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Floor Screeding
Epoxy Coating
Clip-In Rubber Tiles
Aimia Foods, Haydock - Mezzanine Floor
Aberconwy - School Kitchen Area
Orchid were contacted to help restore a floor in a school kitchen area in Aberconwy, North Wales.
The floor area had fell into a considerable state of dilapidation and had become a risk for the staff using the area on a daily basis.
Orchid had break out all the areas where the floor surface had failed, which resulted in sizeable channels of floor surface being removed from the existing slab.
These channels were then in-filled with repair mortar to bring the channels back level with the surrounding floor level.
The floor was then subject to a pump screed to provide a high-performance, cementitious, self-smoothing surface, which is ideal for providing a reliable underlayment.
Before the top coating was applied a liquid damp proof membrane was installed to seal the floor.
The top coating system selected for the environment was Sika’s Comfortfloor. This was due in turn to its suitability for commercial and public buildings such as schools, museums, retail facilities and leisure. It is perfect for busy areas and especially for where personnel are stood for long periods. It is also a hygienic and easy to clean coating which inhibits the growth of fungus and bacteria thanks to its seamless installation as opposed to vinyl which is used in many similar instances.
The school were more than happy with their new kitchen floor area and gone were the safety risks associated with the previously degenerated floor surface.
Contact Orchid
© Orchid Flooring. All Rights Reserved | Contact
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Posts Tagged ‘fresh look’
Wandi offers fresh look
Posted in Realestate and Home Loans, tagged $850 million, 1000sqm, 12.5m frontages, 17 pocket parks, 25m frontages, 30 homes, 400sqm cottage lots, approach, builders, BUILT, commercial services, configurations, departure, design, display village, displayed, diverse, family amenities, first-class community, fresh look, Honeywood, Honeywood Estate, lot, lot sizes, manager, master plans, Max Pirone, measuring, new, noticeable, offers, park and ride facilities, pedestrian friendly, planning, products, project, proposed, public open space, rail station., range of housing, retail, Satterley Property Group’s, school, State’s best builders, super lots, traditional, types, urban, Wandi on August 28, 2009| Leave a Comment »
THE design of the new display village for Honeywood Estate at Wandi is a noticeable departure from a more traditional approach to planning.
Focus is centred on making the village as pedestrian friendly as possible.
The display village will feature about 30 homes, all of which are within easy walking distance of the central sales office and a car park.
“The pedestrian-friendly village will ensure people do not have to drive from one side of the estate to the other to see the wide range of builders’ products displayed on different lot configurations,” Satterley Property Group’s manager of urban and built form, Max Pirone, said.
Mr Pirone said the Honeywood village would contain a diverse range of housing types and lot sizes.
Visitors can expect to find 400sqm cottage lots with 12.5m frontages, as well as super lots measuring more than 1000sqm with 25m frontages at the display village.
In a move to differentiate the Honeywood village from other display centres, cafe facilities will be provided to make the visit more enjoyable for prospective purchasers.
Many of the State’s best builders are already lined up to participate in the $850 million project at Honeywood.
Satterley Property Group chief executive Nigel Satterley said plans were made for 1700 lots and a total population of more than 5000.
In addition, areas have been allocated on the master plans for a school, first-class community and family amenities, retail and commercial services, and park and ride facilities at the proposed Wandi rail station.
About 25 per cent of the estate has been set aside for public open space, with at least 17 pocket parks.
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Fred Jüssi Icebreaker
Icebreaker was first published in black and white by Valgus Publishing in 1986. The first half of the book was made up of short stories and the other half took the reader on a voyage with personal correspondence.
The new Icebreaker is a supplemented and shortened version. Color photographs and a previously cut story about the migration of birds in the fall have been added. At the same time, we left out all the travel correspondence of the original, because the world seen through Soviet eyes doesn’t fit today with these timeless pictures of nature in our homeland.
The stories have not been changed. What has changed, however, is the significance and purpose of the book. The significance has become clearer and the purpose more difficult to fulfill, because the world is different now.
Fred Jüssi
But when that bedbug had been sitting on the cover of the notebook for already an hour, it started to fascinate me. It really did seem like it was sitting. Its top half, if you could call a bug’s head and torso that, was raised up in a dignified manner and its bottom (I suppose a bug has to have one of those?) was almost touching the “ground.” The ends of its antennae vibrated a bit, but other than that, not a nerve moved in that bug’s face. I got the impression that this bedbug was either struck dumb or suffered from exhaustion. It’s really very humane to ask a guest who is staring at one spot and not moving: “Hey, what’s the matter with you?” This is where charity begins. I carefully nudged the bedbug with the end of my fountain pen (“Hey, what’s the matter with you?”). The bedbug took a few stiff steps and then froze in the old position again (“Damn it, can I get some peace for once, or not?”). I took a compass out of a drawer. It turned out that the bedbug was staring in a westerly direction.
Reisikirju
Epp PetroneRoheliseks kasvamine
Angelika Erin + Epp PetroneOhtlike E-ainete määraja
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ONLINE CASINO & GAMBLING NEWS
Rizk Casino launches with huge $109,000 win in its first week
In ONLINE CASINO & GAMBLING NEWS
Rizk Casino is one of the newest casinos to hit the Internet, and within hours of launching the site claimed its first big winner, catapulting Rizk.com into instant popularity. One lucky player from Finland was playing the pokies when he struck it lucky (not once, but twice) walking away a hefty €70,000 ($109,000 AUD) richer.
The win occurred on NetEnt’s popular video pokies game Dead or Alive on a cold and frosty Finnish night where the temperature had dropped to -30 degrees. The winner logged onto Rizk.com to take the new site for a spin, making a €50 deposit to give the real money games a go.
Before long he had won €45,000 (approximately $70K AUD), but decided to try his luck further, continuing to ride out his hot streak until eventually landing the huge €70,000 ($109,000 AUD) prize. In this case not walking away with the first prize was well worth the risk.
This giant win has set an immediate precedent for Rizk.com and we have no doubt that enthusiastic players will be rushing to sign up for an account as word of the win starts to circulate. Thankfully, the site is offering some great welcome bonuses to kick things off, with up to $150 up for grabs in matched deposit bonuses (but be mindful that it comes with a 45% wagering requirement – check the terms and conditions on the site for full details).
Rizk is a sister site to Guts.com, which has been a long standing favourite casino of ours for years, so while we already expected big things from this site, this win went well beyond our expectations. With the solid reputation of Guts adding to Rizk’s appeal, there’s no doubt that this will be the first of many big wins for the impressive new venue.
The main focus at Rizk is on the pokies, with hundreds of titles on offer from leading game developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, BetSoft and Thunderkick, but there’s also a good range of table games and live dealer games available.
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Tags: FIPokiesProgressiveRizk
Royal Vegas to release new and improved Live Dealer Casino
No-deposit free spins for new players in January at Guts Casino
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Language : SK
About JUSTROM2/
Zobrazenie webového obsahu Zobrazenie webového obsahu
JUSTROM2 was a continuation of JUSTROM, a Council of Europe and the European Commission joint programme aims to improve the access to justice of Roma women. The project ran from April 2018 to March 2019
The specific objectives are:
to support the empowerment of Roma women through increasing their awareness about discrimination, complaint mechanisms, the justice system and human rights institutions/equality bodies;
to increase the number of cases of discrimination against Roma women admitted by human rights institutions, equality bodies and courts;
enhance professional resources used at national level by the judiciary, law enforcement and NGOs/human rights advocates regarding the application of anti-discrimination standards with a focus on multiple discrimination, gender equality and Roma women;
increase synergies between the institutional frameworks of the European Union and Council of Europe, including through National Roma Contact Points and CAHROM, and with national and local authorities on national Roma integration strategies, and civil society regarding access to justice.
4 national launch events took place between May and June 2018 with relevant stakeholders to present the project activities and objectives;
legal clinics were established through by associate partnerships in Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria); Athens, Thessaloniki and Xanthi (Greece); Naples and Rome (Italy); and Bucharest and Calarasi County (Romania);
national teams were select with the following format: 1 national coordinator per country and 1 or 2 mediators/facilitators, 1 legal assistant and 1 lawyers per legal clinic;
awareness-raising gatherings with Roma women and other vulnerable groups were organised in the target localities. Each gathering was designed to inform beneficiaries on a particular topic and to discuss issues related to it, such as domestic violence, human trafficking, secon chance schools, etc.;
Info days with the municipalities were organised to provide a platform for exchanges among the Roma communities and municipalities;
3 training of trainers for police officers on non-discrimination, gender and Roma. The first one took place in Romania in June 2018; the second one, in Bulgaria in November 2018; and the third one took place in Greece in early 2019. The ToTs in Romania was an additional contribution to the programme by the CoE (CoE own budget);
a training of trainers for judges and prosecutors took place in Strasbourg, France, in September 2018;
monitoring missions to all the implementing countries took place between late October to early December 2018;
literacy classes for Roma women took place in Naples, Italy, and Thessaloniki, Greece;
4 seminars with lawyers per country to sensitise them on non-discrimination, gender equality and Roma issues;
Sessions on JUSTROM were held in universities;
a study visit from Equality bodies and National Human Rights institutions from the implementing countries took place in March 2019;
training of lawyers of the legal aid bureau in Bulgaria and Romania, lawyers of the bar associations in Greece, and lawyers of the bar councils in Italy took place in early 2019;
Workshops for the Ombudsoffice staff and the National Human Rights Institution in Romania took place in early 2019;
2 country exchanges on best practices in Greece and Romania;
printing of brochures with information on the project and services, and other visibility material;
an end-of-project external evaluation was undertaken in January-March 2019.
Ms Michèle BERGDOLL
Ms Sandra VELOY MATEU
Ms Aida-Diana FARKAS
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Faculty union organizers up in arms after Pitt’s administration rejects Labor Board subpoena
Faculty union organizers challenged hundreds of the names Pitt included in its list of faculty eligible for a bargaining unit.
After ruling June 18 that the size of the bargaining unit for Pitt’s faculty union was under review, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ordered Pitt to turn over several pieces of information to faculty union organizers — most notably, a list of faculty eligible to be in the potential bargaining unit.
But Pitt filed a motion Wednesday attempting to rescind the order. University spokesperson Joe Miksch said union organizers “seek thousands of pages of personal information about more than 4,000 faculty members, including payroll data, assignments and disability information” that Pitt does not want to provide.
“The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board determined that the United Steelworkers must prove that the University of Pittsburgh’s list of names contains factual or legal inaccuracies … This sweeping subpoena attempts to shift responsibility onto Pitt to prove that the list is accurate,” Miksch said. “We disagree with this tactic and look forward to following the PLRB process to resolve this matter.”
If the motion is successful, the administration could avoid supplying nearly all requested information, according to a Friday morning press release from United Steelworkers, the union aiding the organizing effort.
Organizers called the motion a stalling strategy — a blatant attempt to conceal that Pitt deliberately inflated the number of faculty in the bargaining unit to avoid a union election.
“Given the depths to which Chancellor Gallagher has already sunk in order to thwart our efforts to form a union on campus, it’s unsurprising that the administration is pursuing this course of action,” William Scott, an associate professor in the English department, said. “It’s clear that he knows a majority of faculty want a union and is willing to do anything to keep us from voting.”
[Read: Faculty braces for Pitt’s union “stalling tactics”]
Organizers have spent the last month combing through the list of faculty eligible for the bargaining unit, sent by the PLRB after the board’s June 18 ruling. Preliminary analysis by union organizers indicates that there are several hundred people on the list that do not belong in the bargaining unit, including administrators, graduate students, undergraduate students, retired faculty and even some deceased faculty. According to the press release, Pitt providing all of the information requested would confirm these findings, and organizers won’t release a detailed analysis until they receive those documents from the University.
The PLRB initially scheduled hearings from July 24 to August 2 for faculty and administrators to hash out disagreements about the size of the bargaining unit. But since Pitt officials challenged the subpoena, the hearings may be pushed back, according to Tyler McAndrew, a union organizer and visiting English lecturer.
Melinda Ciccocioppo, a psychology lecturer, decried Pitt’s refusal to provide all of the requested documents and said it emphasizes a lack of transparency between faculty and administrators.
“One of the primary reasons Pitt faculty want a union is because we need more transparency on campus,” Ciccocioppo said. “This latest in a string of attacks on our right to vote further illustrates this problem.”
Pitt faculty filed for a union election in January, citing dissatisfaction with pay, job security and transparency from the administration. Organizers want more faculty to have a seat at the table when making important decisions.
[Read: Pitt faculty see future in union]
McAndrew said organizers are still targeting spring 2020 for a union election.
Contributed reporting by Jon Moss.
Next Read: Student researchers seek youth responses to Tree of Life shooting »
faculty unionplrbunited steelworkers
March to Market Square: Women’s March Pittsburgh takes on fourth year
Neither rain nor snow stopped the demonstrators in Pittsburgh’s 2020 Women’s March, who concluded their…
Pittsburgh Against Fascism in India holds teach-in
A group of students came to the front of a classroom and began to read.…
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What is the PASSOC Project?
PASSOC Role Models
About the Creators
Casey Mecija
Ohbijou performance at The Reel Asian Film Festival (2016).
Name: Casey Mecija
Place of Birth: Brantford, Ontario
Elementary School: St. Patrick’s, St. Leo’s and Resurrection.
High School: St. John’s College
1. Could you please describe how you came to be in Canada? My parents migrated to Canada from the Philippines in the 70’s. Employment opportunities brought my parents to Brantford, Ontario. I was born in that city in the early 80’s.
Mecija Family in their home in Brantford, Ontario – Early 1980’s. (From L to R: Francisco Mecija, Casey Mecija, Jenny Mecija, Emma Mecija and Michelle Mecija).
2. Describe your experience of growing up, living, and/or working in Canada?
I grew up in a predominantly white suburb. My parents worked hard to keep us connected to Filipinx culture and community through their participation in a small but growing organization called the Filipino Canadian Association of Brantford. My parents wanted my sisters and I to focus on our education so I didn’t start working until late in high school. My first job was at a convenience store and then I worked as a temp at a call center.
3. What are some of your major accomplishments? What were/are some of your major struggles? My involvement in music has created opportunities for me to travel and perform across North America, Europe, China and Japan. As well, I am currently completing a PhD at the the University of Toronto which feels like a major accomplishment. As for struggle, I have a desire to feel connected to Filipinx community but sometimes my queerness gets in the way.
Hannah Dyer and Casey Mecija in their home (2017).
4. What are some of future goals that you envision for yourself and for the Filipino community in Canada? I hope to complete my PhD in the next couple of years and combine my artistic/musical practice with a teaching practice that creates new ways of engaging students in Critical Filipinx studies.
The Reel Asian Filmmaker School Tour – Presentation at St. Joseph Morrow Park Secondary School (2016).
Enter Key Words
Words from a PASSOC Role Model
“I think growing up having no Filipino role models made it challenging to embrace my Filipino heritage. Perhaps I may have even been embarrassed of my Filipino heritage at one point, even wanting to be white like everyone else. That later went away as I got older, when I realized that having my own culture was actually a strength and gave me an edge in many circumstances.”
-Mikey Bustos, singer/ entertainer, YouTube celebrity
Visit the PASSOC Project on
This project is funded by:
Canadian Heritage Canada 150 Fund
York University Canada 150 Fund
Social Sciences and Humanities Resesarch Council of Canada
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University
Canada 150 | Unity in Diversity:
Fusion of Communities in Canada
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Scanning/Digitizing >
Case Study: FastSCAN Cobra Takes Breedlove Guitars into the 21st Century
Breedlove Guitars, was outsourcing the reverse engineering and measuring of their guitars from Oregon to Montana, where they would use a CAD system. The FastSCAN Cobra made it possible for them to become more efficient in their production of acoustic guitars, by making tasks that once took days to complete take only minutes.
For years, Breedlove Guitars, based in Tumalo, Oregon, was outsourcing the reverse engineering and measuring of their guitars from Oregon to Montana, where they would use a CAD system to gather all the measurements needed to cut the wood and shape the guitars. This process would take several days or often more than a week, which drastically slowed down productivity and, to an extent, held back their business. What Breedlove needed was to find a way to do all of this at their own facilities in a more efficient and effective manner.
How Breedlove Solved Their Problem
Breedlove contacted a company in Auburn, Washington, called MultiCam Northwest. Through MultiCam, Breedlove was able to obtain “cut and carve” equipment, as well as a Polhemus FastSCAN Cobra. With all these advances, Breedlove was now able to do all of the preparation work at their own facilities in Oregon. The FastSCAN Cobra made it possible for Breedlove to become more efficient in their production of acoustic guitars, by making tasks that once took days to complete take only minutes now.
To get all the information needed to create the guitars, through reverse engineering, the guitar first needed to be scanned, which only takes a few minutes. After the guitar was scanned and put into a mesh format for measurements, the scanned file was saved as an STL file. Once saved as an STL file, Breedlove then can export the file into a CAD program known as Rhinoceros, a modeling tool for designers that utilizes Windows technology. The scanned image is processed through the CAD system, and put into a program called MasterCam, developed by MultiCam Northwest. This program is loaded onto the Multi-Cut & Carve machine, making it possible for the equipment to cut the wood into a perfect shape for the guitar.
By eliminating the outsourcing of the reverse engineering for their guitars, Breedlove was able to produce a finished product in much less time. Their productivity increased dramatically, as well as their profitability. The FastSCAN Cobra, combined with the MultiCam system, was a great decision and a change in the right direction for Breedlove. (Image shows a detailed scanned picture of the guitar neck, put into mesh form for detailed measurements).
The MultiCam “Cut & Carve” Solution
MultiCam, LP is the leading manufacturer of CNC routers. Thousands of machines are installed worldwide. Twelve MultiCam Technology Centers are located throughout the United States to provide local support, repair service, sales and application training. The MultiCam is a proven solid production system and organizations from a wide variety of industries find it to be a trustworthy and reliable routing solution. The rigid, all steel construction of the MultiCam makes it a robust platform for high-speed cutting and exceptional edge quality.
Contact sales@polhemus.com for more information.
“I have been using Polhemus technology for 12 Years, and am the owner of FASTRAK, LIBERTY, and G4 systems. Having consulted to 1000’s of golfers through associations and professionals in nearly 20 countries, my equipment needs to be portable, accurate, and reliable in varied environments which these systems provide.”
Ryan Lumsden,
Director, Q Golf
(consultant to Golf Australia, Golf New Zealand, VVG (Belgium), Victorian Institute of Sport, and several tour professionals)
FastSCAN II Overview
3D Handheld Laser Scanner
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Article Bulletin (127) Apply Article Bulletin filter
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(-) Remove Emergency filter Emergency
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Climate, Climate change, Weather
Publish Date: 15 January 2020
The year 2019 was the second warmest year on record after 2016, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s consolidated analysis of leading international datasets.
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World Weather Information Service looks to the future
Weather, Meteorology
The WMO World Weather Information Service (WWIS) is a global website that presents official r observations, forecasts and climatological information for selected cities supplied by National Meteorological & Hydrological Services (NMHSs). It is hosted and coordinated by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) of Hong Kong, China. The Website includes mobile phone weather apps for ease of access to information by users.
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WMO-IMO Symposium addresses extreme maritime weather
Oceans, Weather, Marine meteorology
WMO and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) held the first joint Symposium on Extreme Maritime Weather: Towards Safety of Life at Sea and a Sustainable Blue Economy
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WMO calls for protection of radio frequencies vital to weather forecasts
Weather, Forecast
The World Meteorological Organization is calling on governments to protect radio frequencies allocated to Earth observation services which are vital for weather forecasts and long-term climate change monitoring. Decisions with major repercussions for Earth exploration, environmental monitoring and meteorological satellite operation will be made at the World Radiocommunication Conference from 28 October – 22 November 2019.
WMO calendar competition winners announced
Weather, Water, Climate, Meteorology
WMO has announced the winners of its competition for the 2020 Calendar.
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World Meteorological Congress approves sweeping reforms
Meteorology, Climate, Weather, Water, Environment
The World Meteorological Congress has approved a package of sweeping reforms to embrace a more comprehensive Earth system approach, with a stronger focus on water resource s and the ocean, more coordinated climate activities and a more concerted effort to t ranslate science into services for society. It paved the way for greater engagement with the rapidly growing private sector and more structured collaboration with development agencies.
WMO verifies 3rd and 4th hottest temperature recorded on Earth
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has officially evaluated temperature record extremes of 54.0 °C at two locations, one in Mitribah, Kuwait, on 21 July 2016 and a second in Turbat, Pakistan, on 28 May 2017.
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Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference confronts cascading impacts of extreme weather and other natural hazards and of climate change
Climate change, Environment, Weather, Water, Climate, Floods, Disaster risk reduction
Climate change, population increase, urbanization and environmental degradation are amplifying the impact of extreme weather, water and climate events such as tropical cyclones, floods and extreme heat on growing numbers of people. Improved early warning systems and more coordinated disaster risk reduction are more important than ever before.
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World Meteorological Centres boost global cooperation
Forecast, Weather, Climate, Climate services, Natural hazards, Capacity development
The first World Meteorological Centres Workshop, hosted by the China Meteorological Administration in Beijing, has agreed to strengthen cooperation mechanisms to boost global forecasting capabilities and earth system prediction and research to serve society.
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WMO State of Climate report is “yet another strong wake-up call.”
Climate, Climate change, Weather, Disasters
WMO’s latest report on global temperatures, extreme weather and climate change indicators and socio-economic impacts is “yet another strong wake-up call” on the need for more ambitious climate action, according to United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.
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Enhanced Weather Research and Forecasting in Support of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games
Forecast, Weather, Research
Weather is a key factor determining the success of the Winter Games. The next Winter Olympic Games will take place from 4 to 20 February 2022, in the municipality of Beijing and the neighbouring Hebei province, in China. The Paralympic Games will follow a month later, from 4 to 13 March. The scheduling of the outdoor events for the Games will rely on very short-term forecasting and nowcasting.
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WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes
In 2005, the television coverage of Hurricane Katrina, a deadly tropical cyclone that hit the North American coast near New Orleans, was both heartbreaking and enthralling to view. As I...
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News from the WMO Secretariat
Weather, Climate, Climate services, Disaster risk reduction, Environment, Climate change, Research, Agriculture and food security, Education, Water
Publish Date: 1 January 2008
The Secretary-General, Michel Jarraud, recently made official visits to a number of Member countries as briefly reported below. He wishes to place on record his gratitude to those Members for the kindness and hospitality extended to him.
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Aircraft Observations
Weather, Climate, Climate services, Environment, Observations, Research, Satellite, Data exchange, Clouds, Forecast, Polar, Aviation
How aircraft observations benefit the safety, efficiency and environmental footprint of international civil aviation and contribute to the Global Observing System.
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The World Weather Watch Today
Weather, Climate, Climate services, Climate change, Water, Environment, Research, Observations, Data exchange, Forecast, Satellite, Oceans, Aviation, Partnership
Since 2002, there have been a number of initiatives and accomplishments having a significant impact on the World Weather Watch. Indeed, not since the 1960s has there been so much emphasis and worldwide attention on the knowledge of the environment …
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Observing our Planet for a Better Future
Weather, Climate, Climate services, Observations, Oceans, Water, Clouds, Environment, Research, Disaster risk reduction, Climate change, Natural hazards, Agriculture and food security
Message from the Secretary-General Over the year that has elapsed since the previous World Meteorological Day, a number of crucial events have occurred, all of which have strongly emphasized the vital and unprecedented relevance of global observations.
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Larry Pinkney - 02.22.15
Feb 22nd, 2015 by progressiveradionetwork
Pinkney is a dedicated activist. A former political prisoner. A Black Panther Party veteran. A former Republic of New Africa Minister of Interior.
John Kozy - 02.15.15
Feb 20th, 2015 by progressiveradionetwork
Kozy is a retired philosophy professor, now writing on social, political and economic issues. He taught for many years and has been writing for many more.
Kozy's latest writing will be discussed.
Rodney Shakespeare - 02.13.15
He's also a qualified UK Barrister, co-founder of the Global Justice Movement, and distinguished writer, scholar and lecturer, particularly at Islamic conferences on money, the real economy, and social and economic justice.
Matthew Witt - 02.08.15
Feb 9th, 2015 by progressiveradionetwork
Witt is a University of La Verne, CA Associate Professor of Public Administration. His published work with others shows shadow governing entities and state crimes against democracy undermine America's legitimacy and founding doctrine.
His work appears in Administration & Society, American Behavioral Scientist, and Public Integrity.
Rick Rozoff - 02.05.15
Rozoff is an activist, anti-war supporter, Stop NATO web site editor.
He "document(s) and oppose(s) global militarist trends and an expanding theater of war that began" by balkanizing Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
It's expanded to South Asia. It's ravaging the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
Progressive Radio News Hour - Mohammad Marandi - 01.30.15
Jan 30th, 2015 by progressiveradionetwork
Marandi is an Associate Professor at the University of Tehran. He also chairs its North American studies department.
Discussion will focus on major Middle East issues.
John McMurtry - 01.23.15
Jan 23rd, 2015 by progressiveradionetwork
The updated and expanded "The Cancer Stage of Capitalism: From Crisis to Cure" has just been released.
- Older Posts »
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Film Bits and Bobs
Red Dawn (2012)
LWLies
Cinema Psychotronicum
EyeforFilm
Scene360
Cinetalk
Daily Info
Film Divider
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movieScope
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A Preview To FrightFest Glasgow 2014
Posted on February 28, 2014 By AntBit
First published by Grolsch FilmWorks
While FrightFest started out in 2000 (and continues) as a long August weekend of horror and fantasy off Leicester Square, it has long since spread its wicked wings to a regular Halloween all-nighter (now in multiple UK cities), while also establishing a second weekend camp at the genre end of the Glasgow Film Festival. Far from being a dumping ground for films rejected from the ‘main event’, the Glasgow FrightFest accommodates a selection of titles whose release just happens not to coincide with the late Summer – and reminds viewers that horror is not mysteriously confined to the second half of the year. You need only look at some of the past films showcased at Glasgow – e.g. [REC] (plus, later, its sequel), Reeker, DeadGirl, Amer, Splice, Rubber, The Raid – to dispel any doubts as to the quality and eclecticism to be found in the programme.
This year’s Glasgow FrightFest is the biggest yet, opening to a Q&A with longtime FrightFest friend Ti West (The Roost, House of the Devil, The Innkeepers). The programme includes West’s latest, The Sacrament – something of a departure from the writer/director’s usual flirtation with the supernatural, but with his trademark handling of slow-build tension fully present and correct. As a photographer (Kentucker Audley) travels to the remote Eden Parish in search of his ex-junkie sister (Amy Seimetz), he is accompanied by two journalist colleagues from VICE (AJ Bowen, Joe Swanberg) who smell a story. Filming everything, they meet the commune’s charismatic leader Father (Gene Jones), and are unsure whether they are being co-opted as PRs for heaven on Earth, or for something far more sinister. West’s choice of a ‘found footage’ format brings immediacy to this riff on Jonestown, while also slyly insinuating that the very presence of the cameras might well play a leading part in the film’s tragic dénouement.
Also featuring the fine-tuned acting talents of sometime director Joe Swanberg, Zack Parker’s Proxy is easily the best of the FrightFest titles that we’ve been able to see in advance. The film opens in a clinical setting, with heavily pregnant Esther (Alexis Rasmussen) looking nervous and distracted during an ob/gyn checkup – and clinical also aptly describes Parker’s distanced, disconnected approach to everything that follows. As Esther crosses the street from her appointment, without warning she is knocked unconscious by a mysterious assailant, who proceeds, repeatedly and brutally, to pound her gravid belly with a brick. This violent assault on Esther, as well as the subsequent death of her unborn baby, is only the first of many jolting surprises in a film that, with Hitchcockian precision (and accompanying Hermann-esque score by the Newton Brothers), keeps reconfiguring our perspective on its events and characters through a series of shocking narrative twists. Suffice it to say that Proxy is a very tautly constructed psychodrama of loneliness, desperation and deepest, darkest fantasy that will confound, upset and provoke viewers like a punch to the gut. If harrowing, human horror is your obsession, this is a film crying out for your attention.
Proxy overcomes the limitations of its low budget with the aspects of filmmaking that, though priceless, can come relatively cheap: an intelligent script (which Parker co-wrote with newcomer Kevin Donner) and committed performances, as well as deft editing that enables Parker to play peekaboo as much with what he cuts as with what he actually puts on screen. Joe Begos’ feature debut Almost Human does pretty much the exact opposite, with a disposable alien abduction story, entirely perfunctory (and repetitive) dialogue, and blank-eyed acting. Yet from the instantly recognisable opening sound of a VHS being inserted into a player, to the titles styled with the typography of John Carpenter’s The Thing, to the ickily ‘probing’ body horror and the 1989 setting, Begos’ film drips and oozes with straight-to-video nostalgia, while pleasingly adopting a more low-rent, hunting-jacket-and-beards version of the 80s in opposition to the sort of lacquered hair, big shoulders and box phones that Hollywood seems to prefer for its Reaganite visions. And in keeping with the age that it celebrates, the effects here are all practical, and agreeably disgusting. It is just a pity that Begos could not cut away from much of the aimless talking the way he does from the body impact shots – but there is more than enough po-faced oldschool inanity here to keep FrightFesters grinning from ear to ear.
Although it does share with Almost Human those classic signifiers of genre cinema, a chainsaw and an axe, Michael S. Ojeda’s Savaged could not be more different, going for outright maximalism where Begos’ film is determinedly minimalist – and although Ojeda’s labour of love (which he wrote, directed, shot and edited himself) is also low-budget, he goes all out to make it look like a million bucks. Driving across New Mexico to be with her black fiancé Dane (March Anthony Samuel), deaf white girl Zoe (Amanda Adrienne) falls foul of a redneck family who have been lynching native Americans for generations, and is shot, violated, stabbed and left for dead – until the ghost of a long-dead Apache chief enters her broken body to wreak a vengeance common to both of them. As overdetermined as it sounds, Savaged is a mixed breed of torture porn, supernatural action and beyond-the-grave romance. Though played entirely straight and often unnervingly nasty, it is also undeniably silly, leaping freely from gut-stretching gore to cornball pathos to close-contact mêlées on moving pickup trucks without once bothering to find any tonal consistency. Its conflicts of race, class and sex are presented in such black-and-white terms (the rednecks are nuance-free repositories of irredeemable evil, whereas wronged Zoe is an avenging ‘angel’) that they offer no kind of meaningful dialectic – while the dialogue itself is never quite as sharp as the chieftain’s war hatchet. It does, however, make very good use of its desert locations, has a number of memorably bananas set-pieces – and of course its sheer balls-to-the-wall messiness is precisely what might make it go down a treat with the right audience.
Last a guest at FrightFest in 2006 with supernatural mystery The Marsh, Jordan Baker returns, this time brandishing backwoods home invasion thriller Torment. Sarah (Katharine Isabelle) has recently married widower Cory Morgan (Robin Dunne), but is struggling to win the affections of Cory’s seven-year-old son Liam (Pete DaCunha),who regards her as an unwelcome intruder and maternal pretender – so when a clan of genuine intruders emerges from the woodwork of the Morgans’ holiday house, the stage is set for a battle between one dysfunctional family and its monstrous reverse, with Liam as the prize. This is a genre film through and through, and Baker knows it, prominently casting horror stalwarts Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, American Mary) and even Stephen McHattie (Pontypool, Summer’s Moon), and throwing in visual references to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (the swing outside the house) and The Shining (the axe through the door) to underline the theme of perverted family. The killers in their grotesquely childish masks (fashioned from the heads of stuffed animal toys) recall The Strangers (2008) and You’re Next (2011), while also giving the film’s cat-and-mouse a literal face. It is all very derivative – but masked children will always have a creepy uncanniness which Baker certainly know how to exploit. It is just a pity, though, that the script is so pedestrian, especially when the leader of the killer clan starts to speak.
Adapted by Dan Schaffer from his own graphic novel, and suitably cartoonish in its distorted, hyperstylised CG vision, John Suits’ The Scribbler focuses blurrily on Suki (Katie Cassidy), a patient with dissociative identity disorder. She is trying to explain to a detective (Michael Imperioli) and a psychiatrist (Eliza Dushku) how and why, in the several days since she moved into Juniper Towers, a dripping, brutalist, high-gothic ‘halfway house for the mentally and socially inept’, so many other residents (Sasha Grey, Ashlyn Yennie, Gina Gershon) have ended up a bloody mess on the forecourt – whether because they jumped or were pushed. Suki relates the story of her experimental ‘Siamese burn therapy’, (self-)administered via a prototype machine that has been gradually killing off her alternate personalities one by one, leaving till last the mysterious ‘Scribbler’, who might be a psychotic homicide, or even a superheroine. If the detective becomes confused as to where delusion ends and truth begins in Suki’s tale, then so does the viewer, as Suits mixes motifs from Identity (2003), Donnie Darko (2001) and Sucker Punch (2011) while craftily confounding the vehicle and tenor of his manic metaphor. The result is not so much a locked-room as a locked-mind mystery, sympathetically unravelling its tale of mental illness from an unreliable insider’s perspective, and building a concrete yet highly unstable edifice of ambiguity that only true madness could fully resolve.
Other films in this year’s line-up that we have yet to see are Greg McLean’s sicko-slasher sequel Wolf Creek 2, Cliff Prowse and Derek Lee’s buzzworthy found footage flick Afflicted, Jake West’s follow-up documentary on UK censorship Video Nasties: Draconian Days, Jorge Dorado’s mental detective story Mindscape, and – most anticipated of all – serial killer vs. vigilante psychodrama Killers from the Mo brothers (Macabre).
FrightFest Glasgow opens on 27 February. For the full weekend programme, head over here.
Anton Bitel
Feedback (2019)
Stalked (aka Unseen) (2019)
Finale (2018)
Black Circle (Svart Cirkel) (2018)
Discoveries From The Pan Asia Film Festival 2014
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SadisticMystic
About SadisticMystic
Game Network IDs
Friend Code (3DS)
castform illegal
SadisticMystic replied to dji's topic in PKM
ORAS's Castform gift starts with 100 points in its Beauty contest stat, and those stats can never decrease. If the listing of contest stats at the bottom of the Stats tab doesn't show at least 100 there, this is a proper detection.
The Legality Question/Check Thread
SadisticMystic replied to Metalbear's topic in Pokémon Legality
Does this Shiftry also have Leaf Blade by any chance? The only way it can get Leaf Blade is if it's still at Nuzleaf stage at the time it gets sent forward to ORAS or later (like a lot of stone evolutions, its level-up movelist is extremely barren afterwards). Meanwhile, Sucker Punch is only available if it's all the way at Shiftry stage before it leaves the confines of G4 (previous evolutions aren't compatible with that move tutor), and there's no way to time its evolution and/or transfer such that the two moves can coexist.
SM USUM Save Research Thread
SadisticMystic replied to Holla!'s topic in Saves - Research
Battle Tree Scouted Partners for Multi Battles The save file region for this starts at offset 6B224 in SM, or 6B824 in USUM. There's room to have up to 50 trainers scouted at a time. By default, players start out with only Rada available, using the sets Barbaracle-1 and Hawlucha-1. Interestingly, as an opponent Rada is incapable of using those sets (indeed, no opponent in the tree can possibly have that combination), but those simply happen to be sets #0 and 1 in their database, and you have to have something to start out with. In USUM, clearing Episode RR will also unlock Lillie as a second default trainer. After winning any Single or Double battle in a tree streak other than one involving a Battle Legend, you can "scout" that trainer by paying 10 BP to add them to your book of partners, with the first 2 Pokemon from the team that you just beat. 6B224-6B287 (SM), 6B824-6B887 (USUM): Trainer IDs This is 100 bytes of allocated space, so each entry gets 2 bytes, stored as successive little-endian pairs, even though the high byte of each pair would have been unnecessary. Valid values range from 0x0000 to 0x00D1 (in SM, the upper limit is only 0x00CC). Note that BE, BF, CB-CC (SM), CC-CD (USUM) and CF-D1 are illegal, as you can never be in position to scout these trainers. They will not have a profile icon when you go to browse your list of partners, and the text box they say to you at the start of your joint challenge will be blank, but other than that they behave as sensibly as anyone else. Values above the upper limit will crash the game if you try to pick them, because there's no character model to draw. When you reach the end of the list of scouted trainers, all the remaining entries will be filled with FFFF. A list of ID numbers and the trainer names they correspond to can be found at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1w-xYTGS9SW8np4Qxg9KjB99QkSxfPDhmjTzHk8GOT04/edit?usp=sharing by clicking on the "Tree Trainers" tab. 6B288-6B2EB (SM), 6B888-6B8EB (USUM): Pokemon #1 Again these are 50 little-endian byte pairs, where this time the second byte is necessary. The first byte pair identifies a Pokemon that belongs to the trainer in your first slot, the second pair goes with the second slot, and so on. Valid values for these pairs range from 0x0000 to 0x03E3. In USUM, the pool is actually filled up to 0x03E6, but these three extra sets are only used in a Battle Agency tutorial battle shortly into the postgame, and no actual trainer is legally capable of having them (plus they suck anyway). Due to the way multi battles work, this first Pokemon will always be the one they send out in a lead position. By using the above link from the trainers, but this time clicking on the Tree Pokemon tab, you can see the mapping for those. 6B2EC-6B34F (SM), 6B8EC-6B94F (USUM): Pokemon #2 As above, but these pairs identify the Pokemon that each partner has in a backup position. 6B354-6B385 (SM), 6B954-6B985 (USUM): Ability for Pokemon #1 The way Battle Tree team generation works, each Pokemon rolls for one of its three ability slots completely at random at the start of the battle (without regard to legality, so they can end up with HA Oranguru, Passimian, or Heatran). These values are saved on scouted trainers, so that every time you pair up with the same one, you'll know they have the same abilities as they did during your original battle (in fact, some of those abilities may have guided you to scout them in the first place). Legal values are 00, 01, and 02, which represent what PKHeX calls the 1, 2, and H slots respectively. Note that this region is only 50 bytes rather than 100, so each successive byte belongs to a separate Pokemon instead of being grouped into pairs. Also note the 4-byte gap between the end of the "Species #2" region and the start of "Ability for #1" region. When you reach the end of your partner list, the remaining values in this region are filled out with 00, rather than FF. 6B386-6B3B7 (SM), 6B986-6B9B7 (USUM): Ability for Pokemon #2 Same as above, for the second Pokemon. There is no gap between the Ability #1 and Ability #2 regions, apart from whatever padding of 00s may result from having empty partner slots. Gender, like abilities, is determined at random during team generation at the start of every battle instead of being codified in the pool of Tree sets, but I'm not seeing any place that could be saved in the file. It does seem to be held constant across multiple sessions with the same partner, at least. [EDIT] just confirmed: Your partner's Pokemon will always be male, unless it's a species for which that's not possible. Even if they were female when you scouted their team, and you immediately quit out to play multis with them right away, the game doesn't remember that facet.
Festival Plaza Ideal Setup? USUM
SadisticMystic replied to TeamRocketCollector's topic in Generation 7
The trainer model shown in charge of a facility makes no functional difference. Dye shops actually offer three distinct shades of a color: "pastel", "dark", and "bright". You can use berries to dye the pastel or dark shades of any color, no matter what color the dye shop specializes in, but you can never use berries to dye a "bright" color: you can only buy that dye with festival coins, and only from a 5-star dye shop of the specific color you want. Switcheroo is another unique facility: your battle agency board will automatically refresh at midnight every day, or after you successfully complete a set of 3 battles there, but in case you get stuck with a crummy selection, Switcheroo also allows you to buy additional rerolls without waiting, a number of times per day equal to its star level (it maxes out at 3 stars). Battle Agency is by far the fastest way to earn FC, so being able to keep up the pace with that can only be good. General Store 5 allows you to buy a PP Up (labeled "Unusual Product") once per day for 200 FC; Pharmacy 3 lets you buy "Unusual Medicines A and B" (Max Revive and Ether respectively), less useful than PP Up but still not sold in marts. You can at least buy all those at the beaches using BP instead of FC, though. Rare Kitchen 5 sells several meals once per day subject to varying level caps, which are equivalent to Rare Candies except that they don't trigger new moves or evolution. They also sell two high-end meals per day that award 7 and 9 levels at once. Back in original SM (before the existence of Chansey chains), these kitchens were touted as an easy way to make the grind up toward 100--with a single Rare Kitchen, you could level one Pokemon up from 66 to 98 over the course of three days without having to take part in any battles; with two of them you could jump that gap in a single day. Rare Candies themselves are another item that you could theoretically buy with BP, but the FC equivalent is a lot more efficient. Lottery shops (along with haunted houses) are seeded in a particular way, such that the prize from playing them the first time is always the same depending on the actual facility type. Notoriously, the first play on a Treasure Hunt 2 will always be a Bottle Cap, and likewise for higher level Treasure Hunts except that it's more expensive to buy them, so you might as well stick to 2: it's a popular facility to put in your first slot, so find someone who has it, register them as a VIP, and go talk to them whenever you want to "buy" another bottle cap. The way buying facilities works, there's a cost penalty for buying another copy of a facility that you already have, so trying to buy a TH2 when you already have a TH2 (even if you're just going to overwrite it in the same slot to refresh the first-time flag, and never end up possessing two copies of it at once) costs 200 FC. Instead, you can make a two-step process of overwriting the TH2 with any 1-star facility from a random passerby (or getting a level up and using one of Sophocles's free facilities to replace it), then request the TH2 again now that you no longer have one, and the total cost will be either 150 or 100--a net discount. A lot of people reserve one slot in their plaza for storing a Treasure Hunt 2, and clobbering/rebuilding it as necessary to get back to the first-time prize. Other than that, Gold Rush 2 or higher will give a Big Nugget on the first play, which isn't normally very useful, but there was at least one niche for them in the past: one of the global missions in original SM asked you to win at lottery shops, but it only counted first-prize wins, nothing less. Since Gold Rush's Big Nugget is the #1 prize there, as opposed to Bottle Cap which is only prize #2 at Treasure Hunt, Gold Rush was the only way to guarantee a win that counted toward the total to get yourself into that mission. Big Dreams is the only type of lottery shop that does not offer either of its top two prizes (Rare Candy or Master Ball) as a first-time prize at any level, but levels 1 and 2 do offer Max Elixir, notable because there's no other reliable, repeatable source of those items in the entire game. Level 4 offers PP Up, and 5 offers PP Max, but it costs so much FC to buy those levels that repeatedly demolishing and rebuilding the facility for less is far less efficient than using General Store. Still, if you want to keep the slim chance open for winning an extra Master Ball, you don't really have any other option.
Return/Frustration in Battle Agency
SadisticMystic replied to JISN[064]'s topic in Generation 7
Battle Agency draws from the same pool of Pokemon as Battle Tree.
Based on the dump of some battle videos, I can see that the Pokemon you selected for yourself (out of the three choices on the board) will have max happiness, and thus full-power Return. The Pokemon you select for your teammates, and that the opponents use, will have species-default happiness values: for all the Pokemon that actually use Return, this is 70 (28 power) except for Ambipom, who has 100 (40 power). There are no Pokemon in the pool that can know Frustration, so you don't have to worry about that.
Under Level Collection
SadisticMystic replied to jojo12100's topic in PKM
Bisharp is available at L33 as a direct wild encounter (its SOS calls are nothing but Pawniard, so it's not available with its HA at such a low level), and Pidgeot is available via Island Scan at L29 (again, obviously not HA-eligible).
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Learning the language of leadership, with Chris Westfall
Today we are speaking with Chris Westfall, a sought-after business consultant, communication coach, keynote speaker, and the author, co-author, or publisher of eight books. Advising hundreds of thousands of leaders from high-growth entrepreneurial enterprises, Shark Tank startups, and Fortune 100 companies, he has helped create multi-million-dollar revenue streams for businesses on four continents. He is the U.S. National Elevator Pitch Champion and the author of the new book Leadership Language: Using Authentic Communication to Drive Results (Wiley, 2018). To learn more, visit westfallonline.com.
How Chris was recognized as the U.S. National “Elevator Pitch” champion, and how that has translated to his work
Chris explains the building blocks and critical components of an elevator pitch, and how to effectively share your story
How to use “you language” to build universal connections and start powerful conversations
Why “entrepreneur-itis” is a common ailment that keeps you in the engine room of your business rather than steering it from the deck
Why Chris felt driven to write his book “Leadership Language: Using Authentic Communication to Drive Results”
Why Chris defines a client as anyone upon whom your success depends, whether it be your board of directors, your investors, or your spouse
Why “the empty chair” is a seat at the discussion table reserved for your client’s clients
Why anticipation is a super-power, and why “I’ve thought this through” are four incredible words to use throughout your life
How it’s critical to live in the moment, move beyond past experiences to look toward the future
How Chris’s experience with an unexpected mentor impacted his life and changed his outlook on life
Website: www.westfallonline.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/westfallonline
Instagram: www.instagram.com/westfallonline
Twitter: @westfallonline
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/westfallonline
Leadership Language by Chris Westfall: https://amzn.to/2D1irz0
Eating for business success, with Thom King
Deploying your parachute and starting over, with Amber McDonald
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Paper $41.00 ISBN: 9780226769363 Published March 2000
Cloth $121.00 ISBN: 9780226769356 Published March 2000
Convents and the Body Politic in Late Renaissance Venice
Jutta Gisela Sperling
434 pages | 25 halftones, 14 tables | 6 x 9 | © 1999
Women in Culture and Society
In late sixteenth-century Venice, nearly 60 percent of all patrician women joined convents, and only a minority of these women did so voluntarily. In trying to explain why unprecedented numbers of patrician women did not marry, historians have claimed that dowries became too expensive. However, Jutta Gisela Sperling debunks this myth and argues that the rise of forced vocations happened within the context of aristocratic culture and society.
Sperling explains how women were not allowed to marry beneath their social status while men could, especially if their brides were wealthy. Faced with a shortage of suitable partners, patrician women were forced to offer themselves as "a gift not only to God, but to their fatherland," as Patriarch Giovanni Tiepolo told the Senate of Venice in 1619. Noting the declining birth rate among patrician women, Sperling explores the paradox of a marriage system that preserved the nobility at the price of its physical extinction. And on a more individual level, she tells the fascinating stories of these women. Some became scholars or advocates of women’s rights, some took lovers, and others escaped only to survive as servants, prostitutes, or thieves.
Foreword by Catharine R. Stimpson
1. Potlatch alla Veneziana: Coerced Monachizations in the Context of Patrician Intermarriage and Conspicuous Consumption
2. Marvelous Venice: A Virgin City and Its Noble Body Politic
3. The Theology and Politics of Clausura
4. The Economic Dimensions of the Convent-Reform Program
5. Convents and the Question of State Sovereignty
Society for Italian Historical Studies: SIHS/Helen and Howard R. Marraro Prizes in Italian Hist
Society for the Study of Early Modern Women: Society for the Study of Early Modern Women
View Recent Awards page for more award winning books.
History: European History
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— Nov 9th, 1994
Winds cause power
outages in
P. Sound area
Winds cause power outages in P. Sound area
SEATTLE (AP) Strong winds caused sporadic power outages Tuesday night in the Puget Sound area.
In British Columbia, winds gusting to 55 miles per hour battered Vancouver Island, knocking out power to about 40,000 homes.
Seattle City Light reported about 700 customers without power Tuesday evening.
Puget Power received "hundreds of calls" about power outages from Bellevue, Redmond, Renton and the outlying King County communities of Maple Valley, Enumclaw, Snoqualmie and Woodinville, spokeswoman Melanie Granfors said. She did not have a precise estimate of the number of customers affected.
Winds of 30-35 miles per hour were reported in the Puget Sound area with stronger winds north of Everett.
In addition to the Vancouver Island outages in British Columbia, an additional 12,000 homes in the Vancouver area were without power, B.C. Hydro spokesman Peter McMullan said.
The winds also forced the cancellation of at least two B.C. Ferry sailings between Swartz Bay outside Victoria and Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver.
COMMUNITY ROUNDUP: Winds blamed for outages
The first high winds of the season knocked out power service to about 19,000 Kitsap County residents early Tuesday morning. By mid-afternoon, power had been restored to all but about 470, said Don McDaniel, manager of corporate relations for Puget Sound Energy. McDaniel said he ... [Read More...]
High winds knock out power
About 1,500 electrical customers were affected Thursday night when high winds caused trees to brush wires and knock out substation fuses, according to Don McDaniel of Puget Sound Energy. Spot outages were reported in the North Kitsap and Silverdale areas, he said. — 12/31/1969 [Read More...]
Dozens lose power to gusts
High winds and downed tree limbs meant power outages for dozens of Kitsap homes Saturday. The outages affected less than 100 people at the peak, said Don McDaniel, manager of government and corporate relations for Puget Sound Energy. As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, some ... [Read More...]
WEATHER: Power struggle: Most outages hit Bainbridge Island
As dark fell Tuesday, more than 5,000 Kitsap County residents were still without power following the Pacific windstorm which hit during the early morning hours. At the height of Tuesday morning's storm, the second within five days, more than 30,000 residents in the North Mason, ... [Read More...]
WEATHER: Winds cut down power lines
Increasing high winds on Saturday afternoon began to put more trees down on power lines, causing temporary outages to about 3,000 customers in Bremerton, Manchester, Port Orchard and other parts of South Kitsap. The outages included Bremerton National Airport, which was without power for ... [Read More...]
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Lawmakers urge rejection of casino
— May 23rd, 1996
OLYMPIA (AP) A panel of lawmakers worried about the spread of gambling recommended Wednesday that the state reject the Quinault Indian Nation's request to build a casino on property located 12 miles from their reservation.
If the proposal is approved by the state and federal governments, opponents said it would set a bad precedent and could lead other tribes to push for off-reservation casinos.
The 6-2 vote during a joint meeting of the House and Senate labor committees is not binding, since the Legislature has no legal authority over Indian gaming compacts. But the message to the Washington State Gambling Commission and Gov. Mike Lowry, who must decide whether to approve the proposal, was clear.
"The thought of putting a casino off reservation is very troubling to the people of Washington, and to me personally," said Sen. Dwight Pelz, a Seattle Democrat who sponsored a bill earlier this year that would have prevented off-reservation casinos if it had passed.
"My vote today is a vote of concern," added Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Colville.
The state already has negotiated compacts with 18 other tribes under the 1988 federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. All of those tribes will operate casinos on their reservations.
But the tentative agreement reached with the Quinaults would allow the coastal tribe to build a casino south of their reservation, near the Grays Harbor County resort town of Ocean Shores.
Frank Miller, the Gambling Commission's director and chief negotiator, said the Quinault proposal falls within the limits of the federal law, which allows tribes to operate casinos on their reservations or on land held in trust before 1988.
The Quinaults want to build their casino on trust land they've held for a century.
"This is really a kick in the teeth to a tribe that has come to us in good faith and negotiated in good faith," said Sen. Margarita Prentice, a Seattle Democrat and member of the Gambling Commission.
Miller noted that two other Washington tribes, the Colvilles and the Spokanes, opened off-reservation casinos without approval from the state, which so far has been powerless to do anything about their actions because federal laws don't allow state enforcement. He said the state is better off approving the Quinault compact, which gives the state significant influence in the way the casino would be run.
In addition, Miller said the Quinault trust land actually is closer to law enforcement and emergency services than the reservation. And representatives of the tribe and Ocean Shores testified that the casino would be a boon to a resort area that has trouble attracting visitors in the off season.
But that didn't sway some lawmakers.
Rep. Jim Horn, R-Mercer Island, summed it up for opponents when he cited concerns that the agreement would provide "a stepping stone" for other tribes, leading to more and more casinos.
The Gambling Commission could vote on the Quinault proposal as early as June 1, the day the commission has scheduled a public hearing in Ocean Shores. If approved, the proposal would go to Lowry, who's not showing his hand yet.
Kent Caputo, the governor's legal counsel, said both sides make valid arguments. "We have to pay attention to what these legislators are saying," he said.
If accepted by the governor, the proposal would have to receive final approval from the U.S. Interior Department.
Like the other compacts, games under the Quinault agreement would include blackjack, roulette, craps and off-track betting, but no slot machines or video poker.
TRIBAL CASINOS: State will let courts rule on slot machines
Since slot machines are, both state and tribal officials hope a friendly federal lawsuit will settle the issue. By John White Associated Press Writer OLYMPIA (AP) It now appears that the federal courts will have the final say over whether Indian tribes can ... [Read More...]
CASINOS: Proposal would let tribes offer new electronic game
* The state Gambling Commission is scheduled to vote on the deal today. The Washington Gambling Commission is expected to approve a proposal backed by Gov. Gary Locke to allow two North Kitsap Indian tribes and 10 others throughout the state to offer a new ... [Read More...]
GAMBLING: Tribes' casino plans clear state hurdle
Two Kitsap County Indian tribes say they will go ahead with plans to build gambling casinos on or near their reservations. By Jack Swanson Sun Staff POUSLBO After nearly two years of negotiation, compacts between the state and two Kitsap County Indian tribes ... [Read More...]
MORNING REPORT: Commission says yes to state's
first off-reservation casino OCEAN SHORES Despite qualms from some local residents, the state Gambling Commission has given its approval for Washington's first off-reservation Indian casino. After four hours of public testimony Saturday, commissioners voted 5-1 to recommend that Gov. Mike Lowry approve a ... [Read More...]
Yakamas, state discuss proposed casino compact
YAKIMA (AP) The Yakama Indian Nation is focusing on the Toppenish area as it searches for a site for a casino to become a part of the state's $500-million-per-year Indian gambling industry. "The choices have been narrowed quite extensively since the floods" last ... [Read More...]
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Biofuels Digest: What about that, er, cellulosic feedstock? Pacific Ag CEO Bill Levy on the where, when and how
In the land of cellulosic biofuels — or, to put it more broadly, the transformation of transportation fuels to a lower-carbon mix — there are the processing technologies and then there is the underlying raw material. We’ve been waiting so long for these immensely complex technologies to come along, after gigantic effort by real titans [...]
By | 2017-04-04T02:35:00+00:00 November 18th, 2014|Published Articles|Comments Off on Biofuels Digest: What about that, er, cellulosic feedstock? Pacific Ag CEO Bill Levy on the where, when and how
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Arnold W. Reitze
University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law
Professor of Law retired
3324 S Fallon Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84109-3121
The Volkswagen Air Pollution Emissions Litigation
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 46, 2016, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 174
Number of pages: 9 Posted: 07 Jul 2016 Last Revised: 07 Sep 2016
The Legislative History of U.S. Air Pollution Control
Houston Law Review, Vol. 36, p. 679, 1999
clean air act, air pollution, legislative history, clean air act legislation, legal history
Should the Clean Air Act Be Used to Turn Petroleum Addicts into Alcoholics?
Environmental Forum, p. 50, July/August 2007, GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 293, GWU Law School Public Law Research Paper No. 293
Number of pages: 12 Posted: 18 Jul 2007
alternative energy, ethanol, national energy policy, carbon emissions, Renewable Fuel Standard, greenhouse gas emissions, Clean Air Act, Mobile Source Program, reformulated gasoline (RFG), MTBE
Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Mobile Sources: Massachusetts v. EPA
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 37, p. 10535, 2007, GWU Law School Public Law Research Paper No. 301, GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 301
Number of pages: 6 Posted: 17 Jul 2007
climate change, global warming, Clean Air Act, greenhouse gas emissions, mobile sources, Environmental Protection Agency
The Control of Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases Using International Law
air pollution, climate change, greenhoue gases, stratospheric ozone, Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol, black carbon, transboundry pollution
Biofuels – Snake Oil for the Twenty-First Century
Oregon Law Review, Vol. 87, p. 1183, 2009
Number of pages: 76 Posted: 20 Feb 2010
biofuels, ethanol, biodiesel, alternative fuels
Utah's Fine Particulate Air Pollution Problem
Utah Law Review, No. 2, 2014, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 98
Number of pages: 24 Posted: 12 Dec 2014 Last Revised: 27 Feb 2015
air pollution, Clean Air Act, nonattainment, particulate matter, PM2.5, Utah, Wasatch Front
Federal Control of Carbon Dioxide Emissions: What are the Options?
Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, Vol. 36, No. 1, 2009
climate change, clean air act, Massachusetts v. EPA, carbon dioxide, CO2 emissions, greenhouse gases
Federal Regulation of Coal-Fired Electric Power Plants to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
air pollution, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gas, electric power, electricity, EPA, coal, power plants
Electric Power in a Carbon Constrained World
Number of pages: 114 Posted: 31 May 2010
climate change, global warming, air pollution, energy, carbon dioxide, electric power, nuclear power, renewable energy, cap-and-trade
Mobile Source Air Pollution Control
Environmental Lawyer, Vol. 6, p. 309, 1999
Number of pages: 132 Posted: 04 Mar 2010
Clean Air Act, air pollution, motor vehicle emissions, mobile source air pollution control
The Intersection of Climate Change and Clean Air Act Stationary Source Programs
Arizona State Law Journal, Vol. 43, No. 901, 2011
air pollution, Clean Air Act, climate change, electric power, coal, carbon, carbon dioxide
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone
University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 141
air pollution, air, ozone, national ambient air quality standards, NAAQS, EPA
EPA's Fine Particulate Air Pollution Control Program
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 44, p. 10996, 2014, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 95
air pollution, particulate matter, PM2.5, EPA, fine particulates, national ambient air quality standards, NAAQS
Carbon Capture and Storage (Sequestration)
43 Environmental Law Reporter 10414 (2013), University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 58
Number of pages: 5 Posted: 21 Feb 2014 Last Revised: 15 Mar 2014
electic power, carbon capture, sequestration, carbon dioxide, air pollution, climate change
Control of Geological Carbon Sequestration in the Western United States
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 41, No. 5, p. 10455, 2011
Marie Bradshaw Durrant and Arnold W. Reitze
affiliation not provided to SSRN and University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law
coal, carbon dioxide, electric utilities, carbon sequestration, sequestration, geological sequestration, climate change
EPA's Proposed New Souce Performance Standards to Control Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Electric Utility-Generating Units
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 42, No. 10606, 2012
Number of pages: 8 Posted: 08 Sep 2012
new source performance standards, air pollution, electricity, electric power generation, coal, greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide
State and Regional Control of Geological Carbon Sequestration
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 41, p. 10348, 2011
Number of pages: 26 Posted: 26 May 2011
Arnold W. Reitze and Marie Bradshaw Durrant
University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law and affiliation not provided to SSRN
geological carbon sequestration, carbon sequestration, climate change, carbon storage,carbon dioxide, electric utilities, coal
Carbon Capture and Storage Program's NEPA Compliance
Environmental Law Review, Vol. 42, No. 9, p. 10853, 2012
NEPA, carbon capture and storage, carbon sequestration, Department of Energy, NETL, coal, electric power
The Role of NEPA in Fossil Fuel Resource Development and Use in the Western United States
Environmental Affairs, Vol. 39:1, 2012
Number of pages: 107 Posted: 04 Oct 2012
NEPA, National Environmental Policy Act, climate change, electric power, BLM, Department of Energy, DOE, energy, fossil fuel, electricity, Department of the Interior
Biofuel and Advanced Biofuel
UCLA Journal of Environmental Law & Policy, Vol. 33, No. 2, 2015
Number of pages: 58 Posted: 06 Dec 2015
biofuel, advanced biofuel, cellulosid ethanol, ethanol, biodiesel, alcohol, clean air act
Federal Control of Carbon Capture and Storage
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 41, September 2011
carbon capture and storage,carbon sequestration,air pollution, coal, greehouse gases, climate change, electric power
Air Pollution Emissions During Startups, Shutdowns, and Malfunctions
Utah Law Review Online, Vol. 5, 2015, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 156
Number of pages: 12 Posted: 07 Mar 2016 Last Revised: 08 Mar 2016
air, air pollution, startup, shutdown, malfunction
Federal Control of Air Emissions from New Heavy-Duty Road Vehicles
Environmental Law Reporter, Vol. 44, No. 1026, 2014, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 72
vehicles, trucks, heavy-duty vehicles, air pollution, greenhouse gases, EPA, mobile source emissions, fuel economy emissions
The CAA Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program: Is it Cost Effective?
47 ELR 10877, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 226
Clean Air Act, vehicle inspection and maintenance, I/M Program
The Control of Air Pollution on Indian Reservations
46 Environmental Law (2017 Forthcoming), University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 203
The Control of Methane and VOC Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations in the Western United States
Idaho Law Review, Vol. 54, No. 213, 2018, University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 255
Number of pages: 52 Posted: 07 Apr 2018 Last Revised: 27 Apr 2018
Evaluation of Circuit Judge Kavanaugh's Opinions Concerning the CAA
Number of pages: 10 Posted: 06 Aug 2018 Last Revised: 14 Aug 2018
Clean air Act, U.S. Supreme Court, Court Opinions, Judge Brett Kavenaugh
Controlling Greenhouse Gases from Highway Vehicles
Number of pages: 27 Posted: 13 Jul 2018 Last Revised: 17 Jul 2018
air pollution,greenhouse gases, vehicle emissions, carbon dioxide.
Dealing With Climate Change Under the National Environmental Policy Act
Number of pages: 46 Posted: 20 Jun 2019 Last Revised: 28 Jun 2019
New Source Review: Should it Survive?
Number of pages: 6 Posted: 16 Oct 2012
air pollution, new source review, CAA, EPA, environmental protection agency, electric utilities
Visibility Protection Under the Clean Air Act
Number of pages: 73 Posted: 25 Jul 2019 Last Revised: 06 Nov 2019
Downloads 8 (613,522)
air pollution, clean air act, visibility, haze, EPA
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Hyde, Willa D.
Willa D. Hyde, 88, passed away September 26, 2019.
Willa Deane Stott was born September 29, 1930 on a farm in Memphis, MO to Lena and Simeon Stott. She married Jay Hyde on April 21, 1956. They lived a military life on bases in France, Ohio and Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base near Belton, MO.
Willa enjoyed an active life working for the Internal Revenue Service. Bowling, playing cards, the Kansas City Chiefs, and membership in Chapter 804 of the Air Force Sergeants Association consumed a lot of her free time. Willa served as International President of the AFSA Auxiliary and several offices of AFSA 804.
Volunteering was a big part of her life. Willa registered voters, taught flag etiquette to school kids, and manned the clothes closet at the VA hospital. As the director and producer of the annual AFSA floor shows, she volunteered hours raising money for the Air Force widows' home and the local VA hospital. Willa kept busy in retirement as an Avon lady for 15 years.
Willa is survived by her daughters Janie Hodges (Larry), Melissa Semke, Grandchildren Phil Hodges (Jessica), Pam Shelton (Joshua), Jill Finch (Jesse), David McCalman (Chrystal), Great Grandchildren Parker and Isaac Shelton, and Stella and Connor Finch.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kansas City Veterans' Hospital, or Chapter 804 of the Air Force Sergeants Association.
Please wear something pink or green of the day of Willa's memorial. And on days you might wear pink, think of Willa Hyde.
Visitation will be 9-11AM, Saturday, October 12 at Park Lawn, 8251 Hillcrest Rd.
Hyde, Willa D.'s Guestbook
Our sincere condolences to the families of Willa. She was a wonderful lady and a huge asset to the Air Force Sergeants Association, Chapter 804 and the former Auxiliary. Jay now has his bride with him again. May they both Rest In Peace.
Patti & Charlie Dalzell
Such a great lady, a tremendous Auxiliary International President for the Air Force Sergeants Association in the early 1980s, a true patriot, and along with her late husband, Jay, a valued and trusted friend. God rest them both. They will be sorely missed.
John Hodson
Sign Hyde, Willa D.'s Guestbook
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Report From the Women’s Liberation Front Action at the Midwives Alliance of North America Conference
November 17, 2015 by Miep 16 Comments
WoLF Banner Proudly Displayed at RadFem Suite
Last year the board of directors of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) chose to amend its core competencies for midwives document to prioritize gender identity over biological sex, effectively eliminating the words “woman” and “mother” and replacing these with “pregnant individual” and “birthing parent.” In response to this change, WoLF board members Michelle Peixinho Smith and Mary Lou Singleton drafted an open letter to MANA expressing concerns about female erasure from the language of birth as well as the medical, ethical, and cultural implications of choosing to view human reproduction through the lens of gender theory rather than biology. You can read the open letter here:
http://womancenteredmidwifery.org/take-action/
Michelle and Mary Lou are both midwives and both have served on the MANA board at different times over the past 20 years. Many prominent women in the midwifery movement signed the open letter. Signers were met with the now-usual backlash received by women who dare to question gender. Pro-gender midwives slandered one of the founding mothers of the modern home birth movement, Ina May Gaskin and even set up a petition to ban her from speaking at future conferences.
(https://www.change.org/p/birth-and-beyond-conference-remove-ina-may-gaskin-as-a-speaker).
Mary Lou was the target of a libelous article in the Huffington Post.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trevor-macdonald/leading-midwifes-deleted-_b_8150284.html).
MANA itself refused to respond to the concerns addressed in the letter, choosing to ignore the letter and its signers. A pro-gender group calling itself Birth for Every Body did write a queer theory based response to the open letter, and MANA later adopted this letter as its official stance on the issue.
http://www.birthforeverybody.org/response-to-open-letter
WoLF presence at MANA conference
Even before they became aware of the changes in the MANA core competencies document, Michelle and Mary Lou had planned to represent the Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) at the annual MANA conference which was being held in their home state of New Mexico. Reproductive sovereignty is a core tenet of WoLF and WoLF supports autonomous midwifery and birth choices for all women. WoLF also works to combat the patriarchal violence endemic in our culture’s brutal birth practices. The MANA conference seemed like a perfect place to spread the word about radical feminism and recruit for WoLF. Mary Lou sent MANA a check for $500 for the exhibitor fee along with the exhibit hall application. One month later, she received an email from MANA Vice President Sarita Bennett expressing concerns about whether it would be appropriate for WoLF to have a table at the MANA conference. Over the course of many frustrating phone calls and emails, Sarita Bennett explained that MANA disagreed with radical feminist analysis, denied that a global system of male supremacy exists, and stated that women who believe that a system of male supremacy oppresses female people around the world are “dysfunctional” and have a “victim mindset.” Sarita Bennett even told Mary Lou that from her perspective of a mother with sons, she believes that patriarchy oppresses males more than females. At the end of these heartbreaking discussions, MANA sent an official letter stating that WoLF could not have a table at the conference exhibit hall because the presence of WoLF would make people feel unsafe.
Rather than be deterred, Michelle and Mary Lou chose to follow the historical tradition of banned radical groups and hold a radical feminist shadow conference. They were joined by WoLF members from around the continent. Carol Downer, Kathy Scarbrough, Kathy Mandigo, and Laura Pérez flew in to represent WoLF at the event. The conference was a huge success and helped mobilize the formation of a New Mexico WoLF pack.
“A Midwife for Every Body” buttons
The leadership of MANA used the conference as a venue for promoting gender theory. The MANA board refused to meet with any members of WoLF to discuss the issue, choosing instead to ignore WoLF’s presence at the event. MANA made it clear that discussion of the issue was forbidden in the conference area, posting signs promoting “safe space” all over the conference site. The signs stated that people would be expected to behave respectfully toward people regardless of “race, class, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, gender expression, religion, language, and more.” This sign perfectly reflected the MANA board’s earlier statement to WoLF that sex-based oppression does not exist. Apparently, in the MANA world view female people are no longer oppressed on the basis of sex. MANA also printed hundreds and hundreds of buttons promoting the erasure of women and the codification of gender identity as the way we should view human reproduction. Like the “safe space” signs, the buttons used the language of the genderist response to the Woman Centered Midwifery open letter, and read “A Midwife for Every Body.” Anyone who has been active in midwifery politics over the past decades should be able to recognize the political coup that has happened as evidenced by these buttons. For the past 20+ years, MANA has promoted the slogans “A Midwife for Every Mother” and “Midwife Means With-Woman.” Buttons with these slogans were routinely handed out at MANA conferences but glaringly absent from the 2015 gathering. Women and mothers have been erased. Midwives now take care of bodies, and gender-neutral bodies at that. Witnessing this change has been emotionally and politically heart wrenching.
“Safe Space” flyer posted in Women’s Bathroom
WoLF members were policed by MANA at the conference. Security teams followed us around and immediately removed any fliers or information we placed in the venue about our shadow conference. Conference officials came by WoLF member Carol Downer’s Women’s Health in Women’s Hands table daily to take pictures and make sure Carol was not displaying any WoLF materials or information critical of the gender industry. On the second night of the conference, Carol’s table was raided by unknown people and much of her radical information was removed.
Michelle and Mary Lou found it easier to remain in the WoLF suite with their feminist sisters rather than face shunning and silencing by their fellow midwives at the MANA conference. Up in the radfem suite, a steady stream of interested women came to learn about radical feminism. We offered food, chocolate, articles on radical feminist topics, free notepads, stickers, and other propaganda. We also put on a full alternative conference with speakers from around the country addressing contemporary feminist issues.
Reproductive biologist Kathy Scarbrough gave the first WoLF shadow conference presentation which was attended by thirteen women. Kathy spoke on the topic “Women’s Liberation is Based on Sex, Not Gender.” In wonderfully scientific detail she taught participants the difference between sex and gender, debunking the myth of any scientific evidence supporting female brains and male brains existing separately from female and male bodies. She clearly explained human sexual dimorphism and cautioned against viewing anomalies as proof that sex is not a binary. Providing a class analysis of reproduction as labor, Kathy explained how the roots of patriarchal oppression lie in males attempting to control the means of human reproduction, i.e. female bodies. Males exploit the reproductive labor of female people all over the world. This is labor that can only be done by females and should be compensated and honored. The exploitation of reproductive labor leads to the exploitation of other forms of labor relegated to women and usually not monetarily or culturally valued: child-rearing beyond birth and breastfeeding, emotional caretaking, domestic chores, etc. When we lose the ability to discuss sex-based oppression, we lose the ability to effectively fight it.
The WoLF suite was packed to capacity for the next session of our shadow conference. Eighty-two year old WoLF member Carol Downer dynamically recounted the history of the women’s self-help movement she helped found in the late 1960s. Carol told us about the bad old days when women risked their health and lives ending unwanted pregnancies. Women of this generation were kept uninformed of their own bodies and placed their trust in male abortion providers who often provided dangerous and degrading services. Carol helped form a woman-supervised underground abortion service where women stayed with each other for the procedures and made sure no one was being raped and abused by the abortionists. While working at one of these clinics, Carol (who had given birth six times but knew very little about her own body) saw a cervix for the very first time. She had a lightbulb experience, realizing “that’s it! It’s only a few inches away and has an easy opening. We can do this ourselves, women!” She stole a plastic speculum from the clinic and proceeded to show other women her cervix and explain that early suction abortion was a simple procedure that women could safely perform on each other. Carol’s friend Lorraine Rothman, who had a science background and worked in a biology lab, invented the Del Em device using a mason jar, some aquarium tubing, a stopper with two holes in it, a 50cc syringe, and a one-way valve. Carol, Lorraine and their feminist consciousness raising group practiced cervical self exam, uterine size checks, and menstrual extraction on one another, safely performing thousands of procedures.
Carol Downer Joyfully Presenting
Carol and Lorraine founded the Feminist Women’s Health Center network and also packed up their speculums and Del Em equipment and went on tour of the United States spreading the good news about women’s health in women’s hands in various cities around the country. Carol’s controversial work eventually attracted the attention of patriarchal authority figures who tried repeatedly to stop her. In 1972, an infiltrator attended a self help group and reported back to law enforcement on Carol’s activities. Carol was arrested for practicing medicine without a license because she helped another woman in the group insert yogurt into her vagina to treat a yeast infection. This incident inspired Carol to go to law school and she became an attorney focusing on reproductive rights. She continues to travel around the country teaching cervical self-exam and the history of the self-help movement today and remains a powerful voice in re-radicalizing the fight for abortion rights.
http://www.womenshealthinwomenshands.org/OurPeriods.html
The next event on the schedule for the WoLF shadow conference was a WoLF presence at MANA’s presentation of gender-promoter Sam Killerman, the man who says he invented the meme of the GenderBread Person (evidence exists that Killerman plagiarized this meme from other genderists). Six WoLF members and supporters attended Killerman’s question and answer session on gender. Audio of their contribution can be heard here:
http://markangelocummings.blogspot.com/2015/10/an-evening-with-sam-killerman.html
MANA members attempted to silence Maritza/Mark Cummings, a gender critical transman. EVEN though Maritza/Mark is EXACTLY the kind of person who might become pregnant while not “identifying” as a woman, she was told that because she chose to live as a man she had no right to contribute to the conversation. The hypocrisy of changing the language of birth in deference to female bodied people who don’t identify as women and shutting down Mark was almost enough to drive a rational radical feminist mad!! WoLF member Shoshana Handel summed up the Sam Killerman event beautifully, telling us, “Don’t eat the genderbread. It made me really sick.”
The next morning Transition Radio hosts Mark and Lynna Cummings gave a powerful talk called “Confronting the Gender Industrial Complex.” The talk can be accessed here:
Mark & Lynna Bringing Smiles to the Pack
Mark (Maritza) & Lynna (Paul) spoke from the heart
and shared personal stories and reflections on the root causes of adult transgendering, updated information on the eugenics aspect of the trans industry, overviews of the economic factors driving the trans trend, and the reasons why medical transgendering of children is child abuse. Two pro-gender midwives wearing Birth for Every Body buttons attended the talk and seemed genuinely interested in the perspective that body hatred and misogyny are being marketed to children and adults by powerful interests that are making billions of dollars by medicalizing gender.
Mary Lou Singleton gave the next scheduled talk, “Women’s Bodies for Sale: the growing market in eggs, wombs and breastmilk.” Mary Lou started her discussion of the growing trade in women’s eggs, milk and wombs with a personal story. After taking the standardized test to enter graduate school Mary Lou began receiving solicitations to pay her for donating some eggs. She said she was quite poor and considered this.
Women gather to learn more about Radical Feminism.
To collect eggs from a healthy young woman, the egg-donor must be “super-ovulated,” that is, shot up with drugs that will cause 10 – 20 eggs to develop and ripen during her cycle rather than the usual one mature egg. Super-ovulation is painful and carries the known risks of ovarian cancer and premature ovarian failure. These risks are not mentioned by the companies trying to buy eggs when they solicit young women to consider egg donation. Egg donation is not at all easy and not at all comparable to sperm donation.
Surrogacy, or the renting out of one’s womb to gestate a child, is a booming market. In 2014 Time magazine named pregnancy as one of the 10 best jobs to outsource!! The idea is to pay a poor woman from another country to bear your child conceived via In Vitro Fertilization and laproscopic impregnation. Ever since a surrogate refused to give up a baby she had conceived and gestated, care has been taken to make sure that the surrogate has no genetic claim on the child. Eggs from women separate from the surrogate are used in the IVF procedures so the surrogate is seen as gestating a baby not “her own.” Surrogates are often required to live away from their families in an environment where their diet and everything else can be controlled.
There is also a market for breast milk. In 2013 Bloomberg ran an article with the title “Bodies Double as Cash Machines With U.S. Income Lagging” where this is mentioned. Mary Lou said the Clinton Foundation is setting up “milking stations” all over the 3rd world. They sell the idea that women with more milk than their baby requires can help another woman who doesn’t make enough milk but they actually take this donated milk and sell it (after pasteurizing it!). Some men get off sexually by drinking breast milk so there is a sexual fetish market for it, too. And there are reports of “johns” wanting to nurse on prostitutes’ breasts.
Cervical Self-Exam!
So, the extraction of resources from female bodies goes from eggs, to uteruses, to breast milk. Prostitution can be viewed as the rental of a vagina and other female body parts. Do you feel like a commodity yet? Ugh!!
For our evening presentation, Laura Pérez and Carol Downer led a cervical self-exam workshop which was attended by thirteen women and girls. Participants were given their own new speculums for personal use and instructed on the basics of self-exam. Self-exam groups destroy patriarchal taboos that separate us from other women, empower women to take control of their own health, and help women know more about the huge range of normal in terms of female anatomy. Carol had applied to offer the self-exam presentation at the MANA general conference but was denied a spot on the program because feminist self-exam groups go against the current trend to professionalize midwifery.
Also that evening, MANA honored WoLF supporter and signer of the Woman Centered Midwifery open letter Barbara Pepper as the recipient of the Sage Femme award. The Sage Femme award is given annually to an elder midwife who has dedicated the majority of her life to serving women and mothers (now referred to by MANA as “pregnant individuals” and “birthing parents”). Barbara invited two WoLF members to accompany her onstage wearing their WoLF t-shirts when she received her award. She gave a powerful speech about the importance of taking a stand for the truth and nodded in the direction of the WoLF members when she said this. MANA had been live tweeting the awards ceremony and chose to omit all mention of Barbara in their coverage. Pictures of Barbara receiving her award have been disappeared from the MANA website and MANA social media sites, presumably because they featured images of the WoLF logo.
The last morning of the conference, WoLF hosted an informal discussion about the forced professionalization of midwifery and other traditional female reproductive services. MANA was founded as a grass-roots organization representing all women who called themselves midwives. In the past few years, MANA has become increasingly corporatized and now requires midwives to be certified by a state or federal regulatory body in order to be voting members. This is a huge change and runs counter to the entire history of the organization. Similar trends are being seen as birth and breastfeeding support become recognized by the capitalist health care system as professions, rather than services women have always provided for each other. Bills criminalizing the sharing of breast milk are also being introduced in state legislatures in response to breastmilk becoming a “for-profit commodity”. How do we resist the forced professionalization of women’s culture while simultaneously working for economic sustenance and freedom for women called to serve other women? A lively discussion without firm conclusion ensued.
While the WoLF presence at MANA was small, we believe what we did was powerful on multiple levels. We gathered in the face of suppression, refused to be silent, and helped women see the connections between gender, corporatization, capitalism, and the commodification of female bodies. We experienced what feminist Fran Luck has termed “the joy of resistance.” A strong new local WoLF pack was formed with this bonding experience as its foundation.
The Newly Formed New Mexico WoLF Pack’s Solidarity Howl!
Looking forward, we don’t know if we will be able to turn this frightening tide. Will children in the 2020s be pushed even more strongly into conforming with gender, asked at young ages if they want to be the Barbie or the Army man kind of person? Will more and more women be forced to decide between the “empowering choices” of selling their eggs, being raped for money in brothels, or risking their health and lives as surrogates? This is already happening at a terrifying rate in some poor countries. Will MANA 2025 celebrate the progress of midwives removing babies from artificial wombs and handing them to their male-to-trans “mothers”? Or will people wake up from this nightmare and remember that biology (i.e. life itself) is sacred, that the class of people called women deserve honor, respect, and (yes) compensation for the reproductive labor only they can provide, and that beyond basic reproductive functions and anatomy, female and male people should be Free to Be You and Me?
Multi-Generational Radical Feminists!
Radical Conference Brochure
These articles represent some, but not all, of the materials that were available at the WoLF table.
Are we women or are we incubators? An interview with MaryLou Singleton
By Susan Cox
http://www.feministcurrent.com/2015/10/13/are-we-women-or-are-we-incubators-an-interview-with-marylou-singleton/
Eggs, milk and sex: What else must women sell?
By Alexandra Pelletier
http://www.feministcurrent.com/2015/06/03/eggs-milk-and-sex-what-else-must-women-sell/
Gender, Patriarchy, and All That Jazz
By Mary Lou Singleton
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/07/31/gender-patriarchy-and-all-that-jazz/
Interview with Radical Feminist Alicen Grey
By John Carico
http://www.alicengrey.com/2015/10/the-fifth-column-interviews-alicen-grey.html
Patriarchy, Black Listing, and the Language of Birth | Mickey Z.
(Interview with Mary Lou Singleton)
http://cindysheehanssoapbox.blogspot.com/2015/10/patriarchy-black-listing-and-language.html
Reproductive Sovereignty or Bust!
By Carol Downer
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/01/09/reproductive-sovereignty-or-bust
Women’s Liberation is Based on Sex not Gender
By Kathy Scarbrough
http://www.bu.edu/wgs/files/2013/10/Scarbrough-Womens-Liberation-is-Based-on-Sex-not-Gender.pdf
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: abortion, Barbara Pepper, birth, Birth For Every Body, Carol Downer, Censorship, Cervical self exam, Egg donation, gender, Genderbread, Ina May Gaskin, Kathy Mandigo, Kathy Scarbrough, Laura Pérez, MANA, Mark Angelo Cummings, Mary Lou Singleton, Medical ethics, Menstrual extraction, Michelle Peixinho Smith, Midwives, Midwives Alliance of North America, Reproductive biology, Reproductive sovereignty, Sam Killerman, Sarita Bennett, Surrogacy, transgender, Transmen, WoLF, Women Centered Midwifery, Women's Liberation Front
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Tag Archives: monster
Splice is Vincenzo Natali’s delightful and disturbing concoction of science, absurd humour, dark sex and of course a monster. An update of Frankenstein in the era of genetic manipulation, Splice takes us into the lives of Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) who are the rockstars of the scientific world. The film begins with them having spliced together pink sluglike blobs named Fred and Ginger from whom they can harvest proteins for the pharmaceutical company funding their experiments. When Clive and Elsa try to request funding for a project that involves splicing human DNA into their creatures they are quickly shut down. Not easily deterred Clive and Elsa decide to go ahead with their project in secret and in a series of escalating dares and temptations, they allow their creature, Dren, to grow into a big problem.
The film had its ups and downs and although the conclusion proved to be a little absurd it ends up going down easy as Natali navigates his audience through strange terrain, all the while maintaining a healthy balance of disturbing plots twists and dark humour. It is able to tackle issues such as genetic manipulation, cloning and definitions of humanity with varying degrees of success. The film’s more unsettling elements spoke to the Cronenberg lover within and had me squirming in delight. Natali’s inclusion of quirky jokes and absurdist situations allows viewers to settle in for an amusing, albeit dark ride. The real element that works in the film is Brody and Polley’s chemistry. Each handles their character with a dark intensity and is able to breathe life into their onscreen relationship in a very believable way. Another definite highlight in this film was the creature, Dren. Created with an almost seamless blend of makeup and CG, Dren is a fascinating and simultaneously skin crawling sight to behold. Dren’s ‘not quite human’ existence is the moral centerpoint of the whole film and serves as a stunning example of what can happen when moral judgements get blurred and situations slip beyond our control.
Although Splice is entertaining and perhaps one of the most creative films in recent years it definitely will not be everyones cup of tea. The film rests firmly in the science fiction/moral parable genre and is not a typical horror film . However, what this film lacks in scares and suspense it more than makes up for in its disturbing storyline which puts an innovative twist on a classic tale.
Filed under David Cronenberg, genetics, Horror, Monster, Science Fiction, Vincenzo Natali
Tagged as canadian, canadian cinema, david cronenberg, film reviews, genetics, horror, monster, moral value, morality, science fiction, vincenzo natali
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2014 local election candidates on pub closures
Gareth Epps contacted candidates for May 2014 local council elections regarding their positions on pub closures in the Reading and Mid-Berkshire CAMRA region:
Q. In overall terms, what sort of protection should the council's planning policies give to pubs under threat of permanent closure?
James Moore, Lib Dem (Abbey ward): They should recognise their unique ability to act as a community hub and to hold events such as live music, rather than treating them solely as a drinking establishment.
John Dearing, UKIP (Katesgrove ward): Maximum possible under existing legislation.
Rob White, Green (Park ward): I think the Council's planning policies should give pubs a high level of protection against permanent closure.
Margaret McNeill, Lib Dem (Church ward): I am in favour of Local Councils using their powers to prevent pubs being demolished or converted to other uses if it is clear that local people are prepared to support a bid for Assets of Community Value.
Chris Burden, Lib Dem (Caversham ward): A pub should be recognised, in principle, as likely to have a desirable place in the community. There should be a presumption, in the planning rules, in favour of the continued existence of a public house in some form at that location. It should be up to bona fide members of the local community and competent experts, to make the case that the continued presence of a pub, as such, in that location is either undesirable and unwelcome, and makes no worthwhile contribution to the wider community, or would simply be an unviable business proposition.
Q. Are you familiar with the new ability to designate Assets of Community Value?
JM: Yes.
JD: Yes.
RW: Yes.
MM: Yes.
CB: Yes.
Q. Will you support communities wanting to nominate community pubs as Assets of Community Value?
JM: Absolutely.
MM: Yes, I would generally support nominations, but I would consider each application on its own merits.
Q. Currently most pubs can be demolished or converted into supermarkets or convenience stores without the need for planning permission. Government advice is that an Article 4 Direction can be applied to require permission. Please indicate your view on this.
JM: I strongly support this and would take a lead in making such efforts.
JD: I strongly support this and would take a lead in making such efforts.
RW: I support such a move being made.
MM: I would support requiring Article 4 Direction being applied to require permission.
CB: I support such a move being made. An Article 4 Direction, requiring a developer to obtain planning permission before redeveloping a pub, seems entirely reasonable. Obviously, certain, normal tests of desirability and viability of the pub would have to be met but, in the end, a developer couldn't just send in the bulldozers.
Q. The issue above is one example of national planning loopholes that are leaving pubs vulnerable. Would you be prepared to put forward a proposal under the Sustainable Communities Act to the Government as councils are entitled to do, urging them to close these loopholes?
JD: Yes, pubs should be a separate category within the planning laws rather than treated as retail units.
Q. CAMRA believes there is a role for well-run community pubs in promoting responsible drinking, and that this should be recognised through local licensing policies. At the same time, councils should avoid placing undue strains or administrative burdens on well-run community pubs: for example, in town centres the introduction of late night levies or Early Morning Restriction Orders. Do you agree?
JD: Broadly speaking, yes. There is insufficient understanding in the public sphere that most problems are caused by the excessive availability of alcoholic beverages in the off-trade (esp supermarkets and some corner stores) whereas drinking in pubs is usually well-controlled. Within their limitations pubs are also valuable as meeting places, vehicles for charitable activities and live entertainment venues. The old saying "See you in church" (meaning the pub) has a new resonance in a largely secular society (although I speak as a church-goer myself!)
MM: I would need to know more about this issue.
CB: Councils should clearly avoid putting undue administrative demands on what are, after all, small local businesses and employers. It would be nice to believe that any such measures would be implemented only after proper advice from such as the police and local residents, but I have personally witnessed measures aimed at rowdy 'town centre' establishments imposed, in an unnecessary, blanket way, on all pubs in a wide area, out of 'fairness'. (Community) pubs which can demonstrate that their door policy, style of operation, and record (and lack thereof) of incidents, should be able to easily have their licence conditions moderated.
Q. Any further comments, or (confidentially if necessary) issues you would like advice or support from CAMRA locally?
JM: None.
JD: As a life-member of CAMRA I strongly support the targets listed below.
RW: Please consider this a Reading and Wokingham Green Party response rather than expecting one per candidate.
MM: None.
CB: None.
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Home > About Massey > News > Understanding malnutrition in vulnerable older New Zealanders
Understanding malnutrition in vulnerable older New Zealanders
The qualitative study explores the perspectives and experiences of older New Zealanders' food intake to understand factors that can lead to malnutrition.
Professor Carol Wham.
New Massey University research that explores the eating habits of older people provides crucial insights for helping to prevent malnutrition in ageing New Zealanders.
The qualitative study, Eating less the logical thing to do? Vulnerability to malnutrition with advancing age, was recently published in the international research journal Appetite. It was completed by researchers at Massey’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, led by Associate Professor Carol Wham.
The research explores the perspectives and experiences of older New Zealanders’ food intake to understand factors that may lead to malnutrition.
“We know there is a problem with malnutrition among vulnerable older people who live in their own homes and this study goes some way to understanding this in more detail so we can begin to plan and implement strategies to address the problem.”
Some participants reported they probably ate only half of what they had eaten in the past. Almost all participants ate less because they thought it was the logical thing to do given that they undertake less physical activity. Their low appetites mean they rarely feel hungry and many regarded eating as a chore. While being around others encouraged eating, if someone was caring for a sick spouse, or were in a stressful situation, this reduced their appetite too.
Many were conscious of healthy eating and were focused on consuming more vegetables, while reducing their fat and sugar intake. Several said they had a preference for food they had grown up with, but could no longer readily access, or needed to avoid particular foods because of illnesses, food intolerance and chewing difficulties.
Dr Wham says not eating enough food is a challenge to maintaining a healthy weight, especially when multiple factors combine like illness, reduced mobility and barriers such as not having access to preferred foods. Weight loss leads to a loss of muscle mass and strength and problems associated with frailty.
“Participants were purposively selected to represent ethnic diversity and on the basis of presence or absence of chronic conditions. Several respondents had multiple conditions such as hypertension, arthritis, gout, high blood sugar or cholesterol; most identified as having an illness severity of moderate or severe.”
The majority of participants took more than five medications and most were identified to be either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Previous studies have reported that about one in three older New Zealanders living in the community are at risk of malnutrition.
Evidence suggests peer volunteers trained to perform strength exercises and have nutrition-related discussions can help reduce malnutrition risk and improve frailty among community-dwelling older adults.
Dr Wham says identifying those who are at risk of malnutrition is an important first step. Then, people’s vulnerability to malnutrition can be reduced through focusing on individual perceptions and behaviours.
The study showed improving physical function among vulnerable older adults may be paramount in preventing decreased food intake, while encouraging appetising energy drinks or snacks could also help. Social support to maintain the health and resilience of older carers is also critical to ensuring their eating habits aren’t compromised while caring for a spouse. Caregivers play an important role but they need to receive health and nutrition training.
“Given New Zealand’s ageing population and encouragement for older people to live in their own homes as long as possible, it is an increasingly important challenge to overcome,” Dr Wham says. “It’s about increasing older people’s quality of life, of which nutrition play an important part.”
The research was undertaken by PhD student Idah Chatindiara from the University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition as part of her doctorate evaluating nutrition risk and intervening to encourage healthy eating.
Calls for malnutrition screening for at risk elderly
Dr Wham awarded Dietitians NZ Award of Excellence
Created: 02/12/2019 | Last updated: 02/12/2019
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Barcelona Gay Shopping – The Nomadic Boys
January 15, 2020 January 15, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth
If you go to a city like Barcelona and don’t overdo it with shopping, did you even really go on holiday? We sometimes bring an extra suitcase with us just so we can fill it up with all the new clothes, art pieces and *cough* toys we find along the way!
The Barcelona gay shopping scene is fantastic for gay shops, with loads of different options. Whether you want to buy new speedos, harnesses, a few tank tops, or just something for a quick jerk-off(!), there’s always plenty to discover.
Sure, sex shops can seem quite intimidating from the outside, but hey, we’re all human. We all have desires, and these places are committed to helping you fulfil them. So shop til you drop using our guide to the best gay shops in Barcelona.
Gaixample, Heart of the Barcelona Gay Shopping Scene
The gay village of Barcelona is located in the large residential Eixample neighbourhood, bordered by the following streets: Carrer de Balmes, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Carrer del Comte d’Urgell and Carrer d’Aragó. This section of Eixample is nicknamed, “Gaixample” (pronounced “gai-sham-ple”). Read more about the gay scene in our comprehensive gay guide to Barcelona.
To get our bearings, we always look for the main Axel Hotel which is right in the heart of Gaixample, then work things out from there. Most of the shops in this guide are located in and around Gaixample. You could also orientate yourself on one of these gay tours of Barcelona!
Barcelona Gay Travel Resources
Categories Barcelona, Europe, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, Shopping, Spain Tags barcelona, Barcelona gay shopping, gay, gay travel, Nomadic Boys, Spain Leave a comment
Gay Sitges – The Nomadic Boys
New York City may have Fire Island, but Barcelona has Sitges!
Sitges is a charming gay seaside town located around 40km (25miles) south from Barcelona. It has many antique shops, bespoke coffee shops, tapas bars and lots of queer hangouts. Located in the Catalonian region, it’s a delicious mix of the refreshing sea air, coastal scenery and local spirit, with modernist touches.
Did we also mention that Sitges is all about beaches, beaches and more beaches?! The town has gay beaches, nude beaches, gay AND nude beaches aplenty! For such a small town (population is less than 30,000) Sitges not only has a large LGBTQ community living here, it receives thousands of gay tourists each year. This is one of many reasons why we rate it as one of our top destinations in Europe. Whether you come here for your holiday or visit as part of a day trip from Barcelona, Sitges is one gay mecca you cannot miss!
This is our comprehensive gay travel guide of Sitges – a place we think is easily one of the most gay friendly travel destinations in the world.
