEWS
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Home » Production Technology » Production Technology of Crops » Wheat Production in Pakistan
Wheat Production in Pakistan
in Production Technology of Crops August 22, 2016
Wheat in Pakistan grown under different agro-ecological zones. In irrigated areas, wheat is planted after cotton, rice and sugarcane. In rainfed areas wheat is grown in sequence with maize, sorghum, pearl millet and after fallow especially in low rainfall zone.
In the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, as well as North China, irrigation has been a major contributor to increased grain output. Use of fertilizer and semi-dwarf varieties in developing countries has increased yields per hectare. Fertilizer and breeding technique improve its yield. Rotation cropping boost yield by 25%, rotation with canola crop
Globally wheat is a leading source of vegetable protein in human food, having a higher protein content than other major cereals, maize (corn) or rice.Wheat grain is staple food used to make flour for leavened, flat and streamed bread, biscuit, cookies, cake, breakfast, cereals, pasta, noodles, couscous and for fermentation make beer and alcoholic beverage or biofuel ( 7,8,9,10). Wheat is used in a secondary capacity in some markets as a feed or livestock. It is also used in thatching material for huts and sod barns.
The first identifiable bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) identified using DNA analysis in sample form a granary dating to approximately 1350 BCE at Assiros in Greek Macedonia (11). The whole grain can be milled to leave just the endosperm for white flour, the by-product of this is bran and germ. The whole grain is a concentrated source of protein which is 12.1% of whole wheat flour, fibre is 01.9%, Iron is 11.5mg/100g, Phosphorus is 355mg/100g, calcium is 48mg/100g and its caloric value is 341, while the refined grain is mostly starch. (12).In rapidly a developing country of Asia, westernization of diets associated with increasing prosperity is leading to growth in per capita demand for wheat at the expense of the other food staples.
With the country anticipating record production of 25.4 million tonnes of wheat this year, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has express satisfactions over rising cereal production in Pakistan in 2014. This increase is due to expansion in area under cultivation, favourable weather conditions during Rabi season in the main wheat producing provinces of Punjab and Sindh and ample supply of fertilizers and water (13). The FAO expects the total cereal production to four percent this year as compared to last year. The total production of cereal crops ( wheat, rice, maize and others) is estimated to be 40.63m tonnes as compared to 39.17m tonnes in 2013 (13).
According to the State Bank of Pakistan’s annual report for 2012-2013, the country produced 24.21 million tons of wheat from and area of 8.66 million hectares in the previous fiscal year of 2013, grew 23.47 million tons of wheat from 8.65 million hectares in 2012 and cultivated 25.21(14).
Total 76% of wheat produced in Punjab, while Sindh produces 16%, KP-5% and Baluchistan produce 3% of total wheat produced across the country. The average what production per acre in Sindh is close to 26Mnn, while in Punjab it is around 23 Mnn per acre. In Sindh only 14 million acre land is under wheat cultivation and only 1.8 million acres having two crops per year. There is approximately 3.2 million acres land in Sindh, which can be bought under cultivation through improvement and planning. In Sindh, we have low crop yield is related to poor management. This includes later planting of wheat due to later maturity and harvest of previous crops like cotton, rice and sugarcane, low soil fertility due to continuous exhaustive cropping system and lack of legumes in the rotation and weed infestation. Crop yields also reduced due to low and imbalance use of fertilizer.
Growth stages of wheat plant.
It consists of following stages of a wheat plant.
Pre-establishment stage.
Pre-emergence and emergence stage.
Vegetative stage.
Growth root stage.
Tillering stage.
Jointing stage.
Reproductive stage.
Post-An thesis stage.
Maturity stage.
Agronomy of wheat plant.
Sowing of what in Sindh take place between October and December.Farmers in Sindh have completed an estimated 97% of sowing target of 1.1 million hectares of wheat by end December (20). The share of Rabi crop (winter/spring crop) from wheat comes 73% as compared to 7% from pulses and 20% from other crops.Rabi crop season started from October and continues till March for sowing different crops including wheat.
Seed Verities of Wheat:
In Pakistan, the wheat areas are divided into Irrigated & Rain fed.
Recommended Verities for irrigated areas of wheat
Punjab Irrigated Areas:
NARC 2011, Galaxy 2013, AARI 2011,Punjab 2011, Millat 2011, Aas 2011, Pasban 90, Pasban 93, seher 2006, Seher 2008, Ufaq 99, Inqalab 91, Rodi
Punjab Rain Fed Areas:
Dharabi 2011, Chakwal 50, NARC 2009, Pakistan 2013
KPK Irrigated Areas:
NARC11, Pirsabak-2004, Pirsabak-2008, Hashim-2008, Pirsabak-2013
KPK Rain fed Areas:
Dharabi, Pirsabak-2005, Tatara, NIFA, Shahkar-2013, Lalma-2013
agricultural news modern farming organic farming wheat in Pakistan wheat production 2016-08-22
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Tea Cultivation Technology
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Red Bean Production Technology
Introduction Red beans are moderately easy to grow, but you do need to make sure ...
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Religion and Priests
Paths and Principles
Characters can follow a deity whose Power is based on one of the Nine Paths, which spring from the Four Principles of the Universe (the name of the character’s God can be any that the player chooses). Characters use CPs to learn miracles, and use Standing to cast them.
The Four Principles which govern the universe are:
Order Chaos
Each of the Four Principles grants Powers to the Gods, and these in turn are passed onto characters in the form of Miracles.
The Four Principles can be combined to give the Nine Paths of the Universe as follows:
Justice Life Freedom
Order Balance Chaos
Might Death Anarchy1
1 Not available to PCs.
Gods who follow one of the 5 non-Principle Paths (Justice, Freedom, Balance, Might and Anarchy) are granted powers from all Principles which are adjacent. Hence a Goddess of Justice can grant Miracles from both Life and Order.
However, due to their distance from the Principle, all Miracles are treated as being 1 level higher when a character attempts to learn it, though for casting purposes it is still considered to be at its normal level. Thus a 2nd level Order miracle is treated as a 3rd level miracle when granted to a character by a deity of Might, Balance or Justice.
To maintain equilibrium, after learning a miracle from one Principle, a character cannot learn another miracle from that Principle until he has learnt one from all other Principles that the Path embodies (note the actual level of the miracle is irrelevant). Thus a Priest of Justice must learn a Life Miracle after learning an Order Miracle. A Priest of Balance must learn a miracle from each of the Principles in turn.
Example: Carlsberg, a Human Priest who follows Justice, wishes to learn Heal Wounds 4, a Level 0 miracle of Order.
A Human Priest’s base cost to learn a miracle is 2x(level + 1). Since he follows Justice, Heal Wounds 4 is considered to be 1 level higher when learning, and hence he had to spend 2x(1 + 1) = 4 CPs to acquire it.
The non-Principle Paths also have their own miracles. These can be learnt by characters of that Path at its base level and cannot be learnt by any other characters.
The Path of Nature
There is a tenth path, the Path of Nature. This is made up of five Sects:
Tree Animal Weather Seasonal Death
Followers of the Path of Nature believe in the supremacy of the natural world and that only by living in harmony with the needs and blessings that the world can offer can people find true contentment and power. A Nature follower should oppose the growth and development of civilisation which threatens to destroy the natural world rather than work in harmony with it. This can include things like mining, excessive forestry, monoculture farming, selective breeding of animals and hunting species to extinction. Followers of the Path of Nature can however disagree significantly, and violently, on which aspects of the natural world are the most important and which of its needs must be protected from the activities of civilisation depending on their Sect and guild.
A character who follows the Path of Nature may learn any number of miracles from the five Sects. The first Sect they learn is known as the Primary Sect. The second Sect they learn from is known as the Secondary Sect, the third the Tertiary Sect and so on.
A Characters Sect order is determined when they buy one of the following sect-dependent skills for a new Sect: Learn Miracle, Consecrate Item, Religious Ceremony.
The cost for a sect-dependent skill is dependent on the Sect order. A Primary Sect skill is bought at its level CP cost. A Secondary Sect is bought at its level + 1 CP cost (note the ‘level increase’ does not effect the casting level of the miracle or when you can learn it). A Tertiary Sect is bought at its level + 2 CP cost etc.
Example: Tiddles, a Human Priest, who has joined the Druid guild as an Animal Druid wishes to learn Claw Hand 2, a Level 0 Animal Sect miracle.
A Human Priest’s base cost to learn a miracle is 2 x (level + 1). Hence he had to spend 2 x (0 + 1) = 2 CPs to acquire it.
Later when Tiddles is high enough Rank, he takes Tree as his Secondary Sect. In order to learn Shillelagh 0, a level 0 Tree Sect miracle, which is considered to be 1 level higher when learning, and hence he has to spend 2 x (1 + 1) = 4 CPs to acquire it.
If learning the Path of Nature as a ceremony (number of Principles is 1), each Sect is bought as a separate ceremony. The Primary Sect is bought at standard cost. The Secondary Sect is treated as being 1 level higher when a character attempts to learn it, though for casting purposes it is still considered to be at its normal level.
Example: A Human Priest’s base cost to learn a ceremony level is (Principles x (8 + level)).
Tiddles can learn Religious Ceremony (Path of Nature – Animal) 0 for (1 x (8 + 0)) = 8 CPs.
Tiddles can learn Religious Ceremony (Path of Nature – Tree) 0 for (1 x (8 + 1)) = 9 CPs.
Any of the five Sects can be learned as a Primary or Secondary Sect, although there may be additional advantages for your Primary Sect if you are a member of the Druid guild.
The Sect of Death is restricted. There are no player accessible Guilds who offer advanced teaching in these miracles and all characters who follow this Sect are closely monitored by the agents of the Kingdom.
Determining your Path
A character does not have a Path until he has learnt his first Miracle, Ceremony level, Consecrate Item level or Read/Write <Path> Runes. The way the character purchases this determines his Path.
Example: Carlsberg bought Mend(T), an Order miracle, as his first miracle. However he bought it at Justice cost, determining his path as Justice.
Changing Path
When a character changes Path all the CP costs for their class are increased by 1. For skills based on level, such as Learn Miracle, the 1 point increase in CP cost is added after the multiplication.
Example: The CP cost of a miracle for a Human Priest is 2x(l+1). If they change Path, this becomes (2x(l+1)) + 1.
In addition they will lose any miracles and other abilities they acquired from the Principle(s) to which they no longer have access. If a Priest’s miracles are no longer balanced between his new Principles, he must redress the balance as soon as possible. All new CPs must be spent on learning miracles from the new Path until they have an equal number of miracles from all Principles.
There may, of course, be other IC consequences for such a change of allegiance.
Example: A character following the Path of Justice with both 10 Life and 10 Order miracles changes to the Path of Freedom. In addition to the increased cost for his skills, he will also lose all of his Order miracles, though he can still cast Life miracles, and must spend any new CPs on learning 10 Chaos miracles.
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Hidden Object Games Page 54
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Tag Archives: conference
Links, curiosities & mixed wonders – 8
Here we are for a new edition of LC&MW, the perfect column to dawdle and amaze yourself at the beach!
(It is also perfect for me to relax a bit while writing the new book for the BB Collection.) (Speaking of which, until Septembre 15 you can get 20% discount if you buy all 4 books in one bundle — just insert the coupon BUNDLE4 at check out. Comes with a free Bizzarro Bazar Shopper.) (Oh, I almost forgot, the above chameleon is a hand, painted by great Guido Daniele, whose job is to… well, paint hands.)
Alright, let’s begin!
In Mexico City, at the Templo Mayor, archeologists finally found one of the legendary Aztech “towers of skulls” that once terrorized the Spanish conquistadores. These racks (called tzompantli) were used to exhibit the remains of warriors who valliantly died in battle, or enemies and war prisoners: they were descibed in many codices and travel diearies. The newly-discovered “tower” could well be the famed Huey Tzompantli, the biggest of them all, an impressing rack that could hold up to 60.000 heads, according to calculations (just imagine the nightmarish view).
On this new site 650 skulls have been found, but the number is bound to increase as the excavation proceeds. But there’s a mystery: the experts expected to find the remains, as we’ve said, of oung warriors. Until now, they have encountered an unexplicable high rate of women and children — something that left everyone a bit confused. Maybe we have yet to fully understand the true function of the tzompantli?
One more archeological mystery: in Peru, some 200km away from the more famous Nazca lines, there is this sort of candelabra carved into the mountain rock. The geoglyph is 181 meters high, can be seen from the water, and nobody knows exactly what it is.
During the night on August 21, 1986, in a valley in the north-west province of Cameroon, more than 1700 people and 3500 cattle animals suddenly died in their sleep. What happened?
Nearby lake Nyos, which the locals believed was haunted by spirits, was responsible for the disaster.
On the bottom of lake Nyos, active volcanic magma naturally forms a layer of water with a very high CO2 concentration. Recent rainfalls had facilitated the so-called “lake overturn” (or limnic eruption): the lower layer had abruptly shifted to the surface, freeing an immense, invisible carbon dioxide cloud, as big as 80 million cubic meters, which in a few minutes suffocated almost all living beings in the valley. [Discovered via Oddly Historical]
If you find yourself nearby, don’t be afraid to breathe. Today siphons bring water from the bottom to the surface of the lake, so as to free the CO2 gradually and constantly.
If you can read Italian: the cult of the Great Mother, Neolithic mummies, and the true origins of tattoos.
All this and much more in the spectacular article Il tatuaggio sacro nell’Europa antica — Sacerdotesse della Dea, Sciamani e Guerriere tatuate dell’Eurasia Barbarica, by Kainowska (a website I fell in love with years ago).
The longest Tibetan bridge in the world is not in Tibet, it’s in Piedmont. But in the Basilicata region there’s another good one.
Vegan nightmare: a camel stuffed with sheep stuffed with chicken stuffed sith fish stuffed with eggs.
Ok — what the heck is a swimsuit ad (by Italian firm Tezenis) doing on Bizzarro Bazar?
Look again. That neck, folks.
Photoshopping going wrong? Maybe, but I like to think that this pretty girl is actually the successor of great Martin Joe Laurello, star of the freakshow with Ringlin Bros, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Barnum & Bailey and other travelling shows.
Here you can see him in action, together with fellow performer Bendyman.
The latest issue of Godfrey’s Almanack (an installation by the creator of the wonderful Thinker’s Garden) is devoted to the sea, to ancient navigation, to sea monsters. And it is delightful.
Say what you wish about Catherine The Great, but she surely had a certain taste for furniture.
Meanwhile in Kenya there’s a lawyer who (for the second time!) is trying to sue Israel and us Italians for killing Jesus Christ. That should teach us a lesson. You can murder, plunder and destroy undisturbed for centuries, but never mess with somebody who has connections at the top.
P.S. An advise for Greek friends: you may be next, start hiding all traces of hemlock.
On this website (click on the first picture) you can take a 360° tour through the crytpt of Saint Casimir, Krakow, among open caskets and exposed mummies.
The above pic shows one of the casts of Pompeii victims, and it has recently gone viral after a user speculated ironically that the man might have died in the midst of an act of onanism. You can figure out the rest: users making trivial jokes, others deploring the lack of respect for the dead… Now, now, children.
If you’re on vacation in Souht East Asia, and you’re thinking about purchasing a bottle of snake wine… well, think again. The practice is quite cruel to begin with, and secondly, there have been reports of snakes waking up after spending months in alcohol, and sending whoever opened the bottle to the hospital or to the grave.
From July 21 to 24 I will be at the University of Winchester for the conference organised by Death & The Maiden, a beautiful blog exploring the relationship between women and death, to which I had the pleasure of contributing once or twice. The event looks awesome: panels aside, there will be seminars and workshops (from shroud embroidery to Victorian hairwork techniques), guided tours to local cemeteries, concerts, art performances and film screenings.
I am bringing my talk Saints, Mothers & Aphrodites, which I hope I will be able to take on tour throughout Italy in autumn.
That’s all for now, see you next time!
5 Comments Posted in Animals & Nature, Unclassifiable, Enchanted Places, Human Marvels, MondoMacabro, Anomalous Science, Mysteries of Sex, Weird Art, Weird Humor Tagged 1986, archeologia, archeology, asia, aztech, azteco, basilicata, body, calco, cameroon, camerun, cammello, candelabra, candelabro, cast, caterina II, catherine the great, china, cina, città, conference, cracovia, cripta, crypt, curiosità, curiosities, deadmaidens, death, death and the maiden, donne, eruzione limnica, excavation, freak, freakshow, godfrey's almanack, grappa, guido daniele, hand, head, italia, italy, kainowska, krakow, lago, lake, limnic eruption, link, liquore, mano, mare, martin joe laurello, masturbazione, meraviglia, messico, Mexico, mistero, morte, mostri marini, mummie, mummies, navigation, navigazione, nazca, nyos, paint, painting, peru, piemonte, pompei, ponte tibetano, ripieno, saint casimir, san casimiro, scavo, sea, sea monsters, serpente, sideshow, skull, snake wine, tatto, tatuaggio, templo mayor, teschio, testa, tezenis, tibetan bridge, torre, tower, tzompantli, whole stuffed camel, winchester, women, wonders
Wunderkammer Reborn – Part I
Why has the new millennium seen the awakening of a huge interest in “cabinets of wonder”? Why does such an ancient kind of collecting, typical of the period between the 1500s and the 1700s, still fascinate us in the internet era? And what are the differences between the classical wunderkammern and the contemporary neo-wunderkammern?
