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__label__cc	0.681037	0.318963	THE GROUP PSYCHOLOGIST The Newsletter of the Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy Join Div49 Home › News › Travel Award Recipients – 2016 APA Convention Travel Award Recipients – 2016 APA Convention By Publisher on July 6, 2016 Student Travel Award Recipients 2016 Michael Awad Michael Awad is a doctoral student studying counseling psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. He has experience facilitating mindfulness-based stress reduction groups for individuals with chronic pain and medical professionals experiencing burnout, psychotherapy groups for mental health and chemical dependency intensive outpatient programs, and conducts four psychoeducation groups per week as a school counselor for adolescents of color entering the nation’s top boarding schools. More recently, he is involved in the development of a research-informed cognitive rehabilitation group for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related dementias. He has a specific interest in working with boys and men of color. Ashley Barbery Ashley Barbery is a doctoral candidate attending The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Washington, D.C. She currently facilitates group therapy for children experiencing social skills difficulties as well as for adults with various cognitive impairments. In her future practice, Ashley hopes to offer group therapy for military spouses, caregivers, and individuals with traumatic brain injury. Annalucia Bays Annalucia Bays is a rising fifth-year in Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) counseling psychology program in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to receiving didactic and experiential training in group therapy, she has co-lead three interpersonal process groups for college students and adults; one manualized CBT-focused group for adults with anxiety; and one supportive, skills-based, and process-oriented group for college students with bipolar disorder. Furthermore, she designed, implemented, and currently maintains a new group therapy program in a VCU-run, community-based training clinic. Erin Crozier Erin Crozier is a doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at Auburn University, co-chair of the Division 49 student committee, and will soon begin internship at Oregon State University. Her interest in group work began as an undergraduate, was further ignited in her doctoral program, and is a special interest she has been nourishing heavily over the past two years. Evidence of this passion include her dissertation on group training and competence, multiple presentations and small writing projects, and my formation and co-leadership of a thriving group for students with eating disorders at a practicum site with no existing group program. Over the past year and a half, she has become increasingly involved in Division 49 and has worked closely with the student representative to further many exciting projects within the student committee. She looks forward to continuing this work and networking with other student affiliates and division members in Denver, and is very grateful for the division’s travel award to help her get there. Keri Frantell Keri Frantell really began to develop an interest in group psychotherapy and group psychology during her master’s program, where she had the opportunity to run many psychotherapy groups at her internship site. She also developed an interest in intergroup dialogues (IGD), developing a program for IGD at that institution. Her main focus now in her doctoral work is looking at the process and outcomes of IGD and group psychotherapy. Nicole Randall is a female Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a clinical psychology doctoral-trainee. She has been training within the VA medical system for three years and has found that group psychotherapy is absolutely fundamental in healing the Veteran population. She notes that her military experience gives her an insider’s perspective when integrating military culture into group psychotherapy, and her psychological training and education empower her to challenge and guide her clients with interventions grounded in psychological theory and evidence-based practices. ‹ Candidate Results Delayed Group Psychotherapy Column › Tags: july 2016, rosamund smith, travel award The Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy is Division 49 of the American Psychological Association and provides a forum for psychologists interested in research, teaching, and practice in group psychology and group psychotherapy. APA Programming Brief Articles Early Career Psychologists © 2015 Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353272
__label__cc	0.607186	0.392814	Best New Artist of 2015: Jay IDK #BOTBAwards In a year full of great new artists, it was Jay IDK who truly made us a believer. Nathan Slavik [Welcome to the 2015 edition of the Best of the Booth Awards, DJBooth's annual selection of the best music of the year. For a more detailed explanation and a full list of all the categories and winners, click here.] This is the true story of how Jay IDK became the DJBooth Best New Artist of 2015. This past April I walked into the condo we were renting for SXSW smelling like 6th Street, fueled entirely by barbecue, beer and adrenaline. It was the usual madness, a condo filled with smoke, rappers and their respective entourages, twenty people I knew from experience I'd never see again. Jay IDK was one of those twenty people. I'm sure we were introduced, hopefully I managed to not be a dick, but truth be told my mind was on this RapBox video we were scheduled to shoot that afternoon. I was no stranger to pleasure, but SXSW was also business, and coming back from SXSW without a boatload of dope video content would be bad business. Respective entourages could waste away the afternoon, not me, not when there was only a few more minutes of daylight left to film. So I started poking and prodding, marshalling the troops, pushing people out the door. "Yo, we shooting this video or what? Let's go, let's go, let's go, who's rapping?" Taylor vouched for Jay, promised he'd kill, I trust Taylor, and so we hit the street. One minute and 55 seconds later I was standing in the middle of a mob that had generated in the middle of a rainy Austin street and I was a Jay IDK fan. Four months later Jay's Subtrap album dropped and that SXSW experience was enough to make me listen, but frankly I didn't have particularly high expectations. I was hoping for good, instead I got great. One track in and I was already hitting repeat, four tracks in and I was doing that strangely instinctual thing where you lean closer to the computer even though you have headphones on, as if that will help you hear any better. I was hooked. I listened to Subtrap on the train to work, driving late at night, I'd finally turn it off when I pulled up to my daughter's elementary school. On God, oh God, it was a lituation. The quality level was almost shockingly high for such a relatively new artist, the storytelling was absolutely excellent, the bangers banged, the lyrics lyriced, and even better, when I asked if anyone else on the staff was listening to Subtrap, it turned out that nearly everyone else was having the same experience. And when I interviewed Jay, it turned out all this fascinating music was the product of a fascinating life. I'm used to loving music not many others do, but apparently the power of Subtrap was strong enough to knock down other doors. In short order I began seeing him freestyling on Sway, sitting down with Rosenberg, being profiled by the proverbial blogosphere, opening for Future live, saw Subtrap rack up thousands of streams, everyone seemingly gravitating towards the same combination of artistry and personality I had. I've been doing this long enough to know the difference between deserved excitement and empty buzz. Still, while it's nice to know we're not alone, there's no amount of co-signs that will convince us to believe in an artist we don't otherwise, and no lack of co-signs that will cause us to abandon an artist we truly believe in. Artists you can truly believe in are too rare to give up on that easily, and we truly believe in Jay IDK. We featured some great new artists this year (for the record, they're only "New" to us if we featured them for the first time in 2015), in particular Bryson Tiller made a big impact on us, but ultimately we had to give the nod to Jay IDK. 2015 was the year he arrived, now it's time to turn the calendar to 2016 and see how high he can fly. It's official, Jay IDK is the Best New Artist of 2015. We've also added some of our other top picks of the year, feel free to add your own selections and vote up or down. Let's see what you got. [By Nathan S, the managing editor of DJBooth and a hip-hop writer. His beard is awesome. This is his Twitter. Opinionbest of 2015 Best Emcee of 2015: Kendrick Lamar #BOTBAwards Bar for bar, this year Kendrick proved he's an emcee in a class of his own. Jay IDK, The Conviction #TopProspects Jay IDK went to jail for music and then got out determined to become hip-hop's next great emcee. Jay IDK is Bridging the Gap in the DMV Rap Scene Jay IDK is on his way to the top but he's doing so without forgetting where he came from. You Need To Hear Jay IDK's "Empty Bank," a Brilliant Album About Money Jay IDK tackles money on his latest album "Empty Bank," but not in the typical rapper way. 21 Savage is the Best New Artist of 2016 #BOTBAwards Without question, this is the year 21 Savage entered the big league as rap's new bad guy. Best Hip-Hop Record of 2015: Drake's "Back to Back" #BOTBAwards This wasn't a song, it was a sonic drone strike that laid down the blueprint for making an impact in 2015. Best Indie Hip-Hop Record of 2015: Run the Jewels' "Close Your Eyes" #BOTBAwards Killer Mike & El-P delivered a song that embodies everything we want indie hip-hop to be. IDK Dropped “Jay,” But ‘IWASVERYBAD’ Is the Gripping Story of Jason Mills IDK may have dropped “Jay” from his name, but his new album is a formal introduction to the artist and man born Jason Mills.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353275
__label__cc	0.609798	0.390202	Title: Solvent effect on the folding dynamics and structure of E6-associated protein characterized from Ab initio protein folding simulations Authors: Xu, Zhijun Lazim, Raudah Sun, Tiedong Mei, Ye Zhang, Dawei Keywords: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences Source: Xu, Z., Lazim, R., Sun, T., Mei, Y., & Zhang, D. (2012). Solvent effect on the folding dynamics and structure of E6-associated protein characterized from ab initio protein folding simulations. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 136(13), 135102. Series/Report no.: The journal of chemical physics Abstract: Solvent effect on protein conformation and folding mechanism of E6-associated protein (E6ap) peptide are investigated using a recently developed charge update scheme termed as adaptive hydrogen bond-specific charge (AHBC). On the basis of the close agreement between the calculated helix contents from AHBC simulations and experimental results, we observed based on the presented simulations that the two ends of the peptide may simultaneously take part in the formation of the helical structure at the early stage of folding and finally merge to form a helix with lowest backbone RMSD of about 0.9 Å in 40% 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol solution. However, in pure water, the folding may start at the center of the peptide sequence instead of at the two opposite ends. The analysis of the free energy landscape indicates that the solvent may determine the folding clusters of E6ap, which subsequently leads to the different final folded structure. The current study demonstrates new insight to the role of solvent in the determination of protein structure and folding dynamics. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3698164 Rights: © 2012 American Institute of Physics. This paper was published in The Journal of Chemical Physics and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of American Institute of Physics. The paper can be found at the following official DOI: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3698164]. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law. Appears in Collections: SPMS Journal Articles 8. Solvent effect on the folding dynamics.pdf 1.23 MB Adobe PDF	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353283
__label__cc	0.650232	0.349768	Highlights From Our Classes 28May ‘19 28-May-19 Blog What a powerful school year! At the end of every program we lead our students through reflections, and we are always so moved by some of the thoughtful responses. Today we’re sharing a few of the meaningful stories from this school year! Thanks to your support, this year throughout Southern California we've served over... “The Saturday school has really opened this new pathway for me.” -Sebastian, student in program Saturday STEAM at Jackie Robinson for gifted 6th & 7th graders https://dramaticresults.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/STEAM-Program-Yields-Dramatic-Results-for-Long-Beach-Youth-1.mp4 6th and 7th graders got to learn block coding to race Sphero robots. It was their first taste of coding and they loved it! Readers Theatre Helps A Student Find His Voice “The first couple of weeks Tyler didn’t make a peep, but on Week… STEAM & Readers Theatre at Walnut Valley USD for 2nd graders “The first couple of weeks Tyler didn’t make a peep, but on Week 3 we were physicalizing a story and he raised his hand to play a character. His teacher, Ms. Cheng, told us he almost never volunteers to participate in class. After that week, you’d never guess he had any trouble raising his hand. He was participating, volunteering to lead the class in our rules, and showing off that wonderful Tyler personality.” – Ms. Emily, Dramatic Results Teaching Artist Theatre & ESL At the beginning of the 10-week residency, Jessie was a bit disconnected and wasn’t speaking much… At the beginning of the 10-week residency, Jessie was a bit disconnected and wasn’t speaking much English. Maddy, her best friend, was her support system would often translate so Jesse could participate. By the end, Jesse was now supporting Maddy! Jesse was engaged and no longer depended on Maddy to translate. She read her lines and performed with confidence. Emotional Support for Student “An extra big THANK YOU!!! for today. It’s been a crazy hard week in the classroom…” Math in A Basket at Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, for 4th graders “Samai, you guys are amazing day in and day out, but an extra big THANK YOU!!! for today. It’s been a crazy hard week in the classroom. Michael gets super frustrated during science and art and I could see him slipping back into that zone. The Emotional Support Specialist was unfortunately gone today but Michael shined working with you. You and Mr. Z totally zeroed in on the students who needed you most and you turned their day around.” – Lily Estes-Eichert, 4th grade teacher at Dolland Elementary, Long Beach Overcoming Frustrations Through Math in a Basket, Miguel was like a different kid. He was focused, patient, and proud of himself. “At the start of the day Miguel was a bit behind the class. He hadn’t given up yet, but was having trouble focusing. He was in a cycle of highs and lows, and the lows caused him to throw his basket and call himself names. Once he’d get a row complete and he’d cheer with a huge smile on his face, praising himself, saying, “Oh I did it! I am getting it now!” After 20 minutes, he had gone through so many emotions, but the important thing was he kept going. The next class session just amazed me. As soon as I entered the class, Miguel rushed over to show me his nearly finished basket. He was like a different kid. He was focused, patient, and proud of himself. He kept repeating, “Are you proud of me?! I’m so proud of myself. Did you see how many rows I weaved? I get it now!” He may have gotten easily frustrated at first, but he never gave up. He saw that he was capable and that gave him the motivation to see it through.” – Brianna, Dramatic Results’ Communications Specialist on Math in a Basket at Dolland On Family Sharing Day, one student shared, “I was really nervous, but now I can’t wait!“ This was echoed by A LOT of our students today. – Ms. Emily, Dramatic Results Teaching Artist Strong Readers “This is the first time my son has ever been interested in reading!” -Parent of 2nd grade student in Readers Theatre Developing Classrooms “Students are playing with new classmates even outside of Readers Theatre. They’re more cooperative in class. It’s even changed the way they tell stories; their writing is better because of it.” -Ms. Moya, 2nd grade teacher at CJ Morris Connecting Math “Math in a Basket gave my students a real-life connection to a concept they hadn’t learned yet, and the lightbulb went on. The way it’s explained is at their level, in language they can understand and interpret…” “Math in a Basket gave my students a real-life connection to a concept they hadn’t learned yet, and the lightbulb went on. The way it’s explained is at their level, in language they can understand and interpret. Now the students are willing to take risks and I’m seeing them really grow. It would be nice if I could have Dramatic Results there all the time!”	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353284
__label__wiki	0.730012	0.730012	Tag: Elizabeth Edwards On Honoring A Legacy, Or John Edwards, We Need To Talk By fake consultant in Action, Politics So it has come to pass that Elizabeth Edwards has died. Despite having more things thrown at her than anyone I’ve ever had the chance to support in my entire political life, she managed to represent, in her very presence, a sense of grace and kindness and concern for those who were looking to have a better life than the one they had now, and I don’t know that I could ever live up to the quiet courage she showed as her life came to an end. And, bless her heart, it appears that she took the time to make sure that her kids knew her, and that she helped them put away enough “past” to, hopefully, ease some of the pain of the future. But now the time has come to look beyond death, and, John…that’s why I want to talk to you today. Activism, Campaign '12, Democrats, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, reform, Republicans, Two Americas Elizabeth Edwards ends her cancer treatment By pfiore8 Elizabeth Edwards stops cancer treatment “You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. “But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.” Every Woman; Elizabeth Edwards By Betsy L. Angert in Community, Politics GMA – Elizabeth Edwards on Oprah copyright © 2010 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org She is an eloquent speaker, an expressive author. Elizabeth Edwards is effervescent, effusive, and has an excellent mind. She understands profound policy issues as easily as she prepares a sandwich. Her memoir appeared on The New York Times bestseller list. Few think of Elizabeth Edwards as every woman. Other daughters of Eve might say Edwards is exceptional; surely, she is not as I am. Yet, life experiences might have taught Elizabeth Edwards otherwise. Just as other ladies, she is brilliant, beautiful, and not nearly equal to a man. divorce, Divorcee, education, Elizabeth Edwards, Equal Pay, Equal Rights, Finances, Game Change, Gender Gap, gossip, John Edwards, Man’s World, marriage, money, Post-Divorce Health, psychology, Societal Standards, The Redemptive Self, women, Women’s Wages Edwards Evolution, New Revolution Round-Up: VP Vetting Edition By Benny in Health Care Good evening, and welcome to a semi-retro version of the EENR: the Edwards Evening News Round-up. My friends, family, and acquaintances have all thought John and Elizabeth disappeared into the sunset since they are not on the MSM nightly news or in national newspapers. Not so! John and Elizabeth have been traveling and speaking at venues this past week about the issues Democrats care about. Included are video clips from TV and radio appearances (courtesy of NCDem and other outlets). 1. John Edwards Interview in Rolling Stone 2. John Edwards Speaks at USW Conference 3. John Edwards Talks to Campus Progress and NPR in DC 4. Elizabeth Edwards Jumpstarts Healthcare for America Now 5. John Edwards Travels the Northeast for Half in Ten 6. Elizabeth Edwards Discusses about living with cancer on NPR 7. Is John Edwards on the Short List for VP? More after the jump.. 2008 elections, Brian Lerhrer, EENR, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, mimimum wage, NPR, Poverty Obama Kicks off General Election Campaign in North Carolina By NCDemAmy in Barack Obama Crossposted from BlueNC Barack Obama kicked off his general election campaign in Raleigh, NC on Monday, an indication that North Carolina will be a targeted state in the fall. Obama delivered a major speech on the economy at the NC Fairgrounds, marking the beginning of a two-week tour through the state, focusing on Economic Policy. During his speech, Obama went into full general election mode, launching a direct hit on McCain’s Economic policy, calling it a “full throated endorsement of Bush’s Policies.” Obama Slams McCain’s Economic Policy “But when it comes to the economy, John McCain and I have a fundamentally different vision of where to take the country. Because for all his talk of independence, the centerpiece of his economic plan amounts to a full-throated endorsement of George Bush’s policies. He says we’ve made “great progress” in our economy these past eight years. He calls himself a fiscal conservative and on the campaign trail he’s passionate critic of government spending, and yet he has no problem spending hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks for big corporations and a permanent occupation of Iraq — policies that have left our children with a mountain of debt.” economic policy, Elizabeth Edwards, George W. Bush, John Edwards, John McCain, Mike Easely, North Carolina, Universal Healthcare Elizabeth Edwards & Bloggers Denounce Racist Ad Against Obama and NC Democrats Elizabeth Edwards Calls Racist GOP Wright Ad an “Assault Weapon” Taking time off from her family vacation in Florida, Elizabeth Edwards commented on the GOP racist ad, “Extreme,” during an MSNBC interview, calling it an “assault weapon.” Elizabeth went on to support Obama’s decision to separate himself from Reverend Wright. Watch the interview here: Elizabeth Edwards, Jane Hamsher, Jeremiah Wright, Libby Dole, msm, North Carolina Primary, Pam Spaulding, racism Elizabeth Edwards Speaks Truth To The Press By poligirl in Media In today’s OpEd section of The New York Times, Elizabeth Edwards delivers a very well expressed and unfortunately, very necessary, critique of today’s press regarding the picking of a president. Opening with a mention of the media’s (lack of serious) coverage of the Pennsylvania primary, Elizabeth hits the nail on the head and calls the press out for what it has become: shallow. She also notes that she is not alone in this observation. I’m not the only one who noticed this shallow news coverage. A report by the Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy found that during the early months of the 2008 presidential campaign, 63 percent of the campaign stories focused on political strategy while only 15 percent discussed the candidates’ ideas and proposals. The picking of our president is too important a task to approach without good, solid analysis of a candidate’s policies and positions. 2008 elections, blogs, Elizabeth Edwards, New York Times, oped, policy, presidential candidates, press Should Elizabeth Edwards Be the Progressives’ Spokesperson? Yesterday, I wrote about McCain calling Elizabeth Edwards’ comments as “a cheap shot.” I had an inclination Elizabeth would not sit down too long to take any BS from McSame, who accused her of “cheap shots” when it came to his governmental coverage for healthcare. And I was right. She wrote something for the Wonk Room at Think Progress, which is the bigger blog for the Center of American Progress…and where she is a senior fellow. Opening remarks: John McCain accused me of taking a “cheap shot” on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” yesterday for noting that people with preexisting conditions, such as he and I have, would not be able to get health care under his plan — and that he perhaps was not as sensitive to this problem as he should be since he has been in government health care his whole life. More after the flip Democratic Party, Elizabeth Edwards, Progressives, Republicans Who’s Lobbing the Cheap Shots about Our Health Care? This morning I watched This Week as John McCain was being interviewed. It was clear many times that McCain was very uncomfortable with Georgie’s questions, most of which were legitimate about McCain’s policies and agenda. He squirmed in his chair, dodged most of the answers. In particular, the one about health care seemed to have gotten his hackles up when Elizabeth Edwards’ criticism was displayed on the screen. “He has not spent a single day not protected by a federal health plan, not a single day of his entire life, and yet he denigrates this care.” She was referring to John McCain, who was first insured as the son of a Navy man, then as a Navy officer himself and finally as a member of Congress. Here’s the link to the clip: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/pl… It’s about 13 minutes into the program. If you wish to skip the video, quick synopsis from The Hill, after the jump. Elizabeth Edwards, John McCain EENR for Progress: Americans are Dying By sarahlane in Health Care For the sixth year in a row, the percentage of uninsured Americans is on the rise. Just in 2006, 2.2 million Americans joined the ranks of the uninsured. Back in 2002, The Institute of Medicine released its second installment of a six part report on what happens to thousands of Americans who lack health care coverage in America. The result was shocking, 18,000 Americans die every year because they lack health care coverage. Barry Welsh, Elizabeth Edwards, H.R. 676, Jerry Northington, John Conyers, Rick Vilello, Single Payer Elizabeth Edwards is Right (with Olberman video and more) By TomP We need universal health care in this nation. Nyceve has written about it extensively. (Read the NYCEVE diaries here.) Many kossaks, like myself, have long supported single payer. Last year, John Edwards came out with a universal health care plan that was a road to single payer. Elizabeth Edwards spoke about universal health care on Olberman last night: Elizabeth Edwards is right. On Olberman last night: I keep getting asked the difference between these two candidates and their policies and on health care, I prefer Senator Clinton’s to Senator Obama’s. The difference-more important to me is the difference between Senator McCain’s proposed plan, I said plan, with the ideas of either of the Democratic candidates, and you’re talking about narrower differences between the Democrats and then this gulf that I was describing earlier, a solar system of difference between what Senator McCain is suggesting for health care and what these candidates are suggesting. More, after the fold, including video on Elizabeth on Olberman and ABC, among other places. Elizabeth Edwards Takes on McCain Again By TomP in Health Care Elizabeth Edwards knows who the real enemy is and what is at stake in this election. While there are differences betweeen Obama’s and Clinton’s health care plan, both are far, far better than what John McCain has in store for us. Last weekend, Elizabeth Edwards took on McCain: Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Democratic presidential contender John Edwards, said she and John McCain have one thing in common: “Neither one of us would be covered by his health policy.” McCain’s chief advisor attacked, and today Elizabeth smacked them both down at Think Progress More, after the fold. (also in orange: http://www.dailykos.com/story/…	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353286
__label__wiki	0.757162	0.757162	HomeUSAIran Foreign Minister: Iran Considering Talks With US On Ballistic Missiles posted on Jul. 16, 2019 at 11:55 pm The Foreign Minister of Iran Javad Zarif spoke out in an interview Monday night about the Iran nuclear deal, saying Iran is considering talks with President Donald Trump over ballistic missiles. Trump warned to substantially increase sanctions on Iran on July 10. Zarif responded Monday night with a proposal of his own: The U.S. must stop selling nuclear weapons to Persian Gulf allies for Iran to discuss Tehrans ballistic missile plan, as it is pushing the region to the brink of explosion, Zarif told NBC. The allies include the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. “These are American weaponry that is going into our region, making our region ready to explode,” Zarif told NBC in the interview. “So if they want to talk about our missiles, they need first to stop selling all these weapons, including missiles, to our region.” Iran spent much less on arms last year in comparison to other Middle Eastern nations, according to Zarif. Iran spent $16 billion last year, but the UAE spent $22 billion and Saudi Arabia spent $67 billion, most of the money going toward American-produced arms, he said. Although tensions between the U.S. and Tehran are high, this could lead to a potential change in policy ever since Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal last year, a signature foreign policy deal of former President Barack Obama. After the withdrawal, Trump reimposed strict sanctions on the nation, despite countries such as Britain, France and Germany remaining in the pact. Iran announced its plans on July 7 to breach the uranium enrichment level under the 2015 deal, putting pressure on these remaining European nations to salvage the deal and offer Iran more lenient terms. Trump Tweeted in response to the breach, warning Iran of potential consequences earlier in July. Iran has just issued a New Warning. Rouhani says that they will Enrich Uranium to “any amount we want” if there is no new Nuclear Deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran. They can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019 Zarif said the two nations are not close to war despite heightened tensions after oil tanker attacks and Iran shooting down a U.S. military surveillance drone. “Were not close to military war, but as Ive said befRead More – Source Nomads latest charging cables are made of actual Kevlar	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353298
__label__wiki	0.981484	0.981484	Cyprus foreign minister: the EU has taken us back to 1974 Cyprus in 1974: abandoned shop. Some premises in the UN buffer zone have stayed untouched for 40 years (Photo: UN) Brussels, 28. Mar 2013, 09:20 Cyprus' foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said lack of EU solidarity has put the country's economy back to where it was after the Turkish invasion in 1974. Kasoulides spoke out on Wednesday (27 March) in two interviews, with French newspaper Les Echos and with Greek broadcaster Skai TV. He told Les Echos: "We need to start from scratch, as in 1974, when our economy was levelled to the ground after the Turkish invasion." He added: "I refuse to speak of solidarity. Europe is pretending to help us but the price to pay is too high: nothing less than the brutal destruction of our economic model which will cause enormous, long term difficulties for the Cypriot people." Kasoulides was referring to the terms of the EU bailout, agreed on Monday, which force it to seize billions from savers and investors in its two top lenders and which undermine its status as an offshore banking centre. Turkey invaded Cyprus after a coup d'etat on the island 40 years ago and still occupies its northern half, which it calls the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Cypriot minister added that tourism, Cyprus' second biggest sector, is also "in danger because hotels and restaurants can no longer function normally" due to bank closures and capital controls. Looking back on the bailout talks, he blamed fellow EU countries for lack of transparency. He told Les Echos: "Nobody told us the truth or warned us, either during the campaign that led to the election of President Anastasiades on 24 February or in the days after he came to power, that the [bailout] talks would lead to such a sudden, radical and violent rupture of our economic model." He told Skai TV that Luxembourg, another offshore centre, was the only EU country which took its side in the final negotiations. "They [Greece] told us behind the scenes they supported us, but only Luxembourg spoke up in our favour during the Eurogroup," he said, referring to the club of euro-countries' finance ministers. "France maintained silence. France’s own problems might appear in the future and then it will [also] need the help of its partners," he noted. He singled out Germany for its "ruthless" behaviour. "It’s clear that Germany wants to impose its views on the peoples of southern Europe, which need her at the moment," he said. He added that Cyprus should also take some of the blame, however. He told Les Echos that Cypriot authorities did nothing to stop savers at Laiki bank, which is to be wound down, from moving their money abroad in the run-up to the final EU deal on 25 March. "[The] amounts [were] large enough for Laiki bank, the second biggest bank in the country, to find itself on the edge of a precipice: it had no more than €55 million left in cash. We had no other choice than to restructure our banks," he said. "There were errors on both sides: for example, was it reasonable for the European Central Bank and the central bank of Cyprus to keep financing Laiki when it was on the verge of bankruptcy? The emergency loans represented €430 million in September 2011, but went up to €9.2 billion in mid-March [this year]," he added. The issue of who knew what and how the information was used in the run-up to the bailout has the potential to create a new political storm. The Cypriot parliament also on Wednesday demanded that the central bank publishes a list of people who transferred large sums money out of Cyprus ahead of the Eurogroup deal. Euro chief spooks markets with Cyprus comments EU audit on Cyprus money laundering - whitewash in the making? Eurozone agrees Cyprus bailout 2.0 Cypriot deal is welcome change to EU approach Prickly reaction to Turkish plan on Cyprus conflict Cyprus economy to shrink 12.5% despite EU bailout Eurogroup chief Dijsselbloem has spooked markets by saying the Cypriot bailout is a template for future eurozone bank re-structurings. EU-sponsored auditors have begun work in Cyprus. But their track record and the minimalist scope of the survey give cause for concern. Cyprus' Laiki bank is to be wiped out. Depositors in Bank of Cyprus will also take a hit under a new bailout deal. But details remain sketchy. Despite its dangers, the EU's new bail-in model will make it easier to deal with potential problems in Italy or France and reduce moral hazard. Cyprus and Greece have rebuked Turkey for trying to "take advantage" of the crisis to get a favourable deal on the Cypriot-Turkish conflict. 11. Apr 2013, 10:17 Cyprus' economy will shrink by 12.5 percent and its government needs to sell part of its gold reserves in order to meet the conditions of an EU-IMF bailout, a leaked paper says. Promises and doubts: Africa's free-trade adventure The EU is hoping that a continent-wide free trade agreement in Africa will help lift millions out of poverty and help solve issues of security and migration. But its message of values and equal partnership do not resonate with everyone. Why von der Leyen must put rights at core of business Ursula von der Leyen's in-tray must include those European executives on trial for systematic workplace harassment, the break-up of European slavery rings, and allegations of European companies' abuse in palm oil, including child labour, land grabs, and deforestation.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353314
__label__cc	0.534911	0.465089	(-) Remove (PE) Physical Sciences & Engineering (184) filter (PE) Physical Sciences & Engineering (184) (-) Remove <label class='research-domain' title='Condensed Matter Physics'>PE3 (18)</label> filter PE3 (18) (-) Remove <label class='research-domain' title='Synthetic Chemistry and Materials'>PE5 (6)</label> filter PE5 (6) (-) Remove <label class='research-domain' title='Universe Sciences'>PE9 (21)</label> filter PE9 (21) (-) Remove <label class='research-domain' title='Earth System Science'>PE10 (25)</label> filter PE10 (25) Project acronym A2C2 Project Atmospheric flow Analogues and Climate Change Researcher (PI) Pascal Yiou Host Institution (HI) COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE10, ERC-2013-ADG Summary "The A2C2 project treats two major challenges in climate and atmospheric research: the time dependence of the climate attractor to external forcings (solar, volcanic eruptions and anthropogenic), and the attribution of extreme climate events occurring in the northern extra-tropics. The main difficulties are the limited climate information, the computer cost of model simulations, and mathematical assumptions that are hardly verified and often overlooked in the literature. A2C2 proposes a practical framework to overcome those three difficulties, linking the theory of dynamical systems and statistics. We will generalize the methodology of flow analogues to multiple databases in order to obtain probabilistic descriptions of analogue decompositions. The project is divided into three workpackages (WP). WP1 embeds the analogue method in the theory of dynamical systems in order to provide a metric of an attractor deformation in time. The important methodological step is to detect trends or persisting outliers in the dates and scores of analogues when the system yields time-varying forcings. This is done from idealized models and full size climate models in which the forcings (anthropogenic and natural) are known. A2C2 creates an open source toolkit to compute flow analogues from a wide array of databases (WP2). WP3 treats the two scientific challenges with the analogue method and multiple model ensembles, hence allowing uncertainty estimates under realistic mathematical hypotheses. The flow analogue methodology allows a systematic and quasi real-time analysis of extreme events, which is currently out of the reach of conventional climate modeling approaches. The major breakthrough of A2C2 is to bridge the gap between operational needs (the immediate analysis of climate events) and the understanding long-term climate changes. A2C2 opens new research horizons for the exploitation of ensembles of simulations and reliable estimates of uncertainty." "The A2C2 project treats two major challenges in climate and atmospheric research: the time dependence of the climate attractor to external forcings (solar, volcanic eruptions and anthropogenic), and the attribution of extreme climate events occurring in the northern extra-tropics. The main difficulties are the limited climate information, the computer cost of model simulations, and mathematical assumptions that are hardly verified and often overlooked in the literature. A2C2 proposes a practical framework to overcome those three difficulties, linking the theory of dynamical systems and statistics. We will generalize the methodology of flow analogues to multiple databases in order to obtain probabilistic descriptions of analogue decompositions. The project is divided into three workpackages (WP). WP1 embeds the analogue method in the theory of dynamical systems in order to provide a metric of an attractor deformation in time. The important methodological step is to detect trends or persisting outliers in the dates and scores of analogues when the system yields time-varying forcings. This is done from idealized models and full size climate models in which the forcings (anthropogenic and natural) are known. A2C2 creates an open source toolkit to compute flow analogues from a wide array of databases (WP2). WP3 treats the two scientific challenges with the analogue method and multiple model ensembles, hence allowing uncertainty estimates under realistic mathematical hypotheses. The flow analogue methodology allows a systematic and quasi real-time analysis of extreme events, which is currently out of the reach of conventional climate modeling approaches. The major breakthrough of A2C2 is to bridge the gap between operational needs (the immediate analysis of climate events) and the understanding long-term climate changes. A2C2 opens new research horizons for the exploitation of ensembles of simulations and reliable estimates of uncertainty." Project acronym AAMOT Project Arithmetic of automorphic motives Researcher (PI) Michael Harris Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT DES HAUTES ETUDES SCIENTIFIQUES Summary The primary purpose of this project is to build on recent spectacular progress in the Langlands program to study the arithmetic properties of automorphic motives constructed in the cohomology of Shimura varieties. Because automorphic methods are available to study the L-functions of these motives, which include elliptic curves and certain families of Calabi-Yau varieties over totally real fields (possibly after base change), they represent the most accessible class of varieties for which one can hope to verify fundamental conjectures on special values of L-functions, including Deligne's conjecture and the Main Conjecture of Iwasawa theory. Immediate goals include the proof of irreducibility of automorphic Galois representations; the establishment of period relations for automorphic and potentially automorphic realizations of motives in the cohomology of distinct Shimura varieties; the construction of p-adic L-functions for these and related motives, notably adjoint and tensor product L-functions in p-adic families; and the geometrization of the p-adic and mod p Langlands program. All four goals, as well as the others mentioned in the body of the proposal, are interconnected; the final goal provides a bridge to related work in geometric representation theory, algebraic geometry, and mathematical physics. The primary purpose of this project is to build on recent spectacular progress in the Langlands program to study the arithmetic properties of automorphic motives constructed in the cohomology of Shimura varieties. Because automorphic methods are available to study the L-functions of these motives, which include elliptic curves and certain families of Calabi-Yau varieties over totally real fields (possibly after base change), they represent the most accessible class of varieties for which one can hope to verify fundamental conjectures on special values of L-functions, including Deligne's conjecture and the Main Conjecture of Iwasawa theory. Immediate goals include the proof of irreducibility of automorphic Galois representations; the establishment of period relations for automorphic and potentially automorphic realizations of motives in the cohomology of distinct Shimura varieties; the construction of p-adic L-functions for these and related motives, notably adjoint and tensor product L-functions in p-adic families; and the geometrization of the p-adic and mod p Langlands program. All four goals, as well as the others mentioned in the body of the proposal, are interconnected; the final goal provides a bridge to related work in geometric representation theory, algebraic geometry, and mathematical physics. Project acronym ACCLIMATE Project Elucidating the Causes and Effects of Atlantic Circulation Changes through Model-Data Integration Researcher (PI) Claire Waelbroeck Summary Rapid changes in ocean circulation and climate have been observed in marine sediment and ice cores, notably over the last 60 thousand years (ky), highlighting the non-linear character of the climate system and underlining the possibility of rapid climate shifts in response to anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing. To date, these rapid changes in climate and ocean circulation are still not fully explained. Two main obstacles prevent going beyond the current state of knowledge: - Paleoclimatic proxy data are by essence only indirect indicators of the climatic variables, and thus can not be directly compared with model outputs; - A 4-D (latitude, longitude, water depth, time) reconstruction of Atlantic water masses over the past 40 ky is lacking: previous studies have generated isolated records with disparate timescales which do not allow the causes of circulation changes to be identified. Overcoming these two major limitations will lead to major breakthroughs in climate research. Concretely, I will create the first database of Atlantic deep-sea records over the last 40 ky, and extract full climatic information from these records through an innovative model-data integration scheme using an isotopic proxy forward modeling approach. The novelty and exceptional potential of this scheme is twofold: (i) it avoids hypotheses on proxy interpretation and hence suppresses or strongly reduces the errors of interpretation of paleoclimatic records; (ii) it produces states of the climate system that best explain the observations over the last 40 ky, while being consistent with the model physics. Expected results include: • The elucidation of the mechanisms explaining rapid changes in ocean circulation and climate over the last 40 ky, • Improved climate model physics and parameterizations, • The first projections of future climate changes obtained with a model able to reproduce the highly non linear behavior of the climate system observed over the last 40 ky. Rapid changes in ocean circulation and climate have been observed in marine sediment and ice cores, notably over the last 60 thousand years (ky), highlighting the non-linear character of the climate system and underlining the possibility of rapid climate shifts in response to anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing. To date, these rapid changes in climate and ocean circulation are still not fully explained. Two main obstacles prevent going beyond the current state of knowledge: - Paleoclimatic proxy data are by essence only indirect indicators of the climatic variables, and thus can not be directly compared with model outputs; - A 4-D (latitude, longitude, water depth, time) reconstruction of Atlantic water masses over the past 40 ky is lacking: previous studies have generated isolated records with disparate timescales which do not allow the causes of circulation changes to be identified. Overcoming these two major limitations will lead to major breakthroughs in climate research. Concretely, I will create the first database of Atlantic deep-sea records over the last 40 ky, and extract full climatic information from these records through an innovative model-data integration scheme using an isotopic proxy forward modeling approach. The novelty and exceptional potential of this scheme is twofold: (i) it avoids hypotheses on proxy interpretation and hence suppresses or strongly reduces the errors of interpretation of paleoclimatic records; (ii) it produces states of the climate system that best explain the observations over the last 40 ky, while being consistent with the model physics. Expected results include: • The elucidation of the mechanisms explaining rapid changes in ocean circulation and climate over the last 40 ky, • Improved climate model physics and parameterizations, • The first projections of future climate changes obtained with a model able to reproduce the highly non linear behavior of the climate system observed over the last 40 ky. Project acronym Actanthrope Project Computational Foundations of Anthropomorphic Action Researcher (PI) Jean Paul Laumond Summary Actanthrope intends to promote a neuro-robotics perspective to explore original models of anthropomorphic action. The project targets contributions to humanoid robot autonomy (for rescue and service robotics), to advanced human body simulation (for applications in ergonomics), and to a new theory of embodied intelligence (by promoting a motion-based semiotics of the human action). Actions take place in the physical space while they originate in the –robot or human– sensory-motor space. Geometry is the core abstraction that makes the link between these spaces. Considering that the structure of actions inherits from that of the body, the underlying intuition is that actions can be segmented within discrete sub-spaces lying in the entire continuous posture space. Such sub-spaces are viewed as symbols bridging deliberative reasoning and reactive control. Actanthrope argues that geometric approaches to motion segmentation and generation as promising and innovative routes to explore embodied intelligence: - Motion segmentation: what are the sub-manifolds that define the structure of a given action? - Motion generation: among all the solution paths within a given sub-manifold, what is the underlying law that makes the selection? In Robotics these questions are related to the competition between abstract symbol manipulation and physical signal processing. In Computational Neuroscience the questions refer to the quest of motion invariants. The ambition of the project is to promote a dual perspective: exploring the computational foundations of human action to make better robots, while simultaneously doing better robotics to better understand human action. A unique “Anthropomorphic Action Factory” supports the methodology. It aims at attracting to a single lab, researchers with complementary know-how and solid mathematical background. All of them will benefit from unique equipments, while being stimulated by four challenges dealing with locomotion and manipulation actions. Actanthrope intends to promote a neuro-robotics perspective to explore original models of anthropomorphic action. The project targets contributions to humanoid robot autonomy (for rescue and service robotics), to advanced human body simulation (for applications in ergonomics), and to a new theory of embodied intelligence (by promoting a motion-based semiotics of the human action). Actions take place in the physical space while they originate in the –robot or human– sensory-motor space. Geometry is the core abstraction that makes the link between these spaces. Considering that the structure of actions inherits from that of the body, the underlying intuition is that actions can be segmented within discrete sub-spaces lying in the entire continuous posture space. Such sub-spaces are viewed as symbols bridging deliberative reasoning and reactive control. Actanthrope argues that geometric approaches to motion segmentation and generation as promising and innovative routes to explore embodied intelligence: - Motion segmentation: what are the sub-manifolds that define the structure of a given action? - Motion generation: among all the solution paths within a given sub-manifold, what is the underlying law that makes the selection? In Robotics these questions are related to the competition between abstract symbol manipulation and physical signal processing. In Computational Neuroscience the questions refer to the quest of motion invariants. The ambition of the project is to promote a dual perspective: exploring the computational foundations of human action to make better robots, while simultaneously doing better robotics to better understand human action. A unique “Anthropomorphic Action Factory” supports the methodology. It aims at attracting to a single lab, researchers with complementary know-how and solid mathematical background. All of them will benefit from unique equipments, while being stimulated by four challenges dealing with locomotion and manipulation actions. Project acronym ADDECCO Project Adaptive Schemes for Deterministic and Stochastic Flow Problems Researcher (PI) Remi Abgrall Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE ENINFORMATIQUE ET AUTOMATIQUE Summary The numerical simulation of complex compressible flow problem is still a challenge nowaday even for simple models. In our opinion, the most important hard points that need currently to be tackled and solved is how to obtain stable, scalable, very accurate, easy to code and to maintain schemes on complex geometries. The method should easily handle mesh refinement, even near the boundary where the most interesting engineering quantities have to be evaluated. Unsteady uncertainties in the model, for example in the geometry or the boundary conditions should represented efficiently.This proposal goal is to design, develop and evaluate solutions to each of the above problems. Our work program will lead to significant breakthroughs for flow simulations. More specifically, we propose to work on 3 connected problems: 1-A class of very high order numerical schemes able to easily deal with the geometry of boundaries and still can solve steep problems. The geometry is generally defined by CAD tools. The output is used to generate a mesh which is then used by the scheme. Hence, any mesh refinement process is disconnected from the CAD, a situation that prevents the spread of mesh adaptation techniques in industry! 2-A class of very high order numerical schemes which can utilize possibly solution dependant basis functions in order to lower the number of degrees of freedom, for example to compute accurately boundary layers with low resolutions. 3-A general non intrusive technique for handling uncertainties in order to deal with irregular probability density functions (pdf) and also to handle pdf that may evolve in time, for example thanks to an optimisation loop. The curse of dimensionality will be dealt thanks Harten's multiresolution method combined with sparse grid methods. Currently, and up to our knowledge, no scheme has each of these properties. This research program will have an impact on numerical schemes and industrial applications. The numerical simulation of complex compressible flow problem is still a challenge nowaday even for simple models. In our opinion, the most important hard points that need currently to be tackled and solved is how to obtain stable, scalable, very accurate, easy to code and to maintain schemes on complex geometries. The method should easily handle mesh refinement, even near the boundary where the most interesting engineering quantities have to be evaluated. Unsteady uncertainties in the model, for example in the geometry or the boundary conditions should represented efficiently.This proposal goal is to design, develop and evaluate solutions to each of the above problems. Our work program will lead to significant breakthroughs for flow simulations. More specifically, we propose to work on 3 connected problems: 1-A class of very high order numerical schemes able to easily deal with the geometry of boundaries and still can solve steep problems. The geometry is generally defined by CAD tools. The output is used to generate a mesh which is then used by the scheme. Hence, any mesh refinement process is disconnected from the CAD, a situation that prevents the spread of mesh adaptation techniques in industry! 2-A class of very high order numerical schemes which can utilize possibly solution dependant basis functions in order to lower the number of degrees of freedom, for example to compute accurately boundary layers with low resolutions. 