So just how gay is Sitges?
Sitges is leading the pack in terms of its attitudes towards the LGBTQ community. Whilst Spain is already one of the gayest countries in the world, being one of the first places in the world to legalise same-sex marriage back in 2005, Sitges manages to stand out ahead of other cities for many unique reasons.
Not only does Sitges have a huge gay scene, but the locals are also extremely gay-friendly. Although…they don’t really have much of a choice: every year they get a pink invasion with thousands of LGBTQ travellers descending on the city during the summer months, especially during Pride in June and the Bear Week in September.
Sitges Gay Travel Resources
Categories Accommodations, Beaches, Columnists, Europe, Gay Bars, Gay Clubs, Gay Travel, Nightlife, Nomadic Boys, Sitges, Spain Tags Cata;unya, gay Sitges, gay travel, Nomadic Boys, sitges, Spain Leave a comment
Barcelona Gay Restaurants – The Nomadic Boys
Barcelona is a cosmopolitan and exciting city, with a vibrant gay scene. We love coming here to party, celebrate Barcelona Pride, relax and stuff our faces! With such a great mix of people and culture, it makes sense that Barcelona also has a thriving foodie scene.
The unique blend of Spanish, Catalan and Meditteranean cuisine, along with Barcelona’s seaside location, make this a wonderful spot for a gastronomic holiday. You will get to try the freshest seafood, the most delicious tapas and many other types of food from all over the world.
The main gay area of Barcelona can be found in Eixample (often nicknamed ‘Gaixample’), with many fabulous gay hangouts to check out. A word of warning, most restaurants in Barcelona are closed on Sunday, but we’ve included the best ones that still serve food on the day of the Lord (a day when we’re usually nursing a heavy hangover and craving a bit fat greasy burger…!)
During our visits to Barcelona, we’ve managed to experience lots of excellent gay owned restaurants, as well as those with a mostly gay clientele, which serve up the most delicious dishes. These are our favourite gay or gay friendly restaurants which we tried and loved in Barcelona.
Restaurante D’Divine
Restaurante D’Divine has been going strong for around 13 years and is the best place to come to watch a drag show with your meal. Whilst the menu is a bit limited, the cocktails are delicious and the shows, hilarious!
Categories Barcelona, Columnists, Europe, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, Restaurants, Spain Tags Barcelona Gay Restaurants, gay, gay travel, Nomadic Boys Leave a comment
Gay Barcelona – The Nomadic Boys
Barcelona is one of the most open and diverse cities we’ve ever been to. Not only is it tolerant towards gay travellers, they practically roll out the red carpet for us! With a booming gay village, loads of excellent hangouts and fantastic festivals, Gay Barcelona is a pumping city begging to be consumed.
We’ve begun to consider the city as a second home – its frivolous nightlife scene, the large LGBTQ community and stunning weather make it impossible to stay away for too long. Here is our detailed guide to Barcelona for gay travellers following our many visits to this fabulous Spanish coastal paradise.
How friendly is gay Barcelona?
In short – very gay friendly!
In our opinion, we think Barcelona is one of the most gay friendly cities in Europe and in the world. Historically, it is the birthplace of the LGBTQ Pride movement of Spain, where activists in the 1970s took to the streets to demand their rights. This ignited a pink wave throughout the rest of the nation and began to increase visibility for the Spanish LGBTQ community. Today, Barcelona continues to be a pioneer across the world for gay rights – a textbook example for other places to follow on its treatment towards queer travellers and citizens. This is one of many reasons why we rate it as one of our top gay destinations in Europe.
With an exquisite gay scene, filled with clubs, bars, eateries, hotels, and bathhouses, the city is a thriving mecca for LGBTQ culture. On every corner, there is some nod to queer identity. Whether this is a statue honouring one of the country’s most beloved queer writers or a rainbow flag flying outside a bakery, Barcelona is a city which appreciates its gay community.
Categories Barcelona, Columnists, Europe, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, Spain Tags barcelona, Calalunya, gay, Gay Barcelona, gay travel, Nomadic Boys, Spain Leave a comment
Barcelona Gay Beaches – The Nomadic Boys
We love going to the beach – and the Barcelona gay beaches, only solidify our love for the seashore.
With its epic beach parties, stunning crowds, beautiful weather and lots of activities, Barcelona has a beach to suit every mood. There are beaches for when you need some private time or for when you want to become the life and soul of the party. Each beach has a unique energy and attracts different crowds. However, they all have one thing in common: they’re all fabulous and worth shouting about!
This is our guide to the best gay beaches in Barcelona to check out:
What is the official gay beach in Barcelona?
Barcelona is well-beloved for its beaches and is recognised globally for how incredible they are. In fact, National Geographic has listed it as the number one best beach city in the world.
Whilst only two out of Barcelona’s beaches are considered officially “gay”, we found that every single one we went to is gay-friendly. The official gay beaches of Barcelona are San Sebastian and Mar Bella. However, there are a few others to check out, particularly as you head into Sitges.
Categories Barcelona, Beaches, Clothing Optional, Columnists, Europe, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, Spain Tags barcelona, Barcelona gay beaches, gay beaches, gay travel, Nomadic Boys, Spain Leave a comment
Sri Lanka Gay Life – The Nomadic Boys
“Funny Boy” is a Sri Lankan book by Shyam Selvadurai, which we recommend every LGBTQ traveller visiting Sri Lanka reads. It tells the story of a young Tamil gay boy called Arjy, growing up in 1980s Sri Lanka during the civil war era, struggling to come to grips with his homosexuality in a very religious and traditional family and society.
Fast forward 30 years when we visited Sri Lanka, at a time when the country is thriving; the Civil War long ended and tourism flourishing more than ever, we wondered if much has changed for the country’s LGBTQ community. Be sure to check out our comprehensive gay Sri Lanka travel guide for our perspective as foreigners visiting. But what’s it like for local gay guys?
We met a Sinhalese author in Colombo who has published various books and poetry, some with an LGBTQ theme. He has asked to remain anonymous in this interview for fear of reprisal from family and his work, so we will instead refer to him by his nickname, “Kaluu”:
Hi Kaluu, please introduce yourself:
Good afternoon Stefan and Seby. I am Sri Lankan born, 39 years old, living in Colombo. I’m also a son, a friend, a gay, a Buddhist, a writer, and a poet. Above all, I am a human!
My friends call me “Kaluu”. It means “black” in Sinhalese and has become my nickname because I have darker skin compared to the average Sri Lankan.
Sri Lanka Gay Travel Resources
Categories Asia, Columnists, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, Sri Lanka Tags gay, locals, Nomadic Boys Leave a comment
Gay Sri Lanka – The Nomadic Boys
Sri Lanka is a little pearl in the Indian Ocean. This paradise-like island has some of the most delicious food we’ve tried in Asia, the best safaris outside of East Africa and our favourite train journeys. Sri Lanka also has beaches, stunning landscapes for trekking and kind, warmhearted people who love welcoming foreigners, straight or gay.
For such a small place, Sri Lanka offers so much that many come here for their honeymoon. Yet the sting in the tail comes when you quickly realise that the country still clings on to its anti-gay laws introduced by the British during the colonial years in the 1880s. Even though the courts have declared these laws to be unenforceable, the fact that the Sri Lankan government refuses to get rid of them is a sad sign that Sri Lanka is still very much a conservative society where you do need to tread cautiously as an LGBTQ traveller.
We explore the anti-gay laws along with other general advice for LGBTQ travellers in this comprehensive gay country guide to Sri Lanka.
LGBTQ rights in Sri Lanka
On the face of it, it’s illegal to be gay in Sri Lanka. Section 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code dating back to 1886 criminalises “carnal intercourse” with up to 10 years in prison and a fine.
This law dates back to the British Colonial days. Ask a local and they will enthusiastically tell you “but it no longer applies!”, which is both technically right and wrong.
On the one hand, the Sri Lankan government refuses to repeal the anti-gay laws and often makes openly homophobic statements. They have even embellished the anti-gay laws. For example, in 1995, the Sri Lankan judiciary amended Section 363 to add “gross indecency” as a crime punishable with a fine and up to 2 years in prison (section 365A) without giving any guidance as to what constitutes “gross indecency”. As such, the LGBTQ community can either be arrested for “carnal intercourse” (if caught in the act), or for the more loosely defined “gross indecency”.
Categories Asia, Columnists, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, Sri Lanka Tags Nomadic Boys, sri lanka Leave a comment
10 Famous Filipino Foods – The Nomadic Boys
December 29, 2019 December 29, 2019 by J. Scott Coatsworth
Filipino foods are exciting, surprising and full of wonderful flavours.
We travelled around the Philippines extensively as a gay couple and found many traditional yummy prizes to enjoy. With the exception of balut(!), we’ve put together our favourite foods and drinks from the Philippines that we think everyone must try.
This is our video of our travels around the Philippines as a gay couple, focusing on the awesome gay scene of Manila, party island Boracay (pre-cleanup!) and the stunning Palawan.
1. Chicken adobo: the famous Filipino dish
Chicken adobo is one of the most famous Filipino foods to try in the Philippines, known and loved by everyone.
Adobo means “marinade” in Spanish and this is just that: chicken (or pork) marinated in a mixture of soya sauce and vinegar. This was traditionally used as a way of cooking meat because the acid from the vinegar and high salt content of the soya sauce produced an undesirable environment for bacteria. Other ingredients are added depending on whose recipe you follow.
An authentic adobo is cooked in clay pots, but today it’s more common to see them prepared in a wok or metal pot.
Categories Asia, Columnists, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, Philippines, Recipes Tags food, Nomadic Boys Leave a comment
Gay Argentina – The Nomadic Boys
We love Argentina. It’s got it all: hot guys, delicious food, loads of cute boys, stunning scenery, a huge diversity of wildlife…and did we mention it has the hottest guys on the planet…?!!
Above all else, Argentina is one of the most gay-friendly countries in Latin America and in our opinion, one of the most gay-friendly in the world. It’s a very easy country for gay travellers to explore, with many top not-to-miss highlights to check out. Most of the big cities also have fun gay scenes, particularly Buenos Aires, which has one of the best on the continent.
During our big trip in Latin America, we’ve travelled at length around Argentina, all the way from the Iguazu Falls in the north right down to the Patagonian tip at the other end. Based on our first-hand experience, we’ve put together our comprehensive country guide to Argentina for gay travellers to help inspire your trip here.
LGBTQ+ Rights in Gay Argentina
Despite the strong influence of the Catholic Church, Argentina has one of the most progressive LGBTQ rights in the world. Homosexuality was legalised back in 1887 and in 2010 it became the first country in South America to legalise same-sex marriage, which included adoption rights. Argentina is also one of the most trans-friendly countries in the world, allowing you to change your legal gender without having to undergo hormone therapy, surgery or any psychiatric diagnosis. Rosario, in particular, is famous for being a trans person haven in Argentina.
With regards to the army, gay men and lesbians have been allowed to openly serve since 2009. Sadly, the same law does not (yet) apply for transgender people. Finally, whilst anti-discrimination laws are lacking across parts of Argentina, Rosario and Buenos Aires have their own in place. However, in 2012, legislation was introduced adding life imprisonment to hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
Argentina Gay Travel Resources
Categories Argentina, Columnists, Gay Travel, Nomadic Boys, South America Tags argentina, gay argentina, gay travel, Nomadic Boys, south america 1 Comment
Gay Kerala: The Nomadic Boys
Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country, has evolved a way of life that was distinct from the rest of the country – a way of life that expressed a fascinating interplay of nature and humanity across the most diverse terrains one could imagine.
Here, every human act is a way of connecting with everything in nature around them. Everything here feels so momentous, and you are intensely aware of how temporary life is. You learn how to appreciate the beautiful moment while they last, and fall in love with your surroundings.
Everywhere we went in this beautiful region of India, we were met with such compassion, and the locals showed such interest in our lives. With so much to discover, so much to do, this is our experience travelling in gay Kerala as a gay couple.
India Gay Travel Resources
Categories Columnists, India, Nomadic Boys Tags gay Kerala, Nomadic Boys
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Prosecutor: Bellingham man charged with hate crime after strangling Uber driver
Posted 2:52 PM, December 10, 2019, by Q13 News Staff
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A 22-year-old man has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly attacked an Uber driver because of his skin color.
Whatcom County prosecutors charged Grifin Levi Sayers Monday with malicious harassment, otherwise known as a hate crime, and second-degree assault.
Sayers allegedly ordered an Uber from his home in Bellingham to get fast food and cigarettes. The driver, who is Sikh, took him on the errands. On their way back, Sayers allegedly choked the driver and made comments about his “dark skin” and “turban,” according to court documents.
The victim driver told police Sayers choked him for 5 to 10 seconds before he managed to escape. He fled from his car and called police.
When police contacted Sayers, he allegedly admitted to getting a ride with the victim but denied assaulting him.
The Sikh Coalition, the nation’s largest Sikh civil rights organization, called the alleged attack heinous.
“The attacker knew his Uber driver was Sikh,” said Amrith Kaur, the Sikh Coalition’s legal director. “And he chose to both physically and verbally attack him because of it.”
Filed in: Crime, News
An Oregon man faces hate crimes charges after allegedly beating a woman from India
Uber driver admits to smoking meth and marijuana before picking up passenger, court docs say
U.S. citizen says he had acid thrown in his face after being told to go back to his country
Suspects accused of attacking immigrant in Bellevue called her a terrorist, told her to ‘go back home’
Father’s girlfriend arrested in death of 3-year-old Bellingham girl
A motorist accused of running over a girl because she ‘was a Mexican’ is now charged with hitting a black child
Man who spurred emergency call that lead to the death of Deputy Dyson charged
St. Louis homeowner charged after shooting teen who broke into his car, police say
Security guard charged with punching girl, 11, for shoplifting
30-year-old man arrested in connection with Parkland hit-and-run crash that killed grandmother
Slain Sikh deputy remembered as a pioneer and role model ‘with a heart of gold’
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AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici
The story or a symptom?
EYES ON THE WORLD
World Press Photo’s unusual pick for photo of the year reveals a world coming apart
By Johnny Simon February 13, 2017
“Photo of the year,” the top honor of the prestigious World Press Photo contest has been awarded, and it is an unusual choice: A shockingly clear image of the assassination of Russia’s Turkish ambassador Andrei Karlov in Ankara.
Karpov was shot by gunman Mevlut Mert Altintas in December, at a photography exhibit where Altintas reportedly shouted “Do not forget Aleppo!” Although several photographers were at the scene, AP Burhan Ozbilici’s image of Altintas shouting with gun in hand quickly became iconic, and was today awarded this year’s top recognition.
The full frame
Ozbilici’s image is a searing one that became the story from the moment it was transmitted. But it’s a strange pick for World Press Photo’s greatest prize.
The prize goes to a single picture that sums up a year of news, and winning images have often been “more poetic and open to interpretation,” as World Press Photo’s managing director Lars Boering noted to the New York Times.
Many past ”photos of the year” have been little-known images that reveal the human suffering behind a headline—they rarely spotlight the actual perpetrators of violence. Last year’s winner was a dark, grainy photo of a child being passed underneath a barbed wire fence.
https://twitter.com/WorldPressPhoto/status/831020193660989440
Why then, does this year’s award go to a strikingly literal image that much of the world has already seen?
As World Press Photo’s jury members explain, Ozbilici’s picture speaks not just to the incident, but to the larger feeling of a world coming apart. Mary Calvert, a renowned photojournalist and a World Press jurist remarked, “It was a very, very difficult decision, but in the end we felt that the picture of the Year was an explosive image that really spoke to the hatred of our times.”
Photojournalist João Silva, another jury member, said:
Right now I see the world marching towards the edge of an abyss . . . I feel that what is happening in Europe, what is happening in America, what is happening in the Far East, Middle East, Syria, and this image to me talks of it. It is the face of hatred.
Noting his dissent on the image, jury chair Stuart Franklin wrote in the Guardian:
It’s a photograph of a murder, the killer and the slain, both seen in the same picture, and morally as problematic to publish as a terrorist beheading.
Unlike the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914, the crime had limited political consequences. Placing the photograph on this high pedestal is an invitation to those contemplating such staged spectaculars: it reaffirms the compact between martyrdom and publicity.
World Press Photo has in the past succeeded in championing pictures that add humanity and context to the most charged topics. But this year, its controversial choice highlights chaos, and feeling of immediate threat. Pushed, perhaps, by a widespread sense of growing angst in the world, this year’s jury has exceptionally opted not to examine global conflict from a safe distance, but to confront it head on.
Russia, photos, photo, Turkey, Aleppo
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The Readiness Subcommittee is responsible for the single largest account within DOD’s budget. It oversees military readiness, training, logistics and maintenance issues and programs, military construction, installations and family housing issues, and the BRAC process. It also oversees civilian personnel, energy security, and environmental issues that affect DOD. The Readiness Subcommittee makes sure that our troops are properly trained and their equipment is properly maintained so they can succeed in their missions, and that they have the facilities and services they deserve when they return home.
Doug Lamborn
Republican Members
Rob Bishop
Mo Brooks
Elise Stefanik
Jack Bergman
John Garamendi
Democratic Members
Kendra Horn
Chrissy Houlahan
Jason Crow
Xochitl Torres Small
Elissa Slotkin
Veronica Escobar
Debra Haaland
Opening Remarks of Ranking Member Lamborn
Jun 5, 2019 Article
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, ahead of the subcommittee's markup for HR 2500, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.”
"Thank you Mr. Chairman.
May 9, 2019 Article
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing titled “Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request For Military Readiness.”
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing titled “Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request for Military Construction, Energy, and Environmental Programs.”
Mismanaged Military Family Housing Programs: What is the Recovery Plan?
Apr 4, 2019 Hearing
Opening Statement of Ranking Member Lamborn
Feb 26, 2019 Article
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's joint hearing with the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces titled “Naval Surface Forces Readiness: Are Navy Reforms Adequate?"
Opening Statement of Ranking Member Wittman
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's joint hearing with the Subcommittee on Readiness titled “Naval Surface Forces Readiness: Are Navy Reforms Adequate?"
Readiness Subcommittee Holds Military Family Housing Roundtable
Feb 14, 2019 Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness hosted a roundtable today with military families who shared their experiences with privatized military housing. Recent reports from military families to the Committee and in the media have raised serious concerns about conditions in some military family housing.
Subcommittee's Activity in Previous Congress
Readiness (115th Congress)
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Study finds a link between the action of a protein in the nucleus and the cytoplasm
Paramananda Barman (পৰমানন্দ বৰ্মন)
Bengaluru Nov 26, 2018, (Research Matters):
In a recent study, researchers from the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, and the University of Edinburgh, UK, have deciphered an exciting role of a human protein commonly found in the brain. The protein, called Fragile-X mental retardation protein (FMRP), plays a vital role in the development of cognitive functions.
Until now, it was known that FMRP, found in the liquid inside the cells, bound with ribosomes and regulate the production of some vital proteins. The loss of this protein leads to a genetic condition called Fragile X syndrome, leading to learning and cognitive disabilities. However, it is now known that this protein is also found in the nucleus of the cells. So, what is it doing in the nucleus? This question got researchers behind the current study thinking.
The researchers found that FMRP in the nucleus interacts with specific RNA molecules called small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), some of which are known to modify the ribosomal RNA by adding a methyl group to them. “Our work, for the first time, defines an interaction of an RNA binding protein, FMRP, with a specific subset of C/D box snoRNAs”, say the authors of the study published in the journal iScience and partially supported by the Department of Biotechnology.
“This interaction may have an influence in regulating rRNA methylation in humans. In the absence of FMRP, methylation was altered”, they note.
The addition of methyl group to ribosomal RNAs has biological significance since it contributes to heterogeneity or variations in the ribosomes. This variation might lead to different rates of synthesis of proteins in the cell. Since FMRPs also interact with ribosomes, can they recognise the methylations in ribosomes? “We found that FMRP recognizes ribosomes carrying specific methylation patterns on the rRNA”, say the authors.
The findings of the study indicate a potential link between the function of this protein in the nucleus, and in the cytoplasm of a cell, which might help in the regulation of protein synthesis.
“Our results identify a nuclear function of FMRP and imply that it can integrate translation regulation between the nucleus and cytoplasm,” conclude the authors.
inStem
NCBS
FMRP
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Studying fruit flies: A sneak peek into their lives in the lab
Understanding the Riemann Hypothesis—the most crucial unsolved problem in mathematics
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Alex Jones Accused of Sending Child Porn to Lawyers of Sandy Hook Victims
Attorneys for the families of Sandy Hook victims who filed a defamation lawsuit against Alex Jones said they were given emails from an Infowars account that contained child pornography.
During a segment of his show on Friday, Jones said that he had been set up by the families’ lawyers.
The attorneys, in turn, accused Jones of threatening one of the lawyers representing the families and distorting what actually happened.
Since April 2018, Jones has been involved in three separate defamation cases filed by the families of Sandy Hook victims over his efforts to spread the conspiracy theory that the 2012 elementary school shooting never happened.
Sandy Hook Lawsuits Against Alex Jones
Lawyers representing the families of Sandy Hook victims in a defamation lawsuit against far-right commentator Alex Jones said that they found child pornography in emails from an account for Jones’ show Infowars that had been turned over to them by his legal team.
Jones has famously supported the conspiracy theory that the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School never happened, even going as far as to say that “no one died” in Sandy Hook.
In April 2018, two families whose children were murdered in the Sandy Hook shooting filed two separate defamation suits against Jones. The next month, six other families and an FBI agent who responded to the shooting filed a third defamation suit.
All three of the lawsuits say that Jones’ efforts to spread conspiracy theories about the shooting had lead to the families of the victims being harassed, stalked, and threatened.
In January 2019, a judge overseeing one of the cases ruled that Jones had to turn over Infowars’ financial documents as well as thousands of emails. The next month, the same judge decided that Jones would be required to make a sworn deposition.
Jones gave a three-hour long deposition in March, where he admitted the deaths were real, and said, “I, myself, have almost had like a form of psychosis back in the past where I basically thought everything was staged, even though I’m now learning a lot of times things aren’t staged.”
Lawyers Find Child Porn in Infowars Emails
In court documents filed Monday, the lawyers representing the Sandy Hook families said that when their legal team went through the Infowars emails, they found that the email metadata contained “numerous images of illegal child pornography.”
According to the legal documents, after finding the images, the legal team “immediately contacted the FBI.”
“The FBI directed counsel to give control of the entire document production to the FBI, which was done,” the lawyers wrote. “The FBI advised counsel that its review located numerous additional illegal images, which had apparently been sent to Infowars email addresses.”
The attorney’s also added that if Jones’ legal team “had engaged in even minimal due diligence and actually reviewed the materials before production, they would have found the images themselves,” continuing, “Because the Jones Defendants did not do that, they transmitted images to the plaintiffs that if they were knowingly possessed is a serious federal crime.”
Jones Responds in Show
The court documents said that the plaintiff’s legal team told Jones’ lawyer, Norm Pattis, about finding the child pornography. Pattis then told Jones, who talked about it on The Alex Jones Show on Friday.
“The FBI looked at and said we’re the victim, it was hidden in Sandy Hook emails threatening us, that was child porn,” Jones said. “So it’s on the record we were sent child porn we’re not involved in child porn.”
However, Jones appeared to contradict that statement shortly after by claiming that the emails were planted by the families lawyers. “You’re trying to set me up with child porn, I’m gunna get your ass,” Jones said, after firing off a series of expletives
A little later, Jones specifically named one of the attorneys that represents the families, Chris Mattei. Jones showed a picture of Mattei’s face, then slammed his fist on the photo. “What a good American, what a good boy,” Jones said mockingly. “I’m gonna kill…” he yelled, then trailed off.
Plaintiffs Accuse Jones of Threatening Mattei
In the same court document from Monday, the attorneys for the Sandy Hook families accused Jones of threatening Mattei and his firm.
“Alex Jones broadcast two segments of The Alex Jones Show identifying Attorney Chris Mattei by name and showing a picture of him, falsely claiming that Attorney Mattei tried to frame Jones by planting child pornography in discovery materials produced by Jones, distorting what actually occurred in the discovery process in this case,” the lawyers wrote.
“Here, threats against counsel have been made on air to a very large audience,” they added.
Pattis reportedly responded in a statement claiming that Jones did not threaten Mattei, and said Jones apologized for the statements he made on his show the next day.
Also during his show on Saturday, Jones said: “I’m not saying that the lawyers for the Sandy Hook families set me up or did this.”
Editor’s Note: At Rogue Rocket, we make it a point to not include the names and pictures of mass murders or suspected mass murderers who may have been seeking attention or infamy. Therefore, we will not be linking to other sources, as they may contain these details.
Related Topics:Alex JonesconspiracyDefamationFBIFeaturedInfowarsLawsuitSandy HookSandy Hook Elementary SchoolThe Alex Jones Show
Harvard Rescinds Parkland Student’s Admission Over Racist Remarks
Phoenix Mayor Apologizes After Police Pull Gun on Family in Shoplifting Confrontation
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← ZOMBIE LAND SAGA Episode 10: Voice of Mother Gaia
Bloom Into You Episode 10: First Draft →
Game of the Month: December 2018
Usually, I like to make some honourable mentions for other games in these posts, but for my final game of the month in the year of 2018, I will be focusing solely on a single game. Said game is for the Nintendo Switch, and is a title that could be considered highly anticipated.
I imagine you can probably already guess what game I shall be talking about here, so I’ll just wrap up this introduction and dive straight in. No more beating around the bush: my game of the month for December 2018 is none other than Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
A celebration of Nintendo (and others) history, a crossover fighting game that features an almost absurd amount of content. 74 fighters (not counting DLC), over 100 stages and more than 800 songs have been packed into the game. We should all take a moment to show our appreciation for what Sakurai has achieved with this game. Just ignore those very vocal “fans” who aren’t happy unless they are complaining.
All right, let’s talk newcomers. Character making their playable debuts in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate include Splatoon‘s Inkling, Metroid‘s Ridley, Castlevania‘s Simon Belmont & Richter Belmont, Donkey Kong Country‘s King K. Rool, Animal Crossing‘s Isabelle and Pokémon‘s Incineroar.
Oh, and every character who has been playable in a Super Smash Bros. game before now? They are all coming back as well – yes, even the likes of Metal Gear Solid‘s Snake and Final Fantasy VII‘s Cloud. Previous entries in the Super Smash Bros. series had clone characters. Ultimate takes a novel approach to this with Echo Fighters. Separate characters who share similar movesets to existing characters with some minor differences here and there. Daisy was one of the first Echo Fighters introduced as an example of this. Other Echo Fighters include Dark Samus, Lucina, Chrom, Dark Pit, Ken and Richter. Not every character can be playable, but some can be summoned by using the Assist Trophy item. Tiki, in her Fire Emblem Awakening appearance, is one such character. Assist Trophy characters can assist you in battle, though some may be more of a hindrance than a help. Poké Balls also return, allowing you to summon a random Pokémon to help you out during battle. Each Pokémon has its own unique skill, and maybe a legendary Pokémon or two will crop up from time to time.
I could probably go on and on about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – I haven’t even mentioned Spirits mode, or the World of Light. I won’t, though.
I actually prepared this post in advance so I am able to spend as much time as possible playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I enjoyed my very brief time with it at MCM, and am very eager to get stuck into the game.
I’ll end with this: the first DLC fighter, Piranha Plant, is a brilliant addition to the line-up. I haven’t the faintest clue who else will make it in as DLC fighters, but I have faith that they will all fit in perfectly.
This entry was posted in Games of the Month and tagged Bandai Namco Studios, Fighting, Game of the Month, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Sora Ltd., Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Bookmark the permalink.
4 Responses to Game of the Month: December 2018
Summarize your reaction to the first revealed DLC character.
Haven’t played Persona 5 myself, but I have enjoyed seeing all the reactions to Joker joining Smash. I don;t think anyone was really expecting it.
I’d also like to think that this is a hint that Persona 5 is coming to Switch in the near future.
More than likely that will be the case, P5 Switch port. That or do like Square-Enix and port the series to Switch.
Krystallina says:
Picked up my copy today.
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RussianPatents.com
New! → US patents search
Cable covered with foam plastic insulation incorporating polymeric material characterized in superhigh degree of extrudate swelling
H01B7/285 -
H01B3/44 - vinyl resins; acrylic resins (silicones H01B0003460000)
B29C44/32 - Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. linings, inserts, reinforcements
FIELD: electrical communication components; cables whose conductors are covered with polymeric insulation extruded about conductor.
SUBSTANCE: proposed cable has its conductors covered with insulation that has at least one component incorporating maximum 20, and best of all 15, mass percent of polymer characterized in high degree of extrudate swelling. This polymer is defined as that characterized in extrudate swelling degree over 55% and higher, best of all that having extrudate swelling degree over 65%. Best insulation has at least second component of high degree of cracking resistance under stress; therefore, minimal combination of these polymers will provide for insulation layer possessing unique combination of physical properties, including high degree of foaming, fine uniform cellular structure, reduced attenuation, and cracking resistance under stress which is capable of sustaining temperature of 100 °C over 100 h without cracking in spirally coiled state at stress level one-fold higher than outer diameter of insulation.
EFFECT: improved electrical characteristics and mechanical strength of insulation.
23 cl, 6 dwg, 3 tbl
The present invention in General relates to communication cables, and in particular to cables with a highly expanded foam with uniform, small and closed cellular structure.
According to U.S. patent No. 4547328 and 4683166 - Yuto and Suzuki: the introduction of at least 20 wt.% plastic with a degree of swelling of the extrudate (SRI)equal to 55% or more in the mixture of polymers gives some advantages in the manufacture of coaxial cable. In particular, the introduction of the polymer with SRA 55% or more increases the elasticity of the molten polymer, resulting in easier regulation of the process of coating wire foam insulation. According to the mentioned documents these advantages give a high degree of foaming (expansion ratio) and the cellular structure of the foam, the size of which is 50 μm or less. Fine cellular structure with high coefficients of expansion are desirable for reducing electrical losses (attenuation), reduce material consumption and to increase mechanical strength. Specialists in the art it is known that in the prior art it is necessary to limit the material with SRA equal to 55% or more, at least 20 percent of the entire mixture, to provide the desired cellular structure, high coefficient of expansion and resistance to cracking under stress. But to increase when labilnosti dimensions and mechanical strength of the cable layer of foam insulation covered nesperennub continuous layer or film of polymer. It is known that the presence of this layer complicates the manufacturing process and increases the cost and increases the flow of materials. In addition, the materials themselves high SRA have disadvantages from the electrical point of view, and this fact affects the electrical purity (dissipation factor) of cable.
The present invention provides such electrical connection elements as wires and cables, which combine low dissipation factor and high resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking under stress or in a solid or, preferably, in the foamed state. This non-novel combination of properties provides the following special and advanced features at the same time in the same structure:
- High degree of foaming - at least 50%, and more preferably from 50 to 85%.
- Structure of the foam with a fine and uniform cells, closed, with a preferred size of less than 100 microns, providing good resistance to mechanical compression.
- Resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking voltage withstand tests on the length of the normal in the industry of life: more than 100 hours stand without disturbing the working condition of a temperature of 100°in turn the Ohm in a spiral state at the voltage level, 1 times the outer diameter of the insulation.
The level of attenuation below the level possible according to the realizations of the prior art, which require less electrically high characteristics of SRA over 55% when the ratio of the mixture is at least equal to 20 wt.%.
- Reduced weight of plastic, therefore reducing the cost of communication compared with elements of communication prior art of similar purpose and end use.
According to the invention proposed electrical connection element containing the wire and the surrounding foam insulation. Foam insulation contains no more than 20 wt.% polymer having ultra high SRA - above 55%. The polymer is ultra high SRA preferably mixed with one or more electrically and/or environmentally more perfect additional polymer compositions to provide the desired mechanical, electrical, thermal and durable properties and performance costs, which were hitherto not been possible at the same time in the same implementation. In particular, additional polymer compositions have a high accelerated high temperature stability, defined by the oxidizing time of induction (the warriors) more than 15 min at 200°according to the method 4568 ASTM standard. More preferably, the l is a comparative polymer composition provided time oxidizing induction longer than 20 minutes
Additional polymer composition preferably has a dissipation factor less than the polymer with ultra high SRA, and less than 75 microradian, and more preferably less than 50 microradian.
The isolation provided by the invention has a resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking under tension over 100 hours at 100°in rolled into a spiral state when the voltage level of 1 times the outer diameter of the insulation, without the appearance of radial or longitudinal cracks.
According to one preferred aspect, the foam insulation contains about 15 wt.% olefin polymer with a value of SRA above 55%. According to another preferred aspect, the foam insulation contains no more than 20 wt.% low density polyethylene with SRA above 55% and at least one additional polyolefin composition having high accelerated high temperature stability, as defined by the soldiery longer than 15 minutes at 200°according to the method 4568 ASTM standard. At least one additional polyolefin composition preferably has a diffusion coefficient lower than that of low density polyethylene with high SRA, and less than 75 microradian.
Insulated electrical connection element according to the present invention can be implemented in various types of structures used by the s for telecommunication as coaxial cables, phone taps or twisted pair cables.
According to another variant implementation of the present invention proposed an electrical communication cable containing the wire and the surrounding foam insulation. Foam insulation contains a mixture of the first polyolefin with ultra high SRA is higher than 55%, is present in an amount of not more than 20 wt.%, and at least an additional polyolefin, having high accelerated high temperature stability for longer than 15 minutes at 200°according to the method 4568 ASTM standard.
At least one additional polyolefin preferably has a diffusion coefficient lower than that of the polyolefin with ultra high SRA, and less than 75 microradian. Additional suitable polyolefin may be any having a high level of stability of the polyolefin containing phenolic antioxidants and/or mixture of phenolic antioxidant phosphite, and also light collection spatial-obstructed amines.
The above are some of the features and advantages of the present invention, other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings, on which:
Figure 1 - image in the perspective of the local section, showing a coaxial cable according to astasia invention;
Figure 2 - the picture in perspective of the local section, showing the subscriber tap according to the present invention;
Figure 3 - image in the future twisted-pair cables according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a photograph showing a sample of the accelerated high temperature stress cracking prior to the test;
5 is a photograph showing a sample of the accelerated high temperature stress cracking after testing to the level of occurrence of violations with visible cracks; and
6 is a graph showing how the attenuation in the cable affects the dissipation factor of the composition of the insulation.
The present invention is described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all, embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that the invention can be implemented in many different ways, and it should not be construed as limited presented here options of implementation; rather, these embodiments of the invention are proposed so that this disclosure of the invention satisfy applicable legal requirements. Throughout the document similar reference signs refer to similar elements.
Figure 1 shows an insulated electric element of the ligature according to the present invention, made in the coaxial cable 10. The coaxial cable includes a core 11 of the wires of the cable which includes an inner conductor 12 of the respective electrically conductive material and surrounding a solid cylindrical wall of the expanded foam dielectric material 14. The insulator 14 is an expanded cellular foam composition. Cell dielectric 14 preferably have the configuration of a closed cell, uniform size is typically less than 200 microns in diameter, and more preferably less than 100 μm. The foam dielectric 14 preferably has adhesive or frictional coupling with the inner conductor 12 by a thin layer of adhesive or friction material 13. Inner wire 12 may be formed from solid copper, copper tube, stale-copper, aluminamedia or other hollow wires or twisted configuration. Internal wire preferably has a smooth surface, but may also be corrugated. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention shows a single inner wire 12, but it is understood that the present invention is also applicable to cables having an inner wire number more than one, isolated from each other and forming part of the core 10. In addition, according to the illustrated variant implementation of izobreteny the inner wire 12 is a wire of aluminum core 12A with an outer copper layer 12b of the shell.
In conformance to the core 11 around it made a solid smooth tubular sheath 15. In the preferred illustrated embodiment of the invention the tubular shell 15 is made of aluminum strips, formed in a tubular configuration, and in which the opposite side edges of the strips are butt-jointed to each other, with located the butt edge continuously connected by a continuous longitudinal weld 16. Welding can be performed essentially in accordance with U.S. patent No. 4472595 and 5926949, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The above-mentioned running the shell 14 of the longitudinal welding is preferred, but experts in the art it will be clear that for the manufacture of mechanically and electrically continuous thin-walled tubular metal shell can be applied in other ways. The inner surface of the tubular shell 15 is preferably continuously coupled along its length and on its circumference with the outer surface of the foam dielectric 14 a thin layer of adhesive 17. A preferred class of adhesives for this is a random copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid (EAS), or (EAS) in a mixture with other compatible polymers. The outer surface of the shell 15 is surrounded by a protective jacket 18. Appropriate formulations for external protective jacket 1 include thermoplastic coating materials as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and rubber. According to the illustrated variant of the invention, the protective jacket 18 is preferably coupled to the outer surface of the shell 15, the adhesive layer 19 to increase flexion artificial coaxial cable. The adhesive layer 19 is preferably a thin layer of such adhesive as EAS-copolymer and the above-mentioned mixture. The drawing shows the adhesive layer 19, but the protective sleeve 18 can also directly associate with the outer surface of the shell 15.
Figure 2 shows another example of the electrical connection element according to the present invention, implemented in the subscriber tap 20, the type of which is used for transmitting the RF signals as television signals, satellite signals; signals, data, cell phone, etc. the Cable 20 includes a core 21 of cable cores having an elongated inner wire 22 and the dielectric layer 24 surrounding the inner conductor. Dielectric layer 24 is preferably connected with the inner wire 22 of the adhesive layer 23 made, for example, of a copolymer of ethylene-acrylic acid (EAS), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA). The inner wire 22 is preferably made of stale-copper wire, but you can also use another conductive wire (such as copper). Dielektricheskikh 24 is a foam polymer, continuous from the inner conductor 22 to the adjacent layer above, but also may have an external continuous layer or shell. Conductive screen 25 is made around the dielectric layer 24. Conductive screen 25 is preferably connected with the dielectric layer 24 and adhesive layer 26. The adhesive layer 26 can be made of any material referred to above in connection with the adhesive 23. Conductive screen 25 prevents leakage of signals transmitted by the inner wire 22, and screens interference from external signals. Conductive screen 25 is preferably made of masking tape, which passes longitudinally through the cable. The shielding tape is preferably longitudinally so that the edge of the masking tape or abut end-to-end to each other, or are imposed on each other to provide 100% shielding. More preferably: a longitudinal edge of the masking tape overlap. Shielding tape has at least one conductive layer, such as a thin layer of metal foil. The shielding tape is preferably coupled layered tape containing polymer inner layer with a metallic outer layers, and connected with the opposite sides of a polymer of the inner layer. Polymer inner layer usually one is camping polyolefin film (e.g., polypropylene) or a complex of the polyester. The metal layers are typically thin layers of aluminum foil. Many elongated wire 27 is surrounded by an electrically conductive screen 25. Extra long wires 27 preferably form the braid 28, but they may also overlap each other in two directions, can be unidirectional or may be located alternately (for these locations in the industry use SZ and ROL). Extra long wires 27 are metal and preferably made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, but they can also be made of such a suitable material such as copper or copper alloy. Shirt 29 surrounds the cable braid 28 and protects the cable from moisture and other environmental influences. The jacket 29 is preferably made of non-conductive material such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. It should be mentioned that several elongated layers of foil shields and several elongated layers of elongated wires, you can mix and match with each other to provide additional electrical shielding and/or mechanical strength.
In Fig. 3 shows another electrical connection element according to the present invention, located in the cable 30 with numerous pairs of wires. The cable 30 has a tubular jacket 31 to the blanching, surrounding the four twisted pairs of insulated wires 32, 33, 34 and 35. The jacket 31 is made of a flexible polymeric material and preferably made by extrusion from the melt. For this you can apply any polymeric material that is normally used for the manufacture of the cable. Each insulated wire in the twisted pair has a conductor 36 by a layer of insulating material 37. The wire 36 may be a metal wire or any well-known metal wire used for wire and cable: copper, aluminum, aluminiumand and stale-copper. The preferred wire gauge according to AWG wires and wires: 18-26. The thickness of the insulating material 37 is not greater than 25 mils, preferably less than 15 mils, and in some applications even less than 10 mils.
According to the present invention an insulated electrical connection element is made by extrusion of a foam composition around the wire, and the foaming and expansion of the composition. In the method of foaming can be used for chemical and/or mechanical pore-formers, such as nitrogen, which are typically used for the manufacture of foam insulation in the manufacture of wires and cables. The polymer composition contains not more than 20 wt.% polymer with ultra high SRA above 55%. The presence of a polymer of ultra-high the ER provides good foaming properties for insulation. The polymer composition preferably contains at least one additional polymer, which is selected because of its good electrical characteristics and/or environmental stability. Polymers suitable for use in the present invention, it is possible to choose from any number of commercially available polymers that are commonly used in the manufacture of wires and cables, including polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene of low, medium and high density. For use as a component with ultra high SRA particularly preferred is a low-density polyethylene, preferably polyethylene having a density within the approximate values 0,915 - 0.930 g/scooter Optional component polymer is preferably polyethylene medium and/or high density. This additional polymer preferably has a high accelerated high temperature stability, determined by the time of the oxidative induction time of more than 15 minutes at 200aboutAccording to the method of 4568 by the ASTM.
The ability of the deformed polymer molecular chains to accumulate energy will affect the amount of swelling due to temperature and work. Such a polymer as a low density polyethylene (LDPE) with longer-chain and side branching will accumulate Bo is the more energy and recover at a higher rate after processing, than LDPE with similar molecular weight with shorter chains and with less lateral branching. The measurement of the recoverability may be determined by the degree of swelling of the extrudate (SRA) according to the following relationship
SRE (%)=[(ds-do)/do×100],
where ds- the outer diameter of the extruded material and do- inner diameter of the mouthpiece of the head plastometer extrusion according to ASTM D1238, dsand doyou can define in the measurement of the rate of melting (PP) plastometer extrusion. The diameter of the mouthpiece is measured at room temperature, usually before heating device. Get the diameter of the extrudate was measured after cooling to room temperature. The usual set of test conditions according to ASTM D1238 using a low-density polyethylene: temperature 190aboutWith the load of 2160 g
According to theory: the distribution of molecular weight (molecular weight/srednekislye molecular weight) also plays an important role in determining the properties of high SRA. During this study it was found that the compounds of LDPE with a molecular weight distribution that is equal to eight (8) or more, gave significantly higher SRA and elasticity of the melt, it is desirable for the formation of the foam dielectric isolation low the th density for elements of communication. Although these properties to a greater extent have based polymers LDPE manufactured by way of autoclave reactions, but these based polymers LDPE, get some tubular products, or other reactor products, can provide similar performance. The polydispersity or the value of electrosurgery (EA)determined according to the method of the company Equistar Chemicals, is also an indicator of the elasticity of the melt of polyethylene products. Methods of measuring the value of EA set forth in article R. Shroff, et al "New Measures of Polydispersity from Rheological Data on Polymer Melts", J. Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 57, pp. 1605-1626 (1995) and in U.S. patent 5534472; both sources are listed here as a reference. According to Table 1 materials with high CRE correlate with elevated values of EA and improved outcomes foaming.
The results of SRA LDPE-components
Material SRE (%) Mol.-mass.
the distribution. Predisp.
(the value of EO) Foaming
LDPE No. 1 51 7,1 the 1.44 Low
LDPE No. 2 61 8,0 1,58 Good
LDPE No. 3 76 9,9 2,34 Excellent
During this experiment were made in the assessment list of primary polyethylene compounds (high density polyethylene) and secondary polyethylene compounds with high SRA for electrical parameters in relation to the scattering coefficient of electrical molded sample size of 75 mils (of 0.075 inch). This parameter is also called "loss tangent". Meter HP/Agilent Model 4342A Q was used to measure the dissipation factor and dielectric constant at a frequency of 1 MHz. Usually this measurement is expressed in microradian or value multiplied by 10-6radians.
Component of medium-density polyethylene (PESP) is designated as "clean", i.e. having a low or zero content of antioxidants, stabilizers against the action of light; additives improve slip or antibioticsa additives. Polymers based on PASP with a high content of stabilizers or additives will not match the electrical criteria or properties of aging under the influence of the temperature set for the properties of optimal damping. In this respect, component-based high-density polyethylene (HDPE) foam dielectric mixture contains, minimally, environmental stabilizers and antiochis the teli, need to ensure long-term accelerated high temperature stability and resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking under the stress of foams mixture of HDPE/PASP. It is important to note that although the stabilizers needed for the characteristics of durability, but the introduction of these stabilizers are usually adversely affects the electrical damping. For the desired environmental stabilization with optimal properties attenuation preferred system consists of such primary high-performance phenolic antioxidant as Irganox 1010 or 1076 (Ciba Chemicals), and such secondary Fofanova joint stabilizer as Irgafos 168 (Ciba Chemicals). The combination of primary and secondary antioxidants provides a synergy effect and affect long-term accelerated high temperature stability of the foam products. In addition, stabilizing the system preferably includes a third multi function long-term stabilizer families of space-obstructed amines which serve as light stabilizers for polymers (PSAS), providing additional long-term environmental stability and protection from exposure to light (ultraviolet radiation). On the basis of the levels required for effective UV stabilization, it was assumed that additional PSAS-n is the load will adversely affect the dissipation factor (so - attenuation) HDPE used in the manufacture of coaxial cables. In Table 2 the results of the tests show that the coefficients of the scattering compounds HDPE containing different mixtures of primary and secondary antioxidants and PSAS not match that predicted by theory.
A mixture of antioxidants and PSAS used in this particular implementation, is the following:
- phenolic antioxidant Irganox 1010 - 200 parts per million, is ideal;
- a mixture of phenolic antioxidant-phosphite - 400 parts per million, is ideal;
family spatially difficult amines serving as a light stabilizers: Chimassorb 944 or Tinuvin 622 - 400 parts per million;
- calcium stearate - 600 parts per million
There are such industrial mix as Irganox B215 (Ciba), which also provide the right balance of primary and secondary antioxidants. Of course, to describe the state of the material can also be used mixtures of similar components from other manufacturers in various other concentrations.
Antioxidant systems and scattering coefficients
Component Coeff.
(micro
rad.) Molek.
weight They say
-masses.
distribution. The VOG,
200° The notes.
And 15 79500 6,7 36 min Density 0,963 (400 parts per million 1010 and 600 parts per million CaSt)
In 12 76400 5,1 17 min Density 0,952 (400 parts per million 1076 and 600 parts per million
CaSt)
19 76400 5,1 22 min HDPE In combination with complex
AO/PSAS
D 17 79500 6,7 36 min HDPE In combination with complex
LDPE 1 115 95000 5,3 < 2 51 SRA
LDPE 2 41 147000 8,0 < 2 min 61 SRA
LDPE 3 77 18000 9,9 < 2 min 76 SRA
Resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking under tension foam coaxial element diameter 0,180 inches with a Central residential stale-copper was tested according to the accordance with the prescribed test method wraps foam core around the mandrel, the diameter of which is one times the diameter of the test element. This test sample is subjected to a voltage level which is proportional to its diameter. According Fig. 4 the length of the cable core with an inner conductor surrounded by a foam dielectric, formed into a loop and tightly wound around the standing part of the core wires of the cable. This prepared sample is then subjected to temperatures of 100aboutWith, and periodically monitor until then, until you see cracks - Fig. 5. The results of these tests showing the effect of (1) enable PASP with high CRE and (2) a combination of primary and secondary antioxidants together with PSAS presented in Table 3.
Resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking under tension
(from Table. 2) Attitude
(Visp/
environments. pl.) The actual
(g/CC) Resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking
Under voltage
% violations/
HDPE - In and PASP 2 85/15 0,328 0% 1344 h
HDPE - D and PASP 2 85/15 of 0.332 0% 912 h
HDPE - and PASP 2 85/15 0,340 0% 2472 h
HDPE and PASP 2 85/15 0,323 90% < 48 hours
HDPE and PASP 1 70/30 0,361 90% < 72 h
HDPE and PASP 1 70/30 0,360 100% < 96 h
Figure 6 shows how the dissipation factor and the density of the insulation material effect on the attenuation. The top curve shows the attenuation depending on the frequency of isolation of the polymer composition with a dissipation factor of 40×10-6, expanded to two different densities (0,240 g/CC and 0.200 g/CC). The graphs for the two densities impose on each other. The second curve represents a polymer with a low dissipation factor of 22×10-6also foamed to the same two densities. It is seen that the reduced scattering coefficient provides a very significant reduction in attenuation at higher frequencies. While the graphics for the two densities appear superimposed on each other in this large-scale chart, but on an enlarged scale of this graph shows that the lower density has a lower cost is W. The present invention provides the ability to create high-quality, environmentally stable, low density structure of closed cells with low dissipation factor and the corresponding reduced attenuation.
These discoveries and their subsequent experimental implementation shows that the desired combination of high resistance to cracking under stress, low damping (dissipation factor and density), low cost (density) and stable, small and closed cell foam extrusion is possible to provide a stable, repeatable basis due to non-novel combinations of the above materials.
Because of the presents in the above description and associated drawings, the disclosure of the present invention to specialists in the art will be apparent that many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it is implied that these inventions are not limited to the disclosed variants identified here realizations, and that these modifications and alternative implementations are included in the scope of the attached claims. Used here, the terms are only genus and descriptive sense, but not for purposes of limitation.
1. The electrical connection element, stereomirror and the surrounding foam insulation, containing not more than 20 wt.% polymer having ultra-high degree of extrudate swell of over 55%, and at least one additional polyolefin composition having high accelerated high temperature stability, determined by the time of oxidation induction (VOG) more than 15 min at 200°C.
2. Electric element according to claim 1, in which at least one additional polymer is time oxidative induction over 20 minutes
3. The electrical connection element according to claim 1, in which the insulation is resistant to accelerated high temperature cracking under the strain, 100 h at 100°in rolled into a spiral state, subjected to a voltage whose level is 1 times the outer diameter of the insulation without radial or longitudinal cracks.
4. The electrical connection element according to claim 1, in which the insulation contains a polymer with an ultra-high die swell of at least one additional polymer, the diffusion coefficient which is lower than that of polymer with high degree of dispersion and less than 75 microradian.
5. The electrical connection element according to claim 4, in which at least one additional polymer has a dissipation factor of less than 50 microradian.
6. The electrical connection element according to claim 1, in which the insulation contains a polymer of ultra-high is the degree of swelling of the extrudate and at least one additional polymer, high accelerated high temperature stability, determined by the time of oxidation induction (VOG) more than 15 min at 200°and also having a dissipation factor of less than 75 microradian.
7. The electrical connection element according to claim 6, in which at least one additional polymer is a polyolefin high degree of stabilization containing phenolic antioxidants and/or mixture of phenolic antioxidant phosphite as sitosterolemia families of space-obstructed amines.
8. The electrical connection element according to claim 1, in which the foam insulation contains about 15 wt.% olefin polymer having a degree of swelling of the extrudate over 55%.
9. The electric connection element of claim 1, wherein the composition of at least one additional polyolefin has a dissipation factor lower than that of low density polyethylene and less than 75 microradian.
10. Coaxial cable containing the core wires of the cable comprising a Central conductor and surrounding the dielectric, and an outer conductor surrounding the said core wires of the cable in which the core wires of the cable formed by the electrical connection element according to claim 1.
11. Twisted pair cables containing at least two twisted pairs of insulated electrical wires, in which each of the isolated e is krichesky wires formed electrical connection element according to claim 1.
12. Electric communication cable containing the wire and the surrounding foam insulation containing a mixture of a first olefin having ultra-high degree of extrudate swell of over 55% and is present in an amount of not more than 20 wt.%, and at least one additional polyolefin, having high environmental stability, determined by the time of oxidation induction (VOG) more than 15 min at 200°C.
13. Electrical connection cable section 12, in which at least one additional polyolefin has a dissipation factor lower than the above-mentioned polyolefin ultra-high degree of swelling, and less than 75 microradian.
14. Electrical connection cable 13, in which at least one additional polyolefin is a polyolefin high degree of stabilization containing phenolic antioxidants and/or mixture of phenolic antioxidant phosphite as sitosterolemia families of space-obstructed amines.
15. Electrical connection cable section 12, in which the mentioned mixture of the first olefin and said at least one additional olefin has time oxidative induction (VOG) more than 15 min at 200°C.
16. Electrical connection cable 15, in which the said mixture has time oxidative induction longer than 20 min or more.
17. E. ectricity connection cable 12, in which the communication cable has a resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking under tension over 100 hours at 100°in rolled into a spiral state, when the voltage level of 1 times greater than the outer diameter of insulation, without the appearance of radial or longitudinal cracks.
18. Electric communication cable containing the wire and the surrounding foam insulation containing a mixture of a first olefin having ultra-high degree of extrudate swell of over 55% and is present in an amount of not more than 20 wt.%, and having a high degree of stabilization of polyolefin containing phenolic antioxidants and/or mixture of phenolic antioxidant phosphite together with sitosterolemia families of space-obstructed amines.
19. Electrical connection cable p, in which the mixture has time oxidative induction (VOG) more than 15 min at 200°C.
20. Electrical connection cable p, in which the mixture has a dissipation factor of less than 75 microradian.
21. Electrical connection cable p, in which the communication cable has a resistance to accelerated high temperature cracking under tension over 100 hours at 100°in rolled into a spiral state when the voltage level, 1 times greater than the outer diameter of insulation, without the appearance of radial or longitudinal cracks.
22. Electric is Abel communication p, in which the polyolefin ultra-high degree of swelling of the extrudate is about 15 wt.% mentioned mixture.
23. Electrical connection cable item 22, in which the polyolefin ultra-high degree of swelling of the extrudate is low density polyethylene.
Same patents:
Insulating composition // 2272330
FIELD: cable industry.
SUBSTANCE: proposed composition designed for insulating sheaths of cables and wires operating under high fire hazard conditions has following proportion of ingredients, part by mass: suspension polyvinyl chloride, 100; ester plasticizer, 35 - 65; lead stabilizer, 2 - 7; calcium carbonate, 5 - 45; aluminum oxide trihydrate, 20 - 100; antimony trioxide, 5 - 9; zinc oxide, 0.5 - 8; and newly introduced zinc borate, 0.5 - 8; calcium stearate, 1 - 3; calcium chloride, 0.1 - 2 or calcium oxide, 0.1 - 2.
EFFECT: enhanced fire resistance at low degree of smoke emission under fire conditions.
1 cl, 1 tbl
SUBSTANCE: proposed composition designed for insulating general industrial cable and wire sheaths to reduce fire occurrences due to inflammation of cables and wires has following ingredients, mass percent: polyvinyl chloride suspension, 100; ester plasticizer, 25 - 75; lead stabilizer, 1 - 7; calcium stearate, 0.7 - 3; diphenylolpropane, 0.1 - 0.8; zinc oxide, 0.5 - 8; zinc borate, 0.5 - 5; calcium chloride, 0.1 - 2 or calcium oxide, 0.1 - 2; calcium carbonate, 5 - 90; antimony trioxide, 0.5 - 9; and carbon black, 1 - 8.
EFFECT: reduced inflammability and smoke-forming capacity due to introduction of zinc oxide, zinc borate, and calcium chloride or calcium oxide.
Polymeric insulating composition and electric wire or cable covered with such composition // 2262145
FIELD: electrical engineering.
SUBSTANCE: proposed polymeric insulating composition given in description of invention together with description of cables and wires covered with such composition to ensure their excellent performance in service has 60 to 90 mass percent of copolymer A of ethylene and α-olefin produced by copolymerization with aid of concentric catalyst and 40 to 10 mass percent of polyolefin resin B other than copolymer A and includes polyolefin incorporating grafted substituents with dipole moment 4 D or higher. One of alternative compositions uses semiconducting composition as semiconductor layer. In particular cases ethylene and α-olefin copolymer is produced by polymerization with aid of Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
EFFECT: facilitated production.
Electric insulating composition // 2256968
SUBSTANCE: proposed composition designed for insulating and sheathing cables and wires meant for operation under high fire hazard conditions incorporates following ingredients, parts by weight: suspension polyvinyl chloride, 100; ester plasticizer, 30 - 70; tribasic lead sulfate, 2 - 6; calcium carbonate, 20 - 300; zinc oxide, 0.5 - 10; aluminum oxide trihydrate, 20 - 70; antimony trioxide, 3 - 8; zinc borate, 0.5 - 8; zinc stearate, 0.25 - 4. Zinc borate and stearate introduced in definite proportion into proposed composition have made it possible to improve fire-safety characteristics of the latter.
EFFECT: reduced emission of smoke and hydrogen chloride in burning, enhanced degree of inflammability.
Stabilized composition for insulating telecommunication cable // 2251170
FIELD: insulating materials for telecommunication cables.
SUBSTANCE: polyolefin insulation of conductors in hydrocarbon lubricant filled telecommunication cable which is then placed in junction box operating in the open is susceptible in particular to adverse impact of heat, oxygen, and moisture. In order to ensure reliable functioning of these conductors under mentioned conditions, use can be made of combination of one or more primary phenolic antioxidants chosen from N,N'-hexane-1.6-diilbis-(3(3.5-di-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxyphenylpropionamide)), tris(3.5-di-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)isocyanin-rhata, and tris(2-(3.5-di-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamoyloxy)-ethyl)isocyanourate together wit one or more alkyl hydroxyphenyl alkanoylhydrazine metal deactivators.
EFFECT: enhanced oxidation resistance of polyolefin insulation of conductors.
8 cl, 1 tbl, 1 ex
The invention relates to the field of electrical engineering, in particular to electrical insulating compositions for the manufacture of insulation Marco different cables, including insulation of heat-resistant wires and cables, and insulation of wires and cables for use in corrosive environments
The invention relates to a cable technique, namely, halogen-free polymer composition for insulation and sheath cables
Electrical wire or cable with insulation, and a method for its manufacture // 2231147
The invention relates to insulation for electric wires or cables
The invention relates to the cable industry, and in particular to compositions for the manufacture of insulation of different types of cables for electrical equipment, oil and other industries
The insulating composition for communication cables // 2220467
Cable covered with foam plastic insulation incorporating polymeric material characterized in superhigh degree of extrudate swelling // 2305873
Method and apparatus for manufacture of flat fiber-reinforced articles // 2309845
FIELD: process for manufacture of flat fiber-reinforced composite article which may be used as construction or packaging material.
SUBSTANCE: method involves placing fibers on lower substrate; applying liquid foam hardening binding agent onto fibers so as to completely coat fibers with binding agent; feeding fibers coated with binding agent and positioned between upper and lower substrates into space between upper and lower pressing plates continuously movable on upper side relative to lower side of fibers with binding agent, with fibers coated with binding agent moving at the velocity of pressing plates allowing binding agent to be foamed, expanded and hardened between upper and lower pressing plates; removing substrates from hardened article. Method further involves manufacturing cohesion fibrous mat from fibers. Before applying of binding agent onto mat, thickness of fibers makes from about 0.5 mm to about 0.8 mm, width - from 0.3 mm to 2 mm, and length of at least 80% of fibers makes at least 100 mm, moisture content of fibrous mat before application of binding agent is at least 5%. Method further involves applying binding agent onto mat so as to form mixture of binding agent and fibrous mat. Mixture contains fibers close to upper surface of mat, said surface facing upper pressing plates, and to lower surface of mat facing lower pressing plates. Mixture of mat fibers and binding agent is moved by means of upper and lower substrates between which said mixture is positioned. Before removal of substrates, mixture is exposed to pressure of from at least 0.8 bar but not in the excess of 5 bar to result in hardening of flat article having thickness of from about 10 mm to about 150 mm. Also described are apparatus for manufacture of flat fiber-reinforced composite article and flat fiber-reinforced composite rigid article.
EFFECT: minimized manufacture costs and improved quality of article having stable shape.
19 cl, 6 dwg
Method of manufacturing heat-insulated pipe // 2320484
FIELD: manufacturing heat-insulated pipes.
SUBSTANCE: method comprises manufacturing pipe that is composed of one or several inner pipes, outer pipe that is mounted concentrically and with a spaced relation to the inner pipe, and insulation that is mounted within the space between the inner and outer pipes and is made on the basis of polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams.
EFFECT: reduced cost and improved heat insulation.
5 cl, 2 dwg
Single-component moisture-curable polymer foamed material // 2418822
FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: foamed material consists of a single-component, moisture-curable composition containing at least one polymer P, having isocyanate groups and/or alkoxy silane groups, 10-60 vol. % of at least one gas and 10-30 wt % soot per total weight of the single-component foamed material which is curable in a moist medium. Application of the obtained foamed material is carried out primarily at temperature in the range of 10-40°C. The degree of foaming of the composition and, consequently, gas content of the single-component, moisture-curable foamed material varies during its application.
EFFECT: obtaining single-component, moisture-curable foamed material which can be used as an adhesive or a sealant/packing material for producing coatings or filling hollow structures with foamed material, particularly vehicles.
20 cl, 4 dwg, 1 ex
Method of producing sheet reinforced antifriction fluoroplastic billets // 2428314
FIELD: process engineering.
SUBSTANCE: invention may be used for production of long sheet reinforced fluoroplastic billets for friction assembly operated without lubrication. Polydisposed polymer film is produced from fluoroplastic-4 or from compositions based thereon. Strip mesh power are filled by said film by rolling said film on both sides. Produced sheets are wound on rolls to be fitted in limiting mandrels with no clearance. Billets are sintered at 643-653 K and pressure developed by expansion of fluoroplastic-4 and cooled down thereafter. Billets are withdrawn from mandrels and passed through rolls.
EFFECT: simplified procedure, expanded range of products.
2 ex
Production of heat-insulated pipeline, pipeline and plant for pipeline production // 2527783
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to production of crimped heat-insulated pipeline. Pipeline comprises at least one inner pipe, crimped outer pipe spaced therefrom and made of synthetic material and a ply of foamed synthetic material to fill the spacing between both pipes. First, ply of foam is applied to inner pipe to extrude outer pipe thereat. After extrusion of outer pipe, forming tools are used to make crimps on foam ply.
EFFECT: higher flexibility of pipe.
© Patent search, search for pacenow for inventions - russianpatents.com 2012-2019
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SARA MALTON
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“Recountings: On Dickens’ Financial Memory.” English Studies in Canada 38.2 (June 2012): 137-56.
A discussion of banking, culture, and memory in Dickens, focusing on the figure of Jarvis Lorry in A Tale of Two Cities (1859) and the way in which the novel envisions the bank’s institutionalization — as part of a healthy, vigorous economy — as a corrective to a history of financial and political turbulence. Click here to view full article.
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“‘Wretched Pleasure’: Revisiting Loss and Fulfillment in George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss.” Q/W/E/R/T/Y: Arts, Litteratures & Civilisations des Pays Anglophones 12 (October 2002): 67-73.
“‘The Woman Shall Bear the Iniquity’: Death as Social Discipline in Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native.” Studies in the Novel 32 (June 2000): 146–63.
“‘The Modern Vice of Unrest’: Railways, Mobility, and Fragmented Modernity in Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure.” The Hardy Review 2 (Summer 1999): 168–80.
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Matt Barnard
Matt Barnard is the co-founder and CEO of Plenty, an indoor farming company growing clean, delicious fruits and vegetables near the heart of local communities. Plenty farms utilize cutting-edge growing technologies and proven plant science to deliver just-picked, backyard-fresh fruits and vegetables that’s better for people and our planet.
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From Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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Richard Bratby
~ Classical music writer, critic and consultant
Between the Woods and the Water
Posted by richardbratby in Uncategorized
Holiday snaps, Joseph Roth, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Transylvania
We’ve been on our travels again; back to Transylvania. Patrick Leigh-Fermor and Miklos Banffy seemed to shadow us on the way – but other writers too.
“Up into the middle of it, straight ahead, a vertiginous triangle of steep roofs, spikes, tree-tops and battlemented cliffs rose like a citadel in an illuminated psalter”
“Back to Sighisoara! Back to Segesvar! Above all, back to Schassburg”
“The highest of three town walls looped downhill with battlements spaced out between jutting towers…”
“The level sward outside the west door of the church dropped in green waves of mingled forest and churchyard where the names of weavers, brewers, vintners, carpenters, merchants and pastors were incised on generations of headstones in obsolete German spelling. Under a scurry of clouds and suspended above hills and fields and a twisting riverbed, maintenance and decay were at grips in one of the most captivating graveyards in the world”.
But from our last visit, I remembered this particular family grave. Reading between the lines of the relationships, lives and deaths recorded on this black obelisk, it’s practically a Joseph Roth novella in précis.
Review: Roderick Williams & Susie Allen
Birmingham Post, Reviews, Roderick Williams, Tardebigge
Tardebigge Steeple – photo by Annette Rubery.
The Birmingham Post isn’t always able to post online everything that I’ve written for its print edition, so – after a suitable time lag (you should really go out and buy the paper!) – I’ll be posting my recent reviews here. As per the print edition, they’re all fairly concise – just 250 words. This is of a performance at Tardebigge in Worcestershire on Sunday 28 August.
For thirteen years Jennie McGregor-Smith and her team of helpers have brought some of the world’s finest singers to the Georgian church at Tardebigge, and persuaded them to champion a repertoire that – even if it’s no longer quite as endangered as it was back in 2004 – we still can’t afford to take for granted. The singers have ranged from Nicky Spence to Susan Bickley; the songs have spanned centuries and continents, with a remarkable list of world premieres and commissions. The welcome has been warm, the setting idyllic and the audience devoted.
No more. This was Celebrating English Song’s final concert, and it said everything about this wonderful little series that it turned out to be such a joyous occasion. The performers, Roderick Williams and Susie Allen, had a lot to do with that: Williams’s baritone is just so sunny, so graceful and so effortlessly expressive. He floated the opening lines of Butterworth’s Loveliest of Trees over Allen’s eloquent, understated piano in a single, rapturous arc; bringing out the cycle’s latent drama not with grand gestures, but with endless subtle shadings of the voice.
That set the tone for a concert designed to celebrate as many English-language song composers as possible in a mere two hours. Cycles by Butterworth, Ireland and Ivor Gurney anchored the programme; Quilter, Moeran, Warlock, Vaughan Williams and Britten also featured, as did Ian Venables – who took a bow in person. There was a gentle emphasis on local poets – Housman, Masefield, and Shakespeare – but this was as gloriously rich and diverse an afternoon as we’ve ever spent at Tardebigge, and if Williams’s cheerful attempts to get the audience to sing along in Gurney’s rum-fuelled Captain Stratton’s Fancy didn’t quite pay off, maybe it’s because this has always been more of a tea and cake crowd.
Finzi’s It Was A Lover And His Lass ended the official programme on a note of bright-eyed optimism. But there was one song left to sing: Gurney’s Sleep, a special request from Jennie herself – whose devotion and achievement in giving us these thirteen magical summers fully merited the ovation she received from audience and performers alike.
Review: CBSO and Mirga at the Proms
BBC Proms, Birmingham Post, CBSO, Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, Reviews
The Birmingham Post isn’t always able to post online everything that I’ve written for its print edition, so – after a suitable time lag (you should really go out and buy the paper!) – I’ll be posting my recent reviews here. As per the print edition, they’re all fairly concise – just 250 words. This is of a performance at the BBC Proms on Saturday 27 July.
No-one goes to the Proms for the sound quality. Even by London standards, the Royal Albert Hall has a poor acoustic – it’s like hearing a concert from half a block away. For Birmingham concertgoers, it’s impossible not to keep thinking how much better it’d sound in Symphony Hall. No, you go to the Proms for the atmosphere; to be part of one of the biggest classical audiences in the world, whose breathless silence in that vast space says more than any applause. And if you’re an orchestra, you go to the Proms to show what you’re made of.
And it’s hard to think of a better programme with which the CBSO could have introduced Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla to a London audience – demonstrating how once again, Birmingham’s picked a winner. Mozart’s Magic Flute overture can sound like a toy in the Albert Hall; but not at this voltage, with trumpets and timpani cutting thrillingly through vibrato-less strings.
Hans Abrahamsen’s song-cycle let me tell you offered a different sort of showcase: Andris Nelsons and the CBSO gave its UK premiere in 2014, and the soloist then – Barbara Hannigan – also sang tonight. Hannigan’s rapt, radiant singing in this modern masterpiece continues to captivate and astonish. What differed was Mirga’s more urgent sense of the piece’s drama, and the subtle, questioning way she clarified its textures: a less romantic approach than Nelsons’s, perhaps, but every bit as affecting. Amidst playing of breathtaking quietness and refinement, Adrian Spillett’s percussion team worked a special magic.
As for Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony – well, it’s probably too soon to start analysing Mirga’s fingerprints. But if it wasn’t, we’d pick out her refusal to play for easy thrills: building and controlling the tension of the musical argument in order to release it with thrilling power where it really counts. Plus, of course, the balletic grace and warm-hearted lilt she brings to a dance-rhythm or a melody – and the way the CBSO players seem to follow, body and soul, wherever she takes them.
The encore – a fizzy little number from Act Two of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty – was one of those joyous, perfectly-timed Proms moments that linger in the memory years later. “See you in Birmingham!” yelled Mirga after the final flourish. We’re already there.
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by Brandon Fox
You know you want the good stuff. It's time to break out the candy thermometer and start making your own delectable treats. Jean Marie Kennedy (left) of Simply Savory has been tempting customers at the South of the James market every Saturday since 2010, selling her handmade line of mustards, cheese spreads and heirloom candies.
"This has been the most fun I've ever had," she says. With a high-pressure day job in the tech industry, "I needed an outlet, something beyond what I was doing."
"My mother and grandmothers were excellent, from-scratch cooks and canners and welcomed help, even the grubby-kid kind," says Kennedy. She grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., and one of her most unusual items, sponge candy, is a local tradition there but mostly unheard of in Richmond. "The candies are things I grew up with — sponge candy, peanut brittle, good hot fudge sauce. All use good ingredients and are made like they were 100 years ago."
For the following recipes, you'll need a few key pieces of cooking equipment: a heavy pot with a lid, a heat-resistant silicon spatula and a candy thermometer. You'll need to watch temperatures carefully, but that's about the only tricky thing when it comes to making candy.
I combined several recipes to come up with this one. It's the best hot fudge sauce I have ever tasted, and it makes a great gift. Use the best quality chocolate chips you can find. I like Ghirardelli.
1 cup of corn syrup (Karo brand gives best results)
1 1/2 cups of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup of very strong coffee
1 pound of good quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec
Bring the corn syrup, sugar, cocoa powder and coffee to a boil, stirring constantly.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the chocolate chips, a cup at a time, until they melt. When the chocolate is completely melted, let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so.
Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the Cointreau. While still very warm, pour it into airtight containers. The recipe makes about 4 cups and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Brown Butter Caramels
Browning the butter gives a subtle nutty flavor to these delicious caramels.
1 up of corn syrup (Karo brand gives the best results)
1 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
1 vanilla bean, split and the seeds scraped from the pod
1 teaspoon of coarse salt
Butter and line a 13-inch by 9-inch inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Over medium heat, melt the butter in a heavy pot, stirring constantly. The butter will foam (this is the milk solids separating from the butter); you don't want the solids to sink to the bottom of the pan, or they will burn. When the butter is nutty smelling and light brown, remove it from the heat. Carefully pour away the clarified butter from the solids. You will need 3/4 cup of liquid butter for this recipe and will have some remaining in the pot.
Combine the butter, corn syrup, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water, and vanilla seeds and pod in a heavy pot. Stirring constantly with a heat-resistant silicon spatula, bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
Clip on a candy thermometer and keep stirring, scraping the corners to keep the syrup from scorching. When the temperature reaches 243 degrees, remove the pot from the heat. Remove the vanilla bean pod and stir in the salt.
Pour it into the prepared pan and cool at room temperature. Cut and wrap pieces individually in cellophane. You can store the caramels at room temperature for up to one week.
Also called "honeycomb candy," this candy is very popular in Buffalo, N.Y., where I grew up. It's a little tricky to make, because humidity really affects the results. For the most success, make this on a low-humidity day, and don't move the mixture after you have poured it onto the sheet pan.
1 cup of corn syrup (Karo brand gives the best results)
2 1/2 tablespoons of sifted baking soda (It's very important to sift!)
1 pound of chocolate melting wafers (available at For the Love of Chocolate)
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set it aside.
In a heavy pot with a lid, stir together the water, sugar and corn syrup. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil. Do not remove the lid or stir.
After 5 minutes of boiling, remove the lid and clip on a candy thermometer. Once the sugar syrup has reached 280 degrees, start stirring it with a heat-resistant silicon spatula continuously until the syrup reaches 310 degrees.
At 310 degrees, remove the pot from the burner and whisk in the baking soda. It will foam up. Keep whisking for at least 30 seconds. Don't try to touch it — it's really hot and will burn!
Use the spatula to help pour the candy from the pot onto the parchment-lined sheet pan. Do not try to smooth or spread the candy once it's on the pan.
Let the pan sit undisturbed until it's completely cooled, 3 hours or more, and then break the candy into pieces. (It's really difficult to cut.)
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over gently simmering water or in the microwave in 10-second bursts. Dip the candy pieces into the warm chocolate to coat. Let the chocolate set for an hour, then remove the candy pieces and store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Spicy Bacon Peanut Brittle
There are a lot of peanut brittle recipes out there. I like mine to be thin, bumpy with peanuts, and kicked up with cayenne and bacon. I use the Virginia brand Plantation Peanuts for this recipe, but the grocery store brand makes good candy, too.
3 cups of unsalted peanuts
12 ounces of bacon, cooked until crisp and drained on paper towels
1 cup of corn syrup (I use Karo)
1 1/2 teaspoons of coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or 1 teaspoon, if you like things HOT)
2 teaspoons of baking soda
Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit a sheet pan, turn the oven on to 350 degrees and put the empty sheet pan into the oven (leave the parchment paper on the counter for now). Place the peanuts in a microwave-
safe bowl.
Combine the water, sugar and corn syrup in a heavy pot. Bring it to a boil, clip a candy thermometer to the pan and cook on high for about 5 minutes or until 280 degrees is reached. Once you have placed the pot on the heat, do not stir the mixture at all.
As the sugar hits 280 degrees, microwave the peanuts on high for 4 minutes and cook the sugar, stirring constantly, until it reaches 320 degrees.
Remove the syrup from the heat and add the salt, vanilla, butter and cayenne, stirring thoroughly. Remove the peanuts from the microwave. Stir in the baking soda and then add the hot peanuts and bacon to the mixture.
Immediately, take your hot pan out of the oven, top with the parchment, and pour the mixture down the middle of the pan lengthwise. Spread it to the edges of the pan with a heat-resistant silicon spatula. Let the mixture cool completely, and break it into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Green Tea Ice Cubes
This exotically flavored candy gets its pale green color from matcha, a finely ground, powdered green tea. It can be found in Asian groceries and at Carytown Teas.
1 cup of confectioners' sugar
12 ounces of good quality white chocolate chips (Ghirardelli is my go-to brand)
1/2 cup of refined coconut oil (sold in a jar in the health food section of the grocery)
2 1/2 tablespoons of matcha
Butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper. Set it aside.
Sift the confectioners' sugar into a bowl and set aside. Melt the chocolate in a double-boiler over gently simmering water or put the white chocolate chips into a microwave-proof bowl, and heat in 10-second bursts, stirring each time, until the white chocolate is smooth and melted. Warm the coconut oil until it is liquid (no warmer than 85 degrees).
Combine the chocolate, coconut oil and matcha. Stir for at least 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and allow it to set at room temperature for about 2 hours.
Turn it out of the pan and cut it into squares. Dust them with the confectioners' sugar. Store at room temperature in a sealed container. They will be firmer after they rest, and are best eaten within a day or two.
Chocolate Mint Ice Cubes
3/4 cup of confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
12 ounces of good quality semi-sweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli is my go-to brand.)
1/2 cup of refined coconut oil (sold in a jar in the health food section of the grocery store)
10 drops of peppermint oil (I use LorAnn brand.)
Butter an 8-inch square baking pan, and line it with parchment paper. Set it aside.
Sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder, and set aside. Melt the chocolate in a double-boiler over gently simmering water or put the chocolate chips into a microwave-proof bowl and heat in 10-second bursts, stirring each time, until the chocolate is smooth and melted. Warm the coconut oil until it is liquid (no warmer than 85 degrees).
Combine the chocolate, coconut oil and peppermint oil. Stir it for at least 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and allow it to set at room temperature for about 2 hours.
Turn it out of the pan and cut it into squares. Dust them with the confectioners' sugar/cocoa powder mixture. Store the squares at room temperature in a sealed container. They will be firmer after they rest, and are best eaten within a day or two.
Coconut Caramels
1 16-ounce can of unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk
Butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
Stir the coconut milk thoroughly to break down the fat chunks into small bits.
Combine the water, sugar and corn syrup in a heavy pot. Bring it to a boil and cook on high for 5 minutes, with-
out stirring.
Clip on the candy thermometer. When the syrup reaches 280 degrees, stir constantly, until it's lightly browned and the temperature reaches 310 degrees. Reduce the heat to medium-high.
Add the coconut milk and salt to the hot syrup. Be careful — it will rise up and splash. Stirring continuously, bring to mixture to 243 degrees. Add the vanilla and stir thoroughly to incorporate.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and cool at room temperature. Cut it into squares and wrap them in individually in cellophane. You can store the caramels at room temperature for up to one week.
Beth Furgurson
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Climate Change is Pushing Lake Okeechobee’s Water Levels Higher — And that’s Bad News For Algae Blooms, Flood Risk
More powerful storms. Heavier extreme rainfall events. Storms with higher potential energy. These are the result of a human-forced warming of the Earth’s atmosphere. And South Florida finds itself sandwiched between heavier evaporation flows streaming off the Gulf of Mexico, a more volatilely stormy North Atlantic, and large rivers of moisture streaming in from the Southeast Pacific.
(Atmospheric water vapor levels over South Florida during late June of 2016. South Florida sits between numerous heavily laden atmospheric moisture flows. As human forced warming increases evaporation, these moisture flows expand, resulting in heavier rainfall potentials during storms over South Florida. This climate change dynamic is increasing over-topping flood risks for Lake Okeechobee even as the added heat and rainfall run-off enhances the potential for toxic algae blooms like the one now afflicting South Florida. Image source: Earth Nullschool).
And as these moisture-enhanced storms of climate change dump heavier and heavier rains over South Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, the choice appears to be one between flood risk or toxic algae blooms.
Flood Risk Worsens With Climate Change
Lake Okeechobee sits at the heart of South Florida. Covering 730 square miles, the lake is bounded on the north, east, and west by farms. Run-off from these farms streams into the lake, feeding the growth of algae blooms. As the Earth’s atmosphere and ocean warmed due to human greenhouse gas emissions, rainfall events over South Florida have grown more intense. This trend increases run-off from pesticide, phosphorous, and nitrogen rich soils which then swell the lake with these chemicals and compounds — many of which promote the growth of cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae).
The increasingly heavy rains also force lake levels higher. During Winter of 2016, the wettest January in South Florida’s climate record pushed Lake Okeechobee’s water levels to 16.4 feet above sea level by February. November through May is South Florida’s dry season. So abnormally wet conditions during a typically dry period greatly increased flood risk for communities surrounding the lake as South Florida entered its June through October wet season.
Heavy rains have continued through recent months and, in order to mitigate the heightened flood risk, the US Army Corp of Engineers has been pumping large volumes of the run-off enhanced, nutrient-rich waters out of the lake in order to relieve pressure on the Hoover Dike. The Dike, for its part, is a 132 mile system of levees surrounding the lake and preventing its waters from flooding local communities during heavy rainfall events.
(Lake Okeechobee [upper right of frame] and the algae-laden coastal waters of South Florida as seen in this June 26 LANCE MODIS satellite shot.)
Paul Gray, a scientist with Audubon Florida and Lake Okeechobee expert recently noted:
“One big storm would be a bad situation, really bad. We are nearing the heart of the tropical season and the corps knows they are one storm away from levels they are not comfortable with.”
To reduce pressure on the Dike, the Corps likes to keep Lake Okeechobee in a range of 12.5 to 15.5 feet above sea level. This creates a buffer zone to allow for the impacts of unexpectedly strong storms — like tropical cyclones — which can alone produce enough rainfall to push lake water levels between 1-4 feet higher.
At around 18.5 to 19.5 feet above sea level, the Hoover Dike system is under high risk of a breach or of over-topping. An event which would flood thousands of homes and businesses with 1-5 feet of water and generate a serious risk of loss of life.
So this year, with the dry season acting like the rainy season and with the rainy season now underway, the US Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing much larger volumes from the Lake in what some could call a frantic effort to keep water levels there in the safe range. These efforts, as of Thursday, July 7 produced a Lake Okeechobee water level of 14.93 feet — which was at the top edge of the safe zone. But the effort came at the cost of flushing nutrient rich waters into South Florida’s rivers and estuaries.
Mitigate Flood Risk and Toxic Algae Blooms Result
During recent years, heavy use of fertilizers has loaded up farmland soils surrounding Lake Okeechobee with phosphorous and nitrogen. As human-forced climate change has produced more extreme rainfall events over lands surrounding the lake, greater runoff of these nutrient-rich soils and chemicals into the lake has resulted.
Phosphorous levels, which government regulators like to keep in the range of 40 parts per billion in lake waters, has risen to 100 to 200 parts per billion. That’s 2.5 to 5 times the safe allowable level. And as the Army Corps of Engineers ramped up lake water outflows into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers during recent months, this influx of high nutrient lake waters helped to spur the large algae blooms now afflicting the region.
John Campbell, a spokesperson for the US Army Corps of Engineers recently noted that people often ask:
“‘Why didn’t you release more water?’ Well, this is what releasing more water looks like.”
Due to the increased water outflows from Lake Okeechobee, high nutrient levels hit river systems warmed to bacterial growth enhancing temperatures by climate change. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) populations in these river and estuary systems then exploded. Goo painted waterways green, putrescent mats of algae formed in calmer waters, and airs smelling of rotten eggs wafted up from the suffocating rivers. These explosive and toxic bacterial growths prompted a declaration of a state of emergency by Governor Rick Scott as four South Florida counties were heavily impacted by the algae blooms.
(Toxic algae blooms like this one have resulted in beach closures across South Florida. Human-caused climate change spurs an increasing incidence of such toxic algae blooms by increasing water temperatures, which enhances algae growth, and by spurring more extreme heavy rainfall events — which generates increased nutrient influx into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Image source: Surfrider.)
Directly, cyanobacteria can produce a number of toxins capable of harming animal and human organ systems. Most common toxins are neurotoxins and toxins that impact the gastrointestinal track — particularly the liver. In addition, large blooms can deprive waterways of life-giving oxygen. Such anoxic conditions spur fish kills and mass production of hydrogen-sulfide generating organisms — a powerful toxin which generates the sulfuric rotten eggs smell that many South Florida locations are now reporting.
Indirectly, the blooms are unpleasant, unsightly and result in beach closures. And since the blooms became widespread, South Florida has experienced losses to its tourist industry (see toxic algae chokes business) — one of the biggest revenue producers for the State. Yet one more example of how human-forced warming not only harms the health of the natural world, but also harms human systems that rely on such natural wealth and beauty to function.
(Large algae blooms spurred by rising water outflows from an increasingly flood-stressed Lake Okeechobee resulted in tourism industry losses during the Fourth of July weekend of 2016. However, residents are rightfully concerned over long-term health risks due to the algae blooms. Note that purple water in gaps between the algae as well as reports of ‘rotten eggs’ smell is circumstantial evidence of increasing concentrations of hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria that tends to thrive in the anoxic dead zones produced by the algae. Video Source: CBS Youtube.)
Conditions in Context
The US Army Corps of Engineers is now reducing Lake Okeechobee water outflows in an effort to limit harmful algae blooms over South Florida waterways and estuaries. Outflow levels, as of June 30 were cut by 35 percent. As a result, some of the nutrients feeding algae blooms will be removed from waterways. But it’s questionable if the large algae blooms can be entirely halted by this mitigation.
Warmer than normal temperatures and heavier than normal rains are expected over this region during the coming weeks and months and these conditions will add to bloom promotion even without a larger pulse of water coming from Lake Okeechobee. In addition, reducing water flows from the lake will again push the lake to rise. And that puts South Florida one large storm away from risking an over-topping of the Hoover Levee System.
Climate change, in this context, has therefore put South Florida in a tough bind between worsening algae blooms over its waterways or worsening flood threats from a swelling Lake Okeechobee. A more immediate problem juxtaposed to the longer term risk of sea level rise — a human-forced ocean invasion which could flood the whole of South Florida by or before the end of this Century.
Why Drain Lake O? One Storm Could Push it Over its Limits.
What is Causing the Toxic Algae Blooms in Florida’s Waterways?
Army Corps to Reduce Lake Outflows Fueling Toxic Algae Blooms
Toxic Algae Chokes Florida Tourist Industry
Earth Nullschool
LANCE MODIS
CBS Youtube
Hat tip to DT Lange
by robertscribbler on July 11, 2016 • Permalink
Tagged algae blooms, Army Corps of Engineers, Canfield Ocean, climate change, Environemnt, Eutrophication, extreme weather, Florida, global warming, Heavy Rainfall, Hoover Levee, Human Hothouse, human warming, Lake Okeechobee, science, South Florida, South Florida State of Emergency, Toxic Algae Blooms, weather
Posted by robertscribbler on July 11, 2016
https://robertscribbler.com/2016/07/11/climate-change-is-pushing-lake-okeechobee-water-levels-higher-and-thats-bad-news-for-algae-blooms-flood-risk/
Coastal Cities, Critical Infrastructure Unprepared to Face the Rising Tides of Climate Change
Another Global Warming Enhanced Heatwave is on the Way — 111 Degree (F) Temperatures Predicted For Central US
If people haven’t, it’s worth your while to check out the last link in this excellent (yet again) article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Hoover_Dike
The Hoover Levee system was erected after two storms killed thousands of people in the ’20’s–when only a tiny fraction of the current population lived in south Florida. If that system collapses in another super storm, what would the death toll be with the current extremely high density down there now?
As far back as our records go, Alaska has never had a 3-year heatwave like this.
(Via Rick Thoman, NWS Alaska) pic.twitter.com/sw1U5eeEmg
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) July 11, 2016
Ah, South Florida; another canary.
Dear John McK. I haven’t spotted a canary in quite some time. Could they all be extinct?
Gov. Rick Scott has or had a standing order that none in his administration could use the term “climate change”. It was a pathetic thing to watch in practice.
I wonder if that numbskull is starting to second guess that command, if indeed it is still standing.
Honestly, we could not have worse leadership.
Seconded. I don’t think you can call it leadership if you’re unable to recognize a problem like climate change. We matter more than dollars and cents. And externalizing harm is basically a plan to drive everything off a cliff. The economic theory Scott’s ideology is based on is pure nonsense.
His coffers are filled by the sugar cane industry. That is why he rescinded his predecessors efforts to buy farmland to provide more area to filter / allow the water to clean up. He is a bought man who does their bidding. Thus farm run off will not change.
I used to think of Money as the Universal Lubricant or Universal Solvent, but, in fact, it is the Universal Pollutant.
Great post, Robert. A perfect example of how climate change affects everything.
Thanks Ryan. This particular event appears to have caused a good deal of confusion. Lots of people putting the Army Corps of Engineers into a no-win situation. This is just what happens when the lake’s flood protections start to be overwhelmed and when unsustainable farming practices meet with increased run-off due to heavier downpours in a warmer world. And, yeah, it’s pretty much all connected.
We’re in the midst of serious global heat. We just set the record for warmest 12 month period nine months in a row.
“2014 and 2015 each set the record for hottest calendar year since we began measuring surface temperatures over 150 years ago, and 2016 is almost certain to break the record once again. It will be without precedent: the first time that we’ve seen three consecutive record-breaking hot years.
But it’s just happenstance that the calendar year begins in January, and so it’s also informative to compare all yearlong periods. In doing so, it becomes clear that we’re living in astonishingly hot times.
June 2015 through May 2016 was the hottest 12-month period on record. That was also true of May 2015 through April 2016, and the 12 months ending in March 2016. In fact, it’s true for every 12 months going all the way back to the period ending in September 2015, according to global surface temperature data compiled by Kevin Cowtan and Robert Way. We just set the record for hottest year in each of the past 9 months.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/jul/11/we-just-broke-the-record-for-hottest-year-9-straight-times
A look at the 1-month change in #Arctic sea ice concentration. Particularly, the Kara/Chukchi Seas have opened… pic.twitter.com/tUgkWYYLlu
— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) July 11, 2016
Colorado fracking study finds faulty wells caused water contamination. By @neelaeast https://t.co/y5vPussJ5H pic.twitter.com/fMto3S9OSs
— InsideClimate News (@insideclimate) July 11, 2016
Live on CSPAN-2: Senators expose the fossil fuel industry's #WebOfDenial and climate deceit https://t.co/ct1hMsjHkU pic.twitter.com/pkFu0NI8Pk
— Climate Nexus (@ClimateNexus) July 11, 2016
– Koch Industries formerly Koch Nitrogen — as N plus phosphorus = algae feeding fertilizer whether in a ‘spill’ or everyday runoff.
‘Koch Brothers’ Congressman Seeks To Block Efforts to Prevent Chemical Catastrophe’
Republican congressman Mike Pompeo of Kansas, who represents Wichita, seems to be doing the bidding of the Koch Brothers once again: He has introduced legislation to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing or enforcing a rule to improve the safety of America’s most dangerous chemical plants. Wichita is the home of Koch Industries, which has been the most aggressive opponent of efforts to make these plants safer.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/koch-brothers-congressman_b_10932984.html
What's the long-term trend? Latest global mean sea level time series via https://t.co/dItUk9Cz9v (updated 6/30) pic.twitter.com/Pk1Pl8vPKh
As Wili pointed out above The Hoover Levee system, is very old, and like all infrastructure in this country, in need of much repair.
3 Troubling Lake Okeechobee Levee Facts
1. The levee is expected to fail. I know that sounds bad, and it is. FEMA is apparently planning to update flood assessments this summer and redraw flood maps for Palm Beach and Martin counties. These flood maps are expected to be drawn as if the levee around Lake Okeechobee didn’t exist. In other words, they are not counting on the levees to protect against flooding.
2. The Herbert Hoover Dike is in the highest failure category of the Army Corps risk scale. Current efforts are being directed at reducing the risk category, but as it stands (and even after millions of dollars worth of improvements) the levee protecting the area still carries the highest risk classification (DSAC 1) of any dam in the United States.
3. There is no emergency spillway, nor is one planned to be built…
http://www.hurricaneanalytics.com/2013/02/three_levee_fact/
– “the dyke is now operating as a dam.”
PDF]The Herbert Hoover Dike – Lloyd’s
“And this brings us to the key concern; the dyke is no longer being used
solely as a levee to protect the area
from flooding when storms are in the
vicinity but also to hold a permanent reserve of water. The lake is being
used as a reservoir and therefore the dyke is now operating as a dam.
LLOYD’S EMERGING RISKS TEAM REPORT. THE HERBERT HOOVER DIKE. A DISCUSSION OF THE VULNERABILITY OF. LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO LEVEE …
http://www.lloyds.com/~/media/lloyds/reports/360/360%20climate%20reports/lake_okeechobee_report.pdf
“the dyke is now operating as a dam.”
That is a tremendous distinction. A dyke that is intended for floods is not exposed to constant pressure and erosion.
When I think of a flood control dyke / channel I think of “Duffs Ditch” aka the Red River Floodway, not a bloody standing pool of water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Floodway
We built this problem. There was a time when overflow from Lake O simply seeped south across the Everglades. This mostly seasonal flow of water floated on top of the salt water below and maintained a fresh, high quality, aquifer that supplied population centers in South Florida.
The other side of the discharge to the sea is that there is less fresh water for the Everglades ecosystem, AND less water AND lower quality water for South Florida population centers.
Catherine McKenna, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in the Canadian federal government, is holding a series of town halls across the country this summer to “engage citizens, including indigenous peoples, in a discussion on clean growth and climate change. The purpose….is to raise awareness of climate change issues and get communities across the country involved in finding viable solutions. Feedback….will contribute to Canada’s approach on climate change.”
A recent town hall in Ottawa met with some opposition from Tom Harris of the Ottawa-based International Climate Science Coalition which does not believe that climate change is human-caused. Harris’ group accuses the govt of turning the town hall process into “pep rallies” and of “loading up the events with propaganda.” Harris wrote up his complaint for The Toronto Sun.