I have recently found myself tackling these subjects in two diametrically opposed contexts.
The first was dead serious conference on disciplines of knowledge in the Early Modern Period, at the University of PAdua; the second, a festival of magic and wonder created by a mentalist and a wonder injector. In this last occasion I prepared a small table with a micro-wunderkammer (really minimal, but that’s what I could fit into my suitcase!) so that after the talk the public could touch and see some curiosities first-hand.
Two traditionally quite separate scenarios – the academic milieu and the world of entertainment – both decided to dedicate some space to the discussion of this phenomenon, which strikes me as indicative of its relevance.
So I thought it might be interesting to resume, in very broad terms, my speech on the subject for the benefit of those who could not attend those meetings.
For practical purposes, I will divide the whole thing into two posts.
In this first one, I will trace what I believe are the key characteristics of historical wunderkammern – or, more precisely, the key concepts worth reflecting upon.
In the next post I will address XXI Century neo-wunderkammern, to try and pinpoint what might be the reasons of this peculiar “rebirth”.
Evidently, the fundamental concept for a wunderkammer, beginning from the name itself, was the idea of wonder; from the aristocratic cabinets of Ferdinand II of Austria or Rudolf II to the more science-oriented ones like Aldrovandi‘s, Cospi‘s, or Kircher‘s, the purpose of all ancient collections was first and foremost to amaze the visitor.
It was a way for the rich person who assembled the wunderkammer to impress his court guests, showing off his opulence and lavish wealth: cabinets of curiosities were actually an evolution of treasure chambers (schatzkammern) and of the great collections of artworks of the 1400s (kunstkammer).
This predilection of rare and expensive objects generated a thriving international commerce of naturalistic and ethnological items cominc from the Colonies.
The Theatre of the World
But wunderkammern were also meant as a sort of microcosm: they were supposed to represent the entirety of the known universe, or at least to hint at the incredibly vast number of creatures and natural shapes that are present in the world. Samuel Quiccheberg, in his treatise on the arrangement of a utopian museum, was the first to use the word “theatre”, but in reality – as we shall see later on – the idea of theatrical representation is one of the cardinal concepts in classical collections.
Because of its ability to represent the world, the wunderkammer was also understood as a true instrument of research, an investigation tool for natural philosophers.
The System of Knowledge
The organization of a huge array of materials did not initially follow any specific order, but rather proceeded from the collector’s own whims and taste. Little by little, though, the idea of cataloguing began to emerge, which at first entailed the distinction between three macro-categories known as naturalia, artificialia and mirabilia, later to be refined and expanded in different other classes (medicalia, exotica, scientifica, etc.).
Artificialia
Medicalia, exotica, scientifica
This ever growing need to distinguish, label and catalogue eventually led to Linnaeus’ taxonomy, to his dispute with Buffon, all the way to Lamarck, Cuvier and the foundation of the Louvre, which marks the birth of the modern museum as we know it.
The Aesthetics of Accumulation
Perhaps the most iconic and well-known aspect of wunderkammern is the cramming of objects, the horror vacui that prevented even the tiniest space from being left empty in the exposition of curiosities and bizarre artifacts gathered around the world.
This excessive aesthetic was not just, as we said in the beginning, a display of wealth, but aimed at astounding and baffling the visitor. And this stunned condition was an essential moment: the wonder at the Universe, that feeling called thauma, proceeds certainly from awe but it is inseparable from a sense of unease. To access this state of consciousness, from which philosophy is born, we need to step outof our comfort zone.
To be suddenly confronted with the incredible imagination of natural shapes, visually “assaulted” by the unthinkable moltitude of objects, was a disturbing experience. Aesthetics of the Sublime, rather than Beauty; this encyclopedic vertigo is the reason why Umberto Eco places wunderkammern among his examples of “visual lists”.
Conservation and Representation
One of the basic goals of collecting was (and still is) the preservation of specimens and objects for study purposes or for posterity. Yet any preservation is already a representation.
When we enter a museum, we cannot be fully aware of the upstream choices that have been made in regard to the exhibit; but these choices are what creates the narrative of the museum itself, the very “tale” we are told room after room.
Multiple options are involved: what specimens are to be preserved, which technique is to be used to preserve them (the result will vary if a biological specimen is dried, texidermied, or put in a preserving fluid), how to group them, how to arrange their exhibit?
It is just like casting the best actors, choosing the stage costumes, a particular set design, and the internal script of the museum.
The most illuminating example is without doubt taxidermy, the ultimate simulacrum: of the original animal nothing is left but the skin, stretched on a dummy which mimics the features and posture of the beast. Glass eyes are applied to make it more convincing. That is to say, stuffed animals are meant to play the part of living animals. And when you think about it, there is no more “reality” in them than in one of those modern animatronic props we see in Natural History Museums.
But why do we need all this theatre? The answer lies in the concept of domestication.
Domestication: Nature vs. Culture
Nature is opposed to Culture since the time of ancient Greeks. Western Man has always felt the urge to keep his distance from the part of himself he perceived as primordial, chaotic, uncontrollable, bestial. The walls of the polis locked Nature outside, keeping Culture inside; and it’s not by chance that barbarians – seen as half-men half-beasts – were etymologically “those who stutter”, who remained outside of the logos.
The theatre, an advanced form of representation, was born in Athens likely as a substitute for previous ancient human sacrifices (cf. Réné Girard), and it served the same sacred purposes: to sublimate the animal desire of cruelty and violence. The tragic hero takes on the role of the sacrificial victim, and in fact the evidence of the sacred value of tragedies is in the fact that originally attending the theatrical plays was mandatory by law for all citizens.
Theatre is therefore the first attempt to domesticate natural instincts, to bring them literally “inside one’s home” (domus), to comprehend them within the logos in order to defuse their antisocial power. Nature only becomes pleasant and harmless once we narrate it, when we turn it into a scenic design.
And here’s why a stuffed lion (which is a narrated lion, the “image” of a lion as told through the fiction of taxidermy) is something we can comfortably place in our living room without any worry. All study of Nature, as it was conceived in the wunderkammern, was essentially the study of its representation.
By staging it, it was possible to exert a kind of control over Nature that would have been impossible otherwise. Accordingly, the symbol of the wunderkammern, that piece that no collection could do without, was the chained crocodile — bound and incapable of causing harm thanks to the ties of Reason, of logos, of knowledge.
It is worth noting, in closing this first part, that the symbology of the crocodile was also borrowed from the world of the sacred. These reptiles in chains first made their apparition in churches, and several examples can still be seen in Europe: in that instance, of course, they were meant as a reminder of the power and glory of Christ defeating Satan (and at the same time they impressed the believers, who in all probability had never seen such a beast).
A perfect example of sacred taxidermy; domestication as a bulwark against the wild, sinful unconscious; barrier bewteen natural and social instincts.
(Continues in Part Two)
5 Comments Posted in Animals & Nature, Unclassifiable, Books & Literature, MondoMacabro, Anomalous Science, Weird Art Tagged aldrovandi, animal, animali, art, arte, artificialia, asthetics, awe, cabinet, camera delle meraviglie, categoria, category, chiesa, coccodrillo, collecting, collection, collezione, collezionismo, conference, conferenza, conoscenza, conservazione, cospi, crocodile, cultura, culture, curiosità, curiosities, cuvier, eccesso, estetica, excess, festival, filosofia, fontanellato, history, imbalsamati, impagliati, ivan cenzi, kircher, knowledge, lamarck, linnaeus, linneo, logos, mariano tomatis, meraviglia, mirabilia, museo, museologia, museology, museum, narrativa, narrative, narrazione, natura, naturale, naturalia, nature, philosophy, polis, preservation, quiccheberg, réné girard, storia, stuffed, stupire, tassidermia, tassonomia, taxidermy, taxonomy, teatro, thauma, theatre, umberto eco, wonder, wunderkammer
Stupire! – The Festival of Wonders
There are places where the sediments of Time deposited, through the centuries, making the atmosphere thick and stratified like the different, subsequent architectural elements one can detect within a single building: in these places, the past never seems to have disappeared, it seems to survive — or at least we believe we can feel its vestigial traces.
Rocca Sanvitale in Fontanellato (Parma) is one of such majestic places of wonder: it has been the scene of conspiracies, battles, sieges, as well as — certainly — of laughters, romance, banquets and joy; a place full of art (Parmigianino was summoned to paint the fresco in the Room of Diane and Actaeon in 1523) and science (at the end of XIX Century the count Giovanni Sanvitale installed an incredible optical chamber inside the South tower, a device still functioning today).
Here, History is something you breathe. Walking through the rooms of the castle, you wouldn’t be surprised to encounter one of those faded ghosts who incessantly repeat the same gesture, trapped in a sadness deeper than death itself.
And it’s right inside these walls and towers that the first edition of Stupire!, the Festival of Wonders, will be held: three days of surprising shows, workshops, experiments, meetings with mentalists and mad scientists. The purpose of the event is to spread culture in entertaining and unexpected ways, using the tools of illusionism.
Behind this initiative, supported by the municipality of Fontanellato and organized in collaboration with the Circolo Amici della Magia di Torino, are two absolutely extraordinary minds: Mariano Tomatis and Francesco Busani.
If you follow my blog, you may already know them: they appeared on these pages more than once, and they both performed at my Academy of Enchantment.
Mariano Tomatis (one of my personal heroes) is the fertile wonder injector who is revolutionizing the world of magic from the outside, so to speak. Half historian of illusionism, half philosopher of wonder, and for another additional half activist of enchantment, Mariano fathoms the psychological, sociological and political implications of the art of magic, succeeding in shifting its focal point towards a new balance. Starting from this year, his Blog of Wonders is twinned to Bizzarro Bazar.
If Mariano is the “theorist” of the duo, Francesco Busani is the true mentalist, experienced in bizarre magick, investigator of the occult and unrivaled raconteur. As he explained when I interviewed him months ago, he was among the first magicians to perform one-to-one mentalism in Italy.
This partnership has already given birth to Project Mesmer, a hugely successful mentalism workshop. The Stupire! festival is the crowning result of this collaboration, perhaps their most visionary endeavour.
I will have the honor of opening the Festival, together with Mariano, on May 19.
During our public meeting I will talk about collecting curiosities, macabre objects, ancient cabinets of wonder and neo-wunderkammern. I will also bring some interesting pieces, directly from my own collection.
In the following days, besides Busani’s and Tomatis’ amazing talks performances (you really need to see them to understand how deep they can reach through their magic), the agenda features: Diego Allegri‘s trickeries and shadow puppets, street magic by Hyde, Professor Alchemist and his crazy experiments; Gianfranco Preverino, among the greatest experts in gambling and cheating, will close the festival.
But the event will not be limited to the inside of the castle. On Saturday and Sunday, the streets of Fontanellato will become the scene for the unpredictable guerrilla magic of the group Double Joker Face: surprise exhibitions in public spaces, baffling bystanders.
If that wasn’t enough, all day long on Saturday and Sunday, just outside the Rocca, those who seek forgotten oddities will have a chance to sift through a magic and antique market.
Lastly, Mariano Tomatis’ motto “Magic to the People!” will result in a final, very welcome abracadabra: all the events you just read about will be absolutely free of charge (until seats are available).
Three days of culture, illusionism and wonder in a place where, as we said in the beginning, History is all around. A week-end that will undoubtedly leave the participants with more enchanted eyes.
Because the world does not need more magic, but our own gaze does.
Here you can find the detailed schedule, complete with links to reserve seats for free.
4 Comments Posted in Unclassifiable, MondoMacabro, Anomalous Science, Weird Art Tagged castello, castle, collecting, collectors, collezionismo, conference, conferenza, cultura, culture, curiosità, curiosities, diego allegri, event, eventi, festival, fontanellato, francesco busani, gianfranco preverino, history, hyde, illusionism, illusionismo, italian, italy, ivan cenzi, luigi garlaschelli, magia, magic, magician, mago, mariano tomatis, mentalism, mentalismo, mentalist, mentalista, meraviglia, meraviglie, mesmer, oddities, parma, professor alchemist, rocca, sanvitale, show, spettacolo, storia, street, stupire, wonder, wunderkammer
Heaven is full of perverts
Ayzad is one of the biggest Italian experts in alternative sexuality and BDSM, author of several books on the subject. My respect for his work is unconditional: even if you are not into whips or bondage, my advice is to follow him anyway, because his explorations of the galaxies of extreme sex often entail innovative viewpoints and intuitions on all sexuality, on the psychology of relationships, on the semantics of eroticism and on the narratives we tell ourselves while we think we are simply making love. Addressing these issues in a meticulous yet ironic way, his cartography of the weirdest sexual practices offers lots of fun, awe and many surprises.
I met him the night before the opening of Rome BDSM Conference, where he was lecturing, and he kindly agreed to pen a report for Bizzarro Bazar on this unusual event.
The Rome BDSM Conference report
by Ayzad
I spent the last few days surrounded by people in tears. Which was to be expected, since the setting was the largest BDSM convention in Europe. The surprising part, in fact, was the reason of their crying – but we’ll get to it later.
The third edition of the Rome BDSM Conference was held in a nice suburban hotel set in the farthest possible environment from the romantic imagery one usually associates with the Eternal City. The area is so existentially dreadful to be the subject of an actual gag in a rather famous Italian movie, where not even the overly optimistic protagonist can find anything good to it. Although I had been there the for the previous edition already, the mismatch with common expectations was no less bizarre – and would prove to be but the first of many during the kinky weekend.
What could be shocking for most people, who generally identify erotic deviations with crass porn or with the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon, is that a sadomasochists’ convention doesn’t look that different from any corporate event or professional gathering. The lobby placards that point the attendees to the conference halls sit side by side with the indications for boring accountancy quarterly meetings, people wear nametags on a lanyard not unlike at an orthodontics exhibition, and exhausted-looking participants sneak out to the lobby bar to catch their breath – and the occasional nap in a corner armchair.
Ties and power suits are a rare sight among the casual outfits preferred by most, yet fetish clothing is equally uncommon. You don’t really see more naughty high heels or suggestive details in the common areas than you would on any given working day: the few discreet slave collars and corsets are largely offset by regular t-shirts and jeans.
The people themselves, on the other hand, are striking in their diversity. Besides their geographical provenience (foreigners outnumber Italians, puzzling the organization), it is apparent that this bunch is happily unburdened by the anxiety of conforming to social standards. Same sex couples mingle with a lack of care so refreshingly alien from the unending controversy fabricated by the local media and politicians around equal rights; several unapologetically oversized persons who’d be frowned upon in another milieu are accepted just as much as the coolest fetish models here, and the same goes for the random disabled ones. Twentysomethings mix with seniors on polite yet equal terms. The situation closely reminded me of naturist resorts, where nakedness is quickly forgotten as you instinctively see people for their human essence and value, not their appearance.
As a matter of fact, this aspect of the Conference has a tendency to pull the rug from under your feet whenever you stop and consider the situation from an outsider’s perspective. «Wait, am I actually discussing anal fisting with a Slovakian asexual surgeon and a girl who’s barely one third of my own age and identifies as a bratty pony?» It took the better part of one day, for example, for me to realize that I had been talking with a trans person, even if this was pretty apparent: I simply hadn’t given this aspect the littlest thought. On a similar note, once you are immersed in such environment it takes a little while to notice that sitting in a workshop dedicated to the various techniques to safely penetrate a woman with a bayonet, or watching a lesson about biting people, isn’t exactly normal – even for me. Because yes: of course the BDSM Conference is a pretty hands-on affair too.
The event itself takes place in the convention area of the hotel, consisting of several lecture rooms set along a hallway where kinky artisans sell whips, collars, floggers, leather locking cuffs and other wicked toys. This year they shared the space with an exhibition featuring the photos from an art contest organized by the largest Italian leather association, whose winner was announced during the gala dinner held on the second day of the Conference.
The program offered over eighty workshops, each of them one hour and a half long. Presenters come from all over Europe, Israel and the USA (and Japan, in the previous editions), and this is where the similarities with other conventions end.