3-A general non intrusive technique for handling uncertainties in order to deal with irregular probability density functions (pdf) and also to handle pdf that may evolve in time, for example thanks to an optimisation loop. The curse of dimensionality will be dealt thanks Harten's multiresolution method combined with sparse grid methods. Currently, and up to our knowledge, no scheme has each of these properties. This research program will have an impact on numerical schemes and industrial applications. Project acronym ADEQUATE Project Advanced optoelectronic Devices with Enhanced QUAntum efficiency at THz frEquencies Researcher (PI) Carlo Sirtori Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE PARIS DIDEROT - PARIS 7 Summary The aim of this project is the realisation of efficient mid-infrared and THz optoelectronic emitters. This work is motivated by the fact that the spontaneous emission in this frequency range is characterized by an extremely long lifetime when compared to non-radiative processes, giving rise to devices with very low quantum efficiency. To this end we want to develop hybrid light-matter systems, already well known in quantum optics, within optoelectronics devices, that will be driven by electrical injection. With this project we want to extend the field of optoelectronics by introducing some of the concepts of quantum optic, particularly the light-matter strong coupling, into semiconductor devices. More precisely this project aims at the implementation of novel optoelectronic emitters operating in the strong coupling regime between an intersubband excitation of a two-dimensional electron gas and a microcavity photonic mode. The quasiparticles issued from this coupling are called intersubband polaritons. The major difficulties and challenges of this project, do not lay in the observation of these quantum effects, but in their exploitation for a specific function, in particular an efficient electrical to optical conversion. To obtain efficient quantum emitters in the THz frequency range we will follow two different approaches: - In the first case we will try to exploit the additional characteristic time of the system introduced by the light-matter interaction in the strong (or ultra-strong) coupling regime. - The second approach will exploit the fact that, under certain conditions, intersubband polaritons have a bosonic character; as a consequence they can undergo stimulated scattering, giving rise to polaritons lasers as it has been shown for excitonic polaritons. The aim of this project is the realisation of efficient mid-infrared and THz optoelectronic emitters. This work is motivated by the fact that the spontaneous emission in this frequency range is characterized by an extremely long lifetime when compared to non-radiative processes, giving rise to devices with very low quantum efficiency. To this end we want to develop hybrid light-matter systems, already well known in quantum optics, within optoelectronics devices, that will be driven by electrical injection. With this project we want to extend the field of optoelectronics by introducing some of the concepts of quantum optic, particularly the light-matter strong coupling, into semiconductor devices. More precisely this project aims at the implementation of novel optoelectronic emitters operating in the strong coupling regime between an intersubband excitation of a two-dimensional electron gas and a microcavity photonic mode. The quasiparticles issued from this coupling are called intersubband polaritons. The major difficulties and challenges of this project, do not lay in the observation of these quantum effects, but in their exploitation for a specific function, in particular an efficient electrical to optical conversion. To obtain efficient quantum emitters in the THz frequency range we will follow two different approaches: - In the first case we will try to exploit the additional characteristic time of the system introduced by the light-matter interaction in the strong (or ultra-strong) coupling regime. - The second approach will exploit the fact that, under certain conditions, intersubband polaritons have a bosonic character; as a consequence they can undergo stimulated scattering, giving rise to polaritons lasers as it has been shown for excitonic polaritons. Project acronym ADORA Project Asymptotic approach to spatial and dynamical organizations Researcher (PI) Benoit PERTHAME Host Institution (HI) SORBONNE UNIVERSITE Summary The understanding of spatial, social and dynamical organization of large numbers of agents is presently a fundamental issue in modern science. ADORA focuses on problems motivated by biology because, more than anywhere else, access to precise and many data has opened the route to novel and complex biomathematical models. The problems we address are written in terms of nonlinear partial differential equations. The flux-limited Keller-Segel system, the integrate-and-fire Fokker-Planck equation, kinetic equations with internal state, nonlocal parabolic equations and constrained Hamilton-Jacobi equations are among examples of the equations under investigation. The role of mathematics is not only to understand the analytical structure of these new problems, but it is also to explain the qualitative behavior of solutions and to quantify their properties. The challenge arises here because these goals should be achieved through a hierarchy of scales. Indeed, the problems under consideration share the common feature that the large scale behavior cannot be understood precisely without access to a hierarchy of finer scales, down to the individual behavior and sometimes its molecular determinants. Major difficulties arise because the numerous scales present in these equations have to be discovered and singularities appear in the asymptotic process which yields deep compactness obstructions. Our vision is that the complexity inherent to models of biology can be enlightened by mathematical analysis and a classification of the possible asymptotic regimes. However an enormous effort is needed to uncover the equations intimate mathematical structures, and bring them at the level of conceptual understanding they deserve being given the applications motivating these questions which range from medical science or neuroscience to cell biology. The understanding of spatial, social and dynamical organization of large numbers of agents is presently a fundamental issue in modern science. ADORA focuses on problems motivated by biology because, more than anywhere else, access to precise and many data has opened the route to novel and complex biomathematical models. The problems we address are written in terms of nonlinear partial differential equations. The flux-limited Keller-Segel system, the integrate-and-fire Fokker-Planck equation, kinetic equations with internal state, nonlocal parabolic equations and constrained Hamilton-Jacobi equations are among examples of the equations under investigation. The role of mathematics is not only to understand the analytical structure of these new problems, but it is also to explain the qualitative behavior of solutions and to quantify their properties. The challenge arises here because these goals should be achieved through a hierarchy of scales. Indeed, the problems under consideration share the common feature that the large scale behavior cannot be understood precisely without access to a hierarchy of finer scales, down to the individual behavior and sometimes its molecular determinants. Major difficulties arise because the numerous scales present in these equations have to be discovered and singularities appear in the asymptotic process which yields deep compactness obstructions. Our vision is that the complexity inherent to models of biology can be enlightened by mathematical analysis and a classification of the possible asymptotic regimes. However an enormous effort is needed to uncover the equations intimate mathematical structures, and bring them at the level of conceptual understanding they deserve being given the applications motivating these questions which range from medical science or neuroscience to cell biology. Project acronym AdS-CFT-solvable Project Origins of integrability in AdS/CFT correspondence Researcher (PI) Vladimir Kazakov Summary Fundamental interactions in nature are well described by quantum gauge fields in 4 space-time dimensions (4d). When the strength of gauge interaction is weak the Feynman perturbation techniques are very efficient for the description of most of the experimentally observable consequences of the Standard model and for the study of high energy processes in QCD. But in the intermediate and strong coupling regime, such as the relatively small energies in QCD, the perturbation theory fails leaving us with no reliable analytic methods (except the Monte-Carlo simulation). The project aims at working out new analytic and computational methods for strongly coupled gauge theories in 4d. We will employ for that two important discoveries: 1) the gauge-string duality (AdS/CFT correspondence) relating certain strongly coupled gauge Conformal Field Theories to the weakly coupled string theories on Anty-deSitter space; 2) the solvability, or integrability of maximally supersymmetric (N=4) 4d super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory in multicolor limit. Integrability made possible pioneering exact numerical and analytic results in the N=4 multicolor SYM at any coupling, effectively summing up all 4d Feynman diagrams. Recently, we conjectured a system of functional equations - the AdS/CFT Y-system – for the exact spectrum of anomalous dimensions of all local operators in N=4 SYM. The conjecture has passed all available checks. My project is aimed at the understanding of origins of this, still mysterious integrability. Deriving the AdS/CFT Y-system from the first principles on both sides of gauge-string duality should provide a long-awaited proof of the AdS/CFT correspondence itself. I plan to use the Y-system to study the systematic weak and strong coupling expansions and the so called BFKL limit, as well as for calculation of multi-point correlation functions of N=4 SYM. We hope on new insights into the strong coupling dynamics of less supersymmetric gauge theories and of QCD. Fundamental interactions in nature are well described by quantum gauge fields in 4 space-time dimensions (4d). When the strength of gauge interaction is weak the Feynman perturbation techniques are very efficient for the description of most of the experimentally observable consequences of the Standard model and for the study of high energy processes in QCD. But in the intermediate and strong coupling regime, such as the relatively small energies in QCD, the perturbation theory fails leaving us with no reliable analytic methods (except the Monte-Carlo simulation). The project aims at working out new analytic and computational methods for strongly coupled gauge theories in 4d. We will employ for that two important discoveries: 1) the gauge-string duality (AdS/CFT correspondence) relating certain strongly coupled gauge Conformal Field Theories to the weakly coupled string theories on Anty-deSitter space; 2) the solvability, or integrability of maximally supersymmetric (N=4) 4d super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory in multicolor limit. Integrability made possible pioneering exact numerical and analytic results in the N=4 multicolor SYM at any coupling, effectively summing up all 4d Feynman diagrams. Recently, we conjectured a system of functional equations - the AdS/CFT Y-system – for the exact spectrum of anomalous dimensions of all local operators in N=4 SYM. The conjecture has passed all available checks. My project is aimed at the understanding of origins of this, still mysterious integrability. Deriving the AdS/CFT Y-system from the first principles on both sides of gauge-string duality should provide a long-awaited proof of the AdS/CFT correspondence itself. I plan to use the Y-system to study the systematic weak and strong coupling expansions and the so called BFKL limit, as well as for calculation of multi-point correlation functions of N=4 SYM. We hope on new insights into the strong coupling dynamics of less supersymmetric gauge theories and of QCD. Project acronym AGNOSTIC Project Actively Enhanced Cognition based Framework for Design of Complex Systems Researcher (PI) Björn Ottersten Summary Parameterized mathematical models have been central to the understanding and design of communication, networking, and radar systems. However, they often lack the ability to model intricate interactions innate in complex systems. On the other hand, data-driven approaches do not need explicit mathematical models for data generation and have a wider applicability at the cost of flexibility. These approaches need labelled data, representing all the facets of the system interaction with the environment. With the aforementioned systems becoming increasingly complex with intricate interactions and operating in dynamic environments, the number of system configurations can be rather large leading to paucity of labelled data. Thus there are emerging networks of systems of critical importance whose cognition is not effectively covered by traditional approaches. AGNOSTIC uses the process of exploration through system probing and exploitation of observed data in an iterative manner drawing upon traditional model-based approaches and data-driven discriminative learning to enhance functionality, performance, and robustness through the notion of active cognition. AGNOSTIC clearly departs from a passive assimilation of data and aims to formalize the exploitation/exploration framework in dynamic environments. The development of this framework in three applications areas is central to AGNOSTIC. The project aims to provide active cognition in radar to learn the environment and other active systems to ensure situational awareness and coexistence; to apply active probing in radio access networks to infer network behaviour towards spectrum sharing and self-configuration; and to learn and adapt to user demand for content distribution in caching networks, drastically improving network efficiency. Although these cognitive systems interact with the environment in very different ways, sufficient abstraction allows cross-fertilization of insights and approaches motivating their joint treatment. Parameterized mathematical models have been central to the understanding and design of communication, networking, and radar systems. However, they often lack the ability to model intricate interactions innate in complex systems. On the other hand, data-driven approaches do not need explicit mathematical models for data generation and have a wider applicability at the cost of flexibility. These approaches need labelled data, representing all the facets of the system interaction with the environment. With the aforementioned systems becoming increasingly complex with intricate interactions and operating in dynamic environments, the number of system configurations can be rather large leading to paucity of labelled data. Thus there are emerging networks of systems of critical importance whose cognition is not effectively covered by traditional approaches. AGNOSTIC uses the process of exploration through system probing and exploitation of observed data in an iterative manner drawing upon traditional model-based approaches and data-driven discriminative learning to enhance functionality, performance, and robustness through the notion of active cognition. AGNOSTIC clearly departs from a passive assimilation of data and aims to formalize the exploitation/exploration framework in dynamic environments. The development of this framework in three applications areas is central to AGNOSTIC. The project aims to provide active cognition in radar to learn the environment and other active systems to ensure situational awareness and coexistence; to apply active probing in radio access networks to infer network behaviour towards spectrum sharing and self-configuration; and to learn and adapt to user demand for content distribution in caching networks, drastically improving network efficiency. Although these cognitive systems interact with the environment in very different ways, sufficient abstraction allows cross-fertilization of insights and approaches motivating their joint treatment.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353321
__label__wiki	0.692969	0.692969	SC stops NAB to take action against Bahria Town after Malik Riaz agree to deposit Rs5 billion Islamabad (Agencies): The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to suspend further action against Bahria Town. A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar ruled after Bahria Town chairman Malik Riaz agreed to deposit Rs5 billion with the court. Riaz, in his written reply submitted during today’s hearing, assured the top court that he would submit the Rs5bn amount required as surety by the court in 15 days and ensure that none of his or his family's properties are sold in the meanwhile. Upon receiving the assurance, the SC ordered NAB to suspend further action against Bahria Town, Riaz and his family till a five-member bench of the apex court decides the review petition filed by the property empire. The review petition in question was filed by Bahria Town against three cases in which the apex court had found massive irregularities in land acquisition by the developer for its housing projects in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Murree. The Supreme Court also allowed Bahria Town to receive money from investors in its new account while the review is completed. However, the court ordered that 20 per cent of the money received would have to be deposited in a separate account opened at the apex court. The court also ordered Riaz's wife's property to be attached as surety and barred him from selling any of his own assets. Tagged nab bahria town malik riaz SC CJP Saqib Watch: Teaser of Saqib Malik’s upcoming film Baaji released 02:12 PM, 23 Apr, 2019 Ahsan Iqbal, Akram Durrani likely to appear before NAB today CJP Khosa slams 'malicious' anti-judiciary campaign, says truth shall ... 04:16 PM, 20 Dec, 2019	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353325
__label__wiki	0.8334	0.8334	‘SC verdict ‘great disappointment’ to those expecting destabilisation due to clash of institutions’ 04:58 PM, 28 Nov, 2019 Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding extension in Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure must be "a great disappointment to those who expected the country to be destabilised by a clash of institutions". Today must be a great disappointment to those who expected the country to be destabilised by a clash of institutions. That this did not happen must be of special disappointment to our external enemies & mafias within - — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 28, 2019 “Mafias who have stashed their loot abroad and seek to protect this loot by destabilising the country,” said the PM while reacting to top court verdict to grant a six-month conditional approval for Bajwa to stay in his office. Mafias who have stashed their loot abroad and seek to protect this loot by destabilising the country. “For the record, 23 yrs ago we were the first Party to advocate an independent Judiciary and Rule of Law. In 2007, PTI was in the forefront of the Movement for Independence of the Judiciary & I was jailed for it,” he added in a series of tweets. For the record, 23 yrs ago we were the first Party to advocate an independent Judiciary and Rule of Law. In 2007, PTI was in the forefront of the Movement for Independence of the Judiciary & I was jailed for it. Earlier, the SC allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to General Bajwa. In its short order the apex court directed the government to bring necessary legislation within six months' time. READ MORE: Bangladesh announce 15-member squad for Pakistan T20I series Tagged verdict clash institutions disappointment neo tv PSL 3, 22th match: Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by 63 runs 02:13 PM, 10 Mar, 2018 ICJ stays Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution till final verdict 03:18 PM, 18 May, 2017	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353326
__label__wiki	0.579281	0.579281	Stockholm Online Courses FOUNDER OF SCIENTOLOGY A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY ON THE LIFE OF L. RON HUBBARD BIOGRAPHICAL TIMELINE OF L. RON HUBBARD L. Ron Hubbard Timeline MONTANA: THE EARLY YEARS AN AUTOMOTIVE ADVENTURE COMMANDER “SNAKE” THOMPSON ASIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC A CLASSROOM ON GUAM MASTERING A NATIVE TONGUE MONTANA RANGER FROM A WILD WEST TO AN INSCRUTABLE EAST MAJOR MACBEAN OF HIS MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE A TRADITION OF WISDOM ADVENTURES & EXPLORATION BARNSTORMING IN AMERICA UNIVERSITY YEARS THE POETRY EXPERIMENT THE HUMAN MEMORY CONUNDRUM THE LONGEST SENTENCE A FIRST CLASS IN NUCLEAR PHYSICS LIVING THE STORIES A PICASSO SHOW THE DYNAMIC PRINCIPLE OF EXISTENCE THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER ESKIMO TRANSLATION WAR AND THE MIND THOUGHT WAS BOSS A Brief Chronology on the Life of L. Ron Hubbard FOUNDER OF DIANETICS AND SCIENTOLOGY “For nearly a quarter of a century, I have been engaged in the investigation of the fundamentals of life, the material universe and human behavior. Such an adventure leads one down many highways, through many byroads, into many back alleys of uncertainty, through many strata of life…” - L. Ron Hubbard Such an adventure is also what ultimately led L. Ron Hubbard to the founding of Dianetics and Scientology and thus, a route to previously unimagined spiritual heights. Among other landmark events of the journey: In July of 1952, L. Ron Hubbard became the first to scientifically isolate, measure and describe the human spirit, while objectively demonstrating spiritual potentials well in advance of scientific thought. Moreover, those potentials were found to be possessed by every human being and just as universally attainable. Thus developed his description of Scientology as accomplishing the goal of every great religion: Freeing the soul by wisdom. All told, L. Ron Hubbard’s works on Dianetics and Scientology comprise the largest cohesive statement on the human mind and spirit—more than 5,000 writings and 3,000 recorded lectures. Contained therein are answers to life’s most profound mysteries: the enigma of existence, the riddle of death, the realization of states not even described in earlier literature. Also from these works come Scientology technologies to rear children, repair families, educate, organize and provide relief in times of illness or suffering. So that all may avail themselves of these technologies, L. Ron Hubbard directed the rise of Scientology Churches all over the world and thus, the birth of a worldwide religion. It is a practical religion. It is applicable to every aspect of human existence and it is religion for the here and now. But at its core and within every Church of Scientology lies this enduring invitation from its Founder: “We are extending to you the precious gift of freedom and immortality—factually, honestly.” L. Ron Hubbard: Significant Events in the life of L. Ron Hubbard The L. Ron Hubbard Series The Complete Biographical Encyclopedia VIEW ONLINE » Who was L. Ron Hubbard? What is the Concept of God in Scientology? What are the Fundamental Practices of the Religion? What is Auditing? Who is David Miscavige? AUTOBIOGRAPHIC TIMELINE © 2020 Church of Scientology Stockholm. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Use • Legal Notice Cookies help our website work properly. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. OK	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353328
__label__cc	0.656336	0.343664	Nasimi Festival Azerbaijani First VP Mehriban Aliyeva attends closing ceremony of second Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality (PHOTO) Politics 2 October 2019 14:19 The second Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality has ended with a closing gala play staged at the Heydar Aliyev Center, Trend reports. Nasimi's descendant wants great-grandfather’s ashes to be buried in Azerbaijan (PHOTO) Society 1 October 2019 19:31 The second grandiose Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality has been held in Azerbaijan from September 28 to October 1. Works of 8th International Exhibition “From Waste to Art” showcased at Nasimi Festival (PHOTO) Politics 30 September 2019 18:53 The second grandiose Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality is being held in Azerbaijan from September 28 to October 1 through the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture. Sculptures by participants of int’l symposium presented as part of Nasimi Festival (PHOTO) The grandiose second “Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality” is taking place in Azerbaijan, with the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, from September 28 to October 1 1st Baku Int'l Traditional Craftsmanship Festival opens as part of Nasimi Festival (PHOTO) Society 28 September 2019 19:06 The second grandiose Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality is being held in Azerbaijan from September 28 to October 1 Heydar Aliyev Foundation VP attends opening of "Nasimi Manuscripts in World Libraries" exhibition (PHOTO) An opening ceremony of the “Manuscripts by Nasimi in world libraries” book exhibition has been held at Azerbaijan National Library Second grandiose Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality to kick off in Azerbaijan The second grandiose Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality will be held in Azerbaijan from September 28 to October 1 through the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture Int’l Exhibition “From Waste to Art” to open as part of Nasimi Festival in Azerbaijan (PHOTO) The VIII International Exhibition "From Waste to Art" will open Sept. 30 at the Qala State Historical and Ethnographic Reserve of Azerbaijan as part of the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality Nasimi Festival serves to bring East, West closer - UK artist Zeigam Azizov With the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, the second Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality will be held in Azerbaijan from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 30 events to be held during second Nasimi Festival in Azerbaijan A number of innovations are expected during the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality to be held in Azerbaijan from September 28 to October 1	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353329
__label__wiki	0.73253	0.73253	Monday, January 20, 2020 - 0:31:25 Keyword: Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia Late leading officer of voluntary army in Cambodia honoured A late leading officer of the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia has been posthumously honoured with a Cambodian Order in recognition of his contributions to the development of the friendship between the two countries. Former Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia get together Sunday, July 21, 2019 15:43 A get-together was held in Ho Chi Minh City on July 20 to mark the 40th anniversary of Front 779 of Military Zone 7 and recalled the time the front’ soldiers had implemented international missions in Cambodia. VietnamPlus wins first prize at External Information Service Awards Friday, June 07, 2019 17:34 The newspaper VietnamPlus of the Vietnam News Agency won the first prize at the 2018 National External Information Service Awards with a mega story on Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia. Ex-Vietnamese voluntary soldiers visit Cambodia Wednesday, March 20, 2019 20:13 First Vice President of the Cambodian Senate Sim Ka hosted a reception for a delegation of former Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Phnom Penh on March 20. Northern border defence war: victory and lessons On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam’s war to defend its northern border, Dr Tran Huu Huy, member of the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences, analysed the victory and historic lessons drawn from the war. Remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia buried Saturday, July 28, 2018 15:20 Remains of 35 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers who laid down their lives during while implementing their international missions in Cambodia were buried in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on July 27. More remains of voluntary soldiers repatriated from Cambodia The Mekong Delta province of Long An on July 27 held a ceremony to repatriate the remains of 20 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers who laid down their lives in Cambodia at different periods. Cambodia remembers Vietnam’s help with gratitude Thursday, January 09, 2014 09:06 Without Vietnam's help, the Cambodians would not have their name in the world. Deputy PM greets Cambodian guests Friday, October 26, 2012 19:20 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Lim Chhay, Under Secretary of State for Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation in Hanoi on October 24. Soldiers’ remains repatriated from Cambodia Friday, August 19, 2011 20:47 The southern province of Tay Ninh has repatriated a total of 2,546 sets of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers from Cambodia during the 2001-2011 period.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353330
__label__wiki	0.837981	0.837981	Battle of Bhangani Bhangani, near Paonta, Punjab region (now Himachal Pradesh) Sikh victory [3][4] • Guru Gobind Singh's disciples (Sikhs), • Pir Budhu Shah's disciples, • Udasis, • Daya Ram[1] Bhim Chand (Kahlur) of Bilaspur State, [2]• Fateh Shah of Garhwal, • Kirpal of Katoch, • Gopal of Guler, • Hari Chand of Hindur, • Kesari Chand of Jaswal, • Guru Gobind Singh, • Pir Buddu Shah • Mahant Kirpal Das, Bhim Chand (Kahlur) Fateh Shah • Sangho Shah • Hari Chand Mughal-Sikh Wars Battle of Nadaun Battle of Basoli Battle of Nirmohgarh (1702) First Battle of Anandpur Second Battle of Anandpur Battle of Chamkaur (1704) Battle of Sarsa Battle of Muktsar Battle of Sonepat Battle of Samana Siege of Sirhind Battle of Sadhaura Battle of Chappar Chiri Battle of Rahon (1710) Battle of Lohgarh Battle of Jalalabad (1710) Battle of Jammu Battle of Gurdas Nangal Battle of Delhi (1783) The Battle of Bhangani (Punjabi: ਭੰਗਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਯੁੱਧ) was fought between Guru Gobind Singh's army and Bhim Chand (Kahlur) of Bilaspur on 18 September 1686, at Bhangani near Paonta Sahib.Number of Hindu Rajas of Shivalik Hills participated in the war from Bhim Chand (Kahlur)‘s side.[5] It was the first battle fought by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, at the age of 19.[6] Bichitra Natak, an autobiography generally attributed to Guru Gobind Singh, contains a detailed description of the battle. 2 Armies 3.1 Description in Bichitra Natak 3.2 Result Causes[edit] Guru Gobind Singh resided at Anandpur, which was located in the territory of Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur (Kahlur). By the 1680s, the Guru's influence and power had increased greatly. His devotees came from distant places and brought him valuable gifts. A devotee called Duni Chand visited Anandpur in 1681, and presented him a Shamiana (a royal canopy or tent) embroidered in gold and silver, and was studded with pearls. Ratan Rai, the son of Raja Ram Rai of Assam, visited Anandpur with his mother and several ministers, and presented several gifts to the Guru, including an elephant called Prasadi (or Parsadi). In the mid-1680s, Guru Gobind Singh ordered the construction of a war drum (nagara) to enthuse his army. The job of constructing the drum was entrusted to the Guru's Dewan, Nand Chand, and the drum was named Ranjit Nagara.[7] The use of such a war drum was limited to the chieftains, within their territory. Its use by the Guru was considered a hostile act by Raja Bhim Chand. On his Prime Minister's advice, the Raja arranged a meeting with the Guru, and visited his court in Anandpur. There, his eyes fell on the valuable gifts presented to the Guru by the devotees. Some days later, Bhim Chand sent a message to Anandpur, asking the Guru to lend the Prasadi elephant to him. Bhim Chand wanted the elephant to make a display of his wealth to the guests at his son's proposed wedding. The Guru suspected that Bhim Chand wanted to gain permanent possession of the elephant, and declined the Raja's demand. He stated that the devotee who had presented the elephant didn't want it to be given away to anybody else. Bhim Chand is said to have sent his emissaries thrice to the Guru, the last one being Raja Kesari Chand of Jaswal. However, the Guru didn't accept his demand, and refused to part with the elephant. The Raja was perturbed by the Guru's refusal to give away the elephant, his growing influence, and his interest in military exercises. An atmosphere of confrontation developed between the two on small issues.[8] In April 1685, Guru Gobind Singh shifted his residence to Paonta (now Poanta sahib) in Sirmur state, at the invitation of Raja Mat Prakash (a.k.a. Medni Prakash) of Sirmur. The reasons for the shift are not clear.[8] The author of Bichitra Natak doesn't mention any reason for shifting his residence to Paonta.[9] According to the Gazetteer of the Sirmur state, the Guru was compelled to quit Anadpur due to differences with Bhim Chand, and went to Toka. From Toka, he was brought to Nahan (the capital of Sirmur) by Mat Prakash. From Nahan, he proceeded to Paonta.[10] According to Ajay S. Rawat, Mat Prakash invited the Guru to his kingdom in order to strengthen his position against Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal.[8] At the request of Raja Mat Prakash, the Guru constructed a fort at Paonta with help of his followers, in a short time. He continued to increase his army. Raja Fateh Shah also paid a visit to the Guru, and was received with honor in his court. The Guru established a peace treaty between the two Rajas. The marriage of Bhim Chand's son was arranged with the daughter of Fateh Shah. Bhim Chand had to go from Bilaspur to Srinagar (the capital of Garhwal) for the marriage ceremony, and the shortest route passed through Paonta. However, the Guru had no faith in Bhim Chand, and he refused to let his heavily armed party pass through Paonta. After negotiations, the Guru permitted only the bridegroom and a small number of his companions to cross the ferry near Paonta. The rest of the marriage party, including Bhim Chand, had to follow a circuitous route to Srinagar. This increased Bhim Chand's hostility towards the Guru. Fateh Shah had invited the Guru to the wedding celebrations. The Guru sent his representatives Bhai Nand Chand (or Namd Chand) and Bhai Daya Ram to the wedding celebrations. He also sent jewellery worth approximately a hundred thousand rupees as a gift for the bride. His representatives were accompanied by 500 horsemen to guard the gift. When Bhim Chand came to know about this gift from the Guru, he threatened to cancel the marriage if Fateh Shah accepted the gift.[8] Fateh Shah, fearing for his daughter's future, refused to accept the gift, and sent back the Guru's contingent. On their way back to Paonta, the Guru's horsemen were attacked by the Rajas' forces. They managed to defend themselves, and told the Guru about the incident. The Guru, anticipating an attack from the Rajas, made preparations for the war.[10] According to another theory, by the historian Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, Bhim Chand's son was not married to the daughter of Fateh Shah and there was no question of dispute with Fateh Shah on this ground. Instead, Fateh Shah had been instigated by Gurbakhsh (a masand of Raja Ram Rai of Assam) that the Guru intended to attack his Garhwal territory and occupy it. As a result, Fateh Shah decided to attack the Guru. The Guru got the news of attack before hand and reached Bhangani, from where people usually crossed the Yamuna river. The battle was fought here on 18 September 1688.[11] Guru Gobind Singh in his autobiographical work Bichitra Natak wrote that Fateh Shah fought with him for no reason.[12][4][13] Armies[edit] Bhim Chand and Fateh Shah formed an alliance with the other hill Rajas: Kirpal of Katoch, Gopal of Guler (or Guleria), Hari Chand of Hindur and Kesari Chand of Jaswal. The Guru organized an army consisting of his disciples (Sikhs), and some Udasis including Mahant Kirpal Das. The Guru had enlisted 500 Pathans[citation needed] on the recommendation of Pir Budhu Shah (a fakir, who lived at Sadhaura near Paonta). According to oral folk tradition these 'Pathans' were under the supposed command of five chieftains: Kale Khan, Bhikan Khan, Najabat Khan (or Nijabat Khan), Hyat Khan (or Hayat Khan), and Umar Khan. Except the one hundred men under Kale Khan, all other Pathans deserted the Guru before the battle began.[citation needed] They were apprehensive of the scanty resources at the disposal of the Guru, and joined Bhim Chand, who promised them a share of the loot at Paonta. Most of the Udasis, except the chief Mahant Kirpal and a few others, also deserted the Guru. When the Guru informed the Pir about the defected Pathans, the Pir rushed to assist the Guru with his four sons, his brother, and around 700 of his followers.[citation needed] According to Harjinder Dilgeer there was no Pathan in the Guru's army, and story of Pir Budhu Shah sending his sons is a later concoction.[citation needed] Pir Budhu Shah was at Sadhaura, about 60 km from Paonta; it was not possible for him to receive the news of betrayal by Pathan soldiers.[14] Even if it is accepted, there is no explanation for how he could get the news the same day and dispatch his son from Sadhaura to Bhangani: it would mean that the battle continued for several days. Thus, he concludes that Pir Budhu Shah's story is a concoction; however, there is no doubt that Pir was an admirer of the Guru and for this 'crime' Usman Khan the chief of Sadhaura had punished (killed) the Pir and his two sons.[11] The battle[edit] The battle of Bhangani lasted for a day; some historians argue that it lasted for nine hours. But it was fought with great fury.[15] As the combined armies of the hill Rajas marched towards Paonta, Guru Gobind Singh also marched towards them. The opposing forces met on the banks of Yamuna river, at Bhangani, 6 miles (9.7 km) away from Paonta. The battle resulted in the death of several of the Guru's and the Pir's disciples, including the two sons of the Pir.[16] Description in Bichitra Natak[edit] The author of Bichitra Natak, believed to be Guru Gobind Singh, praises his own (Guru's) soldiers, as well as those of the enemy forces. According to him, the Guru's soldiers included the five sons of Bibi Viro (the daughter of Guru Har Gobind): Sango Shah, Jit Mall, Gulab Chand, Mahri Chand and Ganga Ram.[17] Sango Shah fell down after killing Najbat Khan[18] of the opposing army.[19] The Guru praises the heroism of Daya Ram, and equates him to Dronacharya of Mahabharata.[20] He also says that his maternal uncle Kirpal fought like a true Kshatriya and killed one Hayat Khan with his Kutka (mace).[21] The other soldiers mentioned by the author include Lal Chand, Sahib Chand, Maharu, Nand Chand or Namd Chand (who fought with his dagger after his sword broke).[22] The enemies mentioned by him include Gopal (the king of Guleria), the Raja of Chandel, and the chiefs of Jaswal and Dadhwal. The author praises the archery skills of Hari Chand.[23] Hari Chand killed Jit Mall in a duel, but himself fainted. After coming to his senses, he fired arrows at the Guru, who survived and killed Hari Chand with an arrow.[24] The author said that he himself went into the battlefield when an arrow struck his body. Result[edit] Guru Gobind Singh came out victorious,[25] and won the battle.[26] GURU GOBIND SINGH JI in Bichitra Natak also mentions that the battle resulted in the victory of the Guru's forces, and the enemy forces fled from the battlefield.[27] The Guru, though victorious, did not occupy the territory of defeated hill chiefs.[28] Some historians such as H. Raturi, Anil Chandra Banerjee and A. S. Rawat speculate that the battle must have ended without any conclusive result, since the Guru's victory is not substantiated by any territorial annexations, and the Guru entered into an understanding with Bhim Chand soon after the battle.[8][29] However, this was most likely because the Guru was not after any territorial gains, just as his grandfather, Guru Hargobind had done when winning his battles against the Mughals. The tombs of the dead hill chieftains were constructed at Bhangani.[10] The Guru is said to have pitched his flag of victory at Bhangani, and today a Gurdwara marks the spot.[10] The author of Bichitra Natak states that after the battle, the Guru didn't remain at Paonta, and returned to Anandpur. Those who fought in the battle were rewarded, and those who didn't were turned out of the town.[30] Sometime after the Guru's return to Anandpur, peace was established between Raja Bhim Chand and Guru Gobind Singh,[16] after the former paid a visit to the Guru with his minister.[31] ^ Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh (February 2012). Birth of the Khalsa, The: A Feminist Re-Memory of Sikh Identity. SUNY Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-7914-8266-7. ^ name="Singha2000"> Singha, H. S (2000). The encyclopedia of Sikhism (over 1000 entries). Hemkunt Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1. Retrieved 22 December 2011. ^ Raj Pal Singh (2004). The Sikhs : Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years. Pentagon Press. p. 35. ISBN 9788186505465. ^ a b Phyllis G. Jestice (2004). Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. pp. 345, 346. ISBN 9781576073551. ^ "Garhwal (Princely State)". Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007. ^ Singh, Bhagat Lakshman (1995). A Short Sketch of the Life and Works of Guru Gobind Singh. Asian Educational Services. p. 78. ISBN 978-81-206-0576-3. OCLC 55854929. ^ Dilgeer, Harjinder Singh, SIKH HISTORY in 10 volumes (in English), Sikh University Press, 2010-11. ^ a b c d e Rawat, Ajay Singh (2002). Garhwal Himalaya : a study in historical perspective. Indus Publishing. pp. 50–54. ISBN 81-7387-136-1. OCLC 52088426. ^ Bichitra Natak. Chapter 8, Chaupai 1.[dead link] "Then I left my home and went to place named Paonta.". ^ a b c d Gazetteer of the Sirmur State. New Delhi: Indus Publishing. 1996. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7387-056-9. OCLC 41357468. ^ a b Dilgeer, Harjinder Singh (2010), Sikh History (in 10 volumes), publisher Sikh University Press & Singh Brothers Amritsar, 2010–11 ^ Bichitra Natak. Chapter 8, Chaupai 3. Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine "...Fateh Shah became angry and fought with me without any reason.". ^ Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair (2013). Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed. A & C Black. p. 55. ISBN 9781441117083. ^ It is worth mentioning here that the whole story of the so-called 'Pathans' and of Budhu Shah's sons etc, is apocryphal. According to a contemporary memoir (1692) by one Haji Samiullah, a scholar of Rohtak (preserved in the Punjab Archives, Lahore, Pakistan), probably Budhu Shah or some other Muslim Sufi divine did join the Guru's forces with some 45 (forty-five) 'Syeds and Kizilbashes' who were of the Shiah persuasion; and they played a modest part in the battle's proceedings. This incident was in all probability blown up into the popular story ^ Singh, Prithi Pal (2007). The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Press. p. 137. ISBN 81-8382-075-1. ^ a b Singh, Prithi Pal (2007). The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Books. pp. 137–138. ISBN 978-81-8382-075-2. ^ Bichitra Natak. Chapter 8, Chaupai 4-5 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine ^ Not to be confused with another famous Najabat Khan Nawab of Kunjpura ^ Bichitra Natak. Chapter 8, Chaupai 23 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine ^ Bichitra Natak. Chapter 8, Chaupai 6 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine ^ Bichitra Natak. Chapter 8, Chaupai 12 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine and [Chaupai 26] ^ Bichitra Natak. Chapter 8, Chaupai 28-8.33 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). Muslim Rule In India. S.Chand, New Delhi. p. 235. ^ Singh, Bhagat Lakshman. Short Sketch of the Life and Works of Guru Gobind Singh. Asian Educational Services. p. 78. ISBN 81-206-0576-4. ^ Singh, Prithi Pal. The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Press. pp. Guru Gobind Singh, 137. ISBN 81-8382-075-1. ^ Raturi, Harikrishna (1980) [1928]. Garhwal ka Itihas. Bhagirathi Prakashan Griha. ISBN 81-86424-00-8. OCLC 7250188. Description of the Battle of Bhangani in Bichitra Natak (Chapter 8). ☬ Guru Gobind Singh ☬ Guru Tegh Bahadur, Mata Gujri Mata Jito, Mata Sundari, Mata Sahib Kaur Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh, Fateh Singh, Ajit Singh Panj Pyare Guru Maneyo Granth Battle of Bhangani,(1688) Battle of Nadaun,(1687) Battle of Guler (1696), First Battle of Anandpur,(1700) Battle of Anandpur Sahib (1701), Battle of Nirmohgarh (1702), Battle of Basoli (1702) Battle of Anandpur (1704) Battle of Bichhora Sahib, Battle of Muktsar. Akal Ustat Chandi Charitar Ukat(i) Bilas Chandi Charitar 2 Chandi di Var Gyan Parbodh Chobis Avatar Brahm Avtar Rudar Avtar Sabad patshahi 10 33 Swaiyey Khalsa Mahima Shastar Nam Mala Charitropakhyan Zafarnamah Hikayats Banda Bahadur Mata Bhag Kaur Bhai Kanhaiya Bhai Mani Singh Pir Budhu Shah Aurangzeb, Wazir Khan Jamshed Khan and Wasil Beg Muktsar Sahib Chamkaur List of places named after Guru Gobind Singh Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Takht Sri Patna Sahib Nada Sahib Sikhism portal Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Bhangani&oldid=931718400" Battles involving the Sikhs History of Himachal Pradesh 1688 in India Conflicts in 1688 EngvarB from January 2014 Articles containing Punjabi-language text	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353331
__label__cc	0.601861	0.398139	Character main pages, One-time characters, One-Time characters using both appearance fields, Characters voiced by Carlos Alazraqui Wink Winkydink Mr. Turner (left) and Wink Winkydink (right) Are You Brighter Than a 6th Grader? Game show host Dimmsdale Old Man And The C- Wink Winkydink is the host of the television show, "Are You Brighter Than a 6th Grader?" and also the host of the Big Super Test. Wink Winkydink is a stereotypical game host/announcer (once introducing himself as "Wink I'llhostanythingforabuck Winkydink" while being handed a check for "Lot's of Dough") that reads the questions to the contestant and determines whether or not they got it right. He has blond hair and wears a purple suit. He carries a microphone and speaks like a stereotypical game show host. He was hosting Are You Brighter Than A 6th Grader? when Mr. Turner participated, and asked him who was the first president of the United States, who was the first man to walk on the moon, and which is the type of cucumber which lives in the sea, to which Dad answered "Sea Cucumber" to the first two questions and Neil Armstrong to the last, therefor losing, although Wink gave him a life supply of macaroni without cheese as a consolation prize. Later on during the Big Super Test, he asked questions to Dad again to which he answered all the questions, plus some Wink didn't even ask. Mr. Turner would graduate from high school if he answered one last question: "What undersea vegetable would taste great in an undersea salad? Dad doubted his answer a bit for a moment, but then quickly answered sea cucumber, and graduated, winning another lifetime supply of macaroni without cheese, as Timmy had given Mr. Crocker the first one. Retrieved from "https://fairlyoddparents.fandom.com/wiki/Wink_Winkydink?oldid=496180" One-time characters One-Time characters using both appearance fields	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353341
__label__cc	0.697072	0.302928	AndroidShkarkimi dhe instalimi You can easily update WhatsApp from your phone's application store. Please note if you received a message that isn't supported by your version of WhatsApp, you'll need to update WhatsApp. We encourage you to always use the latest version of WhatsApp. Latest versions contain the newest features and bug fixes. Go to the Google Play Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap Update next to WhatsApp Messenger. Go to the App Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap UPDATE next to WhatsApp Messenger. Press JioStore or Store on the apps menu. Scroll to the side to select Social, then select WhatsApp. Press OK or SELECT > UPDATE.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353345
__label__cc	0.748753	0.251247	flycorvair Oil Pressure gauge options, oil system notes Mailsack ← New Hangar Roof – The great fortune of good friends. Chuck Campbell, 95, departs for blue sky. → Thought for the Day: Your 2020 Aviation Ambitions. Builders, Above, earlier this year, my sister speaks with the Father of her close friend. The man is nearly 100 years old. He piloted a Dauntless at the Battle of Midway. People think of Midway as a great, decisive US victory, but did you know the Navy lost 150 aircraft, most with their complete crews? 75% of the torpedo planes were shot down, every single one in Squadron Eight. Cdr. Waldron, skipper of VT-8 confessed in his diary the night before the odds of survival were not good. His men went anyway, and when the day was over, 35 of 36 of them, including Waldron, were dead. The man in the wheelchair above, is one of the last eyewitnesses to Midway, and I’m guessing the carnage didn’t feel like a ‘victory’ the next day. What did Waldron and all the others who perished get for their lives? They got nothing, but they provided us the free world we have lived our whole lives in. It was provided to us by such men, 99% of them, my father included, are gone now. This is the idea I was trying to share, as a spent an hour with my father in 2015: Thought for The Day – Have we squandered the great gift?. Fewer and fewer people in our world have any connection with someone like the man in the wheelchair or my father. They feel little if any gratitude for the world, still with many faults, which was given to us on a silver platter. They never stop to consider the western civilization of today was far from inevitable in 1942. What is so great to be thankful for? OK, I’m the first person to point out everything hollow about modern consumer life, example: Welcome to the 24/7 Anxiety Machine, but that isn’t a reason to throw in the towel. Unlike many others, I do have a direct connection, my fathers memory, to the people who gave me the world I live in. All my Father asked of his children was treat others fairly and do something valid with our lives. Even though he is gone, I still measure my life by his standard. For anything I may bitch about, it has really been my personal mission to do something of meaning in with my days. Even if a lot of society is drifting and getting lost, I’m not in charge of their lives, just my own. I don’t offer an example to anyone, save the example of things not to do. I personally find understanding, creating and flying light planes, and sharing this with others, an endeavor worthy of what it will, and also what it might, cost you. For 30 years, even on some hard days, I have not faltered in this belief. In a few weeks I will be 57, and we will all start a new year, and in a few short months another flying season will be upon us. What will you make of it? 2019 has been pretty good to me, but I’m just using it as a spring board into 2020, and there are many ambitions I have in aviation which I will advance this year. What each of us will, or will not do, will be mostly determined by ourselves, not external circumstance. For those who decide this will be their year, I look forward to playing a role in both your productive success and the good times you will share with friends. WEWjr. About William Wynne I have been continuously building, testing and flying Corvair engines since 1989. Information, parts and components that we developed and tested are now flying on several hundred Corvair powered aircraft. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics and an A&P license from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and have a proven 20 year track record of effectively teaching homebuilders how to create and fly their own Corvair powered planes. Much of this is chronicled at www.FlyCorvair.com and in more than 50 magazine articles. 5 Responses to Thought for the Day: Your 2020 Aviation Ambitions. Kevin E Ivey says: In 1939, My father joined the California National Guard so he could get his teeth fixed and draw a regular paycheck. The next thing he knew, they had pulled all his teeth and sent him to Pearl Harbor! He survived the Japanese attack and spent the next four years of his life on every island in the Pacific and was able to live long enough for me and my sibling to be born and carry on his legacy of service. I spent 25 years in the Army and used what I learned from my Dad to recognize the meaning and application of sacrifice and service. I will be 62 in a few weeks and I can only hope that the world my father helped to provide for us all is still occupied with at least a minority of people who understand the concept of sacrifice and can respect the history of those previous generations. God bless them all… William Wynne says: Thank you for writing about your father. Your family and mine, we were both very fortunate.❤️ Harold A Bickford says: My folks both served, dad Army Air Corps, mom, Navy. My turn came in the Air Force. Our older son has served in the Marines, Navy and will retire from the Army. The freedom of flying calls for 2020 and there are many steps planned. Onward! Sarah Ashmore says: Several decades ago when the movie Midway came out I heard of a person who lived in the same town (Ft Walton Bch, FL) who figured enough in that battle that he was portrayed in the movie, He was Ensign George Gay, number 36 in that group of old Devastator torpedo bomber crews you mentioned and the only man to have survived that attack. He was Navy and it was an Air Force town but he was a bit of a celebrity at the time and gave an interesting interview to the local paper that add some insight into what his experience was like. Bryce Gorrell says: We are rapidly approaching a critical point in history, when all firsthand witnesses of World War 2 and the Holocaust will be gone. Men like my mother’s father only talked openly of the funny stories: throwing grenades in a castle moat to stun fish because they were tired of eating the regular rations, getting his Purple Heart by cutting his foot as he ran, naked, “like a rabbit” from the friendly fire of an American plane whose crew couldn’t tell Nazis from Yankees if they were standing around boiling their filthy clothes, etc. He only rarely told of the night after they liberated one of the camps, where he was assigned to guard a building full of decomposing bodies, or of the time they were pinned down with mortar fire getting closer and closer, before they spotted the German nurse directing the fire, and finally made the decision to shoot her, or of the wounded SS man he brought in to a surgeon for help, and then killed as the man reached for a weapon as he lay on the table. These and other untold horrors were part of making my grandfather who he was. The lessons learned affect my family still today, even if we don’t know all the stories. I’m interested to see how we carry on in the great blessing we’ve received because of extraordinarily brave but otherwise pretty ordinary people who acted honorably in difficult situations. I’m hopeful for a resurgence in the kind of personal character that brings such memorable and admirable happenings. People are getting tired of the empty hollow trash they’re being fed, and I hope more will choose to make something real of their lives. For me, building an airplane is a big part of feeding my sense of autonomy. Thanks to some great people, I have this opportunity to enjoy. Godspeed. Thought for the Day video: Know your Machine. New Air-Fuel meter Video New Video: Importance of a MOP manual. Corvair Carb Reference page for 2020. New MA3-SPA – Available from SPA/Panther	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353350
__label__wiki	0.544677	0.544677	By Thats Baseball, January 14, 2019 in MLB Thats Baseball Is it worth the risk for the A's to do a major league contract. I was very surprised at his college numbers. MDtransplant757 Plus Member since 3/2017 I think it might, honestly. Dude's college numbers are impressive and using options, he can always be developed. 8 hours ago, Thats Baseball said: Not for that kind of money. He really is slight BTW. Just now, weams said: If he's actually 5'8" how can he be a first round pick in the NFL? 8 hours ago, MDtransplant757 said: He's very raw. It isn't that easy to develop raw guys, look at Bubba Starling. I guess that the success of some of his size and style guys makes them dream. I saw the Heisman photo. Even if it is a bad angel, he can't be actual 5 9'. Bubba is a phenomenal athlete. That's why there are only 800 to 900 MLB players at a time. It's real tough. And skills don't seem to all project. paulcoates How is it that MLB is allowing the A's to spend more on their 1st round pick than anyone else? I don't understand why the favoritism Just now, paulcoates said: I believe the O's had a similar option with Pat Connaughton. 4 hours ago, Can_of_corn said: I saw on twitter an OU staffer say he was 5-9 7/8 with socks on before the season started. On 1/14/2019 at 10:24 PM, backwardsk said: I saw him stand by a guy 6'2" and he was 5 to 8 inches shorter. Must have been the shoes. On 1/14/2019 at 6:32 PM, weams said: Hey wait. I am 5’9” and.......oh yea never mind I wouldn’t waste the money. How tall is Drew Breese? https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/report_nfl_insider_calls_kyler_murrays_dad_lavar_ball_all_over_again/s1_12680_28362383 He declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and reportedly told the Oakland Athletics he wants to pursue his football career. Yet when asked whether he would attend the NFL Scouting Combine, or whether he’d be at spring training, all Murray had for an answer was crickets. It's official, going to the NFL. Shame, baseball loses what could be a good one. 2 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said: Shame the A's lose the pick but at least they get the signing bonus back.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353357
__label__cc	0.706767	0.293233	VitalBriefing Germany’s 30-Year No-Interest Bond Flops as Investors Hesitate Germany thought it had a great idea by issuing a 30-year zero-coupon bond as yields plunged worldwide. But investors weren't buying it. Literally. Berlin wanted to raise €2 billion with the bond, but took in only €824 million in what analysts immediately branded a failed auction. Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank, had to take the rest of the issue to sell over time. The flop came as yields on all German bonds regardless of maturity or interest rate dipped into negative territory, and as ultra-long bonds from other issuers performed well. A 100-year bond from Austria has been among the best-performing issues this year, returning more than 60% since January. The 800-pound gorilla With some $16 trillion in bonds trading at negative yields worldwide, even the US Treasury Department said in August it would "refresh its understanding of market appetite" for bonds with maturities of 50 to 100 years. US officials have been reluctant to go for ultra-long maturities for fear of reputational damage if the issue doesn't do well, as well as fearing that an ultra-long bond might push down prices for shorter maturities. But with the current flight to safety raising demand for US Treasuries, these arguments are less compelling. Despite the success of the Austrian bond and other ultra-long private placements from Ireland, Belgium and Argentina, borrowers have not rushed to tap the market with century bonds. A century too long One hundred years just seems like a long time. The fact that some countries are venturing out with ultra-long maturities tells us that negative interest rates will be with us for a while. But 100 years? Market conditions that make these bonds top performers now could turn, eliminating those gains or leading to huge losses. As for the 30-year German bond, the zero coupon may have put off investors. It's one thing to buy a bond at a price that produces a low or negative yield, and another to sign on from the get-go for a bond that will pay no interest and probably lose value over time. The German bond was priced that the €824 million would be reimbursed with only €795 million in 2050. The yield at the sale was minus 0.11%, which went down further in trading. With the zero coupon, investors would not see a cent from the bond until 2050. Living with 'insanity' It may be a bridge too far for investors trying to get their heads around prolonged low rates. Peter Boockvar, investment strategist at Bleakley Advisory Group, hopes that the failed auction represents pushback against the "insanity" of negative rates. Allianz, Europe's biggest insurer, says it won't buy any more German government bonds. The European Central Bank, however, has made clear that it will adopt a package of measures in September to ease monetary policy, including lowering benchmark interest rates further into negative territory. The measures are also likely to include a renewal of bond purchases -- quantitative easing -- that will boost bond prices, especially high-quality securities such as German sovereign debt. So there are good reasons to buy or hold negative-yielding bonds. It's a bet that economic growth will slow and inflation will decline further, bringing capital gains on the bonds as yields sink. For institutional investors, that's preferable to paying penalties on deposits as banks pass on negative rates. Maintaining a safe haven Analysts expected insurance companies and pension funds to buy the German long-maturity bond as a match to their long-term assets, but they didn't show up in sufficient numbers to buy the full amount. However prized German debt might be, the negative yields can hardly compare with the still largely positive yields on Treasuries. In addition, US debt is considered the safest, irrespective of what bond rating companies might say. And with a rapidly rising budget deficit, the US has no shortage of bonds coming to market. So perhaps the Treasury Department will conclude it's a good time for a US century bond, despite Germany's bad experience with just 30 years. After all, the US is considered a safe haven because it has a track record going back centuries. What's another hundred years? Simon at VitalBriefing is a journalist, editor and writer with vast experience covering subjects across a wide range of industries and has worked regularly for top global news organizations including Reuters and the Financial Times. Specializing in corporate communications and the financial sector - especially fintech - Simon is an expert on a variety of business technologies, such as data storage and flash storage, VoIP, mobility, network and edge computing, and the cloud. Liquidity Drought Threatens 2020 Lending and Trading Financial Transaction Tax Gains in America and Europe Despite Obstacles Vulture Funds Wait, and Wait, for Distressed Debt as Recession Holds Off Credit Unions Are Bigger, Stronger and Gearing Up to Serve Business	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353361
__label__wiki	0.983658	0.983658	Air Accident Experts Examining Boeing 737 Max 8 ‘Black Boxes’ Posted 4:52 PM, March 14, 2019, by CNN Wire The flight data recorders from Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have arrived at the French air accident investigation headquarters, after scores of airlines and countries grounded Boeing 737 Max 8s — the aircraft that crashed Sunday, killing all 157 people on board. The two black boxes will be analyzed for potential clues into the fatal incident, the second crash involving a new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in less than six months. Last October, all 189 people on board the Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 were killed when the flight went down over the Java Sea in Indonesia shortly after takeoff. A French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) spokesman said Thursday that the Ethiopian Airlines flight’s black boxes — the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) — would contain flight parameters as well as conversations in the cockpit. “The truth about the crash is indeed contained in the flight recorders,” he said. The BEA said that “technical work” was scheduled to begin Friday. The US National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement that it is sending a three-person team of investigators with “expertise in recorders, flight crew operations and human factors” to assist with recovery and reading of the black boxes. As the analysis gets underway, international concern over the possible dangers of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 aircraft continues to grow, particularly around similarities between Sunday’s crash and last year’s Lion Air crash in Indonesia. Both were operated by well-known airlines with strong safety records, but the Lion Air flight went down 13 minutes after takeoff, while Sunday’s Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed just six minutes into its journey. The crash investigations in both incidents are ongoing. On Wednesday, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it would ground all Boeing 737 Max planes indefinitely, pending the examination of the black boxes. In its emergency order, the FAA said new information about Sunday’s crash “indicates some similarities” between the two disasters that “warrant further investigation of the possibility of a shared cause that needs to be better understood and addressed.” The FAA cited “new evidence collected at the site and analyzed” and “refined satellite data” as to the reason behind its decision. US officials and Boeing had argued to keep the planes operating in the wake of the crash but changed course shortly after Canada, one of the last countries allowing the planes to fly, joined some 47 other countries who had announced a ban on the plane by Wednesday. Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau was the first to reference the new satellite data. While not conclusive, Garneau said Canada had decided to ground both the Max 8 and 9 planes because there were similarities in the new data — specifically the vertical profile of the aircraft — and the doomed Lion Air flight that caused them to feel a threshold had been crossed. Boeing said it remained confident about the safety of the jets, but that it recommended the shutdown itself “out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircraft’s safety,” according to a statement from the company. “We are supporting this proactive step,” Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said. “We are doing everything we can to understand the cause of the accidents in partnership with the investigators, deploy safety enhancements and help ensure this does not happen again.” Boeing said Thursday that it will pause delivery of its 737 Max planes due to the FAA’s decision to ground the aircraft. A statement said the company will continue to build the Max while “assessing how the situation, including potential capacity constraints, will impact our production system.” Flight control problems The pilot of the downed Ethiopian Airlines flight had “flight control problems” shortly before the fatal crash, according to the company’s CEO Tewolde GebreMariam. “He was having difficulties with the flight control of the airplane, so he asked to return back to base,” GebreMariam said. He added that the pilot was granted permission to return to ground at the same time the flight disappeared from radar — just six minutes after takeoff. While investigators search for clues as to the cause of the disaster, some aviation authorities and experts continue to draw parallels between the Ethiopian Airways and the Lion Air flight, noting that although the circumstances of these two crashes appear very similar, other explanations cannot be discounted at this early point in the investigation. A preliminary report on the Lion Air Flight 610 crash said that data retrieved from the flight recorder showed the pilots repeatedly fighting to override a new safety system installed in the Max 8 plane — the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). In that flight, the MCAS system was responding to faulty data that suggested the plane’s nose was tilted at a higher angle than it was, indicating the plane was at risk of stalling, and pulled the plane’s nose down more than two dozen times. According to the report, the pilots first manually corrected an “automatic aircraft nose down” two minutes after takeoff and performed the same procedure again and again before the plane hurtled nose-first into the Java Sea. CNN aviation analyst David Soucie said at the time that the circumstances created by the plane’s automatic correction would have made pilot intervention “an impossible scenario to recover from.” In November, Boeing issued an “Operations Manual Bulletin” advising airline operators how to address erroneous cockpit readings. It pointed airlines “to existing flight crew procedures to address circumstances where there is erroneous input from an AOA sensor,” a Boeing statement said. The FAA later issued its own emergency airworthiness directive that advised pilots about how to respond to similar problems. Before the Lion Air crash, US pilots who fly the Boeing 737 Max had also registered complaints about the way the jet performed in flight, according to a federal database accessed by CNN. ‘Substantial’ similarities A CNN review of reports filed in the Aviation Safety Reporting System identified 23 instances where crew members noted an issue, of any sort, with the 737 Max since October 2017, including reports where a pilot did not cite a specific model of the Boeing 737 Max series. Many of these reports were categorized as “less severe,” however two of the reports highlight an unexpected descent of the aircraft. One report details an unexpected climb and another says there was a problem leveling off at the wrong altitude. And many of the reports point to confusion with some part of the new aircraft, with those pilots saying they were unsure if the anomaly they were reporting was caused by a mistake they made or the aircraft. Some of the reports deal with issues other than flying the aircraft. However, other pilot complaints from the federal database were far more incendiary, including one report that said it was “unconscionable” that Boeing, the FAA and an unnamed airline would have pilots flying without adequate training or sufficient documentation. The same entry also charges that the flight manual “is inadequate and almost criminally insufficient.” On Tuesday, Ethiopian Airlines CEO GebreMariam said that both pilots of Flight 302 had been trained and briefed on the FAA directive after the Lion Air crash. “There was training” with emphasis “on MCAS and also on the flight controls in general,” he said. But the “similarities are substantial” in both accidents, GebreMariam said, adding that there are a lot of questions to be answered about the airplane. Pilot Addresses Worries Behind Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes Criticism of FAA Mounts as Other Nations Ground Boeing Jets Filed in: National and World News Business National and World News News Boeing ousts its CEO after two deadly 737 Max crashes Ukrainian airplane crashes near Iran’s capital, killing 176 Whistleblower testifies that Boeing ignored pleas to shut down 737 MAX production US blames Iran for Ukrainian jetliner downing, pledges probe Boeing uncovers another potential design flaw with 737 Max Business National and World News Report: Boeing considers cutting production of 737 Max Boeing to halt production of 737 Max airliner in January Iranians shot down airliner, Western leaders declare Victims of Iran plane crash hailed from around the world Boeing Sued by Southwest Airlines Pilots Over $100 Million in Lost Pay Due to the 737 MAX Grounding News Science Boeing capsule launches to wrong orbit, skips space station Ousted Boeing CEO exits with $80 million – but no severance Iranian protesters take to streets after Tehran admits Ukrainian plane was shot down unintentionally	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353373
__label__cc	0.640796	0.359204	Combating climate change with biochar in beautiful Bangladesh By Nigel Gale, Md. Abdul Halim, and Sean Thomas Backed by Janet Alderton, Teresa Virdo, Shane, James Hall, Robert Gale, Nancy Gale, Dawn White, Jody Thomas, Isaac Deroche, Tara McCrone, and 38 other backersCasey Gale, Jarmila Malincik, Denny Luan, Pierre Beaudry, Alyssa Mary Rose, Anna Gale, Maha Mansoor, Leeladarshini Sujeeun, Dana Collins, Janise Herridge, Lynette Cheong, Jacqueline MacKinnon, Tamara Tukhareli, Jason Arnold, Wayne Harvey, Joey Renda, Lisa Power, Jane Mazzotta, Rifah Fawzia, Rassil El Sayess, Rafael F.Font, Tim Facia-install, Julia Flynn, Tan Wen, Amy Collette, Cindy Wu, Nick Tooker, Jake Simms, Kate Ray, Christina Tran, Dennis Redeker, David Esopi, Pureum Kim, Antonio Lamb, Eric Damon Walters, Varinder Singh Bal, Wythe Marschall, and Bo Sprotte Kofod EcologyEarth Science DOI: 10.18258/6198 Funded on 1/08/16 Successfully Funded About Experiment Directly fund a scientific discovery You enable real research projects. Once you fund a project, you'll get access to progress, data, and results straight from the team. Vetted and open research Each project is reviewed by our team to make sure that it meets our project criteria. Anyone can start experimenting. Support science you care about Join an online community of 32,000 explorers of science. Read about our mission. Cite this project: Combating climate change with biochar in beautiful Bangladesh Gale, Nigel, Md. Abdul Halim, and Sean Thomas.. University of Toronto, 6 Nov 2015. Experiment. doi: 10.18258/6198 ?How does this work? Lab Notes (8) “Biochar”, or charcoal used as a soil amendment, has been recently heralded in its ability to improve poor soil conditions such as leaching, acidification, and contamination, while directly mitigating climate change by increasing carbon sequestration. We plan to combat climate change using biochar in beautiful Bangladesh, a delta country vulnerable to climate change. We strive to increase productivity across land-use types: primary forests, secondary forests, agroforestry, and agriculture. Ask the Scientists What is the context of this research? Significant plant responses to biochar have been observed in many agricultural studies, with typical biomass increases of 10 – 25%. However, the potential of biochar to enhance plant growth and productivity in the context of forestry and agroforestry is underexplored. A recently published review, and results from a nursery experiment in Bangladesh show larger growth responses for trees, with an average responses of around 40%. We want to expand on these findings by setting up long-term field plots with biochar amendments across different land use types. We will measure physiological traits responsible for performance and resource use to help determine the mechanisms responsible for growth effects. We will also measure soil fluxes of methane and carbon dioxide, two potent greenhouse gases. What is the significance of this project? Combating climate change is everyone’s responsibility. Many western nations are only beginning to notice small effects of climate change, whereas in Bangladesh the impacts are severe and daily: flooding, extreme heat and drought, powerful storms, and salinity intrusion. Biochar is a climate change mitigation technology with great promise, supported by hundreds of studies that document increased system productivity with an overall net negative carbon impact. This project represents the chance to fight climate change on the front lines. This work will additionally fill the current knowledge gaps in our understanding of plant responses to biochar by describing plant physiological responses, and in our understanding of tropical soil greenhouse gas fluxes . What are the goals of the project? Set up 20 x 20 m plots across 4 important land-use types: primary forest, secondary forest, agroforestry, and agriculture, at Khadimnagar National Park in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Three replicate plots of control (no biochar) and biochar applied at 10 t / ha (locally, indigenously produced) will be used for each land-use type. (April - May) Install soil nutrient resin- exchange root simulator probes. Train students and assistants on instrumentation and scientific techniques. Measure “early” plant growth and physiological responses, greenhouse gas fluxes, and soil nutrient availability. (May) Give lectures and community workshops highlighting traditional and other low-tech methods to produce biochar from organic waste materials and explaining its potential benefits. The funding requested covers a portion of the total projected project costs (> $5000) - we are also applying for several other grants, but these are not guaranteed, and these funds will be awarded later than needed. The amount requested is the very minimum necessary to initiate this project. A critical component of this project is purchasing biochar made by the Khashia. This biochar is made through traditional “pit-and-mound” methods and is the same currently in use in the region. Power in Bangladesh is unreliable, so a gas generator will be used to power equipment and charge batteries. We will need to purchase gasoline for the generator. We plan to fly to Dhaka and initiate this project in April - May. Stretch goals: We would like to hire students from surrounding universities, and local inhabitants, to assist us in implementing these plots. We'll need to transport char and use GPS to map plots. We'd also like to add more plots which means purchasing more char! This is a highly viable project in the face of climate change mitigation in the protected areas of Bangladesh. Recent studies suggest that the rare and endangered tree species of Bangladesh will face extinction risk from climate change. Therefore, introducing biochar as a means for carbon sequestration strategy in the primary forests of Bangladesh would be very interesting in the conservation ecology field. Jiban Chandra Deb Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh This project represents a strong partnership between the University of Toronto and the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, working toward the common goal of climate change mitigation. We are excited about the using biochar as a means to increase productivity, and look forward to many fruitful research projects. Narayan Saha, Ph.D. Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh The proposed project will be one of the first comparative studies to explore plant physiological responses to biochar across a range of tropical systems including agroforestry. Biochar as an amendment in agroforestry systems is an exciting approach to combat climate change and improve livelihoods for local communities. This is an enthusiastic research team and an ambitious project with great potential! Marney Isaac Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair Nigel's dissertation research is some of the first to investigate plant physiological responses to biochar and soil charcoal. The proposed project is exciting, and is important to explore uses of biochar outside of agriculture as a means to mitigate climate change. Importantly, this work uses a robust method to measure soil greenhouse gas fluxes in the tropics. Nathan Basiliko Laurentian University This is an important project. Bangladesh is truly on the front line of global change impacts, and its important to find workable strategies for combat impacts and also contribute to carbon sequestration. Biochar may not be a "magic bullet", but it's an important tool that could really have an impact on global processes and on peoples' livelihoods. University of Toronto, Faculty of Forestry Md. Abdul Halim PhD Student \|\| Assistant Professor PhD Student, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh I'm currently pursuing a PhD with Sean Thomas at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Forestry investigating plant growth and physiological responses to biochar in temperate, boreal, and tropical systems. Serious curiosity and inquiry on the nature of plants began very early in the garden. Much time was additionally spent in Ontario's temperate mixed-wood forests and woodlots. Silviculture was implemented as a means to heat the house, and the forest served as a brilliant recreational space. As a "grown-up" I'd describe myself as a curious plant and forest ecologist. I'm pre-occupied with fighting climate change and restoring industrialised landscapes. I have been working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh. Currently I am on study leave and pursuing my PhD with Dr. Sean Thomas at Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Canada. My current research mainly addresses how disturbances in the boreal forest affect the biogeophysical and biogeochemical forcings of climate. I am also interested in biochar-base ecosystem restoration and climate change mitigation approach. I am experienced on working with different aspects of tropical forest ecology and management. I always felt I have a lot of duty towards nature and people. I found generating knowledge is the most fascinating way to help them while being myself happy! Driven by a curiosity about ecosystems and concern for our planet, I have been an active researcher on forest carbon processes and the comparative biology of trees for some 25 years. Recently my lab has taken a turn to the “dark side” of forest ecology – namely the study of charcoal in forest soils, either added as an amendment (“biochar”) or input through natural fires. My research group is particularly interested in char properties, distribution, their impacts on soil organisms, processes, and forest productivity, and the use of chars in forest restoration. I've worked extensively in developing countries ranging from SE Asia to Africa and Latin America. 8 Lab Notes Posted Field update 3: Back in Bangladesh Field update 2: First experimental forest in Bangladesh! Update from the field: Char and "cha" The benefits of "backing" everyone: post card from Bangladesh with a photo from the field with team members $40: We love tea. We'll send you tea from the best plantations in the world, Sylhet, Bangladesh, conveniently located near our field sites. We'll include a steeper too. $75: We'll name an experimental plot after you! Each plot will have a sign erected: imagine your name on one! That way everyone will know you are fighting climate change. $100: We'll send you tea, name a plot after you, and also send you a hard-copy "experimental-log" of our research, findings, and adventures! 51Backers 155%Funded $4,052Total Donations $79.45Average Donation 934funded projects 47,785backers $8,851,253pledged Copyright 2020 Experiment Challenge Grants Researcher Guide Sign up for our weekly newsletter for Experiment community news.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353379
__label__wiki	0.978044	0.978044	Verizon’s Xbox Live rollout lacks broadcast content Ryan Lawler Nov 29, 2011 - 10:51 AM CST Verizon (s VZ) is taking a big step toward making its FiOS TV service available through connected devices, with the launch of a new app for Microsoft’s Xbox Live next month. But viewers who are excited about getting rid of their old set-top boxes and streaming directly to the game console will likely be disappointed, as the Verizon app will be missing a lot of the most popular networks and shows. Verizon was one of the first TV operators to join Xbox Live, and its app is expected to become available when the next update of the service goes live on December 6. And, at least in the US, it’s the first to deliver live TV to the Xbox game console. Comcast, (s CMCSA) which will also have an app, is only giving its subscribers access to its video-on-demand service, not its live channels. The operator announced Tuesday that its app will have 26 live TV channels available, which is a far cry from its entire channel lineup. Channels available at launch include BET, Boomerang (whatever that is), Cartoon Network, Cinemax, CNN, Comedy Central, DIY, ESPNews, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, HBO, HBO 2, HGTV, HLN, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Spike, TBS, TCM, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, TV Land and VH1. For those keeping track, that means Verizon has secured deals with Viacom, HBO, Scripps and Turner. But the app won’t include broadcast networks ABC, (s DIS) CBS, (s CBS) Fox (s NWS) or NBC at launch. That means viewers who watch the most popular channels and shows will be left out in the cold. Also missing are some cable networks like AMC, (s AMC) USA and FX, which have come into their own with original scripted programming. While it will only have 26 channels at launch, Verizon expects to add more content as time goes by. A Verizon spokesperson wrote via email that the company is working with content partners to make additional channels available on the Xbox. But the lack of some of the most popular programming underscores a common issue that is cropping up between content owners and distributors, as they negotiate rights for the next generation of TV screens. As more and more content is available to stream via IP, cable, satellite and IPTV providers argue that when distributing live channels to a device like the Xbox or the iPad, (s AAPL) the delivery method and the viewer’s device shouldn’t matter. But content owners are trying to get paid more for access on these new devices. I have to side with the operators on this one: At the end of the day, how video gets to the consumer’s house — whether it be over the traditional cable plant or streamed over the Internet — won’t matter. Nor will the screen it’s watched on. It’ll all just be video. Which is why these skirmishes over rights for certain devices or delivery methods seem short-sighted. 7 Responses to “Verizon’s Xbox Live rollout lacks broadcast content” Peter December 2, 2011 http://www.att.com/u-verse/explore/xbox-receiver.jsp The Future of Software Innovation? Hardware-Enabled AI & ML Innovation Greg Fisher Apr 1, 2019 - 10:12 AM CDT Getting the basics right Five questions for… Keri Gilder, Chief Commercial Officer, Colt Technology Services. Can Connectivity be linked to Customer Experience? Jon Collins Mar 4, 2019 - 3:54 AM CST A GigaOm Research Infographic GigaOm Infographic: Connectivity and Customer Experience Jon Collins Feb 25, 2019 - 7:00 AM CST Research Byte Innovation without Compromise How Industrial And Embedded Systems Providers Can Deliver Quality, Innovative Software Selecting the Best in Enterprise Microservices and API Management William McKnight and Jake Dolezal Feb 21, 2019 - 12:00 PM CST CIO Speaks – Episode 10: A Conversation with David Chou of Constellation Research Steve Ginsberg	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353386
__label__wiki	0.624061	0.624061	AI War 2 is out now in Early Access! Get it on Humble Store today! Arcen Games » Early Access, gift or plague? Author Topic: Early Access, gift or plague? (Read 7663 times) eRe4s3r Core Member Mark II So yeah, I have come the conclusion that I am starting to really really dislike early access as a concept. It dilutes the refund period, it allows developers to just "drop" a game (GRAV comes to mind) it allows weird situations like for Rimworld (mods are basically 5 years ahead of that games ACTUAL development, and I mean BASIC features, like GUI stuff.... WHY?) or Subnautica (which is constantly changing gameplay that I liked to something I don't much like instead of adding content at a proper pace so that the game can actually be played properly +.+) then there are games which received crowdfunding but went live on Steam as EA title. (Maia comes to mind) which somehow ended up producing REALLY slow development, 3 Dec, 2013 -> Maia launched on Steam EA, we backers are still not anywhere near a playable version!, and I'd go so far as to call the game entirely BROKEN currently due to AI bugs). And let me make this clear, if an EA title is stuck in EA for 4+ years then that is not early access, that is a scam. Very few exceptions (Factorio and KSP) are a thing, mainly because those did not "start" development in EA (they were both fully playable before they went to steam, and even though they were in EA (or still are) they are in fact feature complete, all that's left is polish and some new content). And I will repeat my opinion I voiced many years ago. If you launch on EA, and you ask for money for a game sale, then when your game doesn't work I ask for a refund instantly. EA is not to beta-test your game, EA is to release something that's "mostly ready" and just needs polish. Broken AI is not something that needs polish, broken AI in a game about a colony sim leading to a complete game-over is like game-breaking critical bug stuff... argh To me, EA becomes more and more a plague. Many developers go on EA before the game is ready, and they are consequently economically dead because they needed EA sales, and have no incentive to complete the game then (it's basically a double scam). This is starting to really affect my mood when I browse steam (and bundle) offers.... Proud member of the Initiative for Bigger Weapons EV. - Bringer of Additive Blended Doom - Vote for Lore, get free cookie Toranth Hero Member Mark III Re: Early Access, gift or plague? Quote from: eRe4s3r on July 17, 2017, 04:22:54 PM So yeah, I have come the conclusion that I am starting to really really dislike early access as a concept. Welcome, sir, to the club! Here's our newsletter, and here's a pamphlet for next week's crossover session with the "Greenlight is Evil" Club. I agree with everything you've said, and you said it much more politely than I would. I suspect that if there was a strict limit on EA, say 1 year, and the game had to be fully released at the end, or it would be delisted and refunded for all customers - then we might see it used better. But when you have stuff like ARK - years in EA, but also releasing paid DLC - it begins to look like the Google "Beta" scam. Generally, even if something looks interesting, I won't touch it if it is still in Early Access. I may miss some good stuff that way... but being late to a good party is far better than being early but discovering that the party is actually an auto de fe. Draco18s Resident Velociraptor Core Member Mark V Ditto, ditto, ditto, and....ditto. I'll wishlist an EA title, but I won't buy unless it goes on HEAVY discount, a price that if I'm flushing it down the toilet I won't really notice. http://www.boardraptorgames.com/ Seconded on burn out on EA titles. I quit on them a few years back tbh. Chris Park, Arcen Games Founder and Lead Designer Arcen Staff Zenith Council Member Mark III For me it really depends on the title in question. There are some that were fantastic from reasonably early in EA (7 Days to Die) and continued to evolve in a way that was fun. Then again, in some cases they really made changes that I disagreed with, so that was super frustrating. Then there were a variety of other games that became more grindy rather than less, etc. For me, the best ones already have a core concept laid out and are going to stick to it, and it's all about polish and new content instead. There are precious few of those, though. Have ideas or bug reports for one of our games? Mantis for Suggestions and Bug Reports. Thanks for helping to make our games better! To be honest I don't consider something in my steam library something of short lived value, to me if it's in my steam library, then that is a public statement I make as a customer, or consumer (since it's a luxury ware). And since I have progressed to this thought I have started to actually refund EA games after 2 hours more often because I am starting to see some similarities in developer behaviors that really piss me off. If I take MAIA as an example, that was about the time I kickstarted a lot of things, Maia (development started 2012), Starsector (formerly Starfarer) (development started 2010) and of course, Star Citizen (yeah, where the hell is that SQ42 promised EP 1 release? ), And the only other decent thing I kickstarted (Divinity: Original Sin 2 - which is extremely playable, actually). Rimworld I actually refunded because of such suspected behavior (look when it started development (October 2013) that's 4 years and the game isn't even HALF finished (functionality wise, MODS do polish it, and polish it in the sense that they add features and functions which should be vanilla, but what kind of developer behavior am I supporting when I buy a game based on this flimsy premise? But yeah, I actually think I am not gonna buy anything in early access ever again. For Factorio that is the only (funny) exception because I fell utterly in love with it with it's pre-ea version already, the game actually improved beyond imagination and the stuff possible now is crazy. But it didn't need mods to convince me, it was already a gem without mods in it's alpha stage (same for KSP, which I think did not actually improve all that much, the graphics are still utterly horrific, and in Unity 5 there is really no reason why they are... Meh... but what really grinds my gears is this Namely, that Steam ignores this when # You search for TAGS (Try searching for tag "Building" and "Survival" if you want to really suffer through EA titles) # You browse sales (Mixes them in, no filter possibility, no way to tell which is EA and which isn't) Maybe I am just getting more aware of this since Greenlight floodgates have been opened with ZERO oversight. Direct Access is a total joke. 100$ to bring your asset flip to steam, with ZERO curation. slow clap indeed. And yeah x4000, there are VERY few gems, but just browse by tag, and you will understand my suffering. I was looking for a decent "building" game, look at that list, and despair. +.+ (least if you don't want EA titles) I actually need to append something to that wall of text Imo, Steam should hold EA sales in escrow and link the release of funds to milestones, yes, I know that's exactly what Steam doesn't want to do (because why spend some of those billions they hoard on actually taking responsibility for what it sells?) as soon as you detach sales from responsibilities you have Early Access, asset flips, trading card scammers and itch.io - if you reward bad behavior, that behavior spreads. And I think that spells a pretty turbulent year for Steam especially. Direct Access opened the flood gates for real, now there is a clear way to get money-laundering-via-trading-cards games onto steam, pay a few hundred people to post good reviews (and appear as fake sales, and as long as you make more than 30% profits you are golden. Steam basically just incentivize money laundering via games. And that is to me truly baffling (I wanted to write a rant about Direct Access before, and a heat wave stopped me ;p) « Last Edit: July 17, 2017, 07:34:00 PM by eRe4s3r » I understand your pain from a couple of directions, believe me. The flood of junk has been super bad for other developers, because now people finding our stuff is much less common. New or old stuff, either way. From a consumer standpoint I wanted to find games of a few certain sorts as well, looking for things to play with my son and stuff to play on my own. Oh man was that an exercise in pain. So many pages of junk, and it was hard to cross-reference all the things I'd already looked at and then discarded for some reason. I guess I need a spreadsheet? I was bummed to hear about GRAV in this thread, because I thought that was GRIP, which I've been waiting to see how it turns out. GRAV I now remember seeing and avoiding, I think kind of with the idea that it was like Planetary Explorers but not really. But it all gets so confused. It's the same sort of pain I went through every year in the 2000-2008 period when I was looking for a new strategy game to play each time. Lots of playing of various demos at that point to see what felt good, after so much fell flat compared to how it was described or what videos showed. Now I prefer an LP and reviews to a demo anyhow, since I can eliminate things faster, and if there's somethinig that I get that is bad then just refund. So that negated the need for me to download tons of big demos and install a bunch of things, which is at least a plus. Arcen Volunteer I'll play devil's advocate here because of course I will. I buy games that are in EA often. Like, REALLY often. Hell, some games that have become all-time favorites were grabbed in that state, or may indeed still be in that state. But anyway, after years upon years of doing this, starting since LONG before the term "early access" ever was made up (it used to just be called "beta testing", which is what I still call it half the time), I can say that for the most part, I don't really have any problems with the whole deal. In some cases, for me, it's led to being able to have a direct impact on the game that's being made. And yes, I do see the EA process as "beta testing". To be honest, if people look at it and DONT see it as that, then no, they should not be buying games in that state. It is beta testing. In many cases, it is alpha testing. In very, very rare cases, it is pre-alpha testing. The whole idea isn't "have people try a nearly finished game". I have no bloody clue where anyone gets that idea. It's to give the developers a chance to bring people into the development process at a time when they feel it'll do the game's development some good. Whenever the devs may choose to do this is up to them. Some devs do indeed wait until a game is nearly finished. I, personally, think it's best to do it EARLIER. Why? Because that feedback from people DURING development is extremely helpful. That's something I learned a looooong time ago, and which was very heavily reinforced by Starward's whole development process, as well as other non-Arcen game's that I've helped with, and some that I've just watched really closely. For many developers, the game in question will eventually hit a point when it's too late to go back and make major changes. If there has been a major mistake made in there? They may not be aware of it, if they've had nobody outside of their team test the game. Having players be able to get in there BEFORE it's too late to make changes to that particular bit of the game can be a real saving grace here. There are some devs like Arcen who don't have too much trouble with doing major rollbacks during development, but MOST devs do not and cannot do this (even if it's their own bloody fault that they cant, which seems frequently the case). Big problems must be caught DURING the development of that section of the game, or the issues might be permanent. I can think of more than a few examples like that in Arcen's games, for instance, where some really big mechanic or whatever was discovered to have problems, and was rolled back, undoing those problems and creating a better product in the end. But that wouldn't have happened if the devs hadn't given people a chance to partake in the whole thing. Another advantage, and one that I suspect a lot of people don't spot, is the fact that the devs can use the whole EA process to help them find people that may be able to help them with more than just normal testing. One of my favorite games of the last few years is a real-time roguelike called Unexplored, which is a game where this happened. I got into the game not super early, but early enough that a good number of major mechanics were missing. Was very active, and eventually was approached by the developer to help out with internal testing, which is very different than what you normally see done via the Steam forums. Ended up getting into the credits even, and there are quite a number of things in the game where I can point to them and say "Yeah, you can blame me for that one, bwahaha". Me and one other person spent quite awhile doing this, getting every internal build of the game and constantly replaying through the whole thing, looking for problems and offering solutions to those problems, as well as coming up with ideas for content, and of course trying to assist in dealing with balance. It was quite the process and was a lot of work (and had it's frustrating moments, because that type of testing usually does). This is the sort of thing that you cannot do if you get your game into the EA process too late; you must be in there early enough to really make this one happen. Otherwise, those people you invite in aren't going to be able to help all that much, because so much of the game in question will be set in stone. Another example of a game that's gone and done this sort of thing is 20XX (another favorite of mine and one that I'll ramble about for ages if allowed). They have the normal testers on the Steam forums, and then the separate, much smaller group that helps with the loopy versions everyone else doesn't get to see, among other tasks. Hell, I'll be taking a stab at area/chunk design within the game myself soon, in an attempt to help improve on certain parts of the game that I know could do with it. And in that specific game, this bit has a pretty large impact too. But yes, my point is, devs are able to get people to help with this stuff BECAUSE they've been doing the EA process since a certain point. This sort of thing can have a BIG impact on the game in question, but yeah.... it's useless if it's done too late in the process. The real problem here isn't the EA process itself: It's those idiot developers that have taken it, added a game that got a bit too big, or a game that was just a mess from the start, or a game that wasnt even a freaking game but was a blasted scam, and then screwed it all up, running off like morons and ruining it for everyone else. Or doing something like Ark's paid DLC bit that Toranth mentioned (yes, I too thought that was nasty, and I don't even play that). This can be either games that are in EA for a very short time before screwing up, or games that have been there quite a long while before screwing up. Just because something has been in EA for a long while doesn't mean anything bad about it (hell, 20XX has been in that state for like 3 years now, and holy crap has THAT come along wonderfully), but those devs that do screw it up create that impression that it is bad. And the sad thing? It's not THAT bloody common. Like I said, I buy games in EA often. I have no spending limits and nothing even remotely resembling impulse control, as well as nothing but free time, all the time, so if I see one I want to try out? Gonna grab it, pending research. Even despite how often I do that and how often I've seen games all the way through the EA process, I can think of maybe TWO instances where I bought into one, and it went bad (and this is with me being as picky, negative, and critical as I usually am). Just two. The difference though: Unlike a lot of people, despite that I'm buying so frequently I always do the research first. It's usually not rocket science, to determine if a developer can be trusted to pull through, which is why it's been so extremely rare for me to run into a bad one. Hell, Ark is actually an example of this: That's my sort of game actually.... but I didn't buy it. Something was just "off" about it, was what I determined when looking into it originally (long before the DLC thing), so.... I didn't buy it. I don't remember what the specific thing I spotted was, but one way or another, I hit a red flag, and so, I didn't make the purchase, and was correct not to. Wheras something like 20XX, I knew full well was going to be in EA for a LONG time. That was apparent immediately. But all the signs were there that it was going to become something special, which it indeed has, so I grabbed it. It was just about researching it. And that's the important part for consumers, is to realize that yes, THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING. Research your blasted purchases before making them. I don't mean just for games in EA, I mean for ANY game. I cant count the number of times I've wanted to shriek that concept at someone. Soooooooo much trouble can be avoided by really taking the time necessary to do that. And if you're someone that has trouble getting money together to make such purchases, that becomes even more important. But I watch people, over and over and over again, do NOTHING in this regard. Sometimes I see someone THINK they're doing it, but they aren't REALLY doing it, they're just seeing a badly thought-out trailer or something and that's "research". Which just.... no. Now, we could also go into the whole Kickstarter thing, too..... THAT one I have a different opinion on. I've pitched in with Arcen's KS of course (because that's the ONE where I knew it to be worth it), but other than that, I avoid KS like the plague I usually consider it to be. I think there's been exactly one other exception, and that's it. There's a big difference, to me, between grabbing something in EA that's playable now (and thus has lots that can be researched on it) and paying for something that DOESNT EXIST YET. I just.... uuuuugh. Yeah. I'll not ramble about KS here. But to say I have a low opinion of it is an understatement. If I'm going to buy into something, I want it to be something that I can dig into RIGHT THE HELL NOW. Which also means that others will have been able to as well, and that's important. Now as for that bit brought up there about Steam ignoring crap? UGH. You know, Steam has been getting more and more wonky in recent times. I'm not even going to get into what I think of the Steam store as a whole now. I find games via my activity feed most of the time, which says something. Bah, that's a whole other very long and rambly topic full of anger and smashing. And then there's.... Greenlight. Ahhhh, I'm glad that's gone. That was a mess. A total disaster. Also, I'd just like to quote one thing here: To be honest I don't consider something in my steam library something of short lived value, to me if it's in my steam library, then that is a public statement I make as a customer, or consumer (since it's a luxury ware). Yeah, I do the same thing actually. I know there are some people that collect games just to have them, but.... I don't buy something if I don't intend on getting real time and value out of it, and I also intend on it representing me as a consumer pledging support to a product creator. It has meaning, to make a purchase on any of these things, and I aint grabbing things just for the bloody achievements or to increase my collection count or something bloody stupid like that. The game in question is either going to give me some real quality hours (and is going to come from a dev that isn't shady), or screw it I'm not buying it. I find it kinda baffling that more people don't see it that way. Aaaaaaaaanyway, that's just all some thoughts on this from someone that has done WAY too much bloody testing. I can definitely say though the whole concept is not for everyone. It works out for me, but I can understand why it might not work out for others. But as long as you're actually researching the bloody product BEFORE BUYING, all is well. Hopefully that wasn't TOO rambly. I haven't been awake all that long yet so I'm not as coherent... And OMIGOD everyone is ninja posting while I'm typing this. I'm too lazy to go make all that many edits aside from that one quoted bit. DEAL WITH IT. I need caffeine. « Last Edit: July 17, 2017, 07:48:01 PM by Misery » That's very rambly some points 1# I think crowd funding has far greater potential and far greater risks, and I know them. But when a dev gets my money for potential game, it's HIS decision when he decides to give me something playable and if he does, how he calls it. That is a very simple thing, really. Don't give your backers a broken mess to play, or they might get very annoyed. Also maybe don't spend 4 years developing a game in EA with no visible progress, then you are not in EA. EA doesn't let you off from responsible behavior as someone who is selling something for money. 2# I think the fact that Early Access is simply not CLEARLY a certain thing (either you sell me alpha, beta, or a real feature finished game that just needs some testing and polishing) is one of my greatest issues with it. But to me Early Access stops being valid when a game is in development cycles longer than 3 years and shows no visible progress. The fact is most of those survival games in particular have raked in the cash, are "developing" till they run out of money or the feeling of responsibility and then they move on without a word. You know that is true ;P 3# You make a great point about research, but let me show you something.... Yes, 1 game is duplicated, because Steam Yes, it shows also already owned games, because Steam Yes, no EA game on this selection, but above and below it are many That's from the current sale, filters # Singleplayer # Windows... 252 games on 11 pages How would I ever research anything here. This store is failing on the basic premise (aside from 1 thing I bought of that, which is called "Dungeon Warfare" a very neat TD.... ) I clicked on it randomly because it sounded interesting from the hover popup. Anyhow, that's beside the point, I can not possibly research anything here, I have a fixed time window, a sale and I wanna know what's interesting.. and this page is all I get, not even an indication that something is in EA or not. I have to actually click on every single one of em to even know whether it's EA or not too, (because.. well , Steam clearly hates people who don't have infinite time to browse the store) Realistically, for me this listing is completely worthless, I have to browse by user tag (And only certain tags work for this, weirdly enough) and hope the game is listed somewhere in the 2 categories (Top Sellers, Specials) on page 1.. if a single tag has more than 50 sales or so, that listing too is entirely worthless. Anyhow, bringing me to 4# in essence, the store due to a vast overload of "tiny" more or less valid indy games has become entirely unusuable, I can not tell what is good indy title and what isn't. Basically I need an external source of information pointing me to a good indy game now, and that means Steam as a storefront for buying real polished GAMES is broken. EA, Direct Access muddies this further and further. SO taking the time to make sure something is not dead in EA, that's a valid thing to ask of someone, but taking time to investigate each developer, each developers past games and misdeeds? Heh, that's not viable. Ah, the Universe knew I was ranting and gave me a super cool example of everything that is wrong with Early Access And of course, UBISOFT is involved. ;p #NeverMadeItOutOfEarlyAccess When it comes to research: Never expect the Steam store to provide you with everything you need. Up above I mentioned frequently using the activity feed... not the store... to find new games. Sounds odd, yeah? But it's been the truth of it for me for awhile now. As you say, the Steam store is bloody BROKEN. It's a freaking mess, a disaster. It's been totally useless, at least in my opinion, for quite awhile now. It's always trying to throw crap at me that I don't want, while hiding all the awesome stuff that I DO want. It's an overwhelming, exploded mess, and the actual quality of a game never seems to have all that much to do with whether or not it gets onto that front page. Often, I thusly learn about new games by simply watching the feed, and seeing what people I know (who are into the same things I am) are finding and buying. That's how bloody messed up that storefront is. From there, then, it's onto the actual game pages. But when it comes to research, it's more than just looking there, because the problems extend further. Going to a game's individual store page, for instance. The best way I could put these: "Unreliable". Looking at JUST a game's store page, and going off of that, is like buying a full-priced AAA game based solely on some crappy, pre-rendered E3 trailer. Those pages are meant for one thing, and one thing only: To wow the customer with shiny stuff. There's no way you're going to really get a sense of what a game is like just by even going there. As an example of how it goes for me, I do a number of things. Obviously I'm going to look at the screenshots and whatnot on that page, because they are there, but that doesn't mean much. Same with the description there. It may be a good start, but it's still "advertiser speak" and never admits to any faults the game may have. So, I go elsewhere. There's a few good things that anyone can do to look into a game more. Just a couple of examples: 1. YouTube. Go watch some people playing the game, and commenting on it. Specifically, if you can find anyone playing it that isn't a bloody moron. Or even just go for a gameplay video without commentary, and analyze what you see. You can get a TON of info just out of doing this, and it's going to be much more "pure" info because it's not being distorted into a trailer form. 2. Check the developer's website. See what you can learn about them. How many previous games have they made? How long have they been doing business? Is the site itself of decent quality? Do they have an active community? The answers to these questions can help you determine if this developer is both experienced and trustworthy. 3. Look at the game's forums, and see what people are talking about on them. If you go to a game's forum, and all you see is giant piles of complaints and such, that could be a possible sign of a problem. Not always though.... sometimes you need to dig a bit deeper to make sure it's not just people flipping out about some recent patch or something as people tend to do. But generally, looking at the forums and the topics that have been big in recent times there can tell you a heck of a lot about both the game, and the developer. 4. Steam reviews. Yes, I know, there are problems with these. Look for reviews by people who have ALOT of hours in the game you're looking at. See what kinds of impressions are common of the game, when that many hours have been put in. DONT bother with reviews from people that have very few hours. And keep in mind that this is one of the lesser things you can do as research goes... it's still potentially helpful, but also potentially not. 5. See if you can find any articles about the game in question, on sites that might cover such things. I don't necessarily mean professional reviews, just articles in general. Or articles about the developer. Those are just some examples of what I mean. And yeah, I know: It's time consuming, though not as much as you may think. The way I look at it is this: One way or another, these things cost money. You're dishing out real money for something, that you probably put real time and effort into earning, and it can be a significant amount. You don't want to be just dumping that into a blender. So if you're going to dish out the cash, you may as well take the time to really be SURE that you're putting it into something that wont just eat it and not give anything back in return. Yes, doing research on these things can be time consuming, but if you're going to do it.... do it the correct way and be thorough. And hey, you're going to potentially spend a bunch of hours on the game in question, yeah? Well, that's another thing you don't want to waste, is time. You can end up wasting MUCH more time by NOT researching and buying something crappy, than by correctly researching and deciding not to purchase. I say all of this because too many times I've brought this up and people don't want to do it because "it takes too long". They'll then later come back saying that they bought such-and-such and wasted 20 hours on such an awful game, and how could that happen, OMG, blah blah blah.... and I facepalm every time. All the stuff I'm mentioning up above? It really doesn't take that long. The YouTube aspect, that's the part that can take awhile, but if I'm going to look up gameplay videos, I just watch them while having a meal (and hey, can get some entertainment out of them anyway). The rest though... it doesn't take long. Gimme about 20-30 minutes, and aside from the YouTube bit, I've got all I need to know. Granted, I'm also completely used to doing this, so I tend to do it really quickly, but still. In the end it can and will save you both money AND time. And I figure: If I cant spend even just that much time to research it? Then I probably don't have time to play the game, either, right? Obviously, you're not going to do this with every bloody product that appears on Steam. But when you're looking around, and you see something that MIGHT be interesting.... do these things, is what I'm saying. Most people just don't. It's really no different than when you're browsing products at an actual physical store. You don't have time to stop and read the back of every freaking box on a rack of like 500 different boxes, but you should STILL always make sure you really know what you're getting before you take it to the counter. It's common sense, and it applies here too. And if someone just doesn't have time to research or doesn't want to, then honestly, buying early access products is absolutely not the way to go. It's just not for them, that's all. Also I looked at that link there.... as always, it's not surprising that Ubisoft screwed something up. Though, this also brings up one other rule I try to follow, when it comes to early access games: Never, ever, EVER buy one that is multiplayer focused, unless you REALLY know the developer very well. Just don't. Singleplayer games are one thing. But things get weird when you're dealing with multiplayer-focused stuffs in the EA process. The potential for blazing lunacy grows exponentially. Usually if I see that a game has too much multiplayer focus, is in a buyable state, AND ISNT IN FULL RELEASE YET, I ignore it. And too many times, EXPECT it to crash.... and it does. It's sad, and definitely annoying, but it's also REALLY common. Getting a multiplayer-focused game fully up and going these days takes a monumental effort (particularly considering the massive already-existing competition), and lots of devs/publishers think they can do it, but end up falling short. Even the big guys. Hell, the "big guys" just make it worse, bringing corporate stupidity into it..... ugh. That's a whole other rant though (like, 5 pages worth of a rant). On a side note.... why does anyone even buy games from companies like Ubisoft these days? I mean, seriously.... Why? These groups prove themselves to be exceedingly nasty and untrustworthy over and over and over again, but people keep flinging money at them even if they've been burned 100 times in the past. WHY do people keep doing this? I genuinely don't get that. I really don't. Where is the logic here? IS there any logic? I mean, it's like buying something from EA itself: Everyone KNOWS it's a seriously awful company. That's just a fact. But they just buy their crap anyway, even when that crap is stuffed with really obvious issues like day-one DLC or that infestation of preorder culture. But they still do it anyway! And they often freaking put preorders on it! I just.... argh, I don't get it. Someone feel free to explain to me just how this makes anything resembling sense. TheVampire100 Ordinary Vampire When did change Subnautica something in their gameplay stuff? Did I miss something? I haven't read through everything now, so I'll just feature some thoughts and experiences I had with Early Access and will reply to specific posts )if I see this necessary) later. So, first I agree that Factorio is a very good example of an EA title done right. Factorio had, when it came out, already the ending and everything to reach that, in there. They later changed the ending/end game significantally (or they are currently working ont hat, I don't remember). To make it clear, before it was "Build rocket, escape from planet", now it's (or planned as) "build rocket, get extra research value from that". Or you get something from the rocket, I don't remember what it was but I think research. This solution was done, because people wanted to play on after reaching the "end" of the game, so this is more aof a convenient change. Besides that, the game hasn't changed much and is still in the "early" stages of EA according to their own build numbering (0.15). So... idf the game is in fact feature complete, what else do they want to add? For me it sounds more like 0.8 instead of 0.1. Anyway, currently Factorio is a good example of EA done rigth. But seeing that they consider this an early build of the game, this might not last so. Or they just decide, that the game is finished anyway, "let's just slap '1.0' on it". Now, here are some other experiences, I had with EA. Best example (or worst?) is StarForge. the game was funded with crowdfunding (I don't think it was Kickstarter but it was something similiar) and then released the game as EA. Bougth it then, game was okay-ish. It was even one of the first games in Early Access. Game had soem early features, that worked but a lot of stuff, tht didn't and a lot of stuff, that was missing entirely. They had many planned features and a lot of that stuff sounded good. Fortress Mode, a Tower Defense Mode in Survival evironment (build your fortress during day, protect it during the night), the mode itself was already in the game and working. The funny thing is, instead of adding stuff, they continued to remove stuff from the game. It wasa bizarre backward development process inw hich the game got only worse and worse. They added an RPG system that worked perfectly fine, just to remove it on the next patch again because they said 8they want to improve itfirst), then they said the entire thing didn't work out as itnended, so they scrapped the entire idea. Fortress mode was removed as well, probably because they couldn't figure out how worms could attack and destroy walls or tunnel beneath them which was, what they initially promised. The game is one of the most prominent examples how EA can fail and it was one of the first games, that did this. Best part? they made another game, actually it is the same thing, bust instead of a sci-fi/space setting, it's a medival one. It was early Access. And it failed. They did the same thing, the same game with another theme and made the same mistake. And people bought into it. Midn you, I did not but others did. Oh, hey, and they praised the second one first. Just liek they did with Starforge. That lasted unti they "released" the game and the community realized, that they basically got scammed. Still salty, forever salty. Sunless Sea. The game is a good example how big the change in a game can be and how drastic this can change the way, the community views the game. Sunless Sea was never about the battles, but at the start it had a round-based battle system. Basically what JRPGs do, you traverse the overworld, you meet an enemy, you engage combat. Battles were very boring because there was no meaning behind your actions and basically everything oneshotted you anyway. They then added on-map battles in real time. Which I find a lot better except you have to circle enemies like crazy (more with ship types, less with creatures) but people got mad as hell and decided to shit on the developers for that. They really wanted a round-based battle system, soemthign with tactics and such. Besides that, the game had almost everything fromt he start, there was an ending you could reach, there were stories and the gameplay elements, but not all islands and locations, they added this later. They also added additional endings between you can choose. In general, the game is good and had a good EA phase but the period, where they changed the battle system, was very dark and led to a very toxic environment in the forum. Fortresscraft Evolved, one of the best Voxel games I know, was EA. And the EA phase was probably the most problematic thign about it, especially the transition from EA to full release. The game had many concept/gameplay shifts, it started as prototype, were you literally had nothing to do, there were soem kidn of enemies, that you could shoot but these didn't do anything, neither did they attack you nor did they drop something, the whole thing was just there for testing purposes if gunplay would work. You could build stuff and you could conenct machines that did or did not work together. Most stuff was buildable but didn't had a purpose. or it simply didn't work. The whole thing was just a prototype. This is most likely because the game started as Creative game and only that. That whole survival mode was developed on top of that. This was planned from the start but the developer (who designs the game mostly alone) decided that he wanted to release creative mode, which was not much as work, first into EA and then add survival later, as he works on it. Wasn't very smart and people got a little mad about it. He constantly changed stuff, removed bits, added other stuff later. Eventually he was fed up with the constant criticism towards his game, which is funny because that's what EA is about. he released the game as "full rleease" and stated he did so, even if it's unfinished, because people complained about the game and he thougth EA would protect him from this. Lol, how naive can you be? Anyway, appearantly he thought a full release would make up for it but of course, because the entire thing wasn't even done, he got more insults and complains. And when I say "not done" I mean it. the game had a lot of missing stuff, there were placeholders left and right, icons missing, UI not done, machines, that weren't there but were needed and I think the ending was not in there (or maybe it was). He added this stuff later in a monthly cycle but this didn't stop him to ask on Patreon for people to support him further, so he can keep developing the game. He basically begged that people pay for the completion of his unfinished product. Which is not okay. i love the game. I love everythign about it. But I hate the developer. And I hate the way how he interacts with his community. I've rarely seen a developer that does interact so negatively with his community, even thos, that support him. He simply shrugs off (and not ina nice way) suggestions, not because they are impssoible to add but because he simply does not want them. And he tells this straight to his customers, he tells them, he finds an idea stupid and because of that he will never ever change that. Other stuff that he mentioned was impossible to add, was later modded by the community into the game. He later admitted, he was just to lazy to do it and added the mod in the game himself. Also, he changes features drastically to make the game harder/longer than it was before (fakign actual gameplay time). You know why? Because, when people bug him about actual gameplay, he points to the fact, that the game has about XX hours of game time. Yeah, right, smart ass, but you forgot to tell them, thaz most time comes fromt he fact, that you made most stuff awefully slow and grindy. The gameplay would be so good if no for the fact, that he likes to slow down the game pace more and more. Factorio does not have this problem, the player can decide their own pacing, if they want stuff to speed up, they build more miners, more factories, more research labs etc. Fortresscraft tries with it's fake game time to do the same thing, but people found more efficient and faster ways to do this, so he simply removed this stuff and made it slower. Ouch. If the game itself wouldn't be so good, I wouldn't have bought any of the expansions. I recently started to play Emperyon which is what Starforge wanted to be but without the Fortress Defense mode (I have FCE for that anyway) or maybe it's mor eliek what No Mans Sky wanted to be. or maybe it's just another attempt to jump on a popular game release/genre (this happens all the times, a very famous/popular game comes out, other, independant developers try to make the same game in their own image and most of the time screw it up). I know NMS didn't get good criticism after release but before it came out it was literally praised as the coming of the next messiah of video games. So of course people would, even before release, start to make somethign similiar. Emperyon is such a game. It's a good game, I give them that, maybe a little empty (as it's still EA but honestly, how much does this mean nowadays anyway?). Game features a complex base building system, your base has a computer core (that you have to build first) and you can tap into that computer and operate the base as you want, decide what is powered, what systems you want to use and so on. You need oxygen? Okay, turn on the oxygen. Your base is built aroudn that core but