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/07/10/town-halls-on-climate-change-are-a-setup
Here is the Canadian govt’s portal on climate change. There is quite a bit of info here, for a range of audiences, including the presentation that Tom Harris found so one-sided and hence objectionable.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/cc/Default.asp?lang=En&n=9853BFC5-1
Federal environment minister to hold public town hall in Yellowknife park Monday
In Jean Marie River, N.W.T., community members are worried about their country food. Scientists and hunters say diet is threatened by thawing permafrost, which is gradually turning lichen-rich forested and shrubbed areas — where caribou come to feed — into wetlands, even lakes and ponds.
And last year, scientist warned of a potential flash flood due to thawing permafrost.
Steve Kokejl, a permafrost scientist with the N.W.T. government, warned of a potentially “catastrophic lake drainage” at a remote lake just south of the treeline, about 20 kilometres away from Fort McPherson, where thawing permafrost was encroaching on the banks of a small lake.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/catherine-mckenna-in-yellowknife-1.3672838
The Trudeau regime is ideologically identical to the Harper infestation, but with a smiling front-man, rather like the Obama long con. Don’t expect anything useful from laffing boy, Justin.
Right again, MM. As many of us knew from before the start, JT is but a poser, and a pawn of the powers that drive energy and economic policy in Canada. His sole purpose is to look cute and talk nice, and thus to take our minds off the continuing corporate takeover of this country.
New post from Dr. Rood on SLR –
When Chicago is Capital
One of my favorite questions to ask students on exams is about the Great Lakes region as a climate winner. Something like, you are a mayor in a midsize city on Lake Michigan. Over the last three decades your town has established itself as the poster child of the Rust Belt. After watching a scientist talk about climate change, you decide your city should be a climate winner. You have water, lots of water. And, well, you have never heard anyone complain about how hot it is in the winter or, really, the summer. How can you use climate change to rebuild your city?
As my reader will know, I have become a bit focused on our commitment to several feet of sea-level rise. Flying into Chicago earlier this year, seeing the city on the clear, ice-free lake, well, it will not be too long until we are talking about moving the U.S. capital. Or will we build the Potomac barrier? The Patuxent Barrier? The Patapsco Barrier? The Piscataway Barrier? The Pohick Barrier? What about the Point No Point Barrier?
Nice, but there aren’t going to be any winners, unfortunately.
Dear Colorado. I’ve no idea which Prophet wins. JH Kunstler or Cormac McCarthy. Or SO many others. Today reminds me of Gore Vidal’s quip: The four most beautiful words in the English language are “I told you so.”
Climate change: Advisers warn of climate change domino effect
Climate change could have a domino effect on key infrastructure in the UK, government advisers have warned.
In a 2,000-page report, the Climate Change Committee says flooding will destroy bridges – wrecking electricity, gas and IT connections carried on them.
The committee also warns that poor farming means the most fertile soils will be badly degraded by mid-century.
And it says heat-related deaths among the elderly will triple by the 2050s as summer temperatures spiral.
The projections are based on the supposition that governments keep promises made at the Paris climate conference to cut emissions – a pledge that is in doubt.
The committee says if emissions are allowed to spiral, London summer temperatures could hit 48C (118F) in an extreme scenario, although the advisers say they don’t expect that to happen.
Lake Okeechobee – July 6:
Bloom in Lake Okeechobee https://t.co/e9oIOxcqec #NASA pic.twitter.com/tLSPUFbCss
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) July 6, 2016
Natural versus man-made water flow from Lake Okeechobee. #algaebloom via @WeatherProf pic.twitter.com/nKEvbHKsH2
— John Morales (@JohnMoralesNBC6) July 7, 2016
On the left A Sea of Grass. On the right A Latrine.
Not your everyday satellite image: band of cloud (moisture) streaks 10,000 km from Sri Lanka to NZ –> #bigwet. pic.twitter.com/ZWOJuWBdrz
— Niwa Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 12, 2016
– Dahr Jamail’s latest:
Biblical Flooding, Crocodiles in the Arctic and Warning Signs on North America’s Highest Mountain
I recently visited Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America and my favorite place on the planet, for the first time in 13 years. Prior to working full time as a war reporter, I lived in Alaska for nearly a decade, where my life revolved around spending my summers mountaineering in the Alaska Range.
There have been mosquitos at basecamp at 7,200 feet on the Kahiltna Glacier for the last two years — something that had never happened before. We had instructions to wear helmets at two areas of the route where falling rocks have now become common. One of those sections is located between 17,200 and 18,200 feet, which means rocks and boulders that have been frozen solid in ice for thousands of years are now melting out and falling onto the climbing route not far from the summit of North America’s highest mountain. The lower glacier has melted down more than 50 feet in just a decade in some areas…
Another long-time Denali mountaineering ranger told me of a phenomenon on Mt. Crosson, a mountain nearby Denali, where rock and soil that are becoming increasingly exposed by melting glacier are blowing onto the ice — which is accelerating the melting, as the rock and soil warm and melt more ice.
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/36667-biblical-flooding-crocodiles-in-the-arctic-and-warning-signs-on-north-americas-highest-mountain
– I found the following comment to Dahr’s piece interesting — as the early 1970s was when I personally felt the climate change around me but had no vocabulary to quantify it.
– drift2boat • 5 hours ago
To me, an over riding issue is crop failure, either by outright non production or non-edibility due to toxicity. Dahr at least mentioned those concepts. In the fall 2014 issue of California Monthly, Stacy Finz reported that deciduous tree crop yields and quality of yield have been decreasing since the 1970s in yield and quality of yield per tree; and that the some crops in parts of California have experienced total failure due to too warm winters for vital winter processes to occur. An example given was the failure of the cherry crop in parts of California due to too warm a winter. Cherries are a non-vital crop to the welfare of society but not so for wheat. The link Dahr gives lists wheat as a vital crop that in parts of the world has been un-edible due to aflatoxins. Collapse of civilization due to crop failure is not going to be sudden. Crop failures have always been with us but are increasing so that they affect larger and larger areas, making it harder to move vital foods around to meet the needs of people in areas where crops have failed. When are failures of essential crops going to become large enough to get the attention of Americans?
dt, to answer your question:
When food shortages start hitting our dinner tables and our favourite eateries.
When foods we North Americans take for granted start to disappear.
When the range and variety of foods we see in supermarkets dwindle.
When meat prices start rocketing out of reach.
When unreliability of supply becomes the norm.
When fish starts disappearing.
When food becomes dangerous—toxic, contaminated, etc.
When hunger becomes a reality for people in your neighbourhood.
That’s when, and only when, the majority of people on this continent are going to look around and wonder what’s up.
Good points, Cate. But of course, hunger is already a reality for many people in many neighborhoods throughout the US. I volunteer at a soup kitchen (though we prefer the term ‘community meal’ and it is busy every day, and getting busier.
wili, yes of course. To our shame both in the US and Canada, hunger is a reality for many in North America. But to too many people, it is still invisible, confined to certain areas—inner cities and so on. When it becomes visible everywhere, that’s when people *may* wake up to the reality of climate change.
wili, I would add as well that community food banks, for example, have been well-established in my own area for decades, but have been used mostly low income earners. However, as the oil bust bites hard, we are now seeing more middle-income users. The fact remains that no food bank use so far has had to figure in the effects of crop failures and consequent shortages and disappearances of foods that climate extremes will bring.
We need to electrify everything that currently runs on FF or we are doomed for sure. Airplanes are critical for this as RS recently scribbled. An update, thanks to Peter Sinclair and a recent interview with Fully Charged about the subject. In addition to the obvious with regards to pollution, and noise, some advantages to an electric aircraft include that they aren’t prone to cold shock which can crack ICE engines when changing altitude, they don’t require oxygen so you can go to higher altitudes, they get more power per kilogram and don’t need to adjust mixture controls when changing altitude. The technology is evolving rapidly in the small plane category.
https://climatecrocks.com/2016/07/10/the-weekend-wonk-electric-aircraft-take-flight/#more-36690
The vast majority of air travel is non-critical, unnecessary, and even what can only be called frivolous. Most meeting can easily happen on skipe these days. There is no pressing need for people to travel hundreds to thousands of miles so they can bore friends and relatives with facebook selfies of themselves in front of some monument. Photoshop it for X’s sake! ‘-)
Really, a lot of what we have to ‘do’ is to STOP doing idiotic pointless things that gobble up vast quantities of stuff fossil-death-fuels that we really shouldn’t be using any of for pretty much any reason.
But yes, for the few really critical purposes for air travel, these are a good idea.
Ken Provost
I’ve always thought lighter-than-air would be the way to go for future energy savings. Probably hot air, tho I saw recently that a large reservoir of helium has been found in Africa.
Plenty of lift for batteries, and all they have to do is run a few smaller props. You might even cover the topside with PV to keep the batteries charged.
Kind of like taking a train, speedwise, but they would be the “exotic” way to travel 🙂
wili, absolutely agreed that most air travel is now non-essential and yes, frivolous—the hallmark of a lifestyle of over-consumption and self-indulgence. It’s not just about going from FF to electric air, it’s also about the expectations we have around travelling, and what will be the effects of more and more people demanding the “right”—-which is really a privilege—-to travel when, where, and how they like all over the planet.
Pressured by environmentalists and worried about big losses from a troubled industry, many large banks and other lenders have made a hasty retreat from coal mining in recent years.
But even in these ‘dark times’, there was one bank that many coal miners could still count on for financing and advice: Deutsche Bank.
Not any longer.
The German banking giant is pulling back from the embattled coal sector, another sign of the increasing risks for banks that finance industries that contribute to climate change.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/08/business/dealbook/deutsche-bank-pulls-back-from-deals-in-coal-mining-sector.html
Deutsche Bank is also, co-incidentally or not, bust.
4.13 ppm this is getting alarming!
Daily CO2
July10, 2016: 405.59 ppm
July 10, 2015: 401.46 ppm
Well,Shawn. I would certainly love to believe this as an El Nino hangover. 41.3ppm/decade, anyone?
Kevin, and more, if that annual rate of rise in ppm is increasing. This is unthinkable.
To add to DT’s comment up thread about the web of denial being exposed in the senate.
“The web is so big, because it has so much to protect,” said the Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who bookended the first evening of speeches.
The senate heard how fossil fuel companies such as ExxonMobil, Peabody Energy and the billionaire oil brothers Charles and David Koch had funnelled millions into groups that had spread doubt about the causes of climate change.
In a resolution also being tabled, the upper house will be asked to acknowledge that the fossil fuel industry had done just what the tobacco industry had done – “developed a sophisticated and deceitful campaign that funded think tanks and front groups, and paid public relations firms to deny, counter, and obfuscate peer-reviewed research” and “used that misinformation campaign to mislead the public and cast doubt in order to protect their financial interest.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2016/jul/12/us-senators-detail-a-climate-science-web-of-denial-but-the-impacts-go-well-beyond-their-borders
– The denier/liars have been at it a long time too.
That’s why denialism exists, will NEVER go away and, if anything, is increasing in Anglosphere dystopias. The value of fossil fuel ‘assets’ on the books of mega-corporations, including the banks, insurance and other financial corporations is in the tens of trillions. That ‘asset wealth’ under-pins the entire omnicidal edifice of end-stage Free Market fundamentalist capitalism. Reduce the value of that to zero, as we need to do by NOT extracting and combusting it, and capitalism collapses. The Bosses will GLADLY kill off 99% of humanity to protect their wealth and power, and take their chances on surviving the ecological collapse.
It’s sad to admit, but you’re right, Mulga. The value of known fossil fuel reserves is so high that we will always see a well funded and pervasive attempt to dismiss climate change and also insist we need fossil fuels in order to support our economy and provide prosperity, or some other BS like that.
Ryan and MM, sadly agreed as well, esp the comment about the Bosses taking their chances on survival: lcorporatists are essentially psychopaths and so consider themselves invincible in the first place, and in the second place, they believe that money will fulfill all their wildest dreams—this is why we see them experimenting with space travel, which has nothing to do with “tourism” and everything to do with their last-ditch escape plan in the event of planetary catastrophe.
Oh, the Bosses even have a plan:
From The Coming Arctic Boom, by Scott Borgerson – former David Rockefeller Visiting Fellow at the (Rockefeller supported) Council on Foreign Relations:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/global-commons/2013-06-11/coming-arctic-boom
“And it’s not all bad. In the Arctic, it is turning what has traditionally been an impassible body of water ringed by remote wilderness into something dramatically different: an emerging epicenter of industry and trade akin to the Mediterranean Sea. The region’s melting ice and thawing frontier are yielding access to troves of natural resources, including nearly a quarter of the world’s estimated undiscovered oil and gas and massive deposits of valuable minerals. Since summertime Arctic sea routes save thousands of miles during a journey between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic also stands to become a central passageway for global maritime transportation, just as it already is for aviation.”
The plan is to retreat to the Arctic, while the rest of humanity dies off, and cruise around the area “akin to the Mediterranean Sea” , I think. The oil tankers will be converted to water tankers, and deliver water to the thirsty hordes in Southeast Asia and Africa – it says so in Foreign Affairs, so it must be true.
That their “Mediterranean Sea” could become a hydrogen sulfide producing cesspool covered with purple bacteria with methane geysers shooting up out of it from dissociating methane hydrates doesn’t seem to have occurred to them. Or, maybe they have that figured out, too – will the polar oceans be the last to become anoxic?
Here’s a link to the full text of the Borgerson artice “The Coming Arctic Boom”, without going through the registration process at Foreign Affairs:
http://www.martinbreum.dk/artikler/The%20Coming%20Arctic%20Boom.pdf
I think myself that this article is as close to a view into the minds of the Rockefeller clique as we’re going to get. It comes from Scott Borgerson, a visiting fellow at the CFR think tank – and David Rockefeller gifted the CFR with at least 25 million dollars during it’s recent fund raising drive. David Rockefeller is a former chairman of the CFR, and remains its Chariman Emeritus. Borgerson testified before Congress, was interviewed by fellow CFR member Dan Rather on CBS, published a series of op ed articles in major newspapers, and participated in round table discussions about the Arctic with Senator John Kerry, who subsequently started echoing many of Borgerson’s talking points.
Americans might not read Foreign Affairs, but foreign governments certainly do. So, is this a real plan to profit from the destruction of most of the earth’s biosphere? I think we have to assume it is.
The article really does propose disaster capitalist exploitation of the melting Arctic, including shipping Arctic water in converted oil tankers to Southeast Asia and Africa:
“The coming Arctic boom will involve more than just mining and drilling. The region’s Boreal forests of spruces, pines, and firs account for eight percent of the earth’s total wood reserves, and its waters already produce ten percent of the world’s total fishing catch. Converted tankers may someday ship clean water from Alaskan glaciers to southern Asia and Africa.
The Arctic’s unique geography is an asset unto itself. Viewed from the top of the globe, the region sits at the crossroads of the world’s most productive economies…”
This ExxonMobil / Rockefeller clique seems to deal in selective propaganda aimed at different groups.
For the ignorant, there is simple denial, produced by the ExxonMobil web of deceit.
For the greedy, here we have the promise of Arctic riches, produced by the Rockefeller supported Council on Foreign Relations.
Those are some downright disturbing views, Leland. And a great example of how the elite view this world. The majestic and awe-inspiring forests of the North are simply “wood reserves”, as if it’s dead already and worthless until chopped up and sold in the global market. When will we realize that these people are stealing our future and literally killing the biosphere? When future generations have nothing left, struggle for basic survival and tell stories about what the Earth used to be like…thick forests full of magical animals that took tens of millions of years to evolve, oceans full of life and vibrant with color and splendor, stable weather that was predictable and reliable for growing crops, and Winter, oh how Winter used to be so wonderful.
Hi Ryan-
The investigative reporter Greg Palast believes that our elites generally have a published plan for the actions they support. Publishing it, generally in a limited access forum, provides deniability if someone starts to publicize and react negatively to the contents of the plan. The claim can then be made that the plan is just the author’s opinion, and nothing more. So publishing the plan is a way of hiding it in plain sight.
Greg Palast claimed that our invasion of Iraq to depose Saddam Hussein actually had two plans, kept secret in that case. One was an Israeli associated Neoconservative plan promoted by people like Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz,. Another was a plan written by Jim Baker’s think tank in Texas, supported by the oil industry, and the Baker plan ultimately won and was adopted:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4354269.stm
I think that this series of articles by Scott Borgerson of the Council on Foreign Relations think tank is the actual Rockefeller / ExxonMobil clique plan for the greening and exploitation of the Arctic.
Only they forgot to include the methane hydrates and a methane catastrophe in the plan.
I agree with you that the conceptual and semantic frames of the Borgerson articles are the most disturbing aspects of them. Of course resources are meant to be exploited, the articles assume. Of course the Arctic will simply heat up, and become a new Mediterranean sea – complex ecological effects like ocean acidification, eutrophication, and anoxia are simply left out. Of course the rest of humanity should be left to suffer and die, while a small group of people profit from the economic exploitation of the Arctic. Of course the genesis of the warming is unimportant – who cares that the Rockefeller / ExxonMobil clique profited from creating the global warming in the first place? Of course the Arctic profits are the most important aspect of this problem – with no mention of the gigantic costs to the conventional economy of global warming itself and adaptation to it. Of course the warming will not get out of hand and a low level runaway greenhouse effect and methane catastrophe will not ensue – this clique employs experts to tell them what they want to hear, and then this clique believes what the experts say.
The conceptual and semantic frames of the article, and of the entire output of the Council on Foreign Relations, are really deeply disturbing and repugnant to many of us.
Crushed another record yesterday , old record was 104F. New record is 15F degrees above average, overnight lows running 12F degrees above average.
LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) –
After a record day of 108 degrees more heat headed for the South Plains. I expect highs to stay at or above 100 degrees through Friday of this week.
Here’s the numbers for the week, Tuesday 105, Wednesday 104, Thursday 101 and 100 degrees to end the week of summer heat.
http://www.kcbd.com/story/32421027/first-alert-weather-day-dangerous-record-heat-expected-tuesday
The methane hot spot map DTL posted up thread in Colorado ;
This thing is right in the middle of that area –
40 years of NOAA emissions research at Erie tower coming to an end
The blinking lights on a 300-meter tower where scientists have measured emissions from oil, gas and agricultural operations in Erie for nearly four decades are going dark by the end of the month as researchers are reluctantly decommissioning the facility.
Robert Webb, director of the Physical Science Division at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Earth System Research Laboratory, notified scientists of the looming loss in a letter dated June 14.
The tower in question, known as the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory, is actually situated just northeast of Erie High School, north of Erie Parkway and between Weld County Roads 5 and 7. The 100-acre parcel of land on which it’s located is owned by the Colorado State Land Board, and has been leased to NOAA for many years.
http://www.dailycamera.com/science_environment/ci_30098438/40-years-noaa-emissions-research-at-erie-tower
– Yes, the Daily Camera. Many visits there years ago as I had relatives working there. Was a Knight-Ridder (honest media) paper.
‘Development’ is part of the reason for the tower’s demise:
“Negotiations to extend that lease have been ongoing for the past couple of years, but Webb’s letter states, “In the midst of these negotiations, the State of Colorado notified NOAA of their plans to reclaim the property for other purposes and/or begin commercial development.”
– Speaking of falling towers:
Why #Taitung City's peak gust only 111 kt. Tower fell 4:30 am, b4 worst winds. (Pic sent by fan.) #Typhoon #NEPARTAK pic.twitter.com/o6CPnDztSC
— Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) July 11, 2016
‘Development’ is how the cancer cell describes its life’s work.
Sugar’s decades-long hold over Everglades came with a price
The industry spent more than $57 million over 22 years to influence Florida campaigns
Records show Big Sugar was consistently one of the largest contributors to both Republicans, Democrats
Industry’s clout helped it to transfer clean-up costs and postpone deadlines
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article88992067.html#storylink=cpy
– Historical note: It was brutal slavery that begat this sugar industry.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0712/How-climate-change-is-altering-Earth-s-cloud-cover
How climate change is altering Earth’s cloud cover
Shifting cloud patterns bear the hallmarks of a warming world, and will likely contribute to global warming going forward.
An analysis of satellite data between 1983 and 2009 reveals that cloud tops are reaching higher into the atmosphere and that cloudy storm tracks are shifting toward Earth’s poles, confirming the predictions of climate change models. Both these trends suggest that clouds will be exacerbating – rather than mitigating – climate change.
” An analysis of satellite data between 1983 and 2009 reveals that cloud tops are reaching higher into the atmosphere and that cloudy storm tracks are shifting toward Earth’s poles, “
Two things that these findings explain,
#1 More, and larger hail storms.
#2 More flooding in Canada , Russia, & Northern Europe
Bill H
Bob, Also greater incidence of lightning due to greater charge separation as the cloud height increases.
Also, greater incidence of lightning arising from increased charge separation with increased height of clouds….
…leading to more fires.
3 More flooding in Tasmania
Thanks, Abel A. This reminds me of Lovelock’s thought that the best thermometer on Earth is sea level. Stephen Schneider added, also the height of the tropopause.
In early May 2016, an algae bloom grew to cover 85 square kilometers (33 square miles) of Florida’s Lake Okeechobee. The conditions that gave rise to the bloom have persisted into July, and have been blamed for affecting water quality downstream all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
The blue-green algae bloom is visible in this image of Lake Okeechobee, acquired on July 2, 2016, by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the Landsat 8 satellite. The natural-color image combines red light, green light, and coastal aerosol (blue) light (bands 4, 3 and 1).
Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are single-celled organisms that rely on photosynthesis to turn sunlight into food. The bacteria grow swiftly when nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen are abundant in still water. The bloom pictured here may contain blue-green algae, as well as other types of phytoplankton; only a surface sample can confirm the exact composition of a bloom.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=88311&eocn=image&eoci=moreiotd
Fires in central Russia
Aqua/MODIS
Hayden Pass Fire, Colorado
Over 40 years ago, I used to live just Northwest of this fire in Salida, Colorado. There are seven, 14,000 ft. mountains around the town . Besides the fire’s smoke plume, one other thing jumps out , there is zero snow pack on any of the mountains in this shot.
The fire is burning at the Northern end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, one can see the Great Sand Dunes to the South, and Mount Blanca below it. Another huge 14,000 footer. To see zero snow on any of these peaks at this time of year is very troubling, very troubling.
– Nice description of the area, Bob.
– ‘ Zero snow pack’ — how true.
– Further up the front range are two more fires:
Greg Dutra Verified account @DutraWeather Jul 11
Wildfires in CO are big enough to see smoke on satellite. #ColdSpringsFire #HaydenPathFire #BeaverCreekFire #cowx
A BAE-146 at Jeffco Airtanker Base on #RockyMtnMetroAirport. #Coldspringsfire #haydenpassfire #beavercreekfire #fire pic.twitter.com/2paKj4ipAB
— Rick Tillery (@ricktillery) July 11, 2016
Crazy, just crazy –
Fires in Central Africa
SNPP/VIIRS
Icebergs B15K and A66 in the South Atlantic Ocean
B15 was calved over 16 years ago.
Offshore wind rapidly getting more and more affordable and available in Europe: “The Dutch system in which companies have to compete with each other while the government regulates all conditions for building the wind farm has proved to be very successful. This reduction of cost represents a major breakthrough in the transition to more sustainable energy.” Dong’s winning bid works out to 7.27 euro cents per kilowatt-hour (around 8 cents U.S.). That’s 5.1 euro cents less than the previous estimate, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The difference adds up to a savings of 2.3 billion euros for the life of the 15-year subsidy framework (around US$2.5 billion). The Netherlands is calling this the world’s cheapest offshore wind farm because the next-lowest cost for constructing and operating a wind farm is 10.3 euro cents per kWh. (That wind farm is located in Denmark.)
http://www.triplepundit.com/2016/07/cheapest-offshore-wind-farm-in-the-world-thanks-to-shell/#
Greg, Good catch there. This is great news not only in showing that offshore wind can now compete on purely economic terms with fossil fuels, but also because Shell are now moving seriously into renewables. A long time ago (15 years?) oil companies seemed to moving in this direction (BP even flirting with renaming itself “Beyond Petroleum”), but then got cold feet for some reason. Let’s hope they’ve finally realised it’s the only viable way forward.
and a smaller sideline to this story Bill:
Distributed Wind Has Floundered for Years. Now Oil Companies Are Investing in It
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/oil-companies-are-investing-in-distributed-wind
The giant algae bloom North of Finland –
Fires burning on the Arctic plain in Russia , right next to the ocean . Notice the smoke is blowing toward the algae bloom. Fertilizer. –
Fantastic shots.
Correct me if I’m mistaken, but it looks like ClimateReanalyzer has increased the temperature anomaly bar. (allowing for +20C, +36F……;!)
Dr. Jeff Masters blog:
“The U.S. is off to a record hot start”…
https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/the-us-summer-is-off-to-a-recordhot-start
Last month was the warmest June in 122 years of U.S. recordkeeping, beating out June 1933, according to the monthly climate roundup released on Wednesday by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Each of the 48 contiguous states came in above its average temperature for June, with Arizona and Utah setting all-time June records for heat. Thirteen other states had a top-ten-warmest June, stretching across the nation from California to Florida.
“Climate Change is already changing global cloud patterns…Boosting Warming”
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2016/07/12/study_cloud_patterns_are_shifting_because_of_climate_change.html
Quote from article:
It’s never a good idea to put too much emphasis on the results of a single scientific study, but this is a biggie. It’s further evidence that significant climate change has already begun. It also bolsters growing evidence that future climate change could portend greater warming than previously thought.
For a long time, exactly what’s happening to clouds has remained a giant, but critical, question. The National Science Foundation, the nation’s largest source of scientific funding, has called the cloud problem “the wild card of climate change.”
(I find this study quite disturbing)
“(I find this study quite disturbing)” As you should. It is one more of a large number of mostly exacerbating (“positive”) feedbacks, of which I have a list that takes up 250 pages. This could be a relatively big one, though.
Another thing about this one, it backs up the model’s predictions, to a large degree.
Adding to a comment I made on this in the previous thread—-
It is good to see this spelled out, to help make sense of what I am seeing. As a painter, I watch the sky a lot. Skies have definitely changed out here in Newfoundland. In the summer now, skies alternate between clear blue and thick turbulent overcasts. Our weather has become less changeable, in many ways—-we get long stretches of this cloudless blue, then a stationary low pressure system parks over us, bringing howling winds and deluges of rain.
The sky on clear days can become smeared-looking, almost milky-metallic, with what looks like high diffuse cirrus. The summer afternoon clouds of my childhood—blue skies full of those little puffy fair-weather cumulus clouds, are a rarity now. A side-effect of all this cloudless blue weather is relentless, blistering, unshaded heat: whenever the sun shines—even as early as May—the mercury shoots up to 28C as a matter of course.
– Cate: “The sky on clear days can become smeared-looking, almost milky-metallic, with what looks like high diffuse cirrus. The summer afternoon clouds of my childhood—blue skies full of those little puffy fair-weather cumulus clouds, are a rarity now.”
It makes a good letter to the editor/decision-maker.
One denialist lie was that clouds would prove a negative feed-back, and I don’t expect this study, or any others, to stop them using it. Their followers are nothing if not ignorant, paranoid, morons.
@Cate
Same thing here in Eastern Townships of Quebec – rarely see that clear “sky-blue” sky. Usually “milky” looking.
The ‘milky look’ as I understand it is the result of the 7% or so increase in atmospheric water vapor that is a direct result of (and also a major fast feedback to) Global Warming.
In Warming Oceans, Stronger Currents Releasing Heat in Bigger Storms, Study Says
The western boundary currents, which run along the eastern coasts of South Africa, Asia, Australasia, and South America, carry massive amounts of heat from the tropics northward…They have been getting stronger and warmer since CO2 in the atmosphere has been increasing.
The currents are releasing 20 percent more heat than 50 years ago. Japan, China and Korea will warm faster and can expect more storminess, researchers say.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/12072016/ocean-currents-intensifying-bringing-stronger-storms-research-shows
– Good spot.
– Good description of the process:
“…storms like Nepartak, which took aim at Taiwan and the Chinese mainland last week … Nepartak strengthened as it passed over the Kuriosho Current late last week, generating sustained winds of 160 miles per hour.”
‘Intensification and poleward shift of subtropical western boundary currents in a warming climate’
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304498202_Intensification_and_poleward_shift_of_subtropical_western_boundary_currents_in_a_warming_climate
Good article, though talk of a “northward” movement of heat is incorrect. They should have written “poleward” instead, since they are referring to both hemispheres.
– Florida may get some more moisture too,
This graphic shows Days 1-7 QPF–going to be a very wet pattern esp in the central Plains and middle MS Valley pic.twitter.com/YNUScEr4uF
— NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) July 12, 2016
From fact-free la-la land…
Republican platform declares coal is clean
After a unanimous vote on Monday, the RNC’s draft platform officially declares coal “an abundant, clean, affordable, reliable domestic energy resource.”
http://grist.org/election-2016/republican-platform-declares-coal-is-clean/
Someone should back a dump truck load of coal fly ash up to the RNC headquarters, and hit the dump lever. And when they get arrested for spreading hazardous waste , they can site the RCN platform in their defense.
The March of the Morons.
Save us from such idiots!
NASA Catches Moon 'Photobombing' Earth for Second Time in One Year https://t.co/f2Ltvlh4Sf @NOAA @NASA @NOAASatellites
— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) July 12, 2016
Two papers , one on clouds and one on currents both saying that respective subjects are moving to the poles. Pretty amazing .
Each one carrying more energy than in the recent past .
– Isn’t that so. Well said — plainly stated. You can’t beat it. 🙂
– There’s probably a fair amount of atmospheric and wind ‘confusion’ at the equator as well.
– The atmosphere now has to accommodate a lot of moisture (solid) vs air (gas).
“respective subjects are moving to the poles.” amen. We might have to join ’em or begin living below ground.
Robert..and to all here….I as a 50 year resident of S. Florida and want to thank you for writing this blog to shed light on a problem those of us here have had to deal with for decades. I must say as much as I appreciate it…it is also difficult and frustrating because so little has been done…due to many factors…the biggest being “Big Sugar” and the politicians owned by them.
From our local news station today:
http://www.wptv.com/news/state/report-political-donations-show-sugars-clout-in-florida
There are days…when it is hard to get out of bed….knowing nothing is going to get done in our state because of the Climate Change “denial-ism” that is rampant (starting at the top) among our state legislature. But we keep on trying…..
Just two weeks ago hundreds showed up on the beach and made a “human sign”…in 90 degree plus heat that spelled out… BUY THE LAND……..
..as an attempt to force our politicians…to finally take the actions necessary to “start” the process of healing our polluted waters. I just hope and pray that “this time” ….things might change.
Global warming to bring heavier rains to Switzerland
Researchers from Italy and Switzerland have developed a new climate change model that predicts up to 30% more precipitation during peak summer storms nationwide.
The model, developed by an international research team that includes Christoph Schär of the Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich, can simulate precipitation events at a resolution of two kilometres (1.2 miles), which is more precise than previous global models.
It shows that by the end of the century, rainfall during peak events of summer precipitation would increase by up to 30% – which translates to an increase of about 6% per degree of warming.
danabanana
” by up to 30% – which translates to an increase of about 6% per degree of warming”
That’s like 5°C above the average by 2100
Cate –
The sky on clear days can become smeared-looking, almost milky-metallic,
You’re right under the jet traffic to Europe .
CB, yeah, don’t I know it! This is where all the planes inbound from Europe were grounded for days after 9/11. But air traffic has increased exponentially over the past ten years in particular—as a friend who works in air traffic control at Gander says, “The whole world is on the move.” FlightRadar24 shows how much. 🙂
Burn baby burn.
May be for Cate – but as noted above in comment – we don’t see those clear blue skies anymore in Eastern Townships of Quebec – and we are not a major flight path area. Have been 65 years in the same area, much time out of doors and observing – and changes are evident. Getting in a good crop of hay has become much more uncertain than just 20 years ago.
How did it come to this????
Start here :
AFRICANS ARRIVE IN VIRGINIA, 1619. One stormy day in August of 1619 a Dutch manof-war with about 20 Africans on board entered port at the English colony of Jamestown, Virginia. Little is known of these newly arrived people: the first Africans to set foot on the North American continent.
Then read about the murder of Emmit Till in 1955 , after they beat him to death they wired a gin fan around his neck and dumped his body in the river, his crime ? Smiling at white woman. After thousands of murders, Lynchings, and fire bombings this 14 year old boy;s death changed America. The modern world we find ourselves in today begins with Emmit Till.
Africa slaves were sold naked.
I think that there is some evidence of commerce in pre-Columbian times, between West Africa and the Americas.
– I don’t remember a link to this June 26 piece. Very interesting number crunching/gaming here.
FEMA Contractor Predicts ‘Social Unrest’ Caused by 395% Food Price Spikes
The US national security industry is planning for the impact of an unprecedented global food crisis lasting as long as a decade, according to reports by a government contractor.
The studies published by CNA Corporation in December 2015, unreported until now, describe a detailed simulation of a protracted global food crisis from 2020 to 2030.
The simulation, titled ‘Food Chain Reaction’, was a desktop gaming exercise involving the participation of 65 officials from the US, Europe, Africa, India, Brazil, and key multilateral and intergovernmental institutions.
The scenario for the ‘Food Chain Reaction’ simulation was created by experts brought in from the State Department, the World Bank, and agribusiness giant Cargill, along with independent specialists. CNA Corp’s Institute for Public Research, which ran the simulation, primarily provides scientific research services for the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/fema-contractor-predicts-social-unrest-caused-by-395-food-price-spikes
– Agribusiness giant Cargill is a huge entity.
‘By 2024, the scenario saw global food prices spike by as much as 395 percent due to prolonged crop failures in key food basket regions, driven largely by climate change, oil price spikes, and confused responses from the international community.
“Disruptions affected developed and developing countries alike, creating political and economic instability, and contributing to social unrest in certain areas,” the project’s technical report states.’
For some time now, have been concerned that food prices (due to shortages – due to drought / flood primarily) would be the first real hit to the “developed” world. Sea level rise is a big thing -serious and inexorable, but – slower to develop. Food shortages will hit us first – every one needs a “Victory garden” WWII style –
Dave W, agreed, except that it’s not easy to grow veggies when the weather is so strange and extreme. In Newfoundland everything is late this year, despite days of 30C weather in May—we’ve also had so much cool, wet, windy weather. We had frost warnings two nights in a row last week, which is almost unheard of for my area in July. And as the climate worsens, growing backyard food will become even more challenging.
We need to resist the temptation to appropriate every last drop from our rivers: https://t.co/5VMrdZqaKz @jen_pelz pic.twitter.com/xKyfM9Z8lN
— WildEarth Guardians (@wildearthguard) July 12, 2016
The number of top 20 international shipping companies by country https://t.co/iG97bQtaIX pic.twitter.com/SnS5oIIIEw
— Brilliant Maps (@BrilliantMaps) July 12, 2016
Kinda weird that there are none in NA, nor in Netherlands (home of Rotterdam, biggest port in the EU) nor in England. And what’s up with tiny Guiana??! (Or is that Surinam?)
It´s French Guiana… considered a part of France, like Alaska and Hawaií are a part of the USA. Since France is also purple, probably one of the 20 biggest shipping companies is French, and so the purple dot in South America.
– USA – West Coast — Wildfire SE of Sacramento, CA.
#PachecoFire [update] off Lanford Pacheco Rd, south of Valley Springs (Calaveras County) is now 120 acres. pic.twitter.com/oPAJZXSdgs
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 12, 2016
Jonathan Erdman @wxjerdman 4h4 hours ago
For grins…when a 600dm 500mb ridge is possible, weather geeks take notice. Expansive “dog days” #heat next week.
Hurricanes brewing across the NE Pacific this week which could bring risk of a storm surge to #Hawaiihttps://t.co/QAYpzGfZac
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 12, 2016
Grateful Dead – Hell In A Bucket – Studio Version Remasterehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01AC4Y2E0t8
Hell In A Bucket
Here we are all . Some one stand up , I’m an old dead man.
Johnny Cash One Piece At A Time
Picture a bright blue ball, just spinning, spinnin free,
Dizzy with eternity.
Paint it with a skin of sky,
Brush in some clouds and sea,
Call it home for you and me.
A peaceful place or so it looks from space,
A closer look reveals the human race.
Full of hope, full of grace
Is the human face,
But afraid we may lay our home to waste.
There’s a fear down here we can’t forget.
Hasn’t got a name just yet.
Always awake, always around,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Since NAFTA and beyond – the “free trade” deals being set up right, left, and centre favour corporate and shareholder profits above all else. Participating countries cede aspects of their sovereignty to corporate interests – can be sued by big business for passing environmental regulations that might interfere with potential corporate profits. Trevor Anderson has a few things to say about that – and now this in the Guardian re TTIP:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/11/leaked-ttip-energy-proposal-could-sabotage-eu-climate-policy"Leaked TTIP energy proposal could 'sabotage' EU climate policy
Sorry – typo in the link –
Leaked TTIP energy proposal could ‘sabotage’ EU climate policy
And Sanders just conceded…pretty much the last remote chance to really stand up against the corporate interests driving the country and the planet into perdition.
J-O-H-N-N-Y C-A-S-H – I’ve Been Everywhere – With Lyrics
Here’s A4Real’s long blog post on the massive increase in thunderstorm and lightning activity over the Arctic from 1915 to 2016. What has happened with activity during the last two years has no parallel in the lightning database.
We are seeing effects due to sea ice melt that are enabling storms to generate cloud to ground strikes over 600 miles into the ice pack… or what used to be ice….
Here is the link: http://www.megiddo666.apocalypse4real-globalmethanetracking.com/2016/07/iced-lightning-lightning-strikes-at-80.html
Thanks wili,
More info about the recent lightning activity.
‘ Iced Lightning – Lightning Strikes at 80 North
On July 8 and 9, 2016 the National Weather Service published special weather statements regarding the potential for thunderstorms in Barrow, Alaska and on the North Slope. There was not a thunderstorm reported in the media, although on July 10, 2016 there was a cloud to ground strike 15 miles from Barrow.
Curious, I decided to research the background of Arctic Coast or Arctic Ocean thunderstorms, starting with Barrow and Wainwright, Alaska.
Here’s what I found, and what came at the end made my jaw drop in regard to lightning strikes and thunderstorms over the Arctic Sea Ice – and the massive changes in the last 16 years of increasing thunderstorm activity over the Arctic Ocean.’
T-storm activity peaks at different times of the year across the U.S. (H/T @Climatologist49) https://t.co/j9YOMoqDED pic.twitter.com/iQZRClRpRj
— Brian Donegan (@WxBrianD) July 13, 2016
Thanks, dt. I find those tiny micro-climates (wrt time of tstorms) around SF in that map rather odd and interesting!
A4Real has a new thread over at ASIF, Iced Lightning. Neven indicated he’s going to post about it on his blog soon. Which I think means we should be keeping an eye on this.
Reply #1: “I have just spoken with my colleague – who designed and developed the lightning location system for the UK at Capenhurst. She says such high-latitude strikes are significantly anomalous.”
http://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,1603.msg83419.html#new
Thanks,willi et.al. A4R,dt… I found myself on a sailboat 150 nautical miles east of Nantucket in July 1990. Dead batteries. No LORAN or running lights. Sea sick owners and crew. Stifling heat and not a puff of air sunup to sundown. (No electronics, no Yanmar diesel auxiliary power…) For three nights in a row, everything changed. The towering Monsters came upon us. Fierce downdrafts. Wild wind shifts. Heavy fog, 12′ steep short seas, blinding rain. And lightning I did not believe possible. I shared this with my USCG brother after I brought the craft & crew back to Newport,RI safety. He was a veteran of meteorological ocean stations off southern Greenland. He graduated the US Coast Guard class for weather at Governors Island, NYC. He told me lightning almost never occurs offshore.
https://weather.com/safety/earthquake/news/earthquake-southeast-us-north-american-plate
All that earthquake activity from CSG and Fracking will be producing fracture lines, creating new areas of thinning and resultant geothermal activity.
Earthquake Capital may yet wear the crown of the US’s newest active volcano in a rich carboniferous zone.
Hooley Dooley
– New Zealand is getting some strong wind action:
Gale wind across the South Island, parts of the North. Gusts could exceed 140km/h https://t.co/d2ipJMFlYI pic.twitter.com/I4OT0XGtsR
— Chester Lampkin (@chesterlampkin) July 13, 2016
Indian Ocean Dipole
A substantial negative IOD event is getting underway. pic.twitter.com/cTQsTgnCcG
— Anthony Sagliani (@anthonywx) July 13, 2016
– I came across this oil & gas threat map. A good reference that is frequently updated.
‘Fossil Fumes’
Oil & Gas Threat Map raises awareness of health threats of #airpollution. How does your community compare? https://t.co/mtIv8w4YC7
— Sustainable PGH (@SustainablePGH) July 5, 2016
The race to electrify has some geopolitical dramas on the sidelines. One result:
Honda Co-Developed a New Hybrid Car Battery in Order to Avoid Procuring Rare Earth Metals From China. To overcome the barrier of relying on these rare earth elements, Honda teamed up with Daido Steel, a company with a unique approach to making neodymium magnets. It uses a process called “hot deformation,” which creates nanometer-scale crystals. The nanometer crystal structure is much smaller than the crystal structure formed through the more common method of manufacturing, according to Honda. The nanostructure allows for magnets to achieve higher heat resistance without requiring heavy rare-earth metals.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Honda-Co-Developed-a-New-Hybrid-Car-Battery
Just another corner of the woods with a whole lot of unexplained rain…
http://usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/07/12/wis-declares-emergency-rains/87014252/
Jeff Masters weighed in: A phenomenal 24-hour rainfall total of 10” reported on Tuesday morning at Wascott, WI, isn’t too far from the state’s 24-hour record of 11.72”, set in 1946. The storms were fueled by extremely high amounts of atmospheric moisture: the dew point at Sioux Falls, SD, hit 82°F on Monday, apparently setting a new all-time record high dew point for the city
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is making big strides, and China is set to install 10,000 megawatts in the next five years, which should bring the costs down. This form of solar power addresses the problems of intermittency that PV solar experiences.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/07/07/3789508/china-solar-energy-night/
Another article about the toxic algae in Lake Okeechobee at The Daily Beast….linking it to climate change:
“Will this toxic algae eat Florida?”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/13/will-this-toxic-algae-bloom-eat-florida.html
Meanwhile, experts warn that we’ll only see more of these dangerous blue-green algae blooms as global temperatures rise—in Florida and nationwide.
“These types of blooms are going to be more prevalent as the climate warms,” said Rob Moore, senior policy analyst for the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) water program. “That’s yet another motivating factor for the U.S. and for governments around the world to take rapid action to decrease emissions that are causing climate change.”
With Sanders now out of the way, the Democratic establishment can go merrily back to their incrementalism, as Cornel West put it. No need to bother with vision or bold leadership. Let’s go back to (futile) efforts to compromise with the no-compromise Republicans. Although I don’t expect Hilary to feel bound by the party platform anyway, the refusal of her delegates to back the fracking ban means, to me at least, that we will stay with a basicall BAU scenario. There may be a few minor initiatives, but nothing to seriously challenge the FF industry.
Vision has been re-defined as unrealistic, and the noise I hear in my mind is the last of my naive shreds of hope for real change crashing.
Why Obama’s top scientist just called keeping fossil fuels in the ground ‘unrealistic’
…Yet Obama administration officials and many energy policy wonks continue to suggest that we will need to rely on burning natural gas, nuclear energy and even outfitting coal plants with carbon capturing technologies for some time. In contrast to “keep it in the ground,” their approach has sometimes been labeled “all of the above.” Meanwhile, Clinton has called natural gas, in particular, a “bridge” to a cleaner energy future.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/07/12/why-obamas-top-scientist-just-called-keeping-fossil-fuels-in-the-ground-unrealistic/
typo…should be basic BAU scenario.
Wind and solar are superior energy sources to gas and nuclear and coal now. Nuclear is high cost to build, high liability, slow build. Coal with carbon capture is far more expensive than wind and solar. Gas requires fracking which wrecks our water supplies.
Using ‘bridge’ energy sources will lengthen the time of fossil fuel burning and lock in warmer and warmer temperatures. The subsidy support necessary for these sources will draw investment and other interest away from renewables at a critical period. Globally, it may be enough to get us off a BAU path, but it won’t get us off a very destructive near BAU to mid range path. Such policies assume a 3 to 4 C warming this Century — 6-8 C long term IF fossil fuel burning stops at the end of this Century and IF carbon feedbacks are moderate.
The most responsible policy positions involve keeping fossil fuels in the ground and transitioning as rapidly as possible to renewable energy. At this point, they are also the most economic. The only incentive, politically, to protecting fossil fuel interests now is the defense of various monetary interests. We should be on a footing where all new energy comes from renewables — wind, solar etc — not just due to the fact that it will drastically cut carbon emissions, but also due to the fact that these resources use less water, are modular and rapidly deployable, and have far, far less overall down-chain externalities. In other words — not only are these energy sources climate change mitigators, they are climate change resilient.
Black and Bloom is a UK study, along the lines of Dark Snow, into processes affecting albedo and melt in Greenland. Lots of info and current updates from the field as we speak, on their website:
https://blackandbloom.org/
“Black and Bloom’s mission is to reveal how dark particles and microorganisms (pigmented bacteria and algae) that live in melt water on the surface of the ice are ‘amplifying’ ice sheet melt. We believe that by darkening the ice surface, these particles and microbes lower the ice albedo (reflectivity) and absorb more of the suns heat, increasing the melt. Climate change will likely exacerbate this process, by providing more melt water for microorganisms to thrive in.”
Saskatchewan joins the long list of areas with a “flood situation” and states of emergency thanks to deluges of rain. Links to multiple stories from across the province here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan
Highest totals 98 mm in 24 hours. High for this latitude.
Large storms there last night as well.
Scientists have for decades hotly debated what killed the dinosaurs. One long-held hypothesis blames immense and long-lasting volcanic eruptions that drastically altered Earth’s climate. Another more recent hypothesis suggests that the dino die-offs occurred after a massive asteroid hit the planet near the Yucatán Peninsula. Now, research finds that the extraterrestrial impact may have led to increased volcanism in the Indian subcontinent, providing a double whammy that took out Tyrannosaurus rex and his kin…..local water temperatures rose, on average, about 1.1°C (2°F) in the wake of the asteroid impact. But water temperatures jumped a whopping 7.8°C (14°F) around the same time the volcanoes, which erupted in what is now India, began spewing planet-warming carbon dioxide some 150,000 years before the impact.
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/07/ancient-global-warming-spikes-suggest-dinosaurs-died-double-disaster
Lets hold civilization together shall we? European Neandertals were cannibals–“No one yet knows if Neandertal cannibalism was a ritual practice, reserved for special occasions and imbued with special meaning, or if they were just really, really hungry.”
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/07/european-neandertals-were-cannibals
Cannibalism is a sign of food resource stress among hominids. The practice at first often becomes ritualized in the form of eating the deceased. In worse cases, the practice tends toward hunting and eating of one’s enemies. During some complete collapse scenarios, you end up with gangs of the strong eating the weak.
If Neandertals were out-competed by Homo Sapiens, the during the period of their decline it is altogether likely that they would have experienced food resource stress. If they were less effective hunters and gatherers, the first shock would have come in the form of less resources overall, increased hunger, increased disease, increased death rates. As populations collapsed, this problem would have multiplied due to the loss of productive individuals and due to population inequality vs the likely encroaching homo sapien populations.
I´m not sure if food resource stress needs to be present for ritual cannibalism to occur. Maybe to begin the tradition, but once it gets ritual, traditions can go on for a long time. The Tupi tribes in Brasil praticed ritual canibalism of captured enemies.
It was not as grisly a tradition as it seems when resumed in that phrase… the ritual part was quite strong and enforced several rules that worked to keep populations low enough for sustainable hunter-gatherer-ocasional agriculture, while also enforcing cooperation, decent treatment of prisioners, respect for womans and a lot of other rather nice society rules (actually, if I had lived in the 1500s, I´d rather live in Tupi society, despite caniballism and the onslaught that was growing nearer, than in renaissance Portugal.)
And there was almost no food stress in Tupi society. Brasil was as fertile then as it was now, or better. There was a lot of gathering (even in a stroll in the woods now it´s easy to find lunch if one knows what´s edible… like more than 300 fruits by different trees around here), a bit of agriculture (manioc, corn, beans, planting tree seeds around), plenty of game, some of it kept captive (mallard ducks were exported to the world, but a few other species, like peccarys and guans, where also raised… they were quickly replaced by pigs and chicken in the colonization, but they´re also productive), and no signs of bad-nutrition in archeological finds. Estimates find that the “working” time used to guarantee food in tupi society was less than 3h/day (both for men, who fished and hunted and for woman, who gathered and planted).
I known that caniballism is taboo, and it´s difficult to imagine that it would arise in a situation different from desperation, seeing with modern eyes. But humans can be quite different in their ways, so that something that is a complete taboo for one society can be normal for other.
Right brain memetic cultures have at times ritualized cannibalistic behavior absent a food stress. But it’s typical that food stress acts as a trigger for the behavior and is likely the initial cause in cases where ritualistic cannibalism has been adopted long-term.
Medicine takes an even dimmer view of humans. The article below is not the only one in this vein. John Collinge is a top prion researcher.
Cannibalism and Prion Disease May Have Been Rampant in Ancient Humans.
Elizabeth Pennisi. Science 11 Apr 2003: Vol. 300, Issue 5617, pp. 227-228
DOI: 10.1126/science.300.5617.227a
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/300/5617/227.1.full
Some call it the laughing disease; others, kuru. This neurodegenerative disorder is universally fatal and 40 years ago killed almost 10% of a small New Guinea tribe called the Fore. Now molecular biologists propose that similar epidemics plagued prehistoric humans. Both then and more recently, kuru, a prion disease, was transmitted through cannibalism, Simon Mead and John Collinge of University College London and their colleagues claim in a report online in Science this week (www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1083320). They base their conclusions on the worldwide distribution of variants of the prion gene.
The work lends support to the idea that ancient people once regularly munched on their peers. This conclusion will be controversial, says John Hardy, a geneticist at the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland. Nonetheless, “I think [Collinge and colleagues] might be right.” . . .
Need a little help with that victory garden? This might help. Grow gardens not lawns!
As individuals, it’s easy to feel powerless in the face of global climate change. We can make individual choices to live with less, and cut down on our own personal carbon footprint, but how do we really make a difference?
Though it may feel like so much is out of our control, the good news is there is a lot of change to be made on our own through education, teaching, and practice of sustainability and climate change mitigation. Read on to find out how something simple as soil could be the solution to global warming. https://www.mum.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Soil-and-Climate-Change.pdf
More abuse of our resources and planet – from The Guardian –
Americans throw away almost as much food as they eat because of a “cult of perfection”, deepening hunger and poverty, and inflicting a heavy toll on the environment.
The article references the US specifically, but I don’t think we are much, if any, better in Canada.
Half of all US food produce is thrown away, new research suggests
See also links to several good articles at the bottom of the Guardian page.
Second link 🙂
Hat tip to Desdemona Despair.
And check out this article on reducing food waste –
How did Denmark become a leader in the food waste revolution?
– I see the waste all the time. It’s gross and disgusting to witness, and to know it is happening. And it is quite ‘American’.
Fruit falling from trees and vines, just to rot is a common sight too.
The funny (tragic) thing is that even though we (the US) are the most wasteful country on Earth there are still millions of Americans among the impoverished and hungry of the world.
furthermore a tipping point for me was 1986 when the cost of packaging food (in the USA) exceeded the value of the food so packaged
I think the biggest waste in the U.S. is that we eat so much meat. A few years ago, we fed enough grain to meat animals in the U.S. to feed something like a billion people.
That’s something we can all work on, eating less meat, I think. Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs and dairy products are all less CO2 intensive than beef, and fruits and vegetables are better still.
http://www.appropedia.org/Beef
‘I am the river and the river is me,’ Now In New Zealand, Lands and Rivers Can Be People (Legally Speaking)…The settlement is a profound alternative to the human presumption of sovereignty over the natural world… Personhood means, among other things, that lawsuits to protect the land can be brought on behalf of the land itself, with no need to show harm to a particular human.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/world/what-in-the-world/in-new-zealand-lands-and-rivers-can-be-people-legally-speaking.html
– China – Hong Kong – Chinese trash dispersed by extreme weather.
– .ecowatch.com/hong-kongs-beaches-teeming-with-plastic-trash
‘Local authorities have described the filth as a “glacier of trash,” and that the rubbish from one island could even be seen from space, the Epoch Times wrote. From July 1 to 9 alone, government departments collected 78,000 kilograms (about 172,000 pounds) of litter from affected areas, the South China Morning Post reported.
On Sunday, chief executive Leung Chun-ying and his team of 60 officials and workers collected about 1,350 kilograms (about 3,000 pounds) of garbage in about half an hour during a beach clean-up in South Lantau.
Leung blamed the influx on heavy rains and floods that struck southern China.
“A lot of domestic garbage was washed towards Hong Kong from the mainland … predictably due to heavy rainfalls and floods in the past few weeks,”
I like how they blame storms and wind/currents for trash piling up, but not humans for creating and dumping it in the fist place. If we stopped polluting like we’re the last generation before the world explodes, we wouldn’t have to be dependent upon favorable conditions for garbage free beaches.
marcyincny
I don’t know the wider weather context for this but I don’t remember a grand tour stage being adjusted because of wind…
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-ventoux-stage-shortened-due-to-risk-of-100km-h-winds/
– This goes with Robert’s previous ‘Coastal Cities, Critical Infrastructure’ post:
-eos.org/features/global-risks-and-research-priorities-for-coastal-subsidence
Global Risks and Research Priorities for Coastal Subsidence
Some of the world’s largest cities are sinking faster than the oceans are rising. Humans are part of the problem, but we can also be part of the solution through monitoring and modeling.
Coastal lowlands, which rise less than 10 meters above sea level, are particularly vulnerable to the climate change effects forecast for the 21st century, including the threat of inundation by accelerating sea level rise and increases in severity and frequency of tropical storm surges. These threats coincide with a worldwide surge in human population in coastal areas. Coastal population centers include several megacities, whose populations exceed 10 million. Many of these coastal megacities are located on river deltas that are also major centers for agriculture, fisheries, and hydrocarbon production.
To make matters worse, many coastal areas are sinking even faster than the waters are rising: Natural and human-driven subsidence rates arising from shallow processes can be one to two orders of magnitude greater than the rate of climate-driven sea level rise predicted for the remainder of the 21st century…
-The ruins of Fort Beauregard (also known as Fort Proctor) are partly submerged in Lake Borgne, east of New Orleans, La. Many coastal areas are sinking even faster than sea level is rising. Credit: Frank McMains
https://eos.org/features/global-risks-and-research-priorities-for-coastal-subsidence
– It’s quite a comprehensive effort here.
‘… Deeper, often poorly understood, processes also contribute to coastal subsidence, including thermal subsidence and fault motion. However, these deeper processes typically contribute less than a few millimeters per year (Figure 1) to the overall loss in elevation in most coastal areas, in contrast to human-caused effects like water withdrawal, which can contribute as much as a meter of subsidence annually.’
Worth factoring in Geological processes we are just getting a grasp on this believe it or not courtesy of the oil industry and their geological surveys over decades.
Sure to have the deniers jumping all over it as the reason for climate change rather than CO2 being a driver.
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/05/we-were-totally-wrong-about-whats-happening-inside-earths-mantle/
For the first time, geologists have compiled a global map of the wave-like motions called “convective currents” inside Earth’s mantle. They found that those convective currents are moving roughly ten times faster than previously thought. The discovery can help explain everything from how Earth’s surface changes over time to the formation of fossil fuel deposits to long-term climate change.
“In geological terms, the Earth’s surface bobs up and down like a yo-yo,” geologist Mark Hoggard of Cambridge University said in a statement. Hoggard is lead author on a paper published today in Nature Geoscience.
Our planet’s deep interior is an enduring scientific mystery. Having never drilled more than a few kilometres beneath the surface of the Earth, geologists rely on indirect measurements and models to get a sense of what’s happening further down. The mantle is a nearly 3000km layer of gooey, compressed rock, and convective activity within it has a big impact on Earth’s surface.
“In addition to the normal plate tectonics, the interior of the plates which should be quite boring are being forced up and down by mantle convection,” Hoggard told Gizmodo. “People have known that this occurs for a long time, but for the past 30 years we haven’t had the data to measure it.”
That’s changing, thanks to new high-resolution seismic reflection profiles created by the oil industry. Seismic reflection profiling is a technique geologists use to peer deep into Earth’s crust, by measuring the reflection and refraction of seismic waves as they travel downwards. The method can reveal fine-scale changes in the thickness of the crust, which in turn relates to mantle convection.
By analysing over 2000 seismic reflection measurements taken across the world’s oceans, Hoggard and his colleagues constructed the first global database of mantle convection. They were surprised to discover frequent changes in the thickness of seafloor crust, indicating that mantle convection is occurring far more frequently than we thought — think a vigorously bubbling pot of water instead of a slow-churning soup.
https://www.amazon.com/Strategies-Rapid-Climate-Mitigation-mobilisation/dp/1138646237
A new book by Laurence Delina is garnering some attention. Bill McKibben gives it a nod for demonstrating how a global WW2-type mobilisation might be put into practice to address the effects of climate change in a timely enough way.
“Strategies for Rapid Climate Mitigation examines the wartime-climate analogy by drawing lessons from wartime mobilisations to develop contingency plans for a scenario where governments implement stringent mitigation programs as an ‘insurance policy’ where we pay for future benefits. Readers are provided a picture of how these programs could look, how they would work, what could trigger them, and the challenges in execution. The book analyses in detail one plausible approach to a crucial issue – an approach built upon knowledge of climate science and on proven and demonstrated mitigation measures. The book is meshed with a social and political analysis that draws upon narratives of mobilisations during the war to meet a transnational threat, while also addressing the shortcomings of the analogy and its strategies.”
Not cheap, though. Anyone here read or reading it?
Nice to see that someone is looking at this. Not cheap, but better than losing pretty much all of the natural wealth that supports us. Cheaper, in other words, than fossil fuel burning in the long term.
Beautiful view of the @GrandCanyonNPS today. It looks like a new fire has broken out near the north rim. pic.twitter.com/n951JUO3f5
— Jeff Williams (@Astro_Jeff) July 13, 2016
#NWSFlagstaff IMET enroute to #FullerFire near North Rim, AZ https://t.co/Xe37NomiGx pic.twitter.com/xW067PpYg8
— NWS IMET Operations (@NWS_IMET_OPS) July 13, 2016
Panel discussion "The Psychology of #Climate Denial & Skepticism" Assoc of @ClimateOfficers, Wash DC, Tue 7/19: https://t.co/38V5lXgNuR
— Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) July 13, 2016
Not often you see this:
Today's fcst in Umiat, Alaska, N of Arctic Circle: "Hot", ~33°F above "normal" for July. pic.twitter.com/0tu2ThWtgu
Clouds and rain over the Arctic Ocean
https://www.windyty.com/?clouds,79.897,-108.193,4
"..some on-air forecasters…are loathe (or even forbidden) to mention it."
By @wildweatherdan in #AGUblogs https://t.co/3EuZ82csJs
— AGU's Eos (@AGU_Eos) July 14, 2016
Ps The headline is better than article. But glad to see the topic mentioned.
– Weather is a matter of survival. Most weather reporters are relegated to about a minute and half of travel. traffic, convenience, and recreation related weather data and forecasts.
Broadcast/weathercasts are usually followed by a car commercial or drug tonic for what is often an environmentally caused ailment.
Traffic and weather reports are often treated as one.
It’s not a pretty sight.
“The headline is better than article” applies to the JS WaPo article not the AGU-EOS.
"Globally it may be one of the hottest months ever."
By @wildweatherdan in #AGUblogs https://t.co/0se7jVsBSy
– ‘ We lost the snow earlier than anytime on record, and it wasn’t just in one part of the snow-covered universe,” said Dave Robinson, New Jersey state climatologist at Rutgers University, noting that as much as 30 percent of the land in the Northern Hemisphere is typically white. “This is the lowest spring snow extent on record.”’
Low Sierra snow seen as piece of alarming climate picture
A panel of climate experts organized by SEARCH, or the Study of Environmental Arctic Change, met in Washington, D.C., to draw attention to the historic melt-off of snow and ice during the first six months of 2016 — and the resulting problems.
The lack of snow, a result of record-high temperatures across the planet, not only intensifies water shortages and the threat of wildfires in California and other parts of the country, but also amplifies global warming. Because snow helps reflect the sun’s hot rays, less of it means the Earth only heats up more, the scientists said.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Low-Sierra-snow-seen-as-piece-of-alarming-climate-8377007.php#photo-10404001
“Snow helps reflect the sun’s hot rays, less of it means the Earth only heats up more” – this is something i have alluded to in the past in regards to the re-accumulation of snow.
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/07/meteorologists-need-to-start-talking-about-climate-change/
So, say meteorologists start making attribution part of their forecasts. Do we get daily reminders for how not to screw up the planet? This approach is very tricky. If you use a severe weather hook to talk about climate change, especially when lives or property have been lost, climate deniers will brand your message insensitive or opportunistic. But without meteorologists connecting the dots, how else will people start to see the those human “fingerprints” on their weather, and potentially make changes?
I asked Eric Holthaus, a meteorologist for Slate and host of the new podcast Warm Regards, who has encouraged meteorologists to talk about climate change, if he thought having climate information inserted into our daily forecasts might help people to take action. He was not optimistic. “I think that really, what you’re describing is the main challenge of climate change communication for the last 35 years or more,” he said. “We’ve known the science of climate change for a long time, but just knowing what’s going to happen hasn’t been enough to reduce emissions yet.”
In a place like Alberta, which will be recovering from the Ft McMurray wildfire for a very long time, it may not be popular to make a connection to climate change, but I’d argue it’s critical. This is a region where the economy is almost entirely supported by the extraction of fossil fuels. These fossil fuels are in turn directly contributing to the warming that has extended the region’s fire season by 20 per cent in just 35 years. In this case, suppressing that connection is not just destroying the livelihoods of those residents, it’s criminal. Giving weather attribution data to residents who have lost everything in severe weather events might empower them to demand serious reform.
Hold on. Lots of false premises here.
The experts have known. But the general populace has been largely confused over the issue. And, absolutely, we need to tie meteorological forecasts in with climate change attribution. What would happen if we didn’t talk about potential impacts of powerful hurricanes? We wouldn’t be prepared. Same goes for climate change. It’s not just about experts knowing, it’s about information and education enabling a response from the majority of the populace. And, of course we’d have better policies on climate change if we’d talked about this issue. We’d have adopted renewables faster, we’d have cut carbon emissions faster, and there’d been none of this worry about climate change deniers — because they’d be recognized as the crackpots that they really are.
Failure to talk about climate risks is absolutely vastly irresponsible.
” it’s about information and education enabling a response from the majority of the populace.”
– Most definitely so.
A giant heat dome is poised to envelop the U.S. next week
Both the European and GFS models, among others, are depicting the height of the 500 millibar pressure surface, which is normally located around 5,000 meters, or 18,000 feet, to be at or above 6,000 meters, or 19,685 feet.
This is a rare event that is an indication that this event may be unusually severe.
http://mashable.com/2016/07/13/massive-july-heat-wave-coming-us/#0NOm9h7nWqqS
Being a long way away physically, after all that rain and flooding. How is the wet bulb temps with all this heat . ?
Good news time: this is from Newfoundland, where the economy is really hurting from the effects of the oil bust. We have a lot of unemployed oil workers here. Some have come together to form a group called Iron and Earth—not a band, but a “non-profit social enterprise committed to catalysing Canada’s renewable energy economy.” They aim to transition oil workers into green energy development. Good on them—a brilliant and forward-thinking move on the part of these young and highly-skilled workers.
Iron and Earth have signed an MOU—just a first step, but it has to begin somewhere—-with a local wind energy company to develop SIX offshore wind farms in Atlantic Canada. This is very good news indeed.
http://www.ironandearth.org/iron_earth_east_signs_historic_mou_with_beothuk
I often feel that this kind of movement would be catalyzed by a parallel movement to develop local renewable energy based economies. As an example, the Lions Club in the US has worked on community development projects for decades. A similar group that worked on community renewable energy development and climate change resiliency could positively enable the kind of transitional work flow that could help these oil workers move to more sustainable jobs capable of supporting their families.
Yesterday, four people died in New York City from the heat, including a 24 year old, and 20 more collapsed and went to hospitals, some even after nightfall. One woman jumped from a window to escape. It was 88 (31.1) degrees! Oh, and it was 1916. What a difference air conditioning has made in 100 years. Wonder where we would be politically today with climate change in the developed world if we didn’t have A/C. Hat tip to Pipewhale:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D01E3DE1E3FE233A25750C1A9619C946796D6CF
The reason people jumped out of windows at 88 (31.1) degrees, in addition to living in all the craziness of New York City, was humidity. We go on and on about temperatures but, as pointed out over and over here, humidity is part of the equation and is increasing along with temperatures. The temperature may only go up one degree F but if the humidity increases significantly the temperature increase can feel more than 30 degrees F hotter
From a heatwave mass casualty risk standpoint, looks like the coastal western US is something to look out for. Of course, anytime you start to get power outages due to heat and the ACs start shutting down, then you’re going to have a pretty big issue. Worth noting that solar energy provides demand response at exactly the time when days are hottest. Hot nights, however, are a growing problem as well. This mainly due to the fact that higher greenhouse gas levels support higher relative night-time temperatures vs day time temperatures.
The algae bloom North of Finland seems to be growing, and it is huge by any measure –
Would you pay U.S. $37.50/month to have Tesla battery back-up power so you never lose power? To agree to share that power with the power company when they need it for brief periods of time? Green Mountain Power of Vermont figures its a win win for them and is offering the deal to customers in lieu of them buying back-up power for $6500 for their homes outright.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/green-mountain-powers-bet-on-tesla-powerwall-value-50-per-month
So here’s an example of an energy system that could benefit from incentives/carbon tax/carbon pricing. It’s also worth noting that the cost of these battery packs will probably halve in the next 4-7 years. Interesting that we’re already seeing payback times of 17 years due to reduced costs of peaking energy supplies.
We’ve gotten our names on the waiting list to house one of these batteries. Timetable still uncertain at this point.
Holy Hell and High Water, do we need to rewire our brains? I see 20 years of the same snail pace change in attitudes, with almost 8 years lost 2008 -2015 even with recent uptick in awareness:
Those 8 years can be chalked up to corporate media dominance and bullying by climate change deniers spreading doubt over the issue. Note that over the past 8 years public awareness of climate change increases during national elections, then tends to fall 1-2 years after as the media cycle kicks in.
No major media source at this time should be giving equal time or space to climate skeptics or climate change deniers. Climate change is the most serious threat we’ve ever faced as a civilization. It is the author of 4 out of 5 of the major mass extinction events and the cause of most of the smaller ones. Global wealth of life on Earth is dependent on climate. Change the climate and you get severe harmful impacts.
It’s worth noting that these perceptions are 10-20 years out from global human civilization experiencing severe fracturing due to climate change and 20-40 years out from potential collapse events. The pace of events is quickening now. It’s just a question of what tempo and severity we can handle.
Of course, it’s not just about human beings. It’s about the wealth and beauty and vitality of our world as a whole. Continued burning of fossil fuels guarantees the loss of the Great Barrier reef and most if not all of the corals around the world. And it’s already setting into play one a mass extinction event that could be, if we keep burning fossil fuels, worse than the great dying of the Permian.
Serious threat? For life on Earth it’s worse than nuclear winter.
I wish I didn’t respect your analysis so much because “these perceptions are 10-20 years out from global human civilization experiencing severe fracturing due to climate change and 20-40 years out from potential collapse events” is a whole lot of no time for our species to get its act together. My two young sons ask me if they will have kids and grandchildren…
Think of the difference in climate change impacts between now and the 90s. Now imagine the severity of current impacts worsening by a similar degree over the next 15 years. Then again in the following 12 year time-frame. That’s the BAU to near BAU path.
Without serious resiliency efforts, mass migration pressure will double to triple over the 20-30 year horizon. Pace of sea level rise will probably have increased by 50 to 150 percent over that period. Crop stresses will have multiplied. We’ll almost certainly have crossed the 1.5 C threshold and may have hit or crossed the 2 C threshold if keep it in the ground campaigns are defeated by fossil fuel special interests.
There will be a liveable future in that time-frame. But it’ll be a tougher one. One more subject to issues of scarcity (water, food, maybe energy if renewables aren’t rapidly developed) social and political fracturing. One that will demand far more adaptation and resiliency and cooperation than we currently achieve or plan for. If we’re still afflicted with the same levels of inequality, wealth concentration, and resource externalities that we see today, or if those factors worsen, then today’s social unrest will look like a tempest in a teapot as water, food, and access to land that’s not flooding or degraded or in a non productive new climate zone becomes a serious issue.
The early outlier period for climate change will be ending and we’ll also start to see some of the initial major event impacts.
Downburst in Minsk, Belarus, yesterday afternoon https://t.co/34MZkWpS3j@EUStormMap @JointCyclone @severeweatherEU pic.twitter.com/39d59TERpf
— Marta Povlen (@povlen13) July 14, 2016
– Wildfire Colorado still burning — no containment.
WeatherNation @WeatherNation 16h16 hours ago
This is an earlier look at the #HaydenPassFire in Colorado, with over 12,000 acres burned and no containment. #cowx
Mandatory evacuations for County Rd 35 and Eagle Peak Subdivision on the west side of County Rd 1a. #HaydenPassFire pic.twitter.com/7jmwScAnGv
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) July 13, 2016
Two Flavors of Record Heat: Deadhorse and Houston
By: Bob Henson and Jeff Masters
If you glance at a temperature map for North America, as shown below, you might get the impression that we’re in the midst of a fairly typical midsummer week…
What’s noteworthy right now isn’t at the core of the continent: it’s along the fringes, where some exceptional heat has been produced in recent days.
Big heat in northernmost Alaska
A pulse of warm air invaded the North Slope of northern Alaska on Wednesday, bringing some of the warmest air ever recorded there…
Hot nights in Houston
The eye-opener this month in southeast Texas isn’t that it got up into the 80s—it’s that the temperature has had trouble getting below that range. Last week, on July 5, Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport tied its all-time warm minimum with a steamy low of just 83°F. This came midway through a five-day stretch of lows at or above 80°F, all of them setting daily records…
Torrid conditions for the heartland next week
After being shunted to the far sides of the continent, record or near-record heat will invade the center of North America next week, perhaps for an extended period. Long-range computer models continue to insist that a very strong and large ridge of high pressure will develop next week, encompassing most of the contiguous U.S. by the weekend of July 23-24. Temperatures will soar well into the 90s across most of the central U.S., with large areas above 100°F possible by late next week, especially over the Great Plains…
Seemingly endless parade of storms continues in the Eastern Pacific
The Eastern Pacific is in the midst of an extraordinary period of July activity, thanks to favorable genesis conditions created by the presence of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), which has created rising air and low pressure over the region. Beginning on July 2, Tropical Storm Agatha formed, and since then, three hurricanes have joined the parade…
Estelle on the way–and perhaps Frank
Tropical Storm Estelle is also likely on the way–both the European and GFS models indicate that an area of disturbed weather several hundred miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico…
The Atlantic remains quiet
As is usually the case when the Eastern Pacific is active, the Atlantic is quiet. This anti-correlation in activity occurs because rising air over the tropical Eastern Pacific typically creates a compensating area of sinking air over the tropical Atlantic. This sinking air creates surface high pressure and dry weather–the antithesis of conditions needed for tropical cyclone formation…
https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/two-flavors-of-record-heat-deadhorse-and-houston
– Habitat destruction — mostly human caused.
Biodiversity is below safe levels across more than half of world’s land – study
Habitat destruction has reduced the variety of plants and animals to the point that ecological systems could become unable to function properly, with risks for agriculture and human health, say scientists
The variety of animals and plants has fallen to dangerous levels across more than half of the world’s landmass due to humanity destroying habitats to use as farmland, scientists have estimated.
The unchecked loss of biodiversity is akin to playing ecological roulette and will set back efforts to bring people out of poverty in the long term, they warned.
Analysing 1.8m records from 39,123 sites across Earth, the international study found that a measure of the intactness of biodiversity at sites has fallen below a safety limit across 58.1% of the world’s land.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/14/biodiversity-below-safe-levels-across-over-half-of-worlds-land-study
This is heartbreaking. What have we done to this beautiful world?
– Along with hot air temps ozone will be a problem for many in the West.
#USA High #ozone levels plague #CA & #NV 0714 | Ozone damages biotic tissue. – https://t.co/eCWPv8TXTs pic.twitter.com/TuUuDwhkVo
— David Lange (@DavidLange2) July 14, 2016
‘The extraordinary years have become the normal years’: Scientists survey radical Arctic melt
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/07/13/the-extraordinary-years-have-become-the-normal-years-scientists-survey-radical-melt-in-the-arctic/#comments
“Climate change department killed off by Theresa May in ‘plain stupid’ and ‘deeply worrying’ move”
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-department-killed-off-by-theresa-may-in-plain-stupid-and-deeply-worrying-move-a7137166.html
So far they say “nothing is changing”, as it says at the bottom of the article – but this sure sounds like some serious deprioritisation. From a seperate “Department for Energy and Climate Change” to a combined “Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy” headed by somebody who wanted to get fracking infrastructure designated “nationally important” so that local councils couldn’t block wells in their areas.
Greenpeace comments here:
https://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2016/07/14/cabinet-reshuffle-whitehall-shake-means-environment/
July Was the Hottest Month Ever Recorded; 2016 Set to Make 1998 Look Cold by Comparison | robertscribbler
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Leading With Kindness
Written by Amanda Light
Kindness is our jam!
With all that's going on in the world, we pride ourselves in prioritizing kindness. Kindness is something that everyone is capable of giving and something that everyone wants to receive. Leading with kindness may not always be easy but if you are a tenderhearted person like us, you'll be happy that you made the effort.
You can read books on leading with kindness (we're referring to the managerial sense here) or take courses on creating zen in your life but we mostly mean "leading with kindness" in a way that is a lifestyle, a way to lead a life full of kindness, creating a better world with small, but meaningful steps. This may not be natural for some people but with persistence and a change in mindset, we can be leaders in our lives and communities, showing that people can be thoughtful, mindful and caring while also being strong, successful and badass.
Our favorite ways to show kindness:
Mamas, We See You
As mothers ourselves, we know that the world can be a pretty bratty place, especially with our kids in it- ha! But seriously, we know what it's like to be out and about, have your kids in tow, and find that people are just not pleased to see you and your crew in their space. We're here to tell you that kids are humans who have as much a right to be in this world as everyone else, and showing them kindness shows them what people are capable of and how they should behave. We are always kind to parents in our circle, our community and strangers we meet out at the grocery store. It's the small compliments or jokes that can help a frazzled mama make it through her day... and who knows, you could be that mama that needs support the next go around. We're here to tell you that if you have the opportunity to help a Mama (or Dad!) that looks like they're struggling with their kids, it would mean the world to them if you held the door, gave them a kind word, said "been there!" or something to show them that little bit of kindness.
Little Treats for Strangers
We're not saying that you should be spending all of your cash on people you don't know but we're also saying that sometimes surprising a stranger with a little treat can make everyone's day. Once in awhile, we'll buy a handful of $5 coffee gift cards to keep in our purse. Then you have something on hand to gift to a stranger who may have shown you kindness or who looks like they need a pick me up. Writing a little note "coffee or tea on me!" is cute and even if the immediate reaction is shock (sometimes people don't know what to do with kindness, seriously), they'll think of you fondly later, even if they do think you're a bit of a weirdo... but hey, we embrace our weird! It doesn't have to be coffee, use your imagination, but spreading kindness is as easy as treating someone to a cup of joe and you'll feel great too!
Don't Be Quick to Snap
It can happen to the best of us, snapping when we're frustrated... but we find that when we snap or have a short fuse, we end up carrying guilt of the hurt we may have caused the person on the other end of our frustration. This can be spouses, kids, grocery store clerks or really anyone that you come into contact with. Everyone is dealing with their own sh!t and they don't need ours too, truly. Taking that quick moment to gauge our reaction to things before expressing ourselves has been a huge step in being kinder, even when dealing with difficult situations. And when we have been kinda beastly? Well, we are not above apologizing, not even to our kids. Saying you're sorry and truly meaning it can make a very big impact.
This may seem like a given but we are often our own worst enemies. Showing kindness to ourselves whether it's squashing negative talk, prioritizing self care or feeding our body properly, women and mothers can sometimes be the least kind to themselves. When we are loving to ourselves, the people in our lives will see that we value what we have to offer, who we are, and are conditioned to treat themselves with respect and kindness as well... not to mention, they're more likely to replicate that behavior in their interactions. Kindness has a way of rippling, you know "paying it forward". When you're kind, whether to yourself or to others, the love can only spread.
Lead with kindness people. Let's make our world a better place to be!
Less is More: Packing Essentials
SaltyGirl Beauty on Good Day Maine!
Our Trip to Young Survivor Coalition
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By K.S. Jayaraman
Bengaluru, Jan 24:
The controversial pesticide endosulfan, widely used by Indian farmers, not only induces male infertility but also exerts damage on the liver and lungs, says a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru who have obtained conclusive evidence from animal studies.
Pic Courtesy: enews.toxicslink.org
Sathees C. Raghavan, associate professor in the department of biochemistry, and Robin Sebastian, a research scholar, recorded significant cell death in the testes, the organ that produces sperm, in mice that were exposed to endosulfan.
The research, published recently in the journal “Cell Death Discovery,” found that endosulfan treatment significantly affected the complete cycle of sperm formation, causing the testes to waste away (testicular atrophy).
In Kasargod district in northern Kerala, endosulfan was regularly sprayed on cashew plantations for over two decades starting in 1976. Subsequently, inhabitants started developing diseases like cancer, birth defects and deformations which were thought to be due to excessive endosulfan use.
“As northern Keralites, we always had first-hand experience on the political and social phases of the endosulfan issue and we were quite intrigued to test and methodologically evaluate the mechanistic aspects of endosulfan action”, Raghavan told IANS.
Raghavan recently spoke at the session on “Genetic dissection of complex diseases” during the 103rd Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru where he shared the study findings with the gathering at a packed auditorium.
The precise mechanism by which endosulfan exerts its effect, however, remains largely unclear. For the study carried out in mice, the researchers chose an endosulfan concentration of 3mg/kg of body weight — comparable to what has been detected in the blood serum of human subjects living in areas of endosulfan exposure. The mice were treated with four doses of endosulfan, spanning eight days.
Liver function tests showed decreased levels of essential enzymes (as compared to untreated control) and tissue analyses after first day of treatment completion showed that liver, testes and lungs were maximally affected upon endosulfan treatment whereas brain, intestine and kidney showed no sign of toxicity.
The levels of red blood cells and platelets also went down as opposed to normal levels, the report said.
“Immediately after endosulfan exposure, the DNA integrity of the sperm was significantly perturbed,” Raghavan said. “This effect was transient and found to be mediated through high levels of particular molecules called Reactive Oxygen Species levels, which may interact with and damage the genetic material DNA, causing genomic instability within sperms,” he said.
Although the morphology of sperms remained normal, there was a dramatic reduction in sperm count and motility after the endosulfan treatment. To test the implications of this effect on fertility in mice, the researchers conducted mating experiments and found that about a third of the males treated with endosulfan were infertile.
Raghavan said that because of the growing concerns about health hazards of endosulfan, “the molecular insights behind changes induced by endosulfan” are currently under investigation in his laboratory.
“The study could be further extended to other types of pesticides with possible side effects in health. This would be a first step towards a more rationalised usage of pesticides,” he noted. (IANS)
(K.S. Jayaraman can be contacted at [email protected])
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Home / Essays / Canadian shorts from Festival du Nouveau Cinema screen on FestivalScope
Alex Heeney / October 30, 2017
Canadian shorts from Festival du Nouveau Cinema screen on FestivalScope
We take a look at some of the best Canadian shorts from the Festival du Nouveau Cinema, which are now available to screen online via FestivalScope. There are still tickets available to watch the selection on FestivalScope here.
Still from Of Tides/To Distill.
If you weren’t able to attend the Festival du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal earlier this month, you can still get a piece of the experience. FestivalScope, an online streaming service focused on festival films that started as a platform for insiders, has since expanded to offer public online screenings — for a limited number of of viewers. This year, FestivalScope offers a selection of Canadian short films from the Festival du Nouveau Cinema, which will be available to watch until January. It’s a great resource for off-the-beaten path films and a glimpse at emerging directors.
Still from Inside McGill Inside My Head.
For the experimental film lovers, there’s Inside McGill Inside My Head (dir. François Blouin, 6 minutes), which is a montage of black-and-white photos set to a score, meant as a look at someone haunting the halls and landscape of McGill University in Montreal. For a blitz of colour and mayhem, there’s Humanity Hyuck Hyuck (dir. Josh Owen, 6 mins), an experimental comedy about someone breaking down over heartache.
For bold visuals and eccentric tableaux, there’s Of Tides/To Distill (dir. Courtney Verwold, 16 mins), which features five dialogue-free experimental vignettes. In one, a group of women in identical white wigs and tan bodysuits braid each other’s hair and lounge about looking forlorn before hanging themselves en masse. In my favourite section, a woman enters a set covered in pink satin wearing an eighteenth-century dress. We watch her pull of the many layers of clothing, opt for sweats and a t-shirt, and then use the set in a way we’d least expect, which only these clothes would allow.
Still from Living Here.
Indigenous films are always a highlight of any Canadian short film selection, giving a unique glimpse into a way of life rarely depicted in features. Sarah Baril Gaudet’s Living Here offers an introduction to the smallest community in Nunavut, told from the perspective of teenaged Martha. Through a series of wide shots of the landscape, held for long takes, we get a sense of the calm rhythm of life here, which Martha describes in voiceover. The school has empty hallways, and the streets have only a few people in them. Gaudet often sets up a shot of the landscape to allow us to watch the people move in and out of the frame, a reminder that the land endures, especially as Martha worries that a mining project could destroy her home.
Still from Cowboy of Mount Laurier.
One of the most stylized shorts, Cowboy of Mount Laurier (dir. Gabriel Vilandré, 11 mins), is also the creepiest. Set in a laundromat, but shot like a western (boots and shoes loom large), a young woman meets a middle-aged man washing his clothing, which she describes as fit for a cowboy. When he helps her fend off unwanted attention from a sketchy young man, she’s left wondering whether this means he’s trustworthy or not — and what the repercussions are for letting her guard down. Let’s just say I never expected to see a québécois cowboy dancing to “The Pied Piper” in a laundromat.
Still from Thug
In Thug (15 mins), director Daniel Boos thoughtfully explores the masks we wear and the assumptions others make about us through our appearance. Three twenty-something black men appear to be in the middle of a shakedown from a drug deal. Only later does it become apparent that they’re struggling actors rehearsing a scene for an audition. As they look for ways to make their portrayal more authentic, we follow them through lives that couldn’t be more different from the scenes they’re rehearsing. And they learn the hard way that looking the part can sometimes mean getting mistaken for the part you’re playing. Simon Mutuyimana stars as the most ambitious actor, and he’s a commanding, compelling screen presence that I can’t wait to see more from.
Heather Young’s Milk was a Seventh Row favourite at TIFF, and it’s also part of the Festival du Nouveau Cinema selection on FestivalScope. Twentysomething Beatrice discovers that she herself has become pregnant. She must reckon with the emotional consequences of this mishap while working amongst the mechanized reproductive cycle of a dairy farm, where cows are in a constant cycle of birth and pregnancy so they can produce milk. Earlier this month, we talked to Young about developing the film and approaching these themes.
In total, 20 films from the Festival du Nouveau Cinema are screening on FestivalScope, representing filmmakers from across the country working in more than five languages with different stylistic and thematic interests. Don’t miss this chance to see some of tomorrow’s great auteurs honing their craft in these short films. Watch the films here.
Filed Under: Canadian cinema, Essays, Film Festivals Tagged With: Short Films
Alex Heeney
Alex is the Editor-in-Chief of The Seventh Row, based in San Francisco and from Toronto, Canada.
Review: God’s Own Country is a swoon-worthy romance
Director Francis Lee and stars Josh O’Connor and Alec Secareanu on making God’s Own Country
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Ardent to Acquire Prism Solutions
By Scott Bekker
Ardent Software Inc. (Westboro, Mass., www.ardentsoftware.com) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Prism Solutions Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif., www.prismsolutions.com).
The acquisition creates a company with data migration and warehouse offerings, large customer base, worldwide presence and partners, and experienced global sales and consulting organizations.
Prism Solutions shareholders will receive 0.13124 shares of Ardent Software common stock for each share of Prism Solutions common stock. Based on Ardent's closing price on November 18th, the total value of the transaction is approximately $42 million. The transaction is intended to be accounted for as a pooling of interests and is expected to close within 60 to 90 days. The transaction is subject to approval by Prism Solutions shareholders and satisfying other customary conditions.
Following closing of the acquisition, Prism Solutions will be integrated into Ardent's operations worldwide. The company expects to immediately provide interoperability between both companies' products, while developing a product roadmap that will ultimately result in a single, data warehouse product family. --Brian Ploskina, Assistant Editor
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.
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Management | Strategy |
BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION AND THE CFO
By Mark L. Frigo, CMA, CPA
Developing and executing an effective innovation strategy can be a challenge at many established companies. But CFOs and finance organizations can play a vital role in how organizations develop and execute these strategies, how they allocate resources, and how they measure performance, which can help or hinder innovation. In this article, Tony Davila and Marc Epstein, authors of The Innovation Paradox: Why Good Businesses Kill Breakthroughs and How They Can Change, share their insights to help CFOs and finance organizations enable and support breakthrough innovation. In their book, they describe how established companies can change the rules of the game and master both breakthrough and incremental innovation by embracing the concept of the Startup Corporation.
Frigo: In The Innovation Paradox you describe how established companies can achieve breakthrough innovation by embracing the concept of the Startup Corporation. How would you describe the Startup Corporation to a CFO? Can you give an example?
Davila/Epstein: Contrary to the beliefs of many people, established companies can be as effective as startups in developing breakthrough innovations. Yet many of them fail because of the innovation paradox. As companies become more successful, they often focus their efforts on becoming better at operational excellence. Their ability to execute keeps them ahead of competitors in the short run. Thus incremental innovation—advancing technologies and business models along the same path as the current strategy—is central to execution. But here’s the paradox: As these companies become better at incremental innovation, their ability to do breakthrough innovation often suffers. Managers don’t see the kinds of disruptive business model changes that are vital for this kind of innovation. And breakthrough innovation is uncertain, risky, and nonlinear. A focus on execution often views all of these characteristics of breakthrough innovation as risks to be avoided, so organizations build mechanisms that inhibit breakthrough innovation. Companies that formerly led in products as diverse as mobile phones, computers, publishing, education, and bookselling have suffered the fate of being too good at incremental innovation at the expense of breakthrough innovation.
The only way to leverage the assets of established companies for breakthrough innovation is to design a new process tailored to the needs of this type of innovation. This process is the Startup Corporation, which incorporates the strength of startups to innovate with the resources and capabilities of established companies.
It takes the fundamental characteristics of the startup world and adapts them to established companies. Through the right organizational structures, systems, and performance measures, the CFO and other senior leaders can develop a Startup Corporation within their company and integrate the various resources of established companies along with the strengths of startups to build the breakthrough innovations that are critical for organizational growth. Nestlé with its internal effort to develop Nespresso, Netflix’s transformation into an Internet company, and Google’s multiple projects inside its Google X initiative are examples of established players that are betting on and succeeding at breakthrough innovation.
Frigo: What can CFOs do to avoid inadvertently hindering breakthrough innovation?
Davila/Epstein: They need to treat incremental and breakthrough innovation differently and to properly nurture both. CFOs play a central role in the innovation strategy of a company in several ways. First, as part of the top management team, their understanding of the innovation process is important in strategy formulation and implementation. Their role has evolved from often being secondary with a focus only on accounting and finance to becoming central to the definition and implementation of strategy. As such, a deep knowledge of innovation is critical to the success of senior financial executives and the organization. Second, since CFOs have significant control over the resource allocation process, they have a large influence on how economic and often human resources are invested across the company. Third, CFOs have the background to understand risk and the risk-return relationship. They also are comfortable with designing and using processes to get things done. Innovation is about risk and returns, and it relies heavily on adapting processes to different levels of risk.
The level of risk and returns for breakthroughs is several orders of magnitude different from what it is for incremental improvements. Incremental innovation is about knowledge management, with companies usually knowing the final goal of an incremental innovation project and how to get there. Breakthroughs are more about managing what we don’t know, and the final outcome is hard to know ex ante. Once CFOs fully understand this distinction, they won’t make common mistakes such as having only one budget for innovation (they will have two for these two types of innovation) or evaluating a breakthrough innovation with the performance metrics designed for incremental innovation. Different organizational structures, systems, performance measures, and rewards are critical for success in breakthrough innovation, and senior financial executives need to utilize these tools to lead the organization for growth. For instance, breakthrough financing closely follows startup-type funding, with rounds of investments that depend not on meeting predetermined milestones but on the progress made by the team. Incremental financing is similar to project financing with a clear perspective on milestones and final objectives as well as the total investment and when it comes in through the project.
Frigo: In the area of budgeting and planning, what approaches would you recommend to CFOs and finance organizations to help support breakthrough innovation?
Davila/Epstein: The first step is having two separate budgets—one for incremental innovation and one for breakthrough innovation. The second step is to allocate resources to the different steps of the Startup Corporation. For instance, inspiring people in the organization to have breakthrough ideas. This doesn’t happen out of thin air—it happens only if resources are invested for people to have exposure to ideas. For example, some companies require their engineers to go on “field trips” to visit trade shows, customers, and distributors so they can understand the market better. These trips are always with marketing and sales people so conversations can be started between technology and markets as far down the organization as possible. The third step is to manage breakthrough innovation projects differently rather than applying the criteria of incremental innovation. It involves managing ignorance (what we don’t know) rather than forcing the resolution of inherent uncertainties too early in the process. Breakthrough is about managing uncertainty, while incremental innovation is about knowledge. The level of knowledge in developing a product extension of, say, a car or a computer screen is very high, and uncertainty is limited to minor technology aspects and business decisions. In contrast, the level of uncertainty in developing driverless cars is huge—we hardly know how the business will look.
Frigo: In the area of risk management, you discuss the idea that fortunes of companies sour, not because companies take too many risks but because they keep reinforcing a tried-and-tested business model that may not be valid anymore. How can companies reduce risk by managing innovation like a startup?
Davila/Epstein: The big stories of company failures are sometimes about poor execution. Increasingly, though, they are more about companies lacking the breakthrough innovations necessary to beat the competition. Borders Books, Blockbuster Video, Nokia, and many more companies were blindsided by breakthrough innovations from other companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Apple. Thus risk management is increasingly about how companies can effectively manage the innovation process to lead rather than permit others in the industry or startups to steal the business. Failure to innovate is the main risk today in most industries. Incumbents in industry after industry have been challenged because of another player redefining the rules of the game through breakthrough innovation. Book distribution and newspapers were severely affected by Web-based business models, and digital cameras decimated Kodak’s film business. Today, banks are quickly reducing their workforce because of the rapid changes in banking; similar changes are happening in education, healthcare management, and smart cities. Believing that your industry is different and that incremental innovation will keep you successful is usually a far too risky strategy.
The Startup Corporation model uses the principles of the startup ecosystem (where people, startups in their various stages, and a variety of diverse organizations interact as a network to create new startups) to design a breakthrough innovation process within established companies. Figure 1 shows a side-by-side comparison of the Startup and the Startup Corporation.
From a risk perspective, the main ideas are:
Explore different alternatives rather than committing to one too soon. This idea is akin to real options’ thinking. Investing in a breakthrough project is creating a pool of possibilities (options) that only expire or are executed depending on the project advancing.
Design action plans to resolve uncertainties as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Rely on external partners (including startups) for providing certain pieces of the innovation puzzle that you’re putting together.
Established companies are in the best position to go after systemic breakthrough innovation.
For example, companies such as Apple, Google, or Facebook aren’t just going after the latest and greatest application but are going after breakthrough systemic innovation such as a new way to think about cars (Google car or Apple car), healthcare, education, and even government. As organizations with immense resources, they can go after large breakthrough innovations. Each company within its possibilities will go after innovations with different levels of ambition. Larger companies can go after redesigning large markets such as transportation, healthcare, or government; smaller companies can go after market niches and redefine the way they are organized.