In the attendees-only area of the hotel participants remained indeed cheerful and civil, but the sounds coming from behind the classes doors often left no doubt on the nature of the lessons. Whip cracks and loud moans mixed with laughter and the occasional yelp, as the workshops continued with a barrage of bizarre titles. Violet wands, what to do with electricity ran side to side with The culture of consent; you could jump from Negotiating a scene to Artistic cutting or the rather technical Progressions for freestyle suspension bondage; high concept classes such as The reality of total power exchange relationships, Destructuring a BDSM scene or my own Polyamory and BDSM coexisted with the definitely down-to-earth The ups and downs of anal play and Needleplay for sadists. Other topics included fetishes, psychology, kinbaku, safety, communication, instruments and subjects as exotic as erotic tickling and the semantics of sex. The one thing you couldn’t find anywhere were the chudwahs.
‘Chudwah’ stands for Clueless Heterosexual Dominant Wannabe, a portmanteau indicating the sort of troglodytes who plague kinky communities both on- and offline thinking that a loud voice and a snarl are all it takes to bring home hot partners willing to provide oral sex and housekeeping in exchange for a few face slaps. They cannot conceive that BDSM is an art that in order to be safe and pleasurable requires dedication, much less actual study.
All the Conference participants were definitely committed to bring their game to a higher level instead, so they behaved like proper scholars. This made the workshops an especially surreal experience, with people keenly taking notes as desperate interpreters struggled to find the appropriate words to translate speeches about topics as improbable as erotic ageplay, extreme mindfuck, traditional Japanese bondage or the historical origin of a flogger flourish in Reinassance Italy. Trust me when I say that few things in life are weirder than finding yourself at the end of a class compiling a feedback form and wondering with a fellow student whether the genital suturing demonstration should get four or five stars.
No matter how apparently absurd the situation, everyone was seriously committed to learning and sharing, because this sort of knowledge immediately translates into pleasure and safety once you hit the bedroom – or the dungeon. Extreme erotic literacy took absolute priority throughout the event, keeping the discussion going all the time. Even on the third day, when everybody was positively exhausted, the bilingual conversation during lunch focused for example on the comparative merits of the lecturing style of two presenters who had both tackled erotic humiliation in their lessons. Everyone agreed that the shock of feeling seriously humiliated does help to shed your everyday persona and give yourself permission to leave inhibitions behind. One teacher however had carefully built a safe mindspace to explore embarrassment, while the other had subjected his partner to an extremely degrading session which many attendees found plainly abusive. A heated yet educated debate ensued, and it would have continued if it wasn’t for yet another set of classes coming up and demanding our attention. But it wasn’t just work and no play, of course.
You cannot expect to corral hundreds of kinksters in a secluded locations without them getting to have fun in their own unique ways. The retreat program thus included two parties: one for the attendees only and a larger one the night after, open to outsiders as well. They were both held in the large, warehouse-like rooms where the bondage and singletail workshops had taken place during the day, due to their major space requirements. The same carpeted floors that normally accomodated sleep-inducing corporate presentations were cleared of conference chairs and outfitted with an impressive array of St. Andrew’s crosses, whipping benches, cages, fisting slings, pillories and other unsettling furniture. An immense structure built with the kind of tubes used for construction scaffoldings looked like the biggest jungle gym ever, but it was meant as a support for multiple suspension bondages.
I won’t delve in any depth on the parties. What really set them apart from many analogous play nights was simply being surrounded by the very same people you had met red-eyed at breakfast, then as diligent students during the day, then slacking off at the bar or making their moves in the lobby, then elegantly (or outrageously) dressed for the gala dinner, and now flaunting their latex and leather outfits as they writhed in pain and delight in the dimly-lit halls. As I queued with them again at the pancake and juice stations the morning after, I felt sort of voyeuristically privileged for the chance I was given to see these strangers so thoroughly naked in all their daily masks and without, candidly exposing sides of their character that only spouses would witness otherwise – and not even all of them at that.
If 24/7 intimacy begets deep bonding already, the awareness that everyone was there for their passion for extreme eroticism took things one step further. With our psychosexual phantasms exposed from the start, the need to conceal and sublimate our libido simply disappeared, with three curious effects.
The former was the utter absence of the sort of neurotic behavior that’s so common throughout our daily lives; repressed sexual urges and thoughts are the overwhelming cause of personal issues, after all. I venture to say that the rare uneasy persons I stumbled into all appeared to harbor problems of a different nature.
Another peculiarity was that lechery and creepiness were nowhere to be seen. People eyed each other, sure, but erotic proposals were offered and received with a characteristic lack of drama, just like refusals got gallantly accepted. Why wrapping a normal, healthy part of life in the shroud of anxiety, indeed? The contrast with the intensely sexualized imagery spewing from the few television screens and the magazines in the hotel lobby highlighted how “normal” society twists the joy of sex into its evil twin – and how weird it is that we ended up believing this dreadful charade, often missing entirely the point of sexuality itself.
The latter and possibly most fascinating effect of the unusual cohabitation was to witness the subtle changes in the participants’ body language. The more the event got underway, the more people looked relaxed and accepting of their own bodies – including the bruises and marks that were gladly worn not unlike actual badges of honor. Far from the frigid Helmut Newton stereotypes that are still so prominent in BDSM imagery, smiles and hugs abounded; movements became softer and more deliberate; people literally had learned not to be afraid of each other and of themselves. The general attitude changed as well: instead of being always ready to criticize or get annoyed by every minor glitch as it often happens in our everyday lives, on this particular occasion everybody tended to be more inclined towards being on the lookout for whatever opportunity of pleasure – be it a new erotic practice or a simple bit of nice conversation – ignoring the rest. As a sexologist friend commented during the previous edition, anyone who had came in looking for perversion and depravity would feel disconcerted by the tenderness displayed by the attendees.
And this is why, come the end of that three-days extravaganza, so many participants were crying at the closing cerimony. For these outcasts who finally found their home and tribe, this final moment becomes so emotionally loaded that they even bet on how long will it take for the burly organizer himself to burst into tears during his thank you speech. He is not alone in that, though: just imagine how would you feel if you had finally spent a heavenly weekend, and you knew you had to wait another whole year to feel among kindred spirits again. Imagine what it is like to have experienced a perfect world – free of prejudices, ignorance, pettiness, fear, competition, hate – and having to leave it behind to step back into the mundane mess we all suffer. Imagine how strange it is to realize that life would be so much better if only more people grew less scared of their own sexuality, and how odd to discover this at a kinky convention.
13 Comments Posted in Mysteries of Sex Tagged ayzad, bdsm, bondage, conference, conferenza, eros, estremo, extreme, fetish, masochism, masochismo, roma, rome, sadism, sadismo, seminari, sesso, sessualità, sex, sexuality, torture, workshop, xxx
Tea with the Muses
On November 22, at 4pm inside the beautiful Civic Museum in Reggio Emilia, I will talk about macabre wonders together with historian Carlo Baja Guarienti.
Our chat is part of a series of lectures called Il Tè delle Muse (Tea with the Muses): I find this title quite gorgeous, because the ironic reference to the etymology of “museum” highlights its original function of being a place of enchantment and inspiration. There is therefore no better place to talk about what I have often called dark wonder; on these webpages I have been suggesting for years that we should overcome the prejudice attached to the word “macabre”, and understand that many of the so-called “morbid” curiosities can turn out to be noble and sometimes necessary passions. We will be discussing exoticism, new trends, wunderkammern and intersections between art, science and the sacred.
Here is the official page for the event.
Leave a comment Posted in Animals & Nature, Unclassifiable, Books & Literature, Human Marvels, MondoMacabro, Anomalous Science, Weird Art Tagged art, arte, carlo baja guarienti, conference, conferenza, curiosità, curiosity, esotismo, event, evento, exoticism, ivan cenzi, lecture, macabre, macabro, meraviglia, morbid, morboso, muse, musei civici, museo, museum, palazzo, reggio emilia, sacred, sacro, science, scienza, tè delle muse, wonder, wunderkammer
Death Salon: Mütter Museum
The French came up with a wonderful expression, l’esprit de l’escalier. It’s that sense of frustration when the right witty answer to someone’s question or criticism pops up in your mind when you have already left, and you’re heading down the stairs (escalier).
This summer a friend asked me the question I should have always been waiting for, and that ironically nobody – not even those who know me well – ever asked me: “Why are you so interested in death?“
I remember saying something vague about my fascination with funeral rites, about the relevance of death in art, about every culture being actually defined by its relationship with the afterlife… Yet in my mind I was surprised by the triviality and impersonality of my answers. Maybe the question was a bit naive, like asking an old sailor what he finds so beautiful about ocean waves. But then again her curiosity was totally legitimate: why taking interest in death in a time when it is normally denied and removed? And how could I, after all these years of studying and writing, addressing far more complex issues, have not anticipated and prepared for such a direct question?
Maybe it was in an effort to make up for the esprit de l’escalier which had caught me that day, that I decided to meet up with like-minded people, who happen to cultivate my same interests, to try and understand their motivations.
Now, there is only one place in the world where I could find, all together, the main academics, intellectuals and artists who have made death their main focus. So, I flew up to Philadelphia.
The Death Salon, for those who haven’t heard of it, is an event organized by the death-positive movement revolving around Caitlin Doughty, whom I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing not long ago. It consists of two days of meetings, conferences, music and games, all of which explore death – in its multiple artistic, cultural, social and philosophical facets.
This year Death Salon took place in an exceptional location, inside Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum, one of the best-known pathological anatomy museums in the world.
Besides the pleasure of finally meeting in person several “penfriends” and scholars I admire, I was interested in experiencing first-hand this new reality, to feel its vibes: I wanted to understand what kind of people could, in such a joyful and subversive way, define themselves as death aficionados, while trying to take this topic away from taboo through a more relaxed and open dialogue on everything death-related.
The variety of different Death Salon attendees impressed me from the start, and just like I expected every one of them had their own, very personal reasons to be there: there were writers researching ideas for their next novel, nurses who wanted to understand how they could better relate to the terminally ill, nice old ladies who worked as tour guides in nearby city museums, medical students, morticians, photographers and artists whose work for some reason included death, persons who were struggling to cope with a recent loss and who were hoping to find a more intimate comprehension for their suffering in that multicolored crowd.
The shared feeling was one of strange, subtle excitement: on a superficial level, it could almost seem like a gathering for “death nerds”, all enthusiastically chatting about grave robbers and adipocere in front of their coffee, just like others zealously discuss sports or politics. But that little sparkle in every participant’s eyes actually betrayed a more profound relief, one of being at last free to talk openly about their own fears, protected within a family which does not judge certain obsessions, feeling certain that even their most secret insecurity could be brought to light here.
We are all wounded, in the face of death, and it’s an ancient, ever open wound. The most memorable aspect of Death Salon is that the shame attached to such wound seemed to fade away, at least for the space of two days, and every pain or worry was channeled in a cathartic debate.
And in this context the various conferences, in their heterogeneity, little by little made it clear for me that there was not just one plain answer to the question that brought me there in the first place (“why are you so interested in death?”). Here is a summary of the works presented at Death Salon, and of the many concepts they suggested.
Death is damn interesting
Marianne Hamel is a forensic pathologist, and her report illuminated the differences between her real every-day job and its fictionalized version in movies and TV shows. To clarify the matter, she started off by declaring that she never performed an autopsy in the middle of the night under a single light bulb, nor she ever showed up at a crime scene wearing high heels; among the other debunked myths, “I can only guess the exact time of a victim’s death if they’ve been shot through their watch“. Some implications of her job, if they lack a Hollywood appeal, are actually incredibily important: to quote just one example, forensic pathologists have a clear idea of the state of public health before any other professional. They’re the first to know if a new drug is becoming trendy, or if certain dangerous behaviours are spreading through the population.
At Death Salon other peculiar topics were addressed, such as the difficulties in museum restoration of ancient Egyptian mummies (M. Gleeson), the correct way of “exploding” skulls to prepare them in the tradition of French anatomist Edmé François Chauvot de Beauchêne (R. M. Cohn), and the peptide mass fingerprinting method to assess whether a book is really bound in human skin (A. Dhody, D. Kirby, R. Hark, M. Rosenbloom). There were talks on illustrious dead and their ghosts (C. Dickey) and on Hart Island, a huge, tax-payed mass grave in the heart of New York City (B. Lovejoy).
Death can be fun
A hilarious talk by Elizabeth Harper, author of the delightful blog All The Saints You Should Know, focused on those Saints whose bodies miraculously escaped decomposition, and on the intricate (and far from intuitive) beaurocratic procedures the Roman Catholic Church has established to recognize an “incorrupt” relic from a slightly less prodigious one. It is interesting how certain things we Italians take for granted, as we’ve seen them in every church since we were children, come out as pretty crazy in the eyes of many Americans…
Can we turn a cemetery into a place for the living? At Laurel Hill cemetery, in Philadelphia, recreational activities, film screenings, charity marathons and night shows take place, as reported by Alexis Jeffcoat and Emma Stern.
If all this wasn’t enough to understand that death and entertainment are not enemies, on the last evening the Death Salon organized at the bar National Mechanics, in a jovial pub atmosphere, a Death Quizzo – namely a game show where teams battled over their knowledge of the most curious details regarding death and corpses.
Death is a painful poem
Sarah Troop, executive director of The Order of The Good Death and museum curator, bravely shared with the public what is probably the most traumatic experience of all: the loss of a young child. The difficulty Sarah experienced in elaborating her grief pushed her to seek a more adequate mindset in her Mexican roots. Here, small dead children become angelitos, little angels which the relatives dress up in embroidered clothes and who, being pure souls, can act as a medium between Earth and Heaven. The consolation for a mother who lost her child is in finding, inside a tradition, a specific role, wich modern secularized society fails to supply. And if pain can never go away, it is somehow shared across a culture which admits its existence, and instills it with a deeper meaning.
Death tells us some incredible stories
Evi Numen illustrated the post-mortem scandal of John Frankford, who was victim of one of many truculent incidents that were still happening some thirty years after the Pennsylvania Anatomy Act (1867), due to the chronical lack of cadavers to dissect in medical schools.
And, speaking of gruesome stories, no tradition beats murder ballads, imported from Europe as a sort of chanted crime news. At the Death Salon, after a historical introduction by Lavinia Jones Wright, a trio of great musicians went on to interpret some of the most relevant murder ballads.
Death is a dialogue
Dr. Paul Koudounaris, Death Salon’s real rockstar, explained the difference between cultures who set up a soft border in relation to their dead, as opposed to other cultures which build a hard boundary: in the majority of cultures, including our own until recent times, taking care of the corpses, even years after their death, is a way to maintain ancestors active within the social tissue. What Norman Bates did to his mother in Psycho, in Tana Toraja would be regarded as an example of filial devotion (I talked about it in this article).
Robert Hicks, director of Mütter Museum, explored the implications of displaying human remains in museums today, wondering about the evolution of post mortem imagery and about the politics and ownership of the dead.
David Orr, artist and photographer, offered a review of symmetry in the arts, particularly in regard to the skull, a symbol that refers to our own identity.
Death must be faced and domesticated
Finally, various facets of dying were exposed, often complex and contradictory.
Death defines who we are, affirmed Christine Colby as she told the story of Jennifer Gable, a transgender who during her whole life fought to assert her identity, only to be buried by her family as a man. Death changes along with society, unveiling new layers of complexity.
Dr. Erin Lockard, despite being a doctor herself, while assisting her dying mother had to face other doctors who, maybe as a defense strategy, denied the obvious, delaying the old woman’s agony with endless new therapies.
In closing, here is someone who decided to teach death at the university. Norma Bowe‘s “Death in perspective” class has a three-years waiting list, and offers a series of practical activities: the students take field trips to hospices, hospitals and funeral homes, attend an autopsy, create spaces for meditation and build their own approach to death without philosophical or religious filters, through first-hand experience.
My opinion on Death Salon? Two intense and fruitful days, gone in a flash. Openly talking about death is essential, now more than ever, but – and I think this is the point of the whole Salon – it is also unbelievable, mind-bending fun: all that has been said, both by panelists and the audience, all these unexpected viewpoints, clearly prove that death is, even now, a territory dominated by wonder.
Still overloaded with stimuli, I pondered my unresolved question during the night flight back home. Why am I so fascinated with death?
Looking out the window towards the approaching coast of old Europe, with its little flickering lights, it became clear that the only possible answer, as I suspected from the beginning, was the most elementary one.
“Because being interested in death means to be interested in life“.