besides the usual building blocks you need of course other stuff, like an energy generator, energy tanks, oxygen tank, ventilators to pump oxygen into the base and so on. It's quite complex because you cannot simply "build rooms and are done" like in other games. However, if you are on a planet with oxygen, you don't need oxygen for your base of course. This system applies for space ships as well but you also have to consider engines and stuff. The game allows you to freely create and design vehicles with various parts and the option to mod in your own parts. This makes the possiilities limitless. Addionally, factions. You can create or join factions (from other playrs, NPC factions) which work together, it's actually similiar to ARKs tribes that multiple player form an alliance together. You could be traders, you could be priates, you could be something else. This is of course only interesting for Multiplayer purposes and as far as NPCs go, interactions are quite limited. You can trade with them, that's something I guess. Some problems I have with the game right now: Dinosaurs. I don't like to see them on alien planets. Simply reminds me that the developers lack imagination for their own alien races. There ARE aliens but on your first planet you will dinosaurs. Base building (and vehicle building) is a little overcomplicated for new players. It takes some time to get around all the base controls and to understand, what you actually need. On the first planet you don't need a base anyway because there is oxygen but on planets, where this isn't the case, you need one. Mining is... bugged? I'm not sure if this is the case but the thing is, mining included terrain deformation (obviously) and since the game is not made of blocks, this leads to problems. If you try to mine horizontally or diagonally, you still mine vertically. I don't know why this always happens, I want to mien in a straight line and still mine downwards. I always have a shaft and it's hard to get out of these. The game even tells you not to do this because you can not get out of them easily. Also, mined terrain is kind of bugged. It always seems slippery, even if it is almost horizontally arrenged. So in the end, you always slip back into your pit. I hope they improve this, since minign is so important. Besdes that, the ectual mining process works smooth and is supriringly fast. I have mixed feelign with this EA, mostly, because I had a similiar game before that failed hardly. Still, game is good enough to satisfy my hunger. I buy into a lot of EA. And I'm not always happy with the result. the thing is, happy with the result. The actual EA process as that. You have to udnerstand that EA existed before Steam. Developers had unfinished products that you could play before release if you preordered the game. Minecraft. They just had this on their own website. Steam now gives them a platform, so now developers use this. Scammers as well bu scammers use anything, asset flips, unfinished products, meme games, to get money really quick with less effort. I'm mostly happy with the full release of games I own, tose that are still unfinished/unpolished druing release, fiy that later. Big examples are FCE and War for the Overworld. Both came out as messy and clunyk games but both got fixed later to awesome stuff. Other games had their gameplay changed but I kinda liked that, Sunless Sea and Starbound. Only a very few a, even long after release, messes that I don't touch in any way. Starforge and Paranautical Acitivity. EA is not the problem. Developers are. And the majority of games I bought in EA tell me, that there are more developers, who take this seriously, then those, who take it not seriously. Mind you, I rarely drift down the path were you find horrid abomniations of games. I hear from asset flips and such only from Youtube, I don't even find this stuff myself on Steam Ah yes, I remember Starforge. That game was one of the two that I bought that went bad. I cant remember what the other one was. That was a nasty situation, too. Fortresscraft is an interesting example: It's one of the ones that shows that it can be important to know about the developer behind the game, because the way they act and respond to stuff is inevitably going to have an effect on the finished product. And some devs are like that one... angry and unable to take criticism. Now granted, I know that it can be hard to deal with that. To some degree, it's difficult to avoid getting annoyed, when it's related to something you've put so much work in. But if a dev cant act professional and such in the wake of negative reviews/comments, they're only going to did the pit deeper. Empyrion is another interesting example. That game is EA done right, as I see it. CONSTANT updates. Very detailed patch notes. Updates tend to be pretty big, too... this is clearly a game where they intend a huge amount of content. This is a developer that has made it very clear that they really do care about the product they are producing, and the community around it. Clearly passionate about the whole thing, and that's good. Starbound: Hoboy. Now THAT is a story. That had one hell of a rocky EA process. I made the decision to buy it anyway, after carefully looking around. I had a feeling the development was going to be slower than a box of dead snails, and it was. They had LONG periods between updates. Very long. However, I was kinda used to other games doing this, games that somehow had some association to that one, so I expected it. Also as expected, when an update did hit, it tended to be REALLY HUGE. Gigantic updates with game-changing mechanics and loads of new content. Like the most recent one that adds mechs and space stations and all this cool stuff that isn't at all like what was there before. Mech-in-space combat for instance is very, very different than normal combat. But yeah, the whole EA process was more than a little loopy. However, I have been quite pleased with the end result. It's another take on the Terraria formula, but going with some very different gameplay ideas. Where Terraria's combat is wild, with lasers and bees going all over the place, Starbound is careful and deliberate, making small encounters potentially dangerous, and requiring that you pay attention instead of just smashing the button over and over again (unless the enemy is too far below your level, that is). It's difficult in it's own unique way and you cant just fly around all the time. And some people really hated that, as many of them went into it expecting another Terraria (sigh). But in an overall sense? I think it's turned out to be pretty great. AND it's designed to be very moddable. If you don't like something, or think something should be added? You can do that. The game has it's issues, but in my experience, they aren't big ones. The EA process was a bloody nightmare for the devs, I imagine... but in the end they showed their dedication and got it done. I highly respect them for this. It's not easy to get through that sort of thing, in the face of the negativity that people were flinging. That negativity though has changed since then, and the game has done well. Minecraft: Yep, this is the one that really brought the whole EA/beta process into the spotlight. And I think also that it's a GREAT example of EA done right. The devs have always made the development process very clear and open. Both the current devs, and Notch himself back in the old days... they kept secrets sometimes, because players tended to like that idea, but at the same time, they were transparent about where they were going. And they've evolved that idea, with the snapshot builds, giving players the option to try the new content RIGHT FREAKING NOW rather than wait for the official big update patch. Impatient players such as myself can jump into each new piece of content as it's made (if they are willing to put up with occaisional loopy bugs), others that prefer to wait for a "finished" update can do so. What's more, in my opinion they've done a great job of understanding where to take the game. They don't let criticism get to them, and they show that they understand the game well with the choices they make for it. There's ALWAYS going to be that obnoxious group of "OMG THIS UPDATE RUINED IT" players... you cant shut them up. But the devs know this, and they know that this group is vocal yet also small. The game is just as bloody huge as it always is, and the fact that the content has just plain been constantly GOOD is part of why this is. Minecraft has not needed a sequel yet, because it has become it's own sequel.... that's how much they've updated and changed the game since the old days of it. The other thing I like is that they add content for ALL playstyles. Sometimes they'll focus on adding new adventure stuff... other times they'll do redstone circuits and related things. They keep the updates varied. It means that sometimes there'll be patches you don't care about, but it keeps the game's focus on that "something for everyone" idea. I've been very impressed with everything they've done with it over the years. And it just keeps getting better. Heck, that next update is looking to be something special. Not the sort of update I thought I'd ever see them do, but they're doing it anyway. Quote from: TheVampire100 on July 18, 2017, 12:47:14 AM They recently (Subnautica) changed how air tanks and the big sub work, previously any air tank in your inventory added to your total air-time (time that you could stay underwater). And the big sub was previously like a base-building that you could take with you (it's not anymore) Sounds like a small change, but completely changes how the game is played. When before you had a lot of time to explore deep underwater, now you have 45 seconds (give or take) not enough for cutting open the wreck doors.... none of the small ships can reach far down either... to me this is one of the worst changes this game ever did. Because this changes the games genre away from exploration.... Factorio has many big plans post 1.0 (0.16 is supposed to be the final version, when that reaches final it's 1.0) but I think it's important to keep in mind that as a game Factorio is already it launch a rocket, feel good, now launch 1 rocket every minute, or 10 rockets every minute... and so on ;p But real end-game stuff is gonna come eventually, I am not sure even the devs know where they wanna take it from "launching rockets"... probably literally to space (platforms), we'll see ;p Quote from: Misery on July 17, 2017, 11:17:05 PM I can actually say I do pretty much the same thing. or at least, very similiar. First thing I do every day is to look at the frontpage what new games came out. Well, not every day but at least twice a week. That way can see if there is anything new that interests me or not. It is? Wishlist or, if it's a game I REALLY want to have, instant buy. Then I check the recommendations at the top. Most of the time they were crap until I adjusted the hell out of this thing until it finally gave me decent results. Mind you, it still shows me a lot of stuff over and over that I'm not interested in or that I even already wishlisted (what? You know I want it already, why still bothering me with it?). The fantastic thing about the recent frontpage changes is, that it now also shows automatically recommendations based on reviews and acticivity of firends. A friend played this game and liked it? Steam shows this to me. This is the stuff I'm interested in ecause I'm interested in what my friends play and if I could like this game as well. Now, the other half of it. I use the activity feed (what a big surprise) to stalk my friends and see what they do. What games have they bought, what screenshots have they made, achievements, maybe a small comment about a game or even a full review. Misery is certainly on the top of this but only because he spams the damn thing like the madman he is. However, since he has a similiar taste in games than me, i don't midn it that much, i can learn about one or another game that way. However, his endless rants about a game he is currently obsessed with can get tiresome from time to time. Misery is however not the only person I look out for, I have around 20 friends on my Steam list and about the half of them plays and interacts regulary with Steam. This may sound now a little harsh but basically I use my friends as mules for games. I persuade them into buying certain games they might be interested in, not because I want to show them stuff they like but because I know they will eventually tell me how they like the game (or I ask them, if they don't do so) to make my own decision if I would buy the game. It's surprisingly easy to manipulate people into doing this. Quote from: eRe4s3r on July 18, 2017, 10:52:32 AM I know that about the sub but I missed that with air tanks. Like, the whole thing. I always used only one tank (in my equipment slot) and didn't know you could put more into your inventroy, so your guy "swaps" them for a longer diving time. I guess in the early game this has quite the impact (for peopel that used this method before) but once you have the Mobile Vehicle Bay and the Sea Moth, you won't use anything else anyway. Since I managed to do this before, it's not impossible but I can see that people wuld find this "grindy" and "annoying", I know hthat I did back then. Once I had however Sea Moth, it was over. You basically don't need anything else. Okay, weird numbering system, I always thought 0.9=close to final version. Anyway, Factorio is more about the "just build a factory and do your stuff, improve it and make ti better all the time" and less about "just play the game until you reach the end". Factorio and FCE are very close in terms of gameplay but that part is what makes them different. Factorio encourages players to improve ont heir supply chains, not because you reach the goal that way (which you basically could with hand mining and hand crafting most of the time) but because you can see improvments immediatly and that's a reward loop. Add stuff to production chain, production goes faster, you feel good, use faster stuff to add new production chains -> and so on. FCE on the other hand lacks this kind of principle. It really wants to have that but there is one major flaw in that: It's artificial grind. Factorio has real grind, not something that is forced into you. It only has "Just make this much of that, that and that item". How you reach that is up to you and like I said before, you can do this entirely by hand. Mien stuff by hand, craft it by hand. Takes forever but it woudl work. This encourages the player to build a basic supply chain. "Oh, cool, now I don't have to mine by myself anymore, just to craft". Takes still forever because of crafting times. So you build factories. And this goes on. Whenever soemthign takes too lang, the player takes it into his own hand to speed things up. FCE on the other hand simply has slow crawling conveyor belts that take forever until they reach their destination. It never was an issue that conveyors were slow, you simply could smelt stuff underground. Until he removed that because he wanted, that people craft stuff on the surface. This of course slowed production by a ton of time. Instead of having one bar, you now have four ore pieces that have to be transported seperately. Doesn't help that you start with only one smelter and it takes forever to get your second smelter (and more after that) because it was a smart idea to make a rare resource a crafting material of the smelter. Even progress is somehow weird because you need a specific ore to REACH that ore. What? Yeah, good luck in figurering that one out. I did eventually find out what he wanted me to do but the thing is, the game is nor always clear about how progress works and because it's very straightforward instea of "you could either do this or that right now" you have not much of a choice. Doesn't help that research takes forever and if you don't did the right research first, you waste tons of resoruces and still don't see any progress. Plus, every time you do research, you trigger a huge power increase that triggers constant wasp attacks. This gives you tons of loot that you cannot use at that point anyway. Yay. Really love the game but the way he made progress is insane. And he did this simply to stretch the play time. Quote from: Toranth on July 17, 2017, 05:17:45 PM But when you have stuff like ARK - years in EA, but also releasing paid DLC - it begins to look like the Google "Beta" scam. I don't know what this Google Beta Scam is, buu ARK is pretty much the worst experience I has since a long time. Both gameplay wise (they literally didn*t change/adress any on the ocurring problems so far) and from the EA policy.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353387
__label__wiki	0.887056	0.887056	Rubik's cube introduction to the UK public.....surprising ! Thread: Rubik's cube introduction to the UK public.....surprising ! DSCOMAN DYR regular Watching a programme on TV couple of weeks back....and suddenly completely out of the blue Jonathan King (pop impresario) is introduced along with a Rubik's Cube.....he goes on to explain it as a new toy he found in America......who would have thought that one of the world's top selling toys would have been introduced to the British public on TOTP !!! - September 1980 (It has 43 Quintillion permutations by the way - 10 to the power of 18) Zincubus DYR fan Re: Rubik's cube introduction to the UK public.....surprising ! Genius !! https://twitter.com/rexchapman/statu...039869440?s=12 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro George 1978 I knew it was around 1980 - I don't think that the UK had seen a cube prior to that year. Telling it almost exactly like it was so many years later - and proud of doing so! Quick Navigation Toys Top Other nostalgic stuff Books, comics and magazines Miscellaneous memories Recently remembered... Fresh from the blog... By www.doyouremember.co.uk in forum Recently remembered... By FX02 in forum Toys By remember in forum Recently remembered... -- DYR Default Style -- Default Mobile Style www.DoYouRemember.co.uk Content © DoYouRemember Ltd	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353389
__label__cc	0.553698	0.446302	Fred's Ecology and Environmental Tales (AKA: The FEET) How new research expands our understanding of the natural world Teaching with the FEET Invasive engineers alter ecosystems April 25, 2019 by fredsingerecology Ecosystem engineers change the environment in a way that influences the availability of essential resources to organisms living within that environment. Beavers are classic ecosystem engineers; they chop down trees and build dams that change water flow and provide habitat for many species, and alter nutrient and food availability within an ecosystem. Ecologists are particularly interested in understanding what happens when an invasive species also happens to be an ecosystem engineer; how are the many interactions between species influenced by the presence of a novel ecosystem engineer? For her Ph.D research Linsey Haram studied the effects of the invasive red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla on native estuarine food webs in the Southeast USA. She wanted to know how much biomass this ecosystem engineer contributed to the system, how it decomposed, and what marine invertebrates ate it. She was spending quite a lot of time in Georgia’s knee-deep mud at low tide, and became acquainted with the shorebirds that zipped around her as she worked. She knew that small marine invertebrates are attracted to the seaweed and are abundant on algae-colonized mudflats, and she wondered if the shorebirds were cueing into that. If so, the non-native alga could affect the food web both directly, by providing more food to invertebrate grazers, and indirectly, by providing habitat for marine invertebrates and thus boosting resources for shorebirds. A least sandpiper forages on a red algae-colonized mudflat. Credit: Linsey Haram. Since the early 2000’s, Gracilaria vermiculophylla has dramatically changed estuaries in southeast USA by creating novel habitat on mudflats that had previously been mostly bare, due to high turbidity and a lack of hard surface for algal attachment. But this red alga has a symbiotic association with a native tubeworm, Diopatra cuprea, that attaches the seaweed to its tube so it can colonize the mudflats. This creates a more hospitable environment to many different invertebrates, providing cover from heat, drying out, and predators, while also providing food to invertebrates that graze on the algae. Closeup view of the red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla, an invasive ecosystem engineer. Credit: Linsey Haram Haram and her colleagues decided to investigate how algae presence might be influencing bird distribution and behavior. They realized that this influence might be scale-dependent; on a large spatial scale birds may see the algae from afar and be drawn to an algae-rich mudflat, while on a smaller spatial scale, differences in foraging behavior may lead to differences in how a particular species uses the algal patches in comparison to bare patches. To explore large scale effects, the researchers counted all shorebirds (as viewed from a boat) on 500 meter transects along six bare mudflats and six algal mudflats. They also measured algal density (even algal mudflats have large patches without algae), and invertebrate distribution and abundance both on the surface and buried within the sediment. These surveys showed that shorebirds, in general, were much more common on algal mudflats. As you can see, this trend was stronger in some shorebird species than others, and one species (graph f below) showed no significant trend. Field surveys of shorebird density (#/ha) on six bare mudflats compared to six mudflats colonized by Gracilaria vermiculophylla. * indicates weak trend (0.05 < P < 0.10), ** indicates a stronger difference (P < 0.05). Bold horizontal bars are median values. Common names of species are (b) dunlin, (c) small sandpipers, (d) ruddy turnstone, (e) black-bellied plover, (f) semipalmated plover, (g) willet, (h) short-billed dowitcher. Algal mudflats had a much greater abundance and biomass of invertebrates living on the surface, particularly isopods and snails, which presumably attracted some of these birds. However, below the surface, there were no significant differences in invertebrate abundance and biomass when comparing mudflats with and without algae. Having shown that on a large spatial scale shorebirds tend to visit algal mudflats, Haram and her colleagues then turned their attention to bird preferences on a smaller spatial scale. First, they conducted experiments on an intermediate scale, observing bird foraging preferences on 10 X 20 plots with or without algae. They then turned their attention to an even smaller scale, by observing the foraging behavior on a <1m2 scale. On each sampling day, the researchers observed individuals of seven different shorebird species on a mudflat with algal patches, to see whether focal birds spent more time foraging on algal patches or bare mud. During each 3-minute observation, researchers recorded the number of pecks made into algal patches vs. bare mud, and compared that to the expected peck distribution based on the observed ratio of algal-cover to bare mud (which was a ratio of 27:73). On the smallest scale, two of the species, Calidras minutilla and Aranaria interpres, showed a very strong preferences for foraging in algae, while a third species, Calidris alpine, showed a weak algal preference. In contrast, Calidris species (several species of difficult-to-distinguish sandpipers) and Charadrius semipalmatus strongly preferred foraging in bare mud, while the remaining two species showed no preference. Small-scale foraging preferences (x–axis) of shorebirds. Solid blue curve is the strength of population preference (in terms of probability – y-axis) for mudflats, while solid red curve is the strength of population preference for algae. Dashed curves are individual preferences. Red arrows at 0.27 indicates the proportion of the mudflat that is covered with algae, while the blue arrow at 0.73 represents the proportion of bare mudflat (and hence indicate random foraging decisions). Filled arrows are significantly different from random, shaded arrows are slightly different from random, while unfilled arrows are random. Common names of species are: (a) dunlin, (b) least sandpiper, (c) small sandpipers, (d) ruddy turnstone, (e) semipalmated plover, (f) willet, (g) short-billed dowitcher. If you compare the two sets of graphs above, you will note that in some cases shorebird preferences for algae are similar across large and small spatial scales, but for other species, these preferences may vary with spatial scale. For example, Arenaria interpres was attracted to algal mudflats on a large scale, and once present, these birds foraged exclusively amongst the algae, shunning any mud that lacked algae. Small sandpipers (Calidris species) also were attracted to algal mudflats on a large scale, but in contrast to Arenaria interpres, these sandpipers foraged exclusively in bare mud, rather than in the algae. The researchers conclude that different species have different habitat preferences across spatial scales in response to Gracilaria vermiculophylla. Most, but not all, species were more attracted to mudflats that harbored the invasive ecosystem engineer. But once there, shorebird small-scale preference varied in response to species-specific foraging strategy. For example, the ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) discussed in the previous paragraph, forages by turning over stones (hence its name) shells and clumps of vegetation, eating any invertebrates it uncovers. Accordingly, it forages primarily in algal clumps. In contrast, willets (Tringa semipalmata), short-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) and dunlins (Calidris alpine) were all attracted strongly to algal mudflats, but showed basically random foraging on a small spatial scale, showing little or no preference for algal clumps. The researchers explain that these three species use their very long beaks to probe deeply beneath the surface, using tactile cues to grab prey. So unlike the ruddy turnstone and some other species that forage for surface invertebrates, they don’t use the algae as a cue that food is available below. Thus species identity, and consequent morphology, behavior and foraging niche are all important parts of how a community responds to an invasive ecosystem engineer. note: the paper that describes this research is from the journal Ecology. The reference is Haram, L. E., Kinney, K. A., Sotka, E. E. and Byers, J. E. (2018), Mixed effects of an introduced ecosystem engineer on the foraging behavior and habitat selection of predators. Ecology, 99: 2751-2762. doi:10.1002/ecy.2495. Thanks to the Ecological Society of America for allowing me to use figures from the paper. Copyright © 2018 by the Ecological Society of America. All rights reserved. This entry was posted in Behavior, Communities and ecosystems, Ecology, Environment, Environmental education, Invasive Species, Uncategorized and tagged Ecosystem engineers, Foraging, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Mudflats, Red algae, Shorebirds, Spatial scale. Bookmark the permalink. ← The complex life of the pea Quoll vs. toad: a toxic brew → Gone gorilla January 14, 2020 It’s all happening at the ecotone December 30, 2019 Forest canopy fixes nitrogen shortage December 5, 2019 Nitrogen continues to confound convention November 22, 2019 Tropical trophic cascade slows decomposers November 9, 2019 Hot ants defend plants from elephants October 25, 2019 Follow The FEET via Email Enter your email address to follow The FEET and receive notifications of new posts by email.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353395
__label__wiki	0.872382	0.872382	Iran’s Rouhani Claims Victory Over Unrest and Blames Foreigners Iranian president Hassan Rouhani / Reuters Reuters - November 20, 2019 10:15 AM DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday claimed victory over unrest Tehran has blamed on foreign foes after protests over fuel price rises shook the nation, and the government dismissed reports of more than 100 deaths as "speculative". Thousands joined pro-government demonstrations on Wednesday, state media reported, with television footage showing rallies in Rasht, Gorgan and Ardabil in the north, Hamadan in the west, and Shahryar, south of the capital Tehran. Iranian dual nationals were among protesters arrested in the northern province of Alborz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. Quoting security sources, it said detained German, Turkish and Afghan dual nationals had been trained and funded by foreign services to take actions to destroy infrastructure and stir up civil disobedience. These dual nationals had special equipment to be used for sabotage, it added without providing evidence or further detail. "The Iranian people have again succeeded in an historic test and shown they will not let enemies benefit from the situation, even though they might have complaints about the country’s management," Rouhani said in remarks carried by state broadcaster IRIB on its website. "The spontaneous (pro-government) demonstrations which you see are the greatest sign of the power of the Iranian people." Iran’s U.N. mission said on Wednesday dismissed the casualty reports as "speculative, not reliable" unless confirmed by the Tehran government. "The baseless allegations and fabricated figures by biased Western entities do not shake government’s determination in making prudent economic decisions while respecting human rights of its people including to freely exercise their right to protest in a peaceful environment," mission spokesman Alireza Miryousefi tweeted. Tehran has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and foreign foes – the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia – for the unrest, which began on Friday after gasoline prices were raised at least 50% and rationing imposed. They quickly turned political. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday the protests had been a security matter, not a popular movement, and had been dealt with successfully. Government spokesman Ali Rabiei said a plot to bomb Iran’s major gas production installations in Assalouyeh on the Gulf had been thwarted, blaming it on protesters, the semi-official news agency Mehr reported. Iran’s mission to the United Nations called Amnesty’s report "baseless allegations and fabricated figures". Amnesty International said at least 106 protesters in 21 cities had been killed, according to witness reports, verified videos and information from human rights activists. Iran has curbed access to the internet, making it near impossible for protesters to post social media videos of rallies. About 1,000 protesters have been arrested, officials said. Frustration has grown over a weakening currency and rising prices for bread, rice and other staples since the United States withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers and reimposed sanctions. The government said the price rises were intended to raise around $2.55 billion a year for extra subsidies to 18 million families struggling on low incomes. Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Catherine Evans, Larry King and Andrew Cawthorne This entry was posted in National Security and tagged Hassan Rouhani, Iran. Bookmark the permalink.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353396
__label__wiki	0.613787	0.613787	Select language  Freeditorial Publishing House Menu The Birthplace Henry James. Novel \| English \| 24/07/17 It seemed to them at first, the offer, too good to be true, and their friend's letter, addressed to them to feel, as he said, the ground, to sound them as to inclinations and possibilities, had almost the effect of a brave joke at their expense. Their friend, Mr. Grant-Jackson, a highly preponderant pushing person, great in discussion and arrangement, abrupt in overture, unexpected, if not perverse, in attitude, and almost equally acclaimed and objected to in the wide midland region to which he had taught, as the phrase was, the size of his foot—their friend had launched his bolt quite out of the blue and had thereby so shaken them as to make them fear almost more than hope. The place had fallen vacant by the death of one of the two ladies, mother and daughter, who had discharged its duties for fifteen years; the daughter was staying on alone, to accommodate, but had found, though extremely mature, an opportunity of marriage that involved retirement, and the question of the new incumbents was not a little pressing. The want thus determined was of a united couple of some sort, of the right sort, a pair of educated and competent sisters possibly preferred, but a married pair having its advantages if other qualifications were marked. Applicants, candidates, besiegers of the door of every one supposed to have a voice in the matter, were already beyond counting, and Mr. Grant-Jackson, who was in his way diplomatic and whose voice, though not perhaps of the loudest, possessed notes of insistence, had found his preference fixing itself on some person or brace of persons who had been decent and dumb. The Gedges appeared to have struck him as waiting in silence—though absolutely, as happened, no busy body had brought them, far away in the North, a hint either of bliss or of danger; and the happy spell, for the rest, had obviously been wrought in him by a remembrance which, though now scarcely fresh, had never before borne any such fruit. Morris Gedge had for a few years, as a young man, carried on a small private school of the order known as preparatory, and had happened then to receive under his roof the small son of the great man, who was not at that time so great. The little boy, during an absence of his parents from England, had been dangerously ill, so dangerously that they had been recalled in haste, though with inevitable delays, from a far country—they had gone to America, with the whole continent and the great sea to cross again—and had got back to find the child saved, but saved, as couldn't help coming to light, by the extreme devotion and perfect judgement of Mrs. Gedge. Without children of her own she had particularly attached herself to this tiniest and tenderest of her husband's pupils, and they had both dreaded as a dire disaster the injury to their little enterprise that would be caused by their losing him. Nervous anxious sensitive persons, with a pride—as they were for that matter well aware—above their position, never, at the best, to be anything but dingy, they had nursed him in terror and had brought him through in exhaustion. Exhaustion, as befell, had thus overtaken them early and had for one reason and another managed to assert itself as their permanent portion. The little boy's death would, as they said, have done for them, yet his recovery hadn't saved them; with which it was doubtless also part of a shy but stiff candour in them that they didn't regard themselves as having in a more indirect manner laid up treasure. Treasure was not to be, in any form whatever, of their dreams or of their waking sense; and the years that followed had limped under their weight, had now and then rather grievously stumbled, had even barely escaped laying them in the dust. Send to your kindle Copylink  Download  Read Online Twitter Facebook Other The Letters of Henry James. Vol.I The Chaperon The Madonna of the Future A London Life & Other Tales. Vol.II The Letter To Louis Freeditorial 2016 © All Rights Reserved COPYRIGHT MANAGEMENT Henry James.'s The Birthplace for your kindle, tablet, IPAD, PC or mobile. Download the The Birthplace ebook free	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353397
__label__cc	0.732821	0.267179	Welcome to the website owned by Self Care Corporation Pty Ltd and operated on its own behalf, and on behalf of its Affiliates and Brands, including but not limited to Self Care Laboratories and freezeframe (hereinafter the “Site”). Your privacy on the Internet is of utmost importance to us. The success of our business is based on our ability to maintain your trust. This privacy statement discloses our privacy policy, including what information we collect, how we use it, and how you can correct or make changes to that information. For purposes of this Privacy Statement, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” and “SelfCare”, refer to Self Care Corporation Pty Ltd and its Affiliates and Brands. “You” refers to you, as a user of this Site. By using this Site, you consent to the terms of our Privacy Policy as described herein. 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__label__wiki	0.713935	0.713935	By Thomas McMullan Christian Marclay Wants Us to Stop, Look and Listen The artist’s new show at White Cube combines structuralist filmmaking with the Green Cross Code, to dazzling effect ‘Look!’ commands the first room of Christian Marclay’s luminous new exhibition at White Cube Mason’s Yard. Look left, look right. Stare at the worn lettering of ‘LOOK’ street signs from London’s pedestrian crossings: here, dissected by double yellow lines; there, admonishing from the depths of a puddle. Recalling, in equal parts, Hollis Frampton’s structural filmmaking classic Zorns Lemma (1970) and British road-safety initiative the Green Cross Code, Marclay’s photographs take meaning from words that have been painted onto the city. The imperatives are brought together in a looping animation (Look, 2016–19), which circles through thousands of such images so that the word becomes a juddering cartoon on a flipbook of tarmac. It’s a similar tactic to the one Marclay adopted in 2016 with six animations of objects on roads, from cigarette butts to chewing gum: a literal ‘street photography’ of everyday detritus given structure through repetition. Here, it’s a prelude to and an instruction for what comes next. Descending into White Cube’s subterranean space, the light of the ground floor is lost to a darkened gallery, lit solely by a floor-to-ceiling monolith of spasming colour. Step closer and you’ll see this imposing column is made up of 22 horizontal slithers, each cut from the very bottom of a film’s frame, where subtitles tend to reside. Subtitled (2019) is an exquisite corpse of fleeting slivers, with fragments of dialogue and closed captions flitting between glimpses of body parts, car chases, sea storms, burning buildings and an overflow of other images. Christian Marclay. 'Christian Marclay', installation view at White Cube Mason's Yard, London. Courtesy: the artist and White Cube, London; photograph: Theo Christelis The films duck and weave continuously and, while the first impulse is to mentally climb this ladder of cut-outs, looking for the kinds of clear juxtapositions and narrative bleeding that Marclay carved so masterfully in The Clock (2010), the rungs here are greased. There are connections, divergences, convergences, but they are more of colour and geometry than any clear continuity of scene. If the hours of the day were the anchor for The Clock, here it is the rainbow, uncertain and flickering. And silent. Sound has been a key part of Marclay’s film collages: a ligament for the disparate shots of music being made in Video Quartet (2002) or guns being fired in Crossfire (2007) or pretty much every transition in The Clock. Conversely, the flow of images in Subtitled has to make do without aural connective tissue. All the better for creating a cacophony, as directions for storms, words and whispers dance simultaneously on the screen, leaving us uncertain as to what is said and what is thought. ‘I love you totally, tenderly, tragically,’ one subtitle reads, separated by strips of roiling water from ‘(thunder)’, before both are immediately lost amid the deluge. Christian Marclay, Subtitled, 2019, installation view. Courtesy: the artist and White Cube, London; photograph: Theo Christelis The artist has played with words and implied sound before: in Surround Sounds (2014–15), for example, onomatopoeic phrases from vintage comic books exploded and cascaded across gallery walls. Here, there is more restraint – and more power for it. Rather than overwhelm the piece, the closed captions form one part of the weave, moving from text to texture as the thin strips of film ripple between a tower of moments, like the windows of a skyscraper or 22 browser tabs open at the same time. More than anything, however, Subtitled reminds me of a stained-glass window. Just like the religious imagery on stained glass, celluloid relies on light being shone through it to make its pictures known. ‘Look!’ the upstairs photographs commanded. So, you look at this rectangle and feel something approaching meditation, or at least introspection, as you consider the Technicolor surge in front of you. Give up trying to read the words or piece together the fragmented images and the totality seems to billow with light. Sublime. 'Christian Marclay' runs at White Cube Mason’s Yard, London, until 15 May 2019. Main image: Christian Marclay, Look, 2016-2019, video still. Courtesy: the artist and White Cube, London Thomas McMullan Thomas McMullan is a London-based writer and journalist. His articles have appeared in The Guardian, The Observer, The TLS and Sight and Sound. He has been published by Lighthouse, 3:AM Magazine, The Stockholm Review and Cours de Poétique, and featured in Best British Short Stories. His first novel, The Last Good Man, will be published by Bloomsbury in 2020. Follow him on Twitter: @thomas_mac First published in Issue 204 June - July - August 2019 White Cube George Segal’s Timeless Allegory of Human Discord Feliciano Centurión’s Textiles Enact New Pleasures The Artificial Skins of Ludovica Carbotta Trisha Donnelly Sculpts in Four Dimensions Phung-Tien Phan Unfolds the Many Roles We Play in Life Gareth Long Revisits the Greatest Cinematic Con Job You’ve Never Heard Of The Tender Refuge of Franklin Williams’s Woven Self-Portraits Nan Goldin Pays Homage to Lost Friends The Coded Languages of Artists Larry Johnson and Asha Schechter Artist Pat Steir Is Still Challenging the Postwar American Canon A Strange Trick of Light Non-Stop-Super-De-Lux: Charlie Godet Thomas at Vitrine Paul B. Preciado’s New Book Longs for a World that May Never Come	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353402
__label__wiki	0.568824	0.568824	Three Activists stop work at Adani Carmichael rail corridor by Andy \| Dec 18, 2019 \| Media release Three people have stopped work at Adani’s proposed Carmichael rail corridor in central Queensland this morning by immobilising machinery and blocking a gate. Tom Cotter and Simon Ennew locked themselves to heavy machinery, while Minna Featherstone blocked access to the worksite by locking herself to the gate. A group of 25 supporters gathered nearby, saying the already-evident effects of climate crisis demand the Carmichael mine must not go ahead. Brisbane-based senior ecologist Tom Cotter says “I’ve gone to these lengths to disrupt the mine’s development because climate change is an extraordinary emergency, and the burning of coal and other fossil fuels is its most significant driver. Huge areas of the country are burning. The bushfires have been described by the Queensland rural fire service as unprecedented. We are in an extinction crisis with one million species globally threatened. This is what scientists have been predicting would happen and will continue to worsen with ongoing industrial burning of coal, oil and gas. The planet is overheating, and the evidence is clear that the only way to stop it is to leave coal reserves like the Galilee Basin in the ground.” “With the effects of climate crisis obvious all around us, and continued government inaction, ordinary people who are concerned about our future are forced to take actions like this. This year hundreds of Australians have been arrested taking direct action to stop the fossil fuel industry, but this is a necessary and reasonable response to a recklessness that is threatening life on this planet.”	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353405
__label__cc	0.749533	0.250467	FutureClassical.com Thoughts & news about the future of classical music. A Wild Theory About The Future of Classical Music Are There Things That Subconsciously Make Us Like (or Dislike) Music? (Part 7 of A Wild Theory About the Future of Classical Music) Posted on April 2, 2017 AuthorMatthew HodgeLeave a comment Via Pexels.com In my last post, I introduced the concept of Personal Connection as being one of the factors that crops up a lot as a reason why we like certain music and not others. Now, in some senses, this is obvious. I had a good email exchange with Greg Sandow about this topic, where he pointed out (quite correctly) that nearly all forms of music are created by and for distinct social groups. But on the other hand, it might not be as obvious as we think. A Neutral Music Experience? It’s possible that in the classical music world, we can sometimes be guilty of thinking that our music is personally neutral. In fact, there’s a great deal of importance placed on the idea of the music ‘speaking for itself’. So, for instance, the way a lot of musicologists write about classical music today is in a fairly objective tone. They will explain how the music works and the history of it, but won’t go too much into why they like it. Likewise, the concert experience is designed to present the music ‘straight’, without too much manipulation. The lighting is fairly bright without a lot of colour, and the conductor comes out and performs without speaking to the audience. The orchestra members themselves, apart from the conductor, soloists and section leaders, are trained to minimise extraneous movement. It’s not meant to be impersonal as such, but it does seem constructed to move the personal and subjective out of the way and just leave the pure experience of the music. Music and the Subconscious Music ‘speaking for itself’ is fine in theory. But do we actually listen to music like that? Do we hear music objectively? Why, if classical music is just meant to be about the music speaking for itself, do so many people think that symphony orchestras aren’t for them? (Like we talked about in the section on Attitude Affinity in my last post.) What if there are other things going on in our brains that make us like the music – not just the music itself. There are a network of patterns, connections, memories and triggers that all come together at the point of hearing a piece of music. If those patterns, connections, memories and triggers were different, would we have a different reaction to the music? And more importantly, are there ways we can change what goes on in our subconscious? Or the subconscious of our audiences?) While you think about that for a minute, let me talk about food. A few months ago, I read a hugely entertaining and eye-opening book called Mindless Eating, which was written by Brian Wansink, a food researcher in America. It was an awesome read because Wansink detailed story after story of ‘food experiments’ that were tried at various food research facilities in the United States. These experiments were all variations of giving people food under two sets of circumstances, to see what factors made people eat certain types of food. (Or certain quantities of food.) What Wansink found was that, despite our best intentions, the amount and type of food that people consume is based on a lot of unconscious signals that drive them to eat more. For instance, people will eat more food out of a larger bowl than out of a smaller one. They will eat more food when they can’t see how much they’ve eaten. (e.g. People will eat more chicken wings if the waitress clears the bones away than they will if the bones visibly pile up.) The book demonstrated that there were certain factors that cause us to eat the way we do, but we’re often not aware of them. Unconscious Personal Connection Trigger Points I believe something like this applies to music, especially in the realm of Personal Connection. On the surface of things, we might think that we like music because we’ve got good musical taste. Or because some music sounds interesting, while other music sounds boring and we can tell the difference. But I suspect, underneath, there are all sorts of unconscious triggers that affect our enjoyment of music. Sadly, I don’t have a research team at my disposal to investigate these things. But if I did, I’d set them looking into what I call Unconscious Personal Connection Trigger Points. These are things that are part of the musical experience but separate from the music. And these Trigger Points act by signalling to your brain that this music is for people like you. If the signal is strongly, ‘Yes, this is for you!’ then you enjoy the music more. If the signal is strongly, ‘This musical experience isn’t for you!’ then we enjoy the music less. Via Pexels Some Potential Triggers Here are some of the things that I think could be Unconscious Personal Connection Trigger Points. They’re all hypothetical, so it could turn out that some of these have no significance at all. Others might be quite important. But in all cases, I can think of at least one anecdote where someone has said, ‘I would like the concert experience more if [X] was different’ and that’s how I compiled the list. You might think of others. (And I’ve love to hear from you if you do have more to add to the list!) Spoken Introductions. The obvious one. Hearing music where somebody introduces it vs. just hearing the music. Do you enjoy the music more (even if it was performed identically in both cases) because of the intro? If so, how much more? Lighting. Does lighting tell you something about whether this music is for people like you? If so, what effect does it have? Would some people feel more connected to the music if the lighting was coloured mood lighting? Would other people feel more comfortable with neutral lighting? Who You Are Listening With? Do you like music more if you go with a friend who is really into it? Versus going with friends who don’t like it much more than you do? Versus going by yourself with nobody to influence you? Who Is Sitting Around You? If the concert hall (or the stage, for that matter) is filled with people who are mostly in a different category of age / ethnicity / clothing styles from you, does that affect how you hear the music? Would you like the same music better if the people around you visually looked more like you? Terminology and Language. If music is described with one set of vocabulary in marketing materials / brochures / posters vs another set of vocabulary (e.g. musicological and precises vs friendly and subjective), would that impact how you hear the music? Celebrity Connections. If you knew a certain celebrity (that you were a fan of) liked classical music, would you enjoy the music more? Or if the music was used in a favourite movie of yours? Performer Movement. If the musicians were free to move however they wanted to the music (i.e. like chamber musicians, for instance) would you pick up on their enthusiasm for the music and thus like the music more? Or, for other people, would it be too distracting and take away from the music? Surrounding Music. Here’s an idea that I haven’t seen tested, but used to be done back in the 19th century at classical concerts: what if we put a serious classical work in the middle of a concert that otherwise featured popular music? Assuming you already liked the popular music, but weren’t a super-fan of classical music, would you like the classical music work more because it was surrounded by music that you did like? The Problem and the Dream: A Personal Connection Scorecard That’s just my hypothesising on some of the factors, but it immediately highlights a problem. We just aren’t sure how important (or unimportant) any of these factors actually are. For instance, assuming all the above things were significant, which would be the most important? Is lighting and the look of the stage more or less important than the language used? How would you rank them? This leads to my Dream Solution, which sadly I’m not in a position to implement straight away, but would love to try: a Personal Connection Scorecard. One day, maybe, we’ll sit down and start conducting experiments on our audiences. Imagine that we are performing two concerts to audiences of a similar demographic over two nights. The music is exactly the same on Night One as Night Two, except that we vary one thing – maybe the lighting, maybe talking from stage – on Night Two. On both nights, we ask the audience to rate the music. From then, it’s a simple question of statistics: assuming the audience were a similar make-up on both nights, did the one thing make a difference? Did the audience enjoy the music more on Night Two vs Night One? If we went through, testing Trigger Point after Trigger Point, eventually we would have a scorecard of what things make people like music more and what things don’t. And then, assuming all the above worked, it might be possible to carefully construct musical experiences that are designed, from top to bottom, to make people like the music more. Imagine if you could speed up the conversion rate on people starting to like classical music? Imagine if you could get a few per cent more of the audience coming back because they felt super-engaged with the music they heard? What if it was possible to increase engagement, just by tweaking a few externals? It’s all a theory, but I find it tantalising. But What If I Hated All Those Things? Now, coming back to reality, you may also have read the list above and thought, ‘No way! I don’t want fancy lighting.’ Or ‘I don’t want my classical music to be surrounded by popular music.’ Or even ‘You could do all those things, but I still struggle to find the music interesting.’ These are perfectly valid responses. The reality is that one person’s positive trigger could be another person’s negative trigger, which again would be a fascinating area to research as well. Ultimately we can tackle the issue of positive and negative triggers if a) we are committed to creating different musical experiences for different audiences and b) we have a good understanding of what things make some people light up while others fade out. And we’re seeing a move among many classical music organisations today to better grasp the different audiences (plural) they are servicing and working out what to offer them, so I’m hopeful that many of the questions I have will start to be answered in the near future. But I Still Don’t Like It However, this still leaves us one with last great unexplored area: music we don’t like, no matter how personally connected we feel to the musical experience. For instance, going back to something a few posts ago, we know that many classical music fans struggle to listen to 20th century atonal music. So they can be sitting in an audience surrounded by their peers, in a concert that is otherwise filled with music that they love. But then that one piece of music comes on and it just sounds like noise. Even if we have all the Personal Connection in the world, and our Purpose in being in the concert hall is to hear great orchestral music: why do some pieces of music that we should like just not grab us and, in fact, often alienate us? For that, we need to move to the fascinating area of Pattern Matching, which I’ll explore in a couple of weeks. CategoriesAudience TheoryTagsaudiences, brain, classical music, personal connection ← Previous Previous post: Coffee Reading: Cross-Purposes in Music When Stravinsky Hits a Washington D.C. Nightclub Next → Next post: Coffee Reading: Different doors for different audiences Subscribe to FutureClassical.com Enter your email address to receive all the latest posts by email. About Matthew Hodge My background was in mathematics and statistics, with classical music just being something I enjoyed as a hobby. But after a few years in the private sector, I realised that I loved classical music a lot more than that, and made the jump into working for the classical music industry itself. It has been the most rewarding decision of my life. In recent years, my work has been in the growing CRM/database side of things. But my burning passion, that first drove me to enter this industry nearly a decade ago, is to answer one question: how can we make more people like classical music? 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__label__cc	0.60902	0.39098	by John Wright WMS applies online gaming licence in Nevada WMS applies for Nevada licence. WMS, the Waukegan, Illinois based lottery and slot machine manufacturer, has applied for an interactive gaming licence for the state of Nevada. The step comes about as WMS looks to increase it’s online presence. WMS’ President, Orrin Edidin, said: “The filing of WMS’ interactive gaming application with the State Gaming Control Board in Nevada represents an important milestone in our efforts to support our customers’ needs with a full array of products and managed services in the online and interactive arenas”. WMS already operates the online casino at JackpotParty.com as well as the Facebook application Lucky Cruise, a slot like game that uses credits instead of money. “WMS is committed to assisting our customers in establishing strong interactive gaming relationships with their patrons in the casino, at home or on their mobile devices”, continued Edidin. The bid comes after a spate of bids from rival companies after Nevada’s Gaming Policy Committee was resurrected by Governor Brian Sandoval. WMS’ competitors IGT, Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies have already made bids for interactive gaming licences. The revival of the GPC comes as Nevada’s new online poker plans take shape as the average Las Vegas gambler spent less on gaming in 2011 than in 2010 ($447.63, compared to $466.20). WMS has also teamed up with Phantom EFX, the world leader in the development of interactive slot and casino games, in order to make WMS slot games available on other platforms. The partnerships aims to release content online as well as for PC’s and for Apple and Android mobile devices. WMS Gaming is one of the two subsidiaries of WMS Industries - the other being Orion Gaming - and was founded in 1974 as Williams Electronics Inc. WMS introduced multi-line and multi-coin secondary bonus payouts to slot machines with it’s 1996 model Reel ‘em In, and gained success with licensing of household brand names such as Monopoly, Star Trek, Top Gun and The Wizard of Oz. WMS introduced the first flash memory slot machine architecture, with the CPU-NXT released in 2003. WMS has recently emerged as the industries most innovative player, establishing new standards with the introduction of new gaming platforms such as Community Gaming, sensory Immersion Gaming, Transmissive Reels and Gaming and Adaptive Gaming. The timing of this licence happens shortly after Pokerstars and Full Tilt poker were looking to merge with land based gaming companies in Las Vegas in preparation for the licensing of online gambling in America. Affiliates can probably expect commissions and terms and conditions worse than bwin.party. Looking to promote online casinos? Visit our Casino affiliate programs page.