Breakthrough innovation success also requires a long-term perspective on success and experimentation. Just as startups don’t achieve success on the first try, companies must encourage continuous experimentation and trials of ideas and models to see what works—and learn from failed experiments. Companies that employ effective risk management will use data analytics and extensive trials before they achieve one successful breakthrough.
Frigo: In the area of performance measures and incentives, what recommendations would you give CFOs to better support breakthrough innovation?
Davila/Epstein: Financial incentives have only marginal benefits for breakthrough innovation. Motivational levers such as passion for the idea and the project, top management support, and vision are usually much more inspiring. Financial incentives often won’t motivate the level of creativity and risk taking necessary for breakthrough innovation, so they should be designed to make people feel they are rewarded fairly for their effort and risk taking. The design will vary across cultures and jobs, but it will hardly be a flat salary. For instance, venture capital investors make sure that the managers of the companies they’ve invested in have enough equity to feel they will be rewarded properly if they are successful. When they have enough equity, top managers don’t focus on how much they will make but will let their passion drive them.
In terms of performance measures, breakthrough innovation requires a balanced set of measures including tracking inputs into the innovation pipeline from the number and quality of ideas to process, such as ongoing funding and quality of learning output, and outcome measures, such as sales from the products and services developed. A differential aspect of breakthrough innovation is the need to include portfolio measures that inform about the various projects in place and how they complement each other. Breakthrough innovation is risky: The returns for some of the projects will be larger than expected while others will be smaller. Much like in a portfolio of investments such as the startup portfolio of a venture capitalist, the return is measured at the portfolio level and not at the project level.
Frigo: What overall advice and recommendations would you give CFOs to help them and the finance organization support breakthrough innovation?
Davila/Epstein: CFOs need to be part of the breakthrough innovation conversation. Again, breakthrough innovation isn’t just about new technologies—it’s also about new business models. And it’s related to the way business is done, including the processes and systems that financial executives so carefully design and manage. In many cases, the game changers come from functional leaders in addition to business unit heads.
Innovation is such a central aspect to strategy in today’s world that CFOs can’t ignore it if they want to keep on playing a central role in top management. Innovation has many aspects to it, but the first one to explore is the management of innovation: how to design the different innovation processes, how to manage each of the stages in the Startup Corporation, how to integrate the various types of innovation into the day-to-day activities of the organization, and how to reward success. CFOs will be a vital part of these processes and will contribute effectively to organizational growth and long-term success.
Tony Davila, Ph.D., is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Accounting and Control at IESE in Barcelona, Spain, where he also heads the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center and holds the Alcatel-Lucent Chair of Management and Technology. He was previously on the faculty of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and visiting professor at Harvard Business School where he earned his doctorate. You can reach Tony at ADavila@iese.edu.
Marc J. Epstein, Ph.D., until recently was Distinguished Research Professor of Management at Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. Prior to joining Rice, he was a professor at Stanford Business School, Harvard Business School, and INSEAD (European Institute of Business Administration). An IMA member, he is currently focusing on presentations to both academic and business audiences, advising senior leaders in governments and global corporations, and continuing research and writing projects. You can reach Marc at epstein@rice.edu.
Mark L. Frigo, CMA, CPA, Ph.D., is director of the Center for Strategy, Execution and Valuation and the Strategic Risk Management Lab in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business and Ezerski Endowed Chair of Strategy and Leadership in the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University in Chicago, Ill. He also is an advisor to executive teams and boards in the area of strategy execution and strategic risk management and an IMA member. You can reach Mark at (312) 362-8784 or mfrigo@depaul.edu.
Toward Business 2030
Communicating in the Digital Age
Managing Healthcare Costs and Value
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Work and labour in Canada : critical issues /
Andrew Jackson ; foreword by Wallace Clement.
2nd ed.
Toronto : Canadian Scholars' Press, c2010.
xxii, 314 p. : ill., ports. ; 25 cm.
Indust. Rel's & Hum. Resources (Newman)
Library use only
LABOUR RELATIONS - CANADA - JAC2
Labor movement--Canada--Textbooks.
Labor--Canada--Textbooks.
Jackson, Andrew, 1952-
Work and labour in Canada : critical issues / Andrew Jackson ; foreword by Wallace Clement.
contents note
Why Jobs Are Important: Thinking about Work and Labour in Tumultuous Times -- Work, Wages, and the Living Standards of Canadian Working People -- Taking Lifelong Learning Seriously -- The Unhealthy Canadian Workplace -- Women in the Workforce: Still a Long Way from Equality -- Seeking Equality in the Workforce: Recent Immigrants and Racialized Workers, Aboriginal Canadians, and Persons with Disabilities -- Older Workers, Pensions, and the Transition to Retirement -- Troubled Translations: A Note on Young Workers -- The Impact of Unions -- Is There a Future for Canadian Unions? -- Canadian Workers in a Changing World: The Impacts of Globalization and Free Trade -- Improving Work: Could Canada Look More Like Denmark?
"Read this book. It's a gem. It's an encyclopedia in the small. It's an essential reference book for anyone with any interest in the world of labour, whether union activist or student. I thought that, as a well-aged scholar interested in labour issues, I knew what there was to know, but I still learned a lot from reading this book."
Now in its 2nd Edition, and with a foreword by Wallace Clement, this original and timely book focuses on critical issues surrounding work and labour in Canada. It examines changes in the labour market and in the workplace, with a strong empirical component based upon the most recent Statistics Canada data. This is an ideal text for Sociology of Work and a wide range of courses in Labour Studies and Industrial Relations programs across Canada.
Now in its second edition, and with a new foreword by Wallace Clement, this original and timely book focuses on critical issues surrounding work and labour in Canada. It examines changes to the labour market and in the workplace, with a strong empirical component based upon the most recent Statistics Canada data. An ideal text for Sociology of Work, and a wide range of courses in Labour Studies and Industrial Relations programs across Canada. New to this edition: All chapters substantially revised and thoroughly updated. A discussion on the causes of the current economic crisis and its roots in the labour market, including a special appendix. More emphasis on the fortunes of racialized Canadian-born workers as opposed to recent immigrants. Brand new chapter on young workers. Up-to-the-minute newspaper articles on the current global economic crisis. Added material on occupational health and safety emphasizing the connection between work and health. More on older workers and retirement. New material on workers' rights as well as non-standard and precarious work. New approaches to management.
Working People and the Canadian Workplace
Why Jobs Are Important: Thinking about Work and Labour in Tumultuous Times
Work, Wages, and the Living Standards of Canadian Working People
Taking Lifelong Learning Seriously
The Unhealthy Canadian Workplace
Inequalities and Differences: Gender, Race, Ability, Age
Women in the Workforce: Still a Long Way from Equality
Seeking Equality in the Workforce: Recent Immigrants and Racialized Workers, Aboriginal Canadians, and Persons with Disabilities
Older Workers, Pensions, and the Transition to Retirement
Troubled Translations: A Note on Young Workers
Contemporary Canadian Unions
The Impact of Unions
Is There a Future for Canadian Unions?
Canada in a Global Perspective
Canadian Workers in a Changing World: The Impacts of Globalization and Free Trade
Improving Work: Could Canada Look More Like Denmark?
Copyright Acknowledgments
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.
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Walton on the Hill
Walton on the Hill, Surrey
All pricesAll prices
1 property type(s)
6 Bungalows for sale in Walton on the Hill
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App dev and management
Commerce One patent sale could hinder small businesses
Experts lay out a worst- and best-case scenario for the Web services market following this week's auction of Web services and XML patents by bankrupt Commerce One.
Michael Mimoso, TechTarget
According to industry experts, Commerce One Inc.'s fire sale auction this week of patents on XML and Web services-related...
protocols poses a disturbing worst-case scenario for smaller enterprises trying their hand at conducting business-to-business transactions.
The worst-case scenario for the industry is that some companies are extorted to pay money for royalties they cannot afford, and it begins to affect business.
Jason Bloomberg
Senior analystZapThink LLC
A mysterious bidder, known only as JGR Acquisitions, acquired the patents Monday in United States Bankruptcy Court in San Francisco for $15.5 million. Not only is JGR's identity a secret, but its intentions remain veiled.
Companies are afraid that this group could begin seeking royalties if they use the protocols in their products or services. While this is unlikely to stifle innovation in the Web services market, it could hit smaller companies in a big way.
"The worst-case scenario for the industry is that some companies are extorted to pay money for royalties they cannot afford, and it begins to affect business," said Jason Bloomberg, senior analyst with ZapThink LLC of Waltham, Mass. He said a $50 million bill for royalties may be insignificant to a company of Microsoft's size, but such a bill could affect the way a smaller company does business.
Bloomberg added that Web services innovation is likely to stay strong, because companies will license the technology if there is a solid business case to do so.
"The best-case scenario is that we never hear of this again," Bloomberg said.
Commerce One filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 6, and decided to liquidate its assets. General counsel Paul Warenski said the one-time leading enterprise procurement software vendor decided the patents were its most valuable asset and that it would sell them separately.
John Amster, managing director of investment bank ICMB Ocean Tomo, which specializes in helping companies maximize the value of their intellectual property, said the 36 patents in question were far more lucrative than the rest of the business, which fetched $4.1 million.
Amster, however, downplayed the notion that JGR acquired the patents to charge royalties.
Read this 2002 interview with Tim Berners-Lee where he discusses patents, royalties and Web services
Click through to these XML resources
"[Commerce One] is doing what it was supposed to do -- maximize its value for its creditors and shareholders," Amster said. "Everyone is assuming the bidders showed up to charge royalties, and that's a bad assumption. There are lots of ways to use IP -- and yes, licensing and suing is one way. But there are other ways. The bidders could be acquiring these patents to pool them with other Web services patents to create a one-stop shop in that field. Another possibility is that the bidders made the acquisition for defensive purposes. It's a mistake to assume this is purely an issue of them doing licenses."
Amster said he did not know JGR's intentions, nor was he willing to reveal their identity.
The patents, meanwhile, are primarily XML related. Commerce One was known as an e-marketplace innovator, especially in the area of using XML as a B2B exchange. The company was a pioneer in developing the XCBL or XML Common Business Library, a library of components critical to B2B document exchanges. Three of the most valuable XML patents were acquired in 2000 from Veo Systems Inc., Warenski said.
Warenski said Commerce One's aim here was not necessarily to find a royalty-bearing home for the patents.
"There was no filter that said you were qualified to bid based on how you would use the patents," he said. Warenski added there various bidders from different markets, and that the auction exceeded his expectations. "It's a good result for creditors, and for shareholders, if there's any money left."
Published reports said the other bidders included venture firms connected to former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold who is now with Intellectual Ventures, a company whose business model is collecting and enforcing patents.
Microsoft would not comment for this story when contacted by SearchWebServices.com.
Microsoft, Sun, Oracle and others have already deployed many of these protocols in their products, and some speculated that these giant vendors and others had formed a consortium that would bid on the patents as a defensive measure. That has not been confirmed.
ZapThink's Bloomberg wasn't buying it, however.
"This cloak-and-dagger stuff doesn't sound like one of big players; they wouldn't do this funny stuff," Bloomberg said. "This sounds like a smaller player wanting to make a splash."
The growing popularity of Web services could make this market ripe for a business model based on enforcing intellectual property -- something that is not without precedent.
"The bigger concern and the danger the industry faces, with what' s happening with file sharing and open source, is that we are slowly eroding the value of IP because we are forcing people to circumvent IP in order to be innovative," said ZapThink founder and senior analyst Ronald Schmelzer. "The last thing you want to do is decay the value of IP, because it's getting harder to base a business on IP. Others can always claim prior art."
FEEDBACK: Who do you think is behind the mysterious JGR Acquisitions?
Send your feedback to the SearchWebServices.com news team.
Dig Deeper on Topics Archive
AV1 video codec carries clout with royalty-free status
By: Tsahi Levent-Levi
US judge sets FRAND rates for Motorola patents in Microsoft case
US jury to consider Apple, Samsung patent battle
Just how valuable are Nortel's LTE patents?
By: Leigha Cardwell
Commerce One patents auctioned off – ComputerWeekly.com
Royalty question surfaces in WS-Discovery spec – SearchAppArchitecture
US jury to consider Apple, Samsung patent battle – ComputerWeekly.com
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Eva Carefree House Music with Electric Piano
Eva is the house royalty free music track, with the tempo of 127 BPM and the full track has the 2:09 minutes length, which you can use in online videos like youtube, commercials, corporate projects, TV and radio content, websites, games and more.
This track has the carefree mood, featuring electric piano.
We recommend to use it in the media projects about the holiday, weekend, travel, games, pets, children, family, fun and so on.
holiday weekend travel games pets children family fun
You are very welcome to download and use this "Eva" music track for free, as long as you credit us. The Free License only covers files in MP3 format.
Carefree House Music
Abigail is the house royalty free music track, with the tempo of 128 BPM and the full track has the 3:04 minutes length, which you can use in online videos like youtube, commercials, corporate projects, TV and radio content, websites, games and more.
This track has a carefree mood, featuring electric guitar, and electric piano.
We recommend to use it in the media projects about food, drinks, dinner, dish, meal, cooking, bar, bartender, restaurant and so on.
Carefree Disco Music
Disco House is a disco royalty free music track, with the tempo of 126 BPM and the full track has the 2:19 minutes length, which you can use in online videos like youtube, commercials, corporate projects, TV and radio content, websites, games and more.
This track has the carefree mood, featuring electric guitar, and electric piano.
We recommend to use it in the media projects about the disco, demonstration, explanation, unboxing and so on.
Natalie is the house royalty free music track, with the tempo of 125 BPM and the full track has the 2:49 minutes length, which you can use in online videos like youtube, commercials, corporate projects, TV and radio content, websites, games and more.
We recommend to use it in the media projects about flirt, jewelry, fashion and so on.
Caroline is the house royalty free music track, with the tempo of 125 BPM and the full track has the 2:49 minutes length, which you can use in online videos like youtube, commercials, corporate projects, TV and radio content, websites, games and more.
We recommend to use it in the media projects about fashion, clothes, jewelry, footwear and so on.
Laura is the house royalty free music track, with the tempo of 120 BPM and the full track has the 2:20 minutes length, which you can use in online videos like youtube, commercials, corporate projects, TV and radio content, websites, games and more.
We recommend to use it in the media projects about dinner, dating, restaurant, food, dish and so on.
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Archival materials (507)
Sound recordings (47)
Clothing and dress (30)
Rites and ceremonies (21)
Language and languages (14)
Works of art (14)
African American entertainers (10)
Warshaw, Isadore, d. 1969 (29)
DeVincent, Sam (9)
Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt) (9)
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation (8)
Rice, Moses P. (8)
Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.) (8)
Scurlock, Addison N. (8)
Scurlock, George H. (Hardison) (8)
Scurlock, Robert S. (Saunders) (8)
Smithsonian Institution, Office of the Secretary (6)
National Portrait Gallery, Office of Exhibitions (5)
Ellington, Duke (4)
Heye, George G. (George Gustav) (4)
Ellsworth, Scott, Dr. (3)
Feder, Norman (3)
Fitzgerald, Ella (3)
Goodman, Benny (Benjamin David) (3)
Hendricks-Hodge Expedition (1917-1923). (3)
Hrdlička, Aleš (3)
Mooney, James (3)
Skinner, Alanson (3)
Absaroke Indians (7)
Assiniboine Indians (7)
Teton Indians (7)
Kiowa Indians (6)
Omaha Indians (6)
Chiricahua Indians (5)
Iroquois Indians (5)
Potawatomi Indians (5)
Pueblo Indians (5)
Sauk Indians (5)
Arikara Indians (4)
Brule? Indians (4)
Congo (Democratic Republic) (8)
Shaw (Washington, D.C.) (8)
Lagos (Nigeria) (4)
Smithsonian Institution Archives (92)
Anacostia Community Museum Archives (5)
Query: Dress
507 records — Page 1 of 51
Wright, Mary Irwin
1 Drawing
Patricia Peña photograph of José Encarnacion Peña dressed as koshari
Peña, Patricia
1 color print
NAA.PhotoLot.79-30
Photograph depicting José Encarnacion Peña dressed as a koshari for a Corn Dance in August 1978. The photograph was made by Peña's wife, Patricia Peña.
Margaret B. Klapthor Papers
Klapthor, Margaret Brown
MS 1323 Three photos of Cree costumes
Millar, J.W.
Encloses three photos of Cree Indian costumes, worn by white man and woman.
MS 7566 A visit among the Sac and Fox and Delaware Indians
Green, C.R.
1 Item (leaf )
Supplement to The Peoples Herald, December 3, 1903. Miscellaneous information including some concerning Mary Means, the widow of Moses Keokuk; some of Keokuk's descendants; Henry C. Jones, including William Jones, the ethnologist.
MS 2093 Dress and adornment of the Pueblo Indians
Stevenson, Matilda Coxe, 1850-1915
30 Items (illustrations )
Also 18 pages, apparently a variant of that section of the manuscript beginning on page 142. With 4 pages of correspondence, including letter of transmittal dated April 28, 1911.
MS 4349 Stanley C. Fisher Papers
Fisher, Stanley C.
Nudahbeh Penobscot
Remarks: 10/18/40- Letter to National Geographic Society, referred to Dr. Stirling for reply. Inquiry re. Penobscot villages, and native dress of the pre-colonial period. 1/9/46 - Letter re. migrations of the Algonquians. 1/21/46 - Letter re. migrations of the Seminoles. Enclosed sketch of Indian figure wearing tunic. 2/18/46 - Letter re. Algonquia...
Quince Años Documentation
Erevia, Angela, Sister, MCDP
0.3 Cubic feet (1 box)
The Quince Años Documentation is a collection of liturgical publications, handbooks, and audiovisual materials created by Sister Angela Erevia, Missionary of Cathecists of Divine Providence and Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Dodge City, Kansas. The materials were formulated in order to be shared with the surrounding Catholic community and used as preparatory tools for youth, their families, and religious staff who would be partaking in the Quince Años celebration.
Ivan Livingstone photographs
Livingstone, Ivan
527 slides (photographs) (color , 35mm.)
The collection contains 527 color 35mm slides taken by Ivan Livingstone in West Africa (primarily the Republic of Benin but also in Ghana, Nigeria and Togo) circa 1972-1973. Images depict market scenes, Egúngún and Ifa ceremonies, religious ceremonies of the Celestial Church of Christ, funeral processions, decoration and ornament, clothing and dress, and musicians. There are also several images of the palace of the Oni of Ife. Culture groups represented in the collection include the Yoruba, Ifè, Oyo, Somba, Fon,Dan and Fula peoples.
MS 7069 Notes on Eskimos of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Moore, Riley Dunning, 1883-
Includes clothing, sorcery, disease, mortuary customs, descriptions of specific ceremonies, and notes on visor and whetstone used in hunting bear (item in Moore collection).
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Book Review: To Orbit and Back Again
by Jim Plaxco | Mar 1, 2015 | Book Reviews, Book Reviews: Non-Fiction | 0 comments
Reviewed by: Marianne Dyson
From Ad Astra Winter 2014
Title: To Orbit and Back Again: How the Space Shuttle Flew in Space
Author: Davide Sivolella
Publisher: Springer Praxis
Date: September, 2013
To Orbit and Back Again is a comprehensive reference about the space shuttle. And I mean comprehensive! As astronaut Story Musgrave writes in the foreword, “I got into it and couldn’t get out of it. Despite having assisted in the development of the shuttle, having taken it into space six times, and all in all worked on the program for 20 years, I read on with curious excitement to discover how and why I flew it the way I did, and how and why the vehicles responded the way they did. This book took me beyond my knowledge of the systems: It could have served very nicely as my textbook for flying the shuttle.”
As former shuttle flight controller, I didn’t expect this book to have much to teach me, either. But like Story, I was pulled in and fascinated by the details and the accuracy of the explanations.
This book covers each system, from the hardware to the operational limits imposed and the various failures experienced, via 245 diagrams and photos and crisp, clear explanations. Sivolella also includes an acronym list and glossary and index. The amount of research that went into this book boggles the mind. The bibliography is impressive not only for its completeness, but as a list of the best sources for each topic covered. For example, the author doesn’t just rely on standard books and interviews, but shows us the real Entry Checklist onboard the orbiter and trajectory displays shown in Mission Control. You can read about entry through Earth’s atmosphere in other books, but through reading To Orbit and Back Again, you can understand it.
But the real beauty of this book is in the human stories of choices made and lessons learned as a result of shuttle flights—and the realization that these stories and lessons apply to any complex technical program humans may attempt in the future.
Here is an example: the shuttle had six computers. Why so many? First, the choice of computer architecture using a distributed command approach led to a need for quadruple redundancy. But four computers running the same software could all fail the same way. So a fifth computer was added with software created by a separate team. And to avoid a power surge (or lightning strike!) taking them all out, another computer was flown as a spare. This logic will likely apply to future vehicles that include technology that is as new as flight software and computers were back when the shuttles were being developed.
The book is divided into 13 chapters, covering avionics, structure, engines, boosters, external tank, maneuvering systems, environmental control and electrical systems, thermal protection, auxiliary power, guidance and navigation, flight stages, rendezvous, and entry.
Each chapter explains what the system does, how it does it, and how it came to be that way. Then the author provides examples of the system’s use from flight experiences, such as what happened when two computers failed on STS-9, the first Spacelab mission.
My husband Ted was on console (as guidance) when those failures happened, and we can confirm the book’s details are accurate. They delayed landing while they swapped one computer with the onboard spare and rebooted the other. The rebooted one failed at touchdown. The investigation showed that in freefall, pieces of solder had gotten loose in the units. When jets fired (and at touchdown), pieces shifted around and caused the failures. After that flight, IBM, who built the computers, began testing all the new units by placing a microphone on each box and shaking it, listening for any loose particles inside. Now when I see someone shaking a birthday gift with their ear to the side trying to guess what’s inside, I can tell them they are using the same method engineers use to check for loose parts inside computers that will fly in space. These real world connections are precious to those of us who are always looking for an excuse to talk about space!
Former astronauts and shuttle workers will enjoy this book immensely for providing a broader context for their parts in the program—and lots of cool stories to share with friends and family. For writers and historians, this book is a must-have reference source for anything related to the shuttle program. For engineering and space science students, it is a valuable inside look at what to expect in designing and operating complex space systems. For space enthusiasts, it may be a bit intimidating to read, but well worth the effort to capture a true understanding and an appreciation for the challenge of building, maintaining, and operating the world’s first reusable spacecraft.
© 2014 Marianne Dyson
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The Sportaholic
The average sports blog, for the not so average fan
Tiger Woods Wins The Tour Championship!!! HIDE THE WAITRESSES!!!
by Pauly YacosPosted on September 24, 2018 September 24, 2018
Admittedly I didn’t watch a ton of this today because duh, football was on. But Tiger Woods who had been in the lead for the Tour Championship all weekend shot a 1 over par 71 today to keep the lead and hold off a charging win his first tournament since 2013, and more importantly he answered the age-old question of “is Tiger back” with and emphatic YES HE IS BACK. He managed to not have one of his famous collapses while leading this tournament and that proved a lot to people who thought he could no longer handle the pressure of being in the final group on Sundays. He stayed calm and composed and although he didn’t play his greatest golf today, he didn’t let it get away from him. He hung tough and proved that he still should be considered one of the top golfers on this planet who can be a threat to win at any given time.
FIRST WIN IN 1,874 DAYS FOR TIGER WOODS!!!
IT'S EVEN BETTER WITH TITANIC MUSIC!!!
⛳️🚢🎶 pic.twitter.com/61JFGDpwfX
— Titanic Hoops 🏀🚢🎶 (@Titanic_Hoops) September 23, 2018
It doesn’t matter if you’re a causal golf fan like me, or one of those golf snobs that will call you out on the course for not taking a stroke when you sneeze the wrong way, regardless it is awesome to see Tiger back at the top of his game. This just caps off a season where we saw him legitimately compete all year long and not get hurt/quit when things got tough for him. In the British Open, and now today he has delivered two top 10 performances in the quote unquote “Majors” now that the PGA is trying to make the Tour Championship its 5th major. Either way this is a huge moment for a man who has dealt with years of questions on whether he would ever return to the once magical player that played golf better than any human in history from 1996-2008. Will he ever return to that level of greatness? The betting man would say no, but who knows, he is only 42 years old and we still see Phil Mickelson out there competing at 48 and its pretty clear that he doesn’t take care of his mushy body the same way that Tiger does, back surgeries and all. So realistically I think if this continues that Tiger has a shot to play at a very high level for at least the next 3-4 years and if he continues to play like this then anything is possible. Including a far-fetched chance of catching Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major championships.
That all remains to be seen but tonight Tiger celebrates and when Tiger celebrates you know what that means. No Denny’s waitresses is safe. Tiger has got the swag back and when he gives them the old classic Nike catchphrase (just do it) they won’t be able to resist.
Tiger Woods of the United States gestures to a fan to be quiet from the fifth green during first round play at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament in Akron, Ohio August 6, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF) – RTR26GXI
Published by Pauly Yacos
Follow me on Twitter! @PaulYacos View all posts by Pauly Yacos
Prev Bills Break Vikings Over Table, And I Don’t Know Anything About the NFL Anymore.
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Berhalter appointed United States head coach
Columbus Crew boss Gregg Berhalter has taken the reins as the United States' permanent head coach, leaving the MLS club after five years.
Ben Spratt
03 December, 2018 00:37 IST
Gregg Berhalter has long been tipped for the role with the United States national team. - Getty Images
Gregg Berhalter has been appointed as the United States' new head coach after months of speculation.
USA had been without a permanent boss since October 2017 when Bruce Arena quit after failing to guide the team to the 2018 World Cup, the States missing the finals for the first time since 1986.
Dave Sarachan had taken charge of a series of friendlies in the meantime as US Soccer delayed making a decision on an appointment, with his contract up at the end of the year following friendly defeats to England and Italy last month.
And Berhalter has belatedly been confirmed as the new man, as expected, leaving Columbus Crew in MLS after five years.
He becomes the first USA coach to have represented the country as a player at a World Cup, collecting 44 caps as he played a prominent role at the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea.
"This is a tremendous honour," said Berhalter. "Having played for the national team, I know what it means to represent our country.
"I believe in our players and our programme and, together, we will work to build something special and develop a team that will make our supporters proud."
The first U.S. World Cup veteran to coach the #USMNT. Gregg Berhalter has a message for all our supporters:
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) December 2, 2018
US Soccer announced that the appointment was ratified by unanimous vote at a meeting on Saturday.
Berhalter has long been tipped for the role, having reached the MLS Cup final in 2015, where the Crew were beaten by the Portland Timbers.
Columbus' form faltered in 2018 as talk of Berhalter's impending departure grew, but the team recovered to upset DC United in the play-offs and reach the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Crew chairman Anthony Precourt said on Sunday: "On behalf of the club, I want to congratulate Gregg and thank him for his visionary leadership and commitment to establishing Columbus Crew SC as a consistently high-performing, playoff-calibre team."
Precourt drew criticism for his public attempts to move the Crew from Columbus to Austin during Berhalter's time at the club.
dave sarachan
Ross Taylor: Kiwis ready to tackle India at home after Australia whitewash
Solskjaer says Neville has picked wrong time to debate Woodward and recruitment
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Deconstruction Roundup for September 27th, 2019
Deconstruction Roundup September 27, 2019 Leave a comment
(by the Slacktiverse and others; collected by Silver Adept, who is very, very glad someone is still here with us.)
Elizabeth Sandifer: Eruditorium Press
Boys In Their Dresses: The Works of Tori Amos
A Witch Lost in Time (Etienne Trilogy)
Ross: A Mind Occasionally Voyaging
Thesis: So Shall Ye Reap (War of the Worlds 1×21, Continued)
Silver Adept: Here on The Slacktiverse
The Dragonriders Of Pern
Dragonheart: More Modern Sensibilities
Let us know, please, if there are errors in the post. Or if you don’t want to be included. Or if there’s someone who you think should be included, which includes you. We can use more content. Or if you have experienced the terror that comes from the possibility someone might have slipped through, even if you tried to do everything you could. Or for any other reason, really.
Deconstruction, Deconstruction: Pern September 26, 2019 Comments: 9
Last time, we started a new book that so far looks to be “we’re rereading the story of the dragon illness, but this time from another perspective!” and for as by as I like alternate perspective stories in fanworks, this makes me wonder about the cohesion of the storytelling. It’s not wrong to do different perspective books, but it seems like you need a story where you have to read all the narrative parts to get a complete picture of what happened. That works better for interactive fictions, really, than it does for a work where someone could theoretically situate the narrative in the character that is needed for that particular part of story to be delivered. The alternate perspective story usually works best when there’s a hole in the events where you could situate that piece.
Dragonheart, Chapter 3: Content Notes: Male Gaze Woman
My small fire-lizard friend
Frolic in the sun.
Our love will never end
No matter where you run.
(Fort Weyr, AL 507.12.20)
Is it me, or does that sound more like a funeral dirge or a “Rainbow Bridge” card than anything? Kind of morbid, given that at the end of the last chapter, everyone sent their fire-lizards away.
Chapter 3 opens with a very tired Fiona going out to get air and getting mobbed by the other weyrlings. Once the Weyrlingmaster gives them a pointed directive on what to do, the group disperses. Fiona thinks it’s normal, and T’jen gently suggests otherwise.
“I’m all right,” Fiona said immediately. “Talenth’s fine–”
“And you’d know, being a Weyrwoman for…?” T’jen asked her, raising his brows in curiosity, a faint smile on his lips.
Fiona blushed in response. She thought back, her blush clearing into a smile as she remembered her amazing Impression of Talenth. How long ago had it been? It seemed forever. But how long? Her grown deepened as she realized she couldn’t quite remember.
“This is the twentieth day of the twelfth month,” T’jen supplied helpfully.
“Oh!” Fiona said. “Then it’s been–it’s been–” Angrily, she chided herself, This is simple! There are twenty-eight days–four sevendays–in each month, and she’d Impressed Talenth on the seventeenth of the month before, so that meant that…
“Thirty-one days, Weyrwoman,” T’jen told her softly. Fiona looked up at him, chagrined. “You’re not the only one confused. All of my weyrlings, even the steadiest of them, are acting like you.”
Fiona frets it’s the sickness, but T’jen suggests it isn’t, since the dragons aren’t much more than overly tired, and that his observations are because Cisca was concerned about Fiona. Which we’ll get to in a moment, but first, someone finally said something useful about the calendar system!
Twelve regular months of 28 days is 336 days. If Pern is very Parallel Earth in its revolution distance and speed, we’d need one more month to hit the close-to-Terra-standard 364 day Turn (which would be roughly a lunar calendar, even though Pern has two satellites) And if Turn’s End/New Turn were a single special day outside any month, it could absorb whatever corrections were needed to synchronizes the sidereal year and the calendar year, create the 365th day so the reader can think of the years as roughly the same, and otherwise function as a way of holding it together.
It’s also a very nice way of putting that detail out without causing an infodump or holding up the narrative.
There’s an even bigger minor miracle happening after that, which is that the Weyrleader is taking these concerns seriously.
“…so I’d say she’s the same as the rest,” T’jen concluded in his recounting to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman over dinner that night. “Even the older weyrlings are acting odd.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you sooner,” K’lior said to the old Weyrlingmaster. “You’d said this last turn when the others Impressed, but I thought…”
“You thought I was just moaning,” T’jen finished with a snort.
“I’ve never heard a Weyrlingmaster praise his charges, after all,” K’lior said defensively.
But minus one million points for not listening to your staff sergeant, Weyrleader, and a million more from the author for suggesting that Cisca has been the one to notice and make a suggestion before yoinking that away and saying T’jen has been noticing and talking about it for at least a Turn and not including Cisca in the conversation at all.
Furthermore, K’lior and T’jen suggest there isn’t much to do but wait and see how things develop after letting us know that klah helps chase off the drowsiness. Cisca wants to be more active in trying to find a reason and course of action to take, but the best she can do is talk to her junior, Tannaz, and ask her to help her keep an eye on Fiona. Rather than the last time, where Lorana zoomed in on her chest almost immediately, and Fiona just thought of Cisca as big, with Tannaz, the narrative gives us a comparative description.
The two queen riders were a study in contrasts: Cisca was tall, broad-shouldered and muscled without appearing so, with shoulder-length brown hair and eyes to match, while Tannaz was short, thin, wiry; her eyes, so dark they looked black, were set in a stark face of dusky skin surrounded by wavy black hair that announced her Igen origins to anyone looking at her.
Huzzah, a person of color on Pern! Who sounds a bit like she comes from Medieval Muslim-land, and Igen being described as a “desert Weyr” certainly helps that along.
Cisca, in the other hand, is built but doesn’t look like it. Because that might make her less beautiful, I guess, never mind all the people who hustle after athletes all the time.
Tannaz is here because she refused to return to Igen from whence she came after Impressing at Fort, which should have been the biggest klaxon anyone heard around the planet that D’gan
was not the person who should be in charge of Igen. But instead of deposing the asshole, they let the entire Weyr collapse, because The Rules Are Absolute.
Tannaz takes the initiative on going to see Fiona, which makes Cisca realize she didn’t introduce them earlier because she was worried Tannaz and Fiona would like each other more than either of them liked her. Cisca dismisses her own jealousy as a silly notion. Tannaz goes to see Fiona, and joins in the oiling of Talenth for a long time before Fiona notices she has help.
It seems to me like this book is making more effort to get its characters away from being two-dimensional. That does take it in some directions that I’m not nearly as fond of as ones I am, though.
Belatedly, Fiona noticed Tannaz’s hand and reached for it, shook it quickly, and let go.
Tannaz frowned at the motion, wondering what had gotten into the girl that she’d come so cold so quickly. “What?” she demanded hotly. “Is my hand not good enough for a Lady Holder?”
“No,” Fiona replied, her face crumpling in despair, “it’s just that everyone says I’m lazy.” And she surprised herself by bursting into tears. The tears streamed unchecked down her face, her oily hands hanging limply at her sides as her sobs wracked her body.
Tannaz didn’t deal well with tears or crying girls–her first tendency was to run away or slap them. But this girl’s behavior was different and Tannaz felt strangely moved by it.
In Tannaz’s context, I wonder if that inclination is a holdover from seeing how the Igen Asshole handled anything like that when he saw it. If all she ever learned was that tears and crying meant punishment, she wouldn’t necessarily have a good toolkit to work with in regard to how to handle it herself. But because there are no therapists on Pern, Tannaz lacks the awareness to know whether her reaction is genuinely hers or whether it was imposed on her as a survival condition she doesn’t need any more.
Tannaz and Fiona talk about the crushing weight of expectations. Fiona worries she’s somehow allergic to Impression and that Talenth will be taken away because she can’t hack raising a dragon. Tannaz assures her that’s not the case and tells her she’s not alone in her behavior, which goes through this time, rather than when T’jen said it earlier, and Fiona switches into Problem-Solving Mode and asks whether any other people / riders are feeling the same way. For Fiona, that would mean asking the Hold Healer, but, appropriately for the toxically masculine environment of the Weyrs, trying to get a dragonrider to admit they feel bad is a fool’s errand.
(At which point I would hope that Cisca or Tannaz think that using their dragons to ask the riders’ dragons about the riders’ health wouldn’t be cheating too much at all, but they don’t.)
Instead, Tannaz’s opinion of Fiona is solicited.
“Oh, she’s got her plate full with all the things bothering her—not the last that she’s little more than thirteen Turns to her name–”
“And at all know how difficult that can be,” Cisca inserted with a sympathetic wince.
“That’s a harder age for girls than boys,” J’marin observed.
Actual sympathy for the terrible time that is puberty! Be still my heart. And also, apparently, Fiona is thirteen.
The Weyr Harper’s assessment, as relayed through Tannaz, is that Fiona already knows enough from having to learn about running a Hold and learning about the Weyrs that she won’t need much educating on being a Weyrwoman.
Later that night, Cisca remembers that T’mar, who was wildly favored to be Weyrleader, started acting odd right before the mating flight and it threw off his chances. K’lior wonders why she’s bringing up “unwarranted suspicions,” which aggravates Cisca. To his credit, K’lior recognizes he said the wrong thing and works to apologize for it, eventually allowing for the possibility that T’mar might also be affected by the same thing as the weyrlings. And even though they acknowledge this is a weird situation without precedent, they don’t do a whole lot with it except decide to wait and observe. (And yet, if J’lantir knows enough about the symptoms to remark on it to Lorana, one would think that the Weyrleaders or the Weyrlingmaster or someone would think time displacement was the cause. Even if it means knowing that something is going to happen in the future that will cause them to be time-displaced. The timeline can’t rely on them not knowing until they need to know, becauses it forces them into incuriosity mode, even though they’re clearly seeing the effects.
There’s also a developmentally disabled rider, D’lanor, who hasn’t necessarily been treated particularly well when he’s mentioned, but K’lior and Cisca seem to think he’ll be fine as a rider, although Cisca shades more toward ablist descriptions (“dim, slow”) than K’lior (winces and provides “challenged”). He’s been used as the standard of “if anyone else starts behaving like him, something is seriously wrong” a couple times before we fully understand he’s disabled, which still says that Pern is a shitty place to be disabled (unless you’re a favored bronze rider).
Even so, this sophomore effort is markedly better than the first one in terms of doing at least some things to make Pern less terrible. I’m a bit scared at what will happen if it all comes undone.
We flip back to Fiona, who, were it not for the constant fatigue, would be having the time of her life, the narrative tells us.
Except for the constant muzziness, this would have been a time of unalloyed joy for two reasons: first, because she got to spend every waking moment with her marvelous, brilliant, and fabulous Talenth; and, second, because her time was for once completely her own. She could be slovenly, she could forget to bathe for a whole day, she could be angry, she could curse, and she didn’t have to worry about being judged, frowned at, or silently derided because she was the Lord Holder’s daughter and the sole representative of Fort Hold’s future. Never mind that she was a girl and expected to marry the man who would be future Lord Holder, she was still required to “Set and example, Fiona!” “People look up to you!” “What would your father say if he saw you look that way?”
It was really only here, in the freedom of Fort Weyr, as Talenth’s Weyrwoman, that Fiona would ever have realized how much her role as Fort’s Lady Holder–in waiting–was a position that stifled her, that restricted her, and that caused her to wake every morning in dread. She was free!
There’s a good chance that Bemin was highly protective of his last surviving heir while she was growing up, but from what we’ve seen of hold life, any young girl might end up dreaming of being a queen dragonrider just to get away from the stultifying environment that expects her to do little else but run the house and make babies for whichever husband she’s married to, whether she wants to or not. I’m surprised that Bemin tried to pull the leash tighter on her, given what a disaster he and Lady Sannora thought Koriana had turned out to be, for the brief time she was tweaking the noses of everyone. Maybe he thought he could catch it before it sparked into rebelliousness and keep Fiona so boxed in that she wouldn’t be able to get out and have her rebellious phase.
The narrative decides to go with this idea, as right after reveling in her freedom from having to be the Lady Holder ever again in her life, Fiona gets a surprise visit from her father right when she’s at her filthiest from oiling Talenth. The narrative then chooses to skip over the actual scene and instead have Cisca and Tanazz discuss how it went, because the narrative thinks it’s a more important thing for us to know than to hear what happened.
“Lord Bemin was clearly desperate to see her; I don’t know why she insisted on keeping him waiting while she bathed first.”
“Why?” Tanazz retorted hotly. “Would you greet a Lord Holder dressed in your worst, oil-grimed, sleep-stained clothes with your hair and face all oily from your latest dragon-grooming?”
“Sure,” Cisca responded with a toss of her shoulders. “Why not? It’s only a Lord Holder, after all.” She noticed Tannaz’s look and continued, “Oh, certainly, if I could, I’d prefer to be better dressed, but if the matter was sufficiently urgent, I’d have no problem greeting him at my worst.”
Tannaz mulled Cisca’s response over for a minute before admitting, “I think you could meet him sky-clad and make him feel overdressed.”
Cisca felt herself blushing and could only nod in agreement, grinning. “It would not be my preference, but yes, if I had to, then I would certainly work to ensure that he felt overdressed.”
Aw, fuck. You were doing so well and then you had to get male-gazey again about Cisca. Come on. I don’t have to be told that Cisca is strong and chesty and beautiful at eery opportunity. I personally am getting to the point where I’m going to headcanon that Cisca is built like a brick shithouse, and has a supernatural beauty to her that makes every woman drool after her and wish they were bronze riders. (But not the dudes. It doesn’t work on them at all. They think she’s pretty, because she is, but they’re not required to comment on it like all the women are.)
Anyway, now that we’re done with compimenting Cisca’s beauty, we find out what happened in the meeting between the two.
“Well, you have to admit she was roused,” Tannaz said with a grin.
“Right–with a screaming match that scared every dragon in the Weyr. Not exactly what I’d had in mind,” Cisca said, her eyes flashing.
[…Tannaz explains that she thinks this screaming match turned out well…]
“Whereas here a Weyrleader’s authority only lasts until the senior queen’s next mating flight,” Tannaz continued. “So no one in the Weyr is used to as much authority as Lord Bemin wields in his Hold.” She paused. “And nowhere is he expected to wield that authority more than in his own Hall, over his own children.”
[…Cisca still doesn’t get it. Tannaz explains that Fiona told off her Lord rather than being a dutiful daughter, and this allows them both to adjust to their new relationship…]
“Fiona asserted herself as a Weyrwoman,” Tannaz said, “and that assertion carries with it the weight of the whole Weyr. Without meaning to, Fiona reminded Lord Bemin that the safety of his Hold depends on this Weyr and that he’s beholden to us.” An impish grin flashed on her face as she added, “I’ll bet our tithe this year from Fort will be much better this year than last.”
Cisca looked at the other woman for a long moment before shaking her head sadly. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to match you for deviousness.”
“Ah, so aren’t you glad that I’m your junior Weyrwoman?”
Cisca reached forward and hugged her. “I certainly am!”
Or, perhaps the author didn’t feel confident in their skill to write a knock-down, drag-out screaming match between Fiona and Bemin that accomplished all of the ends that Tannaz says happened. Because that would be pretty hard to write, given that it’s a thirteen year-old girl who’s just admitted to us that the best thing about it all is the freedom she gets from not having to be the dutiful daughter any more, and that she’s brain-fogged unless she’s downed a pitcher of caffeine, against a Lord who’s been doing the whole “authority” thing for longer than she’s been alive and is her father, who has very clearly been trying hard to make her into a dutiful daughter. Not impossible, certainly, but perhaps the reason we’re hearing about it rather than seeing it is that it was a bit above the confidence level of the writer. (And because someone could comment on Cisca’s physique.)
What’s actually useful in this exchange is the disconnect that Cisca has with Tannaz and Fiona, since she’s weyrbred and they aren’t. Cisca, after all, hasn’t ever had to deal with the reality that a single man could do anything he wanted to her and she would have to accept it, because he’s her Lord and that makes him God, as far as the rules of Pern are concerned.
I’m also calling a certain amount of bullshit on “power lasts until the next queen’s mating flight,” which is mathematically true, but practically hasn’t been in any of the situations we’ve seen. Only bad Weyrleaders ever seem to get replaced, unless it’s vital they doom their entire Weyr to hyperspace so that Lorana can send a message through time. “Good” Weyrleaders never seem to have to worry about being really challenged for their positions. Plus, it’s not really an egalitarian setup, in the sense that while the Weyrwoman stays the constant, she’s still seen as a subordinate to the Weyrleader, instead of the one who is in charge, and she delegates fighting to him.
The chapter itself continues with K’lior talking to T’mar about the fire-lizards and seeing if they can get anything out of Benden’s Harper, Kindan, which seems to progressively set T’mar more and more off, until K’lior gives him a mild rebuke and T’mar apologizes and corrects himself. The talk was apparently so that K’lior could gauge T’mar’s behavior, and he confirms it as odd to Cisca, and says he’ll continue to keep an eye on T’mar. The two of them talk about a discovery in the Archives of Threadfall charts, such that if they know when the first Fall of any given Pass is, they’ll be able to predict when and where every Fall will happen after that. Apparently, a new Threadfall happens every seventy-five hours, and while K’lior’s worried about being light on strength, Cisca’s more worried about lacking the extra Weyr for additional cover and extra rest for the fighting wings, because one of those groups is going to have to handle Igen’s nonexistent ground cover. Probably on rotation. Unless Telgar, under the Asshole, figures they can cover both Werys’ area by themselves.
To give us a time anchor, the chapter ends with three dragon deaths in quick succession, including Breth, the queen at Benden.
(by the Slacktiverse and others; collected by Silver Adept, who did enough Pirate things yesterday to celebrate.)
Much Stronger Than You Know (Cool On Your Island)
Froborr: Jen A. Blue
The Near Apocalypse of ’09
There were three of us then (Girls’ Night Out)
Thesis: So Shall Ye Reap (War of the Worlds 1×21, Part 1)
Dragonheart: Surely You Jest
Let us know, please, if there are errors in the post. Or if you don’t want to be included. Or if there’s someone who you think should be included, which includes you. We can use more content. Or if you are back in the swing of writing and things based on assignments coming. Or for any other reason, really.
Deconstruction, Deconstruction: Pern September 19, 2019 Comments: 10
Last time, the timeline aggressively pruned itself into a single outcome where the cause of the dragons’ illness was known several hundred years before it began, allowing early colonists to paradoxically leave rooms and knowledge for their descendants, who then layered a second paradox on board by popping dragons who had the cure back in time to restore their numbers and come back to fight Thread as promised without falling ill.
And we finally got confirmation of what we already knew – Tullea’s bout of emotional disregulation was, quite surely, the fault of her existing twice in time, since her queen is the one that carried the immunity and passed it on to her eggs. The more mature and less fragmented Tullea was apologetic and grateful to Lorana for all her work, and I hope that in between these books, she chews everyone who could have known at Benden Weyr out for not investigating and learning the truth about her personality shift as soon as it appeared.
Onward, then, to Dragonheart, and if this holds with pattern, this will be Dragonsblood, but from a different perspective.
Dragonheart: Prologue and Chapters 1 and 2: Content Notes:
The explanatory prologue appears again as “for readers new to Pern”, which adds that you can see the Red Star for all fifty Turns of a pass, rather than what we had previously thought of as it rocketing past and dropping the Thread in its wake, which makes the orbit even less sensical than it was before.
It’s just a show, it’s just a show. Every time hard science tries to get in, it gets mangled to fit the narrative of Pern.
Fire-lizards are described as “six-limbed, winged life-forms”, which only works with the classical concept of the Western dragon if the wings qualify as limbs five and six.
It also claims that no other solution was as effective as the dragons, which is a bold lie to tell, given what we learned about watch-whers in the previous book, but these people haven’t rediscovered the purpose of the Tubberman grubs, so it’s a small lie and not a big one.
Then there’s this gem:
Given their great losses, particularly in able-bodied older folk, the people of Fort and the other Holds soon found themselves resorting to an authoritarian system where one Lord Holder became the ultimate authority of each Hold. The Weyrs developed differently. Unable to provide for themselves and protect the planet, the dragonriders relied in a tithe from the Holds for their maintenance. Instead of A Lord Holder, they had a Weyrleader–the rider of whichever dragon flew the Weyr’s senior queen dragon.
And so the two populations grew separate, distant, and too often intolerant of each other.
Cocowhat by depizan
And we’re getting the cocowhat out early again, because put in those terms, Pern is ridiculous as a concept. “Oh noes, we’ve lost our elders! Clearly, the correct thing to do is revert to vassalage feudalism as a form of government and to try to placate the dragons and their riders with tithes so they will continue to protect us rather than decide we’re the vassals for them!”
“And how do the dragonriders figure out who their leader is?”
“Eh, whichever bronze bangs the oldest gold dragon.”
I mean, it’s not impossible, sure, but…
Heart, give voice to sing
Of life on dragonwings!
(Fort Weyr, AL 507.11.17, Second Interval)
The book opens with M’tal making the case that dragons and watch-whers should train together for night falls of Thread, because they have apparently been saving the lives of people all through the end of the second Pass, and there are now apparently enough of them and good enough opinion of them that this idea has some sort of merit and I already want to throw this book against the wall because there’s no way this should be happening unless Nuella is both badass handler and speaker and has waged a good enough PR campaign to defeat even the Asshole at Telgar on the matter. Not that C’rion or K’lior are on board either. The discussion doesn’t really go anywhere because it’s interrupted by the beginning of a Hatching, which gives the narrative an excuse to shuffle over to Kindan, who is apparently known both for giving up Kisk to “Nuella, the WherMaster” and for setting the fire that partially destroyed the archives at this time. Before he can complete one job of escorting someone to their place in the stands, Kindan is tackle-hugged by Fiona, Bemin’s youngest daughter, who we last saw recovering from the flu that killed Vaxoram and every other member of Bemin’s family. Her older sister’s legacy lives on in Fiona.
“Why, you would not believe where I found my daughter–”
“Father!” Fiona protested, a warm blush highlighting her freckles. Bemin laughed.
“Chasing tunnel snakes again?” Kindan asked her in a voice pitched for her ears alone.
He was not successful, as Bemin snorted, saying, “I cannot teach her any decorum at all!” He continued, “She was hours in the bath and I’m sure there’s still dirt on her.”
She’s at least twelve now, as the narrative refers back to the plague twelve Turns ago that wiped out the family and most of the people at Fort. This turns out to be important, because Bemin’s nth-worst nightmare (after, y’know, his family all dying horribly from sickness he couldn’t prevent) happens and Fiona Impresses the gold dragon that hatched and then ignored the candidates out in front of her. Which leaves Bemin, Lord of Fort, without an heir, unless he wants to adopt someone into the family. And also is making pretty common what used to be a fairly rare event. Seems like the stands should be built in such a way that it becomes easy for hatchlings to leave the sands, since they seem so interested in candidates not participating in the ritual.
The narrative doesn’t spend long on this, because it wants to move forward to Kindan’s recriminations about not Impressing himself and his thoughts about the Plague keeping him awake and sorrowful long enough to hear a dragon head to hyperspace as he falls back asleep.
Fiona and Talenth (really.) apparently can feel Kindan’s pain, and we learn that Fiona pleaded with Bemin to come so she could see Kindan. While Talenth tries to work things out, and Fiona considers that she could help Kindan with his pain, they hear a dragon going to hyperspace, too.
Then the chapter closes out with the unnamed rider going into hyperspace, but we don’t get any details about who she is or her dragon’s name.
Skin stretch
Flake, peel.
Oil, scratch,
Feed, creel.
(Fort Weyr, the next day.)
As you might guess from this bit of poetry, it’s the first time that the new author gets to write a “care and feeding of a hatchling” montage! And the new author doesn’t do too bad a job with it, actually, with Fire, the fire-lizard being both jealous and helpful in caring for Talenth, and Fiona pointing out that new people thrown into Weyr life are often scrambling more than usual, since they don’t know where anything is and they can’t go too far away from their hatchling’s constant care requirements. She’s a quick study, though,
figuring out how to use the Weyr’s amazing conveyor system to order food for her quarters. She envied the weyrbred riders who already knew their way around and had been more prepared for these first few weeks with a new weyrling.
Except, as had been pointed out earlier, gold rider candidates are almost always selected from outside the Weyr. It’s not certain how long the candidates spend at the Weyr before the hatching, but it seems like the sort of thing where the people at the Weyr should be used to a crash course of where it all is and how it all works, because they’re getting candidates semi-regularly in anticipation of the hatch. So Fiona is out of the ordinary, in that she hasn’t been here for a while, but I would expect there’s a system in place of “oh, hey, you’re new, so we’re going to [x, y, z] until you feel confident finding your way around.” Or something.
While Fiona concentrates on Talenth, Cisca surprises her.
Fiona jerked, startled by the voice behind her. But she turned quickly enough to nod to Cisca, amazed that such a big person could move so quietly.
And Fiona is twelve, maybe thirteen, so maybe she hasn’t necessarily been exposed to the rest of the outside world like that. And maybe when she says “big”, she means “grownup,” but since one book back, Lorana seemed awfully fixated on Cisca’s chest, there’s the possibility that Fiona means “big” in the same manner, or that Cisca is built on a solid frame, tall and broad and busty as well. Then the narrative tells us that Cisca is only six Turns older than Fiona, and I have to immediately revise my mental picture of her, to make her eighteen or nineteen instead of the somewhere-in-her-twenties-or-thirties I had been imagining.
It’s in the context of Fiona never having had an older woman whose directions she had to obey, which suggests that Lord Bemin has been behaving unusually for a Lord in not taking another wife and trying to produce more children in his age. It’s certainly not anything he had to or would have wanted to do right after the plague, but it’s been twelve years and his plan has apparently been to wait until Fiona is of marriageable age, marry her to a good Lord’s son and pass his inheritance to him. Given that all of his previous children and his first wife died in a plague event, that seems like quite the gamble. At the same time, Bemin has been severely traumatized, and there’s no timetable where anyone should expect him to be recovered in any sort of way from that tragedy, even a dozen years on, so perhaps the thought of having more children or taking another wife is something he’s not ready for, and may never be ready for.
Cisca is here to teach Fiona, the newest gold rider, about the duties she’ll have as a Weyrwoman, and also confirms our suspicion that there are missing queens in the structure of Fort Weyr. Cisca tries to explain to Fiona that running a Weyr isn’t all that different than running a Hold, so the instruction that Bemin gave her about that will give her a solid grounding. Fiona isn’t sure about that, since it seemed to involve a lot of sitting and listening to old people ramble on about the good old days. Cisca shrugs and says that she has to listen to old dragonriders, instead.
“I was talking about the queens’ wing,” Cisca said. “There’s only Tannaz and her Kalsenth now. Weyrs don’t fly a queens’ wing unless there are three queens.”
But there’s no mention as to why there are, as of now, only three queens in Fort Hold. I guess we’re supposed to assume that they died in the Plague, but supposedly the Weyrs isolated themselves in time so as not to succumb to the flu.
Anyway, there’s more talk about managing the Weyr, and we finally start getting to see competing perspectives about Holds and Weyrs regarding their arrangment.
“–the food from tithe?”
“Yes,” Cisca agreed. “When Thread is falling we don’t have time to find food.”
“Nor do we,” Fiona replied tetchily. She caught herself and blushed, shaking her head. “I meant the hold. Holders.”
“I’m Weyrbred,” Cisca responded. “I’m counting on you to remind me of what it is to be a holder.”
“It’s just that…” Fiona trailed off in embarrassment.
“Go on,” Cisca said. Her tone was kind.
“It seems that dragonriders don’t do that much and yet they get whatever they need, whenever they want it,” Fiona said, her frank blue eyes meeting Cisca’s warm brown ones. Cisca waited silently. Fiona lowered her gaze and pursed her lips. Finally, she sighed and looked up again at the Weyrwoman. “I’ve heard holder lads say the same thing about me.”
“And is it true?”
Fiona’s shoulders slumped. “I know I didn’t work as hard as some of them.”
“Are you lazy, then?”
Fiona’s eyes flashed angrily. “I never shirked a duty, never stopped until I was told, never–oh!”
Cisca smiled at the younger girl. “Perhaps you understand being weyrfolk better than you imagined.”
This is an interesting point of debate, because during Thread, the dragonriders clearly earn their keep as protectors and flamers and otherwise planet-wide saviors. Yet, during Interval, they don’t have a purpose other than to train and get ready for when Thread comes again. Fifty years of absolute hell interspersed with about two hundred years of nothing. Yet, for all of those years, the Holders are required to tithe and support the dragonriders, even if it might hurt their own stores or ability to survive.
We can blame Sean for the reason why the dragonriders get that idle time, but if we continue to think of the dragonriders as the mounted military force, what we’re seeing is the difference between a conscripted / volunteer army and a standing one. Pern only needs the dragonriders every so often, and supposedly the dragons were genetically engineered to breed down in Interval and breed up when Thread is near. Some amount of support structure should be in place to take care of those dragonriders that survive Thread and that keep the dragon population healthy and ready for when they need to ramp up, but, dare we say it, even though Sean was very firm about dragonriders never doing anything so basic as a profession other than being themselves, they really could take side jobs in Interval, and then call in the reservists when it’s time to properly train and fight Thread. Most dragonriders should be more of a National Guard than an Army, at least in the United States senses of thoe two forces. Instead, they’ve become the military-industrial complex, existing and consuming resources all on their own and demanding more from the Holders to build themselves up as a force while they continue to train. (And yet, they don’t take it upon themselves to get into land wars in Asia, so the Weyrleaders are at least smarter than some commanders.)
Which is to say I’m pretty sympathetic to the holder position — why should they be forced to subsidize the dragonriders, when the dragonriders don’t provide services in return when Thread isn’t falling? Surely the dragonriders can take care of themselves in the Intervals, starting from, say, 2-5 Turns after the end of Fall and starting again in the 2-5 Turns before a projected Fall will begin?
The biggest reason, of course, is that the dragonriders are the unquestioned rulers of Pern by force of might and having the war machines they have, and so a Holder that says no to them is asking for a short reign or an accident to befall them. I mean, Mr. TRADITION himself ordered kidnapping and hostage-taking to ensure his gravy train arrived on schedule and of the quality he demanded, and we were supposed to see him as a good guy. Even when the dragonriders no longer have Thread to fight, they make sure to get the best land for themselves and their dragons, rather than finally deciding it’s time to break apart the governmental system in place and create something much more egalitarian.
I should also mention that the way Cisca frames it as a question of laziness is the author doing something quite good. It’s a familiar argument for anyone who has tried to get people to understand about -ist behavior. Humans transform systemic problems they are at least somewhat responsible for into individual problems that they clearly aren’t responsible for, allowing them to believe that since they don’t engage in the individual problem, the systemic one doesn’t exist. If it’s a question of laziness then it’s clear the dragonriders aren’t doing anything wrong, because they’re not shirking their duties or lazing about or otherwise being idle. If it’s a question of the inherent unfairness that they don’t have to work for their food or supplies, regardless of whether they’re actively fighting Thread, then all the dragonriders are complicit by using the system. Since nobody likes being seen as complicit in a system that hurts other people…
But before the narrative can get any further, J’trel and Talith complete their suicide, giving us a temporal point of reference. Which is to say, we’re back at the early chapters of the last book, too. See my joyous face at the prospect of reliving another book, just from a different Weyr’s perspective. See it.
The death of Talith also reveals that Cisca thinks dragon memories are exceedingly short-term, as Talenth has forgotten all about Talith and the trip to hyperspace. Although they apparently remember some of the strangest things in addition to that, not that any examples are forthcoming right now. Not too soon after, Kindan’s fire-lizard dies of the illness that’s coming.
And, because we’ve already gone through the first book, this time around, Cisca and K’lior are allowed to openly talk about how their weyrlings seem to be half-here, really tired, and apparently unable to do the simplest of things. Y’know, the symptoms of being time-displaced? Not that they say as much, but apparently, they’ve suspected from an early point while Benden didn’t have an apparent clue.
Fire-lizards are banned and told to head to the Southern Continent so that they don’t pose an infection risk to the dragons. Which leaves a lot of sad Weyrfolk, and Fiona and her father reunite to get rid of theirs as well, with Bemin telling her how proud he is that his daughter is a queen rider, but also that because she has the dragon, and him the watch-wher of Fort, they have to do their duty and send their fire lizards away so they can’t become a risk to the dragons. It’s very teary and hard, but Bemin insists on Fiona keeping her chin up and giving the order to Talenth to do it. After she does, all we hear is “Oh, Father!” and the chapter ends.
Chapter 3 doesn’t pick up this thread, so I guess we just have to assume that after this, they have a cry and Bemin goes home. Father-daughter relationships aren’t important any more when there are dragons to tend and otherwise care more about, I guess.
Next week: More instances of people not knowing what they should know! Joy.
(by the Slacktiverse and others; collected by Silver Adept, who has been patient and used their time mulling on creative problems to shoot virtual fascists in the head.)
What About What I Want? (The Big Picture)
Fred Clark: Slacktivist
The Left Behind Series
Left Behind Classic Fridays, Number 247: “Another Award-Winner”
Here before (Legends of the Dark Knight)
Dragonsblood: The Engine of Paradox
Let us know, please, if there are errors in the post. Or if you don’t want to be included. Or if there’s someone who you think should be included, which includes you. We can use more content. Or if you have writ your apologies for someone after messing up something that was supposed to be good. Or for any other reason, really.
Last time, the dragonriders twisted time and sent their younglings back to grow up and get the injured healed so that their dwindling numbers could be reinforced in time for Threadfall, while in the past, Wind Blossom was put in charge of developing a curriculum and laboratory space for the Third Pass folk to discover and learn enough about the genetics of their dragons to gene-splice in immunity from the infection that’s killing them.
Dragonsblood, Chapters 22, 23, 24, and the Eiplogue: Content Notes: Mass draconic telefrag, author twisting the knife,
Harper, teach.
Miner, mine.
Smith, forge.
Healer, cure.
Dragonrider, protect them all.
(Benden, Third Pass, 26th Day, Al 508)
This chapter opens with Lorana and Kindan entering the classroom constructed, along with Ketan, and eventually M’tal and Salina join them. Upon entering the room, a message from Wind Blossom plays, advising them that if they are here because of an emergency involving dragons, they should proceed, but if they are not, they should leave immediately. Since they’re here for authorized purposes, they stay in the room, noting there’s a door in Day-Glo paint sealed with the verses of “Wind Blossom’s Song” that tell them they have to find the vector of infection before they can have access to the tools that will help them fix it. A recording of Emorra’s voice begins, directing them to a cabinet with binders full of information and telling them to sit at the seats so that the lessons can begin.
“Instructions will be played while the door is closed and everyone is seated. If you wish to take a break, simply either all stand, or have someone open the door. The instructions will resume from where they left off when the door is again closed and people are seated.
“Please note that there is no way to know how many of you are present, so if one of you must leave, be sure to leave the door open until that person returns, or she will miss parts of the instruction.” There was a pause. “Now, the first thing to do is to read the first chapter of the booklet. If you have problems reading the text, you will have to see if you can locate someone who can read it for you. If you do have such problems, please leave the room immediately. The power required to light this room and provide by voice is limited and will eventually fail.
“At the end of the first chapter you will find instructions on how to indicate that you have finished the first chapter and understand it.”
Kindan furrowed his brows in puzzlement. “That will be some trick,” he said.
“You may start reading whenever you are ready,” Emorra’s voice said. “Please do not stand on courtesy, as I am not present–this is merely a recording of my voice.”
I do like that there was foresight enough to think of the case where someone illiterate might discover the place and need someone who could read to be able to achieve their goals. If literacy as a skill had been completely lost in those 500 years, they would be up a creek, but the Harpers do what they can.
Having been instructed to begin, the students go at it. Lorana turns out to be the fastest reader of the bunch, looking to do an experiment at the end of the second chapter while Kindan, the slowest reader of the lot, is still working his way through chapter one. It’s a balls-and-rods experiment, where Lorana puts together a strand of PNA. Blue-yellow-beige (A, A’, N) works with red-beige-blue (B, N, A) and the two click together to indicate their compatibility. Lunchtime arrives, and Kiyary makes sure people take their time to eat and savor the food that’s been made for them, also leaving a pot of hot klah for them to continue working with. The afternoon provides a small amount of progress, and the group breaks for the night. At breakfast the next morning, there’s a breakthrough for everyone, because, like any good drummer, Kindan is constantly practicing on every available surface.
Shortly after that [having his tapping called out the first time], both of Kindan’s hands were on the tabletop again, tapping softly.
Lorana gave him a look but shok her head.
“Kin–” Ketan began, but Salina’s look cut him short. The ex-Weyrwoman was looking intently at Kindan’s fingers.
Lorana noticed her look and frowned, closing her eyes in concentration. A mmoent later, she opened them again and exclaimed delightedly to Kindan, “You did it! You learned the sequence!”
Kindan, startled out of his reverie, gave her a surprised look. “I did?” he asked. As her words registered, he shook his head. “No, I was just practicing some drum codes…” His voice trailed off thoughfully. “The drum codes are sounds.”
“But they’re grouped the same way as the PNA sequences,” Lorana insisted. Tentatively, she tapped out a sequence and then looked challengingly at Kindan.
“That was the START sequence,” Lorana said.
“No, it was the ATTENTION sequence,” Kindan corrected her. He frowned in thought and quickly tapped a different sequence. “What’s this?”
“That’s the STOP sequence,” Lorana answered promptly.
“It’s the END sequence for the drum codes,” Kindan told her. “What’s this?” He tapped a set of sequences.
“ABC, CBA, BCA,” Lorana translated.
“You’re right! PNA is based on drum codes!” Kindan declared.
“I’d say it’s the other way around,” Ketan remarked after a moment.
Kindan frowned. “I suppose you’re right.”
“But it makes sense,” M’tal said. “The genetic code is designed to store the most information possible in a group of three, so for simple drum codes it would be just as efficient.”
Bzuh?
All that I know about music is from many years of being just good enough to be able to play an instrument, but I really, really have to know how this drum code works, becaus if it is based on the PNA code, that still means that a Harper has to be able to pick out any one of seven rudiments rumbled on a big drum with possible echo getting in the way of clear discernment, and all of this has to be done at tempo, of which there is such a thing as being too slow to understand and process so that they can keep on top of the message. Those rudiments are furthermore grouped into sets of three, presumably, and from there you can create nearly all the words in the language somehow (without the code being based on spelling or phonetics, since they can’t do “Blossom”). This is not a simple method of communication in any sort of form. What was the inspiration for drum code, I want to know, so I can try and understand how it came into this mangled form. It makes no sense at all.
Kindan, inspired by his new understanding, soon caught up with the others. Several times, in fact, they turned to him for guidance in difficult sections. He would close his eyes in thought and tentatively tap out a sequence, and correct it.
“How do you know whether it’s right?” Lorana asked when thay’d solved one particularly difficult problem.
“I’ve been drumming for Turns,” Kindan told her. “It wouldn’t sound right unless it was.
That I will believe, but I also have to go “Wait, what?” because Tieran, recall, built drum code off of PNA before there was any indication that it would be used in this way for helping people learn and remember the sequences ehy needed. It’s entirely possible that after the disaster started, Tieran tuned the code to be mnemonic for Harpers to carry the information they need in their own bones and ears, but that’s a big coincidence if it turns out that the drum code has been structured specifically to help keep this information alive for the people that desperately need it.
Also, there’s an assumption that this is the only time that this particular problem will happen in the future history of Pern. What happens if in the Fifth Pass something else finds the magic key to attack the dragons and fire lizards again? Will the genetic knowledge and tools have been passed down enough to that point so that the descendants there can do the same thing? Will the Eridani equipment still work that many years into the future? Will the instruction sheets survive, and the recordings with them? We don’t know.
B’nik is hoping for rapid progress, given that his own dragon has a doom clock counting over him, and Lorana wants a lot of progress, given that she can feel it when the clock runs out on all the other dragons, but while they’ve learned lots, they’re still not any closer to figuring out the root cause of the infection so as to open the sealed door. The narrative shifts over to D’gan
surveying his fighting strength before him after the trip through time they took. Kaloth, his dragon, is very sick and coughing, but D’gan won’t have it for a minute that he should sit the battle out, and he’s too busy blaming the healer for not coming up with a solution to think about what he has or hasn’t been doing for his dragon. D’gan also orders his son not to fly in the Fall today, wanting him to instead ferry firestone and messages.
Back to Benden, who are doing their own preparations for Fall, and Kindan and Lorana, who have gone back to the classroom to try and figure out what the sealed door needs to hear before it will open. Kindan tries to help Lorana logic out what the thing is they need to know, since it’s related, according to the texts they’ve been studying, of the problem we learned about in the last chapter – behind that door will be the correct answers, but the past needs to learn from the future what those answers are going to be. While they work, Kindan points out that there’s a really terribly creepy element to the song, since it seems to be talking about mass dragon death or illness, but Lorana isn’t hearing him, because her hears-all-dragons skill has just kicked in, and D’gan
is doing something phenomenally stupid.
Just as the cold of between enveloped D’gan, he felt Kaloth give another shuddering cough.
Not long now, he told his dragon. Kaloth coughed again. D’gan began to think that perhaps he would keep Kaloth back on the next Fall Let D’nal or L’rat lead–it would do them good.
Kaloth coughed again. A chill ran down D’gan’s spine, colder than the cold of between.
Between only lasts as long as it takes to cough three times, D’gan recalled.
Kaloth had coughed three times.
Kaloth coughed again–and in that instant, D’gan realized his error.
All the dragons of Telgar Weyr had gone beyond between.
The Weyrs! They must be warned! D’gan thought in terror as the last of his consciousness slipped away.
[…D’lin catches the warning form his father…]
Come on, Aseth, between! And with that, overwhelmed by despair, hopelessness, and pure courage, D’lin urged his dragon between—
–without envisioning his destination.
Two thousand Turns later, their bodies would be discovered, entombed in solid rock at Benden Weyr.
D’gan causes the death of the fighting strength of his Weyr because his pride wouldn’t let him sit back and let someone else lead. Because he wouldn’t listen to the sensible advice around him. Because he bullied and fought and refused to step down, and nobody could or would replace or depose him. Mass telefrag, just as feared.
And there’s an extra fuck-you to D’lin, because the rider entombed in rock is just a piece of lore that didn’t necessarily need to be answered, and it’s a further indictment of how dangerous and without safeties these dragons are envisioned. In grief and terror, you’re telling me that D’lin couldn’t visualize somewhere safe over Benden, or some part of the place that would give his dragon a place to appear, but instead just said “To Benden!” and the dragon chose a random point in space-time to appear out of, not knowing if it was safe or not? That doesn’t make sense to me, especially if drilling on waypoints is something that Weyrlings do to the point where they’re supposed to be able to envision them by reflex.
All of this sets up the condition in Wind Blossom’s song. Caranth heads out to try and find the missing Weyr, and Lorana tries hard to pull him back and anchor him to this plane, but she needs the strength and ability of all the other dragons of Pern to do it, and to search for the missing Weyr.
High Reaches is odd to Lorana – not enough dragons, and they echo weird, but she’s looking for more important things. Lorana doesn’t find Telgar with the massed power of dragons, but she does find someone else — Garth, and attached to Garth, someone who desperately wants to know how the dragons are getting sick. Lorana knows, somehow, having connected to this mind, and shouts and sends the message to the other person that the infection is transmitted by air. Which is the keyword that the sealed door needs to open. Not that Lorana is actually conscious enough to recognize this, as the effort has knocked her out totally. That’s the end of Chapter 22.
Parasite: A life-form inimical to its host, often killing the host to ensure its survival.
(College, First Interval, AL 58)
The chapter starts with Tieran wondering exactly how they’re going to pull off this paradox, before a thunderclap interrupts them. Which sets Tieran in motion to check on Wind Blossom, because Kassa said the weather was going to be clear, and Kassa’s never wrong about the weather. They find Wind Blossom in time her her to shout “Air” as well, and hear her explain the connection she forged with the powerful girl from the future. Emorra promises to write a song so the future knows that Wind Blossom has a question about this they need to answer. And then Wind Blossom expires, feeling triumphant that she’s managed to free her bloodline from the Eridani edicts.
Then, without saying a word, she [Emorra] moved to her mother’s dresser, oepned the top drawer, searched quickly, and pulled out the yellow tunic. She returned to her mother’s side and gently lifted the lifeless body, deftly maneuvering it until she had exchanged the yellow tunic for the white one in which Wind Blossom had died.
“I did notice,” Emorra whispered, tears streaming down her face.
But never said anything about it, of course, because that would have been weird or improper or otherwise not okay. But at least Wind Blossom gets to be buried in the thing she wanted to be buried in? Possibly, if she’s lucky, next to Purman, who she might have loved?
The rest of the chapter is essentially Tieran and Emorra telling everyone they can do the job of instruction to the future riders, now that they know which data to load into the equipment, Seamus helping out with power genration and hooking up ways of playing back recorded instruction, and setting up the idea that they want three rooms: one for instruction, one for lab work, one with the potential cures. And also, that the last-ditch plan was to alter watch-whers so they could be turned into dragons.
It’s all that I can give you,
To save both Weyr and Hold.
It’s little I can offer you,
Who paid with dragon gold.
(Upper Crom Hold, Third Pass, 28th Day, AL 508)
Last chapter, since that’s the end of the song, and we now know everything that the song entailed has come to pass. This chapter opens with the possibility that Upper Crom will end up with no protection at all from the Thread falling, before a group bursts in from High Reaches and chars all of it in short order.
We pop back to Benden, where Lorana is awake again, shakes off any insistence that she should rest, notes the second door is open, opens the final door and realizes they discovered the rooms in the wrong order, and then discovers a microscope and some prepared specimen slides to get them used to using it. They have all the equipment needed. The problem is, people are coming back from the Fall and the adventure, and Minith is now sick with the disease. This is potentially good, if the group can convince Tullea to let them take a sample from Minith to examine, sequence, and then develop a retrovirus for. They succeed at this task, and there’s more time spent with the narrative telling us about Lorana using the sequencer to isolate likely gene targets to build against, and they breach the problem that I was just talking about — fixing now only means that the next group has to do the same thing again, and there’s no guarantees they’ll get this option. Lorana also explains the watch-wher solution was included, and that she accidentally gave Arith that cure among other possibilities when she didn’t know any better.
Tullea interrupts the proceedings, storming in and complaining about Minith’s clutch having five stillborn eggs in it, and because of that, she wants Lorana evicted immediately, calling her “dragonkiller” again, which prompts B’nik to forcibly eject Tullea from the room, “grabbing her and propelling her out of the room[…]manhandled her from the room.” There’s just one problem.
M’tal nodded sternly. Then he stopped and looked up at Kindan. “When did Minith clutch?” he asked.
“She hasn’t,” Ketan replied, his face showing obvious surprise.
The entire exchange gives Lorana the inspiration she needs to figure out that they’re going to build a parasite shield into the dragons’ genetic code, by altering either the STOP or START sequences so that any later-generation attackers have to find the keys to the kingdom all over again before they can make any headway. There’s enough material in the various vials to produce exactly one dose of the retrovirus, and the best thing for them to do is to give it to a dragon that will pass down the new genetic code to their offspring. Which means that Minith is the only candidate to receive it. Which means convincing Tullea. Who is, predictably, not having it out of a desire to protect the last queen of Benden, and because she doesn’t trust Lorana at all.
“No!” Tullea jumped up, scything toward Lorana with her nails. B’nik rose and clutched her, keeping her from striking Lorana. “No, I won’t let you! You are not Minith’s rider! Minith, go between! Now!”
No, Minith replied firmly. Tullea’s eyes widened in surprise. I am Benden’s last queen, it is my duty.
“Minith says she will do it,” Lorana calmly informed the others.
“No,” Tullea protested. She turned to B’nik, pleading, “You can’t let her. She killed her dragon and now she wants mine!”
[…Minith is going through with it anyway, as it’s their last, best hope for victory…]
“Well, do it then,” Tullea growled. After it was done, she speared Lorana with a glare. “You can talk to all the dragons, can’t you?” She didn’t wait for a resopnse. “Do you hear them die?”
“And feel them,” Lorana admitted quietly.
“Good,” Tullea replied heartlessly, storming from the room into her dragon’s quarters. “Then whatever happens to Minith, I hope it hurts you as much as anything.”
Like, those are sensible reasons not to do the thing, because the track record here so far, at least from Tullea’s perspective, doesn’t look good at all for trusting Lorana. By now, of course, we’ve spent so much time invested in the idea that Tullea’s just not to be listened to, and is otherwise just being a bitch, that we’re supposed to dismiss her out of hand. Except now that we’re finally at the point where all the preordained things have happened, the narrative can finally let the characters get clued into what they should have already known before now.
“She didn’t use to be like this. She’s as bad as those who timed it.”
M’tal’s eyes lit. “She is, isn’t she?” he said slowly. His brows furrowed in thought.
[…Time to go, boys…]
“But if I’m right, I know why Tullea’s acting this way.”
And they turn out to be right. They go back in time to High Reaches Weyr (the one that got closed off and sent the very terse reply to wait when asked by Zist), where there’s a perfectly healthy and thriving Weyr that has the necessary immunities to beat the infection, thanks to Lorana’s cure working and Minith laying several very healthy eggs. To close the time loop, however, that means that Tullea has to go back in time and convince D’vin to close High Reaches into quarantine. Which she does, and then reappears soon after she has gone, but it’s the older, wiser, and much more appreciative Tullea, who is no longer being time-twisted. She apologizes to Lorana for all the terrible things she said when she was exisitng in two places at once, and has a distribution of dragon ichor to have injected into every sick dragon so they can be cured and have their own genetics rewritten to fight off the infection.
Tullea has the brightware she stole from the classroom to give back to Lorana, as well as a case with a locket inside that has the part of Arith’s riding gear that Tieran preserved, as well as a locket that has a picture of Wind Blossom on one side and Tieran on the other, who has been drawn with Grenn, so Lorana knows that at least one of her fire-lizards survived in the past. That’s the end of Chapter 24.
And the children shall lead them.
(Benden Weyr, First Interval, AL 59)
Which is here mostly to tell us that Emorra and Tieran did more than just hook up, they had a kid, as Tieran looks for a place to hide the locket in the classroom. And to say that Lorana is one of the direct descendants of Wind Blossom, and that’s why she could find the connection to her ancestor so easily. “And have you ever known one of us to not get our way in the end?” Tieran quips as the last line of the book.
It’s done! There’s an acknowledgements section, where Todd graciously thanks his mother for allowing him to play in her sandbox, notes that she gave him a smiley face on his first outline of the story, and then proceeds to give thanks to the people that help make a story come into being, including a Doctor Natascha Latenschlauger that helped out with the genetics parts and illnesses, and an editor, Martha Trachtenberg, who helped bring “Wind Blossom’s Song” into a better form with her songwriting knowledge.
This was certainly…something as a story. The time travel plot seems a bit dodgy, and I wonder how the system was able to distinguish between someone making a definitive statement about the origin of the disease and someone, say, discussing air speed or air currents or getting fresh air or any other context where the word air might be uttered in the presence of the doorway to open it. Perhaps they keep the doors closed and the people out when not actively studying, but even then, while studying things, they could have said the keyword.
I am also entirely displeased with how long the narrative waited to let one of the characters have a thought that maybe, perhaps, Tullea is experiencing the effects of extended existence in two periods of time at once. The narrative suggests that it only comes to mind after people have experienced it already, but even at the beginning of the story, there are dragonriders who talk about the fact that being in that situation has effects on people. I know there are suggestions on writing that say you want to make the reader feel smarter than the characters in the narrative, but it’s a long stretch to say that nobody had an inkling of checking to see if Tullea’s sudden behavior change had external origins. Even if all the boys are being lunkheads about it, maybe Salina or someone else could discreetly check. And they finally only check in the last chapter, right before the situation itself has to happen.
This is the first effort, however, but a new author, and there’s the possibility that this was a bit on the rough side because it’s a first effort. (Or because there were quite a few fingers in the pie making sure someone didn’t stray too far outside the boundaries.) We’ll have to see if things get better in the next offering. Which starts next week.
Deconstruction Roundup for September 6th, 2019
Deconstruction Roundup September 6, 2019 Leave a comment
(by the Slacktiverse and others; collected by Silver Adept, who has been patient and used their time mulling on creative problems to shoot zombies in the head.)
Uncle Terrance
I Should Have More Control (You Go To My Head)
There is a Light That Shines on the Frontier (Pirates)
Left Behind Classic Fridays, Number 246: “What Are The Odds?”
Retroactive Continuity: Animosity vol. 2
Dragonsblood: A Short Genetics Lesson
Let us know, please, if there are errors in the post. Or if you don’t want to be included. Or if there’s someone who you think should be included, which includes you. We can use more content. Or if you have managed to break through a particularly vexing part of the story and complete a chapter. Go you. Or for any other reason, really.
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You are here: Home / Retail Road Trip / Riley’s Furniture & Mattress Doesn’t Let its Bedding Department Rest
Riley’s Furniture & Mattress Doesn’t Let its Bedding Department Rest
07/22/2019 by Julie A. Palm
This Monroe, Ohio-based store wins mattress sales with eye-catching design, well-trained staff and a commitment to customer care
| Photography by Len Kaltman/West Chester Corporate Photography |
The elegant mattress department greets shoppers as they enter the store and beckons them to rest-test a bed.
It’s only in the store name that bedding takes second place at Riley’s Furniture & Mattress. From a can’t-miss mattress department that greets every customer entering the store to the cross-trained furniture sales associates who sell bedding, too, the retailer demonstrates its commitment to mattresses.
“Our goal is to improve a customer’s quality of life. Chairs and entertainment centers can do that to a certain extent, but the right mattress and base can help you sleep better. People gain so much from the proper support of a mattress and the sound sleep it gives them,” says Frank Leslie, lead sleep specialist and mattress buyer for the family-owned store in Monroe, Ohio. Leslie started his mattress career with a waterbed dealer in 1988 and went to work for Riley’s in 1993.
Show more, sell more
In 2015, to coincide with its 45th anniversary, Riley’s undertook a major remodel of its two-story, 30,000-square-foot showroom. As part of the renovation, the retailer moved the mattress department from the second floor to the first, just to the right as shoppers enter the building.
The Tempur-Pedic Sleep Experience Center, a secluded, spalike room, can entice furniture shoppers to relax for a moment — and can prompt them to cross the aisle to look for a new mattress set.
“Even if you’re not coming to the store for a mattress, we’re catching your attention,” Leslie says. “It gets you thinking you might need a mattress for the guest room or maybe have been putting off a new mattress for yourself. It lets people know we’re seriously in the mattress business.”
The well-thought-out mattress department — with about 40 models in roughly 3,500 square feet — is designed to focus shoppers’ attention on mattresses and key sleep accessories. The area is dressed in elegant, restful hues of gray and black with accents like sculptural globe pendant light fixtures. Because the retailer doesn’t want anything to clutter the clean look, the department is free of promotional posters, lifestyle imagery or even pillows on the beds. To offer shoppers some privacy, the retailer has hung narrow beaded curtains between premium mattress models that line the area’s outer walls. Other mattress sets are lined up neatly along a short wall, which also affords a measure of privacy during rest-testing.
Riley’s carries Sealy, Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic brands. Prices range from $399 for a mattress-only Sealy to about $12,000 for a king-size Tempur-Pedic with an adjustable base. The average ticket is nearly $1,900.
The retailer uses a display from the Royrack Co. to show twin-size, value-priced mattresses. Models can be pulled down easily for rest-testing.
The retailer’s selection of value- priced bedding and a boxed Health 1st mattress are displayed in a rack from the Royrack Co. that allows twin-size models to be stored on end and then pulled easily onto a platform. Riley’s started carrying the Health 1st brand, a private-label line from Brooklyn Bedding available through the Furniture First buying group, in late 2018.
Most premium mattresses are shown in king size to help shoppers better appreciate the additional space a king can offer sleeping partners. “Some people can’t visualize the difference between a queen and a king and the room a king gives them,” Leslie says. “And when you show more kings, you sell more kings.”
Riley’s applies that “show more, sell more” philosophy to adjustable bases, too. The retailer positions power bases under all of its floor models, carrying three step-up Tempur-Pedic versions: the Ease, Tempur-Ergo and Tempur-Ergo Extend. Such an expansive presentation means shoppers don’t have to try to imagine how their preferred mattress would feel with adjustability.
But it’s not just displaying adjustable bases that pushes attachment rates as high as 80%. No, rates like that come from a sales strategy that assumes all shoppers can benefit from an adjustable base, whether they come in looking for a guest-room bed or have a $499 queen set price tag in mind.
Leslie tells the story of once, as he was writing up a mattress sale, hearing his customers talk about a doctor’s appointment for their child, who suffered a respiratory ailment.
“I told them I couldn’t help but hearing and that I wanted to show them the capabilities of the mattress with an adjustable base, how the head elevation might make it easier for their son to breathe a little better. I told them, ‘Talk to your physician.’ ” Leslie didn’t push the parents to buy the base that day or imply it was a medical device but simply introduced the couple to the product, explaining its features and benefits. Of course, they ended up purchasing one for their 8-year-old’s bedroom. With experiences like that guiding them, retail sales associates strive to give an adjustable base demonstration to every shopper.
“Taking care of the customer”
Beaded curtains add elegance and a sense of privacy to the bedding floor.
Early in the store’s history, founder and President Riley Griffiths created an ethos of treating shoppers as guests rather than customers. It starts with a store greeter welcoming visitors and pairing them with an RSA, who will offer refreshments like coffee, lemonade, pretzels and cookies.
“We are trying to help consumers create their dream room. If, as they shop, a second sales specialist is available, we encourage the second to co-sell with the first. There’s no competition because we don’t operate on commission, and we can better serve the consumer that way,” says Kevin Lewis, general manager. The retailer, which employs two designers, also offers complementary in-home interior design services. “It’s not about building a ticket but about taking care of the customer,” Lewis explains.
That same attitude extends to the mattress department, where Leslie and his team help shoppers create a bedding ensemble to suit their needs and budget. “We try to take the approach that every customer coming in is a friend or family member,” Leslie says.
The store has a staff of 16 RSAs, with six cross-trained to sell mattresses, and, in 2017, the retailer hired Miranda Dolan as a sleep specialist to assist Leslie. “If I’m present, I’m helping the customer, but Miranda is my proficient lieutenant who assists if I’m not here,” he says. “There’s always someone with deep mattress knowledge available.”
Everyone in the mattress department receives quarterly training, which might include a visit from a vendor’s representative, a lesson on sales techniques or a trip to a manufacturer’s factory. RSAs also receive one-on-one training.
“I don’t expect them to know everything, and we all can keep learning,” Leslie says. “I encourage them to call me at home if they have questions. I love that: It means we’re taking care of the customer.”
Miranda Dolan (left), sleep specialist, and Frank Leslie, lead sleep specialist and mattress buyer, take their jobs seriously but also know it is OK to have a little fun on the job.
For shoppers, a visit to the mattress department begins with a pillow fitting using options from Bedgear. “We’ll fine-tune to find a pillow they like that they can take with them as they look at beds and then, as they are trying an adjustable, we’ll fine-tune even more,” Leslie says.
In addition to Bedgear pillows, the retailer sells Bedgear protectors and sheets, and it recently added an array of sheets from Malouf. RSAs talk about the benefits of sleep accessories throughout the sales conversation, a technique that raises attachment rates. “Virtually every sale is going out with a protector and usually a set of sheets and pillows, too,” Leslie says.
To assess shoppers’ mattress needs, RSAs ask a series of questions about their mattress preferences, sleeping habits and health issues. “It only takes two to three minutes to ask the questions that will help you fit a mattress to their needs,” Leslie says. “They might tell me they’re a stomach sleeper whose back is killing them and they sleep on a pillow-top. I can help them not make that mistake again.”
With information gleaned during those queries and a rest-testing process that typically begins with two Tempur-Pedic models to assess shoppers’ comfort preferences, Leslie and other RSAs help winnow shoppers’ choices from the dozens of mattresses on the floor to a handful that might be right for them.
“After we narrow down to an ideal mattress or maybe two, I’ll introduce the adjustable base,” Leslie says. “I don’t want them to have to think about too many things at the start. After we nail the comfort, I can say, ‘Let me show you how you can get even more out of your mattress’ and let them experience what an adjustable base’s features can do. Many people say, ‘I’m not remotely interested in that.’ I’ll say, ‘Just let me show you’ and I’ll raise their head or feet a bit. You’d be amazed how many people say, ‘Mmm, this is nice.’ ”
Price concerns are real, especially for shoppers who originally might have come in for a midpriced queen set but, after rest-testing, are thinking about a king-size premium set or adjustable base.
“If they say, ‘I love this but I can’t afford it,’ I’ll tell them we want them to be physically and financially comfortable, and we’ll look at financing options because we have excellent interest-free financing with approved credit,” Leslie says. “Or, if they want an adjustable base, we’ll maybe look at a more basic system rather than one with all the bells and whistles. The basic systems are still excellent and offer all the benefits of elevation. Or, I’ll remind them they can always come back later for the adjustable base. We have people who will do that even two or three years after they buy their mattress.”
“But it’s always a soft-sell approach,” Leslie adds. “We’re sincere about truly trying to educate you and find what’s best for you. That might be a $7,000 mattress and adjustable base or it might be a $499 set.”
Riley’s provides delivery and in-home setup of new bedding for a fee, from $69 for a twin set to $149 for an adjustable base. The retailer doesn’t remove old bedding from the home but will relocate it to another room on the same floor or take it to the curb or garage. “We don’t want to risk contaminating our trucks or other people’s homes, and people understand that,” Leslie says. “There are charities in the area that will pick mattresses up and waste companies will take them if properly folded and bagged.”
A concierge service makes delivery of both furniture and mattresses memorable for customers. “As the merchandise is delivered,” Lewis says, “we have one of our charismatic specialists meet the delivery driver at the home to present them with a special package — a Starbucks gift card, a Riley’s drinking glass, coupons for them and also for a friend.”
The retailer offers a 90-day trial period for mattresses, allowing customers to make another selection one time, but asks that they keep their new mattress at least 30 days before returning it. “Physically and psychologically, they’ve been used to a different mattress, and any new mattress tends to be firmer at first,” Leslie says. “After that initial period, most people are happy. If they’re not, I tell them, ‘We’ll take it away and make you happy. That’s how important you are to us.’ ”
The sales strategies and customer service work. “We have people buy their first mattress set at Riley’s, then buy their second set and then a set for their kids. I tell them to call me Uncle Frank. They send their friends and relatives in. We earn the relationship.”
A Retailer That Never Rests on Success
Chief Executive Officer Shannon Bannerman (left) shares the creative spirit that her father, store founder and President Riley Griffiths, has relied on to keep the store fresh for nearly 50 years.
Riley’s Furniture & Mattress doesn’t just take its name from founder and President Riley Griffiths — virtually every aspect of the store is imbued with his spirit.
Griffiths started the business as a furniture depot in Middletown, Ohio, and then expanded to a second store called Gracious Living in nearby Monroe, Ohio. In the first few years, Griffiths had a partner, but the two amicably went their separate ways in 1974.
In the early 1980s, Griffiths closed the depot and changed the name Gracious Living to Riley’s Furniture Gallery. Around that same time, he made another big switch, putting his sales staff on salary so they could focus solely on customers rather than commissions. In 1988, Griffiths bucked another common retail practice, closing the store on Sundays to give employees more time with their families. (See story on page 26.) Both decisions reflected Griffith’s belief that it is happy, satisfied people — both employees and customers — that drive his business.
Of course, profits matter, too. The retailer is a founding member of the Furniture First buying group, which gives independent retailers the buying power of larger companies. And, in the early 2000s, Riley’s began opening branded vendor galleries to elevate its product selection. In 2014, Griffiths hired the well-known Martin Roberts Design firm to redesign the store, with the new look unveiled in 2015.
“Riley spared no expense to create the vision of the store. His favorite line is, ‘It’s only money,’ ” says general manager Kevin Lewis, with a laugh. This year, Riley’s hired Martin Roberts again to recommend tweaks to the store. “The store design isn’t broken but we’ve made some changes since the remodel and we always want to know what we can do to enhance the look,” Lewis says.
Since being diagnosed with an illness last year, Griffiths has cut back on the amount of time he spends at the store each week, but “he’s still extremely hands-on,” Lewis says. “He communicates regularly with us, sharing his comments, thoughts and ideas,” he explains. “The man is one of the most creative people I’ve ever met in my life, and he’s always challenged me to think outside the box.”
Griffiths’ daughter, Shannon Bannerman, who is chief executive officer of the company, is much like her father. “She’s just as creative as Riley is,” Lewis says. “She challenges our processes, wanting to understand why we do things the way we do, and see if there’s another, better way.”
Closed for Business (on Sundays)
Riley’s Furniture & Mattress, located in Monroe, Ohio, between Cincinnati and Dayton, draws customers from a 50-mile radius.
Bucking the retail trend of seven-days-a-week operations, Riley’s Furniture & Mattress has kept its doors closed on Sundays since 1988.
“It’s not a marketing ploy,” says Kevin Lewis, general manager of the Monroe, Ohio-based retailer. “It’s truly an opportunity for associates to spend time with their families, and our customers appreciate Riley’s commitment to family values.”
Although its competitors are open on Sundays, being closed one day each weekend hasn’t significantly hampered sales. “When (founder and President) Riley (Griffiths) implemented that policy, he looked at the numbers and knew it might be crazy, but it was the right thing to do for our employees and our families,” says Kyle Baker, marketing director. “Our customers understand and have adapted.”