15 Comments Posted in MondoMacabro Tagged anatomia, anatomy, anatomy act, angelitos, artist, artista, beauchene, books, burial, cadavere, caitlin doughty, cemetery, cimitero, conference, conferenza, corpse, david orr, death, death salon, diritto, elizabeth harper, esequie, eutanasia, euthanasia, evi numen, filadelfia, forense, forensic, funerali, funerals, grief, hart island, human skin, incorrotti, incorrupt, libri, lutto, medicina, messico, Mexico, morte, mourning, mummie, mummy, murder ballad, mutter museum, norma bowe, order of the good death, paul koudounaris, paura, pelle umana, pennsylvania, perspective, philadelphia, prospettiva, right, saints, salone, santi, sarah troop, sepoltura, skull, talk, teschio, timore, transgender
Sculture tassidermiche – I Wednesday December 22nd, 2010
Ricordando Hunter Saturday February 27th, 2010
The Mummies of Palermo: A Silent Dialogue Tuesday June 11th, 2019
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Elevator Pitch: What Hero Do You Want To See On The Silver Screen? Wonder Woman!
Posted on May 8, 2014 | by Hannah Means Shannon
By Gary Turner
Last time’s Power Man & Iron Fist pitch was pretty challenging to get two so very different characters together. But I think it would make for a very fun popcorn-munching ride.
This time around we’re looking at a REAL challenge. One that the execs out in Lala land have been terrified to approach for many, many years. DC has had plenty of success with Supes & Bats, but other than the Justice League animated series, has not broached the character since Lynda Carter (still love her)! I can’t help but feel disappointed that DC’s lead heroine is going to be a tacked on character for the Batman vs. Superman movie.
So what’s so hard to understand?
Wonder Woman should be an inspirational icon. Yes she’s a warrior, but she also has a compassionate heart. This is a soldier that cares. I read a blog by a fellow pitching fanatic Psylockefan [Jeremy] that I think really hit the nail square on the head. Wonder Woman is a champion of equality, not just feminism but also bigotry, class and wealth oppression, and unjust discrimination where ever found.
If Warner Bros. execs were to see the value in these ideals we won’t get garbage cat fight flicks like we did with Sharon Stone and Halle Berry. Granted that movie was called Catwoman.
THE TEASER
Longitude 27.8W, Latitude 70.8N… Just off the Florida coast (Bermuda Triangle). We fade in on an expanse of ocean. There’s a momentary visual hiccup in the air. Just a flicker for a moment. Then it erupts into a full spacial distortion. Rocketing out from this disturbance is an unearthly black device almost robotic in nature. It has a deep red eye and an air of evil about it. That same distortion reacts again seconds later as a World War II, P-20 flying tiger bursts through. It’s nearly three times as large as the black thing it preceded.
Cut to Cape Canaveral mission control. A couple of guys are complaining about another unofficial satellite launch. Don’t ask too many questions though. Who knows what they’re supposed to send up this time. They feel they missed out on the real stuff when their predecessors sent astronauts up. Suddenly a perimeter alarm goes off. They detect an inbound plane on radar headed straight for the launch pad.
The black metallic thing surges onwards towards the rocket. The fighter plane is in pursuit. The pilot is determined not to let it escape. While one hand punches full throttle the other moves to slide the canopy back. The timing is going to be close.
Just as the ebon sentry smacks into the side, high on the rocket, it releases short tentacles that penetrate the fuselage skin. But this all happens at the same time Diana of Themyscira lunges from the fighter plane. As she is flung past, Diana grabs hold of the device. Her strength coupled with the immense inertia rips the thing away from its hold.
They fall several hundred feet while Diana lays into the thing with anvil-like punches. Its tentacles lock onto her throat. Still she speaks, “You dare to attack my sisters! Then try to return to your master! WHO SENT YOU!!” She pile drives it into the tarmac, utterly crushing it. A tiny but intense beam fires straight up into the sky, and everything on it dim to nothing. It is just a black chuck of crushed metal now. Wonder Woman stands defiantly over it, looking up into the sky. Did it still somehow get away after all?
A fleet of military and government vehicles encircle her and she stands at the ready. Just in the background we see the P-20 fighter (now pilotless) careen over and plow into a deserted beach and splinter into wreckage.
THE TWEAKS
Okay, I got a LOT OF ‘EM. The nature of these articles is to demonstrate that when comic heroes are translated to film there should be changes. So long as the inherent core of the character is preserved, what we love about them remains, then it works. I think Wonder Woman can be a prime example.
This sort of Wonder Woman could still mesh with a Nolan or Snyder universe. We could infer the more mythological aspects and make it more about how Wonder Woman sees our modern world, and desire to help us work towards a brighter future.
In this origin Themyscira was an island nation of Greek ancestry. It is pulled into a pocket dimension still tethered to Earth. The proud Amazonian women achieved peace like they’ve never known before. For a very long time there were no intrusions. There was also no leaving as well. The portal became small and undetectable.
Only by shear chance did a fighter pilot during World War II inadvertently pass through this eye of the needle. He too became trapped. But in this version Steve Trevor is not a romantic interest. He becomes a father figure to the little preteen girl Diana. He spins tales all about how the modern world is. How the United States of America has become a bastion of liberty, and an example to all. Diana grows up believing in his stories and dreaming of the day she could join that world.
When many years later a mysterious black box enters their realm. It attacks some of the Amazons. Tasks them to see their fighting prowess. Scans the island and then turns to leave. In the midst of the battle Hippolyta figures out that this is some evil scout come to learn their weaknesses. Diana is determined to make sure it doesn’t return. She leaps in Captain Trevor’s repaired fighter and give chase.
Why change Steve Trevor to a father figure?
Well that’d be because his character is the Ken doll of DC Comics. One of the most predictable, two-dimensional romantic interests of all time. Wonder Woman deserves far better than to just fall for the first man she ever lays eyes on. A good romance needs to have a sense of “is there something actually there?” uncertainty.
Steve also sets up Diana’s expectations about America. When she arrives she sees all the modern marvels through technology, but also is shocked that it isn’t the utopia she had painted in her mind to be. For Wonder Woman it’s still not too late.
Also, after following the black box out of the pocket dimension there’s several factors that come into play. While Themyscira was from the Greek isles, over time the pocket dimension shifted. Steve Trevor entered off the coast of Africa. Many years later it had moved all the way to the Bermuda Triangle. Time passes differently within the pocket dimension. What seemed like 15 years for Diana (since Capt. Trevor arrives) has been 75 years our time. Last thing, now that she’s out she has no way back.
WHAT FORCES DOES SHE FACE?
As she comes to know the New World Diana is taken under the wing of a billionaire philanthropist Maxwell Lord. He’s an adventurous sort that seeks out mythical quests as a passion of his. He has a small army of people scouring the world for his next big game. His personal archeologist, Barbara Ann, also doubles as his girl-Friday. Always there for him. But just as Diana becomes to suspect Lord’s agenda Barbara Ann shows that she had one over on him all along. She murder’s Maxwell and helps herself to Lord’s hidden vault. Inside she finds his most recent ancient acquisition that transforms her into Cheetah.
WHAT ABOUT THAT BLACK BOX THINGY?
Ahh yes. That was a precursor. A setup for yet another film. You see there are more gods than just the Greek ones. Some, even though they are not from Earth, still crave our world. If only they could establish a hidden beach head from which to launch an invasion. They could establish a portal there inside Themyscira that no one would be able to shut down. Then flood the world with parademons and scorch the surface into a fitting New Apocalypse. Who else would find noticing a pocket dimension child’s-play than Darkseid?
But that would be a Justice League movie.
ALL THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR…WHO?
Lots of opinions on who should become Diana, our Wonder Woman. I’m not even gonna touch on the stuff that started up around Gal Gadot. She may yet stun us all through the wonders of weight training. I can say this though, I do like that she has an accent!
If Wonder Woman hails from the Greek Isles then she most certainly shouldn’t sound like she’s from California. On a similar note, why not open the casting some more to a wider Mediterranean ethnicity?
So here’s some choices I’d like to start from. While Gina Carano can clearly rock the body, I have faith that with the sizable check that would come with the role Lynn Collins, or Priyanka Chopra could build the biceps. As a browncoat for life I’m certainly going to offer up Morena Baccarin.
I’d also like to throw out there Jolene Blalock for the role of Cheetah. I bet she’d make an amazingly wicked villainess. Next Mark Valley as WWII era Steve Trevor. Any ideas who you’d think make a cagey Maxwell Lord?
WHO’S NEXT?
I live for your feedback! So give me ONE hero from the list, plus any others you’d like to be added in the comments, FB message, or email. If you really want to participate then give us your insights on what makes that character one you love, or how you’d like to see them treated.
All votes from previous weeks still add up going forward:
Green Lantern: John Stewart
Gary Turner, creator of d20 comic Technically Magi, spends his days languishing in the middle of the Pacific (to be specific…Hawaii). If not for his day job of television production & animation he’d be off doing something completely frivolous. Rollin’ with the RPGers, and making mad sequential plots is how his nights are lost.
About Hannah Means Shannon
Editor-in-Chief at Bleeding Cool. Independent comics scholar and former English Professor. Writing books on magic in the works of Alan Moore and the early works of Neil Gaiman.
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Posted in Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged Comics, entertainment, film, halle berry, lynda carter, Sharon Stone, superheroes, wonder woman
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Hot Apps Secret, Jelly and Yahoo Screen: Fad or For Real?
By Adam Sherbell on June 2, 2014
There are now hundreds of thousands of apps in the app store. And that’s just Apple. And that’s not including all of the under performing apps that have vanished from the store since it opened in 2007 or successful apps that got sold for millions only to be broken apart and adopted by mega corporations. Seemingly every day we discover something new that makes our eyes open wide and immediately reach for our phone to download. But after the hype and that initial rush of curiosity dies down, some apps stay for the long haul and some get deleted, or worse, end up on the Techcrunch startup deadpool page. In this next installment of our series Fad or For Real, we’ll take a look at three hot apps and predict whether or not they have what it takes to build a brand that lasts or they’ll just be another fallen name in tech wasteland. Of course, we’ll only be looking at apps that are stand alone products and not extensions of larger brands.
Most in the tech scene have heard of Secret by now. It’s no secret (sorry I had too). Riding the coattails of the new anonymity trend in social networking, first made popular by Whisper, Secret aims to carve out their piece of the pie coming from a somewhat different angle. Whereas Whisper is about making a confession of sorts and accompanying a photo with it, in a meme type style, Secret is more about gossip and personal thought, with no visual distraction other than bold colors and type. Also, Secrets come from anonymous friends or friends of friends and are presented in an Instagram like feed with most of the familiar social media accoutriements such as likes and comments.
Vedict: Fad
Like Whisper, the ultimate question here is where is the long term value for the user? Sure, in a niche community like tech startups/Silicon Valley, it’s fun to hear people vent and talk shit about the likes of Dave Morin (founder of Path) or other recognizable names and companies. But then what? And what’s that ultimately worth other than a quick hit of fleeting entertainment, sure to steadily diminish over time? Yes, there’s a certain level of stickiness that comes from trying to figure out which of your friends said what, but over the long term, who cares really? Not enough to build a flourishing scalable ecosystem in my opinion. Nothing you see on Secret is verifiable in any way so it pretty much just amounts to cotton candy like gossip. Yes, it can be entertaining and tap into certain things that are inherently human, but like any other form of entertainment it comes down to content. Can users of Secret and more specifically the fraction of people that regularly post, provide enough juicy stuff that it stays fun years down the road? Not likely. One out of every twenty posts searching for that one good nugget isn’t enough. And how do you monetize it? That’s a whole nother discussion but advertising might not cut it in this type of environment, unless there is massive scale.
Ok Biz Stone, being a founding member of Twitter, you’ve got a built in hype machine that got me to download your app, but your app didn’t get me to stick with it long. For those not in the know, Jelly’s goal is to help users find answers to their questions in real time by crowdsourcing opinions from their social networks. It’s part Quora, part Snapchat and part a bunch of other apps not worth mentioning. Users snap a photo, ask a question and get answers from the community, more importantly connections from their social networks.
Verdict: Fad
There’s a difference between an interesting idea and a viable business. For there to be a viable business, clear value has to be melded with a user experience and overall design that is just right. Users need to immediately think of Jelly as the answer to their problem of the moment and have that problem answered consistently for them to keep coming back. The app store is just too crowded otherwise. Heck, two thirds of the apps on my phone I never even open, and that’s stuff I’ve actually downloaded. I give Jelly credit for pushing the “questions and answers” idea forward. They are nobly trying to seize an opportunity that companies like Quora aren’t, who still haven’t found the right product mix on mobile. It’s a tough nut to crack and if they can, to the victors go the spoils. But although this is just version one and an experiment if you will, Jelly needs to go back to the drawing board. Experiment failed. There’s just too much clutter that you don’t care about, leading to a tiring and overall negative experience in which after a few times of not finding value you’re simply bored.
Yahoo Screen
If you like watching professional quality video programming on an impeccably designed user interface for mobile, Yahoo really knocks it out of the box with Screen. Marissa Mayer came into Yahoo with more than a few things on her agenda. For one, improve the quality of Yahoo’s suite of mobile products across the board, with updates to existing products and new innovations. At the same time, double down on video when it comes to selling ads and with original programming. So far, so good.
Verdict: For Real
Unlike the television, which traditionally has been the central place to gather around to watch long form content, mobile has long been searching for an experience that replicates that feel while also form fitted to the mobile experience. Youtube comes close, but there is a lot of clutter to sift through, while others come at it from different angles. Screen offers a sleek interface with a fair amount of channels from name content providers such as Buzzfeed, Wired, Comedy Central and exclusive access to the most recent episodes of SNL, broken down clip by clip. The user experience on Screen hits the nail on the head, making watching high quality video content on mobile the most cable tv like experience you’ll find in the app store. Screen is not just an app, it’s a platform and one that is setting a standard in the space.
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Rubbish collections may be delayed because of hot weather
It could be the UK's hottest day on record
Kate WilsonPolitical Editor
Homeowners are being warned of delays to rubbish and recycling collections across South Gloucestershire today (Thursday) because of the hot weather.
The Met office has warned today could be the UK's hottest day on record with temperatures expected to reach as high as 39C in parts of southern and eastern England.
The previous record of 38.5C was recorded in Faversham in 2003.
'Around 3,000 Bristol homes' left without water as weather set to reach 31C
As a result of the high temperatures the Met Office has sent out an alert advising the public to stay out of the sun where possible, keep their homes cool, and to drink plenty of fluids.
This is especially relevant to people who work outdoors - such as refuse collectors.
South Gloucestershire Council has warned there may be some delays to collections today as a result of the hot weather.
In a statement on Facebook the authority said: “The high temperature forecast today may cause delays for waste and recycling collections.
“While we don't think there will be any significant problems, our crews will need to work at a slower pace to stay safe. Thank you for your patience.”
UK heatwave - Bristol set to sizzle as temperatures soar
There has been no suggestion that householders should not put their rubbish out as normal for collection.
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Thomas Morris News
Thomas Morrissey is the Artistic Director of Theatre Now New York, having previously worked with the Genesius Theatre Guild in New York City and ReVision Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ. For ReVision Tom Directed the highly acclaimed productions of Hello, Dolly! staring Richard Skipper as Carol Channing ... (read more)
Thomas Morris News Feeds
Latest News on Thomas Morris
Photo Flash: First Look At THE HAPPY GARDEN OF LIFE A New Play Inspired By Kurt Vonnegut's 2BR02B (Oct 23, 2019)
THE HAPPY GARDEN OF LIFE Opens At New Ohio Theatre, October 18 (Oct 1, 2019)
Washington National Opera Announces 2019–2020 Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists (Jul 1, 2019)
Photo Flash: First Look At THE HAPPY GARDEN OF LIFE A New Play Inspired By Kurt Vonnegut's 2BR02B
THE HAPPY GARDEN OF LIFE Opens At New Ohio Theatre, October 18
Washington National Opera Announces 2019�"2020 Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists
by BWW News Desk - Oct 23, 2019
The Happy Garden of Life—a new play about population control, inspired by Kurt Vonnegut's short story, 2 B R 0 2 B—had a sold-out opening night at the New Ohio Theatre on October 18 and closes on Sunday, October 27, after ten performances. (more...)
by BWW News Desk - Oct 1, 2019
A new theatre piece about population control by Anna Jastrzembski, directed by Jenna Hoffmann. The play will have a limited run at the New Ohio Theatre from October 18-27. (more...)
by BWW News Desk - Jul 1, 2019
Washington National Opera (WNO) announces the roster of emerging artists engaged for the 18th season of its Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, beginning August 26, 2019. (more...)
BroadwayWorld UK's 100 People To Follow On Twitter In 2019
by Natalie O'Donoghue - Jan 9, 2019
Team BWW have compiled the following list of their favourite Twitter users in the UK who post about theatre and the arts. Ranging from independent bloggers and theatre-makers to West End performers who are particularly engaging with their social media accounts. (more...)