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353408
__label__wiki	0.661471	0.661471	#QGCon Bayonetta Fanvid (tl;dr just scroll to the bottom and enjoy) As I mentioned in my #QGCon Reflections, my contribution to the Queerness and Games Convention was a screening of a critical fanvid I made of the video game Bayonetta. This vid, part of a series of digital companions I am crafting to complement my written dissertation (with a nod to Kim Knight for companion inspiration!), accompanies a chapter I wrote on the gamic gaze with relation to both Portal and Bayonetta. Before I explain more about the vid itself, I’d like to direct you to the brilliant work of Alexis Lothian, a colleague, collaborator, and mentor who has taught me so much about the digital humanities, scholarly community, fan communities, queerness, and more. I was inspired by her scholarly vidding practice, which combines fannish and academic skillsets to create critical objects that cross boundaries between these two (arbitrarily?) separated worlds. My first foray into vidding doesn’t match Lothian’s sophistication (no, really, go watch her stuff), but I do hope to make more entries like this into acafan conversations in the future. I am particularly grateful to have had her example to follow. My fannish and scholarly fascination with Bayonetta extends back several years now, and my early blog post about the game was one of my first attempts at critical blogging. The resulting entry is a bit cumbersome and my thinking on the game has become quite a bit more sophisticated, but some of its major critiques remain in my subsequent writing on Bayonetta: 1. the “male gaze” critique is insufficient to account for both the visual and narrative power dynamics in the game; 2. most critics neglect the game’s queer vectors of desire; 3. many people also fail to recognize the ways in which Bayonetta (the game and the character) works to undermine and dismantle patriarchy from a position of collective resistance. This vid is an attempt to highlight these specific critiques, and then some. I have since framed my analysis in terms of later feminist film critics like Carol Clover, who argues that the subject position of the gaze is not so simple, that identification can occur across gendered lines and has a complicated relationship with agency and power. Moreover, I am fascinated by Micha Cárdenas‘s concept of femme disturbance, which suggests that queer femininity’s disruption of hegemony via excess can point the way for new modes of inhabiting oppressive structures. This moves away from simplistic accounts of agency, power, and resistance that suggest change must always happen from outside. Femme disturbance allows us to conceive of how political work can occur from multiple subject positions, and it respects that not everyone has the privilege of throwing off systemic norms in order to make bold political statements. In short, to quote Gloria Steinem on the recent Miley Cyrus drama: “I wish we didn’t have to be nude to be noticed, but given the game as it exists, women make decisions…. I think that we need to change the culture, not blame the people that are playing the only game that exists.” Bayonetta is, of course, a synthetic character without agency, and as such might be seen as part of the structure itself rather than an individual negotiating it. However, the extent to which any individual is not just a part of the system is extremely debatable, as is the amount of agency one has in determining their own subject position; even pop stars, ever the subject of our debates about women’s agency within patriarchal systems, are themselves patchwork girls made up of the contributions of multiple committees, songwriters, publicists, storywriters, and more – which Cárdenas points out when discussing Ke$ha. In this way, they are not qualitatively that different from any one of us, nor from synthetic media icons like Lara Croft or Bayonetta. What is important with fictional figures, however, is whether they can help us to imagine other ways of confronting oppressive regimes, whatever position they might occupy in relation to them. A lot of people miss what Bayonetta shows us because she looks and moves a lot like a stripper, one of feminism’s traditionally abjected subjects. My choice of Aerosmith’s “Ain’t That a Bitch” plays perfectly to the stripper aesthetic, with sensual guitar riffs and an easy tempo that drips with sexual possibilities. I hoped to capitalize, much in the same way Bayonetta does, on the seductive force of this aesthetic in order to drive the point home: the vid’s visual story is very much one that, like Bayonetta, strips the so-called “male gaze” of its masculine power and appropriates it for its own desires. Just as sex workers play with the desires of clients to achieve their own ends (whether or not this entails a certain amount of risk), the game and my vid (hopefully) execute a similar sleight-of-hand to expose some key contradictions. Who controls the power of the gaze? Who succeeds in looking at whom? Are the slow motion and sexy solos for the benefit of a straight male? What is the cost of visual pleasure? (Spoiler alert: look for the castrations.) On top of all this, the word “bitch” is situated within feminist conversations at much the same place as Bayonetta herself, asking one final key question: is this violent misogyny, or is it triumphant reclamation? Or is it somewhere in between? Like Cárdenas, I want to be clear here that femme disturbance is not about a wholesale reversal of power, and there is much to critique in Bayonetta specifically and in the strategy of using sex for empowerment more generally. However, we still have a lot of work to do to move beyond binaristic conversations about sexual practices and sex work. In order to better understand current power structures, it is important to look at the things that are happening around us right now. I agree with indie developer activists like Anna Anthropy who call for a wider representation of queer characters that exist outside of normative frames of representation, but this game and this vid are not doing that work. That doesn’t mean, however, that they do no work at all. Conferences, feminism, Game Studies, Queer Bayonetta, fanvid #QGCon Reflections Crossing Paths with Colorblindness: Equality Street michacardenas hi amanda! it’s an honor to read your response to my work here. i’m really looking forward to move conversations with you about the resistant potential of games! and congrats on your awesome new postdoc! Let’s talk soon! p.s. when and how are we going to get to play some games together online?! A thread. 💙 twitter.com/kwazana/status… 3 days ago Finishing page proofs today. Holding anxiety at bay with Star Trek: Voyager ambient bridge noise and a little floof… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 6 days ago tfw you're doing page proofs and a video has a completely different name from what you've been using in the manuscr… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 week ago Toronto folks! Go have fun and support a great org Jan 12! twitter.com/QGCon/status/1… 1 week ago Co-editing a special issue of Antares: Letras e Humanidades, with @Job_Aline. Issue theme: "Critical Game Studies."… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 week ago Follow @NazcaTheMad Podcasts and Streams and Games, oh my! Special Issue of Game Studies: Queerness and Video Games #2018ASA DH Caucus: News and Ways to Get Involved at the Conference! #2018ASA Digital Panels List hastac Race-conscious Scholarship	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353412
__label__wiki	0.740172	0.740172	Streaming Review: Starry Eyes By Dr. Zaius \| @ \| April 15th, 2015 at 2:00 pm Netflix \| Amazon Instant \| Blu-ray \| DVD Directed by Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch Written by Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch Starring Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Fabianne Therese, Noah Segan, Natalie Castillo, Pat Healy, Marc Senter, Maria Olsen, Lou Dezseran Not Rated \| 98 Minutes Release Date: March 8th, 2014 at the South by Southwest (SXSW) What would you do for fame and fortune? Aspiring young actors face this question on a daily basis. Would you surrender your pride, your inhibitions, your body? Yeah, would you do THAT with a producer for a big break? At first, natural reaction is to be appalled and disgusted. But… after a few minutes thought, imagine the life in the lap of luxury — the glitter, the gold, the cameras. Maybe it would be worth it. An hour of degradation and humiliation for a lifetime of glamour. Itâ€™s like selling oneâ€™s soul. Or in the case of Sarah Walker, itâ€™s literally like selling your soul. Topics: Movies, Reviews, Streaming Tags: Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Dark Sky Films, Dennis Widmyer, Fabianne Therese, Horror, Kevin Kolsch, Lou Dezseran, Marc Senter, Natalie Castillo, Netflix, Netflix Instant Streaming, Noah Segan, Pat Healy, Starry Eyes SXSW 2014 Review: Starry Eyes By Adam Frazier \| @ \| March 13th, 2014 at 9:30 pm Director: Dennis Widmyer, Kevin Kolsch Writers: Dennis Widmyer, Kevin Kolsch Cast: Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Fabianne Therese, Noah Segan, Natalie Castillo, Pat Healy, Marc Senter, Maria Olsen, Lou Dezseran World Premiere \| Dark Sky Films Release Date: March 8 (SXSW) Determined to make it as an actress in Hollywood, Sarah Walker (Alex Essoe) spends her days working a dead-end job, enduring petty friendships and going on countless casting calls in hopes of catching her big break. After a series of strange auditions, Sarah lands the leading role in The Silver Scream, a new film from a mysterious production company. With this opportunity, however, comes bizarre ramifications that will transform her into something beautiful and altogether terrifying. The producers of The Silver Scream are actually members of a satanic cult that has been operating as Hollywood’s gatekeepers since the Golden Age. They have the power to make Sarah a star, but it will come at a terrible price â€“ her soul. Topics: Film Festivals, Movie Reviews, Movies, Reviews, SXSW Tags: Alexandra Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Dennis Widmyer, Fabianne Therese, Kevin Kolsch, Lou Dezseran, Marc Senter, Maria Olsen, Natalie Castillo, Noah Segan, Pat Healy, Starry Eyes, SXSW DVD Review: Creature (2011) By Adam Frazier \| @ \| April 27th, 2012 at 1:00 pm Directed by Fred M. Andrews Written by Fred M. Andrews and Tracy Morse Starring Sid Haig, Mehcad Brooks, Serinda Swan, Amanda Fuller The Bubble Factory If you’ve seen one backwoods incestuous half-man, half-alligator creature feature, you’ve seen ’em all. Directed by Fred M. Andrews, Creature follows an ex-Navy SEAL (Mehcad Brooks) and his trashy girlfriend (Serinda Swan) on a road trip to New Orleans with their annoying twenty-something pals. The gang stops at a desolate roadside gas station owned by Chopper (Sid Haig, House of 1000 Corpses), who tells them the tale of Lockjaw, a backwoods abomination who is half-man, half-alligator. The incestuous and absurd folktale goes a little something like this: An inbred cajun creeper by the name of Grimley (Daniel Bernhardt) lost his family to a monstrous white alligator, which drove him to madness – and by madness I mean, he beat the shit out of that alligator and turned into a cannibal. Somehow ol’ cannibalistic Grimley transformed into Lockjaw, an alligator-man with a Glasgow grin that prowls about the swamps in search of fresh meat. Tags: Amanda Fuller, Creature, Fred M. Andrews, Mehcad Brooks, Serinda Swan, Sid Haig, Tracy Morse	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353415
__label__wiki	0.630841	0.630841	iTrack™ is the only illuminated, micron-scale microcatheter designed to viscodilate Schlemm’s canal during MIGS with ABiC™. A standout feature of the iTrack™ is its illuminated tip, which allows you to continually monitor its location during canal circumnavigation. ABiC WITH iTRACK Performed as a standalone procedure or as an adjunct to cataract surgery, ABiC is a new MIGS procedure that can comprehensively restore the natural outflow pathway in glaucoma patients. Introducing a new comprenhensive MIGS Vitreolysis. Redefining Convention. Virtually every individual will experience the visual shadows caused by vitreous strands and opacities during their lifetime. Vitreolysis provides an effective outpatient-based treatment for floaters and overcomes many of the risks associated with traditional surgery. SLT. Gentle. Effective Repeatable. A highly effective approach for first-line glaucoma treatments, as adjunct therapy with drugs, and as alternative therapy when drugs or surgery fail, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) stimulates a natural healing response in the eye to manage intraocular pressure. 2RT® is a nanosecond laser therapy that stimulates a natural, biological healing response in the eye to treat degenerative retinal disease, including AMD. Retinal Rejuvenation. Naturally, from Ellex. 30 Years of Ophthalmic Innovation For 30 years, Ellex has been at the forefront of ophthalmic innovation, introducing cutting-edge products and technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. Pioneering solutions for eye care since 1985. For more than 30 years, Ellex has been committed to the fight against blindness. Our vision is to pioneer integrated medical technologies and solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. A Global Outlook. Over the years, Ellex has evolved from a small scientific laser company to a global leader in medical technologies. Today, more than 30,000 Ellex laser and ultrasound systems are used around the world in the fight against blindness. Ellex Secures TGA Approval for new STAAR Lens, Continues Partnership Adelaide, Australia XX June 2018 – Ellex Medical Lasers Limited (ASX:ELX), a global leader in medical devices for the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, today announced that it will continue its exclusive distribution agreement with US-based STAAR Surgical Company (STAAR) to market and distribute the STAAR portfolio of industry-leading refractive and cataract lens implants in Australia. This coincides with Ellex’s successful registration of the EVO+ Visian ICL™ refractive lens with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia. Ellex first entered into partnership with STAAR in 2011, leveraging its distribution channel and existing sales and marketing infrastructure to promote the STAAR range of refractive (ICL and TICL) lenses and cataract (IOL) lenses. “There are many synergies between STAAR and Ellex…. Ellex to Showcase Laser Floater Removal Innovations at ASCRS 2017 May 4, 2017 – Adelaide, Australia. Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd will showcase its newly launched Tango Reflex™ selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)/YAG laser alongside its other world-leading Laser Floater Removal (LFR) innovations at this year’s Congress of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) on 5-9 May 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California, USA. The unique LFR product portfolio includes the Ultra Q Reflex™ – the world’s first and only YAG laser optimized for anterior and posterior YAG treatments – and the new Tango Reflex™ SLT/YAG multi-modality laser – a breakthrough in laser technology that provides surgeons with four treatment modalities (SLT, LFR, capsulotomy and iridotomy) in a single device. Reflex Technology Features The Tango Reflex™… Ellex to Hold MIGS Events Featuring ABiC with iTrack at ASCRS 2017 May 4, 2017 – Adelaide, Australia – Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd will spotlight the role of ABiC (ab -interno Canaloplasty) a new minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), during a series of events at the Congress of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) being held on 5-9 May 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California, USA. The events will begin with a breakfast symposium, hosted by EyeWorld, on Saturday 6 May from 8:30am to 9:30am in room 404 (level 2). The session, moderated by glaucoma specialist Stephen Vold MD (USA), will feature guest speakers Mahmoud Khaimi MD (USA) and Mark Gallardo MD (USA). A “Speaker Central” event will follow from 10:30am to 11:00am on Saturday 6… Ellex to Launch Eye One Ultrasound System at ESCRS 2016 Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd will unveil the newest member of its ultrasound portfolio at the upcoming Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) being held 10-14 September, 2016 at the Bella Center, Copenhagen, Denmark. The Eye One™ is a portable ultrasound platform that offers full coverage of all examination and measurement modes in an easy to use, compact design. The device offers the same horsepower and precision imaging as Ellex’s industry-leading Eye Cubed™, built into a compact, portable platform. Ultrasound plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis and monitoring of ophthalmic disorders. It is also increasingly used in the diagnosis of systemic disorders. For example, diabetes is often diagnosed by an eye doctor because the patient starts… Ellex to Host Lunch Symposium on ABiC at ESCRS 2016 Ellex Medical will host a lunch symposium (Eurotimes Satellite Education Program), on ABiC™ for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma at the Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) being held 10-14 September 2016 at the Bella Center, Copenhagen, Denmark. The symposium, to be held on Sunday, 11 September from 1:00-2:00 pm in Room B8, will feature presentations by Mahmoud A. Khaimi, MD, (Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma) and Mark J. Gallardo, MD (El Paso Eye Surgeons, Texas), and will be moderated by Norbert Koerber, PhD, MD (Augencentrum Köln-Porz, Germany). Drs Gallardo and Khaimi will share their 12-month findings in 228 eyes with mild-to-moderate primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who underwent ABiC™ either alone or… 12-Month Data Highlight the Safety and Efficacy of Ab-Interno Canaloplasty in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Adelaide, Australia, 18 April 2016 – Adelaide, Australia. Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd is pleased to announce findings from a 12-month case series review of 228 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) which show that ab-interno canaloplasty (ABiC) helps to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication dependence with minimal complications. ABiC is an FDA-approved evolution of “tried-and-tested” traditional ab-externo Canaloplasty, a bleb-free procedure that uses Ellex’s proprietary iTrack™ 250-micron microcatheter to circumferentially viscodilate Schlemm’s canal in order to restore natural aqueous outflow. ABiC differs from traditional canaloplasty only in that it does not require a tensioning suture to maintain the IOP reduction and the procedure spares conjunctival manipulation for future procedures if required. Like traditional Canaloplasty, ABiC can be performed as standalone procedure and in combination with cataract surgery. The case series… Ellex to Host ABiC Symposium at AAO 2015 Meeting Adelaide, Australia, 10 November 2015 – Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd will host a breakfast symposium featuring experts in Ab-Interno Canaloplasty (ABiC) at the 2015 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) being held in Las Vegas, USA from November 14-17. The symposium, which will be held on Monday, November 16 at The Mirage, Grand Ballroom ‘G’, from 7:00 am – 8:00 am will feature presentations from glaucoma surgeons, Mahmoud A. Khaimi, MD, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma, USA, and Mark J. Gallardo, MD, El Paso Eye Surgeons, Texas, USA, both of whom have wide experience with Canaloplasty. A modification of traditional Canaloplasty, Ab-interno Canaloplasty (ABiC) is a novel minimally-invasive glaucoma treatment that conserves the clinically proven benefits of 360o viscodilation… Ellex to Host Vitreolysis Symposium at AAO 2015 Meeting Adelaide, Australia, 10 November 2015 – Ellex Medical Lasers Pty (Adelaide, Australia) will host a breakfast symposium featuring world-renowned experts in laser vitreolysis at the 2015 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) being held in Las Vegas, USA from November 14-17. The symposium, which will be held on Sunday, November 15 at The Mirage, St Croix A&B from 7:00 am to 8:00 am, will feature a panel of expert speakers including Paul Inder Singh, MD (USA), Karl Stonecipher, MD (USA) and Karl Brasse, MD (Germany). The panel will be sharing their experience with Ellex’s Ultra Q Reflex™ technology, the first and only YAG laser designed specifically for the treatment of vitreous strands and opacities. The Ultra Q Reflex™… Ellex to Launch Multi-Color Scanning Photocoagulator at ASCRS Adelaide, Australia, 14 April 2015 – Ellex Medical (Adelaide, Australia) will launch its multi-color scanning photocoagulator, Integre Pro Scan™, at the 2015 meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in San Diego, California, 17-21 April. Integre Pro Scan™ provides a new benchmark in retinal laser technology, combining multi-color photocoagulation and pattern scanning in an ergonomic, all-in-one laser/slit lamp design. The system provides a number of wavelength configurations, including two dual-wavelength configurations. This includes a high-power yellow and red configuration that delivers the full treatment spectrum of a traditional three-color multi-color photocoagulator. It also includes a multitude of patterns and pattern variations which can be fully customized based on size, position and orientation, thus providing physicians with a pattern for… Ellex to Host Canaloplasty and Vitreolysis Symposia at ASCRS 2015 Adelaide, Australia, 14 April 2015 – Ellex Medical (Adelaide, Australia) will host two symposia featuring world-renowned experts in Canaloplasty and Laser Vitreolysis at the 2015 meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in San Diageo, USA from April 17-21. Canaloplasty for Glaucoma The first event, a Canaloplasty symposium, will be held on Monday, 20 April at the Marriott Marquis (Point Loma) from 6:15 am – 7:30 am. The panel of speakers will include Associate Professor, Mahmoud A Khaimi, Dean McKee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma, USA, Mark Gallardo, MD, El Paso Eye Surgeons, Texas, USA and David Richardson, MD, San Marino Eye, California, USA. The panel will be sharing the latest developments in the treatment of glaucoma including Ab-interno… Ellex Expands Glaucoma Product Offering Through Acquisition of Canaloplasty Business Ellex recently acquired the canaloplasty business of US-based iScience Interventional, Inc., which comprises the world-leading iTRACK™ 250 microcather for the treatment of mild-moderate glaucoma. Vitreolysis in the Spotlight at the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Ellex underscores the importance of Nd: YAG Laser vitreolysis and SLT during a series of events at the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in New Orleans, 16-19 November 2013. European Launch of Ultra Q Reflex Technology for the Treatment of Floaters Ellex will launch its Ultra Q Reflex™ technology, the first and only YAG laser designed specifically for the treatment of vitreous strands and opacities, during the XXXI Congress of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons in Amsterdam, 5-9 October 2013. Ellex to Spotlight Role of Vitreolysis in the Treatment of Floaters at the XXXI Congress of the ESCRS Ellex will spotlight the role of Nd:YAG laser vitreolysis (vitreolysis) in the treatment of vitreous strands and opacities during the XXXI Congress of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons in Amsterdam, 5-9 October 2013. EURETINA 2013 to Host the European Launch of Ellex’s Rapide™ Pattern Scanning Photocoagulator Ellex has announced the European launch of its Rapide™ Pattern Scanning Photocoagulator at the 13th EURETINA Congress taking place in Hamburg from 26-29 September 2013. Hosting retinal experts from around the globe, EURETINA offers an international insight into medical and surgical retina and presents the ideal launch platform for this breakthrough in retinal treatment technology. Ellex Spotlights SLT Technology at World Glaucoma Congress The official launch of Ellex’s SLT technology into the US market will be marked at this year’s World Glaucoma Congress (WGC), taking place from 17-20 July in Vancouver, Canada. To highlight this milestone, Ellex will host an SLT Technology Summit on Thursday 18 July at the exclusive “Vancouver Club”. Ellex Launches SLT Technology in the USA Ellex today announced that it has launched its proprietary SLT (selective laser trabeculoplasty) technology in the United States. Ellex Launches Multi-Modality YAG Laser at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Ellex Medical Lasers Limited (ASX:ELX), a leader in ophthalmic laser and imaging technology, today announced that it will launch the new Ultra Q™ microsurgical YAG laser with Reflex Technology™ at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in Chicago. Ellex to Spotlight Latest Innovations in Ophthalmology at AAO 2012 Ellex Medical, a manufacturer and distributor of ophthalmic technology for use in the fight against blindness, today announced that it will host a series of educational presentations at the Ellex Speaker Central during the 2012 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in Chicago. Ellex Takes Active Role in IAPB, Supports Fight Against Blindness Ellex Medical, a manufacturer and distributor of ophthalmic technology for use in the fight against blindness, today announced that it will participate in the 9th General Assembly of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in Hyderabad, India, 17-20 September. Ellex Delivers Ultrasound Education To ESCRS Delegates Ellex today announced that it will host its 8th European Ultrasound Training Course during the upcoming XXX Meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in Milan, Italy, on Friday, 7 September. Ellex To Address Latest Innovations In Nanopulse Laser Technology Ellex today announced that it will hold an educational symposium to address the latest advances in nanosecond laser technology in ophthalmology. Ellex To Showcase Advanced Laser And Imaging Technologies In Milan Ellex today announced that it will showcase its industry-leading laser and imaging technologies at the upcoming XXX Meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). Ellex Expands Global Reach With Establishment Of Ellex France Ellex today announced that it will establish a direct sales channel in France. Ellex Supports Access To SLT In Asia For The Treatment Of Glaucoma Ellex today announced that it will host an educational symposium for SLT (selective laser trabeculoplasty) at the upcoming 2012 Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress in Busan, Korea. Ellex To Spotlight Evolving Role Of SLT For Glaucoma Ellex today announced that it will bring together some of the world’s leading SLT practitioners at the Company’s SLT Physician Forum during the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) in Abu Dhabi, 16 – 20 February 2012. Ellex Supports Role Of Ophthalmic Ultrasound In Fight Against Blindness Ellex today announced that it will host its seventh Ultrasound Training Course during the upcoming World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 19 February. Ellex Expands Position In Retinal Laser Market With New Photocoagulator Technology Ellex will launch a new photocoagulator laser platform for the treatment of retinal disease, branded as Integre Pro™, at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Ellex Consolidates Laser And Ultrasound Manufacturing Ellex today announced plans to consolidate the manufacture of all Ellex laser and ultrasound products out of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Adelaide, Australia.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353418
__label__wiki	0.533207	0.533207	Rivers of Hope Prayer zone for a better, empowering, inspiring, promoting, prospering, progressing and more successful life through Christ Jesus Posts tagged ‘Des Moines Iowa’ US Rep. Tom Latham Won’t Seek Re-election in 2014. U.S. Rep. Tom Latham announced Tuesday he won’t seek re-election in 2014, creating a potentially competitive race for a seat that likely would have favored the 10-term Iowa Republican. The 65-year-old Republican from Clive will have spent 20 years in Congress and is Iowa’s senior U.S. House member. The decision creates an open seat that includes the Des Moines area in central Iowa and the vast rural tracts of southern and western Iowa. The news, coming late Tuesday, took Iowa’s GOP senior strategists by surprise. “It’s a bombshell politically in Iowa because he was so strong,” said Doug Gross, a longtime aide to Republican Gov. Terry Branstad and former nominee for governor. “It throws open a congressional seat in a very, very important district I think you’ll have a scrum on both sides. I think you’ll have lots of interest.” Democrat Staci Appel, a former state senator from Ackworth, had already announced her plans to seek the seat before Latham’s decision. Latham was heavily courted this year by Iowa Republicans, especially Branstad, and the national GOP to seek Iowa’s open Senate seat in 2014, but he turned that down in February. Five-term Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin announced in January that he would retire, and several Republicans have announced their candidacies. Latham is a member of the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the transportation subcommittee. He’s known for his friendship with House Speaker John Boehner and his love of golf. © Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Election News. Tom Latham Iowa Board Votes to End ‘Tele-Med’ Abortions. The Iowa Board of Medicine took a final step on Friday to stop Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from providing abortion-inducing drugs to women via a video-conferencing system, a practice used to serve women in rural areas without doctors. The board voted 8-2 to ban the practice, with most members arguing the best standard of care for a woman seeking an abortion is to have a doctor perform a physical exam and talk face-to-face with the patient. Currently, women in remote parts of the state who live far from abortion providers can speak with a physician through Internet video and then take the medication to induce an early-term abortion. Among those voting to ban telemedicine for abortions was Monsignor Frank Bognanno, pastor of Christ the King Catholic Parish in Des Moines and appointed to the board by Republican Governor Terry Branstad, an abortion foe. “This is a big deal … This isn’t like taking an aspirin,” Bognanno said. Ann Gales, a lawyer and board member, voted against the ban, arguing for more examination of the issue and raising concern that the vote was being rushed. “If this is the right rule, it will still be the right rule after we engage in a more thorough discussion,” Gales said. State laws requiring doctors to be present when abortion-inducing drugs are administered are becoming increasingly common, particularly in states run by Republican governors or Republican controlled legislatures. Eleven states have them, said Elizabeth Nash, state issues manager for the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research group. Abortion rights advocates say the laws are unfair to rural residents who do not have access to doctors and depend on telemedicine to get abortions, Nash said. Greg Hoversten, D.O., the Iowa medical board’s chairman, voted for the ban. “How can any of us possibly find that a medical abortion performed over the Internet is as safe as one provided by a physician in person, at the bedside?” Hoversten asked. The ban on so-called “tele-med” abortions was set to take effect on November 6. A lawyer for Planned Parenthood told reporters after the vote that, “all options are on the table,” including possible legal action to prevent the rule from taking effect. Source: CHARISMA NEWS. KAY HENDERSON/REUTERS Abortion. Guttmacher Institute Pastors Lay Hands on Rand Paul, Ted Cruz During Prayer Meeting. Iowa pastors pray for Sen. Rand Paul (center) and his wife, Kelly. (CBN News) It was a sight to behold inside a conference ballroom at the downtown Marriott hotel in Des Moines, Iowa, as hundreds of Iowa pastors called out to God and prayed over two U.S. senators, both of whom seem interested in running for president of the United States. Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Rand Paul came to Iowa Friday to speak at this Pastors and Pews event, organized by influential evangelical political operative David Lane. The Brody File got an up-close look and access to the private event. Cruz, who received a warm greeting, spoke for about 30 minutes and then took questions from the audience. He outlined how he championed religious freedom cases ranging from the Ten Commandments to the Mojave Cross case. He touched on how to go about eliminating Obamacare; he called for abolishing the IRS (which received a standing ovation), and on the issue of marriage he said, “There’s no issue where we need to be more on our knees … we are facing an assault on marriage.” On spiritual matters, he told the pastors that, “We are in a battle to turn this country around.” Later, in a one-on-one sit-down interview with The Brody File, he said this country is badly in need of spiritual revival. He charged the pastors to step up and speak boldly about the issues facing our country today. He compared all of them to Esther, saying the biblical woman was put in a position of leadership, “for such a time as this.” Afterwards, pastors gathered around Cruz and his father (who was on hand for the conference) to pray for them. As for Paul, he spoke for about 20 minutes and then the pastors prayed for the senator and his wife, Kelly. Paul spent the bulk of his time explain how liberty, freedom and virtue go hand in hand. His biggest applause lines came when he talked about his dedication to the pro-life issue and how he believes America needs to cut off aid to countries that hate America. He briefly addressed his foreign policy views, explaining that we should be focused on peace not war. He invoked the name of Jesus saying how He says in the Bible, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” However, he made clear that he was not against war and if war was necessary, he would make sure America would win it decisively. There’s no doubt Paul and Cruz have begun thinking about running for president in 2016 and this event was a chance to introduce themselves to a pivotal group of pastors who will play a significant role in the presidential selection process since Iowa is always the first state in the nation to vote. However, the main goal of the two-day conference was to really motivate pastors to speak boldly about issues from the pulpit and to awake Christian voters, who may agree that America’s culture is going in the toilet, but sit on their hands and do nothing about it. While getting more evangelicals to the polls is a political goal of the conference, there is a much deeper spiritual purpose. These pastors want to see spiritual revival in America. Speaker after speaker implored them to simply preach the word from the Bible and leave the outcome to God. A big theme was praying for another Great Awakening in this country but the pastors here agreed that it could only come if evangelicals truly repent and get down on their knees in prayer. In other words, there won’t be any Great Awakening if Christians don’t get serious in their prayer life. DAVID BRODY/CBN NEWS Religious News. Sen. Cruz and Paul Urge Conservative Christians to Get Involved. Two Republican senators who are widely considered to be viable contenders for a 2016 presidential run, were in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday urging conservative Christians to get involved politically. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., spoke to a group of at least 400 evangelical pastors and their wives at the Iowa Renewal Project, with Cruz telling them “to hold party leaders accountable,” The Washington Post reports. “Jesus reminds us what our goal should be when he proclaims: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,'” Paul said. “This does not mean we never go to war. But it means we should do so reluctantly, and seek an end expeditiously.” Cruz quoted from the book of Isaiah. “‘My people perish for lack of knowledge,'” said Cruz. “And the prophet Ezekiel charged us: ‘Son of man, you are a watchman for the house of Israel.'” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus attended, and all three men knelt before the podium for prayer from the pastors. African-American and Latino pastors from outside the state also attended the speeches. Priebus said he hopes conservative pastors of all races will encourage their flocks to get out and vote in the 2014 midterms and the 2016 presidential election. Both Cruz and Paul said they see traditional family values as the “fundamental building block of society,” but both also have libertarian leanings and believe individual states should define marriage according to their own beliefs. The Iowa Renewal Project was created by Californian David Lane, who said he hopes to start similar groups in other states. “We are mobilizing this constituency,” Lande said. “This is not about Republicans and Democrats. It’s about returning American to its Judeo-Christian heritage.” By Greg Richter Politics News. Midwest hit by its first major snowstorm of season. Enlarge GalleryElementary school students, some escorted by parents, cross a snowy street en route to school as a blizzard dropped snow over Boulder, Colo., Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012. A storm that has dumped more than a foot … Play VideoVideo: Winter Storm Slams Middle of the Country0:00 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, leaving at least three people dead, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation’s busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend. Forecasters warned that heavy snow coupled with strong winds could create blizzard conditions from Kansas to Wisconsin — and guaranteed a white Christmas in some places — after the storm blanketed the Rocky Mountains earlier in the week. Iowa and Nebraska took a heavy hit from the storm, with nearly a foot of snow in Des Moines and 8.6 inches in Omaha, Neb. Thomas Shubert, a clerk at a store in Gretna near Omaha, said his brother drove him to work in his 4-by-4 truck but that some of his neighbors weren’t so fortunate. “I saw some people in my neighborhood trying to get out. They made it a few feet, and that was about it,” Shubert said Thursday. “I haven’t seen many cars on the road. There are a few brave souls out, but mostly trucks and plows.” By sunrise in Des Moines, the snow was starting to taper off, but that would not be the end of it, warned Kevin Skow, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the city. “It’s soon going to become less of a snow event and more of a wind event,” Skow said. The airport at Creston, Iowa, recorded the highest winds, with a gust of 53 mph. Skow said wind gusts would grow stronger later Thursday, creating whiteout conditions, before dying down by the evening. Meteorologist Scott Dergan said the snow cover would drag temperatures much lower in Nebraska and Iowa. “We’re talking single digits,” Dergan said. “We may even see some sub-zero temperatures in Nebraska. This cold weather will stick around for several days, maybe until the day after Christmas. So we’re definitely going to have a white Christmas.” Before the storm, several cities in the Midwest had broken records for the number of consecutive days without measurable snow. Chicago commuters began Thursday with heavy fog and cold, driving rain, and forecasters said snow would hit the Midwestern metropolis by mid-afternoon. Officials at O’Hare International Airport reported some flight delays and more than 90 cancellations. United Airlines said it would waive change fees for travelers who have to change their plans for travel through O’Hare because of the storm. The weather service warned of poor visibility due to driving snow in much of the region and warned drivers to stay off roads in some areas. Transportation officials shut down parts of Interstate 29 in Missouri early Thursday, and Interstate 80 in Nebraska remained closed due to blowing snow. “We’re just seeing a few flurries this morning, but because of the wind, travel is pretty treacherous, especially into Iowa, as the storm moves east,” Dergan said. In southeastern Wisconsin, where a blizzard warning was in effect and winds of up to 45 mph were expected to create whiteout conditions, sheriff’s officials said slick conditions led to at least two fatalities late Wednesday when a driver lost control of his car in Rock County, about 90 miles northwest of Chicago. In southeastern Utah, a woman who tried to walk for help after her car became stuck in snow died Tuesday night. Search and rescue crews on snowmobiles found her buried in the snow just a few miles from her car. The owner of the Norske Nook restaurant and bakery in Osseo, a town in west-central Wisconsin that woke up to at least 10 inches of snow, said “blizzardy” conditions were not unusual for the area and that the weather would not upset her business. “It’s our policy to stay open for the customers,” said Jean Zingshiem. “In case someone is stranded they’ll have somewhere to go.” On the southern edge of the storm system, high winds damaged homes and downed trees in central Arkansas, the weather service said. A powerful storm peeled the roofs off buildings and toppled trucks in Mobile, Ala., but injured no one. Tornado warnings remained in effect in parts of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama early Thursday. Hundreds of schools across the Midwest canceled classes Thursday because of heavy overnight snow. Kansas City Power & Light reported about 16,000 scattered power outages in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. ComEd said it was preparing additional crews and equipment to cope with expected power outages in northern Illinois. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad closed all state offices until noon. The moisture was welcome to farmers in the drought-parched region, but Meteorologist Kris Sanders said the storm wouldn’t make much of a dent. In Kansas, for example, some areas are more than 12 inches below normal precipitation for the year. “It’s not going to have a big effect, maybe only a half-inch of liquid precipitation. It’s not helping us out much,” Sanders said. Sanders said another storm similar to the current one could bring additional snow on Christmas or the day after. John Milburn reported from Topeka, Kan. Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Mo.; Colleen Slevin in Denver; Carla K. Johnson and Jason Keyser in Chicago; Margery Beck in Omaha, Neb.; Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Ark.; and Dinesh Ramde and Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee contributed to this report. Source: YAHOO NEWS. By BARBARA RODRIGUEZ and JOHN MILBURN \| Associated Press Weather News. Midwestern United States Enlarge PhotoEarly morning motorists travel … Enlarge PhotoBlowing snow reduces vision as … The storm dropped nearly a foot of snow in Des Moines, but the storm wasn’t as dangerous as earlier feared because everyone had good warning of the approaching havoc, said Kevin Skow, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the city. But wind might become a concern, he warned. “It’s starting to taper off,” Skow said of the snow early Thursday. “It’s soon going to become less of a snow event and more of a wind event.” Meteorologist Scott Dergan said the snow cover would drag temperatures much lower in Nebraskaand Iowa. Iowa native Laurie Harry said the weather probably wouldn’t stop her from starting up her car Thursday morning. “If I need to get into work, I’ll be here,” said Harry, a manager at a Casey’s General Store in the western Iowa town of Atlantic. “We’ve had snow before. Iowans know what to expect. We’re used to it.” Forecasters said the heaviest snow could be expected across a swath extending from northwestern Missouri into Milwaukee, Chicago and Michigan, with predictions of as much as a foot of snow in some areas. Before the storm, several cities in the Midwest had broken records for the number of consecutive days without measurable snow. “Just north of Interstate 80 is where the heaviest band of snow set up,” Dergan said. “We’re just seeing a few flurries this morning, but because of the wind, travel is pretty treacherous, especially into Iowa, as the storm moves east.” Chicago commuters awoke Thursday to heavy fog and cold, driving rain, and forecasters said snow would hit the Midwestern metropolis by mid-afternoon. Officials at the city’s two international airports reported some delays and cancellations but said most incoming and outgoing flights were on time. United Airlines said it would waive change fees for travelers who have to change their plans for travel through O’Hare International Airport. Hundreds of schools across the affected region canceled classes Thursday because of heavy overnight snow. Kansas City Power & Light reported about 16,000 scattered power outages in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. John Milburn reported from Topeka, Kan. Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Mo.; Colleen Slevin in Denver; Carla Johnson in Chicago; Margery Beck in Omaha, Neb.; Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Ark.; and Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee contributed to this report. Des Moines store near Obama rally has a message for the Secret Service. Sign outside Raygun clothing store in Des Moines, Iowa. (Chris Moody/Yahoo News) DES MOINES, Iowa—President Barack Obama is planning an outdoor rally here on Monday, but one store within the event’s security zone is taking a stand against Secret Service searches inside the shop. A sign on the window of Raygun, a clothing store that sells quirky T-shirts, tells Secret Service agents who intend to “sweep” the premises before Obama’s speech that it does “not consent” to any searches. The sign also added a little humor, too: “It’s not that there’s anything illegal in here, we just employ several Colombian prostitutes and don’t want to tempt you guys,” the sign reads, a reference to news reports earlier this year about some agents who had solicited prostitutes in South America. The Obama campaign was not amused. A store clerk told Yahoo News that the sign went up Monday morning, and Obama staffers have asked for its removal. The store is refusing. Update 6:45 PM: The sign was removed from the window before Obama’s rally started Monday evening. By Chris Moody, Yahoo! News \| The Ticket YAHOO NEWS. Barack Obama presidential campaign 2008 Stepping Into 2015 As A Giant Through Prayer. 2015 The Year Of Divine Explosion Of His Goodness. Releasing Easter Blessings Upon Our Lives. Pouring Out Our Pure Praise To Our God For The Month Of March. Police Nationwide Are Using Secret Cell Phone Intercept Device Called Stingray. Categories Select Category A Life Of Success. 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(9) Ways To Solve Issues. (1) Ways to Transform Your Life (6) Weapon News. (565) Weather News. (145) What does God have to say about Taxes?. (3) What Does the Bible Say About Cruelty?. (4) What will you be remember for. (4) When You’re The Leader (3) Winning Souls. (63) Wisdom. (13) Women. (82) Word Of Power. (8) Words For Trouble Times. (4) Words Of Empowerment (56) Words Of Encouragement (6) Words Of Wisdom. (21) Work. (132) Worry. (11) Worship, Gospel and Praise (23) Worship. (34) HolySpirit Goodluck Jonathan Second Epistle to the Corinthians First Epistle to the Corinthians GoodluckJonathan Divine grace Israelites Nigerians Palestinian people BokoHaram Epistle to the Ephesians First Epistle of John Prithee Authorized King James Version Father God Borno State Newsmax Media	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353422
__label__wiki	0.875472	0.875472	Home Messages Hashtags Wiki DigitalScholarship@groups.io +++ WEB DESIGN UPDATE. - Volume 17, Issue 52, June 19, 2019. David Dillard +++ WEB DESIGN UPDATE. - Volume 17, Issue 52, June 19, 2019. An email newsletter to distribute news and information about web design and development. ++ISSUE 52 CONTENTS. SECTION ONE: New references. What's new at the Web Design Reference site? http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/ New links in these categories: 01: ACCESSIBILITY. 02: CASCADING STYLE SHEETS. 03: DRUPAL. 04: EVALUATION & TESTING. 05: EVENTS. 06: HTML. 07: JAVASCRIPT. 08: MISCELLANEOUS. 09: USABILITY. SECTION TWO: 10: What Can You Find at the Web Design Reference Site? [Contents ends.] ++ SECTION ONE: New references. +01: ACCESSIBILITY. Designing and Coding for Low Vision (Video) By Mallory van Achterberg. "Mallory van Achterberg, senior accessibility consultant for Tenon.io, discusses the dos and don'ts of designing and coding for low vision…" https://www.technica11y.org/designing-and-coding-for-low-vision A11yNYC June 13 2019 - Data Visualization with Doug Schepers (Video) By Doug Schepers. "Data visualization doesn't have to be visual! Don't assume that a chart or diagram can't be made accessible…" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmCC9XlaB9E The Anatomy of Accessible Forms: Required Form Fields By Raghavendra Satish Peri. "…There are multiple ways of providing this cue that a particular form field is required. Below, we will explore each of the methods…" https://www.deque.com/blog/anatomy-of-accessible-forms-required-form-fields/ The Anatomy of Accessible Forms: Best Practices "…In today’s post, we will go through all the ingredients of creating an accessible form that provides the best user experience for all users…" https://www.deque.com/blog/anatomy-of-accessible-forms-best-practices/ Notes From the A11y Underground #2 By Steve Faulkner. "Things that caught my interest since Notes from the a11y underground #1…" https://developer.paciellogroup.com/blog/2019/06/notes-from-the-a11y-underground-2/ How to Make a Website Accessible For All [With 6 Core Steps] By Keaton Robbins. "Are you feeling the weight of having to make your website accessible to those with disabilities but don't know where to begin…" https://www.voices.com/blog/website-accessible/ Accessibility and Web of Things (WoT) By Joshue O Connor. "The following are items suggested by Joshue O Connor (W3C/WAI), for further technical discussion within the Accessible Platform Architecture Working Group (APA) and the Research Questions Accessibility Task Force (RQTF) around the Web of Things (WoT) space and its potential need to support accessibility use cases and requirements for people with disabilities…" https://www.w3.org/WAI/APA/wiki/Wot_technical Why Would a Screen Reader User Have a Braille Display? By Bruce Lawson. "…each person has their own reasons for choosing their assistive technologies. Accessibility isn't a technological problem to be solved. It's an essential part of the human condition: we all have different needs and abilities…" https://www.brucelawson.co.uk/2019/why-would-a-screen-reader-user-have-a-braille-display/ Colleges Improve Website Accessibility as They are Defendants in Lawsuits By Matt Steecker. "Several New York universities and colleges are improving the accessibility of their websites to individuals with disabilities while facing lawsuits alleging their websites do not comply with standards from the Americans With Disabilities Act…" https://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2019/06/13/colleges-improve-websites-they-subjects-lawsuits/1302352001/ Domino's Files Petition for US Supreme Court Review of Unfavorable Website Access Decision By Minh N. Vu and Kristina M. Launey. "Domino's filed its petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court…" https://www.adatitleiii.com/2019/06/dominos-files-petition-for-us-supreme-court-review-of-unfavorable-website-access-decision/ +02: CASCADING STYLE SHEETS. Relearn CSS Layout: Every Layout By Heydon Pickering and Andy Bell. "…If you find yourself wrestling with CSS layout, it's likely you're making decisions for browsers they should be making themselves. Through a series of simple, composable layouts, Every Layout will teach you how to better harness the built-in algorithms that power browsers and CSS…" https://every-layout.dev/ Grid, Content Re-ordering and Accessibility By Chris Coyier. "…flexbox and grid also allow you to muck it up…" https://css-tricks.com/grid-content-re-ordering-and-accessibility/ CSS Day 2019: Some Things I Learned By Hidde de Vries. "Last week I joined over 400 web nerds at CSS Day 2019, which took place once again in the lovely Compagnietheater in Amsterdam. These are some of the things I learned…" https://hiddedevries.nl/en/blog/2019-06-18-css-day-2019-some-things-i-learned The State of CSS 2019 By Sacha Greif. "We surveyed over 11,000 CSS developers. Here's what we learned…" https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/the-state-of-css-2019-survey-results-are-live/ Inspired Design Decisions: Avaunt Magazine By Andy Clarke. "Thanks to technologies like CSS Grid and Flexbox, there’s been a resurgence of interest in creative design and art direction…" https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2019/06/inspired-design-decisions-avaunt-magazine/ Refactoring (the Way We Talk About) CSS (Video) By Rachel Andrew. "Rachel Andrew has been writing CSS for 20 years, and teaching people the things she has learned for almost as long. Since the early days of CSS, and certainly since 'CSS for Layout' became a thing, we've been teaching CSS in pretty much the same way. Here is a block thing, here is an inline thing, this is the Box Model ... and here is this weird jumping through hoops that makes a layout. It's time for a change…" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqYWDGzhZKM +03: DRUPAL. Personalization and a Panel at DrupalNorth By Mike Gifford. "DrupalNorth was held in Montreal this year…" https://medium.com/openconcept-stories/personalization-and-a-panel-at-drupalnorth-5db4d5b77eb2 CMS vs. Headless CMS A11y Throwdown (Video) By Caitlin Cashin. "…how accessibility is impacted by using a CMS vs. a headless CMS and what are the pros/cons of each when it comes to creating accessible sites and applications. We have Rachel Cherry from WPCampus, Preston So from Gatsby, Carie Fisher from Deque Systems, and Mike Gifford from Open Concept participating with Caitlin Cashin from Deque Systems moderating…" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lrmC8ZIGPY +04: EVALUATION & TESTING. 4 Steps to Field Studies with Users (Video) By Kim Flaherty. "Customer visits and other field studies to observe users in their natural habitat are one of the most important user research methods. This video covers the 4 basic steps to prepare and carry out ethnographic-style research, preferably early in the UX design process." https://www.nngroup.com/videos/4-steps-field-studies/ Net Promoter Score (NPS) Metrics are Not Enough By Gerry McGovern. "Anything that focuses on customers is heading in the right direction…" http://gerrymcgovern.com/net-promoter-score-nps-metrics-are-not-enough/ Validation - A Key Step to Accessibility By Ryan Pugh. "…Just because the document is 'compliant' and will pass an accessibility checker does not mean the document is usable for someone using a screen reader…" https://equidox.co/blog/validation-a-key-step-to-accessibility/ +05: EVENTS. How to Test the Accessibility of Your Mobile Websites and Apps June 25, 2019. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-how-to-test-the-accessibility-of-your-mobile-websites-and-apps-tickets-61964674008 The Future of Automated Accessibility Testing Tools July 2, 2019. https://groups.drupal.org/node/535144 Seattle Interactive Conference October 17-18, 2019. Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. https://www.seattleinteractive.com/ An Event Apart Denver Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. https://aneventapart.com/event/denver-2019 November 2-6, 2019. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. https://max.adobe.com/ https://websummit.com/ World Usability Day November 14, 2019. https://worldusabilityday.org/ Accessing Higher Ground November 18-22, 2019. Westminster, Colorado, U.S.A. https://accessinghigherground.org/ OZeWAI http://ozewai.org/2018/ +06: HTML. Scraping Burned Toast By Adrian Roselli. "Google engineers have proposed a new HTML element, <toast> or <std-toast>, that is a container for presenting brief or simple notifications to users…" http://adrianroselli.com/2019/06/scraping-burned-toast.html Short Note on the Portal Element "There is a potential new HTML element on the scene and its name is <portal>…" https://codepen.io/stevef/post/short-note-on-the-portals-element How to Section Your HTML By Daniel Tonon. "The sectioning elements in HTML5 are <nav>, <aside>, <article>, and <section>…" https://css-tricks.com/how-to-section-your-html/ By Heydon Pickering. "…In this article, I'll be looking into a few permutations of a simple card component, emphasizing a balance between sound HTML structure and ergonomic interaction…" https://inclusive-components.design/cards/ HTML is the Web By Pete Lambert. "…The lowest common denominator of the Web. The foundation. The rhythm section. The ladyfingers in the Web trifle. It's the HTML. And it is becoming increasingly clear to me that there's a whole swathe of Frontend Engineers who don't know or understand the frontend-est of frontend technologies…" https://www.petelambert.com/journal/html-is-the-web/ +07: JAVASCRIPT. Responsible JavaScript: Part II By Jeremy Wagner. "Web development is hard. We don't always get it right on the first try. Fortunately, we don't have to get everything perfect from the start. Jeremy Wagner provides some helpful ways to start recovering from our collective JavaScript hangover." https://alistapart.com/article/responsible-javascript-part-2/ How to Create an Array in JavaScript By Kirupa Chinnathambi. "The popular way in which all the cool kids create arrays these days is to use an open and close bracket…" http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2975734 +08: MISCELLANEOUS. AI and Disability Interview By John Rockford. "AXS Chat recently posted to YouTube an interview of me about my artificial intelligence (AI) research and work for people with disabilities…" https://clearhelper.blog/2019/06/17/ai-and-disability-interview/ Privacy Rights and Data Collection in a Digital Economy (Senate Hearing) By Maciej Ceglowski. "…Because our laws frame privacy as an individual right, we don't have a mechanism for deciding whether we want to live in a surveillance society. Congress has remained silent on the matter…Silicon Valley makes up its own rules…large tech companies point to our willing use of their services as proof that people don't really care about their privacy. But this is like arguing that inmates are happy to be in jail because they use the prison library. Confronted with the reality of a monitored world, people make the rational decision to make the best of it. That is not consent…" https://idlewords.com/talks/senate_testimony.2019.5.htm +09: USABILITY. Practicing What You Preach: Experimenting and Iterating in UX Research By Meghan Wenzel. "In the field of User Experience, design thinking, failing fast, and iterating are popular concepts…" https://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2019/06/practicing-what-you-preach-experimenting-and-iterating-in-ux-research.php Marking Required Fields in Forms By Raluca Budiu. "Using an asterisk to mark required fields is an easy way to improve the usability of your forms. Only marking optional fields makes it difficult for people to fill out the form." https://www.nngroup.com/articles/required-fields/ [Section one ends.] ++ SECTION TWO: +10: What Can You Find at the Web Design Reference Site? Accessibility Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/accessibility.html Association Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/associations.html Book Listings. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/books.html Cascading Style Sheets Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/css.html Color Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/color.html Drupal Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/drupal.html Evaluation & Testing Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/testing.html Event Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/events.html HTML Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/html.html Information Architecture Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/architecture.html JavaScript Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/javascript.html Miscellaneous Web Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/misc.html Navigation Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/navigation.html PHP Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/php.html Sites & Blogs Listing. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/sites.html Standards, Guidelines & Pattern Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/standards.html Tool Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/tools.html Typography Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/type.html Usability Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/usability.html XML Information. http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/xml.html [Section two ends.] ++END NOTES. + SUBSCRIPTION INFO. 