The retailer is about halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and draws customers largely from a 50-mile radius. The location presents some challenges, including the need to advertise in two media markets. In addition, the retailer’s customer base is increasingly diverse, including both locals who know the store well and an influx of well-paid, white-collar workers drawn to employers like Procter & Gamble, Lewis says.
To reach potential customers, the retailer is launching a new TV campaign and has been investing more in digital marketing, including email blasts to targeted lists, display ads and social media. Riley’s also uses tried-and-true methods like direct mail. “It seems antiquated, but it gets a strong response and provides top-of-mind awareness,” Baker says. “It gets our message out, and we can pick and choose ZIP codes for the most fertile territory.”
In all advertising channels, the retailer mixes promotional and call-to-action messages with relationship-building themes emphasizing factors that set Riley’s apart from competitors. “When people think of Riley’s, we want them to think it’s a great place to shop for furniture,” Baker says. “Our focus is on them enjoying the shopping experience as much as the brand-new furniture.”
Understanding the need to compete as an omnichannel retailer, the retailer also is upgrading its website for a better e-commerce experience. “We’re not looking to become the next Amazon or Wayfair, but today you have to be an omnichannel retailer and present yourself in the places customers want to find you and in the ways they want to shop,” Baker says.
A new chat feature encourages consumers to communicate with the store via text message. “The response has been even better than we expected,” he says. “It’s just another way for us to connect with customers with a goal of really engaging with them.”
Baker adds: “We’re all about trying new things. Riley has never been afraid to experiment and gained a reputation in the industry for being a bit of a ‘mad scientist.’ He always says, ‘If it doesn’t work, we’ll learn from it.’ To survive in this industry, that’s critical.”
Julie A. Palm is chief wordsmith at Palm Ink LLC in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has 25 years of experience as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines and as a publications director. She is a past editor in chief of both Sleep Savvy and BedTimes magazines. She can be reached at japalm623@gmail.com.
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April 22, 2013 by revlin23
North Fork Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Jamesport Meeting House
The Reverend Dr. Linda Anderson
I hate a Roman named Status Quo!” he said to me. “Stuff your eyes with wonder,” he said, “live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask no guarantees, ask for no security, there never was such an animal. And if there were, it would be related to the great sloth which hangs upside down in a tree all day every day, sleeping its life away. (Ray Bradbury)
(by Erika Hewitt – adapted)
As we enter into (this special hour), put away the pressures of the world
that ask us to perform, to take up masks, to put on brave fronts.
Silence the voices that ask you to be perfect.
This is a community of compassion and welcoming.
You do not have to do anything to earn the love
contained within these walls.
You do not have to be braver, smarter, stronger, better
than you are in this moment
to belong here, with us.
You only have to bring the gift of your body,
no matter how able;
your seeking mind,
no matter how busy;
your animal heart,
no matter how broken.
Bring all that you are, and all that you love, to this hour together.
Let us (gather) together.
Hymn #360 Here We Have Gathered
Not for Children Only —
In Indian lore, among the spirits, Coyote has forever been considered the clever one. The trickster, a bit lazy, but always depended upon to lead a lost warrior home. Around the campfires and in the lodges, the story of Coyote and the Rock was told. And so the story goes….
Many moons ago, It was Coyote who decided that fishing for salmon was taking up entirely too much of his time, and besides, it was hard work. So Coyote thought and thought. How could he catch his salmon without working so hard? Coyote considered the situation for a long time, and at last it came to him. Build a dam! He could build the dam right across the river and the salmon wouldn’t, couldn’t get out. And so that’s just exactly what he did.
He started out with the biggest boulders he could find. Setting them in place, he piled rock after rock on top. It took most of the first day and tired him out so much that Coyote slept very well that night until he heard a gruff and mighty voice calling from the bay, “Who builds across the river? The salmon belong to me.” “Huh, I don’t care what Sea Lion says,” said Coyote, as he continued to build his dam across the river. Tired from all his efforts, he fell asleep on the second night. And again, Sea Lion called in his deep gruff voice “Who builds across the river? The salmon belong to me.” Still unconcerned, Coyote steadily worked on his dam for the third day.
The dam was almost across the river nearly touching the other side when he fell asleep that third night. With the hills rumbling with the echo of his voice, Sea Lion came that night and roared at Coyote, “You cannot stop the salmon from going on their journey to the sea! You cannot stop the salmon from their spawning, you cannot keep the salmon from me!” And with that he raised up and smashed Coyote’s dam, destroying it all except for the part that is called Coyote Rock to this very day.
Actually there is a basis in fact for the legend of Coyote Rock. Every fall when the salmon come into the Siletz on their way to spawn way up river, they seem to stop and wait just around Coyote Rock until the October rains come to tell them it is time to go, and in which tributaries they should spawn.
(Welcome to Coyote Rock from Ed and Lenora Walter)
Sermon: Seven Deadly Sins: Emphasis on Sloth
The Rev Dr Linda Anderson
I have a fascination with the seven deadly, or cardinal, sins. Remember what they are? Anger, pride, envy, greed, sloth, lust and gluttony. I must admit, the seven cardinal virtues interest me far less. Do you know what they are? Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, charity. The virtues come from two sources: Plato and Aristotle gave us prudence, justice, temperance, and courage. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, gave us faith, hope and charity. The Church Fathers put them together as the seven cardinal virtues. Where did the deadly sins come from? The bible gives us several sin lists. The Book of Proverbs, (6:16-19), in the Hebrew Bible gives us these seven: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plots, Feet that are swift to run into mischief, A deceitful witness that utters lies, The one that soweth discord among others. Paul, again, in his letter to the Galatians, (5:19-21), has another list: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, “and such like.” It was Dante, in his Divine Comedy, and in particular the second part, Purgatory, who popularized the seven deadly sins as we know them now. They continue to fascinate us. Did you see the movie Se7en with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman? It’s about a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modes operandi. How many of you watched the television series Lost? Various characters in the show exemplify each of the seven deadly sins. For better or worse, the seven deadlies provide an ethical benchmark in our culture.
But are they sins? It occurs to me that each one of these deadlies is double-edged, can function as both a strength and a weakness. Pride, envy and greed are born of a core response to the insecurities and insufficiencies of life. While they can serve as positive motivators for the individual, they can harm that individual, as well as the community, when exercised at the expense of others. Lust and gluttony have as their roots basic needs and evolutionary desires for species survival. When they get out of balance they harm the very survival they arose to protect. I do not consider that anger is a sin, per se, but rather that the consequences of anger can do great damage and might be called sinful. Calming our anger and not responding out of its energy can help us to choose either to express it or not. Either way we can learn to let it go effectively.
I would like to define sin, even if just for today, according to Process Theology as a choice, a voluntary failure to fulfill our best selves. Sin, then, estranges people from one another, does harm to the individual and/or the community, and obstructs the exercise of justice and love. We all fall into it at one time or another. It doesn’t mean we are bad or evil. We are imperfect people, works in progress. We can choose justice and love and when we do not we can look into ourselves to discover what factors led us away from our best selves. It’s important to examine ourselves in order to find, not how many of the seven deadly sins we carry around, but the unhelpful ways in which we express them. The deadlies are not sins because they exist in us, but rather because of the ways they come out of us. So today I want to spend some time with sloth. Are you ready?
What has three toes and two or sometimes three fingers? Nocturnal and solitary, what lives in the rain forests of South and Central America? What hangs from trees, even sleeping upside down? What goes to the bathroom but once a week? What is one of the slowest mammals, covering only thirteen feet per hour? Have you guessed yet? It’s a sloth.
Sloth: another of the seven deadly sins. Sloth–the disinclination to exert oneself. I suppose the sloth is called so because it shows a definite disinclination to move. Perhaps it seems lazy. Does it’s continuous hanging out, literally, mean that the sloth is slothful? That the seven deadly sins apply to animals as well as humans? I hope not. Is it sinful to have laziness? In Plum Village, a Buddhist community in the south of France, Mondays are called Lazy Days. Days of nowhere to be and nothing to do. I remember one Lazy Day during which I did nothing but read and write, moving only for meditation and meals. Slothful? Perhaps. Sinful? No. Restful, refreshing, renewing. Creative. Important. Take a day off, just to do nothing. Sit and relax. Watch the waves from the ocean. Listen to music. Sleep. Lazy days are wonderful days and I would guess that many here do not get nearly enough of them. Sloth has a side that renews and each one of us needs regular renewal.
So what about sloth could be sinful, that is: destructive, estranging, preventing justice and love from thriving? Of course if everyday were Lazy Day the community would not flourish. Of course if we were slothful all the time nothing would get accomplished. But sloth would not appear among the seven deadly sins if it only meant the disinclination to exert oneself; if it only meant laziness. Notions of work and leisure are cultural constructs. In some countries workers have a month off. In some countries people take a siesta break in the middle of the day. In some countries children and adults both work twelve hour shifts. There is no universal context for sloth. What is slothful in our society may not be so in another. Sloth is not simply laziness. Actually, sloth has a number of different dimensions, from the social to the psychological to the moral.
20th century poet T. S. Eliot suggested that sloth is a condition of social consciousness in a spiritual and political sense. Observing events of the century past: World War I, Hitler, World War II, the Cold War, existentialism, surrealism, he wrote “Do I dare disturb the universe? In a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.” (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) Sloth, he said, is part of our response to the futility and anarchy of the times. It becomes a picture of the varieties of spiritual despair prevalent in that violent, killing century. It becomes a picture of the varieties of political apathy also prevalent, so very prevalent. Mental attitudes such as boredom and lassitude imply an orientation to a world beyond our control. Now, we live in another century, but we also have a form of social sloth born out of disappointment with the failure of religious beliefs, political ideologies and economic systems to address the real issues of our times, to bring about a more just world. There’s plenty of spiritual despair and political apathy to go around and it results in a reluctance to exert ourselves. A reluctance born of hopelessness. A reluctance that breeds sloth, which then only feeds our despair and apathy. Around and around it goes.
Is it an ethical issue to exhibit social sloth? The socially apathetic soul, is it sinful, then? It certainly, in its withdrawal, abandons the ship to other hands, which can result in much damage. It certainly does not seem to be a particularly helpful response, either for the individual or for society at large. Psychologist Susan Robbins asserts that sloth is “a culpable deficiency of care for one’s own moral character, beliefs, aspirations and actions. Not taking good seriously results in also not taking evil seriously.” You know, the Greek philosopher Socrates said that evil was ignorance of what is good. He thought that if we only knew the good, we would move toward it willingly. It seems not that simple. It’s understandable, though. How many times have we heard someone say, or perhaps even said ourselves: “Why vote, what difference does it make? Democrat-republican–they’re all the same anyway. My participation in this march, or through letter writing, or lobbying and so forth, will not change anything.” We know how much effort it takes not to fall into spiritual and political sloth, but to keep going. We know that sometimes we don’t have the strength to combat sloth. To keep our spirits up, our courage high, changing the world one person at a time, one step at a time. We know how alluring sloth can be as a response to our world. It’s understandable. So to all of you who work so hard to make the world a better and more beautiful place, I say bravo, and thank you. Thank you. I know it isn’t easy. Sloth is powerful.
Along with its social and ethical identity, sloth also has a psychological component. Medieval Catholics described sloth as a sluggish and torpid soul. Sloth “lays the soul low with sultry fires at regular and fixed intervals.” (Cassian) How many here have familiarity with a soul laid low, and not just as a response to our religious-political-social worlds, but as a response to our personal lives? It sounds like the blues, or hard times, or even depression. That sluggishness and torpor that seems to drain the energy, drain the enthusiasm, but won’t let us rest. How many here recognize the feelings described by poet Jane Kenyon, in excerpts from Having It Out With Melancholy?
In and Out Credo
The dog searches until he finds me Pharmaceutical wonders are at work
upstairs, lies down with a clatter but I believe only in this moment
of elbows, puts his head on my foot. of well-being. Unholy ghost, you are certain to come again.
Sometimes the sound of his breathing
saves my life – in and out, in Coarse, mean, you’ll put your feet
and out; a pause, a long sigh . . . . on the coffee table, lean back,
and turn me into someone who can’t
take the trouble to speak; someone
who can’t sleep, or who does nothing
but sleep; can’t read, or call
for an appointment for help.
There is nothing I can do
against your coming.
When I awake, I am still with thee.
Depression. Sadness, melancholy, a shipwreck of the soul, to use William Styron’s phrase. The sluggish soul–is it sinful then? Are the blues immoral? Is depression a character flaw of some kind? Perhaps in Medieval times, when the seven sins were first catalogued, depression was neither recognized nor understood as the chemical imbalance we take it for today and so it might have seemed a willful mental attitude, disinclined to exertion. Thomas Aquinas wrote that sloth is a “sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good. . . (it) is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses (one) as to draw him (or her) away entirely from good.” I will not say today that psychological sloth is, per se, a sin or evil. Not at all. But psychological sloth is powerful and it can do harm to the person in its grip, as well as those around him or her. I don’t think we choose to have depression, or even the blues. We don’t choose not to sleep, not to eat, to feel tired and/or irritable all the time, unable to feel joy. Nor can we, by an act of will alone, simply snap out of it. Psychological sloth takes us in its hold and we are almost strangled by it until, with help and with time, it can loosen its power over us. Sloth is much more than laziness.
Sloth is a turning away: from each other and from ourselves. Whether we turn away in apathy and hopelessness, or in melancholy, our going leaves a void. To heal the wounds that cause this kind of sloth, we need each other. We need a re-turning, a turning toward rather than away from. “Here we have gathered, gathered side by side. Circle of kinship, come and step inside.” Once in the throes of sloth, it is very difficult to get through alone. And it is so very hard to re-turn, to reach out when in the throes of sloth. Medical intervention, therapy, twelve step groups, anti-depressants, a strong spiritual base, which means for some a belief and a relationship with god, however god is understood, address the psychological dimensions. Social activism, justice, equity and compassion in human relations, optimism fueled by clear spiritual springs address the social aspects.
All of the seven deadly sins are sins, not in themselves, but in the consequences of their acting out. Anger. Pride, envy, greed acted out at the expense of others damages community and the individual. Sloth, lust and gluttony, acted out at the expense of the actor him/herself, damages the actor and everyone close to him/her and ripples out to the wider community. We create harm, not by what we feel, but by how we show it, how we live it. And the harm we create, just as the good we create, touches us, touches those around us and moves out to touch people we don’t even know. Choose, therefore, to act for the good, if for no other reason than that it is in your own best interest. It is a way to happiness, peace and abundance.
Hear the words of the Koran, as revealed to the Prophet Muhammed by the angel Gabriel. “What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of a human being. To feed the hungry. To help the afflicted. To lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful. To remove the wrongs of the injured. That person is the most beloved of God who does most good to God’s creatures.” May we have our lazy days, days when we put down our busyness and burdens. Days that refresh us. But when sloth overtakes us and we find ourselves turning away into disappointment and despair, may we remember the words of the hymn we sang: “Life has its battles, sorrow, and regret: but in the shadows let us not forget: we who now gather know each other’s pain; kindness can heal us: as we give we gain. Sing now in friendship this, our hearts’ own song.” May it be so.
Hymn #16 Tis A Gift to be Simple
Closing words (Lindsay Bates – adapted)
With faith in the creative powers of life,
With hope for the future of life in this world,
With love for all others who share this life with us,
Let us go forward together in peace.
Our (gathering) has ended; let our service begin.
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You are here: Home / Big wind industry / Wind Power is Built on Mountains of Coal & a Sea of Oil
Wind Power is Built on Mountains of Coal & a Sea of Oil
March 15, 2016 by stopthesethings 4 Comments
Where wind turbines really come from.
The wind-worshipper rails at sites like ours, screaming – in a kind of hopeful hex – that we’re backed by BIG Oil and BIG Coal and will, accordingly, rot in hell for our temerity in challenging their infantile world view.
Maybe we will bunk-up down below in the next life, but that’ll be due to more enjoyable sins, than spending our days pointing out the insanity of trying to rely on a medieval power source, that was ditched Centuries ago, for fairly obvious reasons.
Armed with a mirror, and a little common sense, the wind cult would see that it is, in fact, the wind industry that exists, and only exists, thanks to mountains of coal, oil and gas – as this little wrap up neatly points out.
To Get Wind Power You Need Oil
Wind turbines are the most visible symbols of the quest for renewable electricity generation. And yet, although they exploit the wind, which is as free and as green as energy can be, the machines themselves are pure embodiments of fossil fuels.
Large trucks bring steel and other raw materials to the site, earth-moving equipment beats a path to otherwise inaccessible high ground, large cranes erect the structures, and all these machines burn diesel fuel. So do the freight trains and cargo ships that convey the materials needed for the production of cement, steel, and plastics.
For a 5-megawatt turbine, the steel alone averages [pdf] 150 metric tons for the reinforced concrete foundations, 250 metric tons for the rotor hubs and nacelles (which house the gearbox and generator), and 500 metric tons for the towers.
If wind-generated electricity were to supply 25 percent of global demand by 2030 (forecast [pdf] to reach about 30 petawatt-hours), then even with a high average capacity factor of 35 percent, the aggregate installed wind power of about 2.5 terawatts would require roughly 450 million metric tons of steel. And that’s without counting the metal for towers, wires, and transformers for the new high-voltage transmission links that would be needed to connect it all to the grid.
A lot of energy goes into making steel. Sintered or pelletized iron ore is smelted in blast furnaces, charged with coke made from coal, and receives infusions of powdered coal and natural gas. Pig iron is decarbonized in basic oxygen furnaces. Then steel goes through continuous casting processes (which turn molten steel directly into the rough shape of the final product). Steel used in turbine construction embodies typically about 35 gigajoules per metric ton.
To make the steel required for wind turbines that might operate by 2030, you’d need fossil fuels equivalent to more than 600 million metric tons of coal.
A 5-MW turbine has three roughly 60-meter-long airfoils, each weighing about 15 metric tons. They have light balsa or foam cores and outer laminations made mostly from glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy or polyester resins. The glass is made by melting silicon dioxide and other mineral oxides in furnaces fired by natural gas. The resins begin with ethylene derived from light hydrocarbons, most commonly the products of naphtha cracking, liquefied petroleum gas, or the ethane in natural gas.
The final fiber-reinforced composite embodies on the order of 170 GJ/t. Therefore, to get 2.5 TW of installed wind power by 2030, we would need an aggregate rotor mass of about 23 million metric tons, incorporating the equivalent of about 90 million metric tons of crude oil. And when all is in place, the entire structure must be waterproofed with resins whose synthesis starts with ethylene. Another required oil product is lubricant, for the turbine gearboxes, which has to be changed periodically during the machine’s two-decade lifetime.
Undoubtedly, a well-sited and well-built wind turbine would generate as much energy as it embodies in less than a year. However, all of it will be in the form of intermittent electricity—while its production, installation, and maintenance remain critically dependent on specific fossil energies.
Moreover, for most of these energies—coke for iron-ore smelting, coal and petroleum coke to fuel cement kilns, naphtha and natural gas as feedstock and fuel for the synthesis of plastics and the making of fiberglass, diesel fuel for ships, trucks, and construction machinery, lubricants for gearboxes—we have no nonfossil substitutes that would be readily available on the requisite large commercial scales.
For a long time to come—until all energies used to produce wind turbines and photovoltaic cells come from renewable energy sources—modern civilization will remain fundamentally dependent on fossil fuels.
This article appears in the March 2016 print issue as “What I See When I See a Wind Turbine.”
Filed Under: Big wind industry, Big wind politics Tagged With: CO2 in a wind turbine, CO2 wind farm construction, coal used to make wind turbines, fossil free power, green energy, steel in a wind turbine, wind power replacing fossil fuel
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Excellent Article STT,
A little quote I like, not sure where I got it but I like it !!
Wind gets a pass on everything. Blow up a mountaintop for coal = BAD! Blow up a mountaintop for wind turbines = GOOD!
Destroy valuable farmland for an oil derrick or to drill for gas = BAD! Destroy valuable farmland for wind = GOOD!
Toxic waste caused by oil = BAD! Toxic waste caused by the production of wind turbines = GOOD!
You can’t have it both ways. If something is flawed, (like wind) you can’t ignore that fact just because it erroneously comes under the heading of ‘Green’.
Marshall Rosenthal says:
The wind power industry is run by the coal and oil industry. It is a front to appease the greenies. It is a no-brainer that they would do this; back a non-competiter to mask their own activities. Oh, the tangled web the eco-controllers weave.
Geoff McPherson says:
Worth pointing out that IEEE refers to Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
Wikipedia at least describes its as “the world’s largest association of technical professionals with more than 400,000 members in chapters around the world. Its objectives are the educational and technical advancement of electrical and electronic engineering, telecommunications, computer engineering and allied disciplines”.
So IEE is pretty down the line science and engineering. They do not accept ill considered contributions.
Neil van Dokkum says:
Reblogged this on The Law is my Oyster and commented:
The Green Dream. More dream than green. Convert Moneypoint to biomass, now!
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Employment Law Disciplinary Issues and Investigations [ONDEMAND]
Guidance on the principles and practical issues associated with workplace disciplinary processes and investigations.
ISBN/ISSN: WEBCPDNZOL195
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Partner
Alastair Espie, Associate
Dundas Street Employment Lawyers
About the webinar
There are no shortage of employers who have to grapple with disciplinary processes and investigations. However there are also no shortage of employers who fail to meet the complex legal and procedural standards the Employment Relations Authority and Courts expect where disciplinary action is being considered.
This ONDEMAND webinar demystifies the steps employers need to follow when considering disciplinary action, provides a sound understanding of the relevant legal principles, and works through strategies that practitioners and employers can adopt when faced with difficult situations.
Who would benefit from this webinar?
A lot of the seminar is geared toward practitioners that have been recently admitted, or who have limited experience with employment law. However there is also content that is valuable to experienced practitioners.
By the end of the webinar, attendees will be able to:
Apply the legal principles that underpin disciplinary processes and investigations
Understand what the steps in the disciplinary processes are
Implement a suspension
Conduct disciplinary meetings
Manage difficult advocates
Understand when and how to engage independent investigators
Identify appropriate disciplinary outcomes.
Webinar details:
Recorded: 26th June, 2018
About LexisNexis ONDEMAND Webinars
LexisNexis ONDEMAND webinars are delivered by subject experts and accompanied by a short comprehension quiz. Each Lexis Nexis ON DEMAND webinar is equal to at least ONE CPD hour. Attendees who listen to the recording and complete the quiz are eligible for a certificate of participation that may be used as a record of their CPD activities.
About the Presenter(s)
Susan Hornsby-Geluk is ranked as one of the top three Employment Lawyers in New Zealand by international ratings agency Chambers & Partners.
With over 24 years’ as a specialist Employment Lawyer, Susan’s extensive experience and formidable reputation combine to make her a respected advocate and adviser, whether in assisting with disciplinary processes, acting in disputes or appearing before the court. Susan is regarded to be the go to lawyer for complex, strategic legal issues and has a reputation for delivering strong practical results.
Susan is also the general editor of the Lexis Nexis Employment Law Bulletin, writes a regular column on employment law matters in the Dominion Post, and is frequently sought for media comment on hot-button issues.
Alastair Espie is an Associate at Dundas Street Employment Lawyers experienced in advising and representing employers and employees on a wide range of issues, and at all stages of the employment relationship. He often acts for employees and employers during disciplinary processes and has experience working as an independent investigator. Alastair is a member of the editorial board for the Lexis Nexis Employment Law Bulletin and regularly presents on employment law issues.
Related LexisNexis Products
Employment Law Bulletin
Employment Law in NZ
Those customers who wish to register for more than one webinar or more than one attendee at the same time should contact our customer services team directly on 0800 800 986 or customersupport@lexisnexis.co.nz
Fairness, Expectation and Reward in Inheritance Disputes [ONDEMAND]
Customer Due Diligence Tips and Tricks [ONDEMAND]
Letters of Administration on Intestacy: Issues and Solutions [ONDEMAND]
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Headed West
SSS Caterpillar Club
Unit Patches & Other F-100-Associated Imagery
F-100 Information
Sabre Dance History
Static Huns
Background of the Super Sabres and the F-100 “Hun”
F-100D/F Fight Manual
The Definitive List of F-100 Units
Misty FACs
Friends of the Super Sabre
N. American F-100 Super Sabre
The Intake
The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society
The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
SSS Reunion
Super Sabre Society 2017 Reunion
Ft. Wayne Event Gallery
Dayton Reunion 2015
F-100 Events
Steve Amdor’s F-100 Caterpillar Story
I had just joined the 494th TFS at Lakenheath, UK, after 500 plus hours of combat time at Phu Cat, SVN. I was on my first USAFE deployment, sitting Victor Alert at Cigli AB, Izmir, Turkey. The date was 1 May 1969 – MAYDAY (How appropriate!) Carl Jefcoat and I were on a low level training mission that went south over Ephesus then turned east along the southern coast of Turkey, north over Cleopatra’s Baths and then back west to Cigli near Usak, Turkey.
Approaching Usak, I noticed an unfamiliar, consistent vibration. I asked “Jef” to look me over to see if I had a loose tail hook or split wing tank fin. Nothing abnormal; so we did a mil power acceleration check to see if there were any difference s in power. Checks were good and the vibration seemed to diminish; so, we headed to the target (an abandoned airfield) and made a few simulated bombing passes. A quick fuel check indicated that we could continue back to Izmir low level. I had just descended back to 300 feet AGL, pushing the power up to maintain 420 KTAS, when the motor just quit. I said: “Jef, I think I just flamed out?” He said, “No SHIT!” as he blew by. I immediately started trading altitude for airspeed and jettisoned all of the external stores. Next came the air start procedures – throttle idle, emergency fuel, airstart switch- on. As I peak out around 3,000 feet AGL, I established a 220 KIAS glide while waiting for the engine to light. Nothing was happening so I stop-cocked the throttle, counted to ten, and returned it to the idle position. The EGT started up along with the RPM. SHIT HOT – this is looking good! I was trying to be patient with the throttle since I was in Emergency Fuel mode; however there was a ridge line coming up that I needed to clear. Matching RPM and EGT, I kept squeezing out more thrust. Meanwhile Jef is calling out altitudes. As I was going through 1,000 feet AGL and the RPM just above idle, the engine flamed out again, and Jef told me I had raw fuel coming out the back end.
As I was telling Jef that I was getting out, I was already raising the ejection handle with my right hand. I dropped my left hand down on the left handle, slapped my head back and squeezed the triggers. I was around 600 – 800 feet AGL. The initial portion of the ejection sequence was perceived in slow motion. I watch the glare shield slowly slide away below me, the 781 and low level maps seemed to just float along with me as I came up the rails away from the airplane. As the seat started to tilt backward, the butt-snapper fired, kicking me out of the seat. As it did, I was pitched head down and lost the horizon. It looked like the ground was very close, so I put out my arms – like that was going to do any good. My senses must have been very acute, because I heard the chute unraveling from my back pack. Good chute! I reached down and released the survival kit and then started assessing a place to land as the plane impacted the ground in a spectacular display of fireworks.
I saw a man plowing with a horse and being a farm boy from Illinois, I “ripped four (four line cut)” and tried to steer toward the farmer. I quickly discovered that the wind was strong (estimated at 20+ knots). I gave up on picking my landing spot and got into the pre-PLF position. The chute immediately aligned with the wind. I went over a ridgeline and down the back side facing forward. I hit hard, then went ass over tea kettle, bounding down the mountain. I ended up on my back with my feet propped up against a scrub tree. I knew there was something that I needed to do urgently but couldn’t think of it. Finally, it dawned on me that I could be dragged to death by the wind. I quickly unclipped the harness releases and then took another 5 minutes to extricate myself from the parachute. As I bounded down the mountain, I had wound myself up in the shroud lines and canopy. First business was to get the radio out of the survival kit, call Jef, who was orbiting above, and find out when I was going to be picked up.
Jef was orbiting high overhead talking to another F-100 overhead Cigli. Jef didn’t have good news. I was out of range of the HH-43 Kaman Husky and there were no roads near me. The closest helicopters with sufficient range were at Wheelus and they would take several days to get there. They suggested that I continue down the mountain and wait in the valley below. Meanwhile the farmer came running down the mountain yelling Allah, Allah. His eyes were wide and he was pointing to the sky. I wasn’t sure what to do. I had a hunting knife on the back of my G-suit, but instead stuck out my hand and said: “Me Americano.” He smiled shaking his head. I threw the chute and survival kit in the deployed raft. The Turk was puzzled that I had a raft in the middle of Turkey, but he helped me carry the raft down to the valley to a rock walled sheep/goat corral. Soon a number of other Turks started arriving; some with articles from the cockpit – 781, maps, even the canopy. One arriving farmer was mad as hell, waving his arms and shaking his fists at me. Apparently, the plane landed on his property. I found out later that the airplane had bounded over an artesian well after impact but no one was injured.
With evening approaching, a T-29 was sent out from Cigli to boost my morale. I was informed that they were working the problem but no pick up today. So I settled in, smoked a few Turkish cigarettes – they were really strong with no filters. The Turks brought in a goat, killed it, put it on a spit and roasted it. We also had warm goat’s milk to drink. The legend was that if you bailed out in Turkey and spent the night, you would be offered the virgin of the village. Thankfully, that legend proved to be false – I didn’t see any attractive Turkish women in this camp. I dozed off and on throughout the night. At first light, one of the Turks pointed to the south and mouthed: WAP! WAP! WAP! I grabbed the radio and vectored the HH-43 to the coral.
Slung under the HH-43 in a cargo net was three 50-gallon barrels. The rescue guys had been innovative. They went to the wharf in Izmir, purchased the net, filled the barrels with JP-4, dropped them in the corral, then landed beside them. Using a rotary hand pump, we transferred the 150 gals of fuel into the HH-43 – adequate to return to the Izmir. We left the empty barrels behind and flew back to Cigli AB.
Epilogue: The vibration was due to the N-2 stator collar failing and compressor blades from one section were grinding against another. Eventually, the blades were distorted sufficiently to interrupt air flow, particularly at high RPM settings. This was the first of several engine failures due to this problem.
The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.
© Copyright 2020 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
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Support @Blake (Information Support Support Services)
ISS Services (Public)
Google Apps @Blake: Spreadsheets (Google Drive)
Named Ranges in Google Spreadsheets
David Boxer
Watch How to Used Named Ranges in Google Spreadsheets:
Be sure Watch How to Protecting Cell Ranges in Google Spreadsheets
Named ranges allow you to use a range throughout different sheets, formulas etc. and then update that range from one location. It’s a very powerful feature that brings Google Spreadsheets.
Named and protected ranges
The Quick Answer
Use range names to give a cell, or group of cells, a nickname that’s easy to read and remember
Simplify your formulas by using range names, as in =SUM(NamedRange)
Protect data by adding access permissions for your named ranges to prevent others from modifying particular cell contents, such as complex formulas that shouldn’t be touched
About range names
Named ranges is a feature that allows you to assign a name to a cell or a group of cells. For example, instead of using "A1" to designate a cell (or "A1:B2" to designate a group of cells), you can name a cell or group "budget_total," or whatever title you choose.
Range names allow you to create meaningful categories in your spreadsheets. As a result, entering formulas becomes easier and complex spreadsheets become more readable.
The range names feature has several convenient uses:
Because it provides a mnemonic device, you don't need to catalog or remember multiple cell numbers and ranges.
Using range names simplifies your formulas and makes them more comprehensible. Instead of entering multiple cell addresses, you can enter the corresponding range names. For example, instead of entering =SUM(A1:B2 , D4:E7), you can enter the simpler, more intuitive, =SUM(budget_total , quarter2).
Create a range name
To create a range name, follow these steps:
Select the cell or range of cells that you want to define. (You can also specify a cell or range later.)
Click the Data menu.
Point your mouse to Named and protected ranges. This will open a side panel that allows you to create and manage all your ranges. You can also access this side panel by right-clicking on the selected cell(s) and selecting Name and protect range.
In the first text field, define your range name. This will show the default assigned name (e.g. NamedRange1) until you assign a custom name.
In the second text field, define the range itself. If you highlighted cells before opening the Named and protected ranges panel, the range will already be defined. If you’d like to enter a range, or make changes to the highlighted range, click on the spreadsheet grid icon to the right of the text box and then highlight the range. You can also define the range manually by typing in this text field.
Once you have the Named and protected ranges panel open, you can also add new ranges by clicking on +Add a range.
Here are some guidelines for how to name a range:
A range name can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores.
It can't start with a number, or the words "true" or "false."
It must be greater than zero characters, but less than 250 characters.
It can't contain any spaces.
It can't be evaluated as a range in either A1 or R1C1 syntax. (In other words, don't give your range a name like "A1:B2" or "R1C1:R2C2", which already refer to a specific range on your spreadsheet and which may be misinterpreted as such by Google spreadsheets.)
A named range can be renamed, however renaming a range may break formulas or references to the original range name.
To delete a range name, follow these steps:
Point your mouse to Named and protected ranges. This will open a side panel that shows all your ranges.
Select the named range you'd like to delete. Then click the Edit button.
The range entry will expand, and you’ll see a trash can icon to the right of the range name. Click on the trash can, and then click Remove.
When you delete a named range, any references to this name (in formulas, for example) will no longer be updated. However, if you reuse this name, with the same (or another) range, any references using this name will begin updating correctly for the range given.
Google Gooru - Using Named Ranges in Google Spreadsheets
Google Drive Help - Named and protected ranges
Protecting Cell Ranges in Google Spreadsheets
Query Function to Obtain Data from One Spreadsheet and Link into another in Google Spreadsheets
Apply conditional formatting rules in Google Spreadsheets
Table of contents in Google Documents to quickly navigate to a section of your document
Access levels in Google Drive when Sharing: View, Comment, and Edit
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Finding an Older Ticket on the Support Page
WarpPortal-NA > Ragnarok Online
Where’s My Ticket?
If you are using the Support page’s search function to try and look up a ticket, stop!
The search in Support is used for looking up Knowledge Base articles, but cannot find tickets previously created no matter what criteria is used. If you search for a ticket using a ticket number, account ID, or other info, you will not find the ticket you are looking for!
So…What Do I Do?
If you have a Support account, you can login and see all tickets created by that account, their status (active, waiting, or closed), and respond directly to a ticket. If you do not have a Support account, you can learn more about creating one here.
Without a support account, you may need to create a new ticket to respond to previous tickets. If you have to do this, please be sure that the previous ticket number is mentioned when submitting a ticket.
With a Support Account
Log into the Support account through the home page:
Once logged in, you may select the "Tickets" button and any close, waiting or any standby tickets that you have made with using this account will show up at the bottom of the screen just like so in the screenshot below.
If you are unable to locate the ticket, please submit a new ticket to our staff. Please include as much information about the original ticket as possible. Make to include the following as best as possible:
Game Account ID:
Email Address Used in the Ticket:
Ticket Number:
Game Title:
You can also check the email address used for the ticket. If you want to do this, please follow these rules to make sure you are receiving our responses.
Without a Support Account
The best way to find ticket responses, without a Support account, is to check the email used when submitting that ticket. If you are having trouble with this, please follow these rules to make sure you are receiving our responses.
If all else fails, please submit a ticket to our staff. Please include as much information about the original ticket as possible. Make to include the following as best as possible:
Wait, I found my ticket but it's closed!
A closed ticket isn't necessarily closed on our end (we're not intentionally ignoring your requests!). The system routinely closes tickets that have not received a response, either from us or from you, in several days. But fret not, because closed tickets may be re-opened on your end.
Article ID: 396, Created: September 11, 2012 at 5:05 PM, Modified: September 20, 2018 at 1:39 PM
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Gigatechnologies are the largest engineered systems that humans create. Research in nanotechnology is transforming the fields of materials, medicine, energy, computing, and manufacturing in profound ways. At the opposite end of the size spectrum, science and engineering at the gigascale is fundamentally different than science at the nano-, micro-, macro-, and mega-scales, but scant attention has been devoted to the giga-sciences. Examples of gigatechnologies are regional electric power grids, networks of highways and roads, municipal water systems, and clusters of buildings that aggregate to form blocks, neighborhoods, and cities. Studying gigatechnology will allow us how to minimize the bad, and emphasize the good properties that emerge in our cities, leading to greater sustainability, resiliency, and prosperity.
Spatial Variations and Periodic Changes in Heavy Metals in Surface Water and Sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China
Li Lin, Chao Li, Wenjun Yang, Liangyuan Zhao, Min Liu, Qingyun Li, John C. Crittenden, 2020, Chemosphere, 240, 124837, DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124837.
Can Virtual Water Trade Save Water Resources?
Xi Liu, Huibin Du, Zengkai Zhang, John C.Crittenden, Michael L.Lahr, Juan Moreno-Cruz, Dabo Guan, Zhifu Mi, Jian Zuo, 2019, Water Research, 163, 114848, DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.07.015.
Seven Approaches to Manage Complex Coupled Human and Natural Systems: A Sustainability Toolbox
Zhongming Lu, Osvaldo Broesicke, Michael E. Chang, Junchen Yan, Ming Xu, Sybil Derrible, James R. Mihelcic, Benedict R. Schwegler, John C. Crittenden, 2019, Environmental Science and Technology, 53, 16, 9341-9351, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01982.
Research Development on Sustainable Urban Infrastructure From 1991 to 2017: A Bibliometric Analysis to Inform Future Innovations
Huibin Du, Diyi Liu, Zhongming Lu, John C. Crittenden, Guozhu Mao, Shuai Wang, Hongyang Zou, 2019, Earth’s Future, 7, DOI: 10.1029/2018EF001117.
Measuring Urban Environmental Sustainability Performance in China: A Multi-scale Comparison among Different Cities, Urban Clusters, and Geographic Regions
Yu Tao, Feng Li, John C. Crittenden, Zhongming Lu, Weixin Ou, Yingshi Song, 2019, Cities, 94, 200-210, DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2019.06.014.
Presentation - The Water-Energy Nexus: Technology and Policy
John C. Crittenden, Osvaldo A. Broesicke, Junchen Yan, presented at the 4th Annual IWA Summit on Urban Water, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, P.R. China, November 25-27, 2018. Download PDF (2.8 MB)
Life Cycle Assessment of Small-Scale Greywater Reclamation Systems Combined with Conventional Centralized Water Systems for the City of Atlanta, Georgia
Hyunju Jeong, Osvaldo A. Broesicke, Bob Drew, John C. Crittenden, 2018, Journal of Cleaner Production, 174, 333-342, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.193.
Presentation - Summary of Sustainability Work of the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems
Junchen Yan, Thomas Igou, Osvaldo Broesicke, Yongsheng Chen, John C. Crittenden, presentation, August 9, 2018. Download PDF (2.6 MB)
Analyzing Spatio-temporal Changes and Trade-offs to Support the Supply of Multiple Ecosystem Services in Beijing, China
Xiao Sun, Zhongming Lu, Feng Li, John C. Crittenden, 2018, Ecological Indicators, 94, 117–129, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.06.049.
Gigatechnology: Developing Sustainable Urban Infrastructure to Solve Gigaton Problems
John C. Crittenden, presented at the South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China, June 3, 2018. Download PDF (6.6 MB)
Impacts of Combined Cooling, Heating and Power Systems, and Rainwater Harvesting on Water Demand, Carbon Dioxide, and NOx Emissions for Atlanta
Jean-Ann James, Sangwoo Sung, Hyunju Jeong, Osvaldo A. Broesicke, Steven P. French, Duo Li, John C. Crittenden. 2018, Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (1), 3–10, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01115.
Urban Expansion Simulation and the Spatio-Temporal Changes of Ecosystem Services, a Case Study in Atlanta Metropolitan Area, USA
Xiao Sun, John C. Crittenden, Feng Li, Zhongming Lu, Xiaolin Dou, 2018, Science of the Total Environment, 622–623, 974–987, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.062.
Market Potential for Smart Growth Neighbourhoods in the USA: A Latent Class Analysis on Heterogeneous Preference and Choice
Zhongming Lu, Frank Southworth, John C. Crittenden, Ellen Dunham-Jones, Urban Studies, 2014, 52 (16), 3001-3017, DOI: 10.1177/0042098014550956.
Towards Automating the Development of Federated Distributed Simulations for Modeling Sustainable Urban Infrastructures
Ajitesh Jain, Richard Fujimoto, John C. Crittenden, Mengmeng Liu, Jongchan Kim, Zhongming Lu, Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE Winter Simulation Conference, 2668-2679, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, December 6-9, 2015, DOI: 10.1109/WSC.2015.7408374.
Index of Network Resilience for Urban Water Distribution Systems
Arka Pandit, John C. Crittenden, 2016, International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 12 (1-2), 120-142, DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2016.075865.
Fractal Dimensions of Metropolitan Area Road Networks and the Impacts on the Urban Built Environment
Zhongming Lu, Hong Zhang, Frank Southworth, John C. Crittenden, 2016, Ecological Indicators, 70, 285-296, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.06.016.
Water Transfer Through Interprovincial Trade within China: From the Perspective of Value Chain
Xi Liu, Huibin Du, Zengkai Zhang, Guozhu Mao, John C. Crittenden, Juan Moreno-Cruz, Meeting the Energy Demands of Emerging Economies, 40th International Association for Energy Economics International Conference, Singapore, June 18-21, 2017.
An Integrated Framework for Managing the Complex Interdependence Between Infrastructures and the Socioeconomic Environment: An Application in Metropolitan Atlanta
Zhongming Lu, John C. Crittenden, Frank Southworth, Ellen Dunham-Jones, 2017, Urban Studies, 54 (12), 2874-2893, DOI: 10.1177/0042098016652555.
Create More Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure
John C. Crittenden, plenary talk presented to the Beijing Humboldt Forum, Beijing, China, September 16, 2017. Download PDF (6.5 MB)
John C. Crittenden, presented to the Scientific Planning and Green Forum, Hebei University, Beijing, China, August 13, 2017. Download PDF (5.7 MB)
Gigatechnology: The Largest Infrastructures in Which Humans Manipulate Matter and Energy
John C. Crittenden, presented at the inauguration of The Research Center for Green Buildings and Sponge Cities at the Georgia Tech Tianjin University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen, China, May 20, 2017. Download PDF (~7.7 MB)
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Back Like The “4-5”: Jordan Brand To Release The “Comeback” Sneaker
March 19, 2015 by Patrick Johnson
Next Thursday will mark the 20th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s legendary Double-Nickel game at Madison Square Garden. The outpouring of 55 points against a formidable and familiar foe in the New York Knicks cemented Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA. The rest had worn off, and he was ready to be considered the best in the game again. In honor of the game’s anniversary, Jordan Brand will be releasing this special Jordan 10 Double Nickel complete with his ’45’ PE stitching on the remastered white leather upper. Check out more photos after the break and be ready to grab this Air Jordan 10 on 3/28 for $190 from select spots like Sneaker Politics. There’s always a chance to grab them early on eBay too.
Source: Sneaker Politics
Air Jordan 10 “Double Nickel”
Color: White/Black-True Red
Style Code: 310805-102
Release Date: 03/28/15
Air Jordan Basketball Editor's Picks Release Dates Upcoming Sneakers Air Jordan 10 Air Jordan 10 Double Nickel Air Jordan X
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LONGi Solar Learning Pod
Expo Hall Highlights
Expo Highlights/Floor plan
Promote Your Booth
Exhibitor Resources & Service Forms
Startups and Educational Institutions
May 8-9, 2019 | BMO Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Treaty 7 Territory
Solar Canada 2019 Conference & Exposition
Solar Canada is Canada's biggest and best industry event. Network and build relationships. Discover latest innovations. Learn about new energy policies.
Other event coverage included Global News, National Post, National Observer and CTV News,
Canada is a global leader in renewable energy and solar is playing an increasing role with utilities, corporations and consumers thanks to its declining cost, scalability and ease of installation.
Solar Canada 2018 focused on the issues and trends driving the growth of solar energy and offered educational opportunities for insight into the solar policy frameworks of Canada’s provinces. High-profile speakers at this year’s event included The Honourable Sandra Jansen, Minister of Infrastructure for the Government of Alberta; The Honourable Iain Rankin, Minister of Environment for the Government of Nova Scotia; His Worship Naheed Nenshi, Mayor, City of Calgary; Monica Curtis, CEO of Energy Efficiency Alberta; Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director of the California Solar & Storage Association; and Tim Eckel, Vice-President of Asset Management, Planning & Sustainability at Saskpower.
Keynote Speaker Quotes:
“Now is not the time to pull back from solar energy. In fact, I think now is the time to double- down” – The Honourable Sandra Jansen, Alberta Minister of Infrastructure and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary North-West
“The future for solar in Nova Scotia will be bright. Solar energy will contribute to our province’s future clean and affordable energy-mix” – The Honourable Iain Rankin, Minister of Environment for the Government of Nova Scotia
Exhibitor and Attendee Testimonials
“It is always a pleasure to participate at the annual Solar Canada conference hosted by the CanSIA and Hannover Fairs (Canada) Inc. teams. This year’s conference in Calgary Alberta brought new life to the show with an energized crowd of attendees, speakers and sponsors. We are excited to see how the show will help strengthen the solar industry in another major Canadian market ready to support the future of solar on all levels, both on the residential and commercial channels. The quality connections made at the show will create valuable working relationships for Panasonic.” – Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada
“Solar Canada in Calgary was a tremendous success. There was a spirit of energy and enthusiasm for solar balanced with a pragmatic determination to make solar a significant contributor to the Alberta electricity mix. The networking and solar events combined business and pleasure, making it easy to meet new contacts and further existing relationships.” – Tom Jackman, Researcher, Green Building Technologies & Applied Research and Innovation Services, The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
“Solar Canada has been great! I have made excellent connections. I was here to meet people and see what new products are out there and I accomplished both objectives.” – Ken Donaghy. Sunline Energy
Solar Canada Will Return to Calgary in 2019
Hannover Fairs (Canada) Inc. and CanSIA have announced Solar Canada will be returning to Calgary next year, May 8-9, 2019. “With so much possibility for solar energy in Western Canada from forward-looking government policy, increased solar energy-related investment into the Alberta market and a strong national focus on carbon emission reductions, we are proud to announce a return this amazing city in 2019,” says Larry Turner, President and CEO of Hannover Fairs (Canada) Inc.
Solar Canada Conference 2018 Gallery
For a media enquiries, please contact Isabel Payne, CanSIA Communications and Administrative Coordinator, at isabel@cansia.ca or call 613-736-9077 ext. 221.
About CanSIA
Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) is a national trade association that represents the solar energy industry throughout Canada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy industry with capacity to provide innovative solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean-energy future. Learn more at www.cansia.ca.
About Hannover Fairs (Canada) Inc.
Hannover Fairs (Canada) is a subsidiary of Hannover, Germany’s Deutsche Messe – one of the world’s largest and most active organizers of industrial technology events. Hannover Fairs helps companies expand domestically and internationally through exhibit and sponsorship opportunities at Deutsche Messe’s worldwide portfolio of events, including Energy at HANNOVER MESSE and Canada’s premier wind energy event, CanWEA Annual Conference and Exhibition. Visit http://www.hfcanada.ca for more information.
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From Tensegrity
1 Pneumatics
2 Pneumatics in Tensegrity Structures
2.1 Balloon as a Tensegrity Structure
2.1.1 Chords resist compression along the membrane
2.1.2 The membrane is full of holes
2.1.3 The center of gravity is still
2.2 Tire as a Tensegrity Structure
2.3 Pneumatics as Dynamic Struts
3 References and Links
Pneumatics[edit]
Pneumatics is a branch of technology that deals with the study, application and use of pressurized gas in structures and manufactured devices, usually to affect mechanical motion.
Pneumatics in Tensegrity Structures[edit]
In tensegrity studies, the pneumatics of pressurized, inflatable, flexible membranes are considered as an ideal model of a prestressed tensegrity structure. The membrane plays the role of the tension network while the isolated, rapidly moving molecules of the compressed gas play the role of the compression struts. The two classic examples are balloons and pneumatic tires. Pneumatics are also used in dynamic tensegrity structures to extend and collapse adjustable length struts.
Balloon as a Tensegrity Structure[edit]
Fuller found the balloon comparison so central to comprehending tensegrity, he opens with that discussion in his Synergetics. He wrote that tensegrities are "'hollowed out' balloons, discarding their redundantly 'solid' air core." [1]
Wilken wrote, "When we examine an inflated balloon as a system, we find that the rubber skin of the balloon continuously pulls while the individual molecules of air are discontinuously pushing against the inside of the balloon keeping it inflated. All external forces striking the external surface are immediately and continuously distributed over the entire system. This makes the balloon very strong. Molecules of air discontinuously pushing against the continuously pulling rubber skin of the balloon." [2]
In more detail, Fuller wrote, "The pressurized internal liquid or gaseous molecules try to escape from their confining enclosure. The outward-bound molecules impact evenly upon all the inside surface of the enclosure__for instance, upon all of the football's flexible inside skin when it is kicked in one spot from outside. Their many outward-bound impactings force the skin outwardly and firmly in all directions, and the faster they move, the more powerful the impact. This molecular acceleration is misidentified as pressures and firmness of the pneumatic complex. This molecular acceleration distributes the force loads evenly. The outward forces are met by the comprehensive embracement of all the tensile envelope's combined local strengths. All locally impacting external loads, such as the kick given to a point on the football's exterior, are distributed by all the enclosed atmospheric molecules to all of the skin in the innocuously low magnitudes." (Synergetics 703.05)
Illustration of a pneumatically inflated balloon, by Timothy Wilken" http://www.synearth.net/TensegrityHtml/Tensegrity.html"
Fuller wrote and lectured extensively about the balloon model of tensegrity, motivated by a variety of concerns. A partial list of these is discussed below.
Chords resist compression along the membrane[edit]
Fuller found it important to stress that, due to our experience of traditional architecture (or kindergarten wooden blocks) we expect that a structural element resisting compression will always be a strut oriented in parallel with the force being resisted. For example, when we press down on a table, it is the legs that oppose our pressure, pushing back up with an equal force. The pressure is borne by tension around the table legs' girth; see strut for a fuller explanation.
Fuller wrote, "Every action has a reaction. For a molecule of gas to be impelled in one direction, it must "shove off from," or be impelled by, another molecule accelerated in an opposite direction. Both of the oppositely paired and impelled action and reaction molecules inside the pneumatically expanded domes will impinge respectively upon two chordally opposed points on the inside of the skin. The middle point of a circular chord is always nearer the center of the circle than are its two ends. For this reason, chords (of arcs of spheres) impinge outwardly against the skin in an acutely glancing angular pattern." Synergetics 703.09
Synergetics by R. B. Fuller, Fig. 762.01, Chordal Ricochet Pattern in Stretch Action of a Balloon Net." http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/s07/p5100.html"
The membrane is full of holes[edit]
The balloon membrane, when viewed microscopically, is composed mostly empty space. How then does the balloon both cohere structurally and resist compression? The answer is clear to anyone that has held a tensegrity sphere in their hands: compression is resisted by omnidirectional dispersion of the compressive force around the pre-stressed tensegrity network of struts and tension elements.
Synergetics by R. B. Fuller, Fig. 761.02 Function of a Balloon as a Porous Network." http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/s07/p5100.html"
The center of gravity is still[edit]
As a result of the chordal dispersal of forces mentioned above, the gravitational center of the balloon plays no role in its membrane's structural integrity. This is a non-intuitive correlation, as most people expect the center to play a "central role." In contrast, tensegrity structures, like hurricanes, have centers that are still, non-moving and at rest. Fuller argued that the center cannot be involved. "When two molecules accelerate opposingly from one another at the center of the sphere, their outward trajectories describe a straight line that coincides with the diameter of a sphere. They therefore impinge on the skin perpendicularly, i.e., at 180 degrees, and bounce right back to the sphere center. It is experimentally evidenced that all but two of the myriad molecules of the captive gas do not emanate opposingly from one another at the center of the sphere, for only one pair can occupy one point of tangent bounce-off between any two molecules. If other molecules could occupy the nucleus position simultaneously, they would have to do so implosively by symmetrical self- compression, allowing the sphere to collapse, immediately after which they would all explode simultaneously. No such pulsating implosion-explosion, collapse-and-expand behavior by any pneumatic balls has been witnessed experimentally." Synergetics 703.10
Tire as a Tensegrity Structure[edit]
Wilken wrote, "The automobile tire is one of the strongest most durable inventions in the history of humankind. And few of us are aware that it is a tensegrity. It is the power of tensegrity in each tire that protects us from failure and blowout despite high speeds and long miles." [2]
The pneumatic tire is a tensegrity tube, not to be confused with the wire spoked wheel.
Pneumatics as Dynamic Struts[edit]
Pneumatic control units are implemented in tensegrities that implement struts with changing lengths. Changing the gas pressure changes the strut length, hence the morphology of the tensegrity structure. Sterk wrote about pneumatic pistons, "by understanding the typical way pneumatic pistons are controlled, we can also understand how [a]] wall [may be]] actuated by distributing air pressure between two different pneumatic chambers (within the body of a piston) in different combinations to allow the piston to extend, to contract, or alternatively jitter in a mode that enables it to extend and contract very rapidly. A computer... [may]] fire each piston sequentially in order to produce a series of patterns that responded to environmental stimuli."
References and Links[edit]
[1] Tensegrity by Fuller, from Portfolio and Art News Annual, No.4, 1961. http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/rbfnotes/fpapers/tensegrity/tenseg01.html [2] Explanation of tensegrity focusing on balloons, by Timothy Wilken, http://www.synearth.net/TensegrityHtml/Tensegrity.html
Retrieved from "https://tensegritywiki.com/w/index.php?title=Pneumatics&oldid=1656"
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About Tensegrity
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US Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ Office Receives Package Labeled 'Anne Thrax'
The anthrax threat was reported after the 79-year-old called for Donald Trump’s impeachment and for members of his administration to be publicly confronted.
US Spends $25Mln to Purchase, Stockpile Treatment For Anthrax Attack - Health Dept.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Project BioShield, a US program to prepare for terror attacks with weapons of mass destruction, plans to spend $25.2 million on an anthrax treatment for the Strategic National Stockpile, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced in a press release on Monday.
Prince Harry and Meghan White Powder Incident Has Echoes of 2001 Anthrax Scare
Terrorists and mischief-makers sometimes post white powder to their targets, sparking fears that it could be lethal spores of anthrax. In 2001 five people died when anthrax was sent to journalists and politicians in the United States. Sputnik looks back at that scare, which remains unsolved and is the subject of several conspiracy theories.
Soon-to-be-Wed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Target of White Powder Letter
It remains unclear whether the couple is being targeted by the same individual, who previously sent a suspicious package to the House of Parliament.
Trump Jr. Blames Opponents Over Suspicious Envelope With White Powder
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Donald Trump Jr. said on Tuesday that the envelope with a white substance, opened by his wife Vanessa Trump, was sent by people with "opposing views."
Wife of Trump's Son Hospitalized After Opening Envelope With 'White Powder' - Reports
Vanessa Trump, the wife of Donald Trump Jr., was sent to medical facilities this morning after opening a letter addressed to her apartment in Manhattan that contained some unknown white substance, according to New York City law enforcement and city officials.
Rinse and Repeat?
Monday marked the 15-year anniversary of then-Secretary of State Colin Powell’s anthrax-aided presentation to the United Nations Security Council, asserting military action as the only option against Iraq.
Pyongyang Denies Biochemical Weapons Development Charges
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Climate Change: 80,000 Reindeer Starve to Death as Arctic Sea Ice Retreats
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Kazakh Authorities: Three More People Contracted Anthrax in Central Karaganda
The Kazakh authorities announced on Monday that at least three more people the central Karaganda region's city of Balkhash have contracted anthrax.
'Security Belt' to Be Set Around Yamal Anthrax Contamination Zone
A "security belt" will be set around the anthrax contamination zone on the Yamal Peninsula, Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said Tuesday.
Nearly 90 People Hospitalized in Russia's Siberia Amid Anthrax Outbreak
A total of 86 people, including 51 children, in the Yamalo-Nenets District area affected by the anthrax outbreak known as the 'Siberian plague' are under observation in hospital, spokeswoman for the district's governor Nadezda Noskova said on Tuesday.
Russian Bio Warfare Force Heads to Arctic as 'Zombie' Anthrax Hospitalizes 40
The infection appears to have spread among the local deer population as the virus was unleashed when the unseasonably hot summer heat thawed its host.
Lawyers Demand Disclosure of Data on US Anthrax Shipments to South Korea
An association of South Korean lawyers has demanded that the government disclose detailed information related to reported US deliveries of anthrax samples to South Korea, local media reported Tuesday.
Beyond Anthrax: Pentagon Confirms Its 'Secure' Labs Fumbled 'Black Death,' Deadly Viruses
The Pentagon's most secure labs may have mislabeled, improperly stored and transported specimens of infectious plague bacteria and other deadly viruses, a new investigation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed.
North Korea Invites US to Visit Pyongyang, Look for Biological Weapons
The North Korean authorities have invited US President Barack Obama, members of Congress and all of the US government to come to Pyongyang.
US Army Used Deadly Viruses in Europe Exercises - German Media
German newspaper Bild found that the US military used deadly anthrax spores in chemical weapons defense training on a military base in Germany.
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HPV Vaccination Information for Health Professionals
The HPV vaccine helps protect against 6 types of cancer. It prevents infection by high-risk types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, that cause the majority of cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the throat and tongue) and genital warts. The American Cancer Society is on a mission to help prevent HPV cancers by working in partnership with health professionals and organizations in the United States and around the world.
Each year, more than 33,000 men and women are diagnosed with HPV-related cancers – cancers that can largely be prevented through vaccination. While more than half of boys and girls in the U.S. get the first dose of the HPV vaccine, too many fail to get the full vaccination series. This means they are not getting the protection against cancer that the vaccine provides.
We work at the national, state, and community level to increase HPV vaccination uptake through education, awareness, and partnerships. Our initiatives seek to advance best practices, support clinic-based interventions, and increase collaboration and leadership among key partners to push the prioritization of the vaccine.
Providers can access materials to champion quality improvement initiatives in their practice.
Health systems can build workflows to make sure there are no missed opportunities.
Public health professionals can use our HPV information and take action through the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable.
Interested funding partners can support this important work by getting in touch with us.
The biggest predictor of HPV vaccination uptake is an effective recommendation from a health care provider.
The ACIP, ACS, AAP, AAFP, and many other national organizations recommend that girls and boys get vaccinated against HPV at age 11 and 12. The series can be started as early as age 9 and should be completed by age 13.
HPV vaccination is most effective when given at the recommended age.
Parents trust their health care provider to recommend the HPV vaccine.
Our Guideline
Access current guideline information from the American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Society HPV Vaccine Use Guideline
Update on vaccine doses (In 2017, the American Cancer Society endorsed a 2-dose vaccination schedule for children under age 15.)
Mission: HPV Cancer Free
Parent education resources from the American Cancer Society.
Steps for Increasing HPV Vaccination in Practice
An action guide for implementing evidence-based interventions in the clinical setting.
Explore All HPV Vaccination Resources
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Home News Couple Build Pub In Back Garden To Keep Social Life Alive As...
Couple Build Pub In Back Garden To Keep Social Life Alive As They Have Kids
Phil Avery, 35, with his wife Eva 36 with their daughter Milli, 2.
A couple who refused to give up their social life after the birth of their daughter built a PUB in their garden so they could carry on partying- and hear the baby monitor.
Eva and Phil Avery decided to accommodate parenthood in an unusual way – by building a pub in the yard.
It allowed them to hear the baby monitor baby Millie arrived nearly three years ago.
Phil said: “We bought the house when Eva was pregnant and our lifestyle changed. We’d been living in Cheltenham for over a decade and we moved away and didn’t know anyone.
“Our scope for going out was limited and we wanted to be able to enjoy ourselves and let our hair down and have our own space.
“Most of the stuff in the pub was in the house, which had been repossessed.”
The couple, now aged 36, saw how some families let their social lives slip once their children were born and were adamant they would not do the same.
Phil Avery, 35. Phil Avery has turned his garden shed into a pub in his back garden in Cirencester.
The prefabricated concrete garage, large enough to fit a car, or 13 people, was transformed by Phil, who wanted somewhere to play music and relax with friends while knowing Millie was tucked up in bed nearby.
For the past three years, the father-of-one has dedicated weekends to his “man cave” in Cirencester, Glos.
General view of the shed which Phil Avery has turned into a pub in his back garden in Cirencester.
Phil said: “It is quite nice having a little party a couple of times a year, a lot of our friends have kids now so we can put the children to bed.
“We are far away enough not to wake them with the noise and we can keep an eye on the video monitor to see they’re alright.”
Named after a beloved family pet who died, the pub, the Wonky Dog, even has a painted sign illustrating their late greyhound, Mitch, dressed in a suit, painted by a pal.
The labour of love has become legendary among the couple’s friends, who love coming to visit and have donated bits and pieces to help furnish the drinking hole.
Leaving his last job, colleagues gave project manager Phil a tiny log burner, which is so small it needs a car exhaust pipe to work.
Millie, who will celebrate her third birthday this year, loves going to the Wonky Dog, and her parents can sit on the bar stools and watch her pottering around in the garden.
The shed before it was turned into a pub
Eva said: “We have been soaking off beer bottle labels, wine bottle labels, our friends from Somerset gave us wooden pallets to put on the side of the wall.
“All our friends have children and it’s more difficult but we like having just two or three people over and having a barbeque, and music in the garden.”
They will be saying farewell to the boozer after putting the house on the market and preparing to move to the other side of town, but Eva said she was sure they would start from scratch in their new home.
She even upholstered seats for her husband’s “little gem” as a unique Christmas present.
Eva said: “We are looking for potential. It’s all achievable.
“Our aim is not to spend money on it but to recycle most of the stuff.”
The quirky addition to the suburban home meant the Avery family were inundated with offers as soon as viewer’s took a look around.
Working as an interior designer before the birth of her daughter, Eva struck up an agreement with her other half that she would take charge of their house and he could have free reign of the garden.
She said: “The new house we have bought has the potential for something really nice in the back garden.
“I think it is going to be another pub.”
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Home / Animatics
are animated video storyboards. We add motion, camera moves and audio to bring storyboards to life – and we do it in real-time as we draw. No longer do you have to wait as an artist and editor use 4 different softwares to create cool animatics. We do it all in one master software, Storyboard Pro. Directors love it – they can instantly get a feel for the flow and the edit. There is no better way to work. We have even changed the way they previz the hit series The Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead storyboard comparison
The Walking Dead is the biggest drama on TV. It’s a worldwide sensation. Mark Simon has brought animatics to the production for the first time. This helps the directors perfect their shots before a frame of film (we still shoot on film) is shot. The comparison will show you how close our storyboards are to director Greg Nicotero’s vision. That’s our goal. Illustrate the director’s vision quickly.”
Mark Simon storyboards on The Talking Dead
The Talking Dead is Chris Hardwick’s talk show about The Walking Dead. Mark and his storyboards have been profiled a number of times on the show. In Season 10, Episode 5, they showcase Mark’s storyboards and animatics again in a great scene with fan-favorite Negan.
Mark Simon’s demo reel
Chucky is a creepy little doll. Moving the camera and characters in the drawings helped writer/director Don Mancini realize his vision. Mark quickly built a 3D version of the main set so he and Don could move through it virtually and pick the right shots. All this was still possible in the tight schedule on a low budget horror movie with the way we work. Check out this storyboard comparison to the final edit.
We specialize in production animatics for both live action and animation.We have over 4,000 production credits. We use the Storyboard Pro software to create animatics real time as we board. Mark worked the development team on the software and created the Lynda.com training program for the software.
You’re Next Storyboard Comparison
Mark produced the boards and animatics for Lionsgate’s horror movie, You’re Next. Mark worked long distance on the movie, using Skype and drew digitally with Storyboard Pro. Using Skype, director Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs Kong) could watch Mark draw in real time.
Tooth Fairy 2 storyboard to animation comparison
Mark was the story artist on Tooth Fairy 2 for Fox. He boarded both the live-action and the animation. He was also the animation producer for the movie. This video shows the 4 stages of production from boarding, to adding the boards to live-action stills, the raw animation and then the final composite.
3D Moves on 2D Storyboards
We can now add 3D objects and 3D camera moves to our classic hand-drawn 2D storyboards and animatics. We have the best of both worlds, and no one knows the software better than us. (we even produce the training videos of it for www.Lynda.com).
Toyota commercial, storyboards to final comparison
Mark Simon drew these boards for a series of Toyota commercials. The boards are incredibly close to the finished product. Mark had access to the actual location photos when working with the director.
The Key – Animation to Animatic Comparison
Mark Simon wrote, directed and boarded this short film for Toon Boom Animation, called The Key. It’s about a grandfather and his grandson both wanting to take the car out for the night. The animation, like many projects, was produced overseas. The frame-accurate animatic made the animation process smooth as glass. No more timing issues. Check out this cool project.
The animatic below was produced so fast we never showed the client the storyboards. By the time we finished the boards, the animatic was complete. It saved a tremendous amount of time in approvals. You can also compare that to the finished spot below. (Don’t worry though, the software also outputs printable boards)
Tiger Checking – Wallpaper animatic
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro with Mark Simon Part 4
Mark Simon, our owner, produced many of the training videos for Toon Boom’s Storyboard Pro software. We use this software for both live-action and animation projects. You can watch one of the training videos below.
Luke and Reece Save The World
Jeanne Simon created this animated series, Luke and Reece Save The World. Mark Simon wrote and directed this pilot animatic used for pitching the series. No need to produce finished animation any more. Now we pitch we these awesome animatics, which is preferred by network execs. It’s faster, cheaper and easier for execs to feel they can make changes. We also handled all the final audio. Boards by Willie Castro and Mark Simon.
If you have an animation to pitch, we can help.
Cyber Optics
Cyber Optics started as a great comic book by creator Kathy Messick. She hired Mark Simon to direct the pilot for her proposed series. You lucky dogs get to see the four steps of production, from animatics to rough animation, color pass and final animation with effects.
The hit Starz series, Magic City, was shot in Miami, and was about the Miami mob in 1959. Mark only had a day to board a number of sequences, but was able to provide the director with animatics anyway. This sequence is the last 5 minutes of the series premiere. Due to the tight schedule, Mark used only thumbnails for the animatics, yet they still work great.
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Trenton Tye
Trenton Tye has been a professional blacksmith for over 20 years and runs Purgatory Ironworks, a Smithy in Southwest Georgia. He is available to appear in a variety of capacities on your show or at your event.
Performance Blacksmith
Trent has been an active performing Blacksmith for the past 20 years. He makes regular appearances at the Georgia National Fair in Perry GA, and Victorian Christmas in Thomasville GA. He travels with a traditional style forge wagon, and all the tools necessary to demonstrate his craft.
He is available to perform or act as the site Blacksmith at large events including (but not limited to) State Fairs, Renaissance Fairs, and Reenactment events.
Television and Media
Trent has spent a lot of time in front of the camera. After 12 years of regular appearances on YouTube he was a contestant on the History Channel’s Forged in Fire. In 2018 he was a host for the inaugural season of Discovery Channel’s Master of Arms.
Trent has been the subject of numerous radio and television interviews about the shows, traditional Blacksmithing and the technology behind reforging peanut blades. He continues to provide interviews and would be happy to discuss an appearance on your show.
If you’re looking for a dynamic and engaging Keynote Speaker for your event Trenton can speak on a variety of topics. Following, are a few topics that he’s passionate about, and he would happily discuss the opportunity to speak to your group about these and other topics.
The Business of non-profits [501(c)(3)]
Financial crises in the non-profit world
The business of musuems
Bringing economic development to rural areas
Traditional craft as a business
Small business in rural America
The business side of YouTube
Classes and Education
Trenton has dedicated himself to teaching the craft of blacksmithing through his youtube channel and public demonstrations. He also teaches in-person to individuals and groups around the United States, and worldwide. Please contact Trent directly to discuss your training needs!
Non-Profit Crisis Advisory
With a variety of experience in resolving sensitive situations where financial misconduct has occurred, Trenton is available to assist non-profit organizations in financial and organizational crises, especially in situations resulting from employee or director malfeasance.
To discuss an appearance on your show, or at your event, please contact Trent directly for more information and his availability.
S-Mail
Morgan GA 39866
Contact Trenton
info@trentontye.com
Sat & Sun: By appointment
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Kobe’s Depth & Drama
Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times
Last night is the only time in history when 60 will be worth much more than 73. Kobe Bean Bryant ended his 20 year NBA career last night scoring 60 points while hitting multiple clutch jump shots in a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. A few minutes before that, the Golden State Warriors earned their record 73rd regular season win against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Kobe scoring 60 points is nothing new, he has done it 5 times. Kobe taking 50 shots is a career high but totally not out of character, he has missed the most shots in NBA history. During Kobe’s last season we did experience something new though. The depth, compassion and respect we saw from Kobe during his farewell season totally obliterates all the things we thought he was.
Kobe made his name as a cold hearted competitor. There are tons of stories from teammates and even a book from his former head coach Phil Jackson which paint Kobe as a win at all costs type of player. Championships meant more to Bryant than the relationships he had in the locker room. However, without a realistic shot at any team success the past three seasons in LA, Kobe has had to find other motivation to fuel his game.
Throughout this season, it seems as if that motivation has come in the form in coaching his super young teammates and solidifying relationships with his peers around the league. At the end of each game this season Kobe gave out more hugs than Barney. In numerous interviews he praised the superstars of our era and openly offered his wisdom to all who needed it. All this from a guy who once said:
“Smush Parker was the worst. He shouldn’t have been in the NBA but we were too cheap to pay for a point guard. … I was shooting 45 times a game [in 2007]. What was I supposed to do? Pass it into Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown?”
“There’s certain players that I’ve made cry. If I can make you cry by being sarcastic, then I really don’t want to play with you in the playoffs.”
Even though this seems like a new Kobe, he has had no issue being open in the past. Probably too open. During his time with Shaquille O’Neal in LA, the two would frequently communicate through the media. Kobe always thought Shaq was lazy in practice, and Shaq thought Kobe took too many shots. The worst of it came when the jabs at each other became personal. During Kobe’s sexual assault trial, for some reason he suggested that Shaq had paid off women that he had extra marital relations with:
Eventually, Kobe grew up and two have made up. Through Kobe’s jovial farewell season, he has made these minor missteps seem irrelevant. Our first thoughts will always go to his precise movements and planned actions on the basketball court that made him an all time great.
The last stand of Kobe Bryant is something I’ll definitely tell my future kids about as they watch the final games of Steph Curry or Kawhi Leonard or Anthony Davis. The Kobe that smile, hugs and scored 60 in his final game, is what will resonate for years to come. But the drama, mistakes and overall hatred for his should by opposing fans is what made him more interesting than the average superstar. Probably even more interesting than MJ.
Mamba Out…
This entry was posted in Basketball, Editorial, NBA, Sports and tagged Anthony Davis, Barney, Black Mamba, ESPN, Golden State Warriors, Kawhi Leonard, Kobe, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Mamba, NBA, Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Stephen Curry.
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Top 10 Reasons Shane Dawson Is the King of YouTube
Updated on April 1, 2019
Krzysztof Willman
Krzysztof is a 8+ year YouTube researcher who spends hours researching, analyzing, and uncovering YouTube trends, challenges, and media.
Who Is Shane Dawson?
Shane Dawson, born Shane Lee Yaw, is a 30 year old YouTube creator that's been on the platform for over a decade and has accumulated 30+ million subscribers across his YouTube channels.
He was one of the earliest top creators and has some of the most successful channels to date.
Outside of YouTube, he has acted in a few movies, directed his own films/mini-shorts, released multiple albums, and was a 2x best-selling author for his books "I Hate Myselfie: A Collection of Essays by Shane Dawson" and "It Gets Worse".
Yet despite some mainstream grabs, it's YouTube where he has shined the most, and his reach on the platform would shock a lot of people who have never heard of Shane or don't understand YouTube.
The truth is that Shane Dawson is the king of YouTube, and if you don't believe me, then read on to find out why.
1. Shane Dawson's Docu-Series
Shane Dawson's venture into episodic television or the reality docuseries has been one of the most important transitions that I've ever seen a youtuber make.
In fact it's been such a difference maker that it may have legitimized YouTube and their creators for the very first time. Truth be told, the docuseries is doing something that their Premium service shows have never been able to do; make it worth watching.
Honestly before Cobra Kai came along, their Premium or Red shows have always been sort of a joke, and most people who have subscribed to it only do it for the ad-free, background playing experience.
But Shane's episodic series could change all of that.
What Makes Shane's Docu-Series so Special?
Slick, Contextual Edits
Drama & Humor Combo
Netflix Level Marketing
Multiple Variations
Real-time Editing
Nothing in his videos ever feels cheap or dishonest. There's a very personal, authentic feel to his docuseries that's easy to connect with. Some of his most compelling videos were able to humanize people whom outsiders might see as monsters.
His "Jeffree Star" series was able to explore a character and explore what makes them who they are. By the end of that series, people could actually relate to Jeffree and see the person and humanity behind the glamour.
The editing is top notch by YouTube standards, and it makes each series feel perfectly paced. Shane's videos have contextual awareness and often feature clips or snippets to explain something you might otherwise not understand.
They help set the tone and provide background information for anyone whose unfamiliar with the topic or person being addressed.
The audio/music cues are also timely executed though the dramatic stings do feel a bit amateurish. Still, it's amazing that two people, Shane Dawson and his editor/camera-person Andrew Siwicki, were able to piece together a Netflix-ready series that would require a full team behind it.
Shane has a close group of friends behind him (including his camera-person) that make the conversations feel more natural and give the dramatic situations some much needed levity.
The audience and particularly his fan base will appreciate the lighter moments. The humorous undertones throughout each episode are perfectly suited to Shane's style, and it's an evolution of his past comedic skits.
Shane's presence on YouTube and social media play a huge role in marketing his series, however; he's also learned how to market to a wider audience.
Every series feels like must see TV and some of his more recent multi-episodes have reached Netflix/Cable level marketing.
Every series thus far has felt very fresh with videos ranging from ghost hunting adventures to reconnecting with his father to helping out a struggling creator.
One of his most popular series was Shane's investigation into TanaCon, which was a poorly planned and disastrous YouTube creator event. That entire series had a criminal/mystery vibe to it and is easily on par with standard cable programming.
Because he's an independent creator, there are no guidelines to his videos and he's in control of every topic/subject.
The most fascinating development that came out of Shane's recent docuseries was that he was able to see people's feedback on social media and address any major issues in the next episode.
I've never seen a docuseries get reworked based on what the audience said because it would be impossible to do so. Youtubers like Shane are interactive, and they've built their success by connecting to their fan bases.
Whether or not Shane planned on this, he's created a new form of interactive video where he's able to get immediate feedback and re-edit the series as he sees fit. It's a remarkable achievement that no other company has done before.
2. YouTube Trendsetter
Shane Dawson was one of the first youtubers to create edgy skits, put out music videos/albums, create a podcast, make short-films, direct a movie, write a book, and currently make documentary style videos.
He was also able to address more serious issues including his terrible childhood, obesity/body issues, and past/current controversies.
He wasn't the only one to do these things, but whenever he did something first, everyone would follow shortly after. Shane even talked about it on his videos/podcasts.
Obviously as a 2nd gen youtuber (post 2008) he didn't start every trend, but I think it's pretty clear that his presence was felt on the platform and it indirectly affected other creators on it.
3. Jack of All Trades
Shane has done it all as a YouTuber, and that's what kept him relevant for so long.
Most people don't even realize how much he's transformed in his videos alone.
Before becoming one of the most youtubers of 2018, he made food, slime, and nonsensical challenge videos geared towards younger fans. However he did mix it up with darker, horror-themed conspiracy videos proving he still had that edge of year's past.
Regardless of the more mature content, most people outside his fan base didn't take him seriously and thought he was simply riding the trends. To them it didn't matter how much he achieved in the past, they only fixated on the negative.
It took a momentous content shift for people to finally take notice and even then it wasn't enough for some.
(See 15:30)
4. Kind & Humble Personality
As a person, Dawson is probably one of the most tolerant and kindest youtubers around.
His genuine humility and modesty comes out in every video he's in, and it's clear that he's not just doing it for the money. He has helped people in the past, he's shown consideration towards those who have suffered, and he experiences real guilt whenever someone's hurting.
His fan base is always quick to point out how caring and kind he is towards others even when he's being criticized. During the disastrous events at TanaCon, he offered to refund everyone who endured the pain of it despite not being involved (guest appearance only).
He has done multiple docuseries where he's tried to help fellow creators get back on top, and he has humanized people who were viewed as inhuman or cartoon characters to the public.
There's no question his personality is the reason why his videos are so successful, and it's what keeps people from moving on to someone else.
5. Survived Multiple Controversies
Being edgy a decade ago is coming back to haunt people, and Shane knows that better than most.
He's endured scandals in the past, and his most famous one was when he tried to imitate talk show host Wendy Williams for a video. Unfortunately his way of imitating an African American host was incredibly offensive and drew vast criticism from YouTube and the media.
For a long time, other creators and media groups saw Shane as problematic and even racist for his tone-deaf portrayal. It's arguably the reason why YouTube frequently demonetized his content and excluded him from their trending page despite having billions of views.
Shane's had more recent scandals including a 6+ year old re-upload of a not so candid monologue about children on his podcast.
A channel uploaded an audio clip of Shane talking about a young person in a humorous yet negative light which drew glances throughout the community. Shane has since made an apology video and vehemently denied the rumors, which were proven to be slanderous and taken out of context.
Finally, Shane drew criticism on his "Jake Paul" series for turning mental illnesses like anti-social personality disorder into entertaining fodder. In part 2 of that series, he made it seem like sociopaths were mostly violent and similar to psychopaths. He also used horror-like music to undermine the disorders.
Shane did apologize for the mishaps and even re-edited his series to address people's concerns over the subject matter.
Very few youtubers would take the time to listen to people and try to fix things, and Shane has shown he can tackle any controversy with dignity and respect.
6. Inspired YouTube Creators
Today's wave of young, powerful youtubers like Tana Mongeau, Ricky Dillon, and James Charles were in some ways directly inspired by Shane Dawson to create their own content and thrive on the platform.
Because Shane is one of the longest lasting youtubers, he's not only built a legacy for himself but for others creators. There's no question that his current success will continue to impact others for years to come, and it will only legitimize YouTube further.
Shane has been passed over by mainstream media, but he's managed to ignite a new wave of creation that people don't even realize exists. I bet a lot of people reading this don't even know who Shane Dawson is or why he's such an important digital figure.
The divide between the old and younger generations is so vast that people would be shocked to discover his last few docuseries have garnered more views per episode than the most successful shows on Cable or Netflix.
You may not know who he is or care, but a lot of people do, and they understand why it's a big deal.
7. Inspired Young Viewers
A lot of young people today want to become youtubers, and I guarantee Shane will be one of the main reasons why.
YouTube is a young person's platform (created in 2005), and many viewers today grew up with it. Shane has also been around for 10+ years, and he's one of the biggest pioneers of YouTube today.
We've already seen some of his former viewers achieve their own fame, and we'll see plenty more do so in the future. I can imagine kids today watching his series becoming inspired, and they may one day create their own revolutionary content.
The next wave of youtubers will be much smarter, craftier, and more equipped to handle the ups and downs of YouTube. They'll be business people, creatives, and entrepreneurs, and they'll have Shane to thank for paving that path over a decade ago.
8. He's a Talented Editor
Shane and his editor Andrew make a fantastic editing team, and it's the main reason why Shane's content is so fun to watch.
We forget how important editors are to any platform whether it be a movie, TV show, Netflix special, or a YouTube series, and it often takes a surprise docuseries to remind us why.
Shane Dawson's "Mind of Jake Paul" docuseries doesn't just use jump cuts and quick edits to move the series along; it contains the whole arsenal.
There's well placed background music, contextual clips that match what's being said or filmed, flashback sequences, and stylized camera work that keeps viewers engaged.
One of my favorite edited sequences was at the end of Part 5 ("Jake Paul" series) because it serves as a excellent teaser as well as a standalone piece.
9. He's a Genuine Comedian
Shane Dawson would have been a comedian if YouTube didn't exist because he's genuinely very funny and entertaining.
You don't get 10-20 millions of views per video if you can't keep your audience engaged, and Shane has had years to perfect his craft.
Obviously not everyone will find him funny, but I don't think they'll be bored of him. Dawson can also switch it on whenever he's on camera, and it's clearly carried over from his older videos where he primarily did character work.
His humor isn't as edgy as it once was, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining. Personally I think he's the male version of Kathy Griffin with the self-deprecating humor, lightning fast commentary, and varied facial reactions.
His unique style blends in perfectly with his content, and he can make a 50 minute video feel like 5.
10. Rode the YouTube Wave
He started with comedy shorts, then music videos, drama-parody skits, YouTube collaborations, trendy content (slime, food tasting), and finally reality docuseries.
He's ridden nearly ever wave of YouTube and has created his own in the process. The ride hasn't always been smooth, but he managed to get through it and is now riding the biggest wave yet.
For most high-end youtubers, the average length of relevancy is 3-4 years. You start off small, then slowly rise, hit a peak, and slowly decline. That's how the curve works for most creators, but Shane has shattered the mold and even created his own YouTube curve.
As mentioned, there are very few youtubers who are as successful now than when they peaked. Even the most subscribed individual youtuber, PewDiePie, is no longer as relevant as he was 2+ years ago.
Shane Dawson isn't the biggest youtuber and he was never number one, but that doesn't matter. He's done something no other digital star has with content that transcends the platform. Shane was always the trendsetter that YouTube ignored, but at last he's shattered the barrier.
Creators are now realizing that Shane Dawson was always the king of YouTube, and he finally has his crown.
Why do people love YouTube creators?
Style of videos
Personality/character
They're always evolving their content
Ability to connect
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FlourishAnyway
15 months ago from USA
He’s managed to innovate and successfully market himself in a way others could only dream of. My daughter goes to school with who she swears is a prominent YouTuber but I’ve never heard of him. He’s using college as a backup or supplement to his YouTube ambitions.
Liz Westwood
15 months ago from UK
I learned a lot from this article. I would be happy with a fraction of his followers reading my hubs!
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Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, Whistleblower, NBA Finals, Beat Shazam, American Ninja Warrior
Photo: © 2019 Masters of Illusion, LLC. All rights reserved.
Friday, June 7, 2019 ratings — New episodes: Masters of Illusion, The Big Stage, Whistleblower, and Dateline NBC. Specials: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night. Sports: NBA Countdown and 2019 NBA Finals: Game 4. Reruns: American Ninja Warrior, MasterChef, Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, and Beat Shazam.
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These are the fast affiliate ratings. The percentages represent the change since the previous original episode. (Percentages aren’t given for reruns or specials.) To see past ratings for a particular show, click the show’s link. The show pages are updated with the daily final ratings when they become available. Those pages include season averages to date.
What were you watching last night? Original network programming, reruns, cable, or something else?
More about: Dateline: ratings, Masters of Illusion: ratings, The Big Stage: ratings, Whistleblower: ratings
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Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, Agents of SHIELD, Dateline, Love Island, MasterChef
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, Agents of SHIELD, Whistleblower, Dateline, MasterChef
Friday TV Ratings: Agents of SHIELD, Whistleblower, Masters of Illusion, American Ninja Warrior, Beat Shazam
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Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, TKO: Total Knock Out, 20/20, The Orville, I Feel Bad
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, TKO: Total Knock Out, 20/20, American Ninja Warrior, The Resident
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do, American Ninja Warrior, TKO: Total Knock Out, The Orville
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do, American Ninja Warrior, Whistleblower, The Resident
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do, Whistleblower, American Ninja Warrior, The Orville
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do?, MasterChef, MacGyver, Dateline NBC
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, 20/20, MasterChef, Blue Bloods, Dateline NBC
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do, Hawaii Five-0, MasterChef, Dateline NBC
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do, MasterChef, Dateline NBC, Blue Bloods
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do, MasterChef, Dateline NBC, WE Day
Friday TV Ratings: Masters of Illusion, What Would You Do, MasterChef, Hawaii Five-0, Dateline NBC
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‘The Sinner’ Episode 3 Recap: Mason Takes Control
The Sinner Episode 3 Recap: Mason Takes Control
Derek Vigeant
in TV Recaps, Reviews
We open The Sinner Part 3 with Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel) getting her psyche evaluation from several different therapists as they ask her very annoying mental questions that would seem more to drive someone to insanity than prove they are not. But the results come in and she passed, meaning the doctors conclude that she is fit to stand trial. But Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) still has many questions, such as why does the song she hears from Frankie Belmont's band always trigger her into a frantic rage? The doctor he's speaking with concludes it must be a form of PTSD from a traumatic event that happened to her and the song makes her relive the memory.
Continuing his investigation in Part 3, Ambrose goes to see Cora's parents, Elizabeth (Enid Graham) and William (CJ Wilson) at their home where we see that her mom is very ill as she is hooked up to an air tank to help her breathe and has sores on her hands. We learn that Cora ran away at the age of 23 on that famous July 4th weekend in 2012. We just keep coming back to that date like it needs a whole episode by itself! Her sister Phoebe was very sick at the time with lymphoma and Cora still ran away on the girl's birthday. Phoebe would die a month later and according to her parents, Cora was dead to them the moment she ran away.
In the continued style of this show, we get our first random memory flashback to two people engaging in sex and then the image of a blonde woman whispering in a man's ear, "Give her another hit, it'll loosen her up." After that, a foot steps on a woman's chest and appears to crush her bones from the pressure. Boom! Cora wakes up in her cell and starts yelling as she jumps from her bed. The guards have to rush in to sedate her and as they are about to stick a needle in her we get the first look at a large scar on the inside of her arm. So what's this story about?
RELATED: The Sinner Episode 5 Recap: Whose Body Is It Anyway?
The next day when Ambrose goes to see her he first apologizes for their last meeting telling her he overstepped and then he asks to see her arms noticing the identical scars in the same place. He guesses heroin use and she confirms saying it started five years ago. Ambrose asks her if it was after she ran away letting her know he spoke to her parents. She tells him not to listen to them and explains how she went to Dorchester and Kingston hooking up with random guys just to get her drug fix. She asks him not to tell her family since she lied to Mason (Christopher Abbott) about how she got the scars and doesn't want her son to know about this. Ambrose tells her he can't do that since its part of the investigation. And with that, she gives him the stare of cold death and says "I hate you." Well, they're getting along just splendidly.
Later Ambrose gets a call from the prison telling him that Cora had a visit from her aunt Margaret (Rebecca Wisocky) so he uses this a reason to visit her next. She tells him how Cora lived with her for a short time after she turned up at a detox center in Poughkeepsie two months after running away on, you guessed it, July 2012. Cora's mother would not take her back after leaving and turning up with those scars on her arms calling her "a whore" and "a degenerate." Margaret tried to take care of her as best as she could but did not know how to deal with the nightmares that would have Cora wake up in the middle of the night and was afraid to ask about the scar she now had on her forehead. She felt like she failed her niece when she should've done more.
Back at the prison Mason shows up to visit Cora but does not bring their son Laine to see her because Ambrose has told him about her lying to him about the drug habit. He asks her if JD was the one who got her hooked on the drugs but she just stays quiet and does not answer. Mason clearly frustrated by the lack of answers from his wife tells her he did not bring their child because by pleading guilty and giving up she's not even thinking about how going away for murder will affect their son. How down the road this will have terrible consequences on him. Abbot does a fine job of brimming with resentment with his words but showing the pain of a hurt husband on his face.
In our next flashback memory we are in Cora (now almost a teenager) and Phoebe's bedroom and her little sister asks if she ever saw their Dad naked admitting she did once but "never saw his thing." What the hell is with this little girl's mindset? I think it's more than the lymphoma messing with her head! She pulls out a fashion magazine from underneath her mattress that she said she took from the hospital. She giggles when she talks about the articles about "anal foreplay" that are in it and asks Cora to read to her. That's some weird bedtime stories going on in that house.
Eventually, their mother would discover the magazine and ask where they got it from. Cora caves under pressure and confesses to reading the articles to Phoebe about "orgasms in the vagina." Sounds like the name of the new stand-up album from Amy Schumer. As punishment her mother makes her kneel down in a pile of rice kernels and pray to a crucifix of Jesus for forgiveness. I don't know where this is all going but it's very obvious how this girl got screwed up in the head. That evening Phoebe would ask Cora why she didn't try to lie to get out of the situation and she explained if she had lied that God would punish her by making Phoebe sicker. Her sister told her that it doesn't matter because God doesn't listen, citing a girl in the hospital that prayed all the time and still died.
Back in the present, it is the day of Cora's hearing to enter a plea now that she has been deemed competent. The judge asks her how she wants to plea and while she searches inside herself to think of a reason to not say it she looks into the audience inside the courtroom and notices her parents there, staring in disappointment back at her. After that, she simply looks back at the judge and announces "guilty."
After moving back in with his wife we thought Ambrose was finally past whatever sexual demons were inside him but after a brief encounter with his Domina-tress Sharon (Meredith Holzman) at the supermarket, he winds up back at her place again to get his kink back on. While he is canoodling with her post act he tells her "you really got me" which is strangely puzzling since he even just had sex with his real wife for the first time in ages. There's no way he's going to be able to keep this double life up without eventually getting caught.
While his wife is going to jail Mason still is continuing his side of the investigation by tracking down the infamous "JD" who he finds at a local bar. As he confronts him he asks how he knows Cora Lacey and JD plays coy and says he doesn't know what he's talking about. When Mason reveals that Cora is his wife, she told him things, and wants to know what he did to her JD just sits back and calls his bluff asking what she said about him. When he has nothing to say JD laughs and tells him the ever famous line of "You have no idea," which sets Mason off as he tries to fight him and throws him to the ground and JD smartly says back "she still like three guys on her at once?" Of course, the cops get called and both men are hauled off for let's hope some interesting questioning.
Back to the actual detective Ambrose goes to the detox center that Cora had been checked into those years back and asks about her stay there. The attendant that remembers her talked about how strange her case was compared to others because not only did she get clean very quick and easy in two weeks but, instead of coming in like a poor, derelict junkie from the streets she came in wearing new sweats and all cleaned up like a normal person. Ambrose is given the name Caleb Walker who is the man who found and admitted her so there our detective goes off again. After listening to Walker's story of finding Cora it gets a little more peculiar as he says he just found her there, laying on the street one day by his house.
Returning to the prison Ambrose sits down with Cora and in what can only be his veteran detective mind at work gives her a makeshift "heroin starter kit" and asks her to show him how it's done. She tells him she doesn't need to show him because the scars on her arms are her proof. But he still wants to see her show him right now. After she stares blankly at the instruments in front of her and tries to solve the puzzle of making the drug he calls her out and asks her "You really don't know, do you?" She quietly nods in agreement and he tells her that addicts develop the scars in their feet and hands BEFORE their arms.
He replays for her the events of running away and ending up lying on the street two months later but not knowing how she got there. He asks her what she remembers and she answers "fragments." He reaches out to her and tells her that the only story she knows is because her mother told her she did drugs and slept with men for her fix and she's been blaming herself ever since without really knowing the truth. "So what really happened to me?" she asks.
Cue to that damn weird wallpaper we've been seeing during her flashbacks and images of her just staring off in a room looking back at it. But then the wallpaper moves as we're surveying the room that it covers from Cora's perspective and there is a creak from the sound of the door opening. A man comes in wearing green scrubs and a mask made of brown wool, sort of resembling a deer or a type of animal. He asks "How are you feeling today, Cora?" The screen goes black and I might sound like a wuss but I definitely got a chill. I have now fallen down the rabbit hole in my commitment to this show. Can't wait to see it play out as USA continues this enthralling series. Does anyone else think the voice sounded like Mason?!
Topics: The Sinner
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TVweb.
The Sinner Season 1 Finale Recap and Review
The Sinner Episode 7 Recap: Cora Finally Remembers
The Sinner Episode 6 Recap: Another One Bites the Dust
The Sinner Episode 5 Recap: Whose Body Is It Anyway?
The Sinner Episode 4 Recap: Maddie, Is That You?
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PlayStation 5 Confirmed for Holiday 2020 Release
Created by: Shawn Zipay
Published: 10-08-2019, 01:52 PM
Sony dishes more details about their next-gen console and controller.
The announcement of the next-gen consoles has been really, really weird. Sony first announced the PlayStation 5 via a Wired interview with Mark Cerny. Since then, there really hasn't been much revealed about the new console. In fact, it wasn't even known until today that the next console was actually going to be called the "PlayStation 5."