SkyPilot Announces One Act Festival 2018
The award-winning SkyPilot Theatre Company will premiere seven original short plays during its inaugural SkyPilot One-Act Festival this November at Oh My Ribs! Entertainment, 6468 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. The plays (titled Series A and Series B) will be performed over four nights (two nights for each Series) for three weekends. Tickets are $15 per night with the option of a Festival pass to see all works for $20. (more...)
Merola Finishes Season with Grand Finale on August 18
by BWW News Desk - Jul 13, 2018
San Francisco's acclaimed Merola Opera Program, one of the most prestigious and selective opera training programs in the world, culminates its 2018 Summer Festival with the Merola Grand Finale, featuring the 2018 Merola young artists in a dazzling array of opera's most exciting arias and ensembles. (more...)
Merola Opera Program Announces Season, Unveils Opera Stars of Tomorrow
by BWW News Desk - Mar 27, 2018
San Francisco's acclaimed Merola Opera Program, one of the most prestigious and selective opera training programs in the world, launches its 61st season offering audiences a look at the opera stars of tomorrow. (more...)
THE FACEBOOK FIGHTER Takes Home 5 Awards at SOUND BITES 4.0
by BWW News Desk - May 30, 2017
Theatre Now New York presented its 4th Annual festival of new musicals, Sound Bites 4.0 (sponsored by Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Productions) to a sold-out house at the Perishing Square Signature Theatre. An after-party was held in the theatre lobby where awards were given. Sound Bites showcases ten 10-minute musicals or musical excerpts in one evening. (more...)
Tickets On Sale Now for SOUND BITES 4.0 Festival of 10-minute Musicals
by BWW News Desk - Apr 17, 2017
Tickets are now on sale for Theatre Now New York's 4th Annual SOUND BITES Festival of 10-Minute Musicals to be performed on Monday, May 29th, at 7:00PM at THE IRENE DIAMOND STAGE, The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street, New York, NY in Midtown Manhattan. Tickets can be purchased at www.tnny.org or 855-254-7469 and start at just $25. (more...)
Theatre Now New York Announces Lineup for 4th Annual SOUND BITES Festival of 10-Minute Musicals
by BWW News Desk - Apr 4, 2017
Tickets will go on sale April 15th for Theatre Now New York's 4th Annual SOUND BITES Festival of 10-Minute Musicals to be performed on Monday, May 29th, at 7:00PM at THE IRENE DIAMOND STAGE, The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street, New York, NY in Midtown Manhattan. (more...)
Scoop: ONE MAGNIFICENT MORNING on THE CW - Today, January 7, 2017
by BWW News Desk - Jan 7, 2017
Get all the scoop on ONE MAGNIFICENT MORNING, airing on THE CW today, January 7, 2017! (more...)
by - Jan 6, 2017
Get all the scoop on ONE MAGNIFICENT MORNING, airing on THE CW on today, January 7, 2017! (more...)
New Theatre Arts Classes Offered at Gettysburg Community Theatre
Gettysburg Community Theatre, the non-profit 501c3 organization located in the original Elks Lodge building at 49 York Street within the first block of Lincoln Square in historic downtown Gettysburg, will offer a variety of theatre arts classes for children and adults this winter and spring beginning the week of January 9th. (more...)
Scoop: ONE MAGNIFICENT MORNING on THE CW - Today, November 19, 2016
by BWW News Desk - Nov 19, 2016
Get all the scoop on ONE MAGNIFICENT MORNING, airing on THE CW today, November 19, 2016! (more...)
Scoop: ONE MAGNIFICENT MORNING on THE CW - Saturday, November 19, 2016
by - Nov 3, 2016
Get all the scoop on ONE MAGNIFICENT MORNING, airing on THE CW on Saturday, November 19, 2016! (more...)
SOUND BITES 4.0 the Fourth Annual 10-Minute Musical Theatre Festival is Extending Submissions Deadline to November 1st
by BWW News Desk - Sep 30, 2016
Theatre Now New York has announced it is extending its online submissions for SOUND BITES 4.0, a 10-minute musical theatre festival and benefit, now through Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at Midnight. The festival offers composers, lyricists, and librettists the opportunity to showcase their work in front of theatre-goers and industry professionals. (more...)
SOUND BITES 4.0 is Calling All Writers and Composers!
by BWW News Desk - Aug 3, 2016
Theatre Now New York has announced it is accepting online submissions for SOUND BITES 4.0, a 10-minute musical theatre festival and benefit, now through Saturday, October 1, 2016. The festival offers composers, lyricists, and librettists the opportunity to showcase their work in front of theatre-goers and industry professionals. (more...)
Photo Flash: GORGONZLA Sweeps Sound Bites 3.0 Festival at Hurley's After-Party
by BWW News Desk - Jan 19, 2016
Last night, January 18th, 2016, Theatre Now New York presented its 3nd Annual festival of new musicals, Sound Bites 3.0 (sponsored by Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Productions) to a sold-out house at the 47th Street Theatre. An after-party, sponsored by MTI, was held after at Hurley's Saloon where awards were given. Sound Bites showcases ten 10-minute musicals or musical excerpts in one evening. Scroll down for photos from the event! (more...)
Theatre Now New York's CARRIE THE MUSICAL Begins Tonight in Irvington
Theatre Now New York, a professional theatre company, presents CARRIE, The Musical premiering at the Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street, Irvington, NY. Performances for CARRIE, The Musical will run from tonight, October 30th through November 7th. (more...)
Sound Bites 10-Minute Musical Theatre Festival Finalists Announced
Theatre Now New York proudly announces the ten musical finalists that will be featured in the Third Annual Sound Bites 10-Minute Musical Theatre Festival. This year's benefit festival will be performing on January 18, 2016 (Martin Luther King Holiday), at 7:00 pm at the 47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street, in Manhattan. Tickets go on sale to the public on December 1st at www.tnny.org or by calling 855-254-SHOW [7469]. Sound Bites Musical Theatre Festival benefits the development of new musicals. (more...)
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Fancy & Gifts
GoldieBlox
Show All Toys & Games
Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria - A Biography
30% SAVE
Brand/Author: Redlich, Joseph
Format :Ebook (ePub)
Publisher :Read Books Ltd.
Language :English
List Price: Rp179,300
Now: Rp125,510
EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH OF AUSTRIA Biography by JOSEPH REDLICH. Originally published in 1929. INTRODUCTION: THE life of Emperor Francis Joseph can only be understood in close connection with the political transformation of Europe and the progressive shift in world power that went on during the century between the Congress of Vienna and the Treaty of Versailles. It is from that standpoint that it is here written. At the same time the specific content of this description is his human and political personality. On no other terms can any bounds be set or any form given to the vast mass of interconnected historical events covered by the period of Francis Josephs life and reign. Since, however, whether as man or ruler, he falls far short of being an embodiment of human greatness, it is in a somewhat limited sense only that he fills the conception of a historic personality. So comprehensive, on the other hand, is the range of countries and peoples over whom he reigned j so extensive is the period of his governance j so mighty and multifarious are the European issues influenced, and deeply influenced, by his action and his character, that, judged by the test of influence on great events, he must be said to have counted for more than any other European monarch of the nineteenth century. Compared with his, the singular and momentous career of Napoleon III is but an entracte in Europe. Guardian of an ancient line, inheritor and defender of rights that date far back into medieval times, natural foe of the modern struggle to transform Europe into a series of closed national states, Francis Joseph assumed and maintained for sixty years a position in the Europe that the war destroyed to which that of no other sovereign affords an analogue. What makes him all the more impressive is that there was in him, as in no other European monarch of the past century, a perfect correspondence between the man and his work. To Francis Joseph and to the Empire that came to an end in 1918 the saying certainly applies which is the veritable title deed of biographical history History is made by men. Even in a period preoccupied as is our own with research into the development and function of ideas and of institutions, economic, social and political, history cannot omit personality, since it is the instrument through which the will of a nation or a state has to be exercised. Least of all can this be done where, as with Francis Joseph, the idea of the ruler overpowers that of the man and makes his personal individuality its servant. This is the special note of the problem in biography here attempted. Its peculiarity lies in the sharpened contrast with which we have here to deal, between the limited mental and spiritual powers of the individual in his individual life, and unexampled pressure upon it of political and national, social and economic, ideas and tendencies in all their national and international complexity and all their permutations and combinations, affecting as they did, now this way, now that, the equilibrium of forces in Europe, The extent and difficulty o the task which fell to Francis Joseph in his early youth lends an interest and a special color to his purely personal story. Here the dominant note is given by the fact that, throughout nearly seventy-seven years of action and suffering, Francis Joseph maintained, unaltered, the position he took up on entering on his inheritance. The whole weight of the problems, internal and external, of his realm rested on him he stood firm. This is his distinguishing mark. Constitutional forms might and did alter, but the Emperor retained to the end his primitive conception of the ruler whose will is always the strongest political force in his realm...
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Christmas Catalogue
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Boothbay Harbor selectmen
PGC8 LLC wharf application passes with conditions
Board approves Hamblen wharf app; conveys Middle Street property
JOSEPH CHARPENTIER
PGC8 LLC attorney Joanna Tourangeau talks about how the application should fulfill all requirements for board review. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/ Boothbay Register
Boothbay Harbor selectmen approved PGC8 LLC’s wharves and weirs application, postponed and tabled since Nov. 12. The project is for a new layout of floats on the waterfront of the 49 Atlantic Ave. business, Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort; the installations include an 8' x 100’ float, two 8’ x 80’ floats, one 8’ x 90’ float and one 8’ x 20’ float. Floats would be secured with five three-piling dolphins.
The onsite hearing was held Nov. 12 and the public hearing was scheduled to meet that night, but was postponed by PGC8 LLC. Selectmen’s Chair Mike Tomko recapped the Nov. 25 meeting in which the town tabled the application review due to town attorney John Cunningham's suggestion a lack of consent on the part of the owners and lender would render the application incomplete.
Tomko noted a letter the board received Dec. 5 from PGC8 LLC's attorney, Joanna Tourangeau. It outlined her legal opinion on the Wharves and Weirs Act concerning obstruction of navigation and abutters' consent. The letter argued that because the application included reviews by Maine's Bureau of Parks and Lands, Department of Environmental Protection, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it would suggest no obstruction of navigation. A letter from the U.S. Coast Guard base in Boothbay Harbor also confirmed this, said Tourangeau.
Tourangeau noted that the definition of an abutter, according to town ordinance, specifies those listed in the tax assessment. “It does not list any mortgagors, it does not list First Federal … Even if their consent is not obtained, it can still be approved as a project if it does not interfere with their rights … In that letter, (Captain George Haynes) states that he 'does not object' to the project. He also uses … the phrase 'we do not object to the project.'”
Cunningham said he was not convinced the letter of consent would stand up if the Haynes decided to appeal. He added, he is troubled that the letter of consent begins with: “I have been asked by PGC8 LLC to write a letter of consent … Instead I have provided a letter of concern …”
“The word 'instead' means 'I am not doing what I was asked, I'm doing something else,'” Cunningham said.
Cunningham said an expression of no objection is not the same as consent, and he compared it to a board member perhaps abstaining from a vote rather than voting in the negative. He said board should consider the possibility Haynes may reserve the right to bring the issue back up by saying he only ever remained neutral, and the fact that George's wife Judith never signed the letter, renders the “we” moot. Cunningham added, Maine's Mechanics Lien Statute defines mortgage holders to be owners of a property. “Their consent is necessary … That is in part because in Maine law, mortgage holders are not lien holders, a mortgage deed actually conveys the property, conveys legal title to the lender.”
The lender's consent should be obtained, Judith Haynes' consent must be obtained and the board should ask George Haynes to clarify his letter, Cunningham concluded.
Tourangeau said the board's consideration of needing consent from an abutter's lender would call into question years of the board’s decisions. “I think that to aggregate your customary practice and to not use your own town definition and instead look to a separate tax lien-like statute in order to decide who is an abutter would be highly irregular.”
Selectmen said because the project involves structures within an abutter's waterfront, the application is unlike anything they have dealt with in the recent past. Selectmen agreed the several technicalities made it difficult to consider ruling on the application, so Tomko asked Cunningham to review their options. Those would be to vote and likely deny the application causing PGC8 LLC to appeal or reapply; or vote to approve, table, or approve with conditions.
Selectmen unanimously approved the application with the conditions that George Haynes clarifies his letter, Judith Haynes provides a letter of consent, the lender provides a letter of consent, vessels cannot protrude into the navigation channel and all docks and floats have reflectors.
Selectmen unanimously approved Janet Hamblen’s 347 Lakeside Drive application for one 6'x25' pier, one seasonal 30'x3' ramp, one 10'x20' float and two 30-foot skids to be anchored to the ledge.
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Home > Government & Economy
Daily Debrief: What Happened Today
Standard Chartered posted a third-quarter operating loss of US$139 million on Tuesday.
Standard Chartered axes 15,000 jobs, announces US$5.1b capital raise
Asia-focused British bank Standard Chartered said on Tuesday it would axe 15,000 jobs and raise US$5.1 billion in capital after posting a "disappointing" third-quarter loss as it struggles to return to growth.
StanChart CEO says no plan to review HQ location
Singapore, China to sign high-level agreements during Xi's visit
Singapore and China are expected to announce details of high-level agreements between the two governments, including the third government-to-government project later this week, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the Republic on Nov 6 and 7.
Singapore consumer confidence on the rise in Q3: Nielsen
Portal to track cross-border payments launched
Singapore saw the highest growth in consumer confidence among South-east Asian countries in the third quarter, according to the latest Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending.
Temasek drags Olam from Muddy Waters to winning US$1b loan
Olam International Ltd, the Singapore commodities trader that fended off an attack from US-based short seller Muddy Waters LLC in 2012, is discovering it's good to have friends with deep pockets. Nineteen banks from around the globe last week lent US$1 billion to the company, which has been controlled by Singapore state investment fund Temasek Holdings Pte since 2014.
M1 to create next-generation data centre with partners
Telco M1 is tying up with VMware, Palo Alto Networks and Huawei to implement a next-generation software-defined networking (SDN) technology proof of concept in its cloud-based data centre.
Exchange losses hit Q1 bottom line for China Minzhong
Lower DPSS for Far East H-Trust in Q3
Fortune Reit posts 12% rise in Q3 DPU
The STI Today
Singapore shares close higher after five straight days of losses
After having fallen 109 points in five straight sessions up to Monday, the Straits Times Index on Tuesday rebounded 25.15 points to 2,999.56. This was in line with an overnight rally in Wall Street and gains in Hong Kong and China, although weakness in the Dow futures probably led to a stalling of the upward momentum - the index rose to near its closing level in the late morning and stayed there for all of the second half.
Olam
Singapore consumer confidence
Trump, EU chief to meet in Davos as US tariffs loom over digital tax: sources
Trump warns Iran's supreme leader to be 'careful with his words'
IMF chief says interactions with Argentina 'very constructive' so far
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Home > Transport
FAA system not broken but must be improved: safety panel chief
Christopher Hart says there's no need to question the agency's overall way of certifying airplanes
Mon, Sep 30, 2019 - 5:50 AM
Mr Hart says the 737 Max will be the safest airplane out there by the time it has gone through all the hoops and hurdles.
THE US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) process for certifying new airplanes is not broken but needs to be improved, the chair of an international panel of air-safety regulators, tasked to review Boeing Co's 737 Max, said on Friday.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event at a New York City college, Christopher Hart, chair of the multi-agency panel, said there was no need to question the agency's overall way of certifying airplanes.
"The US aviation system each day transports millions of people safely, so it's not like we have to completely overhaul the entire system, it's not broken. But these incidents have shown us that there are ways to improve the existing system," Mr Hart said, referring to fatal crashes of a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia and an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX five months apart that killed a total of 346 people.
The MAX remains grounded and Boeing has not set when it will conduct a key certification test flight. Some in Congress and in aviation have criticised the FAA's longstanding practice of delegating certification tasks to manufacturers.
Boeing to reassign 3,000 workers as airlines reach deals over grounded MAX
Michael Perrone, who heads the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, said at a House hearing in July that external entities designated by the FAA "are now performing more than 90 per cent of FAA's certification activities despite serious concerns that oversight is lacking."
Mr Hart, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and a licensed pilot, heads the Joint Authorities Technical Review, a panel including air-safety regulators from the United States, Canada, China, Indonesia, the European Union and Brazil.
Reuters reported on Sept 17 that the review's recommendations will include citing regulations that need to be harmonised internationally and where communications can be improved at the FAA and among international regulators, citing a person briefed on the matter.
Mr Hart on Friday said the panel would release its recommendations to the FAA "shortly", but declined to provide more details on the timeline.
He said the panel's goal was not for all of its members to agree, but to provide a wide range of opinions and recommendations to the FAA.
Mr Hart spoke to students the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Queens.
Asked by a student whether passengers can be expected to fly again on a 737 MAX, he said he predicted people would "sooner or later forget" about the crashes and investigations.