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__label__wiki	0.904396	0.904396	Dustin Poirier proves a gracious loser in Abu Dhabi Sport UAE Sport American floored by Khabib’s gesture of auctioning T-shirt for rival’s foundation Published: September 08, 2019 16:42 Alaric Gomes, Chief Reporter Dustin Poirier Image Credit: AP Abu Dhabi: It’s time to be grateful and graceful, a tearful Dustin Poirier told media as the American slipped away from the limelight after falling to undisputed world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the wee hours of Sunday. In an event witnessed by a capacity 13,000 at The Arena, the ‘Dagestan Eagle’ moved to 28-0 as he punished Poirier on the ground over two-plus rounds before securing a rear naked choke to finish the fight at 2:06 into Round Three. “I should have lasted the full 25 minutes. I should have tried a bit harder when I had my chances. I didn’t get my rhythm going. Why did I not jump and deliver when I had him in that choke? This is a question I will reflect on for the rest of my life,” a choked Poirier admitted. “Tonight was about the world championship and there could be just one of us. I was fighting to be one and now, I have so many excuses,” he added. In hindsight, things could have well been different had the 30-year-old American taken advantage after a stinging shot had shaken the lightweight champion up. However, Poirier couldn’t make that count and a split second later, Khabib was inside looking for another takedown. “I had trouble landing my shots. I threw a jab and pulled hands to pull back a bit. I didn’t go crazy like I would normally. I feel I have let myself down,” Poirier sniffed. “I think I didn’t do enough out there tonight. I should have done more. I was so prepared for tonight. But then, that’s destiny,” he added. Poirier was next swept away by Khabib’s generosity when the Russian announced that he would auction the T-shirt he was wearing and donate the amount to the American’s charities charity, The Good Fight Foundation — especially in Uganda. Later, UFC President Dana White chipped in by saying that he would match the T-shirt auction amount. “I don’t have words to thank them for this [gesture]. I have a lot of good things going and I am trying to do as much as I can to help people around the world,” he said. More From UAE-Sport Abu Dhabi to host 12th World Jiu-jitsu championship UAE governing body will launch ‘Nation of Heroes’ campaign on the occasion Al Nasr edge Shabab Al Ahli to lift Arabian Gulf Cup UAE Team Emirates kick off season in Australia Fujairah set for World Solving Chess Composition Clinical India outplay Australia to clinch ODI series	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353428
__label__wiki	0.63502	0.63502	Grad Speech: 8th-Grader Jack Aiello Impersonates Trump, Cruz, Obama, Clinton, Sanders – video June 16, 2016 – Amita Kelly -NPR – Maybe we’re all just taking politics too seriously these days. Eighth-grader Jack Aiello used his 8-minute graduation speech to impersonate Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Aiello, speaking as Sanders, said his school had the best cinnamon rolls he’d ever tasted, but “I do have one improvement for them, though: We need to make them free.” “Why should students have to pay for their own cinnamon rolls? Doesn’t make any sense. What we need is a cinnamon roll revolution.” Aiello graduated from Thomas Middle School outside Chicago. His principal told NBC that he was the “hands-down No. 1 pick” for speaker among teachers and staff. Speaking as Trump, Aiello said, “Congratulations, you are now getting to hear a speech from the magnificent Donald Trump. And let me just tell you that Thomas has been such a great school. Quite frankly, it’s been fantastic.” As Cruz: “Thank you, Donald. Let me start by saying this: God bless the great school of Thomas!” And, as Clinton, he thanked the teachers for being “our champions. They’ve given us the skills to get us through sixth grade, and through seventh grade, and eighth grade, and now we’re going to take those skills and apply them to high school!” Aiello’s father John told ABC that Jack has been interested in politics for several years. “He’s always been good with impressions,” John said, “so while watching along with his mom and I, he picked up phrases and mannerisms of the candidates.” “He started with impressions of his parents, of course. He then moved on to teachers at school, and it developed to the point where he’s very good at picking up mannerisms and tones.” By guyaneseonline, on June 20, 2016 at 12:10 am, under Comedy, Commentary, Education, Tourism / Entertainment. Tags: 8th-Grader Jack Aiello Nails Impersonations Of Trump, Clinton, Cruz, Grad Speech, Grad Speech: 8th-Grader Jack Aiello Impersonates Trump, Obama, Sanders, Sanders - video. 2 Comments « Guyana – Public Interest – June 17, 2016 Guyana: Women in Business – Success in Business Workshop – June 16, 2016 » Jacqueline Hinds On June 21, 2016 at 6:39 am Permalink \| Reply Simply fantastic. Clyde Duncan On June 25, 2016 at 11:22 pm Trump: “Defending American (white) Christians” – by Frank Schaeffer Love her or hate her we know more about Hillary Clinton’s faith than about any political leader’s faith since Billy Graham was kissing up to Nixon and praying with him in the oval office. This was before Kissinger took over that pray-with-Nixon task while Graham ran for the hills to cover his Nixon-endorsing butt after Watergate. Post-Nixon, Billy Graham told my dad (the late evangelical evangelist and religious right founder, Francis Schaeffer) that he’d sworn off politics, let alone endorsing candidates. Too bad Franklin Graham didn’t get the memo! “We don’t know anything about Hillary in terms of religion,” said Donald Trump, while speaking to a group of evangelical leaders in New York. “Now, she’s been in the public eye for years and years, and yet there’s no — there’s nothing out there,” Trump, said to many an “Amen” from the faithful… …another outright Trump lie the media seems incapable of correcting. Hillary is on the record — and then some. In a 2007 New York Times interview, Hillary Clinton responded to questions including the intrusive — “How do you feed [your] personal relationship with God?,” and amazingly for the Times – “Do you believe that the resurrection of Jesus actually happened?,” and (believe it not) “Do you believe on the salvation issue . . . that belief in Christ is needed for going to heaven?” Hillary more or less said “YES!” to all these “do you believe in Jesus?” questions. And the Times editors must have then changed the brands of weed they’d been smoking because they never asked any political leader anything this intrusive again. So we DO KNOW Hillary loves Jesus. Billy Graham couldn’t have pried loose a clearer deceleration of faith. Trump must not read his hometown paper. Here’s how the Times‘ story opened: Long before her beliefs would be tested in the most wrenching of ways as first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton taught an adult Sunday school class on the importance of forgiveness. It is a lesson, she says, that she has harked back to often. “We all have things that oftentimes we’re upset about, or ashamed of, or feel guilty over, and so many people carry these enormous burdens around,” Mrs. Clinton said… “One of the great gifts of faith is to let it go.” The themes of wrongs, forgiveness and reconciliation have played out repeatedly in Mrs. Clinton’s life, as she has endured the ordeal of her husband’s infidelity, engaged in countless political battles and shared a deep, mutual distrust with adversaries. It’s no secret that Hillary’s Methodist faith, has guided her as she sought to repair her marriage, forgiven some critics who once vilified her and struggled in the bare-knuckles world of politics to fulfill the biblical commandment to love thy neighbour, as the Times and others have noted. A close personal friend of mine who worked in the Clinton White House spoke of the Bible studies Hillary led there. This pal of mine is a secular Jew and found these Bible studies odd and unnerving “for such a bright lady to do.” Trump expressed “concern” to the evangelical conservatives gathered in New York on June 21, 2016, that the United States is being damaged because Christianity is on a slide to becoming “weaker, weaker, weaker.” Trump said, “my greatest contribution to Christianity — and other religions” will be “religious liberty. ” In the Trump dictionary apparently religious liberty translates as: appointing anti-abortion Supreme Court justices; deporting Mexicans, making department store employees say “Merry Christmas” and letting public school coaches lead prayer on the field. Reportedly he won a standing ovation from the evangelicals as the only candidate promising to kill the families of suspected terrorist, torture people, back automatic assault weapons ownership without background checks and so forth. Franklin Graham, also buys into Trump’s version of faith, family and the heathen version of the Hillary myth — as imagined by the Fox News crowd and other white supremacists… “We’re losing our country,” Graham told a rally on the steps of the state Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., in May. Graham begged pastors to run for office. “We need Christian men and women at every level,” shouted Graham. Graham, wrote in a Facebook post: “Do you think that if people on your deacon board or pastoral board were serving on the school board that you would be discussing same-sex bathrooms?” Answer: or maybe the way to deal with this is with an assault rifle in a gay club in Orlando? Right Franklin? Emails obtained by the Charlotte Business Journal display the nasty views of North Carolina State Rep. Dan Bishop (R), the primary sponsor of the “bathroom bill.” In response to a constituent message telling him not to “cave in to the Politically Correct Taliban” and to coordinate “bathroom bills” with other states, Bishop replied, “I LOVE that idea. Taliban. Love that too. Not giving up. Ever.” Trump told another audience of evangelical Christians that, when he is president, “we will respect and defend Christian Americans.” What happens to everyone else? How about the Mexican Pentecostal and Roman Catholic parents of kids raised here, now in limbo after the Supreme Court’s Republicans decided Mexican kids raised here aren’t real Americans? What now, as they see their families devastated? Maybe the best place to round up brown and black Christians is in their churches! They always seem to be there praying to Jesus, and doing other anti-American activities. I mean this worked for Dylann Roof, why not for Trump? Church is where all those Mexican rapists mostly hang out. According to a Pew Research Center study “Latino evangelical Protestants are the most likely to say they attend worship services at least weekly, pray daily and consider religion to be very important in their lives.” There it is Trump, now your goons know where to find “them.” Jerry Falwell Jr., (a vocal Trump lover) can help out. He’s a keeper of fundraising lists and asked his students to carry loaded weapons on the campus of Liberty University just in case any Muslims showed up. Falwell can no doubt lend Trump some church lists so Trump can track down brown and black Christians — once the Trump goons get to work on “defending American (white) Christians.” Think my little satire here is extreme? No, reality trumps (no pun) any fiction I can come up with. Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, an anti-LGBT hate group according to Southern Poverty Law Center, compared gay people to the Taliban, equating gay sex with domestic terrorism. “If open homosexuals are allowed into the United States military, the Taliban won’t need to plant dirty needles to infect our soldiers with HIV,” he wrote. “Our own soldiers will take care of that for them,” said Fischer, who was scheduled to join Ted Cruz at a Mississippi campaign rally until the Texas senator reportedly got sick and cancelled the event. The Uneasy Truce of Trump’s Trade Deal with China - John Cassidy \| The New Yorker	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353429
__label__cc	0.688125	0.311875	You are here: Home / Digital Education News / College Funding eBook Now Available College Funding eBook Now Available November 19, 2013 By Mercy Pilkington 1 Comment As the costs of higher education continues to rise in the US, especially where textbooks are concerned, a new ebook from the team at US News & World Report is aimed specifically at parents and college students who are already wondering how they’re going to pay for education. “For nearly three decades U.S. News has provided expert advice and resources for families navigating the college process,” said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News, in a press release. “Paying for college is one of the most challenging and confusing parts of the process, so we’ve assembled our best advice to help students and parents plan for such an important financial investment.” While also available in print (which ironically demonstrates the need for digital textbooks, since the print edition of the guide to affording college costs more than triple the price of the ebook), the U.S. News Guide to Paying for College was created and distributed by ebook platform Vook and is formatted for a wide variety of device and PC consumption. Crucial chapters in the guide include: College Majors with the Best Return on Investment 5 Big Financial Aid Lies Think Hard Before Borrowing For College Consider These Options to Cut College Costs Review Your 529 Plan to Meet College Savings Goals 6 Steps To Reducing Your College Loan Costs This ebook comes in a far-reaching move towards digital, as the US News Weekly magazine is already a digital-only publication. The U.S. News Guide to Paying for College is available by searching HERE. Filed Under: Digital Education News, Digital Publishing News, E-Book News qima http://tinyurl.com/kftjzvx	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353438
__label__wiki	0.573955	0.573955	All posts tagged football Can Big-Time Sports Do It Again? [Editor’s Note: Well, they went down in flames, but Liberty football gave it a good go yesterday against Brigham Young University. As commentators scrambled to explain the cultural significance of this gridiron contest, I thought it might be worth rerunning this piece from last year. As Liberty U climbs the peaks of college respectability, it will find itself paying a higher and higher price for its stubborn refusal to accept other parts mainstream higher-ed normalcy. We’ve seen that Liberty faces some unique pressure in its quest to retain top faculty. Will its dream to become the “Notre Dame” of the evangelical world lead it to a different sort of conformist pressure?] I never thought I’d see it, but here it is. Following Brigham Young University’s tentative opening to LGBTQ+ students and issues, could the same spark change things in evangelical higher ed? After all, schools like Liberty have long yearned to follow the BYU path in one crucial area. Here’s what we know: Liberty University in particular has always jonesed for recognition as a leading university, and sports has always been one of its preferred qualifications. As President Pierre Guillermin put it awkwardly in 1982, Liberty wanted to be “the Notre Dame of the Christian world athletically and the Harvard of the Christian world academically.” Of course, the Catholic leaders of Notre Dame might say that they already ARE the Notre Dame of the Christian world athletically, but let’s move on. The central point is that leaders of evangelical higher education have always wanted recognition as more than just niche colleges; they have always wanted to reclaim their role as the leaders of American higher education overall. When Liberty brilliantly and ruthlessly capitalized on the possibilities of online education, current president Jerry Falwell Jr. did not invest the money back into Liberty’s online program. No, Falwell tried to make the old Liberty dream come true. He poured money into traditional campus amenities, especially including Liberty’s athletic program. This year, the investment paid off. Liberty beat top-ranked Baylor in football, triggering a joyous campus-wide freak-out. Which leads us to our question: Will the dream of big-time sports force Liberty to open itself to friendlier LGBTQ+ policies? After all, that’s what seems to be happening at Brigham Young. As Chronicle of Higher Ed reports this morning, BYU’s recent tentative opening to LGBTQ+ students was sparked by BYU’s lust for athletic recognition. As CHE recounts, In 2016, the Big 12 Conference announced it was officially considering expansion. BYU’s administrators and athletic director jumped at the chance to join. But publicly vying to join the conference brought on national criticism of the university, which observers said did not uphold the NCAA’s stated support of inclusivity because of its treatment of LGBTQ students. After the university’s effort to join the Big 12 failed, Tom Holmoe, the athletic director, suggested that pushback from LGBTQ advocate groups stood in its way. In response, BYU requested an invitation to the NCAA’s annual Common Ground conference, an effort begun in 2014 to provide a place where leaders and students at religious institutions can talk about LGBTQ issues and “begin exploring how to bridge these gaps and find common ground.” Might Liberty follow a similar path? Generations of Christian pleading for equality and recognition have scored only minor victories. As I noted in my recent book and in these pages, administrators at evangelical colleges—even the more liberal schools—are under intense pressure not to change their rules about same-sex issues. Perhaps it will take a different sort of pressure from a different direction to really change things in evangelical higher education. Posted in Higher (Power) Education, Teaching Sex and Sexuality Tagged Brigham Young University, football, LGBTQ, Liberty University https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2019/11/10/can-big-time-sports-do-it-again-2/ Razzing Christian Athletes The tradition continues. At yesterday’s Rice/Baylor football game, Rice’s band poked one of Baylor’s culture-war soft spots. Will it do any damage? Take that, conservative Christianity! It’s not the first time. Back in the 1920s, when Des Moines University in Iowa declared its allegiance to the fundamentalist movement, its football foes used to taunt the Des Moines team with chants of Darwin! Darwin! Darwin! Now, the Rice band has apparently updated that anti-fundamentalist tactic for the twenty-first century. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rice band played pro-LGBTQ song “YMCA” by the Village People as dozens of students and alumni rushed the field with rainbow flags at its football game against Baylor University on Saturday night. The Rice band was protesting against Baylor’s decision to withhold official recognition for a student LGBTQ group. Did it work? Well, not on the gridiron. Baylor trounced the Owls 21-13. In the long run, however, I wonder if increasing pressure on LGBTQ issues will force Baylor to change its tune. by Adam Laats on September 22, 2019 • Permalink Tagged Baylor University, football, LGBTQ, Rice University Posted by Adam Laats on September 22, 2019 https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2019/09/22/razzing-christian-athletes/ I Love You but You Didn’t Do the Reading Charters, charters, charters…and Jesus. Another week of school politics ‘n’ religion; top stories from around the interwebs: How football re-shaped religion in public schools, at Dallas News. God is still alive and kicking (and throwing, and running, and maybe even tackling) on American school football fields, a lively Christian faith born on the gridiron and ministered to by coaches, not pastors. The (latest) crisis in evangelical Christianity, at The Atlantic. evangelical Christians should acknowledge the profound damage that’s being done to their movement by its braided political relationship—its love affair, to bring us back to the words of Ralph Reed—with a president who is an ethical and moral wreck. Alaska state university system facing huge cuts, at IHE. AltSchool dies. At Fortune. the era seems to be passing when reasonable people will believe that just because someone made a bunch of money helping commercialize a revolutionary information-searching algorithm that they have a chance in hell of reforming education—or some other unrelated field. Not getting it: Pundits keep missing the point on charter schools and the 2020 race. A call to Beto to stay strong on charters, at RCE. A plea to keep charters going, at Bloomberg. The problem with these arguments: It’s not (just) the unions, it’s the evil queen. Here at ILYBYGTH. Miss the Democratic candidates’ forum at NEA? You can watch the whole thing at PBS. The biggest surprise? Hizzoner using the “h” word about charter schools, at ILYBYGTH. Charter-school advocates in NYC acknowledge the problem, at NYT. “The stereotypes of the sector — there’s a reality behind them,” Mr. Buery said, referring to criticism of how charters handle discipline, race and politics. “It’s up to us to demonstrate, visibly, that we are better than the stereotype and striving to be better than what we are.” Posted in ICYMI Tagged Alaska, AltSchool, Bill De Blasio, Charter Schools, evangelicalism, football https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2019/07/08/i-love-you-but-you-didnt-do-the-reading-128/ Swirling Round the Superbowl Okay, nerds, here are some greatest Superbowl hits from the ILYBYGTH archives so you can feel involved in today’s festivities. 1.) What’s the deal with football and fundamentalism? Liberty University’s recent coaching hire has us all wondering once again what really matters at evangelical universities. …to the ten…to the five…JESUS CHRIST with the TOUCHDOWN!!!!! 2.) The teams aren’t the same, but this culture-war drinking game idea from 2015 should still work. 3.) Why is school reform pricier than two entire Superbowls? The question came up back in August, 2017, but it is still sort of depressing. 4.) Tommy Brady and Bill Belichick help explain why school reform is so difficult. by Adam Laats on February 3, 2019 • Permalink Posted in Higher (Power) Education, Humor, In the News, Required Reading, school reform Tagged Eva Moskowitz, football, High-stakes Testing, Liberty University, school reform, Superbowl Posted by Adam Laats on February 3, 2019 https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2019/02/03/swirling-round-the-superbowl/ Even in the holiday week, stuff kept happening. Here are a few stories that caught our eye: ILYBYGTH Prize for Hilarious Hack: Florida billboard’s cute puppy delivers Satanic blessing, at FA. The past and present of Liberty football, from Paul Putz. It’s about more than prostitutes: Will protests and activism follow? Will risk-averse administrators at major college programs decide that a game against Liberty is not worth the trouble? Will elite black high school athletes decide they don’t want to play for Trump University? What is it about fundamentalists and football? The long history here at ILYBYGTH. Other People’s Children: Walmart heirs push charters for African American students, at AP. What happens to teachers’ unions after the Janus decision? At EWA. Christmas 1924: When the Klan marched in Fort Worth, at ST. Do young-earth creationists have any rebuttal for their flat-earth critics? RA says no. Zoiks: Legislation to keep teachers from talking politics, at Curmudgucation. Should teachers exhort their students to vote for a particular candidate? No. Do teachers have the right to discuss controversial political issues in their classroom, without being forced to present opposing views? Of course they do– imagine a class a teacher must explain how Nazis and slave owners had valid points of their own. Why all the worry about teachers’ politics? Here at ILYBYGTH. Tagged Charter Schools, Flat earth, football, geocentrism, Ku Klux Klan, Teachers Unions, Walton Foundation, Young earth creationism From the Archives: Football and Fundamentalist U Professor Putz got me wondering: How often has football—not just sports in general, but specifically football—thrown evangelical colleges into a tizzy? Turns out, it’s more common than you might think. The allure of all the trappings of college life has always been a challenge for evangelicals, especially back in the early decades of the fundamentalist movement. As Professor Putz pointed out, Liberty University has always slavered for the kind of prestige that comes with football victories. The Falwells have built their dreams around the successes of other religious schools such as Brigham Young University and Notre Dame. And, as Prof. Putz notes, Liberty may be in for more than it bargained for. At BYU, for example, sports has been the lever that LGBTQ and anti-racist activists have used to apply pressure to the LDS church as a whole. As I found out in the research for Fundamentalist U, it was ever thus. Back in the 1920s when the fundamentalist movement was born, some of its new flagship colleges found out how hard it was to have a football program. At Des Moines University, for example, the hard-to-love fundamentalist leaders Edith Rebman and T.T. Shields found they could control a lot of things, but not the gridiron. First of all, when they played rival schools, the fans mocked DMU’s fundamentalist fervor by chanting “Darwin! Darwin! Darwin!” And even though the new administrators fired all the science faculty, they retained their football coach, even though the coach publicly expressed a cynical attitude toward evangelical religion. When reporters asked the coach if he had been converted, “born again,” the coach sneered, “Yeah, lots of times.” To critics, the lesson was obvious: A hypocritical fundamentalist administration could do without its science faculty, but it had to keep its football coach. In Florida, too, the fledgling Bob Jones College struggled to figure out the football dilemma. In its first years, the fundamentalist school fielded a squad, the Swamp Angels. However, they wouldn’t allow the team to travel, worried about the moral influence other campuses might have on the players. In 1931, Bob Jones Sr. canceled the athletic program, purportedly after finding whiskey bottles on campus after a big game. Critics charged that Jones was more nervous about having to meet league rules than about the moral problems of football fans. Up in Illinois, the first outside-fundamentalist president of Wheaton College also ran into trouble with the football program. J. Oliver Buswell became unpopular for sparring with football coach Fred Walker. Walker had apparently used foul language with the players, but Buswell resisted firing him. Eventually, Buswell agreed to fire the coach, but the trustees switched their position and decided Buswell had to go instead. For almost a century, then, football has provided yet another challenge to evangelical college leaders. Without it, their schools might seem inauthentic. Students, parents, and alumni all want to have winning teams to cheer for. But including football has always meant including a wild card. It has meant giving some measure of administrative power away to a coach. It has meant going by league rules, instead of listening only to the dictates of authoritarian school leaders. Most of all, it has meant that fundamentalist schools had to breach their carefully constructed defensive wall against the outside world. Is it worth it? Time and time again, evangelical college leaders have leaped into the football scrum, only to emerge bruised and battered. As Prof. Putz points out, Liberty U is only the latest of a long string of evangelical hopefuls. What will big-time football mean for Jerry Falwell Jr.? Posted in Higher (Power) Education Tagged Bob Jones University, Des Moines University, evangelical higher education, football, Liberty University, Paul Putz, Wheaton College https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2018/12/30/from-the-archives-football-and-fundamentalist-u/ Does THIS Explain the Football Fornicator? It has stymied nerds for years now. How could so many white conservative-evangelical Protestants support Trump? He is hardly a moral model. Could a new term help explain Christian Trumpism, and other evangelical oddities such as Liberty University’s recent hire? Victory at any cost? Coming off a year of glorious victory, Liberty doubled down on its football team. Still pursuing its grand dream of becoming “the Notre Dame of the Christian world athletically,” Liberty brought on one of the best big-time coaches in today’s football scene. There was only one problem. Coach Hugh Freeze was only available for a non-elite team like Liberty because he had been fired from Ole Miss for a “pattern of personal misconduct,” including using university resources to hire prostitutes. Why would an evangelical university—supposedly devoted to conservative morals and buttoned-up lifestyle rules—shell out big bucks to hire a fornicator? On one hand, the answer’s easy. Coach Freeze built up an impressive winning record at Ole Miss, including defeating Alabama two seasons in a row. On the other, however, it’s a puzzle. As I described in Fundamentalist U, the selling point of conservative evangelical colleges has always been a safe moral environment, one in which students wouldn’t learn to smoke, drink, and have sex, much less believe mainstream science or liberal religion. How are we to make sense of this phenomenon? …of supposedly values-driven evangelicals supporting anti-values driven celebrities? Would it help if we called universities like Liberty something besides “evangelical?” Something that captured more clearly the real values of the school, including Trumpism, guns, and big-time sports? Recently, some historians have been debating the value of another term. Matthew Avery Sutton proposed “Christian Nationalism” for white conservative evangelicals who put their culture-war positions ahead of their evangelical theology. Professor Sutton asked, should we make a distinction, using “evangelical” for those who are part of a historic, traceable, bounded (para)church network and use “Christian nationalist” for the right-wing political expression of many of these folks and the many more outside the network? Calling schools like Liberty “Christian Nationalist” colleges instead of “evangelical” schools would go a long way toward clearing up any confusion about stories like that of Coach Freeze. It could fill in for the old “fundamentalist” label, now out of favor even among the most devoted fundamentalists. It could also help make sense of trends at conservative schools such as Hillsdale, which are now attracting a healthy enrollment from Catholic students. And it could explain where the financial support comes from for conservative flag-waving institutions such as the College of the Ozarks. In short, using a term like “evangelical” to describe an institution like Liberty University seems inherently confusing. Under the leadership of Jerry Falwell Jr., the school has embraced a Trumpist worldview, in distinct contrast to the traditional moral values of conservative evangelicals, at least in the late twentieth century. Calling it “Christian Nationalist U,” on the other hand, seems to fit. It doesn’t seem outrageous to hear that a “Christian Nationalist” school has hired a football fornicator. A “Christian Nationalist” school would obviously support Trump, whereas an “evangelical” school wouldn’t. A “Christian Nationalist” school would value football victory at any cost, while an “evangelical” school wouldn’t. Posted in Higher (Power) Education, In the News Tagged Christian Colleges, evangelical higher education, evangelicalism, football, Hugh Freeze, Liberty University, Matthew Avery Sutton, Trump https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2018/12/10/does-this-explain-the-football-fornicator/ Hard to believe another week has come and gone so fast. It has been difficult to keep tabs on all the ILYBYGTH-related stories out there. Here are a few that SAGLRROILYGYBTH might find interesting: If you were the principal, what would YOU do? This South Carolina teacher got suspended for having her kids defend the Klan. HT: MM The New York Times picked up the story, too. They offer a little more context of similar sorts of classroom assignments from around the country. Five Wheaton College students face charges in a violent hazing assault, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Pietist Schoolman Chris Gehrz worries about the anti-Islamic tones of the attack. How does football change evangelical colleges? Christianity Today’s Mark Galli interviewed Dan Wood of the National Christian College Athletics Association. ILYBYGTH noted the long history of tension between high-flying athletic programs and evangelical colleges. Ben Shapiro on the problem with college protesters, the “idol of self.” What should a science booster-club leader do when a parent questions his religious beliefs? One story from the National Center for Science Education. Did the right wing come from outer space? David Auerbach looks at the sci-fi roots of radical conservatism. “More…than just big hair and money.” An interview with John Wigger, author of a new history of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. What are historians saying about Ken Burns’ and Lynn Novick’s new Vietnam War documentary? At HNN, Professor Bob Buzzanco offers a few criticisms. What do standardized history tests tell us? Not so much, argues Sam Wineburg and his colleagues. Why so few conservative professors? George Yancey says there’s more to it than self-selection. A portrait of a culture-war powerhouse: Daniel Bennett on the history of conservative legal activists Alliance Defending Freedom. Why should SAGLRROILYBYGTH care about ADF? Because—as ILYBYGTH argues this week—such legal activist groups are a key player in our continuing culture wars. Tagged Alliance Defending Freedom, Ben Shapiro, Bob Buzzanco, Daniel Bennett, David Auerbach, football, George Yancey, John Wigger, Ken Burns, Ku Klux Klan, PTL, Sam Wineburg, Vietnam War, Wheaton College https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2017/09/25/i-love-you-but-you-didnt-do-the-reading-36/ Felony Football Assault at Fundamentalist U The world of evangelical higher education is reeling at the revelations from Wheaton College in Illinois. Five football players have been charged with felony assault in a brutal hazing incident. The incident reminds us of the long tensions between aggressive, win-at-any-cost college athletics and the behavioral rules of evangelical colleges. Rah rah. It’s easy enough to forget nowadays, when big evangelical schools like Liberty are making their mark in the competitive world of college athletics. Since the beginning, however, as I detail in my new book, thoughtful evangelicals wondered if the pressures that inevitably accompanied sports success threatened the mission of their religious institutions. The story from Wheaton is gruesome. A freshman football player was attacked in his dorm room by senior teammates. His wrists were duct-taped together and he was thrown into the back of a car. His teammates piled in on top of him, threatening him with sexual assault. As Chris Gehrz has pointed out, the language they used—crudely blaring that Muslims commonly engaged in bestiality and sexual aggression—points out the deep structural flaws that can cocoon students at evangelical schools. Even worse, Wheaton seemed to be willing to sweep this assault under the rug, letting the players keep playing after they performed some community service and wrote apologetic essays. The victim ended up abandoned half-naked in a field with torn muscles in both shoulders. He immediately left the school. Sadly, there’s nothing unique about this sort of brutal collegiate assault, done under the banner of team-building “hazing.” Schools like Wheaton, however, have built their reputation as different sorts of schools, schools that hold their students to a higher standard of conduct. As long as there have been evangelical colleges and universities of this sort, however, there have been deep tensions about athletic programs. For many schools, hosting winning sports programs are an intrinsic part of being a “real” college. Back in 1944, for example, one Wheaton student wrote home in excitement that the new sports program (it only started in 1939 at Wheaton) gave her school a tradition to embrace. As she prepared to head to the weekly football game, she told her mother that the game against rival North Central College was a big deal on campus. “You see,” she explained to her mother, Wheaton is to N.C. what Army is to Navy, or Harvard is to Yale. Even in the sequestered world of the Moody Bible Institute, students glowered at their relative lack of athletic success. In 1945, one student complained that MBI teams should earn more wins. In spite of their large student body and their good athletic facilities, this student wrote in the student paper, the MBI “A” team still lost at basketball to the Wheaton “Bs.” There had always been anxiety about the behavioral implications of athletics. In its first years, for example, Bob Jones College (it became Bob Jones University only in 1946) fielded teams under the name the “Swamp Angels.” The school’s leaders soon canceled the athletic program, however. As Bob Jones Jr. later remembered, We found the people were betting on our games, littering our campus with whiskey bottles. Even in that first generation of evangelical higher education back in the 1920s, critics charged that school leaders cared more about sports success than soul-saving. The short-lived and ill-fated fundamentalist experiment at Des Moines University demonstrated this conundrum better than any other school. When Toronto’s fundamentalist firebrand T. T. Shields stormed into town and took over the school, he fired all the faculty and forced them to reapply. Every potential faculty member went through an intrusive personal interview regime to get their jobs back. The entire faculties of the science and math departments quit in disgust. But not the football coach. Observers quickly noted that the coach was welcomed back in spite of his open cynicism about evangelical religion. When asked if he had been converted, for example–“born again”—the coach reputedly sneered, “Yeah, lots of times.” Even elite Wheaton can’t claim innocence about questions of athletic influence. As soon as it started its athletics programs in the 1930s, critics on and off campus charged that football coach Fred Walker was not an appropriate evangelical role model. Walker was accused of a non-Christian tough-guy approach to coaching, cussing at players and using foul language to belittle them. In spite of all the charges, Wheaton kept Walker on. Even back then, the college wanted to be seen as a real college. It wanted students to think of Wheaton as more than just a dumpy second-rate church school. Part of the package, since the very beginning, was a game-winning athletics program. The behavior of students and administrators in this recent assault are nothing new. They only remind us of the ever-present tension at evangelical colleges like Wheaton. Like every school, Wheaton gives its athletes too much leeway. The results are often criminal and catastrophic. Tagged Bob Jones University, football, Moody Bible Institute, Sexual assault, Wheaton College https://iloveyoubutyouregoingtohell.org/2017/09/21/felony-football-assault-at-fundamentalist-u/	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353457
__label__wiki	0.782384	0.782384	Basslines and Protest Signs Part 38: Otep Vs. Kult 45 By Brett Callwood \| December 11, 2019 at 1:00 PM Photo credit: Paul Brown If I may, please allow me to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that this very column, Basslines and Protest Signs, took second place in the annual LA Press Club’s Arts and Entertainment Awards, Columnist category. The achievement is all the more humbling when considering that it’s a national competition, and that we only lost out to the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s excellent column for the Hollywood Reporter. Other finalists included columnists for the Orange County Register, and Variety. Of course, we don’t do this for the awards but it’s rewarding to know that our column about music and politics, in which we’ve gone out of our way to highlight important scenes, albums, and performers while making people aware of some of the far-right evil that’s out there, struck the right notes (pun intended) with the judges. It’s a team effort, so a big thanks to CCO & CMO Sherin Nicole and senior editor Alex Bear for making me look good. Meanwhile, we’ll endeavor to keep shining lights where they need to be shone. Such as on Los Angeles band Otep, formed in 2000, led by livewire frontwoman Otep Shamaya. The band and Shamaya have always worn her heart on her sleeve. Last year, Otep released their eighth studio album, Kult 45. That title needs very little explanation. Otep (photo via Xshadowsongx~commonswiki) “It’s an absolute reflection of our times, in opposition, as part of the resistance,” Shamaya told this writer recently, on assignment for L.A. Weekly. “Living under a president who obviously committed conspiracy with the Russians to hack the election, he lost the popular vote by three million votes, he only won the electoral college (which was designed to help slave owners), by 77,000 votes and some change. My goal was to remind people that this is our nation. It doesn’t belong to the politicians, it doesn’t belong to Resident Trump, Traitor Trump, Donnie Little Fingers — I’ve got a lot of names for this guy. It’s not his country, even though he thinks it is. It’s ours.” Shamaya said all of that a year ago, yet the sentiments couldn’t be more timely right now as we watch the impeachment proceedings unfold. She’s very aware that California residents live in a blue bubble, but elsewhere LGBTQ+ employees can still be fired for no other reason than their sexuality and/or identity. Otep Shamaya (photo: Divergentgirl) “That’s not a byproduct of the Trump regime, that’s a byproduct of ignorance and some failures by the Obama administration to make sure that those protections were secure for us,” she said. “I was a fan of President Obama. I didn’t agree with him all the time — he and I had major disagreements on the LGBT community in particular, and the way that he compromised way too much with the Republican party on good faith, thinking that if he did something for them they would do something for him quid pro quo, and that of course turned out not to be the case. Kult 45 initially started out to be about the people that Donald Chump supports, which is white supremacists, hate groups, these groups of toxic masculinity tribes who think that women should only be vocal in the home when they say ‘dinner’s ready,’ that’s about as much as they should speak. But also to touch on other issues that are still pervasive in our country, with regards to rape culture, gender roles, and even fighting for your own self-care and self-love, stepping out of your comfort zone to achieve your dreams and goals and not allowing anyone else to define you.” A self-proclaimed political junkie, Shamaya says that she saw the dangers of Trump and his oppressive policies coming a long time ago. “I saw the trend coming when I first heard old Traitor Trump was running for president,” she said. “I saw the danger and the peril that he posed to our nation because, first, he’s never governed. He has no idea how normal people live. He has no idea how government works and how a bill becomes a law. All he wanted to be is famous. How he ran as a job creator when his slogan was ‘You’re fired’ — he got off on firing people on national TV — the disconnect there is unbelievable to me. The people that voted for him — he was speaking their language in that he made it ok to be hate-filled — racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic, all the way around.” If you’re not already “friends” with Otep on the various social media sites, it’s well worth the add. Shamaya is often outspoken, though her band’s heavy metal leanings have resulted in some fans that vehemently disagree with her. It makes for an entertaining back and forth. Meanwhile, the lyrics also let us know where they stand, such as anti-war anthem “Said the Snake” from the new album: “Put another rifle in their hand Send them like cattle to a foreign land Said the snake… I alone can save your soul Just give me complete control.” – Otep – “Said the Snake” On their previous album, Generation Doom, Shamaya sent out this rallying cry to fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community: “He called me a dyke, I called him an ambulance I can make you famous too, but you tremble at the thought of that I’ve seen more spine in jellyfish That’s an invertebrate, Google that I’ve been in the shadows long enough I got nothing to lose so I’m playing rough So humdrum, so dumb You picked a fight with the wrong one You brought a butter knife to a tank fight I put you on blast then fucked your wife.” – Otep – “Equal Rights, Equal Lefts” That’s Otep. A badass woman who will stand up for what she believes in. People on social media have tried to silence her and they generally regret it. It has no effect anyway — Otep will continue to release incendiary albums and make herself heard. Which is exactly what we want from her. Basslines and Protest Signs Brett Callwood kult 45 LA Press Club Otep otep shamaya Basslines and Protest Signs Part 41: John Cooper Clarke January 15, 2020 \| By Brett Callwood Basslines and Protest Signs Part 40: Feeling Impeachy January 2, 2020 \| By Brett Callwood Basslines and Protest Signs Part 39: England’s Dreaming December 18, 2019 \| By Brett Callwood Basslines and Protest Signs Part 37: A Nation of Millions December 4, 2019 \| By Brett Callwood Basslines and Protest Signs Part 36: Three Decades of Scum November 27, 2019 \| By Brett Callwood Basslines and Protest Signs Part 35: Propagandhi Cleans Away the Jocks	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353468
__label__cc	0.673369	0.326631	destination focus… catalunya by IBTM Events Team In places. Catalunya is well known for its Mediterranean climate throughout the year, its strategic location at the heart of Euro area, its wide range of complementary activities in a variety of environments: urban, Mediterranean coast, inland countryside and Pyrenees, its innovative and world-renowned cuisine with 60 Michelin Stars, and of course for Barcelona, its capital, an international reference for meeting and events tourism. Catalunya has a number of regions that are constantly expanding its offer for the meetings industry, with recent new hotels, venues and activities. Meeting planners are invited to explore the regions after ibtm world this year on a post event tour. So, which part of Catalunya do you fancy for your event? Urban Catalunya? One of the most visited urban areas of Europe and a major world destination for conferences and events, boasting over 2.000 years of history. Catalunya’s four largest cities (Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona) offer a wide range of spaces and activities, ranging from the most traditional and historical to the most avant-garde and contemporary. This part of Catalunya is home to stunning hotels such as The Serras Boutique Hotel 5which opened in January and The Gallery Hotel 4 Sup and of course… the Football Club Barcelona Megastore and Hospital Sant Pau. For foodies, the world-famous El Celler De Can Roca in Girona, is officially ‘the best restaurant in the world’ according to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2015. Mediterranean Coast? From the Cap de Creus in the north, to the Delta de l’Ebre in the south, over 500 km of coastline of craggy mountains with coves and beaches on the north; fine sandy beaches on the south and three natural parks and large tracts of vineyards in the main center of Catalunya. The area provides several activities such as Nordic walking, skydive, multi-olympics on the beach, swim with tunas or make a Human Pyramid (Castellers). Inland Countryside? The countryside of Catalunya will surprise you by its rich natural heritage in its plains, its beautiful mountains such as Montseny or Montserrat and its traditions and legends. It’s characterised by rural settings that have the essence of Catalan life of days gone by. The environment offers several activities such as a GT Driving Experience in Circuit de Barcelona- Catalunya, fun on Burricleta (an ecological bicycle), a cooking demonstration in Alicia Foundation or an unmissable concert in the Salt Mountain. Pyrenees? The impressive Pyrenees provide a natural border of more than 3,000 meters with France. Valleys and lakes in natural parks of extreme beauty. The area provides spectacular opportunities for sport and adventure activities in the open air such as mushing, rafting, canoeing and visit the world heritage Romanesque. This year, the first hotel, 5* GL called Hotel Val de Neu, opened and is already proving popular with visitors. IBTM Events Team Previous: advice on a successful awards entry…Technology and Innovation Watch Next:destination focus… marseille	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353472
__label__cc	0.693924	0.306076	View Nigel Benetton's profile Clients must become active investors Book of advice The 2008/9 recession has led to four years of high volatility being experienced by both businesses and investors. Pensioners, in particular, have taken the brunt of dubious investment decisions with many struggling just to keep their heads above water. “The plight of pensioners reducing capital to survive requires a different approach from financial advisers,” says financial advisor Peter Larcombe who believes it’s time to take a new look at retirement funding. Investors need to play a far more active role in decision making and the financial services industry has to be less set in its views on how retirees and potential retirees should invest and more accountable for its actions. Larcombe’s standpoint is the result of 45 years in financial management and consulting across a wide spectrum of industries and businesses, both in South Africa and internationally. Over the past seven years, he has specialized in investments for retirees giving him first-hand knowledge of the challenges. Larcombe says that his own experience in the industry led him to realise that those investing for retirement were overlooking some very basic principles that would enable them to move from being conservative investors who avoid risk at all costs to active participants achieving the same returns as other investors. Last year, he decided to take this a step further and outlined his new approach to investing in detail. His recently released book - Creative Investment Planning for South Africans – is the result. This book has been written to guide investors, and retirees in particular, towards higher growth on their investment funds without losing capital through the complete economic cycle. The unique approach suggested in the book outlines how retirees can draw from their investments during a period of market downturn or recession without losing capital and retaining the higher growth investments. (This book has been written with full explanations and procedures which are intended to be understood by the layman, with the help of his or her financial advisor when necessary.) In his book, Larcombe covers all bases – what needs to be done, why and how. He draws on proven and successful techniques to show how an investor can grow his or her savings to ensure that there is enough capital at retirement and then make it last, how an investor can draw from investments during a recession without losing capital, how investments can be optimised with little or no tax implications and to identify specific investments that match risk and return objectives. He is also forthright in his advice on how financial advisors and investment management companies should be selected and how investors’ should manage their relationships with them. He says that that the 21st century has introduced new challenges with globalisation, information technology and financial complexity. Many international financial institutions have exploited profit incentives for management and shareholders at the expense of investors and taxpayers – practices that played a major role in the seriousness of the 2008/9 recession and eroded the credibility of the financial services industry as a whole. Investors have become very sceptical of the financial industry at large. In order to allay these fears and provide a better platform for financial advice in the future, he suggests that investments and portfolios be subject to more regular reviews than might have been undertaken prior to 2 000. He advises on half yearly intervals. He adds that the more aggressive and active investment stance put forward in his book also suggests that the industry needs to be more proactive in disseminating relevant information to assist investors with their decision making and needs to offer a more definitive classification of the risk and return implications for each sector. He also insists that financial advisors, who may not be investment specialists or proficient enough, need to identify when to call for extra professional assistance from within their management teams. “The large financial institutions have the technical knowledge within their companies and should disseminate it on a regular basis so that those financial advisors who are not investment specialists are proficient enough and empowered to offer the necessary level of service to meet their client’s needs. This feedback loop should be at least monthly with market conditions being so volatile.” He also believes that investors themselves need to step up to the plate. “Today we live in a dynamic world where technology and globalisation is advancing at an incredible rate. South Africa has the added dimension of a higher inflation percentage than the developed world has. One can question why investors in general, and retirees in particular, do not optimise their investment returns but continue instead to adopt a passive investment strategy characterised by unawareness of growth opportunities,” he says. He stresses that one of the fundamental premises of Creative Investment Planning is that, in the 21st century, it is logical and prudent that retirees adopt a more active investment management practice, especially in South Africa. “Retirees would do well to insist on regular reviews with their financial adviser or when there has been a significant movement in economic or market conditions, when worldwide or local events such as changes in the bank rate or major stock exchange values or recession could trigger uncertainty leading to increased risk and potential loss or reduction in asset values.” Copyright © Insurance Times and Investments® Vol:27.2 1st February, 2014 984 views, page last viewed on January 12, 2020 Vol. 27.2 February 2014 Download Magazine [PDF] Download Magazine [FlipBook] New Withholding Tax on Cross-Border Services Foreign catch Cover for the gadgets Portable solution The hardship of saving for your child’s future Unsustainable system Avoiding analysis paralysis in 2014 Important year for emerging markets Winners become losers in the great profit trap Avoid the greedy pitfall UK National Health Service in a shambles Two elephants in the room Massive Pacific rim trade pact signed Countering China Cyber-attacks on the rise in media industry Sad picture What to consider when drafting a will Reams of work Adverse drug reactions a leading cause of death worldwide Lives at risk from misuse of medicines Security in offshore discretionary trusts Expert advice crucial Technology bringing greater engagement Critical trends converge Plan for specialist stroke centres The under-recognised killer Beneficiary funds: what financial advisers should know Minor advantage Need for quality improvements and new technologies At the front line More from News Extra Terms of Use Admin Log In Copyright © 2020 Insurance Times and Investments®	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353473
__label__wiki	0.943493	0.943493	The Double Shows Just How Soul-Draining A Terrible Office Job Could Get Charlie Jane Anders Filed to:movie review The Double is based on a Dovstoevesky story about a man who meets his doppelganger — but this movie by Richard Ayoade owes a huge debt to Kafka, too. And stylistically, it really is like a fan-film of Terry Gilliam's Brazil. And it does a brilliant job of capturing the horrors of a soul-crushing job and an empty life. The Double came out in limited release in the United States last week but is hitting a lot more theaters this week. And it's definitely worth checking out. In The Double, Jesse Eisenberg plays Simon James, a shy overthinking loser who struggles with a dead-end job in a weird surveillance facility, where everybody's lives are crunched into data for a figure known as The Colonel. Simon pines for Hannah (Mia Wasikowska) from afar and spies on her at night. But one day, a doppelganger named James Simon appears — he's also played by Eisenberg, and he's a cocky jerkwad who exploits Simon and steals Simon's work. He even steals Hannah away from Simon and also screws the boss' daughter, whom Simon is supposed to be tutoring. The notion of an evil twin coming in and taking over your life is an old one in literature as well as science fiction — but what makes this version somewhat special is the nightmarish quality of the whole setup, and the awfulness of the job where James Simon is becoming a superstar and Simon James is failing. (As opposed to the other recent doppelganger movie, Enemy, which fails to distinguish itself apart from a few surreal scenes involving naked women and big spiders.) Ayoade crams his movie with lots of weird touches. Everybody uses crappy -looking old 1980s technology, and the characters move among dirty Eastern European buildings and interiors. The overall feeling of the movie is industrial and bizarre, and you would expect even Sam Lowry to be horrified by the dark, dingy, prison-like office where Simon works. Every other shot is full of weird colored lights, and oddly framed shots of windows, mirrors and shadows. Weird faces loom into the shots here and there. There's some scarily campy old Japanese music playing over and over, interspersed with horror movie violins and jarring noises. There's a weird old-school science fiction TV show that absolutely everybody watches, which comes across like a nightmare version of the 1980 Buck Rogers. Ayoade takes the doppelganger story and turns it into a tale of an alpha male and a beta male — but then uses that, in turn, to explore the emasculation that comes from being part of a machine. The Double is absolutely crammed with self-loathing, and the spectre of suicide is brought up constantly — but it's also got some weirdly funny moments, especially involving the boss (Wallace Shawn). So yes, The Double wears its influences on its sleeve, and in the end probably seems too indebted to Gilliam and some other sources. The ending, in particular, falls a bit flat. But this movie is still a must-watch for people who crave dark surrealism — it's brutally bizarre, and it will help you put your terrible job in perspective.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353479
__label__cc	0.60331	0.39669	Prevention, early intervention, adherence and function: links in optimising outcome Course of disease Migliorando il funzionamento del paziente, si avranno miglioramenti in tutti gli outcome: un'alternativa all'approccio tradizionale della terapia del paziente affetto da schizofrenia proposta dai professori Gorwood, Carpiniello ed Arango. Un approfondimento su early intervention, aderenza alla terapia e prevenzione. Measuring function can help morale Many of us do not use scales that assess function, said Philip Gorwood, Hospital Saint-Anne, Paris, France. We have little time!, he admitted. But if we do not use such scales, it is difficult to explain to a patient that they have improved: that they are going out once a week rather than once a month, that they now have a hobby, and that they are mixing more with friends. Using such instruments can enrich our capacity to be positive – for example about the benefits of treatment and staying on it. They can be good for morale, whatever the level of psychotic symptoms. Showing benefit on scales that measure function helps us to be positive about staying on treatment. And there are measures that provide a helpful amount of information without requiring too much time. An example is the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale. This takes 5-10 minutes and provides useful data on four dimensions: social activities, relationships, self-care, and disturbing behaviour. Philip Gorwood also offered a new approach: instead of helping patients get better and hoping they return to good functioning, perhaps we should be helping them to function, and that will make them get better. This might almost go as far as making patients return to work. Aiding social cognition We focus on the possible adverse effects of the stress involved in returning to a job. But it gets patients to be part of life, where they have to interact with people. And if work and socialising are successful, that does great things for self esteem. Sustaining attention gets easier with practice. We can help the process along by training patients in skills such as facial recognition, executive control and maintaining attention. Sustaining attention is a bit like using a muscle – it gets stronger with practice. And it will help if we use pharmacotherapy that has neurocognitive benefits, presumably related to protection of the brain. There is also an almost philosophical aspect to the nature of recovery, Philip Gorwood said. After an intense episode of psychosis, even though a person will hopefully return to good functioning, there will have been some change. It would be true to say to a patient: “you will not be entirely as before”. The same statement might also apply in the realm of physical health – given the effects of some treatments on weight, lipid profile and glucose metabolism described by Bernardo Cariniello (University of Cagliari, Italy). Treating early, treating wisely Wise choice of pharmacotherapy is a way of improving outcome by reducing adverse side effects. But Bernardo Cariniello also drew attention to the need to minimise the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). Longer DUP predicts poorer outcome; and it is a risk factor that is eminently modifiable. Agreeing with the views of Philip Gorwood, Bernardo Cariniello described how the target of treatment has evolved from symptom control through clinical remission to functional recovery. And clinical remission is not sufficient for functional remission. Recovery is not only reduced psychotic symptoms but also satisfaction with life, subjective wellbeing and ability to undertake the activities of daily living. While we have made progress in enabling patients to attain good function, fewer than half our first episode patients have achieved that target five years after symptom onset. So we are far from achieving our aim in many patients. Integrate evidence-based psychosocial interventions with drugs that optimise sustained remission. That said, the best way forward is the integration of evidence-based psychosocial interventions with pharmacological agents that have been shown to improve patients’ chances of sustained remission, which typically requires high levels of adherence to therapy. Secondary and primary prevention The critical role played by DUP was emphasised by Celso Arango (University Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain). More broadly, we need to put further emphasis on prevention, as has been the way forward in cardiology and oncology. In those at high risk of transition to psychosis, we know the risk factors; and much could be done to prevent or at least substantially delay this event. In a large proportion of cases, psychosis is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Genes play a part, but environment is important. And we can reduce insomnia, worry, dysphoria, activation and aberrant salience -- all of which increase risk of transition to major psychosis. In people who do have a first episode of schizophrenia, greater loss of grey matter relates to worse outcome (including poorer cognition at two years) and seems to be linked to lower levels of the antioxidant glutathione. With this rationale, a controlled trial of a glutathione precursor is now under way in both high risk and first episode patients, to assess its potential in primary as well as secondary prevention. Our correspondent’s highlights from the symposium are meant as a fair representation of the scientific content presented. The views and opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of Otsuka and Lundbeck. Intervento precoce per la psicosi: vale la pena investire? Approcci complementari per migliorare gli outcome nella psicosi al primo episodio	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353480
__label__wiki	0.748587	0.748587	Homepage / News New structure found in sperm may help understand infertility Jenny Sharpe [BioNews, London] Cutting-edge microscopy has unveiled a structure inside sperm that may play a key role in infertility and birth defects. The structure, which is newly identified in mammalian and human sperm, is a second centriole – a barrel-shaped structure found in cells which acts as a kind of scaffolding during cell division. It was thought that that mammalian sperm cells have only one centriole. The newly discovered second centriole is similar in function but has a slightly different shape, so the researchers have dubbed it as the 'atypical' centriole. 