Today, a new PlayStation Blog entry was released alongside yet another exclusive Wired article that provides some additional details on the upcoming console from Sony. Yes, it's actually going to be called the PlayStation 5. It is currently slated to be released at some point during the Holiday 2020 season, so probably somewhere between late September 2020 and December 2020.
Cerny's blog post specifically talks about the updated controller that will ship with the PlayStation 5. He says that they are adopting haptic feedback to replace the generic rumble technology that has been used for years. Those who have kept vibration support enabled on their newest smartphones, may have some idea as to how this feels. It's a more tactile feeling in your fingers rather than one big shake felt by your whole hand. Those with Steam Controllers are also probably familiar with this sensation and how it differs from pure rumble feedback.
With haptics, you truly feel a broader range of feedback, so crashing into a wall in a race car feels much different than making a tackle on the football field. You can even get a sense for a variety of textures when running through fields of grass or plodding through mud.
Now, the Xbox One controllers have a form of haptic feedback included in the triggers. It's a sensation felt in games like Forza when you can feel the car shudder as you pull hard on the break. Cerny says that in addition to the haptics for the DualShock 5(?), they will also include "adaptive triggers" for the L2 and R2 buttons. From what he describes here, this is very similar to what we've already seen in the Xbox One controllers.
Developers can program the resistance of the triggers so that you feel the tactile sensation of drawing a bow and arrow or accelerating an off-road vehicle through rocky terrain. In combination with the haptics, this can produce a powerful experience that better simulates various actions.
Moving on to the Wired piece about the PlayStation 5 hardware, here is a general summary of what they shared.
PlayStation 5 supports ray-tracing on a hardware level.
Physical games will make use of 100GB optical discs.
The optical drive doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player.
Game installs are mandatory.
Installations and removals are more configurable.
Example: Can now opt to install a game's multiplayer without having to install single-player.
User interface is "completely revamped."
Will allow you to see multiplayer servers and join instantly.
Will allow you to see things like a current single-player mission to start immediately.
PS5 controller will look like the DualShock 4 but has a tiny hole in it that will be talked about at a later time.
Additional details on the new controller can be read about above.
Examples shared by Wired can be seen below.
New controller will have a USB Type-C connector for charging
Will have a larger capacity battery than the DualShock 4
PS5 dev kits have been out for a little while.
Controller prototypes have just started to go out recently.
Bluepoint Games is working on a PlayStation 5 game right now.
Bluepoint is known for remaking and remastering a number of older PlayStation titles
"We're working on a big one right now," says Bluepoing president Marco Thrush. "I'll let you figure out the rest."
And finally, Wired shared some first-hand impressions from trying out the new PlayStation 5 controller prototype.
Astro Bot: Rescue Mission - “I ran a character through a platform level featuring a number of different surfaces, all of which gave distinct—and surprisingly immersive—tactile experiences. Sand felt slow and sloggy; mud felt slow and soggy. On ice, a high-frequency response made the thumb sticks really feel like my character was gliding. Jumping into a pool, I got a sense of the resistance of the water; on a wooden bridge, a bouncy sensation.”
Gran Turismo Sport - “Driving on the border between the track and the dirt, I could feel both surfaces. Doing the same thing on the same track using a DualShock 4 on a PS4, that sensation disappeared entirely. It wasn’t that the old style rumble feedback paled in comparison, it was that there was no feedback at all. User tests found that rumble feedback was too tiring to use continuously, so the released version of Gran Turismo Sport simply didn’t use it.”
Tags: dualshock 5, mark cerny, next-gen, playstation 5, ps5, sony, wired
cikame commented
Interested to see what they do with the controller, the worst part about PS4 controllers for me was the spongey R2 and L2, and the horrifically placed start and select buttons (don't care what they're called now), while haptic feedback is probably neat, i turn off vibration so that's an added cost.
I also don't need a built in battery, i leave my controllers plugged in, which actually makes me nervous about the stability of the battery.
It's at this point i start to worry about our ray tracing future, the single most resource intensive graphical effect, possibly ensuring non of your PS5 games will run at 60fps, increasing workload on artists especially when it comes to ports, and potential problems with optimizations when implementing ray tracing across platforms.
As i've said before, very interested to see the Bluepoint game, was expecting to see it at E3 this year, and half hoping it was just going to be an MGS4 remaster but that's unlikely.
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Home > Archive 〉 2008 〉 March 〉 Editorial
50 Ways to Get Kids Hooked on the Outdoors
Feel the wind on your face, plant a garden, jump in a pile of leaves - just get outside!
By Dyanne Fry Cortez, Wendee Holtcamp and Bernadette Noll
Kids don't develop a relationship with nature by watching it on the Discovery Channel. They need to feel the wind, smell leaves and wildflowers, run their fingers over rocks and make personal contact with other living things. Pristine wilderness is not required: Ask any of today's dedicated outdoorsmen, and you may find that his favorite childhood memory involves a backyard tree house or fishing in an irrigation canal. Encourage children to get outside wherever they can, as often as possible, and start building their own memories. Here are 50 ideas to help kids reconnect with the outdoors. – Dyanne Fry Cortez
Build a sand castle
You need fine, wet sand for building. Ingredients are available most places on the Texas coast. Sand sculpting can be a family project, with tasks appropriate to every age level. Bring shovels for digging and buckets for mixing sand and water. Paint scrapers and plastic forks and knives make good carving tools. – DFC
Walk in the rain
Everyone should try this at least once. Smell the fresh scent of rain-washed air. Listen to drops falling on grass and tree canopies. Watch them gather into streams; have stick boat races. Jump in a puddle! Wear boots, carry an umbrella or just decide to get wet. (This works best in a gentle, steady rain. If you hear thunder, get inside or under cover.) – DFC
Make mud pies
Messy and creative, mud pie preparation can happen anywhere and requires little supervision. Spoons, sticks, cookie cutters and aluminum pie plates make useful tools. Seeds, pebbles, leaves and bits of fallen fruit add interest. As they work, kids learn about the texture, absorption and drying characteristics of different soils. – DFC
Jump in a pile of leaves
Rake fallen leaves into a neat pile and kids will dive in, delighting in the earthy smell and the squishy, crunchy feel of leaves giving way under them. They'll get leaf bits in their hair and clothes. They'll scatter leaves across the lawn, and someone will have to rake them up again. But who cares? – DFC
Look for shapes in clouds
They may be just blobs of water vapor in the sky, but with a little imagination, a cloud can become an animal, a spaceship or a favorite cartoon character. Cloud gazing is free and fun for all ages. Chances are that everyone will see something different, but arguing about it is half the fun. – DFC
Just opening a window allows a little of the outdoors to come inside. You'll be more aware of the wind, its speed and direction. You'll smell what's blooming in your neighbor's yard. You may hear birds singing, crickets chirping, small animals moving through the grass and the call of a screech owl after dark. – DFC
Watch fireflies
"Lightning bugs" winking on and off in the soft air of a summer night have fascinated kids for generations. Catch a few in a jar and you'll see that each bug is really a small beetle. Be sure to poke air holes in the jar lid, and let the fireflies go when you're done. – DFC
Go barefoot
Walking barefoot puts a person in touch with nature. Try green lawns and interesting rock surfaces, or let sand or mud squish between the toes! You have to pay attention: after all, Texas is dotted with burrs and thorns. There are places where barefooting won't work, but plenty of places where it will. For small children, going shoeless is recommended for healthy foot development. (See "My Barefoot Years.") – DFC
Explore a mini-landscape
Using a hula hoop or length of rope, mark off a circle on the ground – or try making two circles, one in a sunny area and one in shade. Challenge kids to list or describe each type of plant and animal found within the circle. Pencil, paper and a magnifying glass will come in handy. – DFC
Harvest fruit or nuts
Mustang grapes, dewberries, cactus tunas and other edible fruits grow wild in Texas. Pick them by the roadside or on private land with the owner's permission. Gather pecans on a riverbank, or visit a pick-your-own peach or apple orchard. Involve the whole family in making jelly, pie or ice cream topping. (Note: Children should never pick and eat anything without adult supervision. Some wild things are poisonous.) – DFC
Have a picnic
Pack a lunch. Let the kids help. It needn't be anything fancy: sandwiches, fruit, a bag of chips or carrot sticks, a jug of lemonade or a small ice chest with canned drinks. Eat at your neighborhood park, the nearest state park or a roadside picnic table. If ants or wasps threaten, "bait" them with a slice of apple at a safe distance. – DFC
Play old-fashioned games
Grandparents knew how to have fun without a lot of fancy equipment. Teach kids to pitch washers or horseshoes. Organize a sack race or a tug-of-war. Tag, hide-and-seek, Red Rover, jump rope, I Spy, marbles or jacks: these games date back hundreds of years, and once they've learned the basics, kids will invent their own variations. Their imaginations will run wild outdoors. – DFC
Kids are drawn to water like bumblebees to partridge peas. Everyone should learn to swim and become familiar with basic lifesaving techniques. Besides, a dip in a lake, river or neighborhood pool is great exercise and a fun way to cool off on a sizzling summer day. – DFC
Try a cane pole or a rod with a spincast reel. Corn, worms or pieces of hot dog make good bait. There's nothing like the feel of a fish on the line. With luck, kids may catch something they can cook and eat. You can fish without a license in Texas state parks, and some have tackle loaner programs for beginning anglers. – DFC
It's sheer joy to be out on a windy spring day holding the string of a soaring kite. Inexpensive store-bought kites give plenty of thrills, but it's even more fun to make your own. Use paper plates, paper sacks, gift wrapping, drinking straws and string. How many aeronautical engineers began by flying kites when they were kids? – DFC
Find art in nature
The outdoor world offers endless possibilities, from sketching what you see to using natural materials in creative projects. Try making leaf prints or taking rubbings of rock or different tree barks. Weave flower wreaths to wear in your hair or squish flowers onto paper to see what color dye they'll make. Make a plant press with old newspaper and dry wildflowers for special note cards. Mix paints with water from a puddle or stream. – DFC
Have a campfire
Dancing flames at the edge of a dark night, scary stories, group singalongs, roasting marshmallows and s'mores, and the warmth of companionship: the campfire is an ancient tradition and still a great way to create lasting memories. Practice good safety habits, and be sure to build fires only in designated areas. – DFC
Spending a whole night outdoors – or a weekend – will eventually get children's minds off their video games. Texas has hundreds of campgrounds: primitive, civilized and everything in between. If your family has little camping experience, start with small steps. Pitch a tent in the backyard. When kids make it through the night, they'll gain a sense of independence. – DFC
Build a dam
Humans seem to inherently love dam building, and creek beds and rivers are full of ample dam building materials such as rocks, logs, sticks and mud. Pile the rocks high in a pyramid structure or lay them out flat in a row. Pack in the mud and sticks all around. What does the structure do to the water's flow? Where does the water go when its natural course is changed? Make a small pool and see what gathers in it. – BN
Attend an outdoor performance
Mix culture with nature by taking kids to a concert in the park or a summer theater production. Outdoor shows have their perks. You can pack your own drinks and snacks. If kids get bored with what's onstage, they can look at the sky or search for bugs in the grass. – DFC
Relax in a hammock
If it's a couch-potato kind of day, encourage kids to relax outdoors. A hammock on the porch, or in a shady area of the yard, is a great place to relax, read a book or watch birds and insects go about their business. Some hammocks are roomy enough for two kids and a family pet. – DFC
Dig a hole to China
Whether at the beach or in your own backyard, get out the shovels and see how deep you can dig. Small metal spades are perfect for kids, and having their own tools makes it especially enticing. In our yard, we have discovered many hidden treasures such as old medicine bottles and even an old metal toy. Examine the different layers of growth, soil and animal life. How low can you go? – BN
Litter scavenger hunt
Next time you're in a public park, make litter pickup into a game. Make a list of some commonly found trash items: bottle cap, plastic bottle, chip bag, plastic grocery bag, etc. Give each kid a bag, a glove and a list. You can mix up the lists so everyone isn't competing for the same items. Set a timer and see how many items on the list each one can find in the time allotted. – BN
In a field or in the woods, take a walk with your kids. Discuss the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. Pause every few minutes and ask the kids what they sense in that spot. Are there birds singing? A flower blooming? What colors and textures are all around? Try it blindfolded or with earplugs. What senses work overtime when others are ineffective? – BN
Use your inside games
Common table games are somehow more fun outside. Tic-tac-toe can be scratched in the dirt and is way more enticing than on paper. Hangman, too. Sketch a checker board on the sidewalk and fabricate markers out of stones and acorns. Or just spread a blanket on the grass for Monopoly or Candyland played in a whole new and naturally lit venue. – BN
Make a boat
A pond, creek or slow-moving river is the perfect spot for setting sail a small boat. Whether you make it ahead of time out of wood or a milk carton or create it on the spot, the fun is in the process. Find a piece of bark, set a twig post in it and weave on a large leaf for a sail. Have races, try to sink it with pebbles, or simply let the boat (if made of natural materials) float on downstream. – BN
Plant a little garden
A garden need not be an overwhelming endeavor of time or space. A small garden made in moveable pots can be lots of fun and easily maintained by even the busiest of families. Or build a square-foot garden from simple plant boxes from scrap lumber. Give each person his/her own box. Have each person plant something for a salad and come together at harvest time for the ultimate family dinner. – BN
Go orienteering or geocaching
Orienteering is a competitive form of land navigation. It is for all ages and skill levels and can feel like a suspense-filled treasure hunt. The object of orienteering is to locate control points by using a map and a compass to navigate through the woods. Geocaching uses global positioning system (GPS) coordinates to locate hidden objects in a treasure hunt. You can set up your own orienteering course or geocache on any nature trail or in any woods near you. Get your brood started in this action-packed and fun sport by searching out tips online. – BN
Cook outside
A meal prepared on an open fire is way more fun, and you don't have to wait for a camping trip to do it. Make a small wood fire in a fire pit or grill. Corn on the cob, in the husk and placed in the coals for 10 minutes, is delicious. Or stick a potato directly in the coals. Mix up some ground beef, water, chopped potatoes, onions and seasoning. Double wrap it in foil and stick it in the coals – seam side up. Make your own recipes or find oodles of ideas online. – BN
Use a pocketknife
Kids are thrilled when they see a pocketknife with all its blades and gadgets. When to give a kid his own can only be determined by a responsible adult. The lesson should include using the knife as a tool, not a weapon. Also, children should be told where and when they are permitted to carry such a tool. The thrill of a first knife is an honorable gift, and one which should not be taken lightly – bestowing the proper amount of respect for the blade is crucial and a lifelong gift. – BN
Recently we found several dozen plastic pots in a neighbor's trash, and my son dragged them home for target practice. He stacked them into a pyramid and knocked them down with a rock or a ball or a good, swift kick. A target can be painted, stacked or drawn on just about any available surface; the weapon of choice can be as varied. Find a small archery set in a local sports or secondhand store. Make a slingshot from a stick and surgical tubing. Remember, though, that with the weapon must also come instructions for wielding it safely. – BN
Bike course
The joy of bike riding is ageless. Plan a day's bike outing in the neighborhood or on a hike-and-bike trail nearby. Go to an empty lot or field and make a family bike obstacle course using sticks and rocks as markers. Time each other. Make bike relay teams. Feel the wind in your face and enjoy the sights and sounds that are not heard when riding in a car. – BN
Not so very long ago, a sidewalk or alley served as a playground for kids of all ages. Bring that feeling back for your kids by getting out the jump rope, pogo stick, skateboard or roller skates. Tie the rope to a fence and turn it for them chanting whatever jumping jingles you can remember. Have pogo stick contests seeing who can stay on the longest. Try some skateboard tricks or just go around the block on skates. Show them the simple fun that is in their own front yard. – BN
Make a whistle from a blade of grass
This little trick never ceases to first surprise and then engage a group of kids. Find a blade of grass that is somewhat wide and flat. Position the blade flat between your two upward pointed thumbs. Through the small hole that is made just below the top knuckle, blow to vibrate the blade of grass. It takes practice but when you get it, wow, it can be a loud and crazy sound. Lying in the grass on your back is the best position for this endeavor. – BN
Build a fort or treehouse
Though building a treehouse requires a big tree and a small amount of building materials and skills, building a fort can be done anywhere by anyone. If you've got the space and tools, go for the treehouse. If not, build a fort on the ground, in a bush or even in a pile of brush. Find a desolate part of the yard and start constructing with twigs, rocks, branches or bamboo. Arrange them as you wish – weaving and stacking as you see fit. If you have a big fluffy bush, simply clear out a hole in the center where kids can hide away for hours. – BN
Wade in a running stream
Wiggle your toes in a cool running stream. Walk out a bit, wading to your calves, letting the water flow past. Make sure the water is not too deep or swift and that everyone wears a life jacket. In clear spring-fed springs, look for fish, crawfish and tadpoles in the water. Pick up rocks and look for caddisfly and mayfly larvae or other critters. – WH
Get an early start on birdwatching
A lifetime love of birdwatching can start as a child. Set up a birdfeeder with various types of seed, suet or sugar water for hummingbirds. Keep a record of what birds visit during different seasons. Take your child out with a pair of binoculars in the fall or spring to watch the great variety of migrating hawks, songbirds and shorebirds. – WH
Kids love to collect things. Rocks and shells are always favorites. Gather various colors, shapes and sizes, and then use a field guide to identify them. Egg cartons work well for storing small rocks and shells. Preserve flowers with an inexpensive plant press – or make one. Make sure not to collect rocks, shells or plants from state parks, where rules prohibit collection so that future generations can enjoy these special places intact. – WH
Nature treasure hunt
Scavenger hunts can make fantastic birthday party games. For young kids, create a list of items with a "key," such as a photocopy of leaf shapes for kids to find or items starting with letters of the alphabet. For older kids, hunts can get trickier and more creative. Have teams look for unusual natural items, such as an amphibian or reptile, a fungus, something a bird could eat, different-sized rocks or seeds, or something red. Kids can use digital or cell phone cameras to document their finds. – WH
Attract butterflies to your garden with nectar-producing flowers like eupatorium, lantana, butterfly weed, sage, Mexican mint marigold, black-eyed Susans or purple coneflower. Most butterflies visit between spring and fall, but migrating species will need flowering plants even through November. Monarchs lay their eggs only on butterfly weed (aka milkweed), but adults will sip nectar from other flowers. Learn to identify species with a field guide. – WH
For a young child's first hike, take them somewhere with exceptional scenic beauty, wildlife or diversions such as interesting rocks and flowers, a boardwalk or a pond. Keep it short, or bring a sack lunch and give kids several breaks to let them explore their surroundings. For older kids, try a longer trek, exploring one of Texas' 100-plus state parks or our three national parks or preserves. – WH
Captivate your senses on a moonless night by staring at the vastness of the sky in all its starlit beauty. Head to a grassy knoll with a blanket, a star chart and a laser pointer to identify constellations. Better yet, head outside during one of the year's meteor showers to witness dozens of shooting stars. The Perseid shower peaks August 12 every year, and other showers occur throughout the year. Visibility depends on the phase of the moon, among other factors. – WH
Engine-free travel
Try a more close-to-the-earth mode of transportation. Ride horseback through a wooded trail, tube or raft down the Comal or Guadalupe River, canoe or kayak down a lazy stream, or take your kids sailing on one of Texas' gorgeous bays. Point out to kids their beginning and ending points on a map so they get a sense of where they're headed, and how far they will go. Map reading is a great life skill! – WH
Learn how to hunt and fish!
Many places throughout Texas offer hunting camps or fishing classes for kids. Learn fishing basics as a family at a state park Family Fishing event. (See the online calendar of events at TPWD website (www.tpwd.state.tx.us), or check with your local scouts or 4H chapter.) Anyone under 17 can fish for free in Texas, with no need to buy a license. TPWD offers basic and advanced junior angler classes for basic casting and fly-fishing. The Texas Wildlife Association and TPWD also offer a Texas Youth Hunting Program for kids ages 9 through 17. – WH
Climb a tree
Trees seem to have an almost magnetic force that draws kids into their branches. Find some good old, gnarled multi-branched oaks with sturdy limbs and climb up and around. Hang upside-down from a sideways-growing limb. Wedged in the crook of sturdy tree limbs, kids can read a book or watch the sun go down. – WH
What better way to raise and inspire socially and environmentally conscious future citizens than to volunteer alongside them in an effort that helps improve your community? Help with a roadside or beach cleanup, plant trees, revegetate a marsh, work in a community garden, or volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center or local park. – WH
Parents can keep kids entertained for hours by creating nature-inspired contests. Who can find the weirdest insect? Who can locate the most plant varieties, or flowers? Have kids see who can gather the most sticks – great when you're trying to build a campfire! Have a field guide handy so kids can identify their finds. Or see if they can find something starting with every letter of the alphabet, or objects that resemble every letter of the alphabet. – WH
Skip stones
With a flick of the wrist, see how many times a flattened stone can skim the water's surface. The magic angle to toss a stone for optimal skipping? According to a team of French physicists, 20 degrees. Greater than 45 degrees, and it will sink. The best size and shape? Rounded, flattened and three to four inches across. The longstanding Guinness Book of World Records title for stone skips was on Central Texas' Blanco River – a respectable 38 skips. But that was surpassed in 2002 by 40 skips, and just in October 2007 by a whopping 51. – WH
Choosing and carving your own personal walking stick can be a rewarding experience. Kids love to use their own creations for a utilitarian purpose! For hiking, select a stick that reaches shoulder length. The stick need not stand straight; some prefer the look of a twist. Heavier sticks become more difficult to carry on long hikes, but sticks should be sturdy enough to lean on. Saw knots and branches off the main limb, then sand with 100-grit sandpaper until smooth. Repeat with 200-grit, then again with 400-grit for a super-soft finish. – WH
Go digital
Today's kids love technology, whether games, the Internet or video-recording technology. Combine 21st-century kids' insatiable appetite for all things electronic with the outdoors by challenging them to come up with a creative or humorous outdoor video using a camcorder or even a cell phone video camera. Let them try to create something for YouTube or their MySpace page. – WH
Richard Louv's Book Raises Tough Questions
I may have been the last child in the woods.
Growing up in the hills of central Texas, my summers were filled with riotous games with neighborhood kids, cavorting through the oak- and cedar-studded forest. On days when no one was around, I would curl up under a shade tree with a book, reveling in the chaotic peace of fresh breezes and chattering wildlife. Even now, I find comfort and calm in the woods, maybe from a lingering nostalgia. Perhaps there's just something inherently therapeutic about immersing yourself in nature.
The contrast between my youth and my younger sister's is marked. Where I ran wild through the trees, she spent hours watching DVDs and playing computer games. She had the same access to nature that I did, but something subtle changed in the seven years that separate us.
In Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Richard Louv explores these differences. With a straightforward, engaging writing style, he explores possible reasons why children today are less connected to nature and the consequences of this disconnection.
Technology is a handy scapegoat for our disconnection from nature, but Louv explores less obvious reasons, too. He interviewed children and adults, and their experiences will hit close to home for many readers. Some kids say their parents are too worried about possible dangers to let them play in nature, while others mention favorite spots outside that have been overtaken by development. Louv also discusses the legal and safety concerns now associated with what used to be normal childhood pastimes – building a treehouse, for example.
What are the consequences of this disconnect? The rise of childhood obesity has long been a controversial topic, but what about mental and emotional health? One college student recounts her experiences after her father's death when she was nine, and the critical role that nature played in her grieving process: "When you are in [nature], it makes you realize that there are far larger things at work than yourself. ... Being in nature can be a way to escape without fully leaving the world."
Louv examines the problems of today's children (the rise of antidepressant use, for example), which he connects to their lack of experience in nature. His findings are at times startling and discouraging, but the book is not all doom and gloom. Many of the children Louv interviews retain a love of the outdoors that is encouraging, and he offers creative ideas on how to bring children and nature back together.
Louv's look at nature, and our connection to it throughout our lives, is profound and compelling. Last Child in the Woods is a worthwhile read for anyone, young or old, who has ever felt a connection (or wished that they had) to the natural world around them.
– Sarah Bond
Find More Ideas in Books and on Web Sites
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv, Algonquin Books, 2005. (A new edition due out in spring 2008 will include a user's guide for parents and grandparents.)
The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden, HarperCollins Publishers, 2007.
The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz, HarperCollins Publishers, 2007.
The American Boys Handy Book by Daniel Carter Beard, Dover Publications. (This book is over a hundred years old and is still going strong.)
The Field and Forest Handy Book by Daniel Carter Beard, Dover Publications.
The American Girls Handy Book by Lina Beard, The Derrydale Press.
Outdoor Kids: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/
Outdoor Family: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/bof/
Learn to Fish:
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/angler_education/learnfish.phtml
Children & Nature Network: www.cnaturenet.org
Green Hour, hosted by the National Wildlife Federation: www.greenhour.org
Texas Youth Hunting Program: www.tyhp.org
My Barefoot Years
When I was growing up in East Texas during the 1930s and '40s, going barefoot during the warm months was the norm. Many people still believe that this custom came about because of rural poverty during the Depression. 'Tain't so. I was an avid barefooter, and I can tell you that all the boys I knew went barefooted by choice, not because they did not have shoes.
You must remember that this was long before television, iPods and computer games, and southern boys spent most of their time outdoors, climbing trees, playing cow-pasture baseball, swimming or playing cowboys and Indians with homemade rubber guns. And going barefoot was not just a rural phenomenon. I was a town kid and all of the pre-teen boys I knew doffed their brogans in mid-April and did not put them back on until the first cold snap in late fall. This custom was almost universal in East Texas and most of the Deep South states.
Going barefooted was fun, but it did have its hazards. While wading in the creeks you had to watch out for snakes, crawfish and broken bottles. In the fields you avoided prickly pear cacti, stinging nettles and fresh cow patties. In town the biggest hazard was discarded (but still lit) cigarette butts.
My father, Cecil Murphy, and his brother Marvin were avid fishermen and made frequent weekend camping trips to indulge their hobby of trotline fishing for channel cats down on the Angelina River, and they usually took me along to do the grunt work.
An overnight trip like this required a considerable amount of live bait, which was obtained by seining the various small ponds and bar ditches in our area. Since, at 12, I was already an experienced barefoot wader, I was chosen to be the deep man on the minnow seine. While my dad or uncle stood on the bank and anchored that end, I was required to make a sweep around the deep water with the other end of the seine, hoping that I wouldn't step on a rusty can, broken bottle or other underwater hazard or, even worse, disturb a nest of moccasins near the grassy bank.
At our Angelina campsite near the "Old Iron Bridge," I became the designated trotline baiter. I did not mind hooking up the minnows or night-crawlers, but unfortunately my uncle always insisted that some of the hooks be baited with blood bait. In case you have forgotten, pilgrim, blood bait, made from the blood from slaughterhouses, was undoubtedly the vilest smelling substance ever concocted by man, and the memory of having to dig that noisome stuff out of the can, mold it into little balls and bait the hooks with it still turns my stomach. Indeed, I think it was my experience as Trotline Baitboy and Deep Man on the Minnow Seine that turned me against trotline fishing and going barefoot.
Now you never see a barefoot boy. And I guess it's a good thing. During the 1930s and '40s, the U.S. Department of Health conducted a survey and found that hookworm disease (ancylostomiasis) was rampant in East Texas and the southern states. Since it was also known that the parasite entered the body mainly through the soles of the feet, doctors strongly recommended that children not be allowed to spend time outdoors without their shoes. So this effectively ended the custom.
Today Texas boys who might have once romped shoeless in the summer sport $200 Nikes or Reeboks. These lads, alas, will never know the joy of running barefoot through cool clover or squishing unshod in warm mud. But, of course, they have the boob tube and those fascinating computer games – so who needs the outdoors? – Richard Murphy
Paint a Fish, Win a Prize
Sponsored by Wildlife Forever and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas State Fish Art Contest is open to any Texas student in grades 4 through 12. Contestants must create an illustration of an officially recognized state fish and write a one-page composition about its behavior, habitat and conservation. One Texas winner is selected from each of three grade levels: 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Those winners then compete at the national level for "best of show" and "art of conservation stamp" honors. Deadline for entries is March 31.
"Wildlife Forever strongly believes conservation education will ultimately determine the future of our fish and wildlife heritage," says Wildlife Forever president and CEO Douglas H. Grann. "The State Fish Art Contest is a fun and innovative way to introduce America's youth to the wonders of our natural world."
The 2007 art of conservation stamp award went to Clayton Bowen of Eagle Lake. Bowen's drawing of a Guadalupe bass was reproduced as a conservation stamp; proceeds from sales of the stamp go to support conservation projects nationwide.
Because 580 Texas students entered the contest last year, many outstanding pieces of artwork went unrecognized. The Toyota Texas Bass Classic and the Texas Bass Classic Foundation accepted the challenge and will be providing scholarships of $1,000, $750 and $500 for the first-, second- and third-place winners in the grades 10 through 12 category, and savings bonds of $100, $75 and $50 for winners in the lower grades, as well as round-trip airfare to the awards ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the three first-place winners. Each Texas entrant will also receive a fishing lure from Strike King Lure Company.
Texas entries are judged at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. For details on the contest and how to enter, visit the Texas State Fish-Art Contest. – Larry D. Hodge
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Featured Match Article Match Report
Match Report: Liverpool 2 Newcastle United 0
March 4, 2018 March 4, 2018 Sam Turner 0 Comments Benitez, Firmino, Henderson, Klopp, Liverpool, Mané, Newcastle, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah
For the second weekend in a row Liverpool will spend the majority of it in 2nd place after they recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Rafael Benitez’ Newcastle United at Anfield. Goals from Mohamed Salah (obviously) and Sadio Mane were enough to ensure that Liverpool’s fantastic run of form will continue into a big week of fixtures.
There was always the worry going into this game that we would perhaps show Rafa too much respect because of the mutual fondness that he and the supporters have for each other. It’s certainly something that has been an issue in the past, shown by the disappointing 1-1 draw at St James’ Park back in early October.
It looked to be a similar kind of game to the Swansea game in the first 40 minutes of the match as Newcastle set up with five at the back and a mentality of just putting everything behind the ball and stopping Liverpool from injecting any pace into the game.
The deadlock was finally broken however when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drove through the heart of the Newcastle wall and played in Salah. The Egyptian had earlier taken too long in taking a very similar opportunity but this time he made no mistake as he finished with the kind of confidence that scoring 31 goals in all competitions this season will give you. 32 goals now. There is just no stopping the man.
Newcastle were not without chances of their own as a fantastic acrobatic save from Loris Karius in stoppage time of the first half was all that stopped Mohamed Diame from levelling the game and maybe giving Newcastle real belief that they could get something from the game.
The lead was doubled and the game put relatively out of sight however as one of the most beautiful passages of play this season (up there with Emre Can’s goal vs Hoffenheim all the way back in August) finished with Roberto Firmino playing in Sadio Mane who finished like a man who was finally finding his rhythm again after a challenging season.
After that there were no scares or anything. If anything the score should have been even more. More of the same for the Reds really. Not much else to say (other than that Jamaal Lascelles definitely should have been sent off for denying Salah what would have almost certainly been a 33rd goal of the season).
Now on to a very big week (as stated early) that sees Jurgen Klopp’s side take on FC Porto in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 and Manchester United in the league next Saturday which could be one of the deciding fixtures in the race for 2nd place. See you then!
← Tactical Analysis: Liverpool 4, West Ham 1
Talking Points: Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 →
Match Report: Liverpool 0 FC Porto 0
March 6, 2018 Sam Turner 0
What We Learnt: Liverpool 2, Leicester City 1
December 31, 2017 Ronan O'Rourke 0
Match Report: Liverpool 4, West Ham 1.
February 24, 2018 Sam Turner 0
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Category Archives: Avon & Somerset Constabulary
Our fine local police force
BIJAN EBRAHIMI, THE IPCC AND THE DISGRACED CHIEF CONSTABLE
A warm glow of VIRTUE SIGNALLING embraces Bristol as the IPCC finally gets around to releasing their report on the Bijan Ebrahimi murder four years ago. Bijan was beaten to death and set alight by his neighbour in Broomhill, Lee James, in July 2013.
The brutal murder happened after police from Broadbury Road Police Station had IGNORED Iranian, Bijan’s, complaints of racism from his neighbours for over SEVEN YEARS. Police officers treating the life of a working class, disabled man on one of our estates with absolute contempt.
Who gives a fuck about Broomhill and the people who live there? That was the clear message from the city’s authorities in 2013, with the council and voluntary organisations also notable for a LACK OF EFFORT on behalf of Bijan when he needed them.
Police treatment of Bijan in the seven years leading up to his murder, concludes the IPCC’s Commissioner Jan Williams who fronted this remarkably slow and unincisive investigation into Avon & Somerset’s conduct, had ‘‘all the hallmarks of RACIAL BIAS‘.
While, apparently, not being actually racist, conveniently meaning nobody in the force is a racist who can be brought to book. A bizarre conclusion further borne out by Avon & Somerset’s misconduct hearings against 17 staff closely involved in the case, all of which concluded there was “NO EVIDENCE OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION” by our police.
The sense of an empty virtue signalling public relations exercise being conducted by the IPCC and Avon & Somerset is further enhanced by the VAGUE and CONTENT-FREE statements from our establishment-friendly Chief Constable, Andy “Yes Man” Hayman and the bankrupt doughnut vendor turned Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Sue Mountstevens.
Jan Williams, IPCC
Yes Man has assured the Nazi Post “that the police moved quickly to look at what they did wrong, and have already implemented changes”. Although the detail of these “changes” is conveniently WITHELD from us. We do know, however, that the “changes” didn’t consist of the firing of up to 17 RACISTS operating with impunity out of Broadbury Road Police Station in 2013.
Mountstevens was similarly vague, assuring Nazi Post readers she was “confident there would not be a repeat” and claiming, “we have learned from this and the Chief Constable and I must ensure that a tragic event like this does not happen again.” Although, yet again, any detail or explanation as to why there won’t be a repeat is mysteriously LACKING from Mountstevens statement. So what has Mountstevens LEARNED? And what has Yes Man actually done to CHANGE anything?
Inexplicable “changes” accompanied by aimless virtue signalling and bland positive public relations messaging is in STARK CONTRAST to the actions of Avon & Somerset’s former Chief Constable, Nick Gargan. Gargan, a liberal reformer, was in charge of the force in 2013 at the time of the racist murder until he was effectively SACKED in 2015 by Mountstevens with the help of, er, IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams.
Leaving public relations considerations to the establishment wankers and second-rate careerists, Gargan immediately got stuck into the CORRUPT and RACIST culture of Broadbury Road Police Station in 2013. Thanks to his actions four officers at Broadbury Road were charged with misconduct in public office and two were convicted and finally imprisoned by 2016. All four were dismissed from the force.
Gargan also had a further TWELVE police officers – including sergeants and inspectors – lined up for disciplinary action by early 2014. Indeed, so keen was Gargan to discipline the RACISTS and SCUMBAGS in his force he formally complained to the IPCC’s Jan Williams regarding the ridiculous length of time her investigation was taking as it was delaying him from taking action against racists and incompetents.
Within months of this, Gargan was SUSPENDED and being INVESTIGATED by, er, the IPCC’s Jan Williams for ‘inappropriate behaviour towards female officers and staff’. Sixteen months later after a thorough fishing expedition and witch hunt, Williams finally trumped up some charges for Gargan around a series of PETTY and UNRELATED allegations of sharing information with his partner by email and using his work mobile phone to send personal text messages.
These charges were put before an independent disciplinary panel that found that NONE of these actions had done any harm to the force and did not justify dismissal. Indeed, the disciplinary panel confined the majority of its criticisms to the conduct of the IPCC’s Jan Williams who didn’t seem to think she had a CONFLICT OF INTEREST in conducting an investigation into someone who had formerly complained about her USELESS and painfully SLOW investigation into a major racist incident.
Gargan was found guilty of eight counts of misconduct, none of which related to the original allegations against him and the independent disciplinary panel concluded he should be issued a WARNING LETTER. At this point the thuggish Police Federation and elements within Avon and Somerset – and across policing generally – who hated Gargan’s efforts to modernise his force stepped in demanding Gargan had to go.
Nick Gargan
He was eventually FORCED OUT when our piss-weak Police and Crime Commissioner, bankrupt doughnut vendor Sue Mountstevens, sided with the old school police reactionaries and withdrew her confidence in Gargan.
With the departure of Gargan, the Ebrahimi investigation was toned down and slowed down further and the BROADBURY ROAD TWELVE Gargan had identified for the chop were LET OFF after Avon & Somerset’s disciplinary panel concluded at internal misconduct hearings that there was “no evidence of racial discrimination”! Instead Avon & Somerset officially announced a “range of outcomes” from these disciplinaries, including two officers receiving final written warnings. That’s shown the racists!
Now, a further two years later, up pops the RANCID and INCOMPETENT IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams with her empty-headed report and PR effort and we’re suddenly assured that everything at Avon & Somerset is absolutely fine now due to a series of INEXPLICABLE and CONFIDENTIAL culture changes within the force. Meanwhile senior Avon & Somerset officers are now on the BBC rambling about “unconscious racism”. What can it all mean?
The cover-up is strong in this one …
Told you so … READ THE BRISTOLIAN’S EXPOSE OF THE IPCC, JAN WILLIAMS AND NICK GARGAN FROM 2015.
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, News and tagged Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Bijan Ebrahimi, Bristol, Broadbury Road Police Station, Broomhill, Chief Constable, IPCC, Jan Williams, Nick Gargan, Police & Crime Commissioner, Police Federation, Racism, Sue Mountstevens on July 5, 2017 by thebristolblogger.
On Saturday 24 October bemused Bristolians looked on in bewilderment as pitched battles were fought in the centre of Bristol. Anti-Fascists and their comrades were confronting British United Patriots, who were marching against youth homelessness, apparently.
Different gangs trotted about the city centre, trying to get their hands on the other side, while the Old Bill plodded about in close attendance. While we at the Bristolian have no time for fascist or right wing philosophy, we are also aware that there’s some similarities in the backgrounds of the belligerents.
Both sides are clear that the system does not work for the working class. Poverty is rampant and growing in these times of austerity. The welfare state is being dismantled and the rich are getting richer. In the meantime, the government, the bosses and the ruling class are telling us it’s all the fault of pesky immigrants, the sick and, of course, benefit scroungers.
This is where the two sides diverge. The right wing buy this and believe it. They can see the refugees and new arrivals to this country and blame them. Meanwhile the rich in their Bentleys and private jets don’t come anywhere near Knowle, Southmead or Kingswood. Neither exist to each other.
Take Sir Phillip Green who owns Topshop and British Home Stores among others. He also sits on the treasury select committee on tax evasion. You couldn’t make it up. He’s one of the biggest tax avoiders going. He’s said to have put £1.2 billion through his missus’s bank account. How many fucking giros does that add up to?
Most of these “proud to be British, buy British” multi-millionaires are up to a bit of tax avoidance while we scrabble about, white, black, British or foreign born, for dwindling resources, and jobs.
OK, we might do a bit of cash in hand work or buy some cheap baccy but this shrinks into insignificance in relation to what they have away. They can employ armies of accountants to help them squirrel away their cash. If you get caught it will be benefit sanctions, bailiffs and prison. But you all know this.
In the meantime, two sides of the white working class beat the crap out of each other on a Saturday afternoon. The Old Bill nick them while the ruling classes laugh their fucking heads off. Then court and heavy fine and the Old Bill can buy some more nice tasers to ensure that the system continues.
Shape up boys, who is the real enemy???
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Protest and tagged Ant-fascists, British United Patriots, Cops, Sir Phillip Green, Youth homelessness on January 23, 2016 by thebristolblogger.
TOP COP STITCHED-UP?
News that Avon & Somerset’s top cop Nick Gargan was found guilty of EIGHT minor charges of misconduct and was furnished with EIGHT final warning letters has got a bizarre coalition of Police Federation wankers, former chief constable wankers (yes, that’s you Colin port) and local politician wankers demanding his head on a plate.
A similar coalition led by fat twat Liberal Democrat, Gary Hopkins – notorious for his over-friendly relations with BROADBURY ROAD POLICE STATION – are also behind attacks on Avon & Somerset’s Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens. They are blaming her for wasting £0.5m suspending Gargan on full pay for over a year while investigating his conduct.
Gutbucket is now promising a full investigation by his committee of old farts at the POLICE AND CRIME PANEL. He says they’re going to “scrutinise the Police and Crime commissioner” due to “serious concerns” especially around Gargan’s “recruitment and what happened prior to his suspension”.
Which makes you wonder if the useless fat bastard and his gang of dodgy old coppers have bothered to actually read the Misconduct Panel report into Gargan’s misdemeanours?
This report does agree that forwarding confidential work emails to one of your many squeezes – local BBC journalist LAURA JONES – and assisting various other attractive women with their applications for senior posts with Avon & Somerset Police is probably the height of stupidity for a public servant on a six-figure salary employed for their absolute integrity. It also concludes GARGAN’s conduct is worthy of disciplinary action.
However, it seems, the wider story concerning this fiasco is being buried amid huge amounts of bluster from an establishment gang of old white men committed to scoring political points against a female PCC and who want to maintain an old school cop culture of RACIST POLICING and ENDEMIC CORRUPTION at Avon & Somerset. A culture Gargan had been committed to removing.
Indeed, if you read the Misconduct Panel report into Gargan, they don’t seem much bothered by his minor misdemeanours and they don’t identify anything Mountstevens has done wrong at all.
In May 2014 Mountstevens received allegations regarding Gargan’s conduct around women from TWO WHISTLEBLOWERS. Mountstevens suspended Gargan and then passed the case to the IPCC to investigate, as she’s legally required to do.
The report makes clear that responsibility for most decisions regarding Gargan then passed to Avon & Somerset’s IPCC commissioner, JAN WILLIAMS. An inexperienced and incompetent health service manager who had already fucked up and delayed an IPCC investigation into the death of BIJAN EBRAHIMI.
Ebrahimi was the Iranian asylum seeker BEATEN AND THEN BURNED TO DEATH in a horrific attack in 2013 in Broomhill under the noses of coppers from BROADBURY ROAD POLICE STATION. An episode that resulted in the suspension of TWELVE police staff and the prosecution of THREE under Gargan’s leadership.
The EBRAHIMI INVESTIGATION was crucial to Gargan and his efforts to modernise the Avon & Somerset Constabulary and sweep away what we can politely and lawfully refer to as his force’s “old fashioned practices”. In this context, the report by Gargan’s Misconduct Panel is extremely enlightening as it spends far more time discussing the conduct of the IPCC than Gargan’s minor transgressions.
It was Williams at the IPCC who, having discovered within two months that the allegations regarding sexual harassment against Gargan were baseless, embarked on a FISHING EXPEDITION of his iPhone. It was this investigation that formed the slim basis of the disciplinary action eventually taken against Gargan.
It was Williams at the IPCC who WITHHELD from Mountstevens’ office for months the fact she had obtained no admissible evidence from any female witnesses in support of the original hearsay harassment allegations against Gargan.
It was Williams at the IPCC that MISLED Mountstevens throughout the summer of 2014, in order to keep Gargan suspended, that there was a likelihood of a criminal prosecution being brought against him under the Data Protection Act.
It was Williams at the IPCC who consistently REFUSED to lift Gargan’s suspension and therefore used our council tax to pay him to sit at home.
It was Williams at the IPCC who continually FRUSTRATED disclosure of evidence to Gargan between 2 February and 27 May 2015 and therefore DELAYED Gargan’s Misconduct Panel hearing by months.
It was Williams at the IPCC who FAILED “to comply with its disclosure obligations all the way to the Misconduct Panel’s door”.
It was Williams at the IPCC who under cross-examination COULDN’T EXPLAIN what the term “evidence” means.
It was Williams at the IPCC, according to the Misconduct Panel, whose understanding of the concept of ‘relevance’ was, until 24 April 2015, ‘CONCERNING’.
It was Williams at the IPCC who was described as “ALMOST INCOHERENT” when giving evidence to the independent Misconduct Panel.
It was Williams at the IPCC whose submissions were described by the Misconduct Panel as “A LITTLE UNREAL”.
It was Williams at the IPCC who supplied a spreadsheet redacted “BEYOND COMPREHENSION” to the Misconduct Panel.
It was Williams at the IPCC who continually promised Mountstevens a ‘HARD HITTING’ report into Gargan despite knowing full well that her investigation had unearthed NO ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE in relation to the original harassment allegations while the data protection breaches she uncovered did not merit criminal proceedings.
By the end of June 2014, when the investigation into the original harassment allegations had unearthed no admissible evidence, Mountstevens’ CEO Jonathan Smith had started action to prepare for Gargan’s return to work.
This was PERSONALLY STOPPED by Williams at the IPCC who had by then embarked on her iPhone fishing expedition against Gargan. The very same man who had complained about her conduct of another IPCC investigation into the death of – who else? – BIJAN EBRAHIMI!
And it was Williams who then had to have the simple concept of “CONFLICT OF INTEREST” explained to her by a lawyer when she gave evidence to the Misconduct panel.
Meanwhile, the Misconduct Panel’s report contains NO CRITICISM of Sue Mountstevens and treats the soppy list of minor allegations against Gargan as lightly as they deserve.
The whole investigation into Gargan has, therefore, more than a passing resemblance to a STITCH-UP by VESTED INTERESTS and OLD SCHOOL COPPERS desperate to get rid of a modernising influence on our police.
The IPCC’s got a lot of questions to answer here and JAN WILLIAMS’ position seems untenable. Does anyone believe this useless, dodgy bureaucrat is capable of independent oversight of our dubious police force after this?
And will Gary Hopkins’ and his political Police and Crime Panel be doing an investigation into the conduct of their IPCC Commissioner rather than pursuing a pointless and very public witch hunt for their own DIRTY POLITICAL REASONS against Mountstevens?
Don’t hold your breath.
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, News and tagged Avon & Somerset Police, Bijan Ebrahimi, Broadbury Road Police Station, Colin Port, Dorian Lovell-Pank QC, IPCC, Jan Williams, Misconduct Panel, Nick Gargan, Police & Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens on October 5, 2015 by thebristolblogger.
Inspector Knacker’s COP WATCH
We were amazed to read recent reports from the cops that due to funding cuts victims are now expected to INVESTIGATE CRIMES THEMSELVES. Including, we’re told, crimes like burglary and criminal damage.
Rumours of speedily constructed gallows in various parts of the city have yet to be confirmed. Although, here at The BRISTOLIAN we would be amazed if burglaries aren’t investigated in CLIFTON or WESTBURY ON TRYM before we all start getting our balaclavas and gloves out.
But this has been the case for many years in some areas of Bristol. Try getting police support in HARTCLIFFE, EASTON or ST PAULS. Give plod a ring because someone has torched your mini and see what happens: nothing normally.
This reminds us of an old story. A young single mum living in the INNER CITY phoned the police after hearing and spotting someone in her back garden. She was promised support within ten minutes.
When it failed to arrive she rang again. She explained she was on her own in her house with two small children. More worrying, the intruder had got it into the shed where the tools were. She was given further assurances …
Another ten minutes with no sign of plod, she rings back to say, “don’t bother, I’ve SHOT HIM”.
Lo and Behold! Within two minutes an ARMED RESPONSE unit arrives!
They questioned her for several hours before departing. Needless to say, they had lost all interest in the theft from the shed.
We’ve also heard this week on national news that due to cuts the constabulary are struggling to police more SERIOUS CRIMES. This includes having enough trained officers to investigate CHILD SEX INTERNET CRIMES and FRAUD. Both are extremely serious and we we’d wager that the vast majority of Bristolian readers would identify the detection and arrest of NONCES as a primary objective of police forces.
However, we hear Avon and Somerset’s finest have been out serving warrants on some internet users. Paedophiles? Major fraudsters? Robbing Bankers? ‘Fraid not. Just the email account of a, er … local RADICAL BOOK SHOP!
So while there’s a deficit of trained cops to tackle perverts, in Bristol they’re busy seizing and searching old BOOK ORDERS, STAFFING LISTS and lists of MAIL ORDER ADDRESSES!
No doubt identifying “POLITICAL RADICALS” and other undesirables who read books. Fuck me, I’ll feel safer sleeping in my bed tonight!!!
The BRISTOLIAN has its eyes peeled and continues to investigate FRAUD and CORRUPTION among Bristol’s high and mighty. We’ll then hand details to the Old Bill, and see what they do.
If you know anything, drop us a line and we’ll chase it. Lets turn their austerity measures around.
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, News on November 3, 2014 by thebristolblogger.
MS X: NOW THE COPPERS SAY “REHOUSE HER”!
Now joining The BRISTOLIAN and the sensible public at large in demanding the immediate rehousing of vulnerable domestic violence victim – Ms X – is the Avon & Somerset Constabulary.
We understand that police have this week spoken with Bristol City Council’s Housing Department and told them Ms X needs to be urgently relocated for her own safety.
It now seems like everybody, except those with the power to help, want Ms X rehoused as a matter of urgency. Indeed it’s beginning to look like Ms X is now being used as little more than a prop to shore up their fragile egos by Housing Department middle managers Paul Sylvester and Nick Hooper. They are refusing to admit, in the face of a barrage of evidence, that they have made errors and they are refusing to acknowledge the real danger Ms X is in.
Instead, in an effort to prove they are right at any cost, they have resorted to fluent bureaucratese insisting she is ‘Band 3’ and there’s no more they can do. This is bullshit. They could rehouse her tomorrow. They do it all the time. Why won’t they do it now?
The BRISTOLIAN continues to receive outraged emails from councillors on this matter, with some that are especially critical of Housing boss Hooper. The only people now actively supporting Sylvester and Hooper in their fool’s errand of refusing to rehouse Ms X is Zoe Sear, “right hand woman” of Mayor George Ferguson (Happy Anniversary!), and the mysterious, unnamed ‘Safer Bristol Domestic Violence Co-ordinator’ who apparently insists Sylvester and Hooper are acting correctly by doing absolutely nothing and leaving a vulnerable young woman in danger of her life.
Sylvester and Hooper have ignored a death threat; they’ve ignored a ‘substantial threat’; now will they ignore police advice too?
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Ms X Campaign, News, Shitty Hall and tagged Bristol City Council, domestic violence, Ms X, Nick Hooper, Paul Sylvester, Rehousing, Safer Bristol, webxclusive, Zoe Sear on November 15, 2013 by Jooohn Ag.
BRISTOL MAYOR’S AIDE ZOE SEAR – VICTIM BLAMER, ABUSE ENABLER…
Zoe Sear: sticking the boot into domestic violence survivors on behalf of Mayor George Ferguson
So step forward ZOE SEAR, Mayor Fergo’s “right hand woman” paid nearly a thousand quid a week for her problem-solving abilities. Obviously a working class Bristolian like Ms X who has been repeatedly battered black and blue is not the concern of a Very Important millionaire like George Redtrousers, so when this shitstorm erupted in public, it was passed to his smiling consigliere Sear to deal with.
After initially making lots of sympathetic noises, Sear is now conspiring with incompetent housing chiefs Hooper and Sylvester to COVER UP their mistakes – and blame Ms X for her situation.
Sear has attempted to use an appointment scheduling error by a support agency which meant that Ms X could not attend one meeting because she was at another one as a stick to beat the victim with – and FORCE her into taking a place in a refuge against her wishes. That is the same offer that Ms X explained that she couldn’t accept THREE MONTHS AGO. Sear and her housing department chums are now using the threat of withdrawing all support as a way of SILENCING a vulnerable victim.
As Sear contemptuously said to Ms X’s advocate, “I don’t have a magic wand – what do you want me to do? Take her home with me?”
No, Zoe – we simply want you, your boss and your council to do the right thing – by appropriately rehousing this woman and her child. BEFORE either of them is harmed.
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Ms X Campaign, News, Shitty Hall and tagged Bristol City Council, domestic violence, George Ferguson, Ms X, Nick Hooper, Paul Sylvester, webxclusive, Zoe Sear on November 12, 2013 by Jooohn Ag.
A CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER: BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL ABANDONS VULNERABLE BATTERED WOMAN
Despite its LEGAL OBLIGATIONS to immediately rehouse her, Bristol City Council is FAILING to place a vulnerable victim of ongoing brutal domestic violence into safety, according to information passed to The BRISTOLIAN.
The woman in question – whom we choose to identify only as ‘Ms X’ – has been targeted by a predatory sexual sadist over an extended period of time, and has reached out for help from a number of agencies.
Yet in a harrowing tale of municipal hand-wringing, thanks to a combination of INDIFFERENT POLITICAL HACKS and LAZY SENIOR OFFICERS, and despite her acute need to be rehoused away from her abuser, she remains trapped and at the mercy of a very dangerous man.
Credible information leads The BRISTOLIAN to believe that unless Ms X receives the rehousing support to which she is legally and morally entitled within days she is in real danger of serious harm.
And what can be done?
Well, the politicians and council officers who have already been made aware of the precise circumstances facing Ms X could pull their fingers out of their arseholes and (i) acknowledge the detailed information sent to them about this matter; and (ii) ACTUALLY REHOUSE MS X. Not when she’s in hospital – or worse – but NOW.
Of course, given their failure to take seriously either this particularly grim individual situation, or the wider issues of domestic abuse, we have decided to start NAMING AND SHAMING those who were told about the case of Ms X – but who have DONE NOTHING – starting with the overpaid men at the top…
So get calling, get tweeting and get emailing to demand that they DO THEIR JOBS!
GEORGE FERGUSON (Mayor of Bristol) – twitter: @GeorgeFergusonx; email: mayor@bristol.gov.uk
NICK HOOPER (Strategic Housing Service Director) – tel: 0117 922 4681; email: nick.hooper@bristol.gov.uk
PAUL SYLVESTER (Rehousing Manager) – tel: 0117 352 1601; email: paul.sylvester@bristol.gov.uk
Don’t let them sit on their hands until Ms X becomes that most unfortunate statistic of all.
* If within 24 hours of this post we don’t hear that practical steps have been taken to help Ms X, we reserve the right to leverage these – and other – complacent decision-makers even further.
** We are not naïve and realise that Ms X is not the only person at risk from domestic violence who is being failed by Bristol’s authorities. If you or someone you know is in a similar position as Ms X, and no one else can help, get in touch and we will see if there is anything we can do.
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Ms X Campaign, News, Shitty Hall and tagged Bristol City Council, domestic violence, George Ferguson, Ms X, Nick Hooper, Paul Sylvester, webxclusive on November 8, 2013 by Jooohn Ag.
BRISTOL TOP COP GARGAN GETS THE FEAR OVER INTERNET PROFILE PIC!
Durston Fletcher – no powers of arrest
Are Avon & Somerset TOP COP Nick ‘Hurdy-Gurdy’ Gargan’s well-documented weekend trips to Glastonbury to wear his love like heaven and mellow out on the Tor to ponder, like, the sheer enormity of it all, man, impeding his professional judgement? Or did he ingest something other than an extra strong herbal tea infusion during his last visit, at the peak of the MAGIC MUSHROOM SEASON, to deepest Somerset’s hippy haven?
Coming up with the kind of deranged paranoid nonsense that only takes shape at two in the morning over a bowl of dry Rice Krispies and the LAST OF THE CUSTARD CREAMS, The Hurdy Gurdy Man issued urgent instructions one Monday morning, immediately after one of his Isle of Avalon trips, that the presenter of hit radio show ‘From Bristol With Love’ Durston Fletcher must remove his Twitter and Facebook avatar immediately as it “could be deemed to be impersonating a police officer”!
The avatar in question is a picture of The Bill’s Reg Hollis as played by actor Jeff Stewart and so far, unsurprisingly, nobody outside of Hurdy Gurdy Gargan and his elite team of top TIE-DYED DETECTIVES has yet managed to confuse Durston with an actual copper.
However, to help out our confused top cop and the rest of his disoriented crew of addled Old Bill, Durston has now installed a new special message on his avatar: ‘I am not a copper’ it helpfully explains.
Hopefully this will clear matters up enough for the Avon & Somerset to continue with their duties and for Hurdy Gurdy Gargan to concentrate on realigning his chakras.
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Meejah, News and tagged #4.7, Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Durston Fletcher, From Bristol With Love, Nick Gargan, Reg Hollis on October 13, 2013 by Jooohn Ag.
BRISTOLIAN GALLERY: ‘LOCAL TAXI DRIVER’ BY DURSTON FLETCHER
‘Local Taxi Driver’
Councillor Gary Hopkins, ink, 2013, Durston Fletcher
Our artistic odyssey continues, with Popular Local Radio DJ (it says here) From Bristol With Love‘s very own Durston Fletcher submitting this bold entry into our Best Gary Hopkins Portrait Meat Raffle competition.
Durston has been very busy of late thanks to a burgeoning feud between him and Bristol & Bumpkinshire Chief Constable Nick Gargan (see The BRISTOLIAN #4.7, out this week!), so big BRISTOLIAN thanks to him for taking time out of his busy arch-nemesissing schedule to make beautiful images for us.
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Culture Vulture, InterActive, Meejah, Shitty Hall, The BRISTOLIAN Gallery and tagged Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Bristol City Council, Durston Fletcher, From Bristol With Love, Gary Hopkins, Nick Gargan on October 10, 2013 by Jooohn Ag.
NAZI LIST SHAME OF ‘POST’
That old Bristol Post masthead in all its spittle-flecked glory!
Oh my aching sides… Post editor Mike ‘No Balls Goebbels’ Norton and his crack news team (three interns plus his nephew on work experience) are backing an Avon & Somerset Constabulary campaign against ‘anarchists’.
It follows the £16 million-worth of ‘little local difficulties’ recently experienced at the PFI police gun shack near Portishead – currently just a smouldering heap – which led Gollum-like Chief Constable Nick Gargan and former pastie-dealing Police & Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens to announce a big crackdown on “DOMESTIC EXTREMISTS”.
The low-key announcement by the cops – buried in a single paragraph on page six of a 35 page presentation to the council – that they were about to wage war against “DE criminals” was just the greenlight Goebbels – who fancies himself as a sort of local version of Jeremy Clarkson by way of General Pinochet – needed to work up a good frothy rant.
Anarchists now join NIMBYs, cyclists, anti-supermarket campaigners, crusties, socialists, feminists, environmentalists, vegetarians, young people, drug users, clubbers, hippies, students, the jobless, the poor, the elderly, those with disabilities and anyone off a council estate on Goebbels’ growing LIST OF HATE.
It’s starting to look like his enthusiasm for football stadiums extends beyond an interest in sporting prowess.
It might be easier for Goebbels to state simply what he’s in favour of – or should he save himself the bother and just stick a swastika on the front of his newsletter?
This entry was posted in Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Meejah, News and tagged #4.6, Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner, Bristol Post, Mike Norton, Nick Gargan, Sue Mountstevens on October 2, 2013 by Jooohn Ag.
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Best of 2019, Politics
Kamala Harris’s Logo Is a Disaster. Here’s Why.
Does bad graphic design doom good candidates? Or do lousy candidates inspire bad graphic design?
by Jonathan V. Last
(Photo illustration by Hannah Yoest / photo credit: Gettyimages)
Back in 2016, I was pretty bullish on Marco Rubio’s presidential prospects—right up until the moment I saw this:
The candidate’s name in lower case? The letters all running together like one word? The CONUS map as the dot on the “i”?
Yeah, bro. Graphic design is my passion.
Look, I’m not saying that graphic design wins presidential primaries. But minimally-competent graphic design is highly correlative with success.
Which brings us to Kamala Harris.
On paper, Harris, like Rubio, looks pretty formidable. And like Rubio, she has rolled out her campaign with a dumpster-fire logo. Seriously: It might be the worst political graphic design job in a generation:
So, you know, there goes that campaign.
If you came of age during the ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s, you probably viewed the graphic design for campaign logos with a fair amount of disdain. Because they all pretty much looked like this:
Are you sensing a theme? Take Pantone’s “Ribbon Red” and “Royal Blue,” add a clip-art element, and presto! You’re running for leader of the free world.
Everything changed in 2008 when Sol Sender designed a logo for Barack Obama that will probably go down as the most important piece of political graphic design in the last century. And I’ll bet the milk-money you remember it:
Why is the Obama logo so great? Let us count the ways:
It subverts your color expectations by using a warm, engaging pale blue.
It conveys two types of motion: (1) The red road arching ahead into the distance moves your eye along the z-axis while, (2) The haze on the blue “O” gives the sense rising along the y-axis.
It gives you pleasing, perfect symmetry: The circular “O” on top with the “Obama ‘08” tag on the bottom framed by the overhanging “O” and “8.”
It can be used anywhere: On hats, yard signs, bumper stickers, pins—you could even substitute the logo for the “O” (or the design elements) in any word you wanted to mate to the campaign. For instance:
This logo is nothing short of genius and its power broke 40 years of design gridlock.
What makes a good logo for a political campaign? As Robert Bresson notes, there are “Ten properties of a subject, according to Leonardo: light and dark, color and substance, form and position, distance and nearness, movement and stillness.” Maybe it’s not rocket science. But if it was easy, everyone would get it right. And it’s only when you master the unity of those elements that you get to genius.
Keep those precepts in mind when you look at campaign designs that work. Like, for instance, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s fantastic poster, which was probably responsible for 5 points on Election Day all by itself:
This design gives the viewer a deluge of information. For starters, it shows the candidate—which is key when your candidate is as attractive as AOC. And she’s not grinning or smiling—she’s looking off-page, into the future. Her expression is both a promise and a challenge. The entire composition is crackling with energy, from the big, blocky fonts to the tilt on the text, which follows the exact same line-of-sight as AOC’s eyes.
And then there’s something else about it that that hints at revolution and power and “The People” and if you’re under a certain age you might not be able to put your finger on it but—oh hey there!
In 2016, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had passable mainstay designs. Clinton was trying to call-back to the Obama logo while also establishing herself as a distinct brand, pointing forward. Trump’s logo was simple, but stable with solid font choices and so much tracking between the letters that you almost get the sensation of motion, as if the word “Trump” was slowly expanding horizontally. Ignoring the later messy iterations, Trump’s key bumper sticker and yard sign iconography was a stand-out success over his primary opposition.
“Kamala Harris for the People” has none of any of that. In the recent history of logo design disasters, it’s right up there with the R-R-Romney 2012 and Jeb! 2016. You look at it and can’t understand (1) How the designer came up with it, or (2) How the candidate accepted it.
On the other hand, maybe you can understand. Because graphic designers are subject to the same trend-think as every other creative class. (Just have a look at some recent brand logo conversions.)
It could be that Harris’s design team looked at the AOC poster and saw the earth-tones, heavy-text, and adjacent colors and thought that that was the secret of their success. And about those earth tones—they’re straight out of the 1970s and they’re a bad idea.
Pantone describes the ’70s palette consisting of “Harvest Gold” and “Rust.” In the 1970s, designers used these colors because they wanted to take viewers “back down to earth—solid, earthy colors to ground us during shakey economic times.” The problem is that when you use those colors today, you remind people of the 1970s and what an unholy mess that decade was. Why would you do that?
It’s enough to make Elizabeth Warren’s ultra-conventional, super-stripped down sans-serif logo look like a roaring success:
But then again, maybe you can’t blame the designers. I’ve always suspected that, through some crazy cosmic justice, candidates wind up with the graphic design they deserve—that the logo is, in some philosophically meaningful way, a reflection of the candidate.
And if that’s really the case, then it’s not too early for Democrats to start worrying.
Jonathan V. Last
Jonathan V. Last is executive editor of The Bulwark.
More in Best of 2019
Rudy Giuliani Is in a Lot of Trouble
Being Donald Trump: Inside the World Where Conspiracies Are Reality
The Problem With “When They See Us”
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Is Your Designer Killing Your Conversions?
By Brad Tiller on May 30th, 2015 in Design | 24 comments
“That big, colorful button looked sooooo 2010, so I made it transparent. It’s much cleaner now.” Image source.
Have you ever worked with a designer who was more interested in fancy animations and cutting-edge technology than in creating a page that actually resonates with you and your audience?
While I’ve been lucky enough to work with many talented, pragmatic designers, I’d be lying if I said I’d never been frustrated with a designer who I felt was working more against me than with me.
Luckily, Jen Gordon isn’t such a designer. As the founder of Convert Themes, a design service explicitly for landing pages, Jen understands the importance of designing pages that are both beautiful and highly-optimized for conversion.
Hoping to help marketers work better with their designers, she recently hosted an unwebinar with us entitled 3 Tools to Keep Your Designer From Killing Your Conversions — which, of course, came packaged with three tools to keep your designer from killing your conversions.
And while those tools are pretty great, the advice Jen gave on easing the tension between design and conversion was just as valuable. Read on for the distilled insights, or click here to watch the full webinar.
Jen described a situation in which she received a brief for a landing page project. While it gave her basic direction, detailing the offer and the copy, it was left up to her to decide things like:
The page’s visual hierarchy — the structure and order of its visual and textual elements
The type of imagery that would resonate with the page’s intended audience
The problem or pain point the page’s visitor is looking to solve
These are not small decisions to make. Yet they are exactly the kinds of critical decisions that are hoisted upon designers, either implicitly or explicitly. And in a situation like this, designers can be reluctant to ask questions or open a dialogue with the project manager.
But why? What is the root of this tension between marketers and designers?
To answer this, Jen made a word cloud based on the most shared posts on ConversionXL, Hubspot and Unbounce over the past year:
… and then did the same for some of the world’s top design blogs:
Notice that there is very little overlap between these two word clouds. They suggest that marketers are largely interested in results and the techniques that will produce them, while designers are more interested in technology, aesthetics and user experience.
What we can glean from this is that designers and marketers are speaking fundamentally different languages or are, at the very least, interested in completely different things.
And before we can open the doors of communication, we have to better understand where designers are coming from.
Can’t get on the same page as your designer? You just need to speak their language.
The evolution of web design
In the webinar, Jen gave an overview of different eras of web design (1990 – present) to show how new technologies can shape forthcoming design trends.
A timeline of the different “eras” in web design. Image source.
For example, the timeline above shows that what we consider the most crucial elements of modern web design didn’t start to emerge until around 1998. That’s the year that usability research came into prominence and people were given more insight than ever into the behavior of their users.
Additionally, the launch of the iPhone in 2007 — and the release of Android soon after — brought with it the mobile design revolution and a renewed focus on user experience.
Each design revolution was triggered by designers searching for more efficient and more enjoyable ways for users to interact with content.
But whereas this kind of user-centered design focuses solely on a user accomplishing their own goals, Conversion-Centered Design (CCD) is focused towards having the user complete a single business goal.
This can seem like a huge shift, but the goal is essentially the same: getting the user what they need with the least friction possible.
The difference is that Conversion-Centered Design relies more heavily on the use of persuasion and reassurance; it’s not just about enabling the user to take action, but convincing them to.
User-centered design is about experience. Conversion-Centered Design is about business goals.
What your designer needs to know about CRO
While you and your designer might speak different languages, you’re both (ideally) interested in the same thing: producing a great design that works for both your business goals and the goals of your visitors.
But if you’re designer is relatively new to conversion rate optimization, there are a few things that you should make sure they understand.
#1: A homepage is NOT a landing page
Website indexes/homepages used to be referred to as landing pages — since they were the page one would “land on” when going to the site — but this definition is outdated, particularly since users don’t tend to land on those pages as often as they used to.
Nowadays, a landing page means a page dedicated to fulfilling a single campaign goal. This stands in stark contrast to index pages, which are meant to be generalist and to appeal to a wide range of visitors. Additionally, index pages tend to have an infinite amount of referral sources, whereas you probably have a strong idea of what’s driving traffic to your landing pages.
It’s important that your designer understands this so that they can make sure their design is focused on that single campaign goal, and doesn’t feature any content that could be irrelevant to the page’s audience.
#2: Design isn’t a cure-all
The fact is that design isn’t the primary factor of a page’s success; landing pages can be immensely successful even if they’re pretty ugly. Jen brought up the example of the Super Funnel page, the #2 top-selling page on affiliate-marketing site JVZoo.com.
This is both a blessing and a burden. The core of any landing page is its unique value proposition and it’s entirely possible for a landing page to succeed based on the strength of that alone.
But that doesn’t mean that good design isn’t valuable. It just means that a landing page is made up of various elements that all contribute to its success. A page that’s performing well could still perform better with a smarter design. As Jen puts it:
Your designer needs to understand that the success of the page doesn’t fall completely on their shoulders — that it is a combination of design, copy, traffic sources, the offer, etc. that play into the success or failure of the page.
#3: The story matters most
It’s critical for every designer (and marketer and copywriter) to understand the story of their brand and how customers interact with it, looking beyond the user’s “persona” or how they arrived at the page.
Which is exactly why the Eisenberg brothers — who, in Jen’s words, “have been doing CRO before the acronym existed” — pioneered their Buyer Legends philosophy.
Contrary to personas, which are primarily interested in defining who your customers are, buyer legends are more concerned with their journeys and how they feel. From the Buyer Legends website:
Buyer Legends are not the stories you tell your customers; that’s just promotion. Buyer Legends are stories told from the point of view of your customers; because your brand isn’t what you say it is but what your customers say it is.
You can get an introduction to the concept from Bryan Eisenberg’s CRO Day webinar, and then create your own Buyer Legends with the template than Jen has generously made available for anyone to use.
Opening the door to dialogue
When a designer gets a brief for a conversion-focused project like a landing page, they may be reluctant to raise their own objections or propose their own ideas, because they worry it’s not their place. As Jen put it:
“These people, they are the marketers, they think they know best, they see me as a designer, I should just do as they say.” That’s what some of your designers are thinking.
But designers have brought the web this far. While CRO may be a relatively new discipline, its ideas are borrowed heavily from the experience-focused trends of yore; they’ve just been shaken up with digital marketing trends and a dash of Big Data.
Designers have their own expertise to bring to your conversion-focused projects. But the door to collaboration needs to be opened wide, and explicitly so. You should actively solicit the feedback of your designers and encourage them to share their ideas. After all, everything can (and should) be tested!
And in addition to talking, you can also use Jen’s free tools in order to more effectively communicate with your designer. In addition to the Buyer Legends template discussed earlier, you’ll get:
An extremely detailed and annotated copywriting template that will make it way easier for designers, copywriters and marketers to work together and understand each other
A landing page wireframe template for use with Balsamiq Mockups, which will help your designer understand the structure of a strong landing page while giving them the freedom to actually design it
And as a bonus, two free Unbounce landing page templates that you can upload to your account
Get access to both the full webinar and Jen’s free tools here. Together, they will put you on the path to a more productive and communicative relationship with your designers.
About Brad Tiller
Brad’s a writer at Unbounce, with a marketing background encompassing everything from community management to lead generation. He's obsessed with the little touches that take marketing campaigns from so-so to stellar. Find him on Twitter: @bradtiller
» More blog posts by Brad Tiller
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Okorocha kicks as South-East APC stakeholders endorse Izunaso, others for national offices
The All Progressives Congress South-East stakeholders have endorsed the retention of national officers representing the zone at the party’s National Working Committee.
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State and chieftain of the APC, stated this after a meeting of the stakeholders on Thursday in Abuja.
Kalu said: “We had a very successful fruitful meeting and have decided to endorse by affirmation from all the states, the return, through democratic means, of the three members occupying national offices.
“They are the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso; the National Vice Chairman, Emma Enukwu; and the National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu.
“We have equally secured the support of the National Convention Committee Chairman who is also the Governor of Jigawa State.
“We have told him that they are our candidates and we did it through democratic arrangements.”
Kalu, however, noted that few people might be unsatisfied with the decision, but added that about 93 per cent APC stakeholders from the zone agreed to it.
The former Abia State Governor added that those that might be aggrieved by the decision would be reconciled.
He equally spoke on the crises rocking the party in the South-East, saying there must be a misunderstanding in every setting, but assured that they would be resolved.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, while speaking at the occasion, said though the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, could not make it to the meeting, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly attended.
“We are all working together to continue to lift the country as one and to ensure massive improvement in the region and the country at large,” Onu said.
Okorocha, who was represented by Raphael Igbokwe, however, said the positions zoned to the South-East would be contested.
Okorocha alleged that all the 24 members of Imo State House of Assembly were shut out of the meeting.
He added that the chairman of the APC national convention had been urged to allow a level playing ground for the contest of the position of National Organising Secretary, which has been zoned to Imo State.
According to him, Emma Ibejiro has been penciled down to contest the position of the National Organising Secretary at the convention slated for June 23.
The meeting, which was tagged: “South-East Executive Committee Meeting: Towards 2018 National Convention,” had in attendance Izunaso; Kalu; and former Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime.
Also in attendance were former Governor of Ebonyi State, Martins Elechi; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Senator Hope Uzodinma; Ben Uwajimogu; and Andy Uba.
Others were Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Senator Jim Nwobodo; Senator Uche Ekwnuife; Senator Nkechi Nwogu, and Moghalu.
The meeting was also attended by the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu; and Enukwu among others.
Enukwu, who chaired the meeting, stated that attendance was based on the party’s Constitution.
According to him, those qualified to attend the meeting are sitting and former governors, past and serving Senators, former House of Representatives and National Executive Committee members, zonal executive committee members, APC State Chairmen and State Assembly Speakers.
He said that the Ministers were not part of the Executive Committee meeting of the zone but were admitted as a mark of respect.
Enukwu stated the essence of the meeting was for the zone to speak in one voice at National Convention of the party.
He told Executive Committee members that the remarks that Igbo people don’t agree on issues was not a good one
According to him, for the Igbos to assume the position of the presidency in the country they must speak with one voice.
Enukwu also said the issue of the South-East presidency in 2023 should be of concern to everybody, adding that Igbo presidency would ensure development of the country.
All Progressives Congress South-East stakeholders
Chief George Moghalu
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu
Emma Enukwu
Rochas Okorocha
Senator Osita Izunaso
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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the 2020 Goloden Globe Nominees that consist of the best films, TV shows and limited TV series. We have the full list of nominations below.
End of year collects all the best movies, tv shows and tv series to ceremonies that follow each other leading all the way to the Oscars ceremony. This year marks the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony that will be hosted by comedian, who’s a regular at this event, Ricky Gervais on January 5th.
Before we get into the list let’s address the Odds that make us “Boooo” this ceremony before it even starts. For first, this is another year the Oscars doesn’t nominate a female director. No deserving choices you say? Screen Rant lays out the silliness simply.
“Like any given year, there’ve been several critically-acclaimed films directed by women in 2019. Lulu Wang, for example, was heavily praised for adapting her real-life experiences into the tonal balancing act that is The Farewell, and her work was strong enough to land the movie a nomination in the non-English language category at the 2020 Golden Globes, even though she, herself, was not recognized. Meanwhile, Olivia Wilde made a splash with her feature-length helming debut on the raunchy coming of age comedy Booksmart, and even directed the film’s star, Beanie Feldstein, to an acting nod at the Golden Globes (as did Wang with Awkwafina on The Farewell), yet ended up being snubbed by the HFPA. Both Lorene Scafaria and Marielle Heller similarly directed actors to Golden Globe nominations with their respective true story based offerings Hustlers and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, but that wasn’t enough to land them some recognition, either.”
Plenty other phenomenal women created great films this year. Listing just a few more along with the above mentioned such as Greta Gerwing’s (again, previously ignored for Lady Bird) who directed Little Women, Alma Har’el director of Honey Boy, Melina Matouska of Queens & Slim and Kasi Lemmons director of Harriet.
Ofcourse we don’t want to make this an issue about WOMEN but really there’s no space for at least one? That’s first.
2. Bong Joon-Ho is the only non-white filmmaker nominated for Parasite.
3. Mostly appalled about the Netflix hits Watchmen and When They See Us being snubbed.
4. OH! And no recognition for Adam Sandler who definitely brought views to the TV series on Netflix and performed phenomenally on Uncut Gems. *side eye*
Now, here’s the full list of nominees for the 2020 Golden Globe Award Ceremony.
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Dolemite is my Name
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Cynthio Erivo, Harriet
Renée Zellweger, Judy
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Christian Bale, Ford v. Ferrari
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Awkwafina, The Farewell
Ana de Armas, Knives Out
Beanie Feldstein, Booksmart
Emma Thompson, Late Night
Cate Blanchett, Where’d You Go Bernadette
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Daniel Craig, Knives Out
Roman Griffin Davis, Jojo Rabbit
Taron Egerton, Rocketman
Eddie Murphy, Dolemite Is My Name
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
Annette Benning, The Report
Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Best Director – Motion Picture
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
Sam Mendes, 1917
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Todd Phillips, Joker
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story
Bong Joon-ho, Parasite
Anthony McCarten, The Two Popes
Steve Zaillian, The Irishman
Best Motion Picture – Animated
Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Beautiful Ghosts” – Cats
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” – Rocketman
“Spirit” – The Lion King
“Stand Up” – Harriet
“Into the Unknown” – Frozen 2
Best Television Series – Drama
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Helen Mirren, Catherine the Great
Merritt Wever, Unbelievable
Kaitlyn Dever, Unbelievable
Joey King, The Act
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Chris Abbott, Catch 22
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Spy
Russell Crowe, The Loudest Voice
Jared Harris, Chernobyl
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Drama
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Brian Cox, Succession
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Tobias Menzies, The Crown
Billy Porter, Pose
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
Kirsten Dunst, On Becoming a God in Central Florida
Rachel Brosnahan, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Ben Platt, The Politician
Paul Rudd, Living With Yourself
Rami Yousef, Rami
Bill Hader, Barry
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
Emily Watson, Chernobyl
Patricia Arquette, The Act
Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Andrew Scott, Fleabag
Stellan Skarsgård, Chernobyl
Henry Winkler, Barry
The 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs live on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
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Tag Archives: Miss D
Nov 3, 2013 · 1:39 pm
Jewish Israeli comic identifies with Irish Catholics and wants to kill her alter ego
Daphna Baram as ‘Miss D’ – Does she deserve to be killed off?
Daphna Baram is an Israeli living in the UK. Formerly a lawyer in Israel, she is now a freelance journalist who writes for newspapers such as the Guardian. She also performs as a comedian under the name Miss D. Until this year, she has always kept her Daphna Baram and Miss D personas separate.
But her Edinburgh Fringe show this year was called Killing Miss D.
I saw it in London last week and she is about to tour it round the UK.
“In the past,” I said to her, “you’ve had members of the Palestine Solidarity Group coming in to see your shows.”
“Yes,” agreed Daphna. “In Edinburgh and in Glasgow, I was calling on people to join the Palestine Solidarity Group. Though when they do come – a lot of them are serious political activists – they like the political bits in my shows but I’m not sure how comfortable they are about the Miss D bits. I think that is the thing with my shows. Nobody ever gets everything what they expect; they always get more than they bargained for.
“I’ve been an activist on Palestine for many years and it comes into my writing and my comedy and journalism and everything I do. But I can’t do only political material.”
“Which,” I said, “is the divergence in your shows between Daphna Baram and your comedian persona Miss D.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “So Killing Miss D is about the gap between Daphna Baram, the good conscientious political journalist and ex-lawyer who wants to liberate Palestine… and Miss D… and how I try to kill Miss D because you and all sorts of people kept saying: Stop performing as Miss D; start performing as you.
Miss D – pushy, sassy, pretty rambunctious?
“I tried and tried to be solely myself, but Miss D kept pushing me off the stage. So, in the end, the division of labour on Killing Miss D is this: Daphna has written the show but Miss D says she is performing it because she is the better performer. And, the way Miss D sees it, she performs it because she is pretty and I’m not.
“Instead of trying to eliminate each other off stage, we are talking together about how we tried to kill each other. Miss D by giving Daphna a heart attack, by living a wild life, by taking all sorts of risks and misbehaving. And… well, in the show, Miss D explains how Daphna is trying to kill her.”
“So,” I said, “it’s just a comedy show. Not therapy.”
“Massively therapy,” replied Daphna. “Very Gestalt. But I don’t like shows that are therapeutic in the sense that the act is falling on the neck of the audience and asking them for salvation. I think it’s good to do a show that is therapeutic after you’ve already done the therapy and done the process of integrating your characters. I could not have done this show while Daphna Baram and Miss D were very acrimonious to each other.”
“What’s the difference between the two?” I asked.
“Miss D is funny.”
“But Daphna Baram is funny too,” I said.
“Daphna’s funny,” admitted Daphna, “but she also knows irony and has political jokes. Miss D is… Well, reviewers always say she’s sassy and vivacious and loud. One word someone suggested on Facebook was ‘rambunctious’ and I like the sound of that. I guess she’s most often called ‘sassy’.”
“I instinctively feel you are,” I said, “but I’m never too sure exactly what ‘sassy’ means when referring to comedians.”
Daphna was at the Fringe this August
“I think it means ‘has big tits’ doesn’t it?” replied Daphna.
“That would be it,” I agreed.
“My act is difficult to describe,” said Daphna.
“You were,” I said, “in a ‘Best of Irish’ show at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Despite the fact you’re an Israeli Jew.”
“I think it’s easier for people from the Eastern Mediterranean,” she said, “to gel with the Irish than for us to gel with the English. I don’t know if it’s a Celtic thing. Maybe it’s a bit of a Catholic thing.”
“You gel with them because you’re Catholic?” I asked.
“I think all Jews are kind of Catholic.”
“Maybe it’s the guilt,” I suggested,.
“I think,” said Daphna, “it’s something to do with the sense of… I think… I think when I met Irish people, I mainly thought They’re Arabs.”
“You are an Israeli,” I pointed out to Daphna. “You’re not supposed to get on with the Arabs.”
“But we ARE kind of Arabs.”
“Semitic, yeah,” I said.
“We’re similar in our traditions,” explained Daphna, “in the way we view the… We have big families… We have a strong sense of friendship… Our friends become part of our extended family… You can very quickly become someone’s Best Mate after three hours of drinking.”
“So this is an Israeli admitting the Arabs and Israeli are actually all the same Semitic people?” I asked.
“It’s not a race thing…” said Daphna.
“You may be right,” I said. “The Irish like killing each other… just like the Arabs and Israelis like killing each other. It’s like supporters of two football teams in the same city hating each other.”
“This is not what I’m trying to say,” said Daphna. “Maybe I just like the Irish cos they’re great guys.”
Daphna Baram looking surprisingly Irish in Dublin last week
“So how,” I asked, “did they explain on stage that, in a show billed as ‘Best of Irish Comedy’, there was suddenly a Jewish Israeli woman performing.”
“They didn’t explain,” said Daphna. “They just introduced me.”
“That’s very Irish,” I said.
“I had to go on stage and explain which part of Ireland my accent stems from. I said I was from the Eastern Colonies.”
“Well, to look at you,” I said, “I suppose you could be Spanish and there’s lots of Spanish blood in southern Ireland from the Armada when the sailors got washed ashore from the ships that sank.”
“It’s not a race thing,” said Daphna.
Filed under Comedy, Ireland, Israel, Palestine, Politics
Tagged as comedy, Daphna Baram, edinburgh fringe, Ireland, Israel, Miss D, Palestine, politics, uk
Jun 17, 2011 · 10:21 am
Shoreditch dreams – Satanic stand-up comedy and Lycra-clad policemen
Perhaps it was the fact I only had two hours sleep the previous night.
But what is it with Shoreditch in London?
It seems to have aspirations to be trendy Islington but its pockets of aspiring Yuppieness have been dropped down into what, at night, seems like a set from a Jack The Ripper film – jet-black stone streets with added 21st century traffic. It’s like King’s Cross but darker and with less investment.
Shoreditch is a dark night-time nether corner of schizophrenic Hackney, where partly-trendy-yet-immensely-downmarket Hoxton meets a corner of Hackney proper and the world that was the Kray Twins’ Bethnal Green, which now has 1950s Brits intermingled with penniless immigrants who have nothing but hope in two generations time.
And round the corner from all this sit the glass towers and stone solidity of the City of London.
Shoreditch is a very strange place.
The area is like some darkly surreal imagining on the thin border where a dream may or may not turn into a nightmare.
So, a couple of nights ago, I went to Shoreditch after only a couple of hours sleep the previous night with these thoughts in my mind and comedy in my heart.
Yes, I have no fear of bad writing.
I went to see the weekly Cantaloopy Comedy show run by Miss D aka the interesting part-comedian, part serious journalist that is Daphna Baram.
Last time I went, the Cantaloupe pub cat stole the show, meandering across the stage and occasionally finding high points from which to look down disdainfully at the performing comedians.
This time, sadly for me, there was no cat but also, sadly, no headliner Arthur Smith, whose mother had had a bad fall. Daphna reckons I am bad luck when I go to one of her gigs. She may be right.
But the Cantaloopy bill was so choc-a-bloc, the lack of the two main attractions did not damage the show.
One highlight for me was Janet Bettesworth, who is just plain weird and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. It had nothing to do with my lack of sleep. It has something to do with her Joanna Lumley voice, the dry sometimes almost literary delivery, the unexpected shock of red hair and her extraordinary transformation late in the act into a comedy ventriloquist with Hammer Horror hints. It was like watching a refined relative talk sweetly to you but with a whiff of the Satanic and dark deeds behind the curtains of Middle England wafting from the stage. I began, at one point, to think I must be hallucinating.
Highly entertained and utterly fascinated… but hallucinating.
This can’t be happening, I thought.
Yet it was and I was pleased it was.
I knew it wasn’t my lack of sleep. I had seen Janet Bettesworth before and was equally mesmerised before.
I had never seen David Mills before despite the fact he was recently crowned New Act of the Year – the highly prestigious award formerly known as the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year and proof that something good can occasionally come out of Hackney.
But I was amazed how a totally top-notch professional camp American of this quality had escaped my radar. Especially as he has apparently lived in the UK for a decade. Much like Maureen Younger being a new act for me at a Pull The Other One gig a couple of weeks ago.
Curiouser and curiouser.
A few weeks ago, someone mistook me for Antipodean intellectual Clive James. At Cantaloopy, David Mills said I reminded him of Shrek. I know which I prefer. But alas I know which is more realistic.
Altogether an unusual night in Shoreditch especially when, on my walk back to the car, I bumped into Noel Faulkner just leaving his Comedy Cafe venue and, after crossing Shoreditch High Street, he became fascinated by the sight of two police cars pursuing a man on a skateboard.
“The guy should just keep going,” Noel said to me. “Police cars will never catch a skateboard.”
When I reached my own car I saw, up an adjacent side street, two policemen and a policewoman milling around in the middle of the road while another two policemen were climbing up on a wall to look over railings into a graveyard.
I wondered what the man had done. Perhaps we are on the cusp of a spate of major skateboard robberies which will be countered by Scotland Yard establishing a Skateboard Squad of Lycra-clad coppers.
Or perhaps I just need more sleep.
Filed under Comedy, Movies
Tagged as American, Arthur Smith, Bethnal Green, borough, Britain, camp, Cantaloopy, cars, Clive James, club, comedian, comedy, Comedy Cafe, coppers, cops, culture clash, Daphna Baram, David Mills, film, Hackney, Hammer, horror, Hoxton, immigrants, Islington, Jack the Ripper, Janet Bettesworth, Joanna Lumley, Kray brothers, Kray Twins, Krays, london, lycra, Miss D, movie, New Act of the Year, Noel Faulkner, police, Satanic, Scotland Yard, Shoreditch, Shrek, skateboard, Skateboard Squad, stand up, trendy, uk, United Kingdom, ventriloquist, Victoria, Yuppie, yuppy
Mar 3, 2011 · 12:18 pm
I saw this comedian last night and I have no idea who he was… or if the act was good or just deeply odd
I am worried I am going to get even fatter and ultimately explode like Mr Creosote in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. I am also worried, having just re-read this blog entry, that I am turning into a mindless luvvie but without the glitz, glamour, class and cravat.
Yesterday I had lunch with Malcolm Hardee documentary director Jody VandenBurg and multi-talented multi-media writer Mark Kelly, who has that very rare thing: a genuinely very original TV idea. He was, at one time the stand-up comic Mr Nasty and he reminded me of one typical early Alternative Comedy incident in which comedy duo The Port Stanley Amateur Dramatic Society got banned from right-on vegetarian cabaret restaurant The Earth Exchange… for throwing ham sandwiches at the audience.
This was actually part of their normal act but proved far too non-PC an anarchic step for the militant non-carnivores at the Earth Exchange which was so small I’m surprised they actually had space to move their arms backwards to throw the offensive sandwiches.
Mark also remembered having his only serious falling-out with Malcolm Hardee at the Tunnel Palladium comedy club after Malcolm put on stage a female fanny farting act who, at the time, might or might not have been a girlfriend or ex-girlfriend of local Goldsmiths College art student Damien Hirst. Mark felt the audience – and, indeed, Malcolm – might have been laughing at the performer rather than with the act.
Knowing Malcolm, I guess it might have been a bit of both.
(Note to US readers, “fanny” has a different meaning in British and American English.)
So, anyway I had a very nice ham omelette and banana split with Mark and Jody downstairs at The Stockpot in Old Compton Street, Soho, and then Irish comic/musician/vagabond Andrias de Staic arrived. I know him from his wonderful Edinburgh Fringe shows Around The World on 80 Quid and The Summer I Did the Leaving, but he is currently appearing until 2nd April in the Woody Guthrie musical Woody Sez at the Arts Theatre in London’s West End.
I swear that, the last time I met Aindrias – and it was only last year – he was 5ft 9ins tall. He confirmed this height to me. Yesterday he was 6ft 1in tall.
“It’s the theatrical work,” he told me. “It makes you stand straighter and taller.”
For a moment, I believed him. Then I realised it was rubbish. Then I started to wonder if it could be true.
Or perhaps I am shrinking. The uncertainty of life can be a constant worry.
After that, I went to the weekly Rudy’s Comedy Night gig at Rudy’s Revenge in High Holborn to see Miss D perform an interestingly different routine in which she gave advice on what to do and what not to do when having a heart attack – something she knows about, having had one in June 2009.
The gig was also notable because I saw for the first time the extremely funny and talented compere Katerina Vrana… and an extraordinary act by a man claiming to be an archaeologist about having a hawk on his arm. I missed his name. If you know, tell me, because it had the same effect on me as watching Anthony Newley’s Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? in a Kensington cinema one afternoon etched on my memory in 1969. Perhaps I mean the experience scarred me for life. When the movie finished, I sat there like a stunned halibut and thought What was that??!! and sat through it again to see what on earth I had been watching and whether I liked it. Except, of course, I didn’t have the opportunity to sit still and see this guy perform again last night.
He certainly had energy, that’s for sure.
As for Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? – it is highly recommended, provided you know what you are letting yourself in for.
It is a bit like North Korea in that respect.
(POSTSCRIPT: Within 5 minutes of posting this, two people Facebooked me to say the ‘hawk’ comedian is Paul Duncan McGarrity. The wonders of 21st century communications leave me in perpetual awe; I should, perhaps, get out more.)
Filed under Comedy, Movies, Theatre
Tagged as 1969, Aindrias de Staic, Alternative Comedy, American English, Anthony Newley, Around the World on 80 Quid, Arts Theatre, Britain, british, British English, cabaret, Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?, comedy, comedy club, comedy night, comic, Damien Hirst, Daphna Baram, documentary, Earth Exchange, Facebook, fanny, fart, farting, Goldsmiths College, Guardian, heart attack, High Holborn, humor, humour, Irish, Jody VandenBurg, Katerina Vrana, Kensington, london, luvvie, Malcolm hardee, Mark Kelly, Miss D, Monty Python, Mr Creosote, Mr Nasty, North Korea, Old Compton Street, original TV idea, Paul Duncan McGarrity, PC, politically correct, Port Stanley Amateur Dramatic Society, restaurant, revenge, Rudy’s, stand up, Stockpot, The Meaning of Life, The Summer I Did the Leaving, theatre, theatrical, Tunnel Palladium, US, vagabond, vegetarian, West End, Woody Guthrie, Woody Sez
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Home » You Can’t Take The Sky From Me – Firefly Yahtzee and Clue Sweeptakes
You Can’t Take The Sky From Me – Firefly Yahtzee and Clue Sweeptakes
November 12, 2014 by Tom Shewbridge 26 Comments
A Medic’s World and a great set of bloggers who is helping promote this giveaway brings you a chance to win both a Firefly version of Clue and Yahtzee from the fine folks over at USAopoly who is sponsoring the prize. If you want to see additional pictures and the review head over to A Medic’s World and check it out.
Firefly was a TV Show that was on the Fox Broadcasting Network and was pulled way before its time. A movie came out about a year later called “Serenity” also the name of the ship in the show. It was created by Joss Whedon and was one of the best things to ever hit TV til fox cancelled it after one season. It now has a huge cult following, as company’s like USAopoly create fantastic versions of board games based on the show.