"This will be the safest airplane out there by the time it has to go through all the hoops and hurdles," he said.
He also was optimistic when asked whether the deadly crashes would spell the end for Boeing's 737 MAX programme.
"It will be a cold day in hell before Southwest starts moving away from 737s because that's all they got," Mr Hart said, referring to Southwest Airlines Co, which has cancelled flights into January because of the MAX grounding.
A Southwest Airlines spokesman declined to comment directly on Mr Hart's comments but said the airline has "no plans to veer away from our all-737 fleet". REUTERS
US FAA
boeing max
Toyota shifts Tacoma pickup assembly from US to Mexico
S&P, Fitch lower outlook on Bombardier to negative from stable
Boeing is way behind airbus in race for China's next big order
Volkswagen to buy 20% of Chinese battery maker Guoxuan amid electric push: sources
Auto tariff threat not mentioned in US talks: EU commissioner
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This Is How Women In Philip Davies' Constituency Responded To His "Feminist Zealots" Jibe
The Tory MP said "feminist zealots really do want women to have their cake and eat it". So some of his constituents in Shipley held a bake sale.
Emily Ashton
BuzzFeed News Reporter, UK
Emma Adams @Emmabob3
Lots of feminists gathered at #Shipley Market 2 have our cake & eat it : ) #shipleyfeministzealots #nocakeforPhilip
02:34 PM - 17 Aug 2016
Women in Tory MP Philip Davies' constituency have held a charity bake sale after he said "feminist zealots really do want women to have their cake and eat it".
The group, calling themselves the "Shipley Feminist Zealots", gathered in the West Yorkshire town to sell homemade cakes in protest at his remarks.
The Guardian reported last week that Davies spoke at a men's rights conference, organised by the anti-feminism Justice for Men and Boys party, arguing that Britain's justice system was skewed in favour of women.
Hitting out at "feminist zealots", he said: "They fight for their version of equality on all the things that suit women – but are very quick to point out that women need special protections and treatment on other things."
His comments sparked outrage in Westminster. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Davies had "utter contempt for women" and his membership of the Conservatives should be suspended.
And women on social media started posting photos of themselves with cake, leading to the creation of the Facebook group "Feminists eating cake", which has more than 1,000 members.
The bake sale in Shipley on Wednesday raised £124, which will be split between the Bradford Women's Refuge and CALM, a charity aimed at reducing male suicides.
One of the organisers Jenny Wilson told BuzzFeed News the event was aimed at underlining that feminism was about true gender equality and not about "zealots".
Kristina Diprose @KristinaDiprose
In Shipley we share cake. Except w/ @PhilipDaviesMP he doesn't deserve any #shipleyfeministzealots #nocakeforphilip
"We wanted something light-hearted and cake seemed an obvious way to go," Wilson said. "The thing is that gender equality is a serious issue but it's often misunderstood.
"People think feminism is all about people being unpleasant and shouty. It really isn't, it's about equality for both the sexes. We thought a bake sale would be a great way to make that point."
Wilson, who runs a not-for-profit arts company, said the reaction was mostly positive. "It was a really nice, friendly atmosphere. There were one or two people who had issues and who wanted to have a conversation about that."
One man, for example, said he completely agreed with Davies because his grandson was struggling to get access to his children. Wilson said she explained to him that this was a concern for feminists too. "He was quite surprised," she said.
Katie Jones @creativeangelKT
Massive positive response in Shipley earlier today #shipleyfeministzealots #nocakeforphilip
Wilson criticised Davies' use of language and said his comments were a "major misunderstanding of what feminism is". She said she hoped he would meet some of the women to discuss the issue.
She said: "I don't disagree with everything he says. Some of the things he was saying in his speech about men needing better access to their children, about injustices in the criminal justice system ... the point is that feminists believe in gender equality, that's for men as well as women."
Wilson was accompanied at the cake sale by her 5-year-old daughter Stella, who helped with the "feminist zealot" playlist – which included the songs "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" and "Respect".
Davies told BuzzFeed News he was always happy to meet his constituents and he would also be keen to take part in a debate with them.
"I never said all feminists are zealots," he said. "Not all women are feminists, not all feminists are zealots. I was criticising those women who say they want equality on the one hand but they don't want women to be treated the same as men in the courts. They should read my speech."
You can read Davies' speech to the conference in full here.
A Tory MP Has Finally Got His International Men’s Day Debate In Parliament
Emily Ashton is a senior political correspondent for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.
Contact Emily Ashton at emily.ashton@buzzfeed.com.
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CAHS Journal article series compendia – digital editions (instant-download PDFs)
The Last of the Buffalo Beaux
SKU: CAHS-C-LBB
The Last of the Buffalo Beaux: No. 404 Squadron’s Final Combat Operation on Beaufighters in the Second World War
Documenting a combat mission flown by all four squadrons of the Dallachy Strike Wing, Coastal Command, on 24 March 1945. This is a new interpretation of how the mission itself progressed and also includes an account of the low-level recce activity that preceded it. By Terry Higgins
The Last of the Buffalo Beaux. After the Battle, Part 1: Aircrew and Aircraft
After documenting the recce and combat phases of this 24 March 1945 strike mission in the summer (Vol 53 No. 2) edition, Terry Higgins provides an account of the aftermath with regard to the aircrews lost.
A compendium of 2 serialized articles by Terry Higgins
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Postcard from North Canton: Bricks to honor veterans
Nov 27, 2011 at 12:01 AM Nov 27, 2011 at 3:22 PM
Bricks on the patio in front of North Canton’s Veterans Memorial in Bitzer Park commemorate veterans of all American wars. The bricks are being sold by the North Canton Heritage Society.
“We honor those who have served in war and peace to preserve our liberty and freedom.”
The plaque with those words hangs on the middle of North Canton Veterans Memorial in Bitzer Park.
By listing their names on a larger marker below the plaque, sponsored long ago by the Hoover Co., the monument pays respect to North Canton sons and daughters who served in World War II. Those who served in other wars are recognized in a more general manner on plaques set into two brick wings of the memorial.
The Civil War. The Spanish-American War. World War I. The Korean War. The Vietnam War. The Persian Gulf conflicts — Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq.
World War I was supposed to be “The War to End All Wars,” reminds the monument. Sadly, it was misnamed.
Bricks in front of the memorial identify some who served on those battlefields.
“R. James Hammontree, Korea, Army Engineer.”
“Walter Dannemiller, WWII, U.S. Army.”
“Sp4 James M. Tilkey, Vietnam Vet, U.S. Army 1965-1967.”
“In honor of Kenneth Larsen.”
Other bricks pay their respect in a more encompassing manner.
“Thank you veterans, Tom and Sheryl Emmons.”
“USMC Semper Fidelis.”
Civic groups have bought bricks. So have school classes. Families have pooled their patriotism for this cause.
Bricks with inscriptions cover more than half the patio directly in front of the memorial. But many without words remain. And there are brick walkways as well. Those are the ones that those in charge of the Veterans Memorial commemorative brick sale want you to know about.
“The public may still purchase bricks, either to honor or memorialize a veteran of any war,” said a news release from Kathleen Fernandez of North Canton Heritage Society, “or to show their personal support of the project by listing their own names on the bricks, which are installed on the patio of the memorial.”
Bricks that are 4 by 8 inches and allow space for three lines of text sell for $75, she said. The 8- by 8-inch, six-line bricks cost $125. Lines allow for 20 characters of text, including spaces and punctuation.
On sunny days, the shadows of the flags of various branches of service can be seen fluttering on the bricks. Rainy days cause the bricks to shine — symbolic, perhaps, of the stellar service of the men and women recognized by the memorial.
“To honor all those who have defended America,” says one brick, purchased previously by “Eugene Boettler and Family.”
The American flag flies highest above the memorial. The reason it can is because of the sacrifice of those who are honored below it.
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425 Dunlop St West, Barrie, ON L4N 1C3
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O’Leary: Esks’ DC Lolley still sweating the small details
Insight and Analysis August 16, 2019
Jason Halstead/CFL.ca
Chris O'Leary
@olearychris
The architect of the best defence in the CFL doesn’t spend his nights watching highlight reels of Mike Moore and Almondo Sewell sacking quarterbacks, or Jordan Hoover and Tyquwan Glass pulling in interceptions.
Phillip Lolley’s nights are spent worrying about what could go wrong.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think we had a good practice,” are some of the first words out of Lolley’s mouth as he arrived at the Esks’ hotel in downtown Toronto on Thursday afternoon.
“Mostly, I thought we missed too many assignments. That bothers me and I’m a worrier by heart.
“I think you’ve got to have a first plan, a second plan and a third plan. Things can happen in the course of a game and don’t go exactly like you plan. There are injury situations and especially in the CFL, where when I came from college football in the SEC, we’d be four, five, six-deep at each position. (In the CFL) you have to be versatile.”
» Argos seek momentum in home clash with Eskimos
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» CFL reveals list of 10 negotiation list players for each team
Lolley’s worrying, as needless as it might seem, is paying off. Going into Week 10, his defence was first in points allowed (138), net offence (251.6 yards per game), first downs (126), completion percentage (59.6) and yards allowed per play (5.2). If you look at the league leaders in defensive plays, you don’t see one player running away with any category, other than Moore’s team-leading six sacks. This is a defence that’s getting it done by committee and getting it done extremely well.
“That’s what they tell me,” Lolley said, adding that he doesn’t worry about stats for his group. He uses last week’s win over Ottawa, where Edmonton didn’t record a sack as an example of scheme outweighing stats.
“Last week we probably could have had a few more sacks, but what they were doing to us offensively, we had to kind of change some things. We had to ask things out of our front a little differently.
“I’m proud of the guys because like I told them, it’s going to take all of us to get this game under control. The most important thing is winning the ball game, it doesn’t matter the score. 39-38, we’ll take it, whatever. We just want to do our part.”
There are a lot of coaches that come to the CFL with similar backgrounds to Lolley’s. He was a lifelong coach in the U.S. with 40-plus years experience and ended a 14-year stay at Auburn University to come to the CFL in 2014. He gave Chris Jones his first job, adding him to the staff of his North Jackson High School team in Stevenson, Alabama in 1999. Jones returned the favour when he became the Esks’ head coach in 2014, hiring Lolley as his linebackers coach.
Many coaches with long, successful careers in the U.S. have come to Canada, but they haven’t all been able to adapt well to the differences in the CFL game.
“Everything’s a puzzle. Whenever you get a great offensive coordinator and (in the States) I’ve faced my share, some of the brightest minds there, you match,” Lolley said.
“It’s competitive and you find a way. There’s a puzzle, you try to figure out their philosophy, what they’re trying to do and you’re trying to match it. You’re trying to get your talent up to theirs. There are so many things that go into it.
“And so when you come to the CFL, you’re facing some other things. All the guys in motion, the field is wider and longer, the end zones are deeper. The main thing I think is not just the width of the field, but when you get to the end zone…and it’s 20 (yards). Coaching defence (in the CFL), you have to think differently, all over the field, really. It’s intriguing. It really is.”
After two years and one Grey Cup win as Jones’ linebackers coach in Edmonton, Lolley went to Saskatchewan with him in 2016. After serving as the Ticats’ defensive coordinator in 2017, he took last season away from football before returning to Edmonton to join Jason Maas’ staff.
Edmonton Eskimos linebacker Larry Dean celebrates a defensive stop against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
“I’m 65-years old and I’m working for a young guy that’s real energetic, wants to win a championship, loves Edmonton. I remember when I had as much energy as he has. It reminds me of me when I was that young.
“He’s full of energy, full of life, but the main thing is he lets me do my job.”
Lolley doesn’t need the work and said he could have retired a long time ago. At this point, he’s taking coaching season-by-season. He talks about his grandchildren in Birmingham, Alabama and his son and daughter there. But he still lights up when he talks about having breakthroughs with players, about watching them put great years together and figuring out those puzzles on the field.
The coaches that mentor and teach are the ones that players always remember.
“That’s the part I enjoy,” he said. “I enjoy watching that confidence grow in them. I call it growing up, they’re all men, but becoming a real professional.”
Get all the top stories from across the league delivered to your inbox.
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Guru Workshop - Project Forums - Need One? Ask In Kajar Labs »
Chrono Series Tarot Card Project (Moderators: tushantin, Angerona) »
VIII. Strength - Ayla
Author Topic: VIII. Strength - Ayla (Read 2354 times)
tushantin
Hero of Time (+5000)
Under Your Moonlight, Stealing Your Stars
Summary: *Reserved*
Symbolism: "The key characters are that of a woman and a lion, with the woman looking calm and gentle, yet dominant over the lion. Many cards, including that of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, have the woman clasping the lion's jaws. Another feature of the RWS deck is a lemniscate (a kind of geometric form) hovering over the woman's head. Other decks have the woman sitting upon the lion, or merely with one hand upon it. Some decks feature just one of the characters; flowers are often presented on this card."
(From wikipedia)
Keywords: Strength, courage, conviction, energy, determination, action, heroism, virility
Reversed: Weakness, pettiness, sickness, tyranny, lack of faith, abuse of power
(From learntarot.com & themysticeye.com)
Description: "There are many stories that come to mind with this card: Daniel in the lion's den. The Aesop's fable of "The Sun and the Wind," where the Sun's warmth, as compared to the Wind's coldness, persuades a man to take off his coat. Also tales of saintly maids who get brutish barbarians to kneel down in prayer. What we see in all these stories is the taming of the beast by way of inner strength and gentleness.
The Maiden represents higher feelings and that we can experience if we bring our wild passions to heel. And so we willingly do so.
This card, however, isn't just about the Maiden's power. Like its ruling sign Leo, this card is also about the hot, roaring energy and enthusiasm of the Lion including passions like "lust" (which is the name it was given by Crowley in his Thoth deck). The lion's power may be frightening, but it is also desirable. Much can be achieved if such power is put to use. Some decks, in fact, label this card as "Power."
That energies can be brought under control and used is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card #8 instead of Strength. There is a difference, however, between Strength and the Chariot. The Chariot is a card about using your impulses to achieve a victory.
Strength is about combining two strengths to overcome weakness. The Maiden is weak of form, but her mastery of herself is powerful. The Lion is strong of form, but weak when it comes to mastering himself. The Maiden's commands overcome the Lion's weakness, and his form overcomes the Maiden's weakness. This is why the Maiden doesn't try to harness the lion to a chariot, nor does she run from it or try to kill it. She meets its eyes, touches it, embraces it. This is a card about understanding our wild natures, accepting them, yet also gentling those passions so that they work for us rather than against us. Putting these two strengths together creates perseverance, personal honor, and courage.
The card can also stand for a steadfast friend."
(From Aeclectic Tarot)
Fool's Journey: "The Fool, victorious over his enemies, is feeling arrogant, powerful, even vengeful. There are hot passions in him, ones he finds himself unable and unwilling to control. It is in this state that he comes across a maiden struggling with a lion. Running to help, he arrives in time to see her gently but firmly shut the lion's mouth! In fact, the beast, which seemed so wild and fierce, is now completely at her command.
Amazed, the Fool asks her, "How did you do that?" One hand on the lion's mane, she answers, "I asked the lion to do it, and it did it."
"But-but-" the Fool stutters, confounded. "Why did it want to obey?" At that moment, the Maiden meets the Fool's eyes; he sees in her warmth, gentleness, a heart so great that its generosity seems as infinite as its willingness to understand. And that is when the Fool understands exactly why the lion did her bidding.
It wanted to connect to that higher energy.
Yet there is still one thing that confuses the Fool. "But," he says, much softer now, "Why would you, fair maiden, want to keep company with a beast?"
"Because he, too, is filled with a wonderful energy," the Maiden says. "It is wild and fierce, but it can be banked, like a fire in a hearth. I knew if he would take direction from me, we could both be warmed."
"So, too," she adds, "are our passions. Let them run wild and they will do damage. But we can, with gentle fortitude, check and direct those passions. In doing so, we can get so much more out of them. And yet, still sate them."
His rage quieted, the enlightened Fool walks away knowing that it wasn't only the lion that was tamed this day by a Maiden's pure and innocent strength. '"
Feel free to post additional insights into the card, questions, & ideas for the artists to consider!
« Last Edit: January 23, 2012, 06:56:47 am by tushantin »
Re: VIII. The Strength - Ayla
Useful symbolical suggestions:
Quote from: Mr Bekkler on December 15, 2011, 04:30:46 am
What if she was riding a sabre-tooth and physically holding a massive tangible infinity symbol above her head, maybe made of stone or something heavy, and it just dwarfs her but she's carrying it like it "ain't no thing"?