'This research is significant because abnormalities in the formation and function of the atypical centriole may be the root of infertility of unknown cause in couples who have no treatment options available to them,' said Dr Tomer Avidor-Reiss at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, and senior study author. He added: 'It also may have a role in early pregnancy loss and embryo development defects.' The research was published in Nature Communications. Centrioles act in pairs during cell division and have a crucial role in the development of an embryo. Since oocytes lack centrioles, it was always thought that the sperm's centriole was duplicated within the zygote to give the two centrioles needed for it to divide. The new study suggests this to be incorrect – the sperm already carries two centrioles. The atypical centriole contains a set of proteins that helps the other centriole to function after fertilisation. Key to this discovery was super-resolution microscopy, which allowed the researchers to see proteins at the highest resolution. 'We found the previously elusive centriole using cutting-edge techniques and microscopes. It was overlooked in the past because it's completely different from the known centriole in terms of structure and protein composition,' said Dr Avidor-Reiss. Understanding more about the sperm's centrioles will help to determine whether these structures are involved in male infertility or defects in embryo development. The researchers are now planning to work with urology colleagues to understand the clinical implications of the atypical centriole. SOURCES & REFERENCES A novel atypical sperm centriole is functional during human fertilization Nature Communications \| 7 June 2018 Men may contribute to infertility through newly discovered part of sperm EurekAlert \| 7 June 2018 New Barrel-Shaped Structure Discovered Inside Sperm LiveScience \| 11 June 2018 Scientists Discovered a New Part of Your Sperm - and It Could Explain Infertility Popular Mechanics \| 9 June 2018 http://www.BioNews.org.uk © Copyright Progress Educational Trust Reproduced with permission from BioNews, an email and online sources of news, information and comment on assisted reproduction and genetics. Add to Favorites \| Reply to Ad \| Tell Your Friends Date Added: 18 June 2018 Date Updated: 18 June 2018 (No reviews found. You may write the first one!) 2. THE 3rd OVATOOLS SYMPOSIUM 3. MSc in Clinical Embryology: Application deadline for entry in October 2020 4. Diet has rapid effects on sperm quality 5. ART, Embryology & Cryobiology training program Designing Babies 3. Emotionally and Physically Preparing for IVF 4. New Zealand committee proposes legalisation of prohibited fertility practices 5. Three million IVF babies born worldwide	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353482
__label__wiki	0.926086	0.926086	Arrest in ‘Largest’ DDoS Ever Apr 30, 2013 \| News A Dutch citizen arrested in northeast Spain on suspicion of launching the biggest cyber attack in Internet history operated from a bunker and had a van capable of hacking into networks anywhere in the country, officials said Sunday. The suspect traveled in Spain using his van “as a mobile computing office, equipped with various antennas to scan frequencies,” an Interior Ministry statement said. Sony Hacker gets 1 Year in Slammer LulzSec Member Pleads Guilty WI Man Charged in DDoS Attacks Estonian Guilty Plea for Net Scam Agents arrested him Thursday in the city of Granollers, 22 miles north of Barcelona, complying with a European arrest warrant issued by Dutch officials. He faces charges of attacking the Swiss-British anti-spam watchdog group Spamhaus whose main task is to halt ads for counterfeit Viagra and bogus weight-loss pills reaching the world’s inboxes. The statement said officers uncovered the computer hacker’s bunker, “from where he even did interviews with different international media.” The 35-year-old, identified only by his initials, S.K., listed his birthplace as the western Dutch city of Alkmaar. The statement said the suspect called himself a diplomat belonging to the “Telecommunications and Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Cyberbunker.” Dutch authorities alerted Spanish police in March of large denial-of-service attacks being launched from Spain that were affecting Internet servers in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and the U.S. These attacks culminated with a major onslaught on Spamhaus. The Netherlands National Prosecution Office described them as “unprecedentedly serious attacks on the nonprofit organization Spamhaus.” The largest assault was at 300 billion bits per second, according to San Francisco-based CloudFlare Inc., which Spamhaus enlisted to help it weather the attack. Denial-of-service attacks overwhelm a server with traffic, jamming it with incoming messages. Security experts measure the attacks in bits of data per second. Recent cyber attacks — such as the ones that caused persistent outages at U.S. banking sites late last year — have tended to peak at 100 billion bits per second, one third the size of that experienced by Spamhaus. Netherlands, German, British and U.S. police forces took part in the investigation leading to the arrest, Spain officials said. The suspect will end up extradited from Spain to face charges in the Netherlands.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353487
__label__wiki	0.942012	0.942012	Crosby, Stills and Nash Teach Your Children Suite: Judy Blue Eyes Live In NYC 1989 - Part Two (Live) Live In NYC 1989 - Part One (Live) Live At The Hollywood Bowl 1980 (Live) Live In LA - Part Two (Live) Live In LA - Part One (Live) Crosby, Stills & Nash - Survival Sunday Wind On The Water (Live) Midnight Rider (Live) Suite: Judy Blue Eyes / Long Time Gone [Digital... Playlist: Chill 100 Greatest Winter Songs e altri 58 album Informazioni su Crosby, Stills and Nash The heavenly harmonies and melodic Folk-Rock of Crosby, Stills and Nash was born in the uncanny chemistry of David Crosby (from the Byrds), Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield), and Graham Nash (the Hollies). The supergroup formed in 1968 (Neil Young was added in 1970 -- he kind of plays whenever he feels like it), and continue to sail a wooden ship of melodic soul into the new century. The salient aspects of the band's updated sound poke out in the form of harsh, angular, electric guitar tones and glossy, allocated riffs. The production is obviously much more pristine and glossy than the trio's self-titled debut, but they still manage to stamp their signature vocal style on the sound, traversing from melodic pop to acoustic folk to Hard Rock -- and even experimenting with some silly '80s pop, as seen here. Bebop Digital Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead, John Martyn, Poco, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Santana The heavenly harmonies and melodic Folk-Rock of Crosby, Stills and Nash was born in the uncanny chemistry of David Crosby (from the Byrds), Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield), and Graham Nash (the Hollies). The supergroup formed in 1968 (Neil Young was added in 1970 -- he kind of plays whenever he feels like it), and continue to sail a wooden ship of melodic soul into the new century. The salient aspects of the band's updated sound poke out in the form of harsh, angular, electric guitar tones and glossy, allocated riffs. The production is obviously much more pristine and glossy than the trio's self-titled debut, but they still manage to stamp their signature vocal style on the sound, traversing from melodic pop to acoustic folk to Hard Rock -- and even experimenting with some silly '80s pop, as seen here. Bebop Digital Barrel Of Pain (Live) Folk Commute The David Crosby Box Little Green In Concert Folk FM Broadcast	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353490
__label__wiki	0.698355	0.698355	Why LeBron James 'probably can't' trademark Taco Tuesdays Alexandra Canal Yahoo Finance 4 September 2019 In case you didn’t know, LeBron James really loves Taco Tuesdays — so much that he’s pushing to trademark the phrase. On August 15, LBJ Trademarks LLC, a company owned by the basketball star, filed a “taco Tuesday” trademark request. The move seeks to capitalize on James’ already viral social media posts about the universally loved dish. However, at least one person thinks it won’t be that easy. Recently, trademark attorney David Leichtman explained to Yahoo Finance that restaurant chain Taco John’s actually owns the trademark registration on “taco Tuesday.” And since first filing in 1989, they’ve been aggressively trying to halt others from using the phrase. Since a trademark can exist for the same property across different industries, James will most likely be able to use the popular expression, the attorney told YFi PM. But his celebrity power won’t fully keep others following suit. “Taco Tuesday is a ubiquitous term — when you have multiple outlets all trying to use the same mark in a very crowded field, it's very difficult to get the Trademark Office to give you that protection and even if they [do] it’s going to be very thin protection,” he stated. LeBron James' files to trademark 'taco Tueday'. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) According to paperwork filed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, LeBron’s “taco Tuesday” application is taking a different route than Taco John. James’ proposed trademark includes classifications like “podcasting services” as well as “online entertainment services... and social media posts in the field of sports, entertainment, current events and popular culture.” “[Taco John’s] registration is limited to the restaurant area… what LeBron James is trying to do is slightly different,” Leichtman told YFi PM. The attorney added that despite the differences in classification, companies that own trademarks are still allowed to stretch into the zone of natural expansion. The doctrine can be used to extend a trademark's prior rights into a new geographical area or product line. Yahoo Finance's All Markets Summit, Oct. 10 Nowadays, restaurants promote themselves “on social media, blogs, audio visual entertainment — including Taco John’s owned-television advertising,” Leichtman said, “which falls right within the spot that LeBron James is trying to take.” So are LeBron’s “taco Tuesday” dreams officially shattered? “He can probably use it, but what he probably can’t do is protect against other people from also using it, or from using similar things,” Leichtman said. “So he may not get a federal trademark registration, but if Taco John’s were to sue him they probably wouldn't be successful.” Taco John’s did not immediately respond to Yahoo Finance’s request for comment. Alexandra Canal is a Producer at Yahoo Finance. Supermodel says Victoria's Secret has 'a long way to go' before rebounding Hurricane Dorian highlights booming market for power generators Restaurants go virtual to take on Grubhub, UberEats challenge An economist says Trump is right: Investment is down and the Fed should help Reserve your AMS ticket here #lebron-james #taco-john's #sue #trademark #social-media #taco-tuesday #lawsuits #trademarks-and-patents Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Negotiations With the Royal Family If saheb can be chief minister four times, why not me be Dy CM: Ajit Pawar Karnataka to get four new airports in the next two years: Aviation Secretary	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353491
__label__cc	0.737299	0.262701	NBN write-down now inevitable despite Turnbull Government denial By Paul Budde \| 16 January 2018, 3:30pm \| comments Cartoon by Mark David / @MDavidCartoons A write-down is imminent for the failed NBN and the debacle will continue until our telecoms strategy is developed by technical experts and not politicians, writes Paul Budde. IT WAS INTERESTING to see that the ACCC has now indicated that a different financial structure for the NBN might have to be the next major step in the Australian broadband saga. After it became clear that, following his proper election in 2016, Prime Minister Turnbull didn’t take the opportunity to introduce the essential structural changes to the NBN strategy, I indicated that without these changes, one way or another, a 50 per cent write-off of the company would have to follow. That was obviously not welcomed by the Government, but over the last 18 months, many others are arriving at the same conclusion. The fact that the ACCC has now joined the chorus is a significant development. It is important to mention that the ACCC is not a political organisation and that it genuinely operates in the best interest of the country. ACCC kicks off NBN wholesale service levels inquiry https://t.co/zpLypoqxOC — David Bird (@seniormacuser) December 18, 2017 But the Government is flatly rejecting any such calls. However, if they don’t take the lead it is important that the rest of the country (industry and users) start looking at what would be the best strategy in the wake of the inevitable write-down and restructuring that will result in a major change to the Australian telecoms market. First, it is important that NBN Co finishes the rollout and leaves the infrastructure they are building in the best possible condition. This means that those 400,000+ connections that are currently in the too-hard basket will also have to be properly connected. This would be a good basis for whatever happens from here. But let us think through what we, as a country, want. Eventually, we would like to see most premises connected to gigabit networks. Not that we all will use all of those gigabits, but it would be an advantage to have the capacity and all of the other technical advantages of such a network — essential for any modern society. We already see that cities such as Adelaide, Newcastle and Brisbane are developing their own gigabit networks. If you compare a gigabit network to a freeway, no individual person or household needs a freeway, but a freeway can handle, let’s say, 100,000 vehicles per 24 hours — that’s why you need it. Then take into account that you will never have an equal volume of cars over a 24-hour period, so you end up needing a freeway that can handle (again, let’s say) 200,000 cars in order to avoid traffic congestion at peak hours. Here are all the countries that outrank Australia in internet speed: 🇰🇿🇬🇺🇶🇦🇧🇾🇵🇦🇦🇹🇧🇲🇮🇹🇸🇮🇺🇦🇨🇱🇨🇿🇪🇪 🇷🇺🇹🇹🇹🇭🇫🇮🇸🇰🇮🇪🇹🇼🇧🇬🇮🇱🇵🇱🇲🇩🇲🇹🇱🇻 🇧🇧🇩🇪🇬🇧🇵🇹🇧🇪🇫🇷🇱🇺🇨🇳🇳🇿🇯🇪🇪🇸🇨🇦🇷🇪 🇱🇹🇳🇴🇩🇰🇺🇸🇯🇵🇨🇭🇳🇱🇸🇪🇭🇺🇷🇴🇰🇷🇮🇸🇸🇬 https://t.co/0ZJsBwaZ94 — The McKell Institute (@McKellInstitute) January 8, 2018 I am more than happy to leave the technical aspects of this gigabit broadband network configuration to our very capable network engineers, but for heaven's sake, let's not get politicians involved again in dictating technologies! What is certain is that in the end, we will either need fibre-to-the-premises or fibre-to-the-curb — the latter with either good quality copper or wireless connections from the curb to the premise. At this point in time, it is unfortunately not yet known whether a 5G connection for the last 50 or 100 metres is technically viable and, importantly, if such a connection will be able to provide affordable high-speed broadband to the users. As a proper 5G network will require a fibre optic network to most of its towers, we should take a holistic approach and take both fixed and wireless technologies into account in the next national telecoms review. So, in whatever way we look at the overall broadband network, 90 per cent of all of the telecoms infrastructure will be fibre-based and in this part of the network, there is very little opportunity for competition. Nobody is going to build competing fibre optic networks for residential use. So that infrastructure needs, in one way or another, to be managed through regulation. Of course, we could – and should – have full retail competition beyond that. ‘where is the industry leadership? The telcos are under the ACCC’s radar over their questionable marketing practices, yet they seem unwilling to tell the Government that at the heart of the matter is the flawed technology.’ #auspol #nbn @conscienceanne https://t.co/QZewhWFoHQ — Denise Shrivell (@deniseshrivell) January 10, 2018 However, my worry is that we won’t get a rational solution along the abovementioned lines. Since I first became involved in the Australian market in 1983, telecommunications has been a highly politicised environment and it would be a miracle if that were to suddenly change now. Doomsday scenarios include continued political denial leading to increased regulation to prop up a financially struggling NBN company, creating further market distortions; this will further block innovation will lead to higher prices for the users, and in general, hamper economic growth and productivity. Splitting up the NBN company and selling it in bits and pieces could be equally dangerous if there is no long-term strategy in place on how to move the whole network towards a fibre-based one. One could easily end up with monopolies based on technologies such as fixed-wireless, HFC and FTTN, and again the fibre optic backbone network needed for the next development of the mobile networks (5G) will need to be included in a holist national infrastructure strategy. I advocated for a long-term strategic NBN plan when we started to discuss the network in the 2005-2009 period. With the government of the day and over 400 industry and consumer experts involved, we started off well, but without bipartisan support, and with the Coalition Government taking over in 2013, we ended up in the mess we are in today. Can it be any different once a serious discussion about the future of the NBN begins in the run-up to the completion of this network in 2020? I remain an optimist and say we certainly can do it, but without bipartisan support, whatever we do will end up in disaster again. It certainly would be worthwhile for both political parties to sit down together and discuss this like grown-ups — taking into account the national interest and not party politics. Apart from the Trump Administration, there is no other government in the world that doesn’t have bipartisan support for its telecoms strategy. Surely this should be an area that needs to be developed by technical experts and not by politicians. Could the industry perhaps take the initiative here and mediate the politics? Malcolm Turnbull's NBN: it's a mess. #NBN #auspol pic.twitter.com/wYM01nSySQ — Michelle Rowland (@MRowlandMP) November 29, 2017 Paul Budde is managing director of Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd, an independent telecommunications research and consultancy organisation. You can follow Paul on Twitter @paulbudde. This article was originally published on BuddeCom and is republished with permission. Turnbull admits #NBNFail train wreck — now blames Labor @PaulBudde https://t.co/iSd8zSWtMr @IndependentAus — Michelle Pini (@vmp9) October 23, 2017 The #ACCC tackles misleading and deceptive claims about internet speeds @acccgovau. #NBN #abc730 pic.twitter.com/JewyQigQoC — QUT IP & Innovation (@QUT_IP) November 9, 2017 Get up to speed. Subscribe to IA for just $5. Paul Budde NBN Malcolm Turnbull Turnbull Government #NBNFail #Fraudband ACCC write-down NBN Co gigabit network Recent articles by Paul Budde Broadband-driven smart energy developments will change the market 16 January 2020, 3:30pm The business model for most electricity suppliers is becoming outdated with adva ... Forging a telecoms bushfire emergency plan 8 January 2020, 7:00am I lived in Bucketty in bush for more than 30 years. We luckily just moved to ... The power of data in smart city developments 4 January 2020, 1:00pm Developments in data science and analysis have been beneficial in managing key ... view all 62 articles by Paul Budde	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353492
__label__wiki	0.813704	0.813704	Miami area screenings Relationships and dreams collide in ‘Sleepwalk With Me’ – a film review One of the trickier plot devices for films to earn in their narrative are dream sequences. Dreams are easy ploys to lean on to move a film’s story forward … or undermine it. The filmmakers behind the new indie film Sleepwalk With Me could have been excused for over-using dreams in the film’s plot, as its main character suffers from a peculiar sleep disorder. However, they know the value of restraint. Matt Pandamiglio (Mike Birbiglia, also the film’s co-director) actually suffers from something called REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), which makes him act out his dreams while still asleep. The disease makes him more than a sleepwalker. It is ominously warned in the movie his condition as a hyper somnambulist could lead to the death of his sleeping partner. Though based on the real-life condition of Birbiglia, the film does not play up his malaise as the film’s main concern. Sleepwalk With Me is as much about a comedian on the rise and the dissolution of his long-term relationship as it as about a man suffering a sleep disorder. Lauren Ambrose plays his supportive but long-suffering girlfriend Abby. Their relationship is sweet and patient. She has a successful business coaching people through vocal exercises for relaxation. Matt notes how the students love her. Meanwhile, he struggles as a bartender at a comedy club where he patiently waits opportunities to fill between comedians who are late for their slots. The two have been dating for eight years since college. Seemingly stuck in a rut, they decide to move in together. As Matt’s sister is about to get married, the pressure mounts. Enter the sleep disorder, which becomes exacerbated when Matt actually starts getting gigs out of state that he drives to by himself. During these drives Matt often speaks directly to the audience in the theater, charmingly set up at the start of the film with his request that attendees shut off their cellphones. He offers a running commentary of humor and hindsight to a story that could have seemed tragic as a long-lasting and caring relationship gradually unravels. There are tiny details that clearly reveal a human touch of experience and unselfconscious inclination to explore self-deprecating humor. When a female friend asks Abby where Matt’s at, she rolls her eyes and says he’s on the road doing his standup. The standup shows she has seen featured nary a chuckle and only her beaming applause topped off with a giddy but quiet “Yay.” Precious. He also gets paid less than he spends in tolls, gas and hotels. Little does she know that Matt has found his stride cracking jokes on stage about their sputtering relationship like exploring this little insight: “I decided I’m not going to get married until I’m sure nothing else good could happen in my life.” It’s a subtle humor that represents a lot of the film’s jokes, which are not hilarious but more sad-funny. But if you’re grown up enough beyond the slapstick, superficial and sometimes misanthropic fare of most comedies, this film is a snug fit. There is nothing garish and overly sweet about it either. The wedding of Matt’s younger sister Janet (Cristin Milioti) of course only causes more anxiety for the unmarried couple. When a proposal does come from Matt it arrives as one of the most pathetic engagement agreements ever on screen but still smacks of human compassion. It feels more authentic than a lot of proposals in movies or worse: the TV news. By this point in the movie, it feels as if Matt and Abby are trying to peddle a tandem bicycle with flat tires and bent rims. A wreck is inevitable. The relationship side of the film, though grim, is one of the film’s most unique characteristics, which is only heightened by Matt’s sleep walking sequences and the menacing warning of death by RBD. These scenes are never exploited beyond serving as witty manifestations of Matt’s anxiety. The skill of these writers, which also includes Ira Glass of the “This American Life” radio show, reveals a profound restraint that many other committee-writing groups should take notes from. It could have been easy to offer a series of escalating jokes of this poor man’s sleep disorder. Instead they appear sparingly, and they are never set up, which allows the viewer a moment of confusion that hints at the disorienting sensation Matt must suffer in these states. Film offers the perfect medium to re-create dreams, thanks to its inherit quality of editing images together. And the filmmakers take full advantage of the splices. They make the viewer work a bit to understand what may be happening be it dream or real world or the place in between, but they never pander with over-stylization like slow-motion or hazy focus. Though it makes for a quick and easy revelation into dramatic irony, it also heightens Matt’s helpless quality. Sleepwalk With Me surprises with its heart and humanity while consistently offering insightful laughs into people’s desire to pair off. On the other side of Matt and Abby’s coin are Matt’s patronizing father (James Rebhorn) and air-headed mother (Carol Kane) whose 40-year marriage is best described as firm though not solid or comfortable. Matt and Abby seem hopelessly caught between the weight of the impending marriage and the long-standing marriage. The struggle is a difficult thing to watch, but the film tempers it nicely with Birbigilia’s sense of humor, which feels like a pathetic version of Woody Allen. This movie could have been sad had it not been so humorous. When Matt suffers a sleep walking episode involving a dream of a missile coordinated on his position, the results are inevitably more than symbolic, and his final solution to cope with his problem almost seems like slapstick, but it also makes for an well-earned poignant closing image. Scariest of all, as the end credits prove, this is not a dream but based on a true story. Sleepwalk With Me is Not Rated and runs 90 minutes. It opens in the South Florida area, this Friday, Sept. 7, at many indie theaters. Here they are (the Miami Beach Cinematheque held a preview screening for the purposes of this review): Miami Beach Cinematheque – Miami Beach, FL O Cinema – Miami, FL Cinema Paradiso – Fort Lauderdale, FL Living Room Cinema 4 – Boca Raton, FL If you live outside of South Florida, it could very well be playing in your area now, but there are also other playdates planned throughout the year. A full schedule can be found on the film’s official website, here. There’s even a link to contact theaters that are not showing the film, so you might want to politely ask other theaters to host it. (Copyright 2012 by Hans Morgenstern. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.) Seth Barrish Previous articleHelp fund release of rare WW II footage by Sam Fuller Next article‘The Imposter’ is one mind-bending documentary Paul Duvall September 7, 2012 at 5:03 pm I had heard of this one, but after reading your review this is very much on my radar. Sign me up for newsletters Suicide Squad is an exasperatingly dull sidebar to super hero genre... Hans Morgenstern - August 2, 2016	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353498
__label__cc	0.631061	0.368939	Maurice Kirk’s alleged conspiracy to kidnap Musa kids Regular readers might recall our reports last month on the African adventures of Sabine McNeill’s friend Maurice Kirk, who refers to himself as “the Flying Vet”: he managed to crash land several times while tagging along with a vintage aeroplane rally, before finally ditching in South Sudan. The story was picked up by several media outlets as a “human interest” item—headlines along the lines of “Daredevil pilot’s ordeal after South Sudan crash” sprouted across the internet. We’ve mentioned some of the less savoury aspects of Mr Kirk’s adventures over the years, including various convictions for common assault, death threats, and destruction of property, not to mention his being struck off as a veterinarian due to conduct that would bring the profession into disrepute. Mr Kirk is also known as the McKenzie friend of the Gloria and Joseph Musa, whose children were removed from their care because of their extreme cruelty: From The Telegraph, 14 August 2012: Two cruel parents convicted of a decade long campaign of abuse against their kids after Coronation Street star Michelle Collins gave evidence against them were jailed for seven years each today. The Nigerian couple, who claimed their kids were possessed by evil spirits, beat them with brooms, hoovers and wires and even gave their baby a morphine overdose just days after her first birthday. The kids were finally rescued after their eldest daughter threw a heart-wrenching SOS note out of a window…. …The abuse came to the attention of police in April 2010 when their nine-year-old wrote an SOS note and threw it out of her bedroom window. The heart-breaking plea read: “My mum is the worst mum ever because she can’t cope with five of us, her broken hand and being pregnant. She always leaves me out so I always starve and I am forced to work. “If I don’t get enough house work done, I am beaten without mercy with the wooden end of a broom. I have scars all over me to prove it. I can’t stay here. I would like a new mum.” It was found by a neighbour who called the police, and when officers attended the address they found the children living in messy conditions with “dirty” and “dishevelled” clothing. Revealing scars the eldest said her mother had hit her with a cable, a broom, and a hoover and her father had dangled her by her feet down the stairwell of the house, tied her hands behind her back and her legs together “to get the devilish spirits out”, prosecutor Emma Smith said. Her sister, who was seven at the time, had a stick shaped bruise of her thigh and after a few months in care, she drew a series of pictures showing her dad beating her and her being left home alone and including a speech bubble saying ‘I’m hungry.’ The children were left home alone for hours, sometimes days on end, with the elder kids forced to look after the others. They had even been forced to lie to a charity and social services that they were living alone with their mother in one room and had no idea who their dad was so they could scam benefits. We wonder whether the media outlets that wrote with such amused admiration about Mr Kirk’s bullheaded determination to fly across Africa might have been a bit chagrined to learn about another trip to Africa which he is alleged to have planned in 2011: Yep, Maurice Kirk was charged with conspiracy to abduct the Musa children, the plan apparently being that he and the parents would locate the children in their foster homes, and he would then fly them back to Nigeria. In this “witness statement” which he sent to the CPS, he manages to say very little about the actual charge of conspiracy to abduct children, but he does give away a few interesting facts: He states that he went to actress Michelle Collins’ house (she had assisted the Musa children in escaping from their parents), and implies that Ms Collins is involved in child trafficking. He claims that Haringey lawyers “caused Mrs Atkinson to have me jailed”. And he blames everyone but himself for his predicament: it’s the UK Courts, the South Wales Police, Michelle Collins, Haringey lawyers, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy who have caused his predicament, not his own behaviour. Reading Mr Kirk’s blog account of the matter, it’s difficult to tell exactly what happened: like Sabine, his accounts tend to be riddled with factual errors, delusional leaps of non-logic, and bizarre asides which may or may not pertain to the case: Ultimately, as we know, the Musas were found guilty of child cruelty, and we believe the conspiracy to abduct charges were dismissed, though we can find no official record of this having happened. If anyone knows of a more reputable source than Mr Kirk’s own blog, we’d love to see it. 08/01/2017 in Assorted knobheads. Tags: child abuse, conspiracy theories, criminal charges, Maurice Kirk, Mckenzie Friends, Sabine McNeill BREAKING: Key ‘McKenzie friend’ reported missing over Africa Maurice Kirk’s strange associations Maurice Kirk to face prison again? ← That little detail that Sabine forgot The Rime of the Ancient Teuton Woman → 98 thoughts on “Maurice Kirk’s alleged conspiracy to kidnap Musa kids” How do people like Maurice Kirk, Sabine Mcneill etc somehow manage to ignore all the facts before them about the abuse the children were suffering at their parents hands? Do they just skip over that part of the story not thinking it is important? These people should not be allowed anywhere near a courtroom unless they are there to face charges of their own. I just don’t understand how this Motley Crew decide that someone is innocent and that they are being unfairly treated/persecuted by the Authorities? How do they know that they’re not being told a pack of lies by the accused and that the Authorities are the ones being deceptive? They can hardly know all the facts. Is it gut instinct? I bet the money they can make from it is the real incentive and the joy at causing as make chaos as they can for the Police, CPS, Social Services etc. Have they ever dropped a case because they found the accused had been lying to them? I just don’t understand how they can be so sure that the people that come to them are being truthful. It would be interesting to hear what the eldest Musa daughter has to say now. I completely agree, AF. Every time I read about another case of Sabine or her friends defending an obvious abuser, I wonder what they get out of it. It’s very disturbing. What I notice is that no matter what the children say about their own abuse, Sabine, Kirk et al seem to ignore it in favour of the abusive parents. Yes, it’s very weird. Does Maurice have any offspring, does anyone know? He does–at least one daughter, I believe. Not sure how many other kids. I think this bunch are so deprived of attention or are so lacking in self esteem that no-one ever takes them seriously they seize upon any misguided fool that comes to them for aid no matter what the truth of their claims. If Jack the Ripper asked them to be his McKenzie Friend they would be writing letters to Her Majesty or the courts claiming Jack is cruelly being persecuted by a cabal of evil prostitutes who taunt Jack by flinging themselves on his dagger and ripping out their own intestines to make Jack look very bad. South Wales police would be accused of conspiring with the dead hookers while Sabine McNeill would be recommending the Judge use her 3D Metrics Software for Seeing what You Want to Know. Yes, and keep in mind that their ultimate agenda is to demonstrate that the Social Services “snatch” children, that they sell them to the highest bidder (who may or may not rape, kill, and/or eat them), and that the police and courts are complicit in all of this. Hampstead Fruitcake Hunter says: Remember – the hoaxers are all peace-loving little angels who do not do death threats. As if the poor kids had not been through enough! They are then subject to a hairbrained plot to bundle them into a clapped out string driven Heath-Robinson flying contraption piloted by someone clearly sectionable and almost certainly destined to crash land in the middle of nowhere in particular (probably without a paddle). On the brightside they would have had plenty of material for school on Monday morning when asked to write what they got up to at the weekend. Kirk clearly never got educated propa himself about how stuff works. This just caught my eye, a reference to the Finders to do with Paul Bonacci and the Franklin credit saga that Justin was talking about. Small world.http://thefranklinfiles.activeboard.com/t31782906/paul-bonacci/?sort=oldestFirst&page=10 Shouldn’t that be ‘faces’, Toney? Or are you under the illusion that we all share one collective fizzog? Bless HAHAHAHAHA!!!! @karnevilnine – Garrr! You’re in the proverbial Rabbit’s Hole there… [WARNING! WARNING! – waving robot arms] – LOL! Your brain might get sucked dry by all the LYING that went on in that place 🙂 The link you provided isn’t talking about the Finders, though. This “shadowman” is pointing out, that in 2009 Paul Bonacci was trying to deny that he and Troy Boner ever had a sexual relationship, however in the transcript of Caradori’s taped interview with Bonacci he stated that Troy Boner raped him multiple times on multiple occaisions. The real truth is, Bonacci had never met Troy Boner before being incarcerated for child molestation as an adult. Everything that Paul Bonacci has ever said about anything, is a lie. Bottom line. If you are researching the Finders…again, there are hundreds of rabbit holes to fall down. You will need to understand about Captain Hubbard (NOT L. Ron Hubbard), the Beatniks, the CIA’s acid-testing, etc.etc. All fascinating stuff, however, so enjoy! Bottom line there – none of them were ever convicted of crimes against children, because none of them were guilty of crimes against children. And, people who do too much psychedelics behave very strangely 🙂 @Karnevilnine – here’s a Finder’s related cookie for you 🙂 SOME GUY hid some very important information about the Finder’s “investigation” in the 1980’s, in the discussion section of McGowan’s article on Wikispooks: https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Document_talk:Finders_Keepers Didn’t they claim the writer S. Hunter Thompson was part of this madness and someone claimed they saw him murder a young boy in a cage?. Then they claimed Thompson was murdered by The Cult to shut him up rather than him committing suicide despite his estranged wife saying she always knew he would because he was a manic depressive who over-indulged in drugs and she twice stopped him shooting himself in the head but he eventually succeeded. To bring this around to Coyote’s article above…the Seekers-Finders weren’t kidnapping children, but someone really WAS kidnapping children on behalf of non-custodial parents, and using “the children are in danger of being sacrificed by SRA cults” as an excuse, in the 1980’s. Who was that, again? Faye Yager, of course! http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/children-of-the-underground-inside-the-movement-to-keep-missing-children-from-being-found/ @Justin. Why did you have to go and tell me about the Franklin saga? lol. what a bunch of characters involved in that! The more I learn about it the more confused I am. Is anyone telling the truth? including the authorities? its a conspiritards dream. Sad about the paperboy though. @Justin. Shadowman claims to be Bonacci dosent he? Paul Bonacci was enticed to make false statements about Hunter Thompson being a cameraman for child snuff, which is of course a lie. Nick Bryant did establish that Bonacci couldn’t identify Thompson from any of several photos of the man, and therefore never met him. The satan-hunters’ BS excuse for this was supposed to be, that some real snuff cameraman was going around calling himself Hunter Thompson to confuse poor lying SOB’s like Paul Bonacci, rather than accept the fact that Bonacci is a pathological liar. @Karn – “Shadowman claims to be Bonacci dosent he?” Could be. I can’t remember who was claiming to be whom, but I think I remember Bonacci posting under his own name not a pseudonym. (I never posted there, by the way, I only lurked). What you are seeing at the bottom of Shadowman’s post, is quotes from a live chat feed that once operated on the same site. This chat enabled them to talk about things without leaving a permanent record of what they had said. I pulled lots of juicy stuff from there anyway, however, by copy-pasting conversations as they scrolled by. That chat conversation is not favorable to Bonacci, as it documents his lying. I will be glad to try to help you disentangle truth from fiction and answer any questions, but we may put everyone else to sleep 🙂 All good fun 😀 Let’s declare 2017 is the year The Fightback for truth begins (OK maybe a slight hitch with The Don in the USA but perhaps he will open a few eyes) This is timely and it’s about time Facebook etc were brought to account for this dangerous claptrap. “Revealed: How dangerous fake health news conquered Facebook” http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/fake-news-health-facebook-cruel-damaging-social-media-mike-adams-natural-health-ranger-conspiracy-a7498201.html Holy crap! that must be world record for longest youtube comment ever! and its all true! Oh yes, this so should happen! Thanks, mate. And don’t worry – I’ve spotted my, ahem, “deliberate” mistakes and corrected them for the video version. Stay tuned! Oh and I’ve added a few more in too, so it’s even longer now (er, the comment, that is)… Yes! We should start a petition. The latest on Captain Calamity via Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4021328/I-WON-T-says-Captain-Calamity-Eccentric-aviator-72-vows-continue-perilous-journey-Africa-despite-crash-landing-warzone-getting-robbed-stricken-malaria.html He is a danger to himself let alone to any children in his care. Can’t imagine why 59-year-old cash-starved money-grabber Angela Power-Disney is so keen on lowering the state pension age for women to 60. It’s a real mystery. Good Morning All! Just stopped laughing at Bergen yakkin about aliens, incest, recess orgies, electroshock, Nordics, ChackraMonkey radiation, 3x’s a Widow? Hmmm? A psycho Black Widow? Citing Complete LOON, Cathy O’Brien?? LOLOLOLOL Anyhoo, that “Toney Heart” using dead Sandy Hook kid’s pic, Noah Pozner, as an avatar is lead Sandy Hoaxer for SHHG on Farcebook and super-sock troll of murder victims! I despise the BUM! And all his lying vile friends. They belong in jail cells and some are! Mr. “Hampstead Fruitcake Hunter” did you happen to grab a link from that Toney Heart Comment in re: satanic pedos?? He has been spreading the same shit about the dead parent’s kids being Satanists as Newtown is the East Cost HQ of the Church of Satan….I hate Sandy Hoaxers and want them all in a cell for inflicting intentional emotional harm to these Victims by their extreme and outrageous conduct on and off line! Please inform me wherein I may find “Heart’s” Comment to pass on to his SmartyPants Debunker, “Joel” @ AryanEmpires aka Reich Watch channel. (anti-fascist channel) “Joel” has debunked every Sandy Hoax allegation! His SANDY HOOK COVENANT series exposes the FAR FAR Right links of these Hoaxers, hence the anti-Jewish BS! Joel has slammed “Toney Heart” in vids numerous times, very funny! SRA BS in Newtown also! Thanks Mr. Fruitcake Hunter! Cheers, PhilbyChops! 😀 P.S. Under the humor of bustin these bums, there are Very Serious Issues, as you folks well know! Silly Sandy has lost her family inc her daughter and grandchildren over this bullshit, she thinks her daughters in on the conspiracy because she has a butterfly tattoo, the sill cow is missing out on her grandchildren over something that’s not real. That’s just sad. Pingback: Maurice Kirk’s alleged conspiracy to kidnap Musa kids \| ShevaBurton. Cross of Change Blog This is the pension for women who’ve paid into the system. Nobody else. So, poor little psycho girl, Scamgella, is “Skint” Again?(impressed w/ my Brit. slang? lol) Of course. Remember that HOLE generation were MK’s so you can’t expect them to work!! Just like Sandy, on SSI/Disability, blah blah blah in her “no drug testing in her law office job” BS? That old law was aimed at AmTrack brakemen and factory workers for safety! If all the lawyers and their staff were drug tested, which they will never be, the Head Honcho may just get caught bonin his crackhead client or secretary like Sandy on his desk and not be re-hired to the prostitutions office!! LMAO :D( Some scum Atty’s soon to be ex in our town’s Atty. called up All the Attys lookin for Crack Dirt or some tramp evidence like Sandy to get a better divorce deal for her Atty. Client!) I wonder if it was Sandy?? LOLOL Yes. Crazy Stuff happens with Attys all the time but Mr. Taj takes the Fruitcake!! What inspired that outburst? Was he being gas-lighted, drugged or just a straight out NUT!? I’ll bet Judge Worsley was SHOCKED and had his clerk do some “hoaxer tactics” research a.s.a.p.! How old is J. Worsley? I’m glad that child line advocate finally addressed these beasts but not at source, I wonder why. Probably just not aware of Ella and Abe’s vid. uploaders tricks. This tech is “new” for the over 55 set that have no IT knowledge like EXPERT Sabine ‘/ and have had support staff to run and use office computers and never HAD to learn the tech details beyond turning on and off. a bit of printing and some “surfing” and shopping…..I felt sorry for Rantzen, not even being Aware of these creeps defaming her work, ect. ect. Those meme shares came from my “Brit/ Circle on G+” the SAME Creeps that spread the kid’s vids claiming to be “Child Advocates” years ago now. Mick Phillpot is probably Bellender’s Hero next to Ian Brady! Hooray for the Devils getting under MopeyScamGirl’s Lizard Skin!! Thanks for all the helpful articles and links EC and SS et.al.!! P.S. So, all those stories about Bonacci and Franklin Scandal are Fake too? Why would Noreen Goesch be involved? Did they scam her in her desperation to find her kid?? Terrible and lots of bad info but Gunderson was later involved with that Liar O’Brien. “ex-fbi” go figure. Is there a compact vid about Bonacci’s debunking? I thought he won some kind of lawsuit? Was THAT fake too?? lolol Oh, the tangled Web in the Interwebs’ Highway of disinfo!! Child Abuse and Child Murder is the worst thing to scam about. What Bastards x/s 1000! Geeez! Unlike the Revolution, Angela’s inquisition WILL be televised… The “We don’t do death threats” hoaxer crowd are out in their droves this week. Full Moon, is it? Never mind Miss Emily Letilia lol, I found the Bonacci links @Id. but I’d like to know where “Toney Heart’s” THREAT was found?? They are adding up to an arrest for that Vile Bastard!! He has a pattern and needs shutting down! 😀 However, I’d like to Troll and Shame him 1st if possible!! LMAO 😀 Such a louse. Are we sure he isn’t one of Bergen’s LATE Husbands?? hahaha The endless ironies! No wonder the old-school UK SRA nutters wouldn’t touch them – Beatrice Campbell, et al. That crowd WERE child-snatching social workers 🙂 Brilliant Inquisitor.Angie may wish to read this classic book prior to the interview to brush up on why so many consider her such a foul and loathsome piece of shit. ANGIE’S INQUISITION IN FULL I’ve already starting adding to these and will keep adding questions as they come. Then maybe I’ll do an updated inquisition video. Feel free to suggest questions for me to add 🙂 Angie, can I come on your show and get you to explain… …what evidence you have that the people of Hampstead are baby-raping cannibals. …why you have not passed on the video evidence you claim to have of Ella’s alleged child abuse to the police. …why you think it’s ok to rip off Kenyan orphanages. …why you, by your own admission, were desperate to move to a country which doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the UK or Ireland. (By the way, Spain has extradition treaties with both. D’oh!) …why you, by your own admission, used to regularly and sadistically beat your own children with metal T-squares, garden rakes and bamboo sticks. ……why you, by your own admission, once beat the living crap out of your own son in a fit of rage. …why you regularly badmouth your own kids all over the internet (Josh and Jamie’s hotel bills and Josh’s “rough sex problem”, for instance). …why you deliberately set out to get Jake Clarke sectioned, then made out you were trying to get him released from the mental hospital. …why you frantically deleted all your Rupert Quaintance interview videos right after you’d grassed him up to the police (in order to get back at him for refusing to shag you). …why you claim to have written so many non-existent articles for non-existent magazines and newspapers. …why you keep changing the subjects for which you claim to have a degree. …how you managed to meet “the famous George Michael” several years before Wham had released their first record. …how you managed to play the O2 Academy decades before neither it nor the O2 company existed. …how you can claim ignorance on who’s donated to your GoFuckMe begging campaign, even though donors are ALWAYS visible to the recipient and CANNOT donate anonymously. …why you claim to be related to so many famous people to whom you are in fact in no way, shape or form related (and why you cited an “award-winning genealogist” who does not exist as your source). …why you claim to have attended Warwick University, even though you apparently don’t know what city it’s in. …why you claim to have written a play upon which, according to you, the ‘Good Will Hunting’ film is based, even though your name does not appear on the official credits and even though the plot and characters of ‘Good Will Hunting’ bear no resemblance whatsoever to said play. …why you claim not to have worked for over 30 years, whilst simultaneously claiming to have done a range of jobs during that same time. …how you managed to hold a title at Warwick University that does not and never has existed. …why you gave out the address of your ex-friend in Brixton, pretended it was yours and invited people to send abusive mail to it. …what the hell happened to your supposed “class action” against Hoaxtead Research. …how you justify your nasty defamatory smear campaign against Sylvia Major. …why you keep posting obviously fake photos of London and Oldcastle in order to pretend you’ve left Spain, when you haven’t. …why you claim to have been the ‘Young Journalist of the Year’, when it’s a matter of verifiable historical record that you weren’t. …why you faked your attendance at a London child abuse rally, using photos of the Dublin fuel bill march. …why you regularly speak inaccurately about videos it’s clear you haven’t viewed and articles you clearly haven’t read. …why you bemoan the mainstream media most of the time but are happy to cite them when it suits your agenda. …why you think it’s ok to post illegal child porn to your Farcebook page (which you have done on more than one occasion). …why you continue to use the fake name ‘Disney’, apparently in honour of your paedophile ex-husband who you claim raped you. …why you lived a fake life as someone else in London in the 70s. ..how you managed to bring down the multi-billion-dollar corporation BCCI during your two weeks there as a temp (and despite initially claiming to have loved working there). …why you have back-tracked on your glowing, sycophantic comments about Jimmy Savile, whom you initially boasted about meeting. …why you suddenly invented abuse allegations about your parents the second they informed you they were cutting you out of their will. …why you think it’s ok to bully (living) people into leaving money to you anyway. …how you managed to be hunted by aliens in the woods years before you were born. …why you think that discredited sources like Kristie Sue Costa and Aaron Dover are reliable. (They hate you anyway, but I digress.) …why you claim to have received death threats from associates of Hoaxtead Research, when in fact you have never received any whatsoever. …why you have had so many Farcebook bans and so many posts removed. …why your back-up Farcebook page has been taken down. …why you think Anne-Marie doesn’t deserve Rainbow Farm, when she’s the one who’s put all the work in to it while you’ve sat on your fat scabby arse in Lanzarote. …why the Irish police are looking into you. …why the UK police are looking into you. …why you’re still begging people to pay your fuel bills, despite claiming to have a machine that can generate unlimited electricity for free and a legal right not to pay any bills anyway. …why you’ve been dropped by CCN and your supposed friend Melani Vermay. …why you continue to beg people to pay 200 Euros a month on your behalf just to broadcast to 3 people on Farcebook Live. …why you think it’s ok to harass the families of dead conspiritards and insist they’re not dead when you know full well that they are. …why you frequently attack your ex-allies who have called you out on your bullshit. …why you’re happy to also put them in harm’s way by revealing personal information about them. …what you’re hiding under those ridiculous Cruella de Vil arm-slips. (Heroin syringe pockmarks, perhaps?) …why you wholeheartedly support anti-Semitic, Holocaust-denying, white supremacist, neo-Nazi wankers like Pervy Peacher, Mel Ve, (the allegedly late) Patrick Cullinane, Richie Allen, Chris Everard, Sabine McNeill, Alan Alanson and John Paterson. …why you keep getting the name of Pervy Peacher’s radio station wrong. (It’s Freedom Talk Radio, not Truth Frequency Radio, which is completely unconnected. Oops!) …why you pretend to be a Christian, even though God thinks you’re a twat. …why you ignore the bits of the Bible that tell you to love thy neighbour, turn the other cheek, not to be envious and not to tell lies about people. …why you think everyone who disagrees with you is a “troll”. …why you think that all those “trolls” are Ricky Dearman. …why almost everyone in the truther community who knows you hates your guts. …why you cast spells on people live on air. (Seriously, does that seem normal to you?) …where your evidence is to support your claim that Kevin Annett raped a Native American woman. …why you lied about “accidentally” stealing the keys to a police station. …why you keep forgetting to take your meds. …why you’ve repeatedly condoned death threats made to Hampstead residents and Hoaxtead Research associates by Rupert and others. …why you have personally issued several death threats to Ricky Dearman. …how you can live with the bare-faced hypocrisy of launching so many online hate campaigns against innocent people whilst simultaneously whingeing about “smear campaigns” against yourself. …why you think it’s acceptable to attack the families of terrorism atrocity victims within minutes of them being murdered. …which of your many wigs is your favourite. …why you support convicted paedophiles who happen to be your friends. …why you’re such a cunt. They don’t “believe the children”? More ironic hypocrisy – but then, we’ve been noting that right here for a long time, eh? Those who really do defend abusers accuse others of being “pedophile protectors”. Those who really do support or engage in non-custodial parental kidnapping accuse others of kidnapping, sacrificing and eating missing children or imaginary industrial production babies-for-burgers, etc. Up is down and black is white with them, as many have noted. LOL well that counts Ms Angela Power-Disney out. She won’t have even done 1 year! Very nice, Inquisitor! I hope you won’t mind if I add this vid – because the vocals are relevant, and the lip-synch artist is “wearing disguises” 🙂 Thanks, Justin 🙂 Fairly Sane. says: … why do you beg “survivors” to come and be interviewed by you, then not listen to them or try to out do them by claiming to have suffered even more extreme forms of abuse? … why do you expect anyone to take seriously your tales involving supernatural and science-fiction tropes such as shape shifting aliens? … why, if you really do have information about the misdeeds of powerful and immoral people, has no one attempt to assassinate you? … why don’t you get a proper job, like serving in a fish’n’chip shop, rather than begging and scamming in such a pathetic desperate way. … why do you blame the loss of your looks on experiments by Nazi doctors (who were well documented as living on the other side of the globe from you at the time) rather than on your excessive drinking and smoking? … why do your neighbours think it is necessary to warn men to keep away from you and not lend you any money? Coming thurs 12th is full moon closely followed by Fri 13th.There may be some added howling into the dark by the asylum candidates. Why do you claim to have hung out with George Michael in the 70s when he would have been a minor? I’m STILL chortling over this graphic 🙂 Not only is it deliciously, inappropriately rude in a very British way – it also brilliantly satirizes the whole concept of the Ladybird Books. “We don’t have fake IDs. We don’t make fake profiles.” Yeah! I hope you’re listening, Angela Power-DISNEY, Code 2222, Guidance 2222, Lou Lotus, Ved Chaudhari, Cannabis Cures Cancer, Allmoderncons, Butlincat, Jacqui Farmer, Video Man, Earthicastar, Super Earther, Oneperfectoutfit, CGI Pains, Biddy Baboon, Nemesis Green, Hermes Mercurius, Drifloud, Dicky Rearman, Hermes Mercurius Ella Starlight, Tiny Magical Creatures, FansFiltration, UnaRaza, Hampstead Case, Hampstead Research, Hampstead Coverup, Believe the Children, Pray for the Children, Eaten Lives Matter, Jeranism, Aangirfan, Dearman Does Hampstead, etc…? LMAO! 😀 Tracey Morris @ 21:43… “I always said from day 1, Ella Draper was in this up to her neck.” Er…no you didn’t, you lying little fruitloop! 😮 Kristie Sue will love that, LOL! 😀 Angie, I’ve had a word with your financial ducks and they’ve all agreed to line up for you: They’d just like to know what your policy is on ducks that prefer to “paddle upstream”, if you know what I mean. There are some classsic adult ladybird books out there,even one for the rapture.This one really however really cracks me up. As she tags known Defendants!! lol …and before we outed her, “Dearman Does Hampstead” and “Believe the Children”. Not that we’re counting. Cheeky bitch, big egos! Does Tracey own a mirror? Slip of the tongue with replacing funding instead of finding? Hahahahaha! Another one bites the dust 😀 RIP, Kitty Engel, you Annett-loving Ray Savage-supporting nutjob! https://hoaxteadresearch.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/hoaxtead-looking-back-and-ahead/#comment-52656 But doesn’t tag Neelu who won’t hand over the photos! Don’t tell anyone but that reminds me of a certain coyote that I know 😀 Be fair, though, FA – it’s all “bebeficial” to the cause. God, Pervy Peacher doesn’t half creep me out. I can’t bring myself to listen to this, after trudging throuh his efforts to interview Kevin Annett yesterday and having nothing but technical difficulties all the way through. I hear he’s having problems with this one too. In fact, that seems to happen every time he broadcasts! Useless twat. Sooo, how did that “legal grand jury” work out for you, Tracey? 😀 https://hoaxteadresearch.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/tracey-morris-breaches-injunction I think they’re both in there already, mate. By the way, kudos to our old friend James ‘Satanic Views’ Hind, who according to Angela is now running the blog. Sorry, EC – seems you’re out of a job! 😀 I’m trying to get my head round this – if Tracey and Angela are admitting that Abe and Ella are highly untrustworthy and used the truth movement for their own ends and that Ricky was set up by them, then why are they still supporting the hoax?! It doesn’t make sense. Mind you, wasn’t it ever thus?! Tracey and Angela want “fame”. Plus they want the 2 children back, Angela wants to foster them. Patrick Culinane’s body would have had to be identified by a relative so I suppose the entire family is now in on the Talmudic plot to ‘disappear’ the hapless man. Tracey’s compassion knows no bounds. You would think someone who has personally dismantled Paramilitary groups and chased off Gerry Adam’s bodyguards out of her front garden would be able to locate Patrick. Couldn’t she pull a few strings with the Attorney General? By the time all the M’Learned legal minds had got through reading Tracey’s brieeeeeef of evideeeeeence by the time they reached the end they would have forgotten what it was all about, I suppose it would be pointless to point out to this bunch that making endless Youtube videos in your living room year after year and ‘updating’ your so-called evidence with everyone taking turns to interview each other is hardly a practical way to save all the kiddies that are being kidnapped and turned into pizza dough. Haha, good luck with that, Ange. Let me know when Elvis crash-lands a flying saucer next to the Loch Ness monster in a Brigadoon Car Park, because that’s the day you’ll be allowed anywhere near those kids! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL! 😀 😀 😀 Meanwhile back on planet Earth,it would be deemed a minor miracle if either of these self absorbed,deeply abhorant defective bipeds actually uttered a sentence that could be construed as remotely meaningful. Didn’t she batter Gerry Adams in the garden? What a woman! Scamgie really needs to stop fretting about getting her grubby mitts on hoardes of unearned cash she is not entitled to.She should start having nightmares about the proposed internet arsehole tax for people with pretentious doubled barreled names instead. His anti semitism creeps me out. How come all the decent people in your life dont want you in theirs and the only folk that remain in your orbit are criminals,insane or both? How come you have not flogged off that Coleen Black painting yet? I would have given you a least a tenner and a packet of woodbine for it. When you next pray for the rapture can you put in a good word for Tracey whilst you`re at it. Turns out he has four children, presumably all adults by now. Yes, their motto is “We believe the children…except when they say anything that fails to bolster our lunatic-fringe views”. Wow. That is impressive! 🙂 Seconded. All in favour? Show of hands, please. Ghost of Sam’s motion has passed unanimously. On with the show! Oi! That’s my Uncle Jim! Awooooooooo! LOL! And hey guess what? (lowers voice conspiratorially) SV is…a Satanist! This startling finding is the result of many months of research by the troofers. Congrats, you lot! Nailed it in one. I know I did. It’s also fun to watch Angie, Tracey and indeed Kristie Sue scrambling round trying to work out his real name, when he’s actually never made a secret of it, lol. Who’s this mad bint, then? https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=gaynor%20evelyn%20sweeney%20posts%20hampstead Rowrrrr! Just my kind of gal! There may of course be a fair number dotted around various remote African locations adorned in bits of yellow string and clutching empty whisky bottles awaiting the promised return of the now mythical “white birdman who fell from sky and spoke riddles out of bumbum”. Angie, you are a dirty old woman who sexually harassed Rupert. Shame on you crone! You had to ask: Unfortunately Sam this shower appear to have been infected with a peculiar illness which leaves them entirely incapable of distinguishing their arse from their elbow.Whilst your suggestion to point out the bleeding obvious to them is highly laudable,the chance of success would I suggest be akin to doing a 500ft bungee jump with a 600ft bungee. She’s part of this group otherwise known as Paranoids R Us. The sad fact is for these wackos is that no-body is targeting them or taking any notice of them so they need to invent an enemy. I doubt anyone targets her “digital art’ either so she need not bother with her endless claims of ‘copyright’ as that stuff won’t be appearing at the Tate in this century. The hoax mob have at last found someone who can articulate the essence of their case. Yes, she’s repulsive in more ways than one. I actually feel a bit sorry for Rupert but he was warned. Pingback: Prelude to a hoax: How Sabine warmed up her audience \| HOAXTEAD RESEARCH Pingback: Maurice Kirk to face prison again? \| HOAXTEAD RESEARCH	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353506
__label__cc	0.71388	0.28612	What Does Judaism Say About Fraud And How Could Rabbis Do It? by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz in Current Issues, God, Myths, News, Personal Growth, Q&A Dear Jew in the City, Isn’t being honest and ethical part of a religious Jewish life? Sometimes I read about Orthodox Jews committing fraud. What does Judaism forbid, and why are people such hypocrites? Disillusioned and Disappointed Dear D & D- No doubt this question was motivated by last month’s news in which seven “ultra-Orthodox” Jewish couples were arrested in a raid amid allegations of welfare fraud. Before answering your question, I’d like to mention that just a few weeks earlier, sixty-eight people were arrested in a welfare fraud raid in Pennsylvania. Why was the arrest of 14 people national news but not the arrest of 68? Largely because the 68 didn’t include any “ultra-Orthodox” Jews (AKA “chareidim”). People take a certain amount of glee when Jews, particularly chareidim, are caught up in such scandals. Anti-Semites love it because it substantiates their feelings about Jews, money and conspiracies. Even some Jews love it because they think the chareidim consider themselves better than everyone else, so they enjoy seeing them “put in their place.” Unfortunately, it’s more than just the offenders who suffer from such stories. Many modern Orthodox Jews think that all ultra-Orthodox Jews are up to such things, many secular Jews assume it about all Orthodox Jews (including the modern Orthodox), many non-Jews assume it about all Jews (including secular Jews), etc. It’s a huge chillul Hashem (desecration of God’s Name) and it doesn’t do anybody any good. Now as to your question, of course Jews are obligated in honesty and ethics! The Torah is replete with commandments making this clear. Many types of theft are prohibited, including robbing someone with stealth, such as by breaking into their house in the dead of night, and robbery by force, such as mugging someone in an alley. (In halacha, robbery by stealth is called geneiva and robbery by force is called gezeila.) We are also commanded explicitly to be honest in business transactions. Leviticus 19:35 tells us, “You shall not commit injustices using weights, measure or volumes.” We are specifically prohibited to cheat others by shorting them in anything that is measured, whether it’s a bolt of cloth or a pound of cole slaw. If it’s sold by length, weight or volume, we are responsible to see that our customers get what they paid for. To do otherwise is called “avel bamishpat,” a perversion of justice. That’s pretty strong terminology for a petty, passive offense that the customer might not even notice. The language of the verse likens the merchant to a judge because this is actually a very serious matter. The very next verse (Leviticus 19:36) continues this theme by adding, “Proper scales, proper weights, proper dry measures and proper liquid measures you shall have; I am Hashem your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” This is an obligation for all merchants to ensure that the tools of their trade are accurate. If we have unreliable implements, it’s a foregone conclusion that someone’s going to get cheated, even if only accidentally. An example of this mitzvah in action is that it is prohibited for a merchant to have weights made of a material that will naturally erode and get lighter. The Talmud (Baba Metzia 61b) explains the end of this verse – “I am Hashem your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” God knows every minute detail of all creation. He knew everyone’s parentage in Egypt so that during the plague of the first-born He could punish those of Egyptian paternity but not those of Jewish paternity. Similarly, God knows which merchants have crooked weights and He will pay them back for that as well. It doesn’t stop there. Not only are we required to have honest tools, it is prohibited even to possess dishonest measures. Deuteronomy 25:13 enjoins us, “You shall not have large and small weights in your pouch.” Even if one doesn’t plan to cheat his customers, merely having access to dishonest weights can tempt someone into such misdeeds. Accordingly, such potential stumbling blocks must be discarded. Some people wrongly think that Jews are permitted to rob non-Jews or to cheat them in business. There are even anti-Semitic web sites that quote Talmudic dicta out of context or completely fabricate such things in order to make it appear that this is the case. This is completely inaccurate. Judaism believes that all mankind is obligated in the seven universal (Noachide) laws, one of which prohibits theft in all its forms. Jews and non-Jews have reciprocity when it comes to mitzvos, just like states recognize one another’s drivers’ licenses. Accordingly, any mitzvah in which non-Jews are obligated, we must treat them the same as we do other Jews. This includes honesty in business transactions.[1] These are just some of the Torah’s many examples of honesty in business. The general rule is “Keep yourselves far from a false matter” (Exodus 23:7). Now for your second question, about people being hypocrites. I hesitate to label people hypocrites so quickly. If a “green” activist condemns SUVs but flies across the country in a private jet, using more fuel in one shot than a soccer mom uses in a year (true story), I think that’s hypocrisy. On the other hand, when a particular political figure, a former secretary of education, advocated for virtues and called for limiting our vices, many called him a hypocrite because his own vice was gambling. I hesitate to call him a hypocrite because gambling wasn’t on the list of things he condemned. (Apparently he either didn’t consider gambling a vice or he specifically omitted it from his book because including it would have made him a hypocrite!) So are the Orthodox welfare cheats hypocrites? I don’t know; did they ever speak out against the evils of defrauding the government? If so, they’re hypocrites. If not, they’re just flawed. Koheles (Ecclesiastes) 7:20 tells us that there’s no person in the world so righteous that he only does good and never sins. It’s natural for people to be tempted – that’s why we’re not allowed to hold onto any inaccurate business tools we may have! But just because someone stumbles in one area, that doesn’t mean they’re insincere in other areas. None of us are perfect and we all do things we know we shouldn’t (though perhaps not as spectacularly criminal as in this case). None of us can truly judge the entirety of another person based on one lapse, no matter how huge. The malfeasance itself is to be condemned in no uncertain terms. It was gratifying to see that the Lakewood Vaad (rabbinical council) quickly issued a statement that stated unequivocally “[t]here is no such thing as ‘justified’ theft” and “there is never any excuse for dishonesty in any form.” The Torah demands honesty and we cannot justify criminal behavior when it occurs. Nevertheless, we can condemn the behavior without presuming to know what’s in the hearts and minds of the perpetrators. None of us deserve to be judged by our flaws alone. Rabbi Jack Abramowitz JITC Educational Correspondent An example of a case where Jews may treat non-Jews differently is interest. Jews may not charge one another interest; we may not even agree to pay interest to other Jews, or even to serve as a witness for interest-bearing transactions! Non-Jews, however, are not commanded to avoid interest. Nevertheless, non-Jews have a level playing field because not only may they may be charged interest by Jews, they may charge interest to Jews! Neither party has an inherent advantage in this matter. anti-semitismAsk the Rabbichillul HashemFalsehoodFraudGaneivagovernmentharedimHonestyHypocritelakewoodLiesNew JerseyQ & ARobberyStealingThievesTorahwelfare This Orthodox Rabbi Has Done Five Full Ironman Triathlons, And You Can Too » « 7 U.S. Freedoms Jews Should Celebrate on Independence Day Rabbi Jack Abramowitz, Jew in the City's Educational Correspondent, is the editor of OU Torah (www.ou.org/torah) . He is the author of six books including The Taryag Companion and The God Book. For more Q&A, follow his new video series, Ask Rabbi Jack, on YouTube. Aleph Beta on Parshas Tetzaveh: Where is God in a Physical World? Iceland Welcomes its First Rabbi in Decades & Other Orthodox Jews in the News Meet Tamir Goodman, The Yid Who Could Dunk Shimon Peres Considered This The Jews’ Greatest Gift To The World Rabbanit Carmit Feintuch Becomes First Female Communal Leader in Jerusalem “Rambam” Synagogue & Other Orthodox Jews in the News Jew in the City And The Jewish Week’s 36 Under 36 I tend to have a hard time hearing ‘the laws’ and the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘musts’…but I have to say, your wit and humor in getting these messages across got me listening. I watched every video on Youtube and immensely enjoyed each one. Looking forward to more of your stuff! Thanks for doing the work you are doing; Jew in the City is definitely on to something BIG. I love your blog and hope to see more of it. I saw your first episode on modesty and hair covering before I got married. You made it acceptable for me to become frum and I am now happily married with 2 beautiful kids. I cover my hair all the time, something I never thought I would do. Thanks so much for your blog and explaining orthodox life in everyday language. Chava J.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353514
__label__wiki	0.519708	0.519708	An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface: A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method Kalina A Hristova, William C. Wimley, Vinod K. Mishra, G. M. Anantharamiah, Jere P. Segrest, Stephen H. White The amphipathic α-helix is a recurrent feature of membrane-active proteins, peptides, and toxins. Despite extensive biophysical studies, the structural details of its affinity for membrane interfaces remain rather vague. We report here the first results of an effort to obtain detailed structural information about α-helices in membranes by means of a novel X-ray diffraction method. Specifically, we determined the transbilayer position and orientation of an archetypal class A amphipathic helical peptide in oriented fluid-state dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayers. The peptide, Ac-18A-NH2 (Ac-DWLKAFYDKVAEKLKEAF-NH2), is a model for class A amphipathic helices of apolipoprotein A-I and other exchangeable lipoproteins. The diffraction method relies upon experimental determinations of absolute scattering-length density profiles along the bilayer normal and the transbilayer distribution of the DOPC double bonds by means of specific bromination, and molecular modeling of the perturbed lipid bilayer (derived using the transbilayer distribution of the double bonds) and the peptide. The diffraction results showed that Ac-18A-NH2 was located in the bilayer interface and that its transbilayer distribution could be described by a Gaussian function with a 1/e-half-width of 4.5 (± 0.3) Å located 17.1 (± 0.3) Å from the bilayer center, close to the glycerol moiety. Molecular modeling suggested that Ac-18A-NH2 is helical and oriented generally parallel with the bilayer plane. The helicity and orientation were confirmed by oriented circular dichroism measurements. The width of the Gaussian distribution, a measure of the diameter of the helix, indicated that the Ac-18A-NH2, helix penetrated the hydrocarbon core to about the level of the DOPC double bonds. Bilayer perturbations caused by Ac-18A-NH2 were surprisingly modest, consisting of a slight decrease in bilayer thickness with a concomitant shift of the double-bond distribution toward the bilayer center, as expected from a small increase in lipid-specific area caused by the peptide. Apolipoprotein A-I Lipid Bilayers Circular Dichroism 1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine Ac-18A-NH peptide Liquid-crystallography Membrane structure Phosphatidylcholine bilayer Hristova, K. A., Wimley, W. C., Mishra, V. K., Anantharamiah, G. M., Segrest, J. P., & White, S. H. (1999). An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface: A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method. Journal of Molecular Biology, 290(1), 99-117. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.1999.2840 An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface : A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method. / Hristova, Kalina A; Wimley, William C.; Mishra, Vinod K.; Anantharamiah, G. M.; Segrest, Jere P.; White, Stephen H. In: Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol. 290, No. 1, 02.07.1999, p. 99-117. Hristova, KA, Wimley, WC, Mishra, VK, Anantharamiah, GM, Segrest, JP & White, SH 1999, 'An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface: A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method', Journal of Molecular Biology, vol. 290, no. 1, pp. 99-117. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.1999.2840 Hristova KA, Wimley WC, Mishra VK, Anantharamiah GM, Segrest JP, White SH. An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface: A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method. Journal of Molecular Biology. 1999 Jul 2;290(1):99-117. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.1999.2840 Hristova, Kalina A ; Wimley, William C. ; Mishra, Vinod K. ; Anantharamiah, G. M. ; Segrest, Jere P. ; White, Stephen H. / An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface : A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method. In: Journal of Molecular Biology. 1999 ; Vol. 290, No. 1. pp. 99-117. @article{2ca5aae9f52d42c88e011c544354df67, title = "An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface: A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method", abstract = "The amphipathic α-helix is a recurrent feature of membrane-active proteins, peptides, and toxins. Despite extensive biophysical studies, the structural details of its affinity for membrane interfaces remain rather vague. We report here the first results of an effort to obtain detailed structural information about α-helices in membranes by means of a novel X-ray diffraction method. Specifically, we determined the transbilayer position and orientation of an archetypal class A amphipathic helical peptide in oriented fluid-state dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayers. The peptide, Ac-18A-NH2 (Ac-DWLKAFYDKVAEKLKEAF-NH2), is a model for class A amphipathic helices of apolipoprotein A-I and other exchangeable lipoproteins. The diffraction method relies upon experimental determinations of absolute scattering-length density profiles along the bilayer normal and the transbilayer distribution of the DOPC double bonds by means of specific bromination, and molecular modeling of the perturbed lipid bilayer (derived using the transbilayer distribution of the double bonds) and the peptide. The diffraction results showed that Ac-18A-NH2 was located in the bilayer interface and that its transbilayer distribution could be described by a Gaussian function with a 1/e-half-width of 4.5 (± 0.3) {\AA} located 17.1 (± 0.3) {\AA} from the bilayer center, close to the glycerol moiety. Molecular modeling suggested that Ac-18A-NH2 is helical and oriented generally parallel with the bilayer plane. The helicity and orientation were confirmed by oriented circular dichroism measurements. The width of the Gaussian distribution, a measure of the diameter of the helix, indicated that the Ac-18A-NH2, helix penetrated the hydrocarbon core to about the level of the DOPC double bonds. Bilayer perturbations caused by Ac-18A-NH2 were surprisingly modest, consisting of a slight decrease in bilayer thickness with a concomitant shift of the double-bond distribution toward the bilayer center, as expected from a small increase in lipid-specific area caused by the peptide.", keywords = "Ac-18A-NH peptide, Apolipoprotein A-I, Liquid-crystallography, Membrane structure, Phosphatidylcholine bilayer", author = "Hristova, {Kalina A} and Wimley, {William C.} and Mishra, {Vinod K.} and Anantharamiah, {G. M.} and Segrest, {Jere P.} and White, {Stephen H.}", T1 - An amphipathic α-helix at a membrane interface T2 - A structural study using a novel X-ray diffraction method AU - Hristova, Kalina A AU - Wimley, William C. AU - Mishra, Vinod K. AU - Anantharamiah, G. M. AU - Segrest, Jere P. AU - White, Stephen H. N2 - The amphipathic α-helix is a recurrent feature of membrane-active proteins, peptides, and toxins. Despite extensive biophysical studies, the structural details of its affinity for membrane interfaces remain rather vague. We report here the first results of an effort to obtain detailed structural information about α-helices in membranes by means of a novel X-ray diffraction method. Specifically, we determined the transbilayer position and orientation of an archetypal class A amphipathic helical peptide in oriented fluid-state dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayers. The peptide, Ac-18A-NH2 (Ac-DWLKAFYDKVAEKLKEAF-NH2), is a model for class A amphipathic helices of apolipoprotein A-I and other exchangeable lipoproteins. The diffraction method relies upon experimental determinations of absolute scattering-length density profiles along the bilayer normal and the transbilayer distribution of the DOPC double bonds by means of specific bromination, and molecular modeling of the perturbed lipid bilayer (derived using the transbilayer distribution of the double bonds) and the peptide. The diffraction results showed that Ac-18A-NH2 was located in the bilayer interface and that its transbilayer distribution could be described by a Gaussian function with a 1/e-half-width of 4.5 (± 0.3) Å located 17.1 (± 0.3) Å from the bilayer center, close to the glycerol moiety. Molecular modeling suggested that Ac-18A-NH2 is helical and oriented generally parallel with the bilayer plane. The helicity and orientation were confirmed by oriented circular dichroism measurements. The width of the Gaussian distribution, a measure of the diameter of the helix, indicated that the Ac-18A-NH2, helix penetrated the hydrocarbon core to about the level of the DOPC double bonds. Bilayer perturbations caused by Ac-18A-NH2 were surprisingly modest, consisting of a slight decrease in bilayer thickness with a concomitant shift of the double-bond distribution toward the bilayer center, as expected from a small increase in lipid-specific area caused by the peptide. AB - The amphipathic α-helix is a recurrent feature of membrane-active proteins, peptides, and toxins. Despite extensive biophysical studies, the structural details of its affinity for membrane interfaces remain rather vague. We report here the first results of an effort to obtain detailed structural information about α-helices in membranes by means of a novel X-ray diffraction method. Specifically, we determined the transbilayer position and orientation of an archetypal class A amphipathic helical peptide in oriented fluid-state dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayers. The peptide, Ac-18A-NH2 (Ac-DWLKAFYDKVAEKLKEAF-NH2), is a model for class A amphipathic helices of apolipoprotein A-I and other exchangeable lipoproteins. The diffraction method relies upon experimental determinations of absolute scattering-length density profiles along the bilayer normal and the transbilayer distribution of the DOPC double bonds by means of specific bromination, and molecular modeling of the perturbed lipid bilayer (derived using the transbilayer distribution of the double bonds) and the peptide. The diffraction results showed that Ac-18A-NH2 was located in the bilayer interface and that its transbilayer distribution could be described by a Gaussian function with a 1/e-half-width of 4.5 (± 0.3) Å located 17.1 (± 0.3) Å from the bilayer center, close to the glycerol moiety. Molecular modeling suggested that Ac-18A-NH2 is helical and oriented generally parallel with the bilayer plane. The helicity and orientation were confirmed by oriented circular dichroism measurements. The width of the Gaussian distribution, a measure of the diameter of the helix, indicated that the Ac-18A-NH2, helix penetrated the hydrocarbon core to about the level of the DOPC double bonds. Bilayer perturbations caused by Ac-18A-NH2 were surprisingly modest, consisting of a slight decrease in bilayer thickness with a concomitant shift of the double-bond distribution toward the bilayer center, as expected from a small increase in lipid-specific area caused by the peptide. KW - Ac-18A-NH peptide KW - Apolipoprotein A-I KW - Liquid-crystallography KW - Membrane structure KW - Phosphatidylcholine bilayer	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353516
__label__cc	0.738564	0.261436	Contact Us : (877) 506-1666 About My Account Price Match Guarantee Contact Blog Home › Blog › Mom Was Right About Farmhouse Sinks Mom Was Right About Farmhouse Sinks Posted by Hen & Tilly on Mar 23, 2016 Farmhouse sinks, love them or hate them? Either way, the evolution of apron-front sinks, also known as farmhouse sinks has been one of strictly functionality to an eclectic merge of style, practicality, and sophistication. Oh, and did I forget swag! Decades ago, the history of farmhouse sinks reveals these sinks were used in rural homes and were initially designed purely for comfort. Women who spent countless hours at the kitchen sink found it extremely useful as the kitchen sink was used to wash dishes, clothes, and children alike. Considered more of a dishpan or dry sink, since they were not connected to plumbing, the design helped to easily fill and drain the sinks. Intended for the comfort of the user, and to reduce back strain and pain, the farmhouse sinks natural ergonomic orientation, made for a more comfortable work environment. Over the years, farmhouse sinks gained popularity and became a viable option when it came to both contemporary and traditional interior design and became a staple in kitchen remodels. The classic models with their deep utilitarian basins and wide panels which jut out slightly from the surrounding cabinetry – remind us of a time during when the farmhouse sinks were an integral part of everyday life. Today’s style of farmhouse sink is a big thumbs up to the tradition and usefulness of the old school sinks with an added flair of sophistication and charm. Nonetheless, the farmhouse sinks of yesteryear are different from the modern kitchen sinks of today. This is true not only so in the overall design of the sink, but likewise in the selection of materials used in making it. A porcelain apron-front sink which has a conventional country feel perfectly suits kitchens decorated to match the look and feel of the late 19th and start of the 20th-century farmhouse kitchen. True to form, the large basin allows for the farmhouse sink to have more than enough depth to accommodate the large basins and pots used to make meal for farm families with a large number of members. The deepness also gives room for soaking several pans and pots for food residue to be removed. However, don’t let the look fool you; the farmhouse sink is meant to be a solid workhorse for the enthusiastic cook. It is large enough such that no one has a reason to complain about space. It will give room to baking sheets and stockpots, and is deep enough to drastically reduce water spills, splashes, and leaks under the countertops. Utilized in all aspects of kitchen and home design, today’s farmhouse sink manufacturers alike create these works of art using materials such as fireclay, copper, stainless steel, concrete, and even a “green” farmhouse sinks which is made of bamboo. Copper farmhouse sinks easily fits well in rural kitchen designs just as it would in a contemporary designed home. Other types of apron-front sinks gaining wide popularity are concrete apron sinks. They are timeless and versatile sinks whose contemporary styling makes them more accepted. Due to the unique structure of farmhouse sinks some will require custom-built countertops and cabinetry, however, with new models like the self-trimming farmhouse sinks, it is now possible to install them without the need to replace existing cabinetry. White porcelain, enameled cast iron, and acrylic are also wonderful, versatile options. Whatever your individual taste, the look and feel of the farmhouse sink is sure to satisfy your every needs. Please browse Hen & Tilly’s array of farmhouse sinks and select one that truly highlights your design palette. Hen & Tilly 21 Rustic Farmhouse Country Decor Ideas 5 Steps To An Incredible Rustic Kitchen Makeover Monday Moments from Hen & Tilly Copper Farmhouse Sink Extraordinaire Looking for the perfect farmhouse accent for your home? At Hen & Tilly Farmhouse Store, we have a wide variety of gorgeous farmhouse decor perfect for any budget. From .Our selection of farmhouse wares are sure to inspire and impress. Hen & Tilly Farmhouse Sinks Contact Hen & Tilly Measure & Install Guide Material Pros/Cons Farm Sink Care Guide Help@htfarmhousesinks.com Hours: Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm EST © 2020 Hen & Tilly Farmhouse Sinks. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353520
__label__wiki	0.616955	0.616955	Home Jersey City Liberty State Park Protection Act, sponsored by Hudson Dems, clears Assembly panel Liberty State Park Protection Act, sponsored by Hudson Dems, clears Assembly panel The Liberty State Park Protection Act, legislation sponsored by Hudson County Democrats seeking to make the space a protected historic site, cleared a state Assembly panel on Monday. By John Heinis/Hudson County View “A rare open space jewel in a densely populated urban county and one of only two places in the world from which Ellis Island and Lady Liberty can be accessed, she enhances the quality of life of urban families and visitors from everywhere,” Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33), one of the bills primary sponsors, said in a statement. “Future generations deserve to enjoy Liberty State Park as open space.” Bill A-4903, recently introduced in the Assembly, would create the Liberty State Park Advisory Committee charged with assisting the DEP in conserving, preserving, protecting, and improving the park. In carrying out its responsibilities, the committee would give consideration to the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources and the local, State, and national significance of Liberty State Park. Liberty State Park is a beacon of hope that represents all that America has to offer,” added Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti (D-31). “Tourists are drawn to the beautiful markers and rich history but for Jersey City residents it is a plot of much needed green space in the concrete landscape. This legislation will ensure that the park remains a recreational area free for everyone to enjoy.” In addition, the legislation would prohibit the DEP from considering any proposal to commercialize, develop, or privatize Liberty State Park, except as provided in the bill. Under the bill’s provisions, the DEP would be allowed to the approve a concession, conveyance, lease, or other agreement with a private entity to provide small-scale commercial activities that directly enhance a visitor’s experience to Liberty State Park. Some examples would be a bicycle or kayak rental concession, food concession, temporary winter skating rink, commercial boat tour operating from an existing boat slip, and use of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal (“CRRNJ Terminal”), and other uses identified in a management plan. The bill also requires the DEP, whenever it proposes to enter into a concession, lease, or other agreement for a duration of one year or longer, to provide a full public process with public hearings and a public comment period. “This measure would protect Liberty State Park from any future proposals to commercialize or privatize the state and national treasure,” said Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-31). The legislation cleared the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Monday on Monday and state Senator Sandra Cunningham (D-31) has introduced the bill in the upper house. Last month, the Jersey City Council approved a measure urging Trenton lawmakers to pass the Liberty State Park Protection Act. Cunningham, Mukherji introduce bill to protect Liberty State Park from development NJEA endorses HCDO-backed Assembly candidates in Districts 31, 32 and 33 Chiaravalloti, McKnight hospital transparency bill clears assembly panel Chiaravalloti, McKnight say they’ll back millionaire’s tax if posted, but votes aren’t there Despite gaining senate support, Liberty State Park Protection Act dead for now Jersey City Council urges lawmakers to enact equal gender pay legislation angela mcknight liberty state park protection act Nick Chiaravalloti nj assembly raj mukherji Previous articleHoboken man admits using vid conferencing app to show images of child sexual abuse Next articlePolice: Man caught trying to set Bayonne Family Community Center apartment on fire Prosecutor’s office makes arrest in Union City sexual assault of 15-year-old girl Judge denies state’s motion to dismiss Jersey City school funding lawsuit Jersey City Mayor Fulop endorses Murphy for governor, announces re-election AG: Jersey City woman stole $46k in worker’s comp meant for...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353521
__label__wiki	0.964896	0.964896	International, News, Politics Afghanistan Backs Russia’s Crimean Invasion, Fails Irony 101 By Adam Weinstein Afghan President Hamid Karzai threw U.S. observers for a loop over the weekend, announcing that his country would join Syria and Venezuela in supporting Russia’s Crimea invasion annexation: Citing “the free will of the Crimean people,” the office of President Hamid Karzai said, “we respect the decision the people of Crimea took through a recent referendum that considers Crimea as part of the Russian Federation.”… Aimal Faizi, the spokesman for Mr. Karzai, said that the Russian annexation of Crimea was a “legitimate move” and that the palace statement represented Afghanistan’s official recognition of the new borders. “Afghanistan always respects the free will of the nations on deciding their future,” he wrote in an email. He did not elaborate. Continue reading Afghanistan Backs Russia’s Crimean Invasion, Fails Irony 101 → AfghanAfghanistanCrimeaHamid KarzaiPutinRussiaSyriaUkraineVenezuela Half of America in Poverty Overwhelming Evidence that Half of America is In or Near Poverty And it’s much worse for black families. By AlterNet / By Paul Buchheit The Charles Koch Foundation recently released a commercial that ranked a near-poverty-level $34,000 family among the Top 1% of poor people in the world. Bud Konheim, CEO and co-founder of fashion company Nicole Miller, concurred: “The guy that’s making, oh my God, he’s making $35,000 a year, why don’t we try that out in India or some countries we can’t even name. China, anyplace, the guy is wealthy.” Comments like these are condescending and self-righteous. They display an ignorance of the needs of lower-income and middle-income families in America. The costs of food and housing and education and health care and transportation and child care and taxes have been well-defined by organizations such as the Economic Policy Institute, which calculated that a U.S. family of three would require an average of about $48,000 a year to meet basic needs; and by the Working Poor Families Project, which estimates the income required for basic needs for a family of four at about $45,000. The median household income is $51,000. Read more » AlterNet http://www.alternet.org/economy/overwhelming-evidence-half-america-or-near-poverty Americancorporate greedfiscal cliffPovertyrecessionUnemployment History, News, Personalities, Sindh ‘Sindh Through Centuries’ International Conference, Karachi. By Zulfiqar Halepoto More than 50 historians, researchers, writers, intellectuals and scholars from different parts of the world are gathered and presenting their papers at a three-day seminar ‘Sindh through the centuries’ by the Sindh Madressatul University-Karachi, Sindh. This is the second International seminar on the subject, as the first international conference was held in March 1975 under the patronage of the then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The inaugural session was chaired by leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, while Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, author of The Indus Saga, was the chief guest. Sindh Chief Minister will be chief guest at the concluding session of the conference on March 26. Besides scholars from across Pakistan, the guest speakers from other parts of the world include Dr Jonathan Mark Kenoyer from the University of Wisconsin, US; Dr Atsushi Noguchi from Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan; Dr Jetho Lalwani from India; Dr Rafique Mughal from Boston University, US; Dr Osada Toshiki of RIHN, Japan; Dr Michael Jansen from German University of Technology, Germany; JaeSeung Park from Hanyang University, Korea; Dr Andre Wink from the University of Wisconsin, US; Dr Matthew A. Cook from North Carolina Central University, US; Dr Rita P. Wright from New York University, US; Indian writer and publisher Saaz Aggarwal; Dr Thomas Dhnhardt from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy; Dr Michel Boivin, Centre for South Asian Studies, Paris, France; Jrgen Schaflechner from Germany; Korean poet and writer Esther Park; Dr Supriya Banik Pal from India; Dr Murlidhar K. Jetley from the University of Delhi, India; Dr Vinod Asudani from Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management, Nagpur, India; Indian poet Kailash Shaadaab; Dr Kamla Goklani from Ajmer, India; Dr Hari Lohano from the University of the West of England, the UK; SumanSonkar from the University of Delhi, India; noted Sindhi scholar from India Hiro Thakur.from Pakistan Dr Hamida Khuhro, Dr Mohammad Ali Shaikh, Dr Nilofer Shaikh, Dr Fahmida Hussain.and others are present there. Courtesy: via Facebook International conferenceSindh Through Centuries Strength in numbers: JSQM’s ‘Freedom March’ turns into party’s biggest-ever rally KARACHI: Supporters and activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) converged at MA Jinnah Road in Karachi for the Freedom March on Sunday. The party managed to attract a respectable crowd, despite the recent killings of two of its leaders and the threats of possible attacks at the rally. “Is it a sin to love your motherland? Have we ever adopted the path of violence?” questioned the party’s chairperson Sunan Qureshi while addressing the rally. He alleged that his uncle, Maqsood, and another party leader, Wadho, were killed by ‘hidden hands’. Speaking about the province’s natural resources and its share in the country’s revenue, Sunan said that despite contributing 82 per cent of the country’s natural gas, 69 per cent of its petrol and 80 per cent of the total budget, children were dying in Tharparkar due to starvation. He said that 6.1 million children in Sindh were out of schools. “About 28 per cent people of the total population of Sindh have hepatitis and because of contaminated water and food shortage, the average life expectancy in Sindh is just 43 years,” he claimed. Sunan also alleged that Sindh’s water is being stolen, saying that the continuous arrival of outsiders in Sindh had created an alarming situation. “We consider Urdu-speaking people as permanent residents of Sindh. We accept you as our brothers,” he announced, amid of slogans of Jeay Sindh. “But don’t take Sindh as a policy. Sindh is our motherland and we won’t accept its division at any cost.” The youngest leader of any Sindhi nationalist party, Sunan addressed the huge crowd in front of Rimpa Plaza. Leaders of different nationalist parties attended the march, including Riaz Chandio, Khaliq Junejo, Zain Shah, Ameer Bhanbhro and Dodo Mehri. Sunan said that religious harmony existed in Sindh before the partition of the sub-continent and that religious hatred was now being instigated deliberately. The funerals of the party’s leaders, Maqsood and Wadho, who were killed on Friday, were also performed after Sunan’s address. Their bodies were later taken to Ratodero, where both will be buried today (Monday). The area from Tibet Centre to Numaish Chowrangi was cordoned off and all roads were blocked with containers. Participants from different parts of the city joined the main rally which started from Qureshi’s residence in Gulshan-e-Hadeed. “Both our leaders were shot dead and their bodies were set ablaze,” said party vice-chairperson Dr Niaz Kalani. “We will register an FIR after the burial rites,” he confirmed to The Express Tribune. Sagar Hanif Burdi, one of the party’s leaders, confirmed that Waseem Akhtar and Ashfaque Mangi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had also joined them for the rally. “The Sindh government has not contacted us yet,” he revealed, saying that only statements have been issued. This was the second such rally on March 23 by the JSQM – the first was led by Sunan’s deceased father, Bashir Khan Qureshi, in 2012. Bashir died under mysterious circumstances soon after the rally on April 7. Courtesy: The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014. http://tribune.com.pk/story/686523/strength-in-numbers-jsqms-freedom-march-turns-into-partys-biggest-ever-rally/ Freedom MarchJeay SindhJSQMRallySanaan QureshiTharparkar Ukraine Crisis Could Spark Third World War, Former Communist Party Leader And President Kravchuk Warns By Avedis Hadjian KIEV — It could be seen as saber rattling, fear-mongering or an astute prediction by a man with intimate knowledge of Ukrainian-Russian history, but Leonid Kravchuk is adamant that Russian President Vladimir Putin has strayed into potentially cataclysmic territory, and that the current showdown in Crimea could escalate into a world war. In an interview with International Business Times, Kravchuk, who led Ukraine to independence in 1991 and became its first president, claimed there are already 18,000 Russian soldiers in his country and that a full-scale Russian invasion would cause Western powers – including NATO – to engage them militarily. Read more » INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES http://www.ibtimes.com/ukraine-crisis-could-spark-third-world-war-former-communist-party-leader-president-kravchuk-warns KievLeonid KravchukNATORussiaUkrainVladimir PutinWestern powers Current Issues, News, Pakistan, Sindh, Sindhi JSQM’s ‘Freedom March’ in Karachi Meanwhile in Pakistan, the natives (Sindhis) of the largest revenue-generating province, Sindh, of Pakistan took to the arteries of Karachi to demand independence from Pakistan. They alleged that Pakistan was not acknowledging their culture and historical status of a ‘nation’, whose roots are in the Mohen-jo-Daro, the ancient Indus civilization. A couple of days back, while on work for the ‘Freedom March’, two leaders, Maqsood Qureshi and Salman Wadho, of the organizing Sindhi nationalist party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), were found charred in a burned out car in Sindh. The post martem report holds it that they were shot multiple times before the car was set on fire. JSQM alleged that the Pakistani intelligence agencies were involved in the dual murder. The Freedom March started back in 2012 when the then-party chairman, Bashir Khan Qureshi led the Freedom March in Karachi on March 23rd. The specific day is chosen because, on this day, Pakistan celebrates the passing of the Lahore Resolution, in which official demand for a separate country was upheld; however, unlike the status defined for the federating units to be ‘autonomous’, Pakistan violating the resolution itself made the federating units as ‘provinces’ and tried to paint all nations — Sindhi, Bengali, Baloch, Punjabi — as ONE single nation which all but Punjabis resisted and, consequently, the East Pakistan turned into Bangladesh. Mr. Qureshi died two weeks past that march ‘mysteriously’. So, two freedom march at the cost of two central leaders — brothers to each other. Despite being the richest province of Pakistan, recently, scores of children died in the Thar area of Sindh due to what was being labelled as ‘famine’. Joblessness is prevalent. Poverty is at its bloom in Sindh. Natives are barred from decision-making process and migration from other parts of the country and the world is threatening the natives to turn into minority in their own historical homeland. The so-called national (Read Urdu-language) media completely blacked out the coverage of the thousands of the Sindhi marching in the country’s largest commercial city, Karachi. Read more » http://networkedblogs.com/VaNfS More details » BBC urdu http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2014/03/140323_jeay_sindh_freedom_march_sa.shtml Bashir QureshiFreedom MarchIndependenceJeay SindhJSQMMaqsood QureshiMohen-jo-DaroSalman Wadho	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353525
__label__cc	0.72568	0.27432	Cedars' Blog Evolution and creation News Watchtower AGAIN misquotes scientist to argue against evolution – and this time, it’s personal! January 18, 2015 January 22, 2015 Cedars 563 Views abiogenesis, awake magazine, creation, creationist, evolution, jwalumni, mcmaster university, misha anouk, misquote, rama singh, watchtower Biologist Rama Singh has written an open letter to the editor of the Awake magazine complaining about the way he was misquoted It has long been known that, when it comes to their efforts to discredit evolution, Watchtower writers are more than willing to utilize the dark arts of misquoting to get their point across. In June last year I published an article about how the Creation book had been found to gravely misquote Paleontologist Niles Eldredge (among others) on the subject. Watchtower took a magazine article where Eldredge talked about disagreement between evolutionists NOT meaning that evolution itself is untrue, and edited it to make it sound like he was conceding the exact opposite point. (For a full essay debunking the Creation book, click here.) Now it seems Watchtower’s writers are at it again, this time in an anti-science issue of the Awake! magazine entitled “How Did Life Begin?” Arguing against a false proposition The Awake! magazine wrongly assumes that evolution tries to explain how life first started The first thing worth noticing about this magazine is the way it mis-characterizes evolution as being an attempted answer to the question of how life first started. This is a common “straw man” argument used by proponents of creationism to attack evolution by asserting that it tries to explain how life first originated, when this is simply not the case. Evolution is the means by which living things change and develop over millions of years by natural processes that can be studied and understood (see video below). Abiogenesis, on the other hand, describes the process of life arising from non-living matter, and it is a different field of study entirely. There is still a great deal of doubt and uncertainty surrounding abiogenesis, but evolution ceased to be debated among credible scientists long ago. But Watchtower wants you to think that scientists ARE still debating whether or not life evolves, which is where biologist Ram Singh enters the picture. Manufacturing controversy where there is none The January Awake! magazine begins with the statement: “SOME might assume that a scientifically-minded person would pick ‘evolution’ and that a religious person would pick ‘creation.’ But not always.” It then quotes Singh as saying: “The opposition to evolution goes beyond religious fundamentalism and includes a great many people from educated sections of the population.” It is thus strongly insinuated that Singh, as a “scientifically-minded person,” is opposed to evolution. But, following subsequent investigation, it has since come to light that this could not be further from the truth. Singh was approached by Misha Anouk (author of the German-language book “Goodbye, Jehova!” and editor of JWalumni.org) in an attempt to clarify matters. A strong rebuttal After being straightforwardly asked whether he agrees or disagrees with evolution and/or endorses the way he was quoted in the Awake! magazine, Singh had this to say: “JW has indeed misquoted me and I do not agree with their article and its anti-evolution stand.” So strongly were Singh’s feelings on the matter that he went on to pen a 500-word open letter to the editor of the Awake! magazine demanding that his quote be retracted and an apology printed. The scathing letter, which is reproduced in full on JWalumni.org, accuses the Awake! editor of “intellectual dishonesty” by “taking half a sentence out of context from my article on evolution.” Witnesses offering the magazine in Hawaii Out of context Indeed, Singh’s original article from which the Awake! writers quoted bemoans and attempts to explain ignorance surrounding evolution. It certainly doesn’t portray evolution in a negative light or try to refute it. Here is the paragraph from which the quote was taken (full paper available here): “The opposition to evolution goes beyond religious fundamentalism and includes a great many people from educated sections of the population, including biologists, nonbiologists, and the lay public. This essay will focus on the lack of belief in evolution in this latter group; opposition from religious fundamentalism has been covered in many places (Kitcher 1982; Futuyma 1983; Montagu 1984; Young 1985; Gould 1999; Dawkins 2006; Coyne 2009). There are several reasons why facts of evolution are not easily comprehensible by the general masses.“ I think I can safely predict that Awake! will not be publishing a retraction or issuing an apology to Mr Singh, as much as this is owed him. Awake’s deliberate attempt at deception, like so many other instances of its kind in Watchtower literature, will be concealed from the average Witness, whose only hope of uncovering it will lie in thorough, objective research on the internet, from which Witnesses are repeatedly dissuaded by their spiritual overlords. But thanks to Singh speaking out on this matter, at least Awake! is acquiring the reputation for shoddy journalism, deceit and duplicity among the general, internet-savvy public that it richly deserves. Misha Anouk’s article on JWalumni.org Friendly Atheist article on Awake magazine misquote INQUISITR article on Awake magazine misquote FreeThinker article on Awake Magazine misquote JWfacts article on deception in Watchtower literature JWsurvey articles on evolution and creation ← Watchtower appears in court to give oral arguments in appeal against Candace Conti verdict The Book Corner – “Goodbye, Jehova!” by Misha Anouk → The Book Corner – Judgment Day Must Wait August 13, 2013 August 13, 2013 Cedars The time left is reduced – your 2012 survey needs YOU! September 29, 2012 September 29, 2012 Cedars Court orders Sydney teenager to accept life-saving blood transfusion October 2, 2013 October 2, 2013 Cedars 106 thoughts on “Watchtower AGAIN misquotes scientist to argue against evolution – and this time, it’s personal!” and to add to my last comment: I have listened to a lot of Youtube videos where scientists are calling “proof” of evolution by pointing to all these fossils that are supposed to be evolved from a different and lower life form but all a religionist has to do for an argument is to come back with is to say: “of course God would have created all the animal and plant life before he put man on the earth”. That argument to me, doesn’t disprove the Bible account and it makes their argument seem weak. Scientists admit that 99% of all the species on earth has gone extinct. All you have to do is look at the platypus. Nobody can explain the platypus. It really something that they changed many things in their magazines/ books and even the bible to suit their own agenda. .. and Some JW are still in denial, the cover ups on GB Homosexuals and child molesters at Bethel/ KH ..joining the UN and ppl still belief that they ARE THE ANOINTED…smh, I’m sorry but if they were and are doing this things that would be big time Red flags to me, I had my doubts about them before, now for sure I know they are part of Babylon. .. smh and for those that let all theset things go, you all are guilty as they are… cause you are blind sheep as they say… just my opinion and that my fellow humans is so sad that you believe, just as some out in the world believe in our government. .. Ppl everywhere need to start opening your eyes, and the ones that have kids what kind of example you setting your kids in to believe in ppl that are the top GB that they hide all this and you lead them to believe they are anointed and cheat, lie, and commit fornications with same sex and children, especially the children part, it makes me sick how dare you put children under that kind of belief..double standards. .. “GB teaching do as I( Jehovah) say, not what we do ( hide)smh.sorry so long had to get this off my chest…thank u for your time. Eze Chidi Its so pathetic that some people can’t make research before posting comments. JWs do not follow any man is group of people. Each JW is very intelligent and makes an informed decision. No child is forced to become a JW by his parents, each child ultimately hv to choose whom to worship. The GB are humans and never claim to be perfect, the strive just like every other JW to follow bible principles. Every religion on earth hv cases of misconduct and child abuse, it is not peculiar to JWs. the only different is that JW removes anyone who commits child abuse without repentance from their mist. this too is a Bible principle. The above article claiming that the author was misquoted is so misleading. in my opinion, the author agrees that there is large group if scientists who do not accept evolution. that’s what the awake was trying to say. Finally, JWs do not change any Bible or misquote any article Dear Eze Chidi I once believed as you did, and I never wanted to admit to myself that Jehovah’s Witnesses practiced quote mining, or that they covered up child abuse by virtue of their two-witness rule, or that they had any affiliation with the UN organization, or a hundred other subjects which we have covered here on JW Survey. In the end, you absolutely follow a group of people – from the Governing Body to your local overseers, and these men are all acting in harmony with what they are told rather than acting in accordance with their own consciences. It took me 46 years to wake up and recognize the truth. The good news is that I am awake, and as an organization, JW Survey does not disfellowship you for belonging to any particular religion or system of beliefs – rather we free you from the bondage to the JW organization which has misrepresented science since the inception of the Bible Students movement in the late 1800s. Only by studying facts, history and the reality of science will you ever wake up and recognize that this is simply another cult environment which is toxic and dangerous. As to the misquotations – you have not done your homework. The misquotes of scientists such as Dr Singh are so embarrassing for the JW organization that they are completely unable to defend themselves against these discoveries. In many cases they have simply deleted the publications involved to avoid further embarrassment. Among many examples are the “Creation Book” and the “Trinity” brochure. Any educated person who reads such materials knows immediately that the quotes and claims made were so outrageous that Watchtower faced extreme criticism so severe that the books were deleted from their own catalog. Watchtower has its back against the wall wheni t comes to science, and its beliefs are so incredible that they will soon be forced to further change their doctrine or risk further exposure as one of the most ignorant organizations in the face of the Earth. Even the Pew research studies for the United States clearly pointed out how woefully uneducated the average JW is, and the few who are educated are like the big fish in a small pond – they enjoy the attention, and they have compartmentalized their lives to the point where the absurd seems normal, despite some of these people having university degrees. I really feel sympathy for you, as I was once an indoctrinated Witness, and I humbly submit that I was wrong. I hope you come to the correct conclusion as well *JWs do not follow any man or group of people*** @Cedars, I am wondering why one of the comments I made yesterday is being flagged? Thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ2LehsA1dk&x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534&feature=player_detailpage I don’t know how to put a youtube video up here but if you copy and paste this url on your address bar, this is a really good comment by Christopher Hitchens. JBob The revelation point for this piece is highlighting that JW’s remain in a jihad mode, meaning that the final judgement depends on the results, which means will be honored and glorified if the result is to conquer and hold new recruits steadfast to the Faith and Truth. This Consequentialist view could be summarized by Machiavelli’s “The Prince” (Chapter 18) “For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.” (Broadview Press, 2012) In this mode, the elitist self-opinion of the Watchtower comes to the fore. Smug, arrogant, and unabashed pride in the collective effort. The collective can surround itself with a wagon train of lawyers while the lone academic author throws arrows until their quiver is exhausted or suffers death from exhaustion of time and finances. Is it fair? Is it justice? Doesn’t matter, because as the cliche states, “all is fair in love and war (jihad)”. The Broadview Anthology of Social and Political Thought: Essential Readings (edited by by Andrew Bailey and Samantha Brennan), p. 117, Broadview Press; annotated edition edition (February 17, 2012). http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/filesDB-download.php?command=download&id=660 This link only proves that some scientists keep a healthy skepticism and open-mindedness regarding the theory of evolution and research into the development of scientific method in defining the origins of life. Only 50 years ago, the science community had to abandon the “steady state” theory in favor of the ‘big bang’ which has now become the “yo-yo” (or cyclical) cosmos theory. What can be an easy fallacy is to accept theories as fact, just as religious individuals substitute biblical myths as fact, when there are issues and gaps to be researched to refine the understanding of the origins of life. For example, when the theory of evolving origins of the cosmos is viewed as holistic, there are issues integrating how the timeline for geographic events (mantle crust movement) affected the fossil and life record. What we have discovered versus what was consumed and destroyed by geographic and extra-terrestial forces–a meteoric crater smashing footprints and fossils. A local flood washing away bone graveyards, or humanoids construction efforts destroying evidence. The point, scientists may object to evolution theory as an orthodoxy but doesn’t imply acceptance of the mythical origins, because for them it is not a binary issue but more of an open-ended question. At the same time, most Watchtower readers/believers do view this question as binary–God created, period. Any other belief is heresy and a rejection of the Divine. Yet, if the question is left open-ended, Watchtower reader could find themselves believing in Divine prime mover putting the origin of life into motion (a deist mode) then letting the rules of the closed system govern the results. Obviously, that sort of open-minded viewpoint has no availability in the belief system currently held. Man from the lions pit @JBob I like your last to two posts here so small addition to this mostly abandon topic from my side is: @Man from the lions pit If you like information theory, here is a great talk by Dembski: @Peeing Tom thanks I will definitely take a look ! patricia a. mcginly Tony Morris’ talk aka “tight pants” was the last straw for me. Thank you T.M. As your outlandish words helped , along with other craziness of the WBTS, to make me fully realize that I MUST remove myself from this hateful & terribly damaging group! Yes, thank you Tony Morris, your words set me free!!! www.happynewyearwishes2016eve.com When it comes to Rhodes Island, there is always something interesting every year. The old man had left, but they found the remains of the three precious items he had used to chase the beast Nian away. It wouldn’t be possible to effect and sustain such a radical change unless the person is motivated by a big dream that is positive in nature. It boasts of an impressive one thousand seven hundred colours. There are plenty of things a vibrator cannot provide. Along with the Max Air cushioning system, this edition is finished off with a clean white outsole. Amyah Hello Cedars… seems that the JWAlumni site is down and can’t find the letter wrote by dr. Singh… you know where I can read it? Thank you… and thank you for your awesome work	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353528
__label__wiki	0.865158	0.865158	For his new Guava Island flick Childish Gambino re-stages ‘This is America’ PHOTO CRED: Amazon Prime Video By Isabella Weiner April 17, 2019 Following his headlining set at Coachella on April 12, Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino (though perhaps not for much longer, as he’s announced he’s retiring the persona at the height of his popularity) released a short film entitled Guava Island. Directed by frequent collaborator Hiro Murai — Murai has directed many episodes of Glover’s acclaimed, surrealist show Atlanta, as well as Childish Gambino’s heart-stopping “This is America”– Glover portrays the film’s lead role, a musician named Deni Maroon. Guava Island also stars Rihanna as his love interest, Kofi Novia, and Black Panther’s Leticia Wright. watch Guava Island