One lucky individual is going to win both the Firefly Clue, and Firefly Yahtzee to add to their gaming collection. Will it be you? Open to residents of the US only, one entry per household, and attempts to cheat or enter more than once other than the daily tweets will void all entries. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or new winner will be selected. USAopoly is responsible for Prize Delivery. Participating Blogs were not compensated for this post. ~A Medic’s World.
If you can’t wait to win your own you can buy the Firefly Clue here for $39.99 and the Firefly Yahtzee (which I think is awesomely cool) here for $49.99.
Disclaimer: A Medic’s World was not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact medictom@gmail.com if you have any additional questions. If you would like to see your product/company featured like this contact Tom at tom@mompoweredmedia.com to see what we can do for your organization.
Filed Under: Contest, Giveaways Tagged With: Board Games, Clue, Family, firefly, Giveaway, serenity, Sweepstakes, Win, Yahtzee
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Trevor says
Risk has always been my favourite
We are huge Scrabble players here – so Super Scrabble looks challenging & FUN!
Daniel M says
scrabble is our fav
Stephanie O says
Munchkin!
Lisa T says
My favorite board games are Clue, Yahtzee, and Trivial Pursuit.
Sandra Watts says
My favorite game is Yahtzee. I like their Christmas Story Collector’s Edition.
Clue has always been our favorite family game the firefly version is awesome
Rhonda Best says
Clue is still one of our favorites. We have several different kinds.
Allyson Odell Hunter says
I love playing any of the Monopoly games, especially the classic – looking forward to picking up the new Zelda edition for my son for Christmas!
Catherine Haynes says
The Legend of Zelda Monopoly looks awesome!
sherry blamer says
I love playing scabble. These games look like so so much fun.
Megan Prater-Sanders says
I love playing Monopoly! However, Firefly is a favorite in our house and we are definitely looking for some new games!
Krysta B. says
I love Life 🙂
Jimmy B as in Browncoat says
My favorite games Risk, Monopoly and Clue.
I collect theme games for these and have several Risk and Monopoly sets.
carmen miller says
My favorite board game is monopoly. We used to play it at home when all my brothers and sisters were young. I never really got it or so I thought, because I would never win or I would lose the money. But when I played it with other people when grown, I beat them. I guess practice makes perfect, and all the times I did play, I chalk it up to experience.
Angelina S. says
My favorite is Firefly Clue : only played it once so far, but I loved it, and I can’t wait to play again.
Michelle Parker says
I love ya h t z e e . Thank you for the giveaway.
Teri Melton says
I have not played a board game in years, but I really loved Clue.
sheryl fowler says
loved to play monopoly with my eight brothers and sisters
Robbie H says
Thanks so much for the giveaway! One of my favorite board games is Clue AND Firefly is one of my favorite shows ever so this is awesome!
Victoria Torales says
I love Clue! D&D Clue would be so fun to play!
My favorite USAopoly game is Firefly clue!!
Benjamin Venable says
Clue looks cool – Yahtzee is a bit of a stretch. 🙂
Marc Bridie says
Love most of the games! Munchkin is great and of course Monopoly is a classic, so many to choose from!!
Love this! My favorite board game is Clue.
Maya D says
Of the games USAopoly has, my favorite is probably risk (it hasn’t ruined quite as many friendships as Monopoly) but I had no idea there were so many fandom versions of games out there!
Share your thoughts with me. I bet they are awesome! Cancel reply
A Proud Husband, U.S. Army Veteran, and 24 year Career Paramedic, turned blogger. I love talking about gadgets, tech, games, entertainment, travel, Sketch Card Art, hobbies, and more. Read More…
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[Docs] [txt|pdf|xml|html] [Tracker] [Email] [Diff1] [Diff2] [Nits]
Versions: 03 04 RFC 7059
Network Working Group S. Steffann
Internet-Draft S.J.M. Steffann Consultancy
Intended status: Informational I. van Beijnum
Expires: December 2, 2013 Institute IMDEA Networks
R. van Rein
OpenFortress
A Comparison of IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnel Mechanisms
draft-steffann-tunnels-04
This document provides an overview of various ways to tunnel IPv6
packets over IPv4 networks. It covers mechanisms in current use,
touches on several mechanisms that are now only of historic interest,
and discusses some newer tunnel mechanisms that are not (yet) widely
used at the time of publication. The goal of the document is helping
people with an IPv6-in-IPv4 tunneling need to select the mechanisms
that may apply to them.
This Internet-Draft will expire on December 2, 2013.
Steffann, et al. Expires December 2, 2013 [Page 1]
Internet-Draft IPv6 tunnels May 2013
3. Tunnel Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.1. Configured Tunnels (Manual Tunnels / 6in4) . . . . . . . . 7
3.2. Automatic Tunneling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3. IPv6 over IPv4 without Explicit Tunnels (6over4) . . . . . 8
3.4. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.5. Connection of IPv6 Domains via IPv4 Clouds (6to4) . . . . 10
3.5.1. 6to4 Provider Managed Tunnels . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.6. Anything In Anything (AYIYA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.7. Intra-site Automatic Tunnel Addressing (ISATAP) . . . . . 13
3.8. Tunneling IPv6 over UDP through NATs (Teredo) . . . . . . 14
3.9. IPv6 Rapid Deployment (6rd) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.10. Native IPv6 behind NAT44 CPEs (6a44) . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.11. Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.12. Subnetwork Encapsulation and Adaptation Layer (SEAL) . . . 18
3.13. Peer-to-Peer IPv6 on Any Internetwork (6bed4) . . . . . . 18
4. Related Protocols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1. Tunnel Setup Protocol (TSP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.2. SixXS Heartbeat Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.3. Tunnel Information and Control protocol (TIC) . . . . . . 21
5. Common Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.1. Protocol 41 Encapsulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.2. NAT and Firewalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.3. MTU Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.4. IPv4 Addresses Embedded in IPv6 Addresses . . . . . . . . 25
6. Evaluation of Tunnel Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.1. Efficiency of IPv4 Address Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.2. Supported Network Topologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3. Robustness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.4. Gateway State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.5. Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7. IANA considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
9. Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
10. Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
11. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Appendix A. Evaluation Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
During the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, IPv6 islands are separated
by a sea of IPv4. Tunnels provide connectivity between these IPv6
islands. Tunnels work by encapsulating IPv6 packets inside IPv4
packets, as shown in the figure.
| IPv4 |
| Header |
+---------------+ : Optional :
| IPv6 | : Encapsulation :
| Header | : Header :
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Transport | | IPv6 |
| Layer | ===> | Header |
| Header | +---------------+
+---------------+ | Transport |
| | | Layer |
~ Data ~ | Header |
| | +---------------+
+---------------+ | |
~ Data ~
| |
Encapsulating IPv6 in IPv4
Various tunnel mechanisms have been proposed over time. So many in
fact, that it is difficult to get an overview.
Some tunnel mechanisms have been abandoned by the community, others
have known problems and yet others have shown to be reliable. Some
tunnel mechanisms were designed with a particular use-case in mind,
others are generic. There may be documented limitations as well as
limitations that have cropped up in deployment.
This document provides an overview of available and/or noteworthy
tunnel mechanisms, with the intention to guide selection of the best
mechanism for a particular purpose. As such, the discussion of the
different tunnel mechanisms is limited to the working principles of
the different mechanisms and a few important details.
Please use the references to learn the full details of each
mechanism. For brevity, only the most relevant documents are
referenced. Refer to these for additional specifications, updates
and links to older versions of protocol specifications as well as
links to more general background information.
The intended audience for this document is everyone who needs a
connection to the IPv6 internet at large, but is not in the position
to use native (untunneled) IPv6 connectivity, and thus needs to
select an appropriate tunnel mechanism. However, when native IPv6
connectivity is availalble, this should be preferred over tunneled
connectivity as per rule 7 in section 6 of [RFC6724]. This document
is also intended as a quick reference to tunnel mechanisms for the
IETF community.
The scope of this document is limited to tunnel mechanisms for
providing IPv6 connectivity over an IPv4 infrastructure. Mechanisms
for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and security architectures such
as IPSec [RFC4301], as well as IPv4 over IPv6 tunneling are out of
scope for this document as they serve a different purpose, even if
they could technically be used to provide IPv6 connectivity.
Anycast: Mechanism to provide a service, in multiple locations
and/or using multiple servers, by configuring each server with the
same IP address.
Carrier Grade NAT (CGN): A Network Address Translation (see NAT)
device used by an ISP so multiple subscribers can be served using
a single IPv4 address.
Dual stack: Also known as "dual IP layer". Nodes run IPv4 and IPv6
side by side, and can communicate with other dual stack nodes
(using IPv4 or IPv6), as well as IPv4-only nodes (using IPv4) and
IPv6-only nodes (using IPv6). Most current operating systems are
set up to use IPv4 when available as well as use IPv6 when
available, allowing them to run in IPv4-only, IPv6-only or dual
stack mode as circumstances permit. Except for a few things
concerning the Domain Name System (DNS), there is no separate
specification for dual stack beyond the specifications relevant to
running IPv4 and IPv6. Dual stack is one of the three IPv4-to-
IPv6 transition tools; the others are translation and tunnels.
Encapsulation: Transporting packets as data inside another packet.
For instance, an IPv6 packet inside an IPv4 packet.
Firewall: A device that selectively filters IP packets, allowing
some protocols through but not others. A firewall may act as a
switch, operating below the IP layer, or as a router.
Host: A device that communicates using the Internet Protocol and
only transmits packets from its own address.
ISP: Internet Service Provider; the party connecting the outside of
the local network's perimeter to the public Internet.
MTU: Maximum Transmission unit, the maximum size of a packet that
can be transmitted over a link (or tunnel) without splitting it
into multiple fragments.
NAT: Network Address Translation or Network Address Translator. NAT
makes it possible for a number of hosts to share a single IP
address. TCP and UDP port numbers are used to distinguish the
traffic to/from different hosts served by the NAT; protocols other
than TCP and UDP may be incompatible with NAT due to lack of port
numbers. NAT also breaks protocols that depend on the IP
addresses used in some way. Typically, NAT devices behave as a
host towards the public internet, and as a router towards the
internal network.
NBMA: Non-Broadcast, Multiple Access. This is a network
configuration in which nodes can exchange packets directly by
addressing them at the desired destination. However, broadcasts
or multicasts are not supported, so autodiscovery mechanisms such
as IPv6 Neighbour Discovery must be modified to use unicast to
Node: A device that implements IP, either a host or a router; also
known as a system. See note at "NAT".
Path stretch: The difference between the shortest path through the
network and the path (tunneled) packets actually take.
PMTUD: Path MTU Discovery, a method to determine the smallest MTU on
the path between two nodes. There are separate specifications for
PMTUD over IPv4 [RFC1191] and IPv6 [RFC1981].
Router: A device that forwards IP packets that it didn't generate
itself. See note at "NAT".
System: A device that implements IP, either a host or a router; a
network node.
Translation: The IPv6 and IPv4 headers are similar enough that it is
possible to translate between them. This allows IPv6-only hosts
to communicate with IPv4-only hosts. The original specification
for translating between IPv6 and IPv4, was heavily criticised by
the Internet Architecture Board, but new specifications for
translating between IPv6 and IPv4 were later published [RFC6145].
Translation is of the three IPv4-to-IPv6 transition tools; the
others are dual stack and tunnels.
Tunnel: By encapsulating IPv6 packets inside IPv4 packets, IPv6-
capable hosts and IPv6-capable networks isolated from other IPv6-
capable systems or the IPv6 internet at large can exchange IPv6
packets over IPv4-only infrastructure. There are numerous ways to
tunnel IPv6 over IPv4. This document compares these mechanisms.
One of the three IPv4-to-IPv6 transition tools; the others are
translation and dual stack.
Tunnel broker: A service that provides tunneled connectivity to the
IPv6 internet, such as [SIXXS], [TUNBROKER] and [GOGO6].
3. Tunnel Mechanisms
Automatic tunnels (Section 3.2), configured tunnels (Section 3.1),
6over4 (Section 3.3), 6to4 (Section 3.5), ISATAP (Section 3.7) and
6rd (Section 3.9) solve similar problems at different scales. They
all encapsulate IPv6 packets immediately inside an IPv4 packet,
without using additional headers. This is called "protocol 41
encapsulation" (see Section 5.1), as the Protocol field in the IPv4
header is set to 41 to indicate that what follows is an IPv6 packet.
Each of these mechanisms also creates an IPv6 address for the host or
router running the protocol based on the system's IPv4 address in one
way or another (see Section 5.4). This lets 6to4, 6rd, ISATAP and
automatic tunnels determine the IPv4 destination address in the outer
IPv4 header from the IPv6 address of the destination, allowing for
automatic operation without the need to administratively configure
the remote tunnel endpoint.
6over4 and ISATAP provide IPv6 connectivity between IPv6-capable
systems within a single organisation's network that is otherwise
IPv4-only. 6rd allows ISPs to provide IPv6 connectivity to their
customers over IPv4-only last mile infrastructures. 6to4 directly
provides connectivity to the global IPv6 internet without involving
an ISP.
Configured tunnels (Section 3.1) also use protocol 41 encapsulation,
but rely on manual configuration of the remote tunnel endpoint. (The
Heartbeat Protocol (Section 4.2) solves this.) Configured tunnels
can be used within an organisation's network, but are typically used
by tunnel broker services to provide connectivity to the IPv6
internet. GRE (Section 3.4) is similar to configured tunnels, but
also supports tunnel protocols other than IPv6.
AYIYA (Section 3.6) is similar to configured tunnels and GRE, but
typically uses a UDP header for better compatibility with NATs and is
generally used with TIC (Section 4.3) to set up the tunnel rather
than rely on manual configuration. Teredo (Section 3.8), 6a44
(Section 3.10) and 6bed4 (Section 3.13) are similar to 6to4, except
that they are designed to work through NATs by running over UDP. Of
these, Teredo and 6bed4 assume no ISP involvement and 6a44 does; and
6bed4 is designed to work over direct IPv4 paths between peers
whenever possible.
LISP (Section 3.11) is a system for abstracting the identifying
function from the location function of IP addresses, which allows for
the use of IPv6 for the former and IPv4 for the latter.
SEAL (Section 3.12)) and its companion technologies (VET, AERO, IRON
and RANGER) provide a configured tunnel system for IPv6-in-IPv4
tunneling to default routers as well as automatic tunnel endpoint
discovery for optimisation of more-specific routes.
Dual-Stack Lite [RFC6333] and MAP [I-D.ietf-softwire-map], both
developed by the IETF Softwire working group, often come up in
discussions about IPv6 tunneling. However, they are _not_ IPv6-in-
IPv4 tunnel mechanisms. They are IPv4-in-IPv6 mechanisms for
providing IPv4 connectivity over an IPv6 infrastructure.
Please refer to Section 5 for more information about issues common to
many tunnel mechanisms; those issues are not discussed separately for
each mechanism. The mechanisms are discussed below in roughly
chronological order of first publication.
3.1. Configured Tunnels (Manual Tunnels / 6in4)
Configured and automatic tunnels are the two oldest tunnel
mechanisms, originally published in "Transition Mechanisms for IPv6
Hosts and Routers" [RFC1933] in 1996. The latest specification of
configured tunnels is "Basic Transition Mechanisms for IPv6 Hosts and
Routers" [RFC4213], published in 2005. The mechanism is sometimes
called "manual tunnels", "static tunnels", "protocol 41 tunnels" or
"6in4".
Configured tunnels connect two systems in point-to-point fashion
using protocol 41 encapsulation. The configuration that the name of
the mechanism alludes to consists of a remote "tunnel endpoint".
This is the IPv4 address of the system on the other side of the
tunnel. When a system (potentially) has multiple IPv4 addresses, the
local tunnel endpoint address may also need to be configured.
The need to explicitly set up a configured tunnel makes them more
difficult to deploy than automatic mechanisms. However, because
there is a fixed, single remote tunnel endpoint, performance is
predictable and easy to debug.
In the early days it was not unheard for a small network to get IPv6
connectivity from another continent. This excessive path stretch
makes communication over short geographic distances much less
efficient because the distance travelled by packets may be larger
than the geographic distance by an order of magnitude or more.
Configured tunnels are widely implemented. Common operating systems
can terminate configured tunnels, as well as IPv6-capable routers and
home gateways. The mechanism is versatile, but is mostly used
between isolated smaller IPv6-capable networks and the IPv6 internet,
often through a "tunnel broker" such as tunnelbroker.net [TUNBROKER],
SixXS [SIXXS] or [GOGO6].
[RFC4891] discusses the use of IPsec to protect the confidentiality
and integrity of IPv6 traffic exchanged over configured tunnels.
3.2. Automatic Tunneling
Automatic tunneling is described in [RFC2893], "Transition Mechanisms
for IPv6 Hosts and Routers", but removed in [RFC4213], which is an
update of RFC 2893. Configured tunnels (Section 3.1) are closely
related to automatic tunnels and are specified in RFCs 2893 and 4213,
too. Both use protocol 41 encapsulation.
Hosts that are capable of automatic tunneling use special IPv6
addresses: IPv4-compatible addresses. An IPv4-compatible IPv6
address consists of 96 zero bits followed by the system's IPv4
address. When sending packets to destinations within the IPv4-
compatible ::/96 prefix, the IPv4 destination address in the outer
IPv4 header is taken from the IPv4 address in the IPv4-compatible
IPv6 destination address.
Automatic tunneling has a big limitation: it only allows for
communication between IPv6-capable systems that both support
automatic tunneling. There are no provisions for communicating with
the native IPv6 internet. As such, the mechanism is of almost no
practical use and is not implemented in current operating systems, as
6to4 (Section 3.5) does what automatic tunneling was supposed to do,
but also provides connectivity to the rest of the IPv6 internet.
3.3. IPv6 over IPv4 without Explicit Tunnels (6over4)
"Transmission of IPv6 over IPv4 Domains without Explicit Tunnels"
[RFC2529] was published in 1999. The mechanism is commonly known as
"6over4".
6over4 is designed to work within a single organisation's IPv4
network, where IPv6-capable hosts and routers are separated by IPv4-
only routers. 6over4 treats the IPv4 network as a "virtual Ethernet"
for the purpose of IPv6 communication. It uses IPv4 multicast to
tunnel IPv6 multicast packets. A node's IPv4 address is included in
the Interface Identifier used on the virtual 6over4 interface,
allowing the exchange of protocol 41 encapsulated packets between
6over4 nodes without prior administrative configuration.
Because multicast is supported, standard IPv6 Neighbour Discovery and
Stateless Address Autoconfiguration [RFC4862] can be used. Although
like automatic tunnels (Section 3.2) and other mechanisms, 6over4
embeds the IPv4 address of the host is in the IPv6 address, the
destination IPv4 address in the outer IPv4 header is *not* derived
from the IPv6 address embedded in the inner IPv6 header, but learnt
through Neighbour Discovery [RFC4861]. In effect, the IPv4 addresses
of the hosts are used as link-layer addresses, in the same way that
MAC addresses are used on Ethernet networks.
One or more routers with connectivity to the global IPv6 internet
send out Router Advertisements to provide 6over4 hosts with
connectivity to the rest of the IPv6 internet.
6over4 has the minimal protocol 41 encapsulation overhead and doesn't
require manual configuration. Hosts can only take advantage of
6over4 if they run the mechanism themselves. 6over4 packets can't
pass through a NAT successfully, as the IPv4 address exchanged
through Neighbour Discovery will be different from the one needed to
reach the host in question, and because without port numbers,
protocol 41 doesn't allow for multiplexing multiple hosts using this
encapsulation behind a single IPv4 address. However, 6over4 works
within IPv4 domains that reside behind a NAT in their entirety and
use [RFC1918] addressing.
Because of its reliance on IPv4 multicast and because local IPv6
communication is relatively easy to facilitate using IPv6 routers,
6over4 is not supported in current operating systems. ISATAP
(Section 3.7) provides very similar functionality without requiring
IPv4 multicast capability, and is implemented more widely.
3.4. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)
Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) [RFC2784] is a generic point-to-
point tunnel mechanism that allows many other protocols to be
encapsulated in IP.
GRE is a simple protocol which is similar to configured tunnels
(Section 3.1) when used for IPv6-in-IPv4 tunneling. The main benefit
of GRE is that it can not only encapsulate IPv6 packets but any
protocol. The GRE header causes an extra overhead of 8 to 16 bytes
depending on which options are used. GRE sets the Protocol field in
the IP header to 47.
The GRE header can optionally contain a checksum, a key to separate
different traffic flows (for example, different tunnels) between the
same end points and a sequence number that can be used to prevent
packets from being processed out of order.
GRE is implemented in many routers, but not in most consumer-level
home gateways or desktop operating systems.
3.5. Connection of IPv6 Domains via IPv4 Clouds (6to4)
6to4 is specified in "Connection of IPv6 Domains via IPv4 Clouds"
[RFC3056]. It creates a block of IPv6 addresses from a locally
configured IPv4 address by concatenating that IPv4 address to the
prefix 2002::/16, resulting in a /48 IPv6 prefix. Addresses in
2002::/16 are considered reachable through the tunnel interface, so
the 6to4 network functions as a non-broadcast, multiple access (NBMA)
network through which 6to4 users can communicate. IPv6 packets are
encapsulated by adding an IPv4 header with the Protocol field set to
The /48 prefix allows a single system running 6to4 to act as a
gateway or router for a large number of IPv6 hosts. Alternatively,
an individual host may run 6to4 and not act as a gateway or router.
The system running 6to4 must have a globally reachable IPv4 address.
Using 6to4 with a private IPv4 address [RFC1918] is not possible.
"An Anycast Prefix for 6to4 Relay Routers" [RFC3068] specifies an
anycast mechanism for 6to4 relays that provide connectivity between
the 6to4 network and the regular IPv6 internet. All public relays
share the IPv4 address 192.88.99.1, which corresponds to 2002:c058:
6301::. Relays advertise reachability towards 2002::/16 towards the
native IPv6 internet, so packets addressed to systems using 6to4
addresses are routed to the closest gateway. The gateway
encapsulates these packets and forwards them to the IPv4 address
included in the IPv6 address. Systems running 6to4 have a default
route pointing to 2002:c058:6301::, so they tunnel packets addressed
to non-6to4 IPv6 destinations to the closest relay, which
decapsulates the packet and forwards them as IPv6 packets.
The 6to4 protocol adds minimal protocol 41 overhead and requires no
manual configuration from users. The biggest problem specific to
Steffann, et al. Expires December 2, 2013 [Page 10]
6to4 is that it is unpredictable which 6to4 anycast relay is used.
These relays are often provided by third parties on a best-effort
basis. In practice this has caused unpredictable performance.
Traffic from the 6to4 network to the regular IPv6 internet will
likely use a different 6to4 relay than the traffic in the opposite
direction. If either of those relays is not reliable then the
communication between those networks is affected. Especially the
lack of control over the relay used for return traffic is considered
to be a problem with 6to4.
To avoid problems with 6to4 the IPv6 Default Address Selection
algorithm [RFC6724] gives IPv4 addresses a higher preference than
6to4 addresses. When making a connection a system will prefer native
IPv6 over IPv4, and IPv4 over 6to4 IPv6. This causes 6to4 to be used
only when a destination is not reachable over IPv4 and no other IPv6
connectivity is available.
For more information about 6to4, see "Advisory Guidelines for 6to4
Deployment" [RFC6343].
*Warning*:
Although many, if not all, 6to4 implementations disable the mechanism
when the system only has an RFC 1918 address, recently a block of
IPv4 address has been set aside for use in service provider operated
Network Address Translators, also known as Carrier Grade NAT (CGN).
[RFC6598] sets aside the block 100.64.0.0/10 for the use between CGNs
and subscriber devices. As 100.64.0.0/10 is not an RFC 1918 address
block, systems implementing 6to4 may fail to disable the mechanism,
but due to the shared nature of the 100.64.0.0/10 prefix, 6to4 cannot
work using these addresses. The same issue is present if an ISP
decides to use regular global unicast IPv4 address space behind a
CGN.
3.5.1. 6to4 Provider Managed Tunnels
[RFC6732] describes "6to4 Provider Managed Tunnels", which is a way
to make 6to4 work behind a CGN. This is accomplished by running a
6to4 gateway at the 6to4 gateway anycast address, and then
translating the IPv6 addresses used by 6to4 users behind the CGN to
IPv6 addresses from the ISP's range. Unlike IPv4 NAT, where multiple
internal hosts share a single public IPv4 address, prefix translation
translates entire prefixes, so each host has its own public IPv6
address and can receive incoming packets as usual.
However, if IPv6 applications are not aware that translation is
happening (and they have no reason to expect that it is), they may
not use their externally visible address in referrals, so
applications that use referrals are likely to fail. Additionally,
the translation is only specified for packets that flow through the
6to4 gateway, not for packets sent directly to other 6to4 users. So
communication with other 6to4 users is not possible. As such, the
use of 6to4 provider managed tunnels is discouraged except as a very
last resort.
3.6. Anything In Anything (AYIYA)
AYIYA [AYIYA] is designed for use by the SIXXS [SIXXS] tunnel broker
service. The specification has been published as an Internet-Draft
[I-D.massar-v6ops-ayiya].
The AYIYA protocol defines a method for encapsulating any protocol in
any other protocol. The most common way of deploying AYIYA is to use
the following sequence of headers: IPv4-UDP-AYIYA-IPv6, although
other combinations like IPv4-AYIYA-IPv6 or IPv6-SCTP-AYIYA-IPv4 are
also possible. The draft does not limit the contents nor the
protocol that carries the AYIYA packets. In this document we only
look at the most common usage (IPv4-UDP-AYIYA-IPv6) which is deployed
on the SixXS tunnel brokers to provide IPv6 access to clients behind
NAT devices.
AYIYA specifies the encapsulation, identification, checksum, security
and certain management operations that can be used once the tunnel is
established. It does not specify how the tunnel configuration
parameters can be negotiated. Typically, the TIC protocol described
in Section 4.3 protocol is used for that part of the tunnel setup,
although the TSP protocol (Section 4.1) could be used.
AYIYA provides a point-to-point tunnel, over which the endpoints can
route traffic for any source and destination. When using SHA-1
hashing for authentication, as is common when using the AICCU client
with a SixXS tunnel server, the total packet overhead is 72 bytes (20
for the IPv4 header, 8 for UDP and 44 for AYIYA).
AYIYA provides operational commands for querying the hostname,
address, contact information, software version and last error
message. An operational command to ask the other side of the tunnel
to shut down is also available. These commands in the protocol can
make debugging of AYIYA tunnels easier if the tools support them.
The main advantage of AYIYA is that it can provide a stable tunnel
through an IPv4 NAT, and possibly multiple layers of NAT. The UDP
port numbers allow multiple AYIYA users to share a single IPv4
address behind a NAT.
The client will contact the tunnel server at regular intervals and
the tunnel server will automatically adapt to changing IPv4 addresses
and/or UDP port numbers. To prevent a third party from injecting
rogue packets into the tunnel the client can optionally be
authenticated by using the identity and signature fields. A
timestamp is included in the AYIYA header to guard against replay
There is currently a single implementation of this protocol: the
AICCU [AICCU] client software used with the SIXXS [SIXXS] tunnel
broker service.
3.7. Intra-site Automatic Tunnel Addressing (ISATAP)
ISATAP [RFC5214] uses protocol 41 encapsulation, to provide
connectivity between isolated IPv6-capable nodes within an
organisation's internal network. It is similar to 6over4
(Section 3.3), but without the requirement that the IPv4 network
supports multicast; unlike 6over4, ISATAP uses a Non-Broadcast
Multiple Access (NBMA) communication model and thus doesn't support
multicasts. The mechanism assigns IPv6 addresses whose interface
identifier is solely defined by a node's IPv4 address, which is
assumed to be unique.
In order to obtain a /64 prefix, an ISATAP host needs to send a
unicast Router Solicitation to receive a unicast Router Advertisement
from an ISATAP router. Without the ability to send and receive IPv6
multicasts, an ISATAP host must be configured with a Potential Router
List through an all-IPv4 mechanism, such as manual setup, DHCP or the
DNS. Site administrators are encouraged to use a DNS Fully Qualified
Domain Name using the convention "isatap.domainname" (e.g.,
isatap.example.com). Hosts will accept packets with IPv4 sender
addresses that are either on the Potential Router List, or that are
embedded in the IPv6 sender address.
The router's prefix and the IPv4 address together define the IPv6
address for the ISATAP interface. This means that precisely one
ISATAP address is available for each IPv4 address. As such, each
host needs to run ISATAP itself in order to enjoy ISATAP IPv6
connectivity. The IPv4 address in the destination IPv6 address is
used to bootstrap Neighbour Discovery.
[RFC5214] doesn't explicitly address the use of ISATAP using private
[RFC1918] addresses. Despite that, the mechanism seems compatible
with private addresses. NAT, however, breaks the relationship
between the IPv4 address embedded in the IPv6 address and would
therefore make communication between ISATAP hosts impossible. Any
device that can communicate with the ISATAP hosts over IPv4 using
protocol 41 can participate in the IPv6 subnet.
ISATAP is available in Windows, Linux and Cisco IOS.
3.8. Tunneling IPv6 over UDP through NATs (Teredo)
Teredo is specified in [RFC4380] and a few updates; it is designed as
an automatic tunnel mechanism of last resort. It can configure an
IPv6 address behind most NAT devices, but not all. Because Teredo
uses encapsulation in UDP, multiple Teredo clients can be
simultaneously active behind the same NAT. For each Teredo client, a
single IPv6 address is then created at the expense of a single
external UDP port.
The operation of Teredo is based on a classification of NAT [RFC3489]
as established during an interaction with a Teredo server. This
classification has since been obsoleted [RFC5389] because it assigns
more properties to NAT than achieved in reality.
Teredo is present in Windows XP and later, and is enabled by default
in Windows Vista and later. However, Windows will only use Teredo
connectivity as a way to connect to IPv6 destinations of last resort.
If no other IPv6 connectivity is present, Windows will not even look
up AAAA records when resolving domain names. This means that Teredo
is only used to connect to explicit IPv6 addresses obtained through
another mechanism than DNS. An open source implementation named
Miredo exists for other platforms.
The performance of Teredo falls noticeably short of that of IPv4.
The setup time of a connection involves finding a Teredo relay nearby
the native address to encapsulate and decapsulate traffic, and
finding this relay can take in the order of seconds. This process is
not sufficiently reliable; Teredo fails in about 37% [TERTST] of its
attempts to connect to native IPv6 destinations. The round trip time
of traffic can add tenths of a second, and jitter generally worsens
if it is dependent on a public relay.
Teredo clients need to be configured with a Teredo server when
setting up their local IPv6 address and when initiating a connection
to a native IPv6 destination. The hostnames of the Teredo servers
are usually pre-configured by the vendor of the Teredo
implementation. All Microsoft Windows implementation use Teredo
servers provided by Microsoft by default.
3.9. IPv6 Rapid Deployment (6rd)
6rd [RFC5969] is used by service providers to connect customer
networks behind a CPE to the IPv6 internet.
The structure of the 6rd protocol is based on 6to4 and it has the
same minimal overhead as all protocols that use protocol 41
encapsulation. The main differences between 6rd and 6to4 are that
6rd is meant to be used inside a service provider's network and does
not use a special IPv6 prefix but one or more prefixes routed to the
service provider. As such, 6rd users aren't immediately recognisable
by their IPv6 address the way 6to4 users are. Where 6to4 uses relays
based on global anycast routing 6rd uses relays provided and
maintained by the service provider. Because of this architecture the
tunnel does not traverse unknown networks which makes any debugging
much easier.
6rd is completely stateless once it is configured. The tunnel
endpoints can therefore be deployed using anycast. This is commonly
done for the 6rd border relays deployed by the service provider to
provide redundancy.
Because of the different prefix, the device used as the 6rd client
cannot use the hard-coded IPv6 prefix calculation and relay addresses
of 6to4. Instead, the 6rd client needs to receive configuration
information to work. In principle 6rd nodes may be configured in a
variety of ways, the most common one being through DHCP. If the
client receives its IPv4 address from a DHCPv4 server then the 6rd
configuration can be included in the DHCP message exchange using the
6rd DHCPv4 Option defined in [RFC5969]. Manual configuration of 6rd
options and configuration using [TR-069] is also possible.
The main advantage of using 6rd is that it allows service providers
to deploy IPv6 on last mile access networks that for some reason
cannot provide native IPv6 connectivity. It does not share the lack
of predictable routing that 6to4 suffers from, because all routing,
encapsulation and de-encapsulation is done by the service provider.
6rd is intended to be a service managed by an ISP or enterprise IT
department, which must explicitly make 6rd available for clients to
be able to use it.
3.10. Native IPv6 behind NAT44 CPEs (6a44)
Inspired by Teredo, the 6a44 tunnel is described in "Native IPv6
behind IPv4-to-IPv4 NAT Customer Premise Equipment (6a44)" [RFC6751].
Its purpose is to enable Internet Service Providers to establish IPv6
connectivity for their customers, in spite of the use of a CPE or
home gateway that is not prepared for IPv6. The infrastructure
required for this is a 6a44 relay in the ISP's network and a 6a44
client in the customer's internal network.
6a44 was explicitly designed to overcome the noted problems with
Teredo. Where Teredo was designed as a global solution without
dependency on ISP co-operation, the 6a44 tunnel explicitly assumes
ISP co-operation. Instead of using Teredo's well-known prefix, a /48
prefix out of the ISP's address space is used. A well-known
(anycast) IPv4 address has been assigned for the 6a44 relay to be run
inside the ISP network without client configuration. This well-known
address is allocated from the same IPv4 /24 as 6to4.
As part of its bootstrapping, a 6a44 client requests an address from
the 6a44 relay, and a regular keepalive sent by the 6a44 client to
the 6a44 relay keeps mapping state in NATs and firewalls on the path
alive. Traffic passed from the native IPv6 internet to 6a44 is
encapsulated in UDP and IPv4 by the relay and decapsulated by the
6a44 client; the opposite is done in the other direction.
3.11. Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP)
The Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) [RFC6830] is a protocol to
separate the identity of systems from their location on the internet
and/or internal network. The addresses of the systems are called
Endpoint Identifiers (EIDs) and the addresses of the gateways are
called Routing Locators (RLOCs). It is possible to use IPv6 EIDs
with IPv4 RLOCs and thereby use LISP for tunneling IPv6 over IPv4.
LISP defines its own packet formats for encapsulation of data packets
and for control messages. All such packets are then encapsulated in
UDP. Data packets use port 4341 and control packets use port 4342.
The LISP specification consists of several RFC documents. The
relevant ones for IPv6-in-IPv4 tunneling are the base specification
[RFC6830], Interworking between Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP)
and Non-LISP Sites [RFC6832] and the Locator/ID Separation Protocol
(LISP) Map-Server Interface [RFC6833].
+----+ +----+
| MS | | MR |
+----+ +----+ +-----+ /-----------\
| | /---| xTR |---| LISP site |
+------+ /------------\---/ +-----+ \-----------/
| PxTR |---| IP network |
+------+ \------------/---\ +-----+ /-----------\
| \---| xTR |---| LISP site |
/---------------\ +-----+ \-----------/
| Non-LISP site |
\---------------/
An example of a LISP deployment
LISP introduces new terminology and new concepts. The relevant ones
for this document are:
ITR: Ingress Tunnel Router, a router encapsulating data packets at
the border of a LISP site
ETR: Egress Tunnel Router, a router decapsulating data packets at
xTR: A router performing both the ITR and the ETR functions
PITR: Proxy ITR, a router accepting traffic from non-LISP sites,
encapsulating it and tunneling it to the LISP sites
PETR: Proxy ETR, a router accepting traffic from LISP sites to send
it to non-LISP sites
PxTR: A router performing both the PITR and the PETR functions
MS: Map Server, a server accepting RLOC registrations from ETRs
MR: Map Resolver, a server that can resolve queries for RLOCs from
LISP ETRs register the EID prefixes that they can handle traffic for
in one or more Map Servers. ITRs and PITRs can then query Map
Resolvers to determine which RLOCs to use when sending traffic to a
LISP site. PITRs advertise aggregates of EID prefixes to the global
routing table and provide tunneling services for them so that non-
LISP sites can reach LISP sites. PETRs provide a way for LISP sites
to send traffic to non-LISP sites.
LISP is a complex protocol if only used for tunneling. What it
provides additionally is that ETRs can advertise their own RLOC
addresses, that one site can have multiple xTRs with independent
RLOCs and that the LISP site administrator can specify priorities and
weights for those RLOCs. This provides redundancy and explicit load
balancing between RLOCs. It also provides automatic tunneling
between different sites without using a PxTR if both sites use Map
Servers and Map Resolvers that are interconnected, for example by
participating in the LISP Beta Network [LISPBETA]. To facilitate
these interconnections the LISP Delegated Database Tree (DDT) system
The LISP protocol is implemented on most Cisco devices. There are
implementations available for FreeBSD and Linux, as well as a
platform independent implementation in the Python programming
language. Note that for LISP to work, a mapping service not unlike
the DNS must be in place.
3.12. Subnetwork Encapsulation and Adaptation Layer (SEAL)
The Subnetwork Encapsulation and Adaptation Layer (SEAL)
[I-D.templin-intarea-seal] (along with its companion technologies
cited therein) provides a hybrid configured/automatic tunneling
system. SEAL itself provides a mid-layer of encapsulation between
the inner IPv6 header and the outer IPv4 header, i.e., as IPv4-SEAL-
IPv6. SEAL can also be used in conjunction with an outer UDP
encapsulation header, e.g., if NAT traversal is necessary.
The SEAL tunnel endpoint creates bidirectional configured tunnels to
reach default IPv6 routers, and discovers unidirectional automatic
tunnels. SEAL tunnels can be configured over multiple underlying
IPv4 links whether the addresses are provisioned from public or
private IPv4 addressing domains. In that case, multi-homing and
traffic engineering are naturally supported.
SEAL provides an optional 32-bit Identifier and variable-length
Integrity Check Vector that can be used for packet identification,
message origin authentication, anti-replay and a mid-layer
segmentation and reassembly capability. SEAL also provides a SEAL
Control Message Protocol (SCMP) used for neighbour coordinations
between tunnel endpoints. These coordinations are used for functions
such as tunnel MTU signalling, route optimisations, neighbour
reachability testing and so on.
SEAL ensures that packets that are no larger than 1500 bytes can be
transported through the tunnel by using a tunnel segmentation
function. IPv6 packets that are too large to transport through the
tunnel whole are split into segments. The segments are encapsulated
in IPv4 and reassembled into the original IPv6 packets at the remote
tunnel endpoint. SEAL also admits packets larger than 1500 bytes
into the tunnel on a best-effort basis in case the path between the
tunnel endpoints can support the larger size.
When SEAL is used alone without its companion technologies, it can be
used in the same scenarios as for GRE. However, SEAL provides
advanced capabilities that make it better suited than GRE for many
use cases. There is currently an experimental open source
implementation of SEAL.
3.13. Peer-to-Peer IPv6 on Any Internetwork (6bed4)
The 6bed4 tunnel is specified in "6bed4: Peer-to-Peer IPv6 on Any
Internetwork" [6BED4]. A specific goal of 6bed4 is to achieve direct
communication between peers when the intermediate infrastructure does
not prohibit it. The advantage of direct communication is to get a
performance level similar to IPv4. The address of a 6bed4 peer is
formed from the external IPv4 address and UDP port. The tunnel
service used for fallback connectivity can run anywhere; perhaps at
the local ISP or perhaps with a third party service provider for
6bed4, or even on a well-known address. It is currently an NBMA
protocol; there are openings for expansion with multicast.
The setup of 6bed4 is somewhat similar to 6to4, except that it
employs UDP so it can be used behind NAT. It also has elements found
in Teredo, but without a need to classify NATs and induce behaviour
from that. The 6bed4 tunnel makes no assumption NAT devices beyond
straightforward UDP support. Given this, 6bed4 can create reliable
IPv6 tunnels.
In environments where direct connections between 6bed4 peers is
possible, additional path stretch compared to IPv4 communication is
avoided, so 6bed4 performance comes close to IPv4 performance. In
situations where this is not possible run over the direct path
between two peers because a NAT that does not conform to [RFC4787] is
on the path, a fallback to a tunnel server is used. This increases
path stretch and affects scalability through its impact on roundtrip
times and jitter.
Another area where the tunnel server is needed, is for connectivity
between 6bed4 peers and native IPv6 hosts. For reasons of
performance and scalability, connections between 6bed4 peers are
preferred over connections between a 6bed4 peer and a native IPv6
host. A default address exists to support zero-config operation, but
it is possible to locally configure a tunnel server as a fallback
route, which then also defines the tunnel server for the return path.
6bed4 has been specifically designed to support realtime interactive
traffic streams, such as SIP calls, between 6bed4-supporting end
points, assuming that each prefers 6bed4-to-6bed4 traffic over 6bed4-
to-native traffic. Under that premise, the only hosts that need to
go through a tunnel server are those that are behind a NAT with
Address-Dependent Mapping or Address and Port-Dependent Mapping. A
number of different implementations of 6bed4 have been constructed
[6BED4] during the ongoing development of its specification.
4. Related Protocols
The following protocols are not tunnel mechanisms but they can be
used in the configuration and/or setup phase of such protocols.
4.1. Tunnel Setup Protocol (TSP)
The Tunnel Setup Protocol [RFC5572] specifies a protocol for
negotiating the setup of a variety of tunnel encapsulations. In this
document we are only interested in the encapsulation of IPv6 in IPv4.
The Tunnel Setup Protocol can negotiate these as a protocol 41
encapsulated tunnel or as a UDP-encapsulated tunnel. The tunnel
negotiation is performed as an XML exchange over UDP or TCP.
As a TSP client exchanges all IPv6 traffic with the same tunnel
server, there are no concerns caused by NAT implementations. The
only concern is to send regular keepalives, for which ICMPv6 ping
messages to the tunnel server are suggested. When encapsulating IPv6
packets directly in IPv4, all protocol 41 limitations apply. To
avoid these, an additional UDP header may be used.
The Tunnel Setup Protocol treats all protocols and ports for one IPv4
client address as equivalent. This suffices when protocol 41 is
used, but for UDP it creates a situation where one user can set up a
tunnel behind NAT, and another user could hijack the tunnel
privileges.
Open source clients for the Tunnel Setup Protocol and a matching
tunnel infrastructure are provided from the freenet6 tunnel service
[GOGO6].
4.2. SixXS Heartbeat Protocol
The SixXS Heartbeat Protocol [I-D.massar-v6ops-heartbeat] allows
nodes that have intermittent connectivity or a dynamic IPv4 address
that changes from time to time to have continuing tunneled IPv6
connectivity. One of the goals of the protocol is to determine when
a node is no longer present at its previous IPv4 address and then
stop sending tunneled packets to avoid tunneled packets from being
delivered to the wrong node. The Heartbeat Protocol then allows a
tunnel broker to determine a client's new IPv4 address and continue
sending tunneled packets with minimal interruption.
To accomplish this, a node sends periodic heartbeat packets to the
tunnel broker. If the tunnel broker fails to receive valid heartbeat
packets, it shuts down the tunnel in question. Heartbeat packets
contain an MD5 message authentication code and a timestamp to avoid
replay attacks. The Heartbeat Protocol can work with different
tunnel mechanisms, but it is often used with configured tunnels
(Section 3.1).
The protocol is implemented in the SixXS tunnel broker; client
implementations are available for common operating systems. AYIYA
can be considered the successor of the Heartbeat Protocol.
4.3. Tunnel Information and Control protocol (TIC)
The Tunnel Information and Control protocol (TIC) protocol [TIC] is
the setup protocol for the [SIXXS] tunnel broker service.
With the TIC protocol a tunnel broker user can request a list of
available tunnels and points-of-presence (POPs) from the tunnel
broker service. When the user chooses one of the tunnels, the
configuration parameters for that tunnel can then be requested
through TIC. TIC also provides commands to control the tunnel, for
example to change the tunnel endpoints, enable or disable the tunnel.
Authentication of users is done based on username and password.
Certain tunnel mechanisms, such as AYIYA (Section 3.6) and configured
tunnels (Section 3.1) with heartbeat (Section 4.2), need a
synchronised clock between the tunnel server and the client. TIC
facilitates this by providing a server timestamp on request. The
client can use that to verify that its clock is synchronised with the
server and show an error message to the user if it is not.
The TIC protocol is implemented in the AICCU [AICCU] client software
and in AVM Fritz!Box home routers.
5. Common Aspects
The following are aspects common to many or all tunnel mechanisms.
5.1. Protocol 41 Encapsulation
The most straightforward way to encapsulate an IPv6 packet inside an
IPv4 packet is by simply adding an IPv4 header in front of the IPv6
header. In this case, the protocol field in the IPv4 header is set
to the value 41. This encapsulation is also known as "IPv6 in IPv4"
and "IP6 Encapsulation".
This simple "protocol 41" encapsulation is used by a number of tunnel
mechanisms:
configured tunnels (Section 3.1)
automatic tunneling (Section 3.2)
6over4 (Section 3.3)
6to4 (Section 3.5)
ISATAP (Section 3.7)
6rd (Section 3.9)
5.2. NAT and Firewalls
It is not uncommon for NATs and firewalls to block protocol 41
encapsulated packets, especially at the boundary between an
organisation's internal network and the public internet. Other
tunnel mechanisms than protocol 41 typically employ a UDP header, and
are somewhat less likely to be filtered, assuming that tunneling is
initiated on the LAN-side. UDP is usually subjected to NAPT
[RFC2663] which additionally translates between internal and external
port numbers. (Often, the term "NAT" is used where "NAPT" may be
more appropriate.)
Although protocol 41 can in principle work through NAT, there are two
issues. First, when the IPv6 address is derived from the IPv4
address (see Section 5.4), NATing of the outer IPv4 header breaks the
relationship between the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Second, because
protocol 41 does not use port numbers, the number of protocol 41
tunnel endpoints that can be supported behind a NAT device is equal
to its number of external IPv4 addresses (see Section 6.1). This
limitation also applies to GRE.
Tunnels that pass through a NAT device or stateful firewall need to
generate traffic at regular intervals to refresh the NAT or firewall
mapping. If the mapping is lost, tunneled packets from the outside
won't be able to pass through the NAT/firewall until a system behind
the NAT or firewall sends a tunneled packet and the mapping is
recreated. Alternatively, a static mapping (often in the form of a
"default" or "DMZ" host) may be configured manually.
The following tunnel mechanisms are incompatible with NAT because
their addresses must be derived from a globally unique IPv4 address:
LISP (Section 3.11)
Note that it is common to run 6to4 or 6rd on a home gateway device
that also performs IPv4 NAT. In this configuration, NAT is not
applied to tunneled packets, so NAT and 6to4/6rd can coexist.
The following tunnel mechanisms cannot operate between nodes on
opposing sides of a NAT, but they do work if _all_ nodes are behind a
NAT (where RFC 1918 addresses are often used):
The following tunnel mechanisms may work through NAT in some
circumstances, but are not designed for NAT compatibility:
GRE (Section 3.4)
The following tunnel mechanisms are designed for NAT compatibility:
AYIYA (Section 3.6)
Teredo (Section 3.8) (but it is unreliable)
6a44 (Section 3.10)
SEAL (Section 3.12)
6bed4 (Section 3.13)
The LISP specification requires that locator addresses (the addresses
in the outer IPv4 header) are globally routable public addresses.
A tunnel built over UDP makes a claim on a resource, namely an
external UDP port. This may impact how well a tunnel will scale in
an organisation; for instance, if every desktop runs its own tunnel
client over UDP then the claim on this resource may have some impact.
Note that ISPs may have multiple subscribers share a public IPv4
address by performing NAT (Carrier Grade NAT, CGN or CGNAT in this
context). In this case, the subscribers' home gateways may receive
an address in the 100.64.0.0/10 block [RFC6598]. For the purposes of
tunnel mechanisms, this address block is similar to the [RFC1918]
address blocks. However, NAT/RFC1918 aware tunnel implementations
may not recognise 100.64.0.0/10 as non-public addresses and fail to
operate successfully. The same issue is present if an ISP decides to
use regular global unicast IPv4 address space behind a CGN.
5.3. MTU Considerations
Because of the extra IPv4 header and possible additional headers
between the IPv4 and IPv6 headers, tunnels experience a reduced
maximum packet size (Maximum Transfer Unit, MTU) compared to native
IPv6 communication.
Path MTU discovery (PMTUD) should handle this in nearly all cases,
but filtering of ICMPv6 "packet too big" messages may lead to an
inability to communicate because senders of large packets fail to
perform PMTUD successfully. However, when a tunnel terminates
directly on the host using it, the TCP maximum segment size (MSS)
option communicates the maximum packet size to the remote endpoint,
so TCP-based communication may still succeed. If not, the initial
TCP SYN/ACK exchange happens without issue, but then the session
stalls as the larger packets containing data are lost.
With tunnel mechanisms where the MTU is left unspecified, it is
possible for the two endpoints to have different MTUs: typically, one
uses the IPv6 minimum, 1280, while the other uses the physical MTU
minus tunnel overhead, often 1480. In theory, this should lead to
PMTUD failures because the "big" side unknowingly sends packets that
the "small" side can't handle. However, in practice implementations
handle incoming packets larger than their own MTU without issue.
Only when the IPv4 MTU is reduced below 1500 bytes, for instance when
using PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE, [RFC2516]), issues are more likely to
arise. So when the possibility exists that tunneled packets
encounter a PPPoE link, it is prudent to set the MTU of a tunnel to
no more than 1472 bytes, so tunneled packets don't have to be
fragmented. Additionally, Section 3.2.1 of [RFC4213] recommends
limiting the MTU of tunnels to the minimum of 1280.
SEAL was specifically designed to overcome these limitations by
adding the capability to fragment IPv6 packets prior to encapsulation
in IPv4 and then reassembling the fragments at the remote tunnel
endpoint. This way, the SEAL tunnel ensures that packets that are no
larger than 1500 bytes will be transported to the tunnel far end even
if there are restricting links in the path. SEAL can also admit
larger packets into the tunnel on a best effort basis in case the
path between the tunnel endpoints can support this larger size.
5.4. IPv4 Addresses Embedded in IPv6 Addresses
Many tunnel mechanisms embed IPv4 addresses or further information in
the IPv6 addresses they use. There are two possible reasons for
this. First, with an IPv4 address embedded in the IPv6 address, the
outer IPv4 header can be derived without a need to explicitly
configure tunnel endpoints. Automatic tunneling, 6to4, ISATAP, 6bed4
and Teredo do this. 6over4 embeds the IPv4 address for the second
reason; it is embedded in the interface identifier, and thus the IPv6
address, because that way, a (presumably) globally unique interface
identifier can be generated.
Automatic tunneling uses IPv4-compatible addresses in the prefix
::/96 (i.e., the first 96 bits are all zero).
| 96 bits | 32 |
+------------------------------------------------+-----------------+
| 0:0:0:0:0:0 | IPv4 address |
The IPv4-compatible addresses structure
Systems running 6to4 have addresses in the 6to4 prefix 2002::/16.
| 16 | 32 | 16 | 64 bits |
+--------+-----------------+--------+------------------------------+
| 2002 | IPv4 address | Subnet | Interface ID |
The 6to4 address structure
Because a 6rd domain might share a common IPv4 prefix it is not
always necessary to encode all 32 bits of the IPv4 address in the 6rd
delegated prefix. The bits that become available because of this
optimisation can be used to provide more subnet IDs to the user
and/or to use a smaller address block for the 6rd prefix.
| n bits | o bits | m bits | 128-n-o-m bits |
+---------------+--------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| 6rd prefix | IPv4 address | subnet ID | interface ID |
|<--- 6rd delegated prefix --->|
The 6rd address structure
6over4 uses the IPv4 address to generate a 64-bit Interface
Identifier, which can then be used to create a 128-bit IPv6 address
through Stateless Address Autoconfiguration.
| 48 bits | 16 | 32 | 32 |
+---------------------+--------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Organisation prefix | Subnet | 0:0 | IPv4 address |
The 6over4 address structure
The ISATAP address structure is similar to the 6over4 address
structure, except that the unique/local (u) bit signifies whether the
IPv4 address in the interface identifier is unique. Presumably, this
is the case for any non-[RFC1918] IPv4 address. The group (g) bit is
set to zero, and the remaining bits are set to to 0x00005EFE.
| Organisation prefix | Subnet | ug00:5EFE | IPv4 address |
The ISATAP address structure
Teredo embeds the Teredo server's IPv4 address, a number of flags, a
UDP port number as well as the Teredo client's IPv4 address in the
IPv6 addresses it creates. For good measure, the UDP port and client
IPv4 address are "obfuscated" by flipping their bits.
| 32 bits | 32 | 16 | 16 | 32 |
+----------------+---------------+-------+-------+-----------------+
| 2001:0 | Server IPv4 | Flags | Port | Client IPv4 |
The Teredo address structure
6a44 can be seen as a combination of 6rd and Teredo. The 6a44 prefix
is given out by an ISP. Both the customer site (home gateway) IPv4
address as well as the host's/client's RFC 1918 IPv4 address and also
a port number are embedded in the IPv6 address.
| 48 bits | 32 | 16 | 32 |
+----------------------+-----------------+-------+-----------------+
| 6a44 prefix | Cust. site IPv4 | Port | Client IPv4 |
The 6a44 address structure
6bed4 embeds two combinations of an IPv4 address and UDP port
(together acting as a "6bed4 address") in the IPv6 address; the first
address is for a tunnel server that everyone is certain to reach, the
other is for the direct address that most peers should be able to
reach directly. The tunnel server however, is the only one with
guaranteed access to the direct address.
| 64 bits | 50 | 14 |
+--------+-----------------------+-------------------------+-------+
| prefix | general 6bed4 address | direct 6bed4 address | lanIP |
The 6bed4 address structure
Some details of the 6bed4 address format are still work in progress
at the time of this writing. The lanIP bits are free for local
purposes, such as creating a DHCPv6 range.
6. Evaluation of Tunnel Mechanisms
The following subsections deal with the various aspects of tunnels
that guide their selection.
6.1. Efficiency of IPv4 Address Use
With the depletion of the IPv4 address space, the ability to deploy a
tunnel mechanism behind NAT as well as the number of IPv6
subscribers, subnets and individual hosts that can be supported
behind a single IPv4 address have become important considerations.
These issues are irrelevant to tunnel mechanisms that provide IPv6
connectivity between hosts within the same administrative domain,
such as ISATAP or 6over4, as they can use private IPv4 addresses.
This is also true for 6rd, which is used between an ISP and its
customers' home gateways when the ISP has implemented NAT.
6to4 cannot work behind any kind of NAT. Most other mechanisms based
on protocol 41 can work behind NAT, at least in principle. In
practice this difference is not as big as the protocol 41
encapsulation doesn't provide any fields that allow a NAT to
demultiplex tunneled packets. This means that only a single protocol
41 tunnel endpoint can be supported for each public IPv4 address.
This makes configured tunnels (as well as 6to4) incompatible with
service provider operated NATs, where multiple subscribers share an
IPv4 address.
Teredo, 6a44, 6bed4, AYIYA, SEAL and TSP are designed to work through
NATs and use a UDP header, so multiple tunnel endpoints can be hosted
behind a single IPv4 address. On the other hand, Teredo only
provides IPv6 connectivity to a single host.
The following table shows how many IPv4 addresses each tunnel
mechanism requires and how many IPv6 hosts it can connect. The
mechanisms are listed in order of increasing numbers of supported
IPv6 hosts per IPv4 address.
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
| Mechanism | Tunnels per | IPv6 hosts | Public IPv4 | NAT |
| | IPv4 addr. | per tunnel | address | compatible |
| Auto. tun. | one | one | required | no |
| 6to4 | one | multiple | required | no |
| LISP | one | multiple | required | no |
| 6rd | one | multiple | not needed | no |
| Conf. tun. | one | multiple | not needed | limited |
| GRE | one | multiple | not needed | limited |
| Teredo | multiple | one | not needed | yes (*) |
| 6bed4 | multiple | multiple | not needed | yes |
| 6a44 | multiple | multiple | not needed | yes |
| AYIYA | multiple | multiple | not needed | yes |
| SEAL | multiple | multiple | not needed | yes |
Tunneled IPv6 hosts per IPv4 address
(*) Although Teredo is designed for NAT compatibility, it doesn't
work through all existing NATs.
6.2. Supported Network Topologies
There are two ways to use an IPv6-in-IPv4 tunnel to connect to the
IPv6 internet: using a point-to-point tunnel to a tunnel broker or an
ISP-operated gateway, or using a non-broadcast multiple access (NBMA)
tunnel and anycasted public gateways or relays.
The advantages of the point-to-point model are predictable
performance and flexibility regarding the IPv6 addresses used. The
advantage of the NBMA model is that traffic between two hosts or
networks that both use the mechanism can flow directly without
passing through a gateway (direct peer-to-peer communication.). An
extra advantage of the NBMA model with public gateways is automatic
configuration and no involvement from an ISP.
Unfortunately, the advantages of this NBMA public anycast model come
at a price: both the peer-to-peer connectivity between tunnel users
and the connectivity towards the native IPv6 internet may suffer from
reliability and performance issues.
The anycast mechanism allows tunnel users to utilise the nearest
gateway to connect to the IPv6 internet by simply giving each gateway
the same address. Routing protocols then select the lowest-cost (and
presumably, shortest) path towards a gateway. However, this makes
the path taken by tunneled packets hard to predict or influence. It
is common for traffic in two directions to use different gateways,
complicating debugging even further. Because nobody is in charge or
gets paid for operating a gateway, the number of public gateways is
lower than would be ideal. This increases the distance to the
nearest gateway for some users. There is also the possibility that
gateways encounter more traffic than they can handle.
The advantage of a tunnel provided by an ISP or tunnelbroker is that
there is a clear responsibility for providing a good service with
well maintained gateways.
+------------+---------------+--------------------------------+
| Mechanism | Peer-to-peer | Gateway provided by |
| Conf. tun. | No | ISP or Tunnel broker |
| AYIYA | No | ISP or Tunnel broker |
| GRE | No | N/A |
| 6a44 | Within domain | ISP |
| 6rd | Within domain | ISP |
| 6over4 | Globally | N/A |
| ISATAP | Within domain | Own organisation |
| Teredo | Globally | Public |
| 6to4 | Globally | Public or ISP |
| 6bed4 | Globally | Public or ISP or Tunnel broker |
| Auto. tun. | Globally | N/A |
| LISP | Configurable | ISP or Tunnel broker |
| SEAL | Configurable | ISP or Tunnel broker |
Topologies Supported per Tunnel Mechanism
6.3. Robustness
Tunnels may fail for three main reasons: when tunneled packets are
filtered, typically by a firewall, when a tunnel endpoint IPv4
address changes or when tunneled packets are filtered or because of
NAT issues.
If a tunnel endpoint gets a new address, the other side of the tunnel
needs to know to send packets to the new address. With mechanisms
that derive IPv6 addresses from the IPv4 address, the previous IPv6
addresses become unreachable and new IPv6 addresses must be
configured.
Some tunnel mechanisms don't work through NAT, or are limited when
working through NAT. NAT mappings can typically only be created by
traffic from the "inside" to the "outside", not by traffic from
outside the NAT to the network behind the NAT.
Point-to-point tunnel mechanisms either work consistently or they
always fail. As such, a simple ping to the other side of the tunnel
is sufficient to learn its state. Also, point-to-point tunnels may
support routing protocols, which can automatically reroute traffic
around a failed tunnel.
Some tunnel mechanisms use a public gateway to reach the native IPv6
internet. Public gateways may or may not be operational and/or
reachable, and may have limited performance, depending on distance
and usage.
Tunnel mechanisms that use a broadcast or non-broadcast multiple
access (NBMA) communication model may experience failures between
some combinations of tunnel endpoints and not others.
The following table lists tunnel mechanisms that provide connectivity
to the IPv6 internet in order of decreasing robustness. (However,
even less-robust mechanisms may function well in suitable
environments.)
+------------+---------------+--------------------------------------+
| Mechanism | Endpoint | Main issues |
| | address | |
| | change | |
| LISP | automatic | None |
| 6rd | interrupt | None |
| AYIYA | automatic | Transient NAT mapping issues |
| Conf. + HB | interrupt | Proto 41 filtering, competition for |
| | | NAT mappings (1) |
| Conf. tun. | failure | Proto 41 filtering, competition for |
| | | NAT mappings, address change (1) |
| GRE | failure | Proto 47 filtering, address change |
| 6a44 | interrupt | NAT mapping towards peers |
| 6bed4 | interrupt | NAT mapping towards peers |
| 6to4 | interrupt | Enabled out of the box but filtered, |
| | | gateway performance (2) |
| Teredo | interrupt | NAT compatibility, mapping towards |
| | | peers (3) |
Susceptibility of tunnel mechanisms to problems
(1): only one protocol 41 tunnel endpoint can receive a NAT mapping
behind a NAT using a single public IPv4 address. Additional
endpoints will not receive incoming packets. When a tunnel
endpoint changes its internal address, the old NAT mapping needs
to time out before a new one can be created.
(2): 6to4 implementations automatically disable the mechanism when
the system has an RFC 1918 address. However, 6to4 may remain
enabled and be non-operational when ISPs apply NAT using non-RFC
1918 addresses [RFC6598].
(3): whether Teredo can obtain an address depends on the type of NAT
it detects. Whether Teredo functions at such an address depends
on the accuracy of that determination, which is founded on an
incomplete model of NAT.
On some widely used implementations, 6to4 has been enabled by default
without checking whether there was connectivity to the anycasted
public gateway address. As a result, 6to4-derived connectivity to
the IPv6 internet was often found to be broken because of protocol 41
filtering. Because of this, many operating systems now try to avoid
using IPv6 over 6to4. See [RFC6343].
Also see [TERTST] for more information about the robustness of
Teredo.
There is not a single tunnel mechanism that is more robust in all
possible ways than every other tunnel mechanism. However, in general
mechanisms that use public gateways and peer-to-peer tunneling tend
to have the most issues. Configured tunnels on the other hand, often
work very well, especially if there is no NAT on the path, but may
need administrative intervention when a tunnel endpoint address
6.4. Gateway State
There is an additional consideration that is important to operators
of gateways that connect IPv6-in-IPv4 tunnels to the IPv6 internet:
how much state a tunnel mechanism requires.
6to4 and 6rd require no state at all: when encapsulating IPv6 packets
inside an IPv4 packet, the IPv4 destination address is directly
copied from bits in the IPv6 destination address. This makes all
possible tunneled destinations directly reachable through a single
virtual interface.
Teredo, 6a44 and 6bed4 require additional logic to work through NATs,
which requires them to keep track of relatively volatile state. They
also work on a per-host basis rather than allowing a number of hosts
to make use of a single tunnel.
With configured tunnels, GRE, AYIYA and SEAL there is no direct
mapping from (part of) the IPv6 destination address to the IPv4
destination address. A typical implementation of these mechanisms is
by having a virtual tunnel interface for each tunnel. Packets are
forwarded to the correct virtual interface through a routing table
lookup. Routing tables can grow very large and remain fast, so the
number of virtual interfaces tends to be the limiting factor for
tunnel gateways. AYIYA and the SixXS Heartbeat Protocol also keep
track of the reachability status of each tunnel.
6.5. Performance
There are several reasons why tunneled connectivity may perform
inferior to native, un-tunneled connectivity. Inherently, tunnels
add one or more extra headers, and therefore increase overhead.
However, for a maximum size (1500 bytes) Ethernet packet the
additional overhead of an IPv4 header is only 1.3%.
The process of encapsulation is not inherently slow, but in some
implementations, it may be. Larger routers that normally forward
packets using special purpose hardware, often don't have high
performance CPUs. If then tunnel encapsulation must be done by that
relatively slow CPU, performance will be worse than regular hardware-
based packet forwarding.
The path that tunneled packets take can be longer than the path that
untunneled packets would take. (Increased path stretch.) This may
or may not lead to decreased performance.
+------------+-----------------+----------------------+-------------+
| Mechanism | Overhead | Increased path | Variability |
| | (bytes) | stretch | |
| Conf. tun. | 20 | may be large | none |
| Auto. tun. | 20 | none | none |
| 6over4 | 20 | none | none |
| GRE | 28 - 36 | may be large | none |
| 6to4 | 20 | may be large | high |
| AYIYA | 72 | may be large | low |
| ISATAP | 20 | none | none |
| Teredo | 28 - 36 | may be large | high |
| 6rd | 20 | small | low |
| 6a44 | 20 - 28 | small | low |
| 6bed4 | 28 | may be large | high |
| LISP | 36 | small | low |
| SEAL | 24 - variable | small | low |
Typical tunnel performance
There are many security considerations with tunneling. An important
one is that through a tunnel, connectivity to the IPv6 internet may
exist even though network administrators did not intend for it to be
there. "Security Concerns with IP Tunneling" [RFC6169] discusses
this issue in detail.
Although in principle, ingress filtering (BCP 38, [RFC2827]) is
possible with tunnels, in practice, it is relatively easy for spoofed
packets to make their way through a tunnel. Not only is it often
easy to spoof the outer IPv4 header and make false IPv6 packets seem
to originate from a tunnel broker or gateway, it may also be possible
for an attacker to route false IPv6 packets through a legitimate
tunnel broker or gateway. Many tunneling protocols have various
means of detecting and rejecting such packets, while others have
limited or no such provisions. For instance, see [RFC3964] for how
this can be addressed with 6to4.
So it is important to recognise that unless special measures are
taken (like [RFC4301]), both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses in tunnel
packets may be spoofed and cannot be relied upon for access controls.
Such spoofing was used successfully to discover IPv6-in-IPv4 tunnels
in [TUNDISC].
Tunnels may also be used by third parties to obfuscate their
activities or perform amplification attacks. To avoid contributing
to this problem, it is important to make sure only locally generated
packets with legitimate addresses are sent out over tunnels.
9. Contributors
Job Snijders contributed text to the points of comparison. Fred
Templin provided the text for SEAL and contributed to the security
considerations. Jeroen Massar, Brian Carpenter, Tina Tsou, John
Mann, Suresh Krishnan, Victor Kuarsingh, Dan Jones, Nejc Skoberne and
Fred Baker reviewed the document and/or offered suggestions for
improvement.
We wish to thank SURFnet and Rogier Spoor for commissioning this
work; both their initiative and funding has helped this document to
be written.
[6BED4] Van Rein, R., "6bed4: Peer-to-Peer IPv6 on Any
Internetwork", <http://devel.0cpm.org/6bed4/>.
[AICCU] SixXS, "Automatic IPv6 Connectivity Client Utility
(AICCU)", <http://www.sixxs.net/tools/aiccu/>.
[AYIYA] SixXS, "Anything In Anything (AYIYA)",
<http://www.sixxs.net/tools/ayiya/>.
[GOGO6] "Freenet6: Free and Easy IPv6 Connectivity",
<http://www.gogo6.com/freenet6>.
[I-D.ietf-softwire-map]
Troan, O., Dec, W., Li, X., Bao, C., Matsushima, S.,
Murakami, T., and T. Taylor, "Mapping of Address and Port
with Encapsulation (MAP)", draft-ietf-softwire-map-07
(work in progress), May 2013.
[I-D.massar-v6ops-ayiya]
Massar, J., "AYIYA: Anything In Anything",
draft-massar-v6ops-ayiya-02 (work in progress), July 2004.
[I-D.massar-v6ops-heartbeat]
Massar, J., "SixXS Heartbeat Protocol",
draft-massar-v6ops-heartbeat-01 (work in progress),
June 2005.
[I-D.templin-intarea-seal]
Templin, F., "The Subnetwork Encapsulation and Adaptation
Layer (SEAL)", draft-templin-intarea-seal-55 (work in
progress), May 2013.
[LISPBETA]
"LISP Beta Network", <http://www.lisp4.net/beta-network/>.
[RFC1191] Mogul, J. and S. Deering, "Path MTU discovery", RFC 1191,
[RFC1918] Rekhter, Y., Moskowitz, R., Karrenberg, D., Groot, G., and
E. Lear, "Address Allocation for Private Internets",
BCP 5, RFC 1918, February 1996.
[RFC1933] Gilligan, R. and E. Nordmark, "Transition Mechanisms for
IPv6 Hosts and Routers", RFC 1933, April 1996.
[RFC1981] McCann, J., Deering, S., and J. Mogul, "Path MTU Discovery
for IP version 6", RFC 1981, August 1996.
[RFC2516] Mamakos, L., Lidl, K., Evarts, J., Carrel, D., Simone, D.,
and R. Wheeler, "A Method for Transmitting PPP Over
Ethernet (PPPoE)", RFC 2516, February 1999.
[RFC2529] Carpenter, B. and C. Jung, "Transmission of IPv6 over IPv4
Domains without Explicit Tunnels", RFC 2529, March 1999.
[RFC2663] Srisuresh, P. and M. Holdrege, "IP Network Address
Translator (NAT) Terminology and Considerations",
RFC 2663, August 1999.
[RFC2784] Farinacci, D., Li, T., Hanks, S., Meyer, D., and P.
Traina, "Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)", RFC 2784,
[RFC2827] Ferguson, P. and D. Senie, "Network Ingress Filtering:
Defeating Denial of Service Attacks which employ IP Source
Address Spoofing", BCP 38, RFC 2827, May 2000.
IPv6 Hosts and Routers", RFC 2893, August 2000.
[RFC3056] Carpenter, B. and K. Moore, "Connection of IPv6 Domains
via IPv4 Clouds", RFC 3056, February 2001.
[RFC3068] Huitema, C., "An Anycast Prefix for 6to4 Relay Routers",
RFC 3068, June 2001.
[RFC3489] Rosenberg, J., Weinberger, J., Huitema, C., and R. Mahy,
"STUN - Simple Traversal of User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
Through Network Address Translators (NATs)", RFC 3489,
[RFC3964] Savola, P. and C. Patel, "Security Considerations for
6to4", RFC 3964, December 2004.
[RFC4213] Nordmark, E. and R. Gilligan, "Basic Transition Mechanisms
for IPv6 Hosts and Routers", RFC 4213, October 2005.
[RFC4301] Kent, S. and K. Seo, "Security Architecture for the
Internet Protocol", RFC 4301, December 2005.
[RFC4380] Huitema, C., "Teredo: Tunneling IPv6 over UDP through
Network Address Translations (NATs)", RFC 4380,
[RFC4787] Audet, F. and C. Jennings, "Network Address Translation
(NAT) Behavioral Requirements for Unicast UDP", BCP 127,
RFC 4787, January 2007.
[RFC4861] Narten, T., Nordmark, E., Simpson, W., and H. Soliman,
"Neighbor Discovery for IP version 6 (IPv6)", RFC 4861,
[RFC4862] Thomson, S., Narten, T., and T. Jinmei, "IPv6 Stateless
Address Autoconfiguration", RFC 4862, September 2007.
[RFC4891] Graveman, R., Parthasarathy, M., Savola, P., and H.
Tschofenig, "Using IPsec to Secure IPv6-in-IPv4 Tunnels",
RFC 4891, May 2007.
[RFC5214] Templin, F., Gleeson, T., and D. Thaler, "Intra-Site
Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol (ISATAP)", RFC 5214,
[RFC5389] Rosenberg, J., Mahy, R., Matthews, P., and D. Wing,
"Session Traversal Utilities for NAT (STUN)", RFC 5389,
[RFC5572] Blanchet, M. and F. Parent, "IPv6 Tunnel Broker with the
Tunnel Setup Protocol (TSP)", RFC 5572, February 2010.
[RFC5969] Townsley, W. and O. Troan, "IPv6 Rapid Deployment on IPv4
Infrastructures (6rd) -- Protocol Specification",
[RFC6145] Li, X., Bao, C., and F. Baker, "IP/ICMP Translation
Algorithm", RFC 6145, April 2011.
[RFC6169] Krishnan, S., Thaler, D., and J. Hoagland, "Security
Concerns with IP Tunneling", RFC 6169, April 2011.
[RFC6333] Durand, A., Droms, R., Woodyatt, J., and Y. Lee, "Dual-
Stack Lite Broadband Deployments Following IPv4
Exhaustion", RFC 6333, August 2011.
[RFC6343] Carpenter, B., "Advisory Guidelines for 6to4 Deployment",
[RFC6598] Weil, J., Kuarsingh, V., Donley, C., Liljenstolpe, C., and
M. Azinger, "IANA-Reserved IPv4 Prefix for Shared Address
Space", BCP 153, RFC 6598, April 2012.
[RFC6724] Thaler, D., Draves, R., Matsumoto, A., and T. Chown,
"Default Address Selection for Internet Protocol Version 6
(IPv6)", RFC 6724, September 2012.
[RFC6732] Kuarsingh, V., Lee, Y., and O. Vautrin, "6to4 Provider
Managed Tunnels", RFC 6732, September 2012.
[RFC6751] Despres, R., Carpenter, B., Wing, D., and S. Jiang,
"Native IPv6 behind IPv4-to-IPv4 NAT Customer Premises
Equipment (6a44)", RFC 6751, October 2012.
[RFC6830] Farinacci, D., Fuller, V., Meyer, D., and D. Lewis, "The
Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP)", RFC 6830,
[RFC6832] Lewis, D., Meyer, D., Farinacci, D., and V. Fuller,
"Interworking between Locator/ID Separation Protocol
(LISP) and Non-LISP Sites", RFC 6832, January 2013.
[RFC6833] Fuller, V. and D. Farinacci, "Locator/ID Separation
Protocol (LISP) Map-Server Interface", RFC 6833,
[SIXXS] Massar, J. and P. van Pelt, "IPv6 Deployment & Tunnel
Broker", <http://www.sixxs.net/>.
[TERTST] Huston, G., "Testing Teredo", April 2011,
<http://www.potaroo.net/ispcol/2011-04/teredo.html>.
[TIC] SixXS, "Tunnel Information and Control protocol (TIC)",
<http://www.sixxs.net/tools/tic/>.
[TR-069] The Broadband Forum, "CPE WAN Management Protocol",
July 2011, <http://www.broadband-forum.org/technical/
download/TR-069_Amendment-4.pdf>.
[TUNBROKER]
Hurricane Electric, "Hurricane Electric Free IPv6 Tunnel
Broker", <http://www.tunnelbroker.net/>.
[TUNDISC] Colitti, L., Di Battista, G., and M. Patrignani, "IPv6-in-
IPv4 tunnel discovery: methods and experimental results",
IEEE eTransactions on Network and Service Management
(eTNSM) vol. 1, no. 1, pag. 2-10, April 2004.
Appendix A. Evaluation Criteria
Each type of tunnel has specific advantages and disadvantages. We
have considered the following points when evaluating the different
protocols. Not every point is mentioned in each section where a
protocol is described, only those that are specifically relevant to
that protocol.
Protocol overhead: How much overhead does the tunneling protocol
cause? There are two factors that play a role: number of
interactions to set up the tunnel and packet header size causing a
lower MTU and/or fragmentation.
Automatic configuration: Does this protocol require manual
configuration at the endpoints?
Predictability: How predictable is the functioning of the protocol?
Single host or network: Is this protocol intended to be used by a
single host or by a router that then provides IPv6 connectivity to
multiple hosts?
Load balancing: Does the tunnel traffic have enough entropy and/or
hashability to be able to be load-balanced over multiple links, or
do all tunnel packets have the same outer 5-tuple?
Path stretch: Does the tunnel optimise the route, or is there a big
potential for a much longer path when using the tunnel?
NAT traversal: Can the tunnel pass through a NAT gateway, and does
it require configuration on that NAT gateway?
Tunnel endpoint mobility: Are the IPv4 addresses of the tunnel fixed
or do they adjust automatically when an endpoint moves.
State: Are the endpoints required to keep state for the tunnel or is
the tunnel stateless?
Network type: Is this network a point-to-point or NBMA type of
Purpose: What is the intended purpose of this tunnel protocol?
Related protocols: To which protocols is this tunnel protocol
related? Are there alternatives?
Implementations: Is this protocol supported on the major operating
systems, routers and firewalls?
Limitations: What are the known limitations of this protocol?
Sander Steffann
S.J.M. Steffann Consultancy
Tienwoningenweg 46
Apeldoorn, Gelderland 7312 DN
Email: sander@steffann.nl
Iljitsch van Beijnum
Institute IMDEA Networks
Avda. del Mar Mediterraneo, 22
Leganes, Madrid 28918
Email: iljitsch@muada.com
Rick van Rein
Haarlebrink 5
Enschede, Overijssel 7544 WP
Email: rick@openfortress.nl
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OwnBackup raises $23.25 million for data backup and restore services
Kyle Wiggers@Kyle_L_Wiggers May 30, 2019 4:00 AM
Image Credit: OwnBackup
OwnBackup, a cloud-to-cloud backup and restore vendor with offices in the U.K., New Jersey, and Tel Aviv, today announced that it’s secured $23.25 million in series C financing co-led by Insight Venture Partners and Vertex Ventures, with participation from existing investors Innovation Endeavors, Oryzn Capital, and Salesforce Ventures. The fresh capital comes after a year in which revenue grew 100% year-over-year — an achievement made more impressive by the backup and recovery market’s anticipated uptick to $18.21 billion by 2026 — and it brings OwnBackup’s total raised to over $50 million, according to Crunchbase.
The company also announced the appointment of Salesforce and Oracle veteran Gareth Morris as VP of sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as three new board members: Insight Venture Partners managing director Nikitas Koutoupes, Innovation Endeavors general partner Harpinder Singh, and Conga president and CEO Bob DeSantis.
CEO Sam Gutmann said the cash infusion will be used to deepen OwnBackup’s partner network, double its engineering and European teams, and expand product offerings. “Thanks to the unwavering support of our committed investment partners, we will be able to continue to scale to meet escalating market demand for our solutions as companies realize the need to claim ownership of cloud data security concerns and proactively ensure their data is protected and accessible at all times,” he added. “As we set the bar for cloud data protection, our focus continues to be growing the team and leading the pack in cloud data protection innovation.”
OwnBackup, which was founded in 2012, offers a range of services in the archival domain, including file comparison, recovery, management, sandbox seeding, replication, and compliance. Its data safeguarding suite enables admins to schedule automatic daily backups of custom objects, standard objects, and attachments, and to restore backed-up data, metadata, and relationships on command.
With OwnBackup’s visual comparison and recovery tools, users can drill down into files to see what’s been added, deleted, or changed, or restore deleted data (along with related records) from multiple points in time to the same environment or any other. On the management and seeding side of things, OwnBackup’s built-in search can find corrupted data (plus children, parent, and object dependencies) and export backup snapshots to databases, or create anonymized test sets for quality assurance purposes.
OwnBackup’s archiver service — OwnBackup Archiver — works with Salesforce, Sage, Veeva, and Ncino, and lets managers set custom policies and unarchive directly from within the target software-as-a-service (SaaS). OwnBackup claims it provides the fastest knowledge article, account, orphaned record, attachment, and file backup for SaaS platforms in the industry.
Most of OwnBackup’s processes integrate with external systems using its API. Toward that end, backup files can be exported automatically to a range of databases, and Salesforce data can be exposed to on-premises apps, business intelligence systems, and analytics tools. Users receive alerts based on triggers, workflows, and validation rules when data is modified or restored, and they receive updates on backup progress via email.
OwnBackup’s platform offers authentication, encryption key management, and access controls compliant with GDPR, HIPAA, SEC 17a-4. Encrypted fields and encryption keys can be backed up and recovered in cipher-text form, and all customer activities are audited and logged. As an added precaution, data is encrypted using admin-approved customer keys rather than derivatives or composite keys, and the keys are rotated and destroyed according to a schedule or on-demand.
For enterprise clients with more stringent integrity validation requirements, there’s Ice, OwnBackup’s blockchain-backed service that generates a verified signature and index from the timestamp and the content of the original backup. In the event the backup is modified, the signature, which is stored on public blockchain, will no longer be producible using the combination of the current backup content and the original timestamp.
To date, OwnBackup says it’s backed up over 8 million tables for more than 1,000 customers in health care, finance, insurance, government, nonprofit, higher education, manufacturing, and media verticals, among them Yellow Pages, Athena Health, DenMat, and Michigan State University.
“OwnBackup’s visionary leadership team and pioneering products have driven extraordinary growth over the last few years. As the call for data protection in cloud environments intensifies, OwnBackup will continue to lead the market,” said Koutoupes. “With OwnBackup, organizations can confidently embrace the cloud and trust that their critical data is safe and secure. OwnBackup users rely on its products to manage the disaster recovery process and ensure they have immediate access to the comprehensive backups they need to quickly restore their data and prove compliance.”
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Building for Lease: 55 Bridge Street, Manchester, NH 03101-1603
55 Bridge Street, Manchester, NH 03101-1603
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$14 - 02/06/2019
Type: Commercial Leases
City: Manchester
This facility has been designed and built from basically the supports upward and outward. 10,800 +/- SF building over three levels. All up-to-date and new ADA, fire protection, sprinklers, windows, doors, HVAC, alarms, electrical systems, plumbing, lighting, flooring, restrooms, etc. The property is currently utilized and operated as a wine bar/bistro/café. The current business is NOT closing, but would be relocating upon transfer of title or execution of lease. The new owner can utilize the infrastructure for similar operation, but new designs, systems, etc. can easily be used for modern office, service, institutional, medical, retail or many other uses. While the business is not for sale, there is the opportunity to purchase some or most of business assets, if desired. Included in the sale/lease are systems & equipment that are permanently attached to real estate, including two 12' hood systems & associated suppression systems. Rated "Most beautiful restaurant in NH" by MSN. Lease rates starting at $14 NNN (Higher rates for terms less than 5 years).
Lot & Building Features
Utilities: High Speed Intrnt -Avail
Heating: Forced Air, Multi Zone
Water: Public Water - On-Site
Exterior: Brick, Stone, Metal, Glass
Price History of 55 Bridge Street, Manchester, NH
Date Name Price Difference
02/06/2019 Price Adjustment $14 N/A
*We provide this information for your reference only. The accuracy of this information cannot be verified and is not guaranteed.
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55 Bridge Street (MLS #4716605) is a commercial leases listing located in Manchester, NH. This commercial leases listing is on a lot of 5,001 sqft (or 0.11 acres) and is 52 years old. This property was listed on 01/06/2020 and has been priced for sale at $14.
Nearby zip codes are 03101, 03102, 03103, 03104 3613 and 03104. This property neighbors other cities such as Bedford, Goffstown, Hebron and Hooksett.
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Listing information courtesy of: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty
Copyright 2020 New England Real Estate Network, Inc. All rights Reserved. This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the IDX Program of NEREN. The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non- commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated 01/21/2020
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“I Can’t Stop Loving You” (1953 – 1963)
Passport Episode 4 | 1h 50m 53s
Episode 4 | Travel to Memphis, where Sun Studios artists Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley usher in the era of rockabilly. Ray Charles crosses America’s racial divide by recording a country album. Patsy Cline shows off Music City’s smooth new Nashville Sound.
Funding for Country Music was provided by Bank of America, the Annenberg Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Belmont University, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Rosalind P. Walter and by members of ‘The Better Angels Society,’ including: The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Schwartz/Reisman Foundation, the Pfeil Foundation, Diane and Hal Brierley, John and Catherine Debs, the Fullerton Family Charitable Fund, the Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation, Jay Alix and Una Jackman, Mercedes T. Bass, Fred and Donna Seigel, Gilchrist and Amy Berg, James R. Berdell Foundation, David Bonderman, Deborah P. and Jonathan T. Dawson, Senator Bill and Tracy Frist, Susan and David Kreisman, Rocco and Debby Landesman, Lillian Lovelace, John and Leslie McQuown, Mindy's Hope Foundation, the Segal Family Foundation, Michelle Smith. Major funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.
“The Rub” (Beginnings – 1933)
So-called “hillbilly music” reaches new listeners and launches its first stars’ careers.
Ep1 | 1h 51m 30s
“Hard Times” (1933 – 1945)
Nashville transforms into Music City as America falls for singing cowboys and Texas Swing.
“The Hillbilly Shakespeare” (1945 – 1953)
Meet the country stars of post-war America, including the Hillbilly Shakespeare.
Visit Memphis during the era of rockabilly, and see how Patsy Cline rises to stardom.
“The Sons and Daughters of America” (1964 – 1968)
New country artists like Loretta Lynn and Charley Pride reflect a changing America.
Ep5 | 1h 54m 9s
"Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” (1968 – 1972)
Learn what draws artists like Bob Dylan to Nashville as the Vietnam War rages.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?” (1973 – 1983)
Witness a vibrant era in country music, thanks to mainstream crossovers and a new sound.
“Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’” (1984 – 1996)
Country music works to stay true to its roots as the genre skyrockets to new heights.
Spanish Version | “The Rub”
Spanish Version | “Hard Times”
Ep10 | 1h 54m 27s
Spanish Version | “The Hillbilly Shakespeare”
Spanish Version | "I Can’t Stop Loving You”
Mel Tillis: Learning to Talk Through Singing
Mel Tillis talks about how he dealt with a stutter by singing.
Clip: Ep4 | 3m 34s
Patsy Cline: Tough Edges, Big Heart
Friends and admirers share memories of "the Cline."
Episode 4 Preview | “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
Preview: Ep4 | 30s
The Bryants and “Rocky Top”
Brenda Lee reminisces about the songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.
Elvis: The Hillbilly Cat
Featured artists remember Elvis Presley and discuss his unique role in American music.
Johnny Cash: Poet Performer
Featured artists marvel at the artistry and genius of Johnny Cash.
Clip: Ep4 | 12m 5s
More From This CollectionRight
Photographs from Country Music
The work of over 100 photographers appears in "Country Music." From this extensive and impressive group, explore the work of 15 photographers featured in the film.
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Cyprus – Ministry of Finance reaches for lxr.CCN
June 3, 2014 Vivansa Communication
NICOSIA; February 24, 2014 — The Cypriot Ministry of Finance has made the choice of lxr.CCN to provide its national Trans-European applications with a unified standard interface to exchange messages to/from CCN Network (both CCN/CSI and CCN Intranet channels) and at the same time to facilitate the transition towards CCN2, which can be seen as a major evolution of the current CCN network.
lxr.CCN shields the technical complexity of the CSI API from calling applications through the use of a standard Web Service interface and increases the overall resilience of the architecture by implementing clustering and failover mechanisms as part of a wider Business Continuity Plan (BCP).
The first application that will benefit from lxr.CCN services is MOSS (Mini One Stop Shop), which should enter into production on 1st January 2015. MOSS will allow taxable persons supplying telecommunication services, television and radio broadcasting services and electronically supplied services to non-taxable persons in Member States in which they do not have an establishment to account for the VAT due on those supplies via a web-portal in the Member State in which they are identified. This scheme is optional, and is a simplification measure following the change to the VAT place of supply rules, in that the supply takes place in the Member State of the customer, and not the Member State of the supplier. This scheme allows these taxable persons to avoid registering in each Member State of consumption.
More information about lxr.CCN can be found here.
: lxr.CCN
Vivansa Communication
http://www.vivansa.com
Vivansa Communication Department
lxr.CCN now supports both CCN/CSI and CCN Intranet channels
June 4, 2013 Jacques Piret
lxr.CCN
May 1, 2018 Vivien Monti
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Moonbow by Shelia Hollinghead
This started out with a bang. What a great, tension packed beginning. Then I thought it would continue building, but it fell a bit flat. I got heavily bogged down switching back and forth between Gisa and Raydon. Great premise, but it didn't follow through to the end.
The prologue is unnecessary. It does not add to the flow of the story, nor does it create anything but a deceptive understanding of what the storyline will be.
Character development is okay. The split between the two protagonists creates a story flow jam. No tension builds because the reader is yanked from one character's story to another every few pages.
I'm not a fan of this style of story plotting The dialogue is a bit stilted, and doesn't seem natural in places as if the author is trying to make characters do and say something that is just a a bit out of character for them.
Otherwise, the pace is fast and the writing is pretty good. It would be good for a fast, afternoon read. I give it 2 of 5 stars.
Posted by Refreshment in Refuge at 9:52 PM 0 enlightened opinions
An Elegant Solution by Paul Robertson
I do like how Robertson writes. He has such a knack for painting pictures with words. For example, Leonhard has walked the streets of his town all his life. Robertson describes the scenery such as a boy might see, leaving out much detail. Then as Leonhard grows up from an 18 year old boy into an 18 year old man, Robertson describes more detail as Leonhard walks along the streets making the city come to life.
He illustrates thoughts that will lay in your mind rising to wakefulness when you least expect it. The story stays with you even after you turn out the light.
This story is not a light or fluffy read. There is lots of meat to chew on, and many points to ponder as you chew. Sometimes Robertson will not lead into an illustration well and you may find yourself lost, groping for some kind of foundation. Descriptions of what Leonhard sees (because he sees things not seen), do not seem to meld into the story well. You find yourself struggling to connect some dots. But, those are few and far between.
The characters are extremely well developed. No head jumping or hopping for the story is written in first person. As Leonhard delves deeper into the mystery, the reader is sometimes left to wonder what Leonhard has just discovered. It reminds me of sitting in Algebra class and everyone "got" the illustration, but I'm sitting there without a clue.
Mathematics plays a huge role in this storyline, but in this part of the story everything remains crystal clear. Robertson does an excellent job describing and explaining what the role in complete clarity. No connecting dots or wondering if a paragraph or two was cut and laying on the editor's floor.
Frankly, the mystery is not the fascinating part of the novel. Leonhard's journey to maturity, and his deep faith through this journey is the most fascinating. Somehow when you get to the end, you aren't panting for "whodunit" but you are marveling at how gently, inexhorbaly you are drawn to understand how important faith, honesty, and God's will is to the believer.
When the Rules That Govern Men Are Shattered, All You Can Trust Are the Invisible Rules That Govern Life Itself
For math prodigy Leonhard Euler, the Bernoulli family have been more than just friends. Master Johann has been a demanding mentor, and his sons have been Leonhard's allies and companions. But this is a family torn by jealousy. Father and sons are engaged in a ruthless competition for prestige among the mathematical elites of Europe. And now, their aspirations may have turned deadly.
Lured into an investigation of the suspicious death of Jacob Bernoulli, his master's brother, twenty years ago, Leonhard soon discovers he's facing an elusive puzzle as complicated as any math equation. Surrounded by the world's most brilliant--and cunning--minds, Leonhard finds himself tracing an unraveling and invisible spiral of greed, blackmail, and murder. He'll need all his genius to find an elegant solution to this desperate battle of wills.
Posted by Refreshment in Refuge at 1:12 AM 0 enlightened opinions
Critical Reaction by Todd Johnson
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Courtroom suspense combined with a tightly woven action/thriller storyline makes for an excellent page-turner (or as in my case, a fast paced thumber on my Kindle). I found myself reading far into the night, which doesn't happen very often for me.
All things considered, the story is very interesting, and gripping. Johnson does an excellent job of painting realistic scenes of corporate management, courtroom drama, and blue collar worker motivations in small town America. Quite ingenious how he weaves these nuances into motivations. I'll be looking for more from this author.
Critical Reaction is written from several points of view. Although head jumping is not one of my favorite storyline ploys, there is no head-hopping within a single scene, praise the Lord! The writing is excellent and draws you into this very believable story.
Ryan The Attorney whose daughter, Emily, is also an attorney. Ryan lost his wife and was devastated to the point of basically losing his practice if not his reputation. He was so decimated by his wife's death, he almost completely alienated his daughter. He is extraordinarily perceptive, so much so that you wonder how he could have allowed his relationship with his daughter fall so far into the pits.
Kierney who is on temporary duty at the Hanford plutonium, supposedly now defunct, factory finds himself in terrible straits after his first chapter harrowing experience. He calls his friend Emily who talks her dad into representing him.
Poppy is another security guard at Hanford. You follow his experiences after the first chapter explosion trying to juggle life, wife, family, and a search for his friend Lew who disappeared after the first chapter.
Another mid-management person whose name I have forgotten. This character proves to be crucial to the whole story, but I found his character development rather 2-dimensional. We are privy mostly to his thoughts and they don't seem to develop and then expose his motivations, except Greed. For all the nuances of this novel, the motivation is just too obvious. You know at the very first of his villainous personality traits but they don't become apparent until well into the book.
There is quite a bit of rehash. Three or four times we get Ryan's background about his wife and daughter. Enough already. The character I liked the most is Poppy. He is the most believable and direct. It is almost like an initial story centered around him, then was later expanded to include background stories of the rest of the characters.
I won't spoil the ending for anyone, but frankly I felt a bit ripped-off. Investing all my time in reading this story I wanted very much to have that satisfaction of Ryan and Emily wiping the courtroom floor with Hanford. Not. So don't get your hopes up. They do get just desserts, but just not in the courtroom... sigh.
Baker Retail
Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over 30 years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong. He lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and daughter. Visit his website at www.authortoddjohnson.com.
Strait of Hormuz by Davis Bunn
A most exciting and satisfying sequel to Rare Earth. I highly recommend this offering by Davis Bunn. Marc Royce on another mission, this time to prevent global conflict and an Iranian nuclear arms attack... or would that be chemical warfare against the United States. Royce's love life is explored, and it is very well done, too.
You can read an excerpt here.
"They're out there. The danger is real... and inbound."--Marc Royce
An under-the-radar phone call from the U.S. State Department puts Marc Royce once again on assignment--ferreting out rumors of a clandestine operation stretching from Asia to the Mideast. At stake is Iran's threat to blockade the narrow Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vital shipping routes and escalating global tensions beyond the breaking point.
Under the guise of investigating money laundering via high-end art purchases in Europe, Royce finds himself in Switzerland with only sketchy information, no backup, and without a single weapon other than his wits.
His appointment with a gallery owner in Geneva is a dead end--the man is on the floor with a bullet through his chest. But it turns out Royce does have backup. The Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on this undercover op, which is of more than casual interest to the Israelis. And it's someone Royce knows...
A small team gathers around Royce--
a single objective against multiple enemies.
Available in December... look for it at your favorite book store.
1. The first two novels in the Marc Royce series have been bestsellers and also won praise from
critics. Lion of Babylon was named one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2011, and Rare
Earth won the 2012 Christy Award for Suspense Fiction. What do you see is behind this
success?
The stories have certainly resonated with the audience. I have tried to develop a strong sense of
unfolding drama combined with a unique spiritual theme. This moral structure plays out both
in the story and the characters. My aim is to create an inspirational challenge that remains with
the reader long after the book has been set down.
2. All three of these stories focus on the missionary church movement in high-risk areas of
the world. Lion of Babylon explored the church in Baghdad, and Rare Earth looked at the
rising church movement in Kenya. Where does Strait of Hormuz take place?
Well, obviously the title gives this away, at least in part. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the
world’s most critical waterways. Stretching between Iran and the Gulf states, the Strait is home
to two U.S. fleets. More than one-third of all the oil consumed worldwide passes through these
waters. But the story actually begins in Switzerland, before traveling to the Sinai Peninsula and
then into the hotly contested Strait of Hormuz.
3. What spiritual theme is the focus of this third novel?
One growing area of the missionary church movement is with displaced persons. More than
five million Iranians have been expelled from their homeland or been forced to flee the current
regime. This includes virtually the entire Christian population. The missionary movement has
made enormous strides in bringing peace to these families and introducing Christ to those
Muslims exiled because of an oppressive government.
4. What drew you to the missionary church movement as a theme?
I actually came to faith in a missionary church. I was working as a consultant based in Germany.
The year I accepted Christ, the Southern Baptist Mission Board founded a missionary church in
Dusseldorf. I attended the church, I grew in the church, I studied under two amazing
pastors, and one of them returned to Europe to officiate my wedding. It was also where I learned
to write. Two weeks after coming to faith, I felt called to writing. I wrote for nine years and
completed seven books before my first was accepted for publication. The church, its members,
and the elders all played a vital role in bringing me to where I am now. I am living testimony to
their ministry.
5. All three of these novels have given significant insight into the Muslim world, something
critics around the nation have picked up on. What experience do you have with this region?
For the four years prior to moving to Germany, I lived and worked in the Middle East. I was the
only non-Muslim in the management structure of a family-owned company. They had three
major arms: construction equipment, shipping, and pharmaceuticals. I rose to become
marketing manager of the pharmaceutical division. One of the requirements of the job was to
take instruction in the Koran and Islamic history from an imam who taught at the local
university. I think this experience played a major role in my coming to Christ. And that is a story
I would love to tell.
The Shadow Protocol by Andy McDermott
(Editor's Note: I am conducting an experiment concerning secular books and Christian fiction books to see if there really is a vast difference between the quality and substance and author-skill. I am using books posted to NetGalley.com (it's by invitation, I think) to do this. I am cautious because some books I've downloaded are full of graphic junk and foul language. The books I review on this blog that are not touted as specifically Christian Fiction or Christian Non-fiction are ones that have quality, no graphic sex scenes, and very little or no foul language.)
Great book.
It is touted as similar to Robert Ludlem's Jason Bourne series. Actually, it is not written that well, although it is close. The random use of foul language does not add to the story but creates some kind of shock value that is not necessary. The action is so tightly packed, there is no need for foul language, and frankly I seriously doubt it would be missed since it is so random and only interjected in places where the other dialogue is more important to the story flow. It does not illustrate some character's personality. It is just an exclamation point or two sprinkled through out. (I skipped over them, but I do not think there is any taking of God's name in vain. I notice those and won't continue reading the book.)
Description of the action is very good. There is little to no confusion as to what is happening. That is a very difficult thing to do. I applaud Andy McDermott for a riveting story with fairly believable characters. I like the reference to the Carpenter in the beginning. I think both women in the plot could be fleshed out more. Although, with so many characters, it is difficult to make all of them vibrant because it detracts from the storyline.
All around, though, I will recommend this book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Move over Jason Bourne. Here from Andy McDermott, the New York Times bestselling author who “raises the bar to please adventure junkies who prefer to mainline their action” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), is the high-octane start to a new series starring American agent Adam Gray. Filled with intrigue, adventure, and non-stop action, The Shadow Protocol is perfect for fans of Robert Ludlum and James Rollins.
NO ONE CAN KNOW HIM. NO ONE SHOULD TRUST HIM.
AND AMERICA WON’T SURVIVE WITHOUT HIM.
Adam Gray is a cipher, a disciplined loner conditioned not to betray abe America’s worst enemy—before he’s back to being Adam Gray again.
Now Gray and his team are racing to stop a plot to release a radioactive isotope that could kill millions. And in a nerve-racking clandestine meeting, Gray senses that his cover is cracked and that the mission—not to mention his life—may be in grave danger. But as they fight this violent conspiracy around the globe, another threat has emerged. This one has the perfect cover, the most unlikely double agent, and the most terrifying power of all. For a beautiful young scientist has discovered an unforeseen weakness in PERSONA: Adam Gray’s own past.
single emotion. Part of an elite team spearheaded by a brilliant neuroscientist, Gray is a covert agent armed with PERSONA, a device that allows him to copy the brain patterns of the terrorists and operatives he meets in the field. For twenty-four hours he can recall their memories. He can know every detail of their plans. He can
Beloved by Robin Hatcher
This is not one of Robin Hatcher's best offerings. It is the tail end of a series. The premise (read below) is excellent. I thought with Hatcher writing, this will be a great few hours spent reading. I have no idea why some authors feel the need to keep repeating some characters' thoughts/feelings about their situations over and over. I kept thinking "Let's move on! Quit wallowing and do something." Frankly, I got bored by the 10th chapter and quit reading the book. I've got other books to read and I do not have time to waste with a mediocre novel no matter who wrote it.
Best-selling author Robin Lee Hatcher returns to the adventurous
American West in the final book of her Where the Heart Lives series. This story is filled with Robin’s trademark heartwarming and emotionally charged message of faith, courage, and love.
When Diana Brennan’s husband returns eight years after abandoning her, can she find it in her heart to forgive him?
Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word of him for eight years, Diana’s infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead.
But when her husband returns, supposedly a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his side, she agrees to maintain his home and to campaign with him, but when it is over, win or lose, she wants her freedom. He agrees with one condition––she must give him a chance to change her mind about him.
A Man Called Blessed by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright
My Review -
I was a bit confused at the beginning of this book because it sounded
so familiar, like something I had read before. However, it quickly became evident that it was not, although it has a copyright for 2002. That may be why I thought I'd read this before.
The door to what might happen if the lost ark were every found is unlocked with this sequel to Blessed Child. There is a plethora of novels centered around the happenings in the Middle East. As God said would happen, the bitter conflict between Ismael and Isaac affects the entire world.
In this novel the conflict is not only between Ismael the Muslim assassin and the Jewish archeologist Rebecca, but also between long held Jewish tradition and Christian faith. Rebecca has to decide in her heart to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Caleb helps her to "jump off the cliff" and believe through several miracles that only God could make happen.
I found it intriguing to imagine what might be, and to see unfold the mighty outstretched arm of God orchestrate love in those who are open to His redemption, and to allow hate to run its course to destruction.
Well written, exciting to the end, fast-paced to the point of lack of sleep. Don't start this book late at night or you'll read until it be morning.
I give it 5 of 5 stars.
About the book -
One man holds the key to finding the Ark of the Covenant.
In this explosive sequel to Blessed Child, Rebecca Soloman leads a team deep into the Ethiopian desert to hunt the one man who may know the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. But Islamic extremists fear that the Ark's discovery will compel Israel to rebuild Solomon's temple on the very site of their own holy mosque in Jerusalem.
They immediately dispatch Ismael, their most accomplished assassin, to pursue the same man. But the one in their sights is no ordinary man. His name is Caleb, and he is also on a quest—to find again the love he embraced as a child.
Posted by Refreshment in Refuge at 12:23 PM 1 enlightened opinions
In Retrospect by Ellen Larson
This is not a Christian book, but it does have considerable religious overtones. It stops short of good vs. evil. In fact, the story line travels along the path of scrappy underdog fighting the evil giant... and winning. No spoiler alert... you know most stories these days have a "happy" ending because those obscure, ambivalent endings went out of style ages ago.
I would describe this story as ... Compelling. Intriguing. Fascinating.
Although, I am allergic to foul language--this has its fair share of it--the foul language is a character development tactic to highlight a character's moral degeneration... and another character's anger and desperation. It is used more like pepper than mayo smothering bread. There is no taking God's name in vain, which I appreciate no end. I couldn't have finished the novel if there had been.
It is written with few head jumps, and that makes me sing the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. There is a huge amount of flash backs, which at times makes it very difficult to sort out the story line and keep the characters straight. I find that incredibly annoying. I do highly recommend the book trailer before reading the book because there is much there that helps to sort out certain aspects of the story that will become apparent as you read.
You are drawn quickly into Merit Rafi's world from the prologue... such a compelling opening for this story (written in future tense--very rare). You just can't help turning the pages. The story is crafted like an Oscar winning film in that each page/chapter answers a reader's question but offers another so you are compelled to keep reading.
Intriguing character: Merit Rafi is a scrappy, sassy, tiny, 30-something woman who is the only one in the world who can use the Vessel to go back in time through the Continuum. Her training lasted for 9 years as a child. The woman is a psychological mess, though, and how she handles her guilt feelings, her anger at the betrayal of her country's president, and the choices she makes (whether good or bad) lead toward an astounding climax that rocks you in your seat.
Fascinating in that the story is a bit unique. It is not a rehash of a revenge story, although revenge and justice play huge roles in Merit's choices. It is not some pitiful, self-recrimination study, although that too plays a part. It is a fascinating depiction of one woman's handling of these intense emotions while trying to offset some rather strong drugs she's forced to take for her "rehabilitation". How she handles reason over heart matters and vice versa so that she finally makes a choice that leads to peace in her soul, and overcomes the manipulations and betrayals.
Do not plan on getting much sleep while reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. It is definitely gritty, and a bit steamy in a place or two but not graphic.
4.5 stars out of 5 stars. I took off .5 star because of the language character ploy. I think Larson could have done a better job of character development of Thad than his foul mouth and his obvious lack of self-control (read that adultery). AND because the book cover says it is an "old fashioned whodunit" when it is most definitely not a spectacular whodunit nor is it old fashioned. I abhor back covers that lie like that. Although the composite is excellent writing and superior story telling (even though there is an ad nauseum amount of flashbacks), the real story is more about Truth-finding, and Accepting the real Truth, and working through problems to appropriate solutions rather than passive accepting in seeming hopeless situations. Sadly, the triumph depicted here is finding trust in true, but earthly love. God is love and forgiveness... the plot could have had such a tremendous impact if Merit had found the power of that Higher Power... but, I guess that would have been a bit different story.
Former elite operative Merit Rafi suffered during her imprisonment at the end of a devastating war, but the ultimate torment is being forced to investigate a murder she would gladly have committed herself.
The year is 3324. In the region once known as Turkey, the Rasakans have attacked the technologically superior Oku. The war is a stalemate until the Oku commander, General Zane, abruptly surrenders. Merit, a staunch member of the Oku resistance, fights on, but she and her comrades are soon captured. An uneasy peace ensues, but the Rasakans work secretly to gain control of the prized Oku time-travel technology. When Zane is murdered, the Rasakans exert their control over Merit, the last person on Earth capable of Forensic Retrospection.
Merit, though reinstated to her old job by the despised Rasakans, knows she is only a puppet. If she refuses to travel back in time to identify Zane’s killer, her family and colleagues will pay the price. But giving in to Rasakan coercion means giving them unimaginable power. She has only three days to make this morally wrenching choice; three days to change history.
As the preliminary investigation progresses, Merit uncovers evidence of a wider plot. How did the Rasakans defeat the technologically superior Oku? Why did the Oku surrender prematurely? How did the Rasakans discover her true identity? Merit realizes she will only find the answers by learning who killed the traitor, General Zane.
In Retrospect is a good old-fashioned whodunit set in a compelling post-apocalyptic future.
Kindle download from http://www.netgalley.com
BOOK TRAILER: http://www.ellenlarson.com/
I was going to write here "little information available", but decided to do a Google, and viola! I found some interesting background information located here.
Otherworld by Jared Wilson
I love the premise of this book... Four men with completely different perspectives faced with bizarre happenings, trying to decipher the truth from fiction... Trying discover who or what is behind it all.
But, because I love the premise, doesn't mean that I love the book. There is just too much going on and too many perspectives, and that causes such a tangled web that as the reader is juggling the head jumps from one perspective to another something gets terribly lost.
There are some great things about this book. The writing is very good. Character development is top notch. This study of demonic affected psyche is so on target. There needs to be much more of this kind of in-your-face dealing with how demons work in Christian lives.
However, as you know, I hate head jumping from one character to another especially when the transitions are poor. I hate editorial tactics that try for some unique storytelling but actually makes the story appear jumbled and disjointed. This story line is full of them. As a result, the story flow is jerky, and hard to follow at times. Reading a start-stop-jerk-stop story is very annoying and tiring. For this kind of story, it would have been much better to have charted a storyboard using two characters instead of seven. You have the main four characters, and then there is the supporting cast so you have a jumble of people you are trying to keep track of, and it clogs the story flow so it is more of a seepage rather than white water rafting. The premise of this story promises white water rafting, but you don't get those thrills.
I blame the editor not the author for the above problems. These are things that could have been smoothed out before going to press.
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pub Date: September, 2013
When a wave of bizarre phenomena hits Houston, Texas, four reluctant strangers are brought together in a surprising battle against deadly spiritual forces.
Something strange is happening in Houston and its rural suburb, Trumbull. It starts with the bizarre mutilation of a farmer's cow, sparking rumors of UFO sightings and alien visitations. It's all an annoyance for the police, who would prefer to focus on the recent murders in the area. Mike Walsh is a journalist with a nagging editor and a troubled marriage who finds himself inexorably drawn into the deeper story creeping up on all who dare get close enough: a grizzled small town police captain, a depressed journalist, a disillusioned pastor, and a little old man. They are unlikely allies against the otherworld.
Jared C. Wilson is the pastor of Middletown Springs Community Church in Middletown Springs, Vermont and the author of the books Your Jesus is Too Safe, Gospel Wakefulness, Gospel Deeps, The Pastor's Justification, and the Bible study resources Abide, Seven Daily Sins, and Knowing the Bible: Romans.
His first novel, Otherworld, a supernatural thriller, is recently released from David C Cook.
Jared's articles, essays, and short stories have appeared in Rev! Magazine, Tabletalk, Exponential's Leadership Learnings, Pulpit Helps Magazine, Disciple Magazine, Collegiate, Family Life, and at Christianity.com among numerous other publications.
You can encounter his passion for the ongoing reformation of the evangelical church almost daily at his blog, The Gospel-Driven Church.
The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice
This is not a Christian book. Pub date is October, 2013.
Although I am allergic to foul language, I was very intrigued by this book because I grew up in Louisiana and currently live just a few miles from New Orleans. Many things mentioned in the novel, I recognized and it was neat. But, there is more than necessary foul words. You have to excuse Rice; he lives in L.A. where foul language is a common occurrence apparently since movies seem to be filled with it as well.
The story line is intriguing. Something in an Artesian spring that feed a swimming pool attaches itself and makes people do strange and violent things.
However, when the character Shire describes Katrina he gets it ALL wrong. The hurricane did not last for days and days. There was no flooding in New Orleans from the hurricane. The flooding came from a burst levy and it did not flood all the way to Midtown (which Rice got right earlier in the novel).
I couldn't get past this gaffe. I tried reading more, even pages and pages more, but the gaffe kept me from concentrating. The main problem was when the reader is in Shire's head and Shire "recites the cold, clinical details of this cataclysm" (Katrina), he gets the "details" wrong. It's a show stopper, a story flow dam.
The character Marshall is very well developed, Ben is greatly loveable. The problem is that Rice tries to get inside the head of a young teenage girl and miserably fails. He tries to get inside the head of a black woman journalist and miserably fails because her thoughts seem trite and formulaic, rather like something he thinks would be in the mind of a black woman journalist. It doesn't ring authentic.
Rice has not mastered the art of head-jumping, although the transitions from one part of the story to another part are mostly smooth but not in every instance. One genuis example is when the story transitions from Marshall's vault through the window, and then Ben is looking out his window. That is such a smooth, effortless transition for a reader. Another one is when we jump from the black nurse Arthella to Shire the private detective. But there are numerous others that don't work well.
If you are not allergic to foul language and a graphic, almost-rape scene, along with some incredibly graphic descriptions of animal heads exploding do not bother you, then you'll probably read long into the night.
I give this 2 stars out of 5 stars. The reason is the foul language and graphic content. The story does not seem to have much value beyond those two things. Although, it is compelling, and character development is quite good for the most part.
I received this book from NetGalley to review for the publisher Simon & Schuster.
Posted by Refreshment in Refuge at 11:52 AM 0 enlightened opinions
Dangerous: Engaging the People and Places No One Else Will by Caleb Bislow
MY REVIEWAt first, I thought this was going to be sort of a missions story on steroids. I was not even close. This is far more than a missions story. This is a story about God going about His business using His children who are ready, willing, and able to listen to His urgings and obey His commands.
I have never been so moved reading a nonfiction as I was devouring this book. I read it in one sitting... I couldn't put it down. My heart, my mind, and my soul have been stirred beyond imagining.
This should be a "must study" for every youth group, and every church group.
Yes, it is graphic in places, but God's work is not always G-rated. The hurting, the downtrodden, the lost are not found in clinically clean places, sitting around waiting for some good Christian to come along and share the Gospel. Jesus ate with the prostitutes, the demon-possessed, and the tax collectors. We should do no less. Funny how Christians think setting on pews, and hatching out nothing is doing God's will. Where is the fruit???
Caleb Bislow listened to God's voice, and obeyed the summons, "As you go make disciples." He followed Paul's example by discipling a few then challenging them to "Go make disciples." Only Caleb did it with some dangerous people in despicable places.
Any problems in your church?
Complacent church members -- tell them some of these stories.
Shy youth -- challenge them with some of these Bible verses and the illustrative true stories.
Dare devil young men -- let them read of some Dark, Dangerous, and Despised Places... Places that burdened the heart of Caleb Bislow.
Bislow’s debut book, Dangerous (Bethany House, September 2013), written with Ted Kluck, is part inspirational memoir, part devotional, and part field guide for the aspiring evangelist. Since that first trip to Africa, Bislow has founded a missionary organization called Unusual Soldiers that trains American Christians, and increasingly foreign nationals, to minister at home or abroad and almost always under adverse circumstances. Bislow’s vision for the organization is to take humanitarian concern and Christian teaching to places with no Christian contact.
Bislow writes that his first experience in Africa, which led to a church being planted there, “wrecked” him, and set him on a course to raise $50,000 in order to conduct more work among the Maasai. “As we hiked back up a trail, my mind raced. How many years had this village been waiting to hear the gospel? How many generations had come and gone by without Christ? A sense of brokenness came over me. It was as if these people had just been waiting for someone to come and bring them the good news. Just waiting. I found myself angry that no one had ever taken the gospel to these people. That all of the churches and people with Jesus bumper stickers on their cars had forgotten [them] . . . I was even angry with myself . . .”
Caleb Bislow, a farm boy from Nebraska, went from a restless life as a Christian youth pastor in the Midwest, to quitting his job, emptying his bank account, and traveling deep into Africa—a long flight plus a two-day, bumpy car ride with a translator—to tell the Maasai people about Jesus. Was he a fool or was he courageous? Bislow wondered that very thing as he took his first steps as a missionary with little idea what he was doing. He has since gone on to minister around the world, often to places he calls “despised, dangerous, and dark,” including the Congo, and Guatemala’s Pavon Prison, which is literally run by the inmates.
Bislow has been humbled to advance God’s kingdom on every inhabited continent in the world. He was trained in survival by former British commandos, is the director of Unusual Soldiers training events, and is a sought-after speaker through Kingdom Building Ministries. Caleb and his wife, Jessica, and their three children call Franklin, Nebraska, their home. Learn more at www.unusualsoldiers.com.
Jude by Jeff Nesbit
If you frequent this blog, you know there are some things that I absolutely cannot tolerate in the books that I read. One of them is the bandwagon for global warming or other kinds of dire, ecological planet danger. As a Bible-reading, believing Christian I know that the earth has a limited time table and only God is able to destroy this planet in His good timing. Perhaps because Nesbit was director of public affairs for two science agencies, he knows better. Nesbit actually mentions McKibbons, which I found interesting. When an author like McKibbons or those like him write books, I steer clear of their books because they make my blood pressure soar. Thank goodness, Nesbit doesn't stay on this kick more than a couple of chapters. However, there is an underlying reason for this ecological flag waving, which I address in a moment.
The main character is Thomas Asher (the book is written in first person, and praise God stays in first person point of view) who has a twin brother that basically becomes the financial ruler of the world with the help of powers and principalities that Thomas calls regents. This is a good premise because right from the start the reader meets these principalities and what they can do. It is not graphic violence, just the suggestion, and that can be more terrifying than the actual depiction of it.
The characters are developed very well, the reader gets an excellent sense of the inner core of each brother. But, I often wondered why Jude even cared what Thomas thought, and why Thomas was drawn inextricably to Jude when their core values seemed to be polar opposites. However, they are twins. Too many clinical studies have provided empirical evidence that twins have some kind of connection that regular siblings do not have. However, to explain why Thomas is not completely repulsed by Jude's dependence on the regents' prevailing succor, Thomas admits to being agnostic with no penchant for Christian things. This makes his unemotional narrative of the happenings surrounding Jude's rise to power even more chilling. The reader is drawn into this fascinating tale with a bit of trepidation as if this very personal look into their lives is similar to voyeurism.
You don't want to look but you can't look away. It is the same feeling the reader gets from Thomas. He tries to separate himself from his brother, but he can't. It is a very interesting, psychological thriller. Thomas sets aside the ecological flag waving for more crucial and life-threatening things to study and write about, and that puts everything into a more godly perspective.
This is the first book by Jeff Nesbit that I've read. I believe I will read more from this author. I give it 4 of 5 stars. The reason is because the flashbacks which happen every other chapter do not transition well. Jumping back and forth in time is too jarring. It would be so much better if present day happenings would lead into the happening depicted in the flashback. Better still, in my opinion, if all the flashbacks were told together leading up to the present day.
Jude Asher first called on outside forces to change his destiny as a child. Now a wealthy entrepreneur with his star soaring, he's prepared to make his most daring bet ever to reach the pinnacle of earthly power. Jude's twin brother, Thomas, has chosen a different path as a reporter for The New York Times. As much as he's tried to cut himself off from his brother's trajectory, he finds himself drawn back in ... and troubled by the secret that only he knows.
Surrounded by principalities and powers, each brother must choose their own path—for good or for evil.
I received this eBook from NetGalley specifically for review.
Jeff Nesbit has written 19 inspirational novels for various publishers. He and a colleague opened a publishing house in 2006 to encourage new authors and bring back into print books from established authors.
Nesbit was the White House communications director for Vice President Dan Quayle, director of public affairs for two federal science agencies, and a national journalist with Knight-Ridder and others. He now writes a weekly science column for U.S. News and World Report (www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge) and is executive director of Climate Nexus.
Poison Town by Creston Mapes
You may have met Jack Crittendon back in June when his life turned upside down because his wife had shown a boy some kindness in high school. Here's my review of Fear Has A Name. In this tension-strung, nerve-wracking sequel, Jack and Pam are trying to get on with their lives... but something is just not right. There's a huge log jam in the flow of life and Jack's strangle hold on unforgiveness, and Pam's tightly packed down fear just could be the cause of the problems in their family. Or it could be Jack's job. Or it could be Pam's fear-ridden mother.
This roller coaster ride is a must read. Mapes has perfected the head-jumping to a finely tuned craft.
Sheer genius. In this book, he's also perfected the way the story lines are interwoven and how they come together. Far, far better than anything he has written before. Be prepared to read far into the night. Be prepared to consume this book like a tall glass of chocolate milk: You just can't drink it slow.
There is only one draw back... You have to wait until February, 2014 to get your hands on one. Be watching for it. Pre-order yours. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Another 5 of 5 stars for Creston Mapes!
There’s More Than One Kind of Poison in This Town People are sick and dying. Rumors are swirling. Some claim chemicals leaking from a manufacturing plant are causing the cancer that’s crippling people on the poor side of Trenton City, Ohio. Yet nothing at the plant appears amiss. The problem remains a mystery until reporter Jack Crittendon’s long-time mechanic falls ill and he investigates. Soon Jack becomes engulfed in a smokescreen of lies, setups, greed, and scandal. The deeper he digs, the more toxic the corruption he uncovers. As he faces off with the big-time players behind the scenes and tries to beat the clock before more people die, he realizes the chillingly unthinkable—he knows too much.
Creston Mapes & Alton Gansky Interview
Creston's Facebook Page
Creston Mapes Fun Website
One Thousand Gifts: A dare to live fully right where you are by Ann Voskamp
I have no idea where this book came from, or who asked me to review it.
It was released last year, and I usually receive books that are soon to hit the book shelves.
I am forever grateful, though, to whomever sent me this book.
Voskamp highlights a little known Greek word that is packed with superior Christian meaning: eucharisteo (with grace, thanksgiving, joy). She has opened my eyes to the beauty of deliberate choosing how one reacts to any kind of situation... deliberately choosing grace.
I have written a lot about forgiveness, but this surpasses that small, tightly focused study to encompass an entire life and every second in that life. It is a lifestyle beyond worship of the holy God, but experiencing how deeply God loves us, then sloshing that love all over our loved ones and even strangers. When that deliberate decision is made, then the pain of having to decide to forgive and work through all that junk is no longer necessary.
Excellent, stupendous book. Buy it, now! It is so very worthy!
I give it 5 stars of 5 stars.
Drawing heartbreaking beauty out of the simplest of details, Ann Voskamp invites you into her grace-bathed life of farming, parenting, and writing---and deeper still into your own life. Here you will discover a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of living that is fully alive, and a way of becoming present to God that brings you deep and lasting joy.
Ann Voskamp is a farmer's wife, the home-educating mama to a half-dozen exuberant kids, and author of One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, a New York Times 60 week bestseller. Named by Christianity Today as one of 50 women most shaping culture and the church today, she's a writer for DaySpring, a speaker with Women of Faith, and partners with Compassion International as a global advocate for needy children.Featured on the TODAY Show, in WORLD Magazine, and Focus on the Family magazine, Ann loses library books, usually has a sink full of soaking pots, and sees empty laundry baskets rarer than a blue moon. There are gifts everywhere and the sky and the fresh mercy over the farm is large and all is grace. Her blog is a global well for the weary and soul-thirsty seeking the quiet grace of the Giver: www.aholyexperience.com. More at http://onethousandgifts.com/
Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering
I thought this would be a most interesting book because it was touted as Downtown Abbey meets Agatha Christie. Not at all. This is a very transparent mystery, and that means it is no mystery at all. To be fair, I have been reading Agatha Christie eBooks, Greatest British Mysteries, and 100 All Time Great American Mysteries. I've been entrenched with mysteries since January.
Deering is a pseudonym for an author who has multiple books published, this is her mysteries name. She notes in the back that Knox was well known for writing a 10 commandments for mystery writing and then she says she broke or bent them all. Well, it shows. It is not the best offering from this experienced author. I was disappointed because the premise is so great.
The twists are not that twisted, and there are no surprises. I give this book 1 star out of 5
Downton Abbey Meets Agatha Christie in This Sparkling Mystery
Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.
Soon, financial irregularities at Drew's stepfather's company come to light and it's clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this game.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Rules of Murder, go HERE.
JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).
Angels in Fire by Dann Stadler
This is an amazing account of a true story. I love stories like this
because it makes me so glad that I know my Father in Heaven, and to know that His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
This account is well written, has all the drama and suspense of some fiction stories. However, there is no doubt that God is the main character here, the Worker of miracles. I recommend this book to anyone who would like see how God works wonders in His children's lives. Of course, this is not something that happens everyday. But, then the story of Job wasn't something that happened everyday.
ONE HORRIFIC CRASH.
ONE IMPOSSIBLE RESCUE.
TWO LIVES FOREVER CHANGED.
There was no way Dann and Tracey Stadler could avoid the drunk driver speeding toward them. Moments later, with Tracey trapped in their burning car, a lone figure walked out of the nearby woods and saved her from certain death. Seconds later, he was gone. But the disappearance of this stranger was not the end of God's tangible intervention in their lives.
As the Stadlers struggled through grueling recoveries and heartbreaking setbacks--even years after that fateful crash--the miracles and divine encounters continued. For the first time, the Stadlers share these incredible moments, offering an inspiring testimony to anyone enduring heartache and loss.
If you are facing hard times--if you need assurance that God still ministers through His angels today--let this true story provide the hope and encouragement you need.
Trouble in Store by Carol Cox
MY REVIEW will be post here a little later today...
Historical Suspense and Romance in the Wild West
The acclaimed author of more than 25 novels, Carol Cox is a trusted name in historical
romantic suspense. She combines lively romance, suspense, and humor to create compelling
stories set against fascinating historical backgrounds. Cox’s latest novel, Trouble in Store, is a
thrilling new mystery surrounding an 1880s mercantile. When the owners of the mercantile die
unexpectedly, a disputed inheritance turns out to be the least of the troubles in store…
After losing her position as a governess, Melanie Ross turns to her last resort: the Arizona mercantile
she inherited from her cousin. Unfortunately, Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile…
and he’s not interested in sharing.
Melanie and Caleb are forced to set aside their differences, however, when someone starts sabotaging
their store. And as they spend more time together, Caleb begins to realize that Melanie could be the
perfect partner for him, and not just in the mercantile. But will their business—and their budding
romance—survive the trouble ahead?
“For a fast-paced story full of fun, action, mystery, and love, I highly
recommend you treat yourself to Trouble in Store by Carol Cox. Her delightful
characters and historical accuracy provide a delightful read!”
—Judith Miller, bestselling author of the Home to Amana series
“Cox has fleshed out a fascinating cast of characters that move readers through
a novel that dispenses romance and wit in the intriguing context of a Wild West
mystery. A most delightful and engaging read.”
—Publishers Weekly on Love in Disguise
Available at your local bookstore, bethanyhouse.com or by calling 1-800-877-2665.
A DIVISION OF BAKER PUBLISHING GROUP
Carol Cox has an abiding love for history, mystery, and romance. The author of more than
25 books, she believes in the power of story to convey spiritual truths. A pastor’s wife and
homeschooling mom, she makes her home with her husband and daughter in a remote
spot in northern Arizona, where the deer and the antelope really do play—within view of
the family’s front porch. Learn more at authorcarolcox.com.
Pieces of the Heart by Bonnie Calhoun
This is the second book from Calhoun, and I think it indicates her diversity as an author.
I deeply enjoyed learning more about the racism during WWII which I had studied several years ago. I also enjoyed the story as it progressed through Cordelia's life from little girl to young woman, and the story line details were no surprise or different from my studies.
As the reader is drawn into Cordelia's life, the sense of God's hand, the prayers and faith, and the pine cone quilt are fascinating facets of how older women mentor younger women, and how wisdom is conveyed and learned. Practical application of wisdom learned is another facet that Calhoun stitches into the storyline. Character development is fairly good. It doesn't take long to care what happens to Cordelia and Bernard, such as when Bernard is off to war and Cordelia has to deal with the church removing her from the house that she had grown up in because her pastor father and mother had passed away. It is touching how Cordelia deals with the loss... no more spoilers :)
I did find difficulty in correlating the back copy blurbs with what the story is actually about, which is the growing up years of Cordelia and Bernard, her knight in shining armor who saved her from bullies and kept her heart safe. Then the couple are separated when Bernard goes off to war. His travails are interesting, but it is hard to grapple with the two main characters as a couple when they spend most of the last half of the book apart. When Bernard comes back from the war, their marriage and the subsequent trials from dealing with the PTSD is much more brief than the cover leads you to believe.
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Pieces of the Heart Abingdon Press (June 1, 2013) by Bonnie S. Calhoun
Bonnie S. Calhoun is Owner/Director of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, owner/publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), the ACFW ‘2011 Mentor of the Year,” President of (CAN) Christian Authors Network, and Appointment Coordinator for both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC) and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference(GPCWC).
For the last six years she has taught workshops in Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, and creating Social Media promotions at both CCWC, and GPCWC, and in 2011 at the Montrose, Pa Christian Writers Conference. She also taught a Facebook workshop at the 2012 ACFW conference.
Bonnie and her husband live in a log cabin in upstate area of New York with a dog and cat who think she’s wait-staff.
Her sites are: https://www.facebook.com/bonniescalhounsnarkandsuspense
https://www.facebook.com/bscalhoun
Cordelia Grace watched Bernard Howard, the love of her young life, go off to fight for our country in WWII. And she has spent the last three years creating the Pine Cone quilt that will grace their marriage bed when he comes home. Each row of triangles signifies a layer in her life, sets of memories, hopes, dreams, and prayers for her future, enough spoken words to cover them forever. Her image of their “happy-ever-after” grows proportionally as the quilt expands.
But is the man that returns from the war, the same man that she remembered? Are the dark shades of color that she had to use for the outside edges of the beloved quilt prophetic of her life to come? Can love and faith overcome all?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Pieces of the Heart, go HERE.
Fear Has a Name by Creston Mapes
I have loved Creston Mapes' books since his very first one. He has such a marvelous talent for expressing what should be obvious in tender and poignant ways. I think God is using Mapes' work to point out all the deficiencies in Christians, but doing it in a godly, tender way. I am continuously amazed at his insight into Christian motives, and Christian responses to those who need Jesus in the most desperate way. This novel exceeded my expectations, and anticipations.
Who has not known that person in junior high school or in high school that was the "outsider", that person just weird enough to not fit into any group? How often have we all seen that person bullied or treated badly and didn't raise a finger to help or protect? I can distinctly recall a time when I only offered a feeble protest, hardly audible and it did no good.
In his latest novel, Mapes asks the question, "What happens when that misfit person grows up and never finds love, never finds a place to fit, never has friends to count on?" Then he opens the door for the reader to a most believable and intense life.
I really do not like head-jumping in a novel. We all know the bad guy is really bad, so why do I need to read what the bad guy is thinking? I know there are much better ways for authors to create tension so tight it is frayed at the edges; you do not need to head-jump to create that environment of fear for the reader. Mapes does a lot of head-jumping in this novel, but he has crafted it so ingenuously that I never realized I'd passed through several head-jumps. Genius! Another thing I do not like are numerous story lines and the constant jumping between story lines. Mapes has crafted the multiple story lines in such a way that they compliment each other, adding insight to each other. I had never realized this type of story telling could be done in a way that I would literally love it. He did it.
I believe Mapes should find a place on your bookshelves right alongside all your classics like Dickens, and Dumas, and Kipling. He holds his own in that company.
This ranks a 5 of 5 stars novel.
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Fear Has a Name David C. Cook (June 1, 2013) by Creston Mapes
Creston has fond memories of his boyhood in Bath, Ohio, where he became enchanted with his future wife, way back in the fourth grade. His father, Bernie, owned and operated The Weathervane Furniture Shop in town. The whole family lived right upstairs in the century-old house known as "The Shop."
Creston studied journalism at Bowling Green State University, then began his writing career. During the past 30 years, he has worked as a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, freelance writer, and author.
From popular suspense author Creston Mapes comes another faith-building thriller, a tale that follows journalist Jack Crittendon as he fights to protect his family from a stalker's terrifying schemes, investigates a pastor's mysterious disappearance, and struggles to keep his faith amidst unthinkable fear.
With his family's safety on the line, Crittendon realizes there are secrets behind "Christian" walls--secrets with painful, deadly implications. He must find the faith to trust a God who allows inconceivable trials, and the courage to guard his family, with danger exploding at every turn.
Through it all--the sharp, character-driven writing for which Mapes is known--takes fans and new readers on an edge-of-your-seat journey that explores the harsh, far-reaching consequences of bullying and the Christian response to fear.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Fear Has a Name, go HERE.
The Judgment Stone by Robert Liparulo
Here is another winner from Liparulo. I have so much enjoyed the last two books from him. The wild imagination of Liparulo is unmatched in today's Christian fiction. The Judgment Stone is one of Liparulo's best efforts. I love every one of his novels. All are exciting and riveting. However, I really love these last two that are more in tune with faith in action.
The storyline is developed very well with a little more background for the characters. I do not like jumping among three story lines: Owen/Jagger; The Tribe; and The Clan. Although, Liparulo does an excellent job with the transitions. It does keep the pages turning. However, head jumping is an easy tool to use to keep the plot churning. I believe Liparulo is a better writer than that, and can keep the action with a minimum of viewpoints.
You should read the first in this series because The Judgment Stone starts almost where The 13th Tribe closes (click the link and you can read my review of that book.)
The Judgment Stone has a fascinating premise with an object being an open door to see into the spiritual world. I like how Liparulo describes the spiritual warfare, and how angels foil demons interference with humans. I love the way he describes angels ministering and succoring humans, with the spiritual direct connect with God. It is fascinating reading.
Bob, great job! I want more!
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Judgment Stone Thomas Nelson (May 14, 2013) by Robert Liparulo
Former journalist Robert Liparulo is the best-selling author of the thrillers Comes a Horseman, Germ, Deadfall, Deadlock, and The 13th Tribe, as well as The Dreamhouse Kings, an action-adventure series for young adults. He contributed a short story to James Patterson’s Thriller, and an essay about Thomas Perry’s The Butcher’s Boy to Thrillers: 100 Must Reads, edited by David Morrell and Hank Wagner. He is currently working on the sequel to The 13th Tribe, as well writing an original screenplay with director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive).
When not writing, Liparulo loves to read, watch (and analyze) movies, scuba dive, swim, hike, and travel. He lives in Monument, Colorado, with his wife Jodi and four children: Melanie, Matthew, Anthony, and Isabella.
What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?
Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with the Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals called the Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.
Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.
By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.
Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?
In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Judgment Stone, go HERE.
Craft: Would the Godfather Really Do That? by Randy Ingermanson
3) Craft: Would The Godfather Really Do That?
It's 1953 in Birmingham, Alabama. Sherlock Holmes, Scarlett O'Hara, the Godfather, and Uncle Tom walk into an exclusive whites-only restaurant. It's 4 PM and the place is nearly empty.
The maitre d' hurries up, throws a scowl at Uncle Tom, and says to the Godfather, "I'm sorry, sir, but there are no tables available at the present time."
The Godfather grins amiably and hangs his head. "Gosh, I had no idea! Should we come back later when it's less crowded?"
"Let's just think things through rationally," says Scarlett. "I'm sure that
if we slip this gentleman a large enough bill, he can find us a table. Or maybe we can find some dirt on him and blackmail him."
Sherlock shakes his head dejectedly. "They don't seem to like us, so let's leave. It's boring here anyway.
Let's find some place that's more fun!"
"Leave this to me." Uncle Tom puts on a pair of brass knuckles and slugs the maitre d' in the jaw, knocking him out. "These people are going to serve us or else."
He leads his friends to the best table and shouts for a waiter to serve them, pronto.
What's wrong with the picture above?
Yes, the characters are behaving out of character. But how do you know? You've never read a scene in which any of these characters were in Birmingham in 1953. Yet you know roughly how each of them would behave in this situation. The way I wrote it above is completely wrong.
Different people have different "social styles" -- patterns of social behavior.
The Godfather is a Driver. He makes things happen and he's not too concerned about just getting along. He'd be the one to pull out the brass knuckles.
Scarlett O'Hara is an Expressive. She's highly sociable, and when she's rejected, she feels it keenly.
She enjoys fun and would be the first to suggest they go elsewhere.
Sherlock Holmes is an Analytical. When he has a problem, he thinks it through. He might try a bribe or blackmail or anything else he could think of to solve the problem rationally.
Uncle Tom is an Amiable. He likes to get along with people, and he always asks permission, so he never needs to ask forgiveness.
Most people fit into one of these four categories -- Driver, Expressive, Analytical, or Amiable.
As a novelist, you probably find it easiest to write characters who fit your own social style. You might find it harder to identify with characters with other social styles.
But you have to. You can't write a whole novel in which all your characters have your social style. That would be implausible, and it would also be boring.
Why boring?
When you have characters with a variety of social styles, you have a lot more chances to create conflict.
More conflict means a more interesting story.
A couple of examples are in order ...
If Uncle Tom and the Godfather are working together to solve a mystery, they're not going to agree on how to do it. The Godfather will be action-oriented and won't much care about whom he offends. Uncle Tom will be relational-oriented and he'll care very much about other people's feelings.
If Sherlock and Scarlett are dating, they're going to face all sorts of obstacles. Sherlock prefers a quiet evening at home with a pipe and a good conversation, while Scarlet wants to go out somewhere fun and dance, dance, dance. Sherlock may think he's complimenting Scarlett by telling her that she's not as scrawny as she was last month, but Scarlett won't love him for saying she's put on weight.
Most people tend to have a dominant social style and a secondary one. I'm an Analytical Amiable. I'll probably beat you at chess, but at the end of the game, you'll be my friend.
There are 16 combinations of dominant and secondary social styles. And of course there are more aspects to a character's personality than their social styles.
This means that you'll never run out of quirky combinations of character traits. Every character you ever create can be an original.
Yet by studying typical social styles, you can create believable characters that ring true.
If you want a successful salesman who can take rejection in stride and push on to the next customer, make him a Driver Amiable.
If you want an unsuccessful salesman who staggers at each rejection and finds it hard to ask for the sale, make him an Analytical Expressive.
If you want a boring, dull, narrow-minded accountant who obsesses over details, start with an Analytical Analytical and pile on from there. (We Analyticals are sometimes considered fussy and obsessive by flaky, unfocused people. Hmphh!)
Let's be clear that you don't stop with your character's social style. It's a nice place to start, but people are much more complicated than a category.
But knowing the social style of each of your characters will give you a running start on understanding them.
There is very much more to say about social styles, so if you're interested, try Googling the phrase "Driver Analytical Expressive Amiable" and see what you come up with.
One nice summary I've found online is here:
http://www.softed.com/resources/Docs/SSW0.4.pdf
Sherlock says this resource explains a lot of things that have always puzzled him about stupid people.
The Godfather says it'll be useful in figuring out how to manipulate his minions.
Uncle Tom says it'll help him get along better with people.
Scarlett says it's boring.
This article is reprinted by permission of the author.
Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, "the Snowflake Guy," publishes the free monthly Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, with more than 32,000 readers. If you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction, AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND have FUN doing it, visit http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com.
Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.
A Man Called Blessed by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright...
Dangerous: Engaging the People and Places No One E...
One Thousand Gifts: A dare to live fully right whe...
Craft: Would the Godfather Really Do That? by Rand...
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Wolfenstein: Youngblood: The Kotaku Review
Joshua Rivera Aug 02, 2019. 12 comments
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arkane Arkane Studios Bethesda Machinegames Nintendo Nintendo Switch PC Playstation Playstation 4 PS4 Review Reviews Wolfenstein Wolfenstein: Youngblood Xbox Xbox One
I am generally suspicious of games that people say are “better with friends,” simply because most things are. Manual labor, paying taxes, repeatedly hitting your thumb with a hammer—these are all things that are “better with friends.” Humans are social creatures, and company can make both miserable and pleasant things a whole lot better. “Better with friends” is rarely a good selling point.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood isn’t really just better with friends; it requires them. Sure, you can play it solo, the game notes, ceding control of your ever-present companion to the game’s questionable artificial intelligence, but to do so is often frustrating. I’ll just underline it here, in bold permanent marker: I highly recommended that you don’t bother with Wolfenstein: Youngblood if you intend to play it solely by yourself. Play some of it solo, sure. I did! But all of it? Definitely not.
That’s not a ding against Youngblood. The game has always been positioned as a cooperative experience meant for two players—the $40 deluxe release even comes with a buddy code for someone else to download the game for free, the only restriction being that they can play solely with whoever gave them the code. It’s a co-op shooter. To criticize it for not being something other than that is unreasonable.
In Wolfenstein: Youngblood, you play as Zofia and Jessica Blazkowicz, the twin daughters of previous series protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz and his wife, Anya Oliwa. Set in a world where the Nazis won World War II and achieved world domination, the game begins in 1980, roughly 19 years after The New Colossus, which ends in a new American revolution against the Nazi occupation. By the start of Youngblood, that revolution has succeeded, and Jess and Soph have grown up together on the Blazkowicz family farm in Mesquite, Texas.
As the daughters of resistance fighters who liberated America from Nazi occupiers, they’ve been raised to be survivors. Even though they grew up in the relative safety of liberated America, the Nazis have continued their despotic reign abroad. Hating Nazis runs deep in Zofia and Jessica, and killing Nazis is in their blood. So when their father goes missing in occupied Paris, the brash 18-year-old twins seize the moment, stealing a helicopter and some power armor in order to find their father and join the family’s Nazi-killing business.
And they are so freaking hyped to kill Nazis.
Youngblood is built from the ground-up for teamwork. Enemies are tougher to sneak up on or fight head-on, so you need to decide on an approach and communicate the best way to execute. Bosses and firefights are infuriatingly difficult without a real person to coordinate with—it’s maddeningly unclear what you can expect when getting into a firefight, as enemy reinforcements stream in with no parseable logic, making for grueling shootouts when playing solo that are much easier to handle with someone watching your back. But even with a partner, things get harder than they have to be if you don’t comb over the game’s small-but-intricate maps, full of secrets and hints that might give you an edge in achieving your goals. Without taking the time to do that, you can have a tough time early on as you face super-soldiers high above your own level too early in the game to have a decent arsenal of skills or weapons.
MachineGames’ Wolfenstein series is known for being fun-as-hell throwbacks to a tougher, denser era of first-person shooting. While you technically have the option of being stealthy or going in guns blazing, all roads eventually lead to the latter. How could they not? These guns are big and loud and full of purchasable upgrades. Few things are more Wolfenstein than a long corridor obscured by the fireworks of flashing muzzles and the red of Nazis reduced to raw meat. Few games depict the weighty, cathartic mess of digital shooting like Wolfenstein games do, and Youngblood easily earns the Wolfenstein name in this regard.
Youngblood’s biggest departure is structural, which could be due to Dishonored developer Arkane Studios’ contributions. After an opening mission set on a zeppelin, Youngblood deposits you in Nue-Paris, a web of three small, open-ended maps with lots of interiors to explore, linked by a fast-travel system. Each district has a tower that holds a vital part of the Nazis’ Paris operation, and it’s up to you to figure out how to break into each.
Video GamesMultiplatform
Back of the box quote
"Excusez-moi, comment dit-on 'fuck Nazis'?"
Type of game
Cooperative Nazi murder party, très bien!
Dense Parisian maps full of secrets, rock-solid shooting, Nazis I killed.
Difficult enemies, hidden tutorials, Nazis that killed me.
MachineGames and Arkane Studios
Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
July 25, 2019 (PC); July 26, 2019 (consoles)
17 hours to completed 100 percent of the story and 22 percent of the side missions.
That is the immediate goal of Youngblood, one that you won’t be able to accomplish until you’ve spent some time taking on side missions of your choosing. Some might give you leads for finding a route into one of the towers; some might just help you level up and upgrade your skills to take on the tough foes lurking in each tower. You could choose to not do these side missions and storm the towers immediately, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Most of the important technical aspects of playing Wolfenstein: Youngblood aren’t unexplained, just easy to miss. Part of this is the easily ignorable method for teaching players how the game works. The tutorials are delivered by collectible laptops that are mostly in plain sight but not always placed in areas you have to be in. That means it’s possible that you never learn how to use the special ability you start with (easy enough to figure out on your own) or that enemies have different armor types best handled with different guns (it will ruin your day if you never learn this).
That said, as a co-op game first and foremost, it is not built with solo convenience in mind. You cannot pause your game, even if you’re playing offline. Safe spaces abound for you to hide out, and there’s a hub area purely for chilling, but you play Youngblood at its pace, not yours. The meatiest and best bits of story are delivered via collectibles—an odd choice since stopping to read newspaper clippings isn’t really something you can do often in a co-op game. But it makes sense once you see that Youngblood intends for you to return to all three of its districts often, completing side missions throughout the campaign or keeping Paris Nazi-free in the postgame with different partners. This is truly fun to do—tearing through Nazis in this game is a goddamn joy—but without the rich storytelling the series is known for, it’s a little bit hollow.
A consistent theme of MachineGames’ Wolfenstein saga is facism as a fickle, self-immolating ideology, incapable of sustained control. In creating an alternate history where Nazi Germany has conquered the world, the series argues that fascism yields no ideal dream to achieve—just a growing list of public enemies and increasingly deranged despots enabled by the complacent.
As a game about the next generation, Wolfenstein: Youngblood becomes a story about the future, and while its spare story is largely unconcerned with digging into any perspective beyond “fuck Nazis,” the primary division between the facists and everyone else is tomorrow. Youngblood, however briefly, contemplates the responsibility we have toward raising the next generation with the skills necessary to defend freedom—to fight for a future, any future, better than this one.
It’s too brief a story to truly do any of these ideas justice, and that brevity makes provocative narrative turns less appealing—a resistance leader from the previous game is now the head of the FBI, but without further context, that rings false to The New Colossus’ revolutionary spirit. Wolfenstein is one of the few video games where Nazi ideology is not something that sprang from some dark foreign ether, but rather a movement that took advantage of existing fear and bigotry. But since we’re immediately sent into the middle of another Nazi conflict with the more pinpointed goal of saving a family member, we don’t, unfortunately, get a look at what the revolution built over the previous 20 in-game years. Youngblood leaves Wolfenstein’s dream mostly in suspended animation, accomplished, in part, but also unseen. It is, it seems, a job for another game, not this one.
It’s tempting to want Wolfenstein: Youngblood to be the rousing third chapter in a terrific revival of a classic franchise, but it’s not. Instead, it’s a fun, off-kilter experiment, a good game about doing good with your friend. Because killing Nazis is good, but it’s much better with friends.
robbobert Aug 02, 2019
To criticize it for not being something other than that is unreasonable.
I really, really, really appreciate this line. It’s something I’ve been feeling for years, and it’s so true. Criticize games for what they are, not what they aren’t. So much of the toxicity of gamer culture and the lashback against developers in recent years comes from disdain and disregard for that idea, that it’s just nice to see it plainly stated by a reviewer.
I bought the buddy pass for Youngblood, and I really appreciate how easy Bethesda made it to get the show on the road. Other devs set up sooo many hurdles and have so many technical problems that my friend and I spend more time troubleshooting than playing the game. I literally spent *days* grappling with error codes when we first tried Wildlands a few years back , but with Youngblood, we were shooting Nazis together within a few minutes of opening the game ( and most of that time was watching the opening cutscenes).
I’d say stealth is a little bit *too* hard in the game, and enemies are a bit bullet-spongey, but overall we’ve really been enjoying it.
Desfar Aug 02, 2019
I really appreciate the line, too, but I couldn’t help but think about it in the context of Joshua’s ... which came off as resenting Bloodstained’s strict adherence to its genre to a lot of Kotaku readers despite that being exactly what the game was going for.
pillbinge Aug 02, 2019
It should be fine to criticize the game for being co-op if that’s not your thing, given that some people may not be able to access the full experience as easily, but the game should be judged on its merits when tested cooperatively. As in, don’t play it solo and critique it, but definitely critique it for being co-op.
Andrew Aug 02, 2019
They should of went the EA route with "A Way Out". Just one person needs to own it and you can play it with any friend.
SilentBob_DN Aug 02, 2019
Even just reading the first part of this review would have told you that they did exactly that ;)
Shardik The Man Bear Aug 02, 2019
It says that buying the deluxe edition gives a code for one friend to play along. Not any copy to allow coop with a second person ;)
wiski Aug 02, 2019
I disagree with the conclusion that this is a good game, if for no other reason than the dialogue between the sisters.
After two games of BJ stoicly yammering on about philosophical nonsense and generally being dour, I like the unrestrained exuberance of the sisters in this game. Not everything has to be grim-dark and ultra serious. Every time Soph gets into one of her laughing fits, I bust out too. It’s infectious. I mean, i t’s a g ame about Nazi-killing. Have fun with it!
Gene Jacket Aug 02, 2019
First off, I am playing Youngblood solo, and will not be playing it with anyone because it’s a fucking Wolfenstein game. If it’s explicitly designed for co-o p, then it should only be playable in co-op. If it was co-op only , If you give me the option to play anything solo, I will play solo. That’s just how I do. That said, I’m having fun * with Youngblood, but...goddamnit, who at MachineGames and Arkane thought any of this was a good idea? The gameplay and narrative are the critical things that drove New Order and New Colossus to be as acclaimed as they are. The narrative in Youngblood is fine, but nowhere near as deep or gripping as the previous games. I like Jess and Soph, and t he gameplay still feels good, but with all the new upgrade mechanics I’m spending way more time in the fucking menus, which is the last thing I want to do in a goddamn WOLFENSTEIN title. All of that is on top of the slapdash level design. Holy shit...I’ve spent more time running around trying to figure out where the fuck to go because there’s no clear pathing. They just throw you into these open-ended environments with a vague destination marker which, in most of the missions I’ve played, take you right into territories where the enemies will one-shot you and no amount of firepower even does any damage because they’re all so much higher level.
WHY THE FUCK IS THERE LEVELING IN A WOLFENSTEIN GAME?
(And before any of you dinks pull the “git gud” card, I’ve only died once, trying to see how much (if any) damage I could do to a much, much higher level enemy...which was none, far as I could tell. The game isn’t hard , it’s just incredibly frustrating due to poorly thought out design.) Look, I’m all for trying new things when a series gets stale...but the MachineGames Wolf titles aren’t there yet and all of the shitty live-service-esque garbage they’ve rigged onto Youngblood actively detracts from the experience. Myself, like many others , likely wanted a new Wolfenstein ...but who exactly wanted this . I want to be super clear that I absolutely adore MachineGames and Arkane. The rebooted Wolfenstein series are some of my absolute favorite games of the past decade, and the Dishonored series are some of my favorites of ALL TIME...but man oh man, I just feel like the missed the mark so super hard with Youngblood. *Fun, in fits and starts. Combat, when fighting enemies who aren’t severely overpowered for your level, is generally as good as past games in the series. Everything else is the definition of a mixed bag.
BlackMesaPRDepartment Aug 02, 2019
Nein Zofia, do not eat ze cookies! Zis is impossible Zofia, zere are rules!
“Zis is impossible” and “zere are rules” are the English phrases I heard most frequently while living in Germany for 4 years. Ironically Zofia is Slavic, but it just fits in there so well
GTCvDeimos Aug 02, 2019
I’ve been enjoying this game quite a bit, but i’m extremely frustrated by how much this game has been absolutely SAVAGED by the Wolfenstein fans. And it really comes down to this. The developers were very clear going into this... this is not a sequel to New Colossus, it is being treated as a spin-off. Yet, every user comment I’ve read has amounted to “it’s not new colossus.”
What makes it even more frustrated is that while I think New Order and New Colossus are pretty decent games (as is Youngblood), they’re far from being all time greats.
Lurch of the SoCal Aug 02, 2019
Still waiting on a reboot of the OG
I may be waiting a while.
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FRAUDS Address Lack of Societal Empathy in ‘Sandwiches’ Video
Debut Album With Morning Toast & Jam & Juice
Released 8th December 2017 via Till Deaf Do Us Party RecordsPre-order Now: http://tinyurl.com/fraudsalbum
Croydon based duo FRAUDS are pleased to reveal the video for their new single ‘Sandwiches’, the latest track to be taken from their debut album With Morning Toast & Jam & Juice set for release on Till Deaf Do Us Party Records on 8th December 2017.
Directed by visual artist David Sagberg, who also worked on the band’s video for ‘Suck Jobs’ video and a recent project for London rockers Vodun, the video was shot in the communal garden of a group of warehouses near Seven Sisters – politically outspoken as ever, the video sees the pair taking on the roles of a privileged fox and an downtrodden pigeon, in a short story about societal division.
Commenting on the track, the band said: “The song is a metaphor for and commentary on the divide and misunderstanding we seem to have grown accustomed to, a new world where empathy is a weakness and charity a waste of our resources.”
Available to preorder now on limited edition 12” vinyl, each copy of the debut album is a genuine one-off, coming with an individual instax photograph of Frauds, personally taken and hand-fixed onto each cover by the band. This run is never to be repressed with this artwork on reclaimed vinyl format, so every single record is completely unique.
Rapidly making their way around the circuit in London and beyond with the likes of Jamie Lenman and Future of The Left, they’ve also played with some of the underground’s most exciting names including Idles, Life, HMLTD, Tigercub, St Pierre Snake Invasion, Demob Happy, Kagoule, USA Nails, Slaves, Blacklisters, Queen Kwong, Youth Man and God Damn.
Turning heads and taking names at the likes of The Independent, Loud & Quiet, NME and The Needle Drop with their own particular brand of ear-battering, eye-gouging visceral punk n’ roll, this two piece have reignited a creative fire that’s burning more intensely than ever.
It’s angry, but it’s fun. It’s satirical, but it’s ridiculous. The only thing you can be sure about is that they’re heavy as fuck and they’re not gonna take it anymore.
Frauds’ debut album With Morning Toast & Jam & Juice is released 8thDecember 2017 via Till Deaf Do Us Party Records
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02.12.17 – Mother’s Ruin – Bristol (10 Year Anniversary Show)
07.12.17 – The Waiting Room – London (album release show)
20.01.18 – The Green Door Store – Brighton (Gruesome Twosomes All-dayer)
Posted on November 17, 2017 November 17, 2017 Author Jerry ActuallyCategories VideosTags Angular, angular punk, Duo, Frauds, Slaves
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Supervisors Say “It’s Time to Move Forward on Transit”
They Urge the County Executive to Issue a New Transit RFP
By Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors - Mar 5th, 2014 07:56 am
County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, Supervisors Michael Mayo, Sr., Anthony Staskunas and Theo Lipscomb said today that it is “time for Milwaukee County to move forward on transit,” calling on the County Executive to re-open transit bids.
Mayo, Chairman of Administrative Determination Review Committee (ADRC), and Staskunas, Vice-Chairman, said that since the ADRC rejected the process that awarded a transit contract, it was critical that a new Request for Proposal be issued as soon as possible.
Staskunas said the ADRC, with the assistance and guidance of Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel, deliberated carefully, and he said that the County Executive could learn from the findings of the Committee to improve the process.
“It is up to the County Executive to issue a new RFP that is transparent, above-board and reasonable,” Staskunas said. “All interested parties should come forward in a new process that is fair and objective.
The Administration can learn from past mistakes and take steps to make this new process a fair one.”
Mayo, who is also Chairman of the County Board’s Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee, pointed out that neither his committee nor the County Board had ever received a copy of the proposed contract.
Lipscomb said: “The residents and employers of Milwaukee County expect a dependable transportation system and we have a duty to ensure a responsible process is used to protect the public and provide the community with the best value.”
Lipscomb added that the Board has already voted to begin transitioning transit in-house starting April 1, and pursuing an RFP for management on a parallel track is not inconsistent with that policy.
“The time is now for the County Executive and the County Board to come together and find the best way to move forward,” Dimitrijevic said. “Public transit is vital to growing our local economy and we are looking for the most efficient, modern, and reliable way for our residents to get around our county.”
By County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, Supervisor Michael Mayo, Sr., Supervisor Theo Lipscomb, Sr. and Supervisor Anthony Staskunas
People: Chris Abele, Marina Dimitrijevic, Michael Mayo, Sr., Theodore Lipscomb, Sr., Tony Staskunas
Government: Milwaukee County Transit System
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Aug 14th, 2017 by Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
"Hate has no place in America, and we condemn the individuals and groups that came to Charlottesville seeking violent confrontation as a platform to spread their racist ideology."
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Dec 15th, 2016 by Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
Members of the Committee released a joint statement regarding Clarke's absence.
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Mar 17th, 2016 by Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
A special meeting of the County Board will be held to consider vetoes by the County Executive on March 24.
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Russell Leads Rams to 69-58 Win Over Davidson
Davidson (6-8,0-2 Atlantic) 30 28 58
Rhode Island (9-5,1-1 Atlantic) 34 35 69
Pts: Carter Collins - 12
Reb: Luka Brajkovic - 11
Pts: Fatts Russell - 26
Reb: Cyril Langevine - 9
Ast: Jeff Dowtin - 5
Starters: Harris, Martin, Langevine, Dowtin, Toppin
Subs: Russell, Walker, Long
DAVIDSON (6-8, 0-2 Atlantic 10)
Starters: Gudmunsson, Collins, Jones, Grady, Brajkovic
Subs: Wynter, Jones, Boachie-Yiadom
Fatts Russell's 26-point night led Rhode Island to a 69-58 win over Davidson Wednesday at the Ryan Center. As a team, the Rams' 58 points allowed marked the second-best defensive showing of the season.
In a back-and-forth first half where neither team led by more than five points, Rhode Island took the lead for good after a pair of Jermaine Harris free throws put the Rams up 21-20 with 6:07 on the clock. Davidson later tied the score at 29-29 but Fatts Russell used a make from the perimeter to cap a 5-1 Rhody push that sent the Rams into the break leading 34-30.
Through the first 20 minutes of play, URI committed just four turnovers and prevented the Wildcats from scoring after any of those miscues. The Rams had a 13-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the first half.
Rhode Island played with a lead for the remainder of the game. Davidson cut it to three (38-35) on a Bates Jones 3-ball early in the second half, but Rhody slowly rebuilt its lead and went up by double figures for the first time on a 3-pointer by Russell that made it a 56-46 game with 6:12 left to play.
A 12-6 Wildcats' run cut Rhody's lead to four (62-58) with 50 seconds remaining, but that was as close as it would get as Tyrese Martin and Jeff Dowtin both went 2-for-2 from the line and Russell sank a deep trey at the buzzer to seal the victory.
Junior Fatts Russell turned in his ninth 20-point performance of the season, finishing with a game-high 26 points. He also added four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
Making his first career start against the Wildcats, freshman Jacob Toppin recorded nine points, four rebounds and one steal.
Senior Cyril Langevine narrowly missed his fourth double-double of the season as he registered nine points and nine rebounds with two blocked shots.
Senior Jeff Dowtin also scored nine points for the Rams, in addition to recording five assists and three rebounds. Dowtin's second assist of the night moved him into fourth all-time on Rhody's career assists list. He now has 424 for his career.
Freshman Mekhi Long provided a spark off the bench, chipping in five points, three rebounds and two steals in 11 minutes on the floor.
Rhode Island is back in action Saturday at VCU. The game, which will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, will tip off at 2 p.m.
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How Nigerian Startups Win US$25,000 @Visa Everywhere Initiative Johannesburg
in Infotech
Photo Caption: Winners of Visa’s Everywhere Initiative in Sub Saharan Africa. From left, Jerry Oche, Founder, and CEO of Zowasel (Financial Inclusion Challenge winner), Eric Thimba, Co-founder and CEO of Mookh Africa (Social Business Payments Challenge and overall winner) and Mofehintolu Olaogun, CEO of CredPal (Merchant Payments Challenge winner)
Nigerian startups CredPal and Zowasel have emerged winners in the Merchant Payments and Financial Inclusion challenges Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) Everywhere Initiative, a global program aimed at startups and designed to encourage the development of the next big thing in payments.
Their winning solutions beat 10 other contenders selected from 238 submissions to emerge as champions.
The SSA program was structured around three real life business challenges:
Merfirst-everents Challenge: How to enable smaller merchants to accept payments in-store digitally ORProvide a safe and secure solution for online merchants to drive eCommerce and reduce cash on delivery?
Social Business Payments Challenge: How can startups use Visa’s APIs to leverage mass reach and social media partner platforms like Facebook to help businesses operating in fast-paced consumer centric environments improve cash flow and receive payments?
Financial Inclusion Challenge: How can startups leverage technology to provide services that are functional for illiterate customers to provide them with secure transaction experiences that build and enhance their confidence in the banking system?
Nigerian startup, CredPal, won the “Merchant Payments” challenge and US$25,000 for its solution that allows business and individuals to pay for purchases in installments across online and offline merchants by providing them with instant access to credit at the point of checkout. The merchant then fulfills the order and is paid in full while the customer pays CredPal back in fixed monthly installments.
Zowasel, another Nigerian startup, developed a solution which connects under-financed smallholder farmers with investors via mobile phone-based P2P lending and marketplace sales, as well as gives them access to best agricultural practices. They won in the “Financial Inclusion” challenge. The SSA edition of Visa’s Everywhere Initiative is also the first time that startups have been given a challenge specific to financial inclusion since it was launched in 2015.
Mookh Africa developed a social business payments solution which makes it easy for people in Africa to buy and sell on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Once the seller creates an online store on Mookh, they can embed it into their Facebook page. The Kenyan startup won both the “Social Business Payments” challenge as well as the overall prize for its idea. The company took home US$50,000 and the opportunity to work with Visa to develop the concept further.
Geraldine Mitchley, Senior Director – Digital Solutions, sub-Sahara Africa at Visa, said: We have had the privilege of working with some of the best minds in the region over the last few months and the selected three category winners have the potential to truly change the way people pay in the region. We congratulate Mookh Africa, CredPal, and Zowasel and thank all the finalists for participating in the Everywhere Initiative.”
She added: “The future of digital payments will be shaped through collaboration and we look forward to working with our startup partners to transform the payments landscape over the coming years to the benefit of consumers, merchants and issuers alike. It’s an exciting time in Africa’s payments and fintech space.”
Oluwakemi Okunsanya, General Manager: Visa West Africa, said: “Visa is proud to play its part in Africa by enabling a smart economy powered by secure digital payments. This vision comes to life when we can collaborate with passionate minds and foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem where innovators can thrive. Today, we saw this passion and innovation first-hand; and we are excited to build on the technologies that have secured the top positions in each of these challenges. Together with Visa and our financial institution partners, we would love to see at least some of these become a reality for consumers in the near future.”
Carmen Whatley, Managing Director, Accenture Digital Financial Services and one of the judges for the final said: “VEI is a very powerful initiative. Africa is always made to feel like the lost continent and today we saw what is coming out of the continent. It was mind-blowing and a reminder that good ideas are everywhere. I am energized. It was amazing for me to see that we had a panel of judges who came from very different backgrounds and looked at this from very different angles; and we unanimously decided on the winners. There were very clear, innovative ideas; or ones with phenomenal social impact. All the winners have incredible ideas for Africa – from opening up access to finance for customer, to linking up small farmers with financers – biggest highlight has been seeing these ideas and their social impact.”
Visa’s Everywhere Initiative is a global program designed to support the company’s goal of fostering the growth of next generation payment technologies. This is the first time Visa has rolled out its Everywhere Initiative in Sub Sahara Africa and shortlisted fintechs from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia took part in the final pitch event. To date, nearly 2,100 fintech startups from across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia have participated.
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Difference between revisions of "Mahatma Letter No. 135"
From Theosophy Wiki
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| writtendate = unknown
| receiveddate = March 17, 1885
| otherdate = none
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| header3 = Places
| sentfrom = [[Adyar, Chennai, India]]
| receivedat = London
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'''This is Letter No. 138 in Barker numbering.''' See below for [[Mahatma Letter No. 135#Context and background|Context and background]].
H. P. Blavatsky
Received by:
A. P. Sinnett
Sent via:
Received on:
Sent from:
Adyar, Chennai, India
Received at:
This is Letter No. 138 in Barker numbering. See below for Context and background.
< Prev letter chrono Next letter chrono >
< Prev letter Barker Next letter Barker >
1 Page 1 transcription, image, and notes
2 Page 2
10 Page 10
21 Context and background
22 Physical description of letter
23 Publication history
24 Commentary about this letter
26 Additional resources
Page 1 transcription, image, and notes
Adyar, March 17th.
My dear Mr. Sinnett,
I am very sorry that the Mahatma should have selected me to fight this new battle. But since there must be concealed wisdom even in the act of choosing a half dead individual who just rises from eight weeks of sick bed and can hardly gather her scattered ideas to say that which had better be left unsaid — I obey.
You cannot have forgotten what I told you repeatedly at Simla and what the Master K. H. wrote to you himself, namely, that the T.S. is first of all a universal Brotherhood, not a Society for phenomena and occultism. The latter must be held secret etc. I know that owing to my great zeal for the cause and your assurances that the Society would never prosper unless the occult element was introduced into it and the Masters proclaimed I am more guilty than any for having listened to this. Still all of you have now to suffer Karma. Well, the phenomena are now all found, on the evidence of padris, and other enemies, frauds (by Mr. Hodgson), from the "brooch" phenomenon downward; and the Masters are dragged before the public and their names desecrated by every rascal in Europe.
The padris have spent thousands for false and other witnesses, and I was not permitted to go to law where at least I could produce my evidence: and now Hodgson, who, unto this day seemed most friendly and came nearly daily to us changed front. He went to Bombay and saw Wimbridge and all my enemies. Returning he assured Hume, (who is here, and also coming daily) that in his opinion the evidence of our boys in office and other witnesses is so contradictory that after Bombay he came to the conclusion that all our phenomena were frauds. Amen.
And now what is the use in writing to disabuse Mr. Arthur Gebhard's mind? As soon as the P.R.S. oracle will have proclaimed me a wholesale "fraud" and all of you my dupes (as Hume does here laughingly, and with the greatest unconcern) — your L.L. Society is sure to collapse. Can even you, the true and the faithful, stand this storm? Happy Damodar! He went to the land of Bliss, to Tibet and must now be far away in the regions of our Masters. No one will ever see him now, I expect.
Well, this is where the accursed phenomena led us to. Olcott is returning from Burma in three days and will find nice things. At first Hume was all friendly. Then came the revelations. Hodgson had traced the brooch!!! I had given an identical brooch or pin to mend to Servai before going to Simla, he was told, and it was that brooch. Does Mrs. Sinnett remember that I spoke at that time of having had a pin very like it with pearls that I sent with another I bought at Simla to my sister's children? I spoke of the likeness even to Mr. Hume. I asked Mr. H. to have his pin sent to the jeweller (unknown but to Servai, Wimbridge's partner and my mortal enemy) who, will or will not identify it. Most probably he will. Why shouldn't he — for a hundred rupees or so?
Mr. Hume wants to save the Society and has found a means. He called yesterday a Council meeting composed of Ragunath Row, Subba Row, Sreenavas Row, Honourable Subramanya Iyer and Rama Iyer. All leaders of Hindus. Then
having selected Rag: Row Chairman and the audience being composed of the two Oakeleys, Hartmann and the chelas — he gave him a paper. In it he proposed, to save the Society (he imagines and insists that it is falling to pieces after the "revelations" though not one fellow has yet resigned); to force Colonel Olcott its life-President Madame Blavatsky, (ditto) Damodar (absent) Bowaji, Bhavani Row, Ananda, Rama Swami, etc. in all 16 persons to resign as they were all frauds and accomplices since many of them asserted they knew the Masters independently of me and that the Masters did not exist. The Headquarters must be sold and on its place a new Scientifico-Philosophico-Humanitarian Theosophical society raised. I was not present at the meeting, I am confined to my room. But the Councillors came to me in a body after the proceedings. Instead of accepting the proposal though and proclaiming the phenomena a fraud as Mr. Hume said they all had done to his knowledge — Raganath Row rejected the paper throwing it aside with disgust. They all believed in
the Mahatmas — he said, and the phenomena they had witnessed personally but would have no more their names desecrated. Phenomena must be, hereafter, prohibited, and if they did happen independently, must not be talked about under penalty of expulsion. They declined to ask the Founders to resign. They saw no reason for it. Mr. Hume is a queer "Saviour!"
Ergo, no more phenomena, at least here in India. While Mascul. and Cook produce theirs far better and are paid for it, we come out second best and are kicked for them.
Mr. Hume is more liberal than the Padris. These call Olcott "a credulous fool but undeniably an honest man"; and he declares, that since Olcott swears to have seen the Masters he must be a dishonest man, and since he got his pearl-pin at the pawn-broker's at Bombay he must be (by implication) a thief too, though Hume denies this.
Such is in brief the present situation. It began at Simla opening with the first act and now comes the Prologue that will soon finish with my death. For, though, doctors notwithstanding
Padris is "padres" or Christian clergy.
(who proclaimed my four days' agony, and the impossibility of recovery) I suddenly got better thanks to Master's protecting hand, I carry two mortal diseases in me which are not cured — heart, and kidneys. At any moment the former can have a rupture, and the latter carry me away in a few days. I will not see another year. All this is due to five years of constant anguish, worry and repressed emotion. A Gladstone may be called a "fraud" and laugh at it. I — can't, say what you may, Mr. Sinnett.
And now to your business. I have never, before beginning the service for you and Mr. Hume, transmitted and received letters to, and from Masters except for myself. If you had any idea of the difficulties, or the modus operandi you would not have consented to be in my place. And yet I never refused. The shrine was thought of to facilitate the transmission, as now dozens and hundreds come to pray and beg to put their
letters inside. As you know, and is proved to all except Mr. Hodgson, who finds contradictions, all received answers without my leaving the room and often in different languages. It is this, that unable to account for, Mr. Hume calls a wholesale collective fraud for, since the Masters in his idea, do not exist, and that they have never written one single of the letters ever received — then the logical conclusion is that it is the whole staff — everyone in the Headquarters — Damodar, Bowaji, Subba Row, all, all who helped me to write the letters and passed them through the hole. Even Hodgson finds the idea preposterous.
And now to the "deception" practised on Mr. Arthur Gebhard, of which, I learned from the Mahatma and A.G.'s own letter sent to me. This "fraud" coupled to the revelations and hints about others insinuated by kitten-like Mrs. Holloway must have impressed a figure of H.P.B. of exquisite honourability and honesty on poor, dear Mrs. Gebhard!!
Well, persons who are on the eve of their death do not generally fib and say lies. I hope
you will give me credit for speaking the truth. Ar. G. is not the only one to suspect and accuse me of fraud. Say then to the "friends" who may have received letters from the Master through me that I never was a deceiver; that I never played tricks upon them. I have often facilitated phenomena of letter-transmission by easier but still occult means. Only as none of the Theosophists, except occultists, know anything of either difficult or easy means of occult transmission nor are they acquainted with occult laws, everything is suspicious to them. Take for instance this illustration as an instance: transmission by mechanical thought transference (in contradistinction with the conscious). The former is produced by calling first the attention of a chela or the Mahatma. The letter must be opened and every line of it passed over the forehead, holding the breath and never taking off the part of the letter from the latter until bell notifies it is read and noted. The other mode is to impress every sentence of the letter (consciously of course) still mechanically on the brain, and then send it phrase by phrase to the other person on the other end of the line. This of course if the sender permits you to read it, and believes in your honesty that you read it mechanically,
on the brain, and then send it phrase by phrase to the other person on the other end of the line. This of course if the sender permits you to read it, and believes in your honesty that you read it mechanically, only reproducing the form of the words and lines on your brain — and not the meaning. But in both instances the letter must be open and then burnt with what we call virgin fire (lit neither with matches, brimstone nor any preparation but rubbed with a resinous, transparent little stone, a ball that no naked hand must touch. This is done for the ashes, which, while the paper burns become immediately invisible, which they should not, if the paper were lit otherwise; because they would remain by their weight and grossness in the surrounding atmosphere, instead of being transferred instantaneously to the receiver. This double process is done for double security: for the words transmitted from one brain to another, or to the akasa near the Mahatma or chela may, some of them be omitted, whole words slip out etc., and the ashes be not perfectly transmitted; and in this way one corrects the other. I cannot do that, and therefore speak of it only as an example how deception can be easily fathered. Fancy A. giving a
letter for the Mahatma to B. B. goes in the adjoining room and opening the letter — not one word of which will he remember if he is a true chela and an honest man — transmits it to his brain by one of the two methods, sending one sentence after the other on the current and then proceeds to burn the letter; perhaps — he has forgotten the "virgin stone" in his room. Leaving inadvertently the opened letter on the table, he absents himself for a few minutes. During that time A. impatient and probably suspicious enters the room. He sees his letter opened on the table. He will either take it and make an Expose (!!) or leave it and then ask B. after he has burnt it whether he sent his letter. Of course B. will answer he has. Then will come the expose with consequences you may imagine, or A. will hold his tongue and do as many do: hold for ever B. for a fraud. This is one instance out of many, and a real one, given to me as a caution by Master.
There's a funny thing in Mr. A.G.'s letter, very funny and suggestive. For instance recounting in it
how he gave me the letter and six hours later I had told him "it was gone" he adds: "four days later Colonel wrote to H.P.B. saying that his Master appeared and said that K.H. had said: (see original sent back to you.) But then the good "Colonel must also be a fraud," a confederate of mine, an accomplice? Or is it my Master who mystifies him Mr. A. G. Arthur Gebhard, or what? And then again: " . . . H.P.B. is a fraud although I will never deny her excellent qualities." "The 'excellent qualities' of a fraud is something startling and original at all events."
Thus you will please tell Mr. A. R. Gebhard that we are two "frauds --" if any; and also this: Mahatma K. H. has received but never read his letter, for the simple reason that he was prevented by his promise to the Chohan never to read a letter from any theosophist until his return from his mission to China where he then was. This He condescended now to tell me to help to my justification, as he says. He had forbidden me most strictly to send him any more letters until
further orders. Since Master at Arthur G.'s urgent prayer took it upon Himself for reasons best known to Himself, I had nothing to say but to obey. I took the letter and put it in a drawer full of papers. When I looked for it, I found it was gone, at least I did not see it, and said so to him. But before going to bed taking out an enevlope I found his letter still there, though in the morning it was really gone. Now if my remembrance is right I showed to Madame Gebhard, Olcott's letter in which he speaks of what Master said. I had not read Gebhard's letter and may have taken the words as an answer to this letter. As it is I have not now the faintest recollection of the whole of the message. One thing I know and Madame Geb. will corroborate it: she spoke of the terrible quarrels between Arth. G. and his father to me in London, before going to Paris and to Olcott repeatedly. She had expressed the hope that the Mahatma
would interfere on her behalf, and these words may have related to this and not at all to the letter. How can I remember? Olcott may have heard imperfectly, or I muddled up the thing. Hundred combinations may have happened. The only fraud is, then, in my telling him an unconscious untruth about the letter going six hours later when it was taken only in the morning. To this I plead "guilty."
But as in the Hume "pearl-pin" affair there is something more implied than mere fraud in the production of phenomena. If I have bamboozled in this, Mad. G. and himself then I become right away a black leg, a SWINDLER. I have received hospitality at their house for months; they have nursed me out through my sickness, and even not permitted to pay the doctor, covered me with rich presents, honours and kindnesses, for all of which I repay with — DECEPTION. Oh powers of heaven, Truth and Justice! May Mr. Arthur Gebhard's Karma prove light to him. I forgive him for the sake of his mother and father whom I will love and respect to my last hour. Please give these my parting
words to Mad. Gebhard; I have nothing more to say.
It is useless, Mr. Sinnett. The Theosophical Society shall live here, in India, for ever — it seems doomed in Europe, because I am doomed. It hangs on your Esoteric Buddhism and the Occult World. And if Mahatmas are myths, I — the author of all those letters, a proclaimed FRAUD and worse — by the P.R.S. how can the London Lodge live? I told you — for I felt it, as I always feel that this investigation of Mr. Hodgson will be fatal. He is the most excellent, truthful, expert young man. But how can he recognise truth from lie when there is a thick net of conspiracy around him? At first, when he visited the Headquarters, and the padris could not well get hold of him, he seemed all right. His accounts were favourable. And then he was caught. We have our informants who followed the missionaries sharply. You, in England may laugh — we do not.
We know that the conspiracy is not one to laugh at. The 30,000 padris of India are all leagued against us. It is their last card they play — either they or we. There was 72,000 rupees collected in one week in Bombay — "to conduct the investigations against the so-called Founders of the T.S." All the Judges of the land (think of Sir C. Turner!) are against us. Sceptics and nominal Christians, free thinkers and C.S. snobs — my very name stinks in their nostrils. And now comes the old sleeping beauty again on the scene. I am, after all, A RUSSIAN SPY. Last night the Oakleys dined with Hume at the Garstins and were told very seriously that the Government was to over shadow me once more; that they had information (the Coulombs?) and that I had "to be watched." Vainly did Hume laugh and the Oakleys protest. It was "very serious" in view of the Russians crossing Cabul, Afghanistan, or something of that sort.
An old and a dying woman, confined to her room; forbidden to mount a few steps lest her heart bursts; never reading a paper for fear of finding there the most vile personal abuse; receiving letters from Russia but from relatives — a spy, a dangerous character! Oh Britishers of India where is your valour.
Notwithstanding Hume, their friend Hodgson and all the evidence, the Oakleys do not believe me a fraud. They have full confidence in the Masters, nothing, they say, will make them doubt their existence and, apart some little unpleasantness due to gossip upon private affairs, they are staunch theosophists and as they say my best friends. Well, and good. I believe Oh Lord, help thou my unbelief. How can I believe anyone my friend at such a moment? It is only he who knows, as he knows that he lives and breathes, that our Mahatmas exist and phenomena are real, who can sympathise with me, who do, and look upon me as a martyr. Pamphlets by Reverends, books and articles
exposing me from top to foot appear every day. "Theosophy Unveiled —" "Madame Blavatsky Exposed —" "The Theosophical Humbug Before the World —" "Christ against Mahatmas" etc. etc.: you who knew India well, Mr. Sinnett, do you think it difficult to get false witnesses here? They have all the advantages over us. They (the enemies) work night and day, flooding the country with literature against us, and we sit motionless and only quarrel within the Theos: Headquarters. Olcott is held finally a fool, detested by the Oakleys (for some mistakes that really he could not help,) and adored by the Hindus. And now after the arrival of Hume I come for my share. Though my friends, the Oakleys, advise me to resign while the Hindus say they will all leave if I do. I must resign because being thought a "Russian spy" I endanger the Society. Such is my life during my convalescence when every emotion, says the doctor, may prove fatal. So much the better. I will then resign de facto. But then they forget that so far I am the only link between the Europeans and the Mahatmas. The
Hindus do not care. Dozens of them are chelas hundreds know Them, but as in the case of Subba Row they will sooner die than speak of their Masters. Hume could get nothing from Subba Row, though everyone knows what he is. The other night he received a long letter from my Master in the meeting room when Hume voted my resignation. They had just voted there should be no phenomena any more and Mahatmas never spoken about; the letter was in Telugu, they say. Though they stand by me and will stand to the last, they accuse me of having desecrated the Truth and the Masters by having been the means of the Occult World and Esoteric Buddhism. Do not count upon the Hindus, you of the L.L. I — dead, say Society good bye to the Masters. Say even now — all perhaps with one exception — for I have pledged my word to my Hindu Brothers, the occultists, never to mention except among ourselves Their names, and that I will keep it.
This, will probably be my last letter to you, dear Mr. Sinnett. It took me a week nearly to write this one — I am so feeble; and then I do not
think I will have an opportunity. I cannot tell you why: most probably, you will not regret it. You cannot remain faithful much longer, living as you do in the world. Myers and P.R.S. will laugh you to scorn. Hume, who goes to London in April will set all against the Mahatmas and me. It takes a different kind of men and women than you have in the L.L. with the exception of Miss Arundale and two or three others — to withstand such a persecution and storm. And all this because we have profaned Truth by giving it out indiscriminately — and forgot the motto of the true Occultist: To know, to dare, and to KEEP SILENT.
Good-bye then, dear Mr. Sinnett and Mrs. Sinnett. Whether I die in a few months or remain two or three years in solitude I am as good as dead — already. Forget me, and try to deserve personal communication with the Master. Then you shall be able to preach him, and if you succeed as
I succeeded you shall be hooted and insulted as I was, and see whether you can stand it. The Oakleys urge me to write to my aunt and sister and ask her to send me the design of the pearl brooch I sent them in 1880. I refuse. Why, should I? The brooch phenomenon proven, then will come out some other proved fraudulent by false witnesses. I am tired, tired, tired and so disgusted that Death herself with her first hours of horror is preferable to this. Let the whole world, with the exception of a few friends and my Hindu Occultists, believe me a fraud. I will not deny it — even to their faces. Say so to Mr. Myers and others.
Good-bye, again. May your life be happy and prosperous and Mrs. S.'s old age more healthy than her youth. Forgive me the annoyances I may have caused you and — forget
Yours to the end
H. P. Blavatsky.
Physical description of letter
The original is in the British Library, Folio unknown. George Linton and Virginia Hanson described the letter in this way:
In HPB's handwriting on six sheets of blue paper, 7" X 9" [17.8 X 22.9 cm].[1]
Commentary about this letter
↑ George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 205.
Retrieved from "https://theosophy.wiki/w-en/index.php?title=Mahatma_Letter_No._135&oldid=40780"
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Michael Smyth: Schools still need seismic upgrading as earth-shaking election nears
Mike Smyth More from Mike Smyth
Updated: October 24, 2016 2:27 PM PDT
BC Politics
Britannia Secondary is one of the 128 high-risk schools in B.C. still waiting for approval for seismic upgrades. Mark van Manen / PNG
NDP seizes on Liberal government's slow progress on seismic upgrades, with 189 buildings still requiring work
It’s been over a decade since the B.C. government promised to seismically upgrade aging public schools to protect kids, teachers and staff in the event of a devastating earthquake.
But less than half of the high-risk schools have been repaired during that time, leaving thousands of children and adults still vulnerable in potentially dangerous buildings.
Now the political heat is ratcheting up as an earth-shaking election approaches.
Last week, B.C. Education Minister Mike Bernier said the government would drop a controversial 95-per-cent school-occupancy target before approving costly seismic upgrades.
“Student safety is our top priority,” Bernier said, while repeating that the Liberal government is committed to “upgrading or replacing all high-risk schools.”
But the rival New Democrats are reminding voters how the Liberals failed to deliver on earlier promises to fix dangerous schools.
“They originally said all these schools would be safe by 2020 and then, after the last election, they pushed it back to 2030,” said NDP education critic Rob Fleming.
“They broke their promise, played parents for suckers, and now they’re asking people to trust them again. Nobody should believe a word of it.”
While the politicians squabble, thousands of kids, teachers and staff play a dangerous waiting game in schools that could collapse in a quake.
Under the Seismic Mitigation Program, announced in 2005, the government hired expert engineers who identified 342 high-risk schools. So far, 153 schools have been repaired and brought up to seismic safety standards at a cost of $1.1 billion.
Of the remaining 189 high-risk schools, just 14 are currently undergoing seismic mitigation work, while 47 have been approved for future work, and the rest are still waiting for approval.
Of those 128 schools still on the waiting list after 11 years, 44 are rated by experts as “H1” classification, the highest risk of collapse in an earthquake. (See the fact box below for a list of these most-vulnerable schools, which are mostly in Vancouver and Richmond.)
The government defines H1 schools this way: “Most vulnerable structure; at highest risk of widespread damage or structural failure; not repairable after event.”
“These are very risky buildings,” said Vancouver School Board trustee Patti Bacchus. “The experts tell us an earthquake will happen one day. To me, every day is a gamble.”
But the Vancouver district is locked in a bitter battle with the provincial government, which has resisted spending millions of dollars to seismically upgrade under-utilized schools.
The district has seen its student population drop by more than 6,000 — a 10-per-cent enrolment decline in 15 years — meaning some of the most vulnerable schools on the waiting list are less than 70-per-cent occupied.
“The pace of seismic upgrades is largely dependent on how quickly and efficiently school boards map out their priorities,” said Bernier, the education minister.
That’s another way of saying the Vancouver board has been negligent in refusing to shut down and consolidate under-utilized schools.
The impasse seemed to reach a tipping point last week when Bernier said the government would drop a 95-per-cent utilization target for approving seismic upgrades, a move that set off celebrations among the government’s critics.
“It was a big blink,” said Bacchus. “It’s been a sore point for a long time.”
But that doesn’t mean the province’s remaining high-risk schools will be upgraded any sooner.
On Friday, the government quietly posted an amended capital plan on the education ministry website. While the 95-per-cent school-utilization target was dropped as Bernier promised, the document made clear the government still does not intend to seismically upgrade partially empty schools.
“Seismic Mitigation Plan projects will not be eligible for capital funding consideration if adequate space is available at nearby schools to accommodate its current student enrolment, as well as forecast enrolment growth, thus eliminating the need for capital investment,” the document reads.
It sets the stage for a renewed political fight leading up to the May 2017 provincial election.
“We want to get back to the original timelines that were promised to parents,” said Fleming, the NDP critic, who noted the huge King County school district in neighbouring Washington state managed to seismically upgrade their schools on time.
“If the ministry were to greenlight projects more quickly, instead of being the bottleneck, you could do a much larger number of projects each year. We’d expedite an aggressive procurement-to-completion timeline. ”
Whether an NDP government could actually deliver on such a bold promise could be secondary to a larger election debate over Premier Christy Clark’s performance on the education file.
Education ranks as one of the worst job-performance measures for the Clark government. According to a recent Insights West poll, 68 per cent of voters think Clark has done a bad job on education, compared to just 21 per cent who think she’s done a good job. The rest were undecided.
The Liberals know they’re exposed, which explains why Bernier has been busy promising more money for school construction and repair, bus services and expanded computer-coding instruction, with many more announcements sure to come.
The NDP, though, think they can score a lot of points against Clark on the education file. The Liberals’ failure to deliver on promised seismic upgrades of schools will be a key point of attack.
msmyth@postmedia.com
Earthquake risk: B.C.’s most vulnerable schools
There are 128 high-risk schools still waiting for approval for seismic upgrades in B.C. Of those, here are the 44 rated by the government as “H1”, the highest risk of “widespread damage or structural failure” in an earthquake:
Mary Jane Shannon Elementary, Surrey
Bear Creek Elementary, Surrey
Blundell Elementary, Richmond
Daniel Woodward Elementary, Richmond
Hugh Boyd Secondary, Richmond
James Thompson Elementary, Richmond
James Whiteside Elementary, Richmond
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Mounties notify IIO after nude, blood-covered man drowns in Port Alberni
Harrison Mooney More from Harrison Mooney
Updated: November 29, 2019 9:20 AM PST
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The caller described a surreal scene: a nude man, covered in blood, had just visited the store, and was now cleaning himself off at a nearby carwash.
Mounties on Vancouver Island have called in the Independent Investigations Office after a man drowned while fleeing police in Port Alberni.
In a news release, RCMP say they first encountered the man Thursday after responding to a call from a local business around 3 a.m. The caller described a surreal scene: a nude man, covered in blood, had just visited the store, and was now cleaning himself off at a nearby carwash.
Officers located the individual, but before they could question the man, he ran off and into a nearby river.
Officers went in after the man, but were unable to reach him.
The man has not been identified and no explanation has been offered for his appearance or the actions described by Mounties.The IIO must determine whether and how police actions or inactions are linked to the man’s death.
hmooney@postmedia.com
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