Quote from: xcalibur on December 14, 2011, 04:27:05 am
as I mentioned, this could feature Ayla closing a sabertooth tigers mouth. It would take the place of the lion well, and it's one of the most recognizable prehistoric species. the background should be easy enough - maybe a volcano in place of the distant mountain.
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Ayla.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilodon
« Last Edit: December 15, 2011, 02:31:49 pm by tushantin »
Architect of Kajar
Chronopolitan (+300)
Syna
Squaretable Knight (+400)
I think xcalibur's idea works quite well. The lemniscate may be a nice touch, depending on how realistic you want the card to be.
I don't think I follow you. What do you mean be "lemniscate"?
Oh, it's just a fancy word for the infinity symbol (the one above the woman's head).
I know. I meant, why / how do you intend to have it? As in, clever placement?
I'd say that, if you think it works, put the lemniscate just above her head, the way it's depicted in the Rider-Waite. It may look weird, though.
It would indeed look weird. o_O
Mr Bekkler
Zurvan Surfer (+2500)
Dude, Bekkler, that would kick ass. And be very Ayla-esque!
Thanks, Bekk. Updated the second post. =P
Re: VIII. Strength - Ayla
Preliminary sketch. Too exhausted to continue, but wanted to get this layout out of my head. Feel free to critique on the gesture and element-placing if you like. (Yes, xcalibur, you too. XD)
PrincessNadia78
Chronicler of Time
Acacia Deva (+500)
I didn’t “pick up” anything! It’s common sense!
I live it, I think it looks like a great start. I can'y wait to see this as it progresses!!
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Surveillance & Privacy
Big Data, Big Responsibilities: Recommendations to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner on Canadian Privacy Rights in a Digital Age
CIGI Junior Fellows Policy Brief No. 8
Samantha Bradshaw
Kyle Harris
Hyla Zeifman
Series: CIGI Junior Fellows Policy Brief Series
Big Data — an umbrella term encompassing the collection, retention and use of a massive volume and variety of data about individuals — presents a number of unique challenges that are increasingly undermining privacy rights. Canada’s Personal Information and Electronic Documents Ac (PIPEDA) established a legal foundation for protecting the online privacy rights of individuals, but new safeguards should be put in place to further prevent loss or resale of data, surveillance and tracking of an individual’s location, and misuse of data by corporate actors. Authors of the eighth Junior Fellows policy brief, Samantha Bradshaw, Kyle Harris and Hyla Zeifman, recommend that there be clearer guidelines indicating the length of time for storage of data; reinforced benefits to storing privacy-sensitive Canadian data on local clouds, to prevent jurisdictional privacy and security risks; clear and accessible Terms of Service agreements; and limits on third-party sharing and resale of collected data.
CIGI Junior Fellows Policy Brief Series
The CIGI Junior Fellows program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs provides masters level students with mentorship opportunities from senior scholars and policy makers. Working under the direction of a project leader, each junior fellow conducts research in one of CIGI’s program areas. This series presents those policy briefs that met CIGI’s publications standards.
Kyle Harris is a candidate for a master’s degree in global governance at the University of Waterloo, based at the BSIA in Waterloo, Ontario. He graduated with a B.A (honours) in history from the University of Waterloo in 2006 and completed his M.A. specializing in international history from the University of Waterloo in 2007. His research interests include Internet governance, civil society, human rights and nuclear non-proliferation.
Hyla Zeifman is a candidate for a master’s degree in international public policy at the BSIA. She graduated with a bachelor of public affairs and policy management from Carleton University in the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs and Policy Management. Her research currently examines the use of social media and information communication technologies in post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
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Melissa Hathaway
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Dragana Kaurin
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Stephanie Carvin
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Jesse Hirsh
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Former Moeller basketball guard Georgeton takes coaching career to UCLA with Mick Cronin
Former Moeller point guard Nate Georgeton has gone from student manager at University of Cincinnati to video coordinator for Mick Cronin at UCLA.
Former Moeller basketball guard Georgeton takes coaching career to UCLA with Mick Cronin Former Moeller point guard Nate Georgeton has gone from student manager at University of Cincinnati to video coordinator for Mick Cronin at UCLA. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/ohio-high-school/2019/08/28/former-moeller-floor-general-georgeton-follows-mick-cronin-ucla/2120375001/
Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 5:25 p.m. ET Aug. 28, 2019
He is just 22 years old but former Moeller point guard Nate Georgeton is following a familiar path that could lead to his dream job of being a college basketball coach.
After serving as a student manager at the University of Cincinnati last season, Georgeton has followed his mentor, Mick Cronin to UCLA and landed a job as video coordinator for the Bruins.
The backgrounds are remarkably similar. Mick Cronin was also a Greater Catholic League point guard at La Salle. After serving as junior varsity coach at Woodward High School under Jim Leon (now at Lakota West), Cronin worked his way on to the staff of Bob Huggins at UC as video coordinator at age 25.
Two seasons later, his hard work paid off as he was a full-fledged assistant. From there it was two seasons under Rick Pitino at Louisville, then head coaching stints at Murray State, UC and now UCLA.
Former Moeller guard Nate Georgeton has gone from a student manager at the University of Cincinnati to following Mick Cronin to UCLA as video coordinator. (Photo: Don Liebig, Don Liebig/ASUCLA)
When the Bruins called Cronin, Cronin called Georgeton, who packed his bags and went west along with UC associate head coach Darren Savino, and staffers Greg Youncofski (now director of recruiting/player personnel) and TJ Wolf (UCLA director of student-athlete development). In a whirlwind, Georgeton had just finished his UC degree.
"I am very fortunate and very excited for the opportunity," Georgeton said. "Coach Cronin is obviously one of the best and I'm trying to just be a sponge and learn as much as I can from him as well as the other coaches. Coach Greg (Youncofski) is one of the best young coaches in the business and Coach Savino is amazing in every way. I'm sure he'll be a head coach here soon as well."
Networking opportunities abound for the former Crusader, who also receives the full endorsement of Moeller High School coach Carl Kremer. Georgeton was a three-year letter winner for the Moeller varsity with the Crusaders going 65-15 during that time.
Nate Georgeton of Moeller, shown in a game with La Salle four years ago, has a new career opportunity with Mick Cronin at UCLA. (Photo: Brandon Severn for the Enquirer)
He led the GCL-South in assists his junior year and was second his senior year, even though he missed the final month and the 2016 postseason with a torn ACL.
"He has an incredible love of basketball here," Kremer said. "He has great passion for the game and great personality. He's smart as a whip and has an unparalleled work ethic. That's why he's going to be a great coach."
The Cronin connection with the Georgeton family dates back to Mick's father, Hep Cronin. Hep coached Georgeton's father, Chris, at Oak Hills.
"I've known the Cronins pretty much my whole life," Georgeton said. "I'm excited for Mr. Cronin (Hep) to get out here for some games. It's going to be different not seeing him every day."
After his Moeller playing career ended, Georgeton attended Northwood University. A second ACL injury kept him off the floor his freshman season, but he started 23 of 27 games for Northwood as a sophomore.
In Los Angeles, Georgeton has been knee-deep in basketball and hasn't had much time for sight-seeing. He has yet to see the "Hollywood" sign but has had some brushes with Bruin greatness such as a conversation with Russell Westbrook, the eight-time NBA all-star who recently moved from Oklahoma City to the Houston Rockets.
"He was the nicest guy," Georgeton said. "It was pretty intriguing that someone of that celebrity status could be so down-to-earth and so nice."
That summer Westwood sunset. #GoBruinspic.twitter.com/F7o95yJSz6
— UCLA Basketball (@UCLAMBB) August 22, 2019
Surrounded by historical facilities like Pauley Pavilion, Georgeton is in awe of working in Westwood (as in the area made famous by John Wooden, not the Cincinnati suburb). The practice court is named after Westbrook and the strength room is named for another NBA star Kevin Love.
"The practice facility is only for current Bruins and past Bruins," Georgeton said. "It's very exclusive and very nice."
While Moeller's Kremer hasn't yet seen Georgeton at UCLA, he does hope to see him somewhere soon in a commanding position on the bench.
"He'll be a Division I coach at a young age," Kremer said.
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Report: Coombs to return to OSU
Reactions: Bengals next for Burrow?
Report: LSU says OBJ money was fake
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Liberty’s First Crisis
Hetty
Noble Obsession
Blue Fairways
First Down, First Amendment: The NFL and Free Speech
October 27, 2017 by Charles Slack
After months of violent street protests across the nation, and with college campuses seeming to have lost their will to defend unfettered debate, the most salient free speech lesson this season comes to us courtesy of professional football.
The sight of players kneeling during our national anthem understandably evokes strong, emotional reactions. But that’s the thing about free speech. Whenever our most precious right makes the headlines, it’s because someone has said or done something that someone else finds deeply offensive.
Whether you see those National Football League players as coddled millionaires disrespecting our sacred symbols and institutions, or as principled young men courageously demonstrating against racism (and there are solid cases to be made for both positions) step back and you’ll see a textbook case in how free speech is supposed to work.
First, President Trump blew the lid off a long-simmering controversy by urging NFL owners to fire any “son of a bitch” who refuses to stand for the anthem. Let’s keep in mind that in many countries, a “suggestion” by the head of the government is the same thing as a command. Yet the response from the football community (including normally reserved coaches and owners) was one of widespread condemnation of the president, and defense of the players.
Broadcasters joined in. Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, now an announcer for Fox Sports, questioned whether the president quite understands the Constitution he is sworn to protect. And while kneeling during the anthem is against NFL rules, the league has thus far declined to discipline or fire players for doing so.
Fans have exercised their right to boo or cheer as they see fit. Many have turned off their televisions, burned souvenir uniforms, and sworn to boycott future games. Attendance and viewership are down this year. These reactions, too, are well within the bounds of reasonable expression. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.
Everybody, it seems, has shared heartfelt opinions, but so far there has been little evidence of violence or even the threat of violence to intimidate others into silence. Thus the practitioners of one of our most violent games—often cited by detractors as evoking our most brutal characteristics as a nation—have taught everybody a lesson in peaceful dissent and debate.
And when the anthem ends they all go out and play football.
To some, the kneeling controversy represents a low-point for the country. The Wall Street Journal captured this sentiment in an editorial lamenting that the dispute represents “a very unhealthy level of polarization and mistrust.”
I disagree. We may love or hate the individual opinions being expressed. But as free speech debates go, this one is about as healthy as it gets.
Note: See the terrific new site First Amendment Watch for a detailed look at where the NFL kneeling controversy and similar protests fit in the long history of American dissent dating to Revolutionary times.
The Power of the Perfect Manhattan
Cass Sunstein’s Free Speech Awakening
Is Speech Violence?
Reflections on Our Turbulent Times
Copyright © 2020 Charles Slack. All rights reserved. Website by AuthorsOnTheWeb.
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Jan Wong Talks Food Hacks And Life Lessons From France, Italy And China
In 2016, the Canadian author and journalism professor and her 22-year-old son set off to learn about “home cooking” in the Wong’s favourite “foodie” countries. She spoke to Chatelaine about her discoveries.
by Jacob Rutka Updated May 4, 2018
During the first few months of 2016, author, journalism professor and former Globe and Mail writer Jan Wong was living a gastronome’s dream, travelling and eating her way through France, Italy and China — what she calls her favourite foodie countries. She went with her 22-year-old son Sam, a recent university graduate and aspiring chef, hoping to learn the tricks, techniques and rustic dishes of the “home cooks” they stayed with during their travels.
In the small southeastern French town of Allex, Wong and her son roomed with a family sheltering undocumented immigrants from Georgia, learning traditional fare from the family’s housekeeper. In northwest Italy’s Piedmont region, they learned spaghetti alle vongole and risotto al porro from the interconnected inhabitants in the small village of Repergo. In China, a country where Wong spent many years as a student and then reporter, they stayed in Shanghai, learning to make scallion pancakes and firecracker chicken from ill-treated migrant maids.
Wong captured the experience in her new book, Apron Strings, part travelogue, part cookbook, part commentary on the cultures she was immersed in for three months. She sat down with us to share a few of those tricks she picked up and what she discovered about the philosophy of eating in the countries she visited.
How To Max Out The Shelf Life Of Fruit And Vegetables
What most surprised you about mealtime in each country?
I couldn’t believe how uniform dinner hour was in France and Italy. At 8 p.m., everything stops and everyone eats. It’s sacrosanct. And it made me think, wouldn’t it be great if we could do that too — if parents didn’t have to microwave something frozen or go out for fast food in between shuffling their kids to soccer practice. China, on the other hand, was very chaotic, because the whole country is in economic upheaval. In the families I stayed with, the husbands were always out, busy with work, and there was such an obsession with the West — with things like chips, white bread and Starbucks.
In France, you learned to preserve an opened can of tomato paste with a thin layer of olive oil; in Italy you found that soaking clams in salt water cleaned them well enough to avoid scrubbing. What other good tips did you get from these home cooks?
Everywhere I cooked, kitchen space was at a premium. The Italians taught me a trick with plastic wrap: You just throw out the box, which is usually flimsy with a crappy cutter, and use your thumb to punch a hole. That way, you can always see how much is left [on the roll] and it saves you room. I also learned a trick if you’re using parchment paper to line a round baking tin. Usually, you’re told to cut it in a circle, but Mirella, the owner of a winery in Piedmont, cut her parchment in a square, wet it a little under the tap, put it in the pan, then poured the batter over it and smashed the pan on the table to make it settle. Once everything’s cooked and you’re pulling it out of the oven, it’s really easy to use the corners to lift the cake out – you don’t need to cut anything and it’s very clean.
A Tour Of Where Top Chef Canada’s Mijune Pak Eats, Drinks And Shops In Toronto
Who takes food most seriously?
The Italians, definitely. They really care about the provenance of their food, and not necessarily for environmental reasons — it’s all about tradition. Everything we were eating and much of what we cooked with was either made by a family member or by some neighbour up the road. There’s also real beauty in cucina povera (peasant cooking), which comes from a place of scarcity. It’s not fussy food, but they’ve come up with the most delicious recipes based on nothing.
Besides the ability to spend time with him, what was the best part of having Sam there with you?
He was great about picking up the logic of the recipes — for example, telling me that sofrito in Italy was similar to mirepoix in France. But he was also my goodwill ambassador and in France and Italy, where the people we were staying with were happy that a young man was interested in cooking, because the younger generation is not cooking and the recipes are not being transmitted.
There’s an anecdote in the book about the French maid Bernadette using what you describe as a “crappy” dinner fork for cooking, that she doesn’t even have tongs. What did you learn from this?
It taught me that you don’t need a lot to cook. It Italy it was the same thing. We were learning from working-class people in very small kitchens with very few gadgets. Really, if you want to cook, you don’t need to spend $300 on a pot, you can cook with any type of stove, it’s not that hard. It was no-nonsense, and that was comforting.
8 Awesome Hacks To Make You Love Your Slow Cooker (Even More)
What was the best meal you had in each country?
In France, it was the tagine chicken with lemon confit, which was delicious but also memorable because we only had four chicken legs and four thighs for eight people, and it really struck home how modestly people could eat and what portions sizes we should be eating. In Italy, we had the most amazing carbonara which broke all the rules — no cheese, no garlic, only two eggs for a group of people. I still make that one at home. In China, I just loved the scallion pancakes and firecracker chicken and spicy wings.
Is there anything you wish we could get in Canada?
Ingredient-wise, I’d love to get Italian pancetta made from Italian pigs. Fresh straw mushrooms in China were amazing. In France, we would get this fresh-pressed olive oil that just tasted completely different from what we get here. In Italy, some of our hosts also had this kitchen appliance called the Bimby, which is a chopper and blender, it heats food, there’s temperature control and it’s compact — it takes up very little real estate. It’s also super sturdy and really easy to clean — you just put water in, it boils the water and then you dump it out. You can technically get one in Canada, but they cost almost $2,000.
Your hosts in Italy used a very unique shortcut — Knorr flavour concentrate gels — in dishes like pasta e fagioli and risotto al porro. What did you make of that?
That shocked me, but I liked the honesty. There’s not a lot of honesty in some cookbooks, they won’t admit using these flavour punches. These home cooks were doing what they had to do to make delicious food.
4 Common Types Of Salt, And How To Use Them
Your section on China seemed to have more in the way of cultural observations than it did cooking. Was that expected?
I had no idea what to expect. We were staying with extremely wealthy people, and the only way we had access to them is because my friend there told them that Sam would be their personal, Western-style chef. But it was shocking how poorly they treated their maids. These were people that grew up under food rationing and now they diet regularly because materialism is so important to them.
What do you think Canadians can take away from how people eat in France, Italy and China?
Food is the glue that holds families together — it’s not just fuel. We talk about how mealtimes are important, but as a culture, we need to understand that we can’t schedule things in the way of the meal. I know it’s hard, but if it’s important to us, we need to make a collective change.
Watch: Steam fish en papillote | Chatelaine Basics
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Patient & Family Education Materials
Start over with a New Search
Word! Cerebellum
Article Translations: (Spanish)
Say: sair-uh-beh-lum
Yo-yoing, walking, playing soccer – you couldn't do any of it without this small but powerful part of the brain. The cerebellum controls balance, coordination, and movement. It's way in the back of the brain, down low and near the spinal cord.
© 1995-2020 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com
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Obamacare Architect: Americans ‘Too Stupid to Understand’
By Curtis Kalin | November 12, 2014 | 9:36am EST
Days before he revealed the multiple deceptions involved with President Obama’s healthcare law, MIT professor Jonathan Gruber, a administration adviser who helped craft the Affordable Care Act, again called the American people “stupid.”
The new video of Gruber comes after he told MSNBC that his first public remarks about “the stupidity of the American voter” were “inappropriate”. But, it seems that was not the only time Gruber called the American public stupid.
“Well that’s pretty much the same thing, why’s it matter? You’ll see. And they were both in and that passed, because the American voter is too stupid to understand the difference.” [Crowd laughter]
The full video of Gruber is from a lecture he gave at WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis in October 2013. Gruber was explaining the political deception involved in Obamacare in taxing so-called “Cadillac” insurance plans.
This second video clearly shows Mr. Gruber did not merely misspeak, he has a pretty clear opinion of the American people and how honest lawmakers should be when passing laws that affect their lives.
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Online School Online
Nova Southeastern University has a robust offering of online graduate-level degree programs from a vision born in the early 1970’s when the school first became noted as a quality distance education provider. Over time, the programs have updated, expanded and grown with the times and technology; today, a wide range of post-graduate degrees are conferred by the school. Graduate degree programs offered online include accounting, biomedical informatics, MBA, child protection, clinical vision research, computer science, counseling, criminal justice, disaster and emergency management, education, forensic psychology, general psychology, health sciences, information assurance and cybersecurity, management information systems, medical education, national security affairs and international relations, non-profit/non-governmental organizations, nursing MSN, nutrition, public health, speech-language pathology, state and local administration public administration. Full support and a wealth of student resources are available for the remote student as well.
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You are here: Home / Reviews / Comic Book Movies / Captain Marvel Movie Review! Cosmic Continuity Catch-up!
Captain Marvel Movie Review! Cosmic Continuity Catch-up!
March 12, 2019 by Dave 5 Comments
The post Avengers: Infinity War landscape is a challenging one. In the moment, neither Ant-Man & the Wasp nor Captain Marvel can truly exist outside the shadow of Thanos, the Infinity Gauntlet, and the lingering questions of how these movies can provide a way forward for Avengers: Endgame. This will likely matter less for posterity, but right now, with Endgame looming, it’s genuinely difficult to enter the MCU and not at least wonder. Taking time for standalone story feels like a luxury this shared universe doesn’t have.
Admittedly, these are the impossible standards I consider for Captain Marvel’s role in this remarkably deep Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tell a good story, introduce a new hero, and develop Marvel cosmic features that can tie in to Endgame. Captain Marvel strikes this balance effectively – substantially more so than Ant-Man & The Wasp – telling a strong new hero origin story that sets the stage for Carol Danver’s role in the MCU recovery.
Related Reading Orders:
Spoiler Warning: Very minor spoilers are included in the first half of this review. The “More Thoughts” section after the power rankings is spoiler heavy!
The decision to tell this story primarily in 1995 is a smart one, filling in some of the MCU’s history without complicating the current state timeline. Much like Rogue One in the Star Wars universe, Captain Marvel is interested in details and expansion of a seemingly “known” time. Of course unlike Rogue One, Carol makes it out to impact the broader story.
For me, these are the two lenses I see the film, simultaneously a triumphant success of an origin story, and a (seemingly) unfulfilled wish for Endgame clues. As origins go, Captain Marvel is very smartly assembled, and my favorite standalone MCU origin story since Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011 (this is a minor technicality on my part given Civil War’s stealth origins of Black Panther and Spider-Man).
I expected the “origin” portion of Captain Marvel to stand out as the most boring part of the film, but instead I was consistently engaged with how exactly the film makers would pull the narrative thread in sync. In this way, I actually find Carol’s fractured comics history helped, as the MCU version was able to puzzle together an elaborate concoction of old and new.
Captain Marvel’s comics anatomy is remarkably diverse, pulling in Dr. Wendy Lawson as a seamless stand-in for the 1968 comics introduction of Mar-Vell (then as alter ego Dr. Walter Lawson). Likewise, the film pulls in Project Pegasus, minor elements of Secret Invasion, and the 2014 Captain Marvel gag known as Flerken (in shocking quantities). I fully expected Captain Marvel to bypass the pre-2012 Carol Danvers era entirely, and was happy to see this attempted integration coalesce so nicely.
Brie Larson’s easy charm and refusal to stay down won me over time and time again. Few actors can do more with a playful smirk. Larson makes a great Carol Danvers, and it’s not at all difficult to imagine her holding her own with the likes of Tony Stark, Thor, and the rest of the Avengers crew. Just as importantly, I’m genuinely excited by the prospect of a “New Avengers” lineup (assuming we do ever make it out of Endgame) that includes the likes of Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Tom Holland, and Evangeline Lily (not to mention Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, and many more!).
Even with an effective opening dive into the Kree vs. Skrull wars, there’s definitely a part of me that wanted to see Captain Marvel get significantly more cosmic, introducing stranger and stranger elements that might contribute to the fabric of Endgame. Heading in to the film all possibilities felt open, from time travel to alternate dimensions, to anything in between.
Instead, Brie Larson crash lands on Earth and Captain Marvel transforms into a partial “young” Nick Fury story, showing how the agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. would trend towards an “Avengers Initiative.” Likewise, Captain Marvel digs in to the mystery of the titular heroes origins, answering whether she’s alien, Terran, or some mixture. Again, since this origin feels more malleable than, say, Spider-Man, I was consistently intrigued by the set-up.
In the context of Avengers connections (an admittedly strange standard to set), Captain Marvel disappoints with new revelations, but successfully tells a story filling in some timeline blanks. It’s a good movie, not a great one, and an unquestionably strong addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
MCU Power Rankings!
Captain Marvel falls outside my top 10 overall, but right near the top of the increasingly exclusive third tier of “good, not great” MCU movies.
I actually think the Captain Marvel vs Iron Man comparison is particularly interesting, as I weigh Iron Man heavily in favor of kicking off the entire MCU. The wild thing is it’s not at all difficult to imagine a reality where Captain Marvel plays the same role of MCU leadoff hitter, and if that were the case, I’d definitely place it ahead of Iron Man.
Nonetheless, I’ve kept my power rankings confined to the status of this reality, and you can see all the rankings below!
Tier 1: The Best
1) Avengers: Infinity War
2) Jessica Jones (Season 1)
3) Avengers
4) Guardians of the Galaxy
5) Thor: Ragnarok
Tier 2: Great
6) Captain America 3: Civil War
7) Black Panther
8) Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier
9) Daredevil (Seasons 1,2,3)
10) Spider-Man: Homecoming
Tier 3: Good
11) Iron Man
12) Captain Marvel
13) Captain America: The First Avenger
Tier 4: Perfectly Average
14) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
15) Iron Man 3
16) The Punisher (S1, S2)
17) Ant-Man & The Wasp
18) Avengers 2: Age of Ultron
19) Ant-Man
Tier 5: Mixed Feelings
20) Runaways (Season 1)
21) Doctor Strange
22) Luke Cage (Seasons 1 & 2)
23) Thor 2: The Dark World
24) Defenders
Tier 6: I’ll Only Watch With a Comic In Hand
24) Thor
25) Agents of SHIELD (Seasons 1 through 4)
26) Agent Carter (Seasons 1 & 2)
27) Iron Fist Season Two
28) Incredible Hulk
Tier 7: Nope
30) Jessica Jones (Season Two)
31) Getting stuck in traffic
32) Iron Fist Season 1
33) Going through a difficult break-up
34) Inhumans
10 More Thoughts On Captain Marvel
1) Kree Skrull War! What Is It Good For?
I was pretty earnestly surprised by Captain Marvel’s subversion of the Skrulls, turning them from the warring threat to the galaxy into refugees fleeing Kree injustice.
This twist feels remarkably similar to Iron Man 3‘s turn of the Mandarin, a clever twist of a known Marvel villain that also very much disposes of that villain for the sake of plot.
On one hand, flipping the Skrulls from cliched alien threat to victims is a pretty smart bit of commentary on the nature of war and truth. On the other, any pipe dreams of Skrull “Secret Invasion” don’t hold much water with a race scattered across the galaxy seeking a safe haven.
Much like Mandarin, I can pretty easily see a follow-up movie re-establishing the Skrulls as a focal “threat” in a brand new context. Nonetheless, for the time being, all the flirtations with the Skrulls long-cons and infiltration (especially as a tie-in to Endgame) feels like a red (well, green) herring.
2) Wifely Hot Takes: Wakanda, Jack Kirby, & Cosmic Cubes!
My wife had the hottest take I’ve seen anywhere (albeit unbeknownst to her) after noting that the Kree jump-ship technology looks very similar to Wakanda’s city shields. While this is probably just a result of similar visual styling, the use of the same tech implies the intergalactic empire of Wakanda may well exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
We also had a post-credits difference of interpretation regarding Goose’s Tessaract hairball. Here’s the question: was Goose spitting up the cosmic cube in the past or present day?
I take the view that the scene was meant to show how Nicky ballgame wound up with the one and only Tessaract, setting the stage for his SHIELD led experiments on the cube until Loki stole it in 2012’s Avengers. On the other hand, my wife interpreted this as taking place in present day, with the cat-Flerken only now coughing up another Tessaract!
The primary evidence in favor of my theory is that Goose coughed up the cube on the same desk we see Fury occupy in 1995, and that Marvel tends to use the second post-credits scene for jokes that don’t really contribute much to setting up the next movie. The evidence in favor of my wife’s theory is that Nick Fury was absent (a la post-spannening), the scene took place after the mid-credits scene had jumped forward in time, and it’s not much of a stretch to imagine Goose would have an unpredictably long life.
I stand by my original read, but it’s inarguably more interesting if Dr. Lawson and Project Pegasus actually found a way to create their own version of a cosmic cube, and that it’s still hanging around the MCU. As a sucker for cosmic cube stories (darn tootin’ Tales of Suspense #79 is framed on my office wall), I love this theory.
And finally… in perhaps my proudest moment as a husband, my wife turned to me after the “Thank you Stan” of the opening credits and said “What about Jack?” I loved this, but I actually had a similar uneasy feeling about the tribute to Stanly the Manly. I don’t think it was wrong of Marvel Studios to Stan Lee-ify their opening credits in the wake of his passing. I’m genuinely sad that he’s gone, and his contributions to Marvel are incalculable.
That said, I also think literally turning your logo into a sequence of Stan Lee heavily contributes to the misguided sense that one man created the entire universe. It’s a tough one because giving any actual comics creator credit on that scale is unequivocally a good thing for the medium, but giving it all to Stan is just further fueling a decades-long issue.
3) Young Pope-Varr
I maintain Jude Law portraying the Young Pope throughout the entire film would have resulted in a top 3 movie. Not just MCU movie, but movie, period. I mean, come on:
4) Hail Fury
In the aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War, I remember saying on our podcast review that Nick Fury’s final pager hail mary to Captain Marvel must have been sent somewhere beyond the known galaxy. Otherwise, there was a 50% chance that Fury’s play was falling to another snapped character, and that seemed too dependent on luck.
While we don’t *know* where Captain Marvel goes with the Skrulls, it does seem seem – again, at least on the surface – that Fury’s final call was in fact just a nice stroke of luck. I can’t entirely articulate why this bugs me, but I was really into the idea this pager went back in time, or somewhere Thanos couldn’t have touched. Instead, it seems to be a coin-flip working in the Avengers’ favor.
5) Comic Book Herald’s “There is No Mandarin Award!”
Congrats to Ronan the Accuser for actually getting more boring in his second chance in the MCU. Ronan is the first two-time nominee for Comic Book Herald’s “There Is No Mandarin Award,” and I’d like to extend a sincere congratulations.
The award goes to the Marvel villain most thoroughly wasted in service of the plot, named after the honorable Ben Kingsley’s turn as a drunken imposter posing as Mandarin. Previous winners include:
2013: The (Not) Mandarin
2014: Ronan the Accuser
2015: Baron Von Strucker
2016: Cottonmouth
2017: Surtur
2018: The Black Order
This year’s front-runner is a dead heat between the subverted Skrulls and Ronan. Much like the Un-Mandarin, the Skrulls are humorous and genuinely compelling in their MCU roles, unlike Lee Pace’s Ronan, who is simply the worst. With that in mind, it’s time to give out a second award to the accuser-snoozer. Way to go, Ronan!
6) It Still Took 11 Years
As much as celebrating the success of Captain Marvel is well worth the adulation, it didn’t need to take this long for Marvel to commit to a female-led superhero movie. I’m happy we’re in a place where Wonder Woman can blow down doors in 2017, and Captain Marvel can continue smashing them to pieces two years later, but none of that really changes the preposterously slow path to those successes.
Like I mentioned in the rankings, it’s not at all difficult to imagine a Marvel Cinematic Universe that starts with Captain Marvel rather than sliding her into a “secret” past after a decade.
Part of the blame here lies on Marvel Comics as a whole. While there are a lot of good female characters across the shared universe, it’s not actually that easy to pick out Marvel’s leading ladies. Plus, a huge percentage of the front-runners (Susan Richards, a gazillion X-Men like Storm, Jean Grey, Shark-Girl, etc) have been locked up in licensing rights.
So yes, credit where it’s due for eventually making the right call, but let’s not pretend this was a sensible length of time to delay. Or that it’s a passable state of affairs when Marvel Studios thinks a Scott Lang movie is an easier sell than literally any woman. I’m happy we’re here, and hopefully the forward progress continues.
7) Timely Visual Cues
Props to the posters for the Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness telling me this movie takes place in 1995. I know there were plenty of other era-specific cues (for example, the Stanly the Manly Mallrats cameo prep that went completely over my head), but this one defined the exact year most precisely for me.
8) MCU: 1996 – 2007
So if Captain Marvel is set in 1995, and Iron Man debuted in 2008, that means the Marvel Cinematic Universe was essentially hero-less (as far as we know) from ’96 until Tony Stark met Yinsen. This is a big gap!
It seems highly unlikely that Marvel Studios will leave these twelve-plus years empty. Just as one example, Ronan and the Kree vow to return for Captain Marvel, but to our knowledge, never do in over a decade. Alternately, if there were no Avenger-sized threats for over a decade, and then they start exploding the second the team comes together, what does that say about the age old “there wouldn’t be villains without heroes” debate?
As licensing rights continue to tease the entrance of Marvel’s X-Men or Fantastic Four, I’m looking to this gap for potential entry points. Same goes for the upcoming Disney+ promise of Marvel “TV.”
9) “You Just Want An Avengers Movie!”
As I shared the “criticisms” I’ve elucidated (oh so suavely) above, my wife pointed out that really everything I was looking for was just another Avengers movie. She’s not wrong!
Bring on Endgame!
10) Goose 5 Issue Miniseries Coming Soon
If I were a betting man, I’d place a sizable wager on Marvel announcing a Goose comic book series in the next few months. My pick to write the cat-flerken is Kelly Thompson, with art by Erica Henderson.
Captain Marvel disappoints with major new revelations, but successfully tells a story filling in some timeline blanks. It’s a good movie, not a great one, and an unquestionably strong addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Filed Under: Comic Book Movies, Featured Tagged With: Captain Marvel
Mormegil says
I really like what they did with Mar-Vell. They never specify if she had powers or not. But if she does (or did) have powers then almost everything could have happened exactly like the first Captain Marvel series.
Mar-Vell can still get sent to Earth because someone (maybe even the FF) awakens a Kree Sentry. Dr. Lawson’s plane can get blown up by the ship that delivers Mar-Vell, and she can assume the identity of Dr. Lawson.
Dave, are you going to include Cloak and Dagger in the rankings?
I plan to! I actually just started watching recently.
Carson says
I don’t think that the unexpectedly sympathetic take on Talos and his family and crew necessarily rules the Skrulls out as future villains. Just needs Marvel Studio to commit to the idea that an alien race is not going to be 100% “good” or 100% “evil”.
After all, in Secret Invasion, weren’t Veranke’s Skrulls a particularly loony band of religious zealots chasing prophecies of Earth being destined to be the new Skrull throneworld?
Definitely, that’s a good point. You get all sorts of factions across Skrulls as far back as Silver Age Fantastic Four.
Agree, it’s possible, it’s just less likely than I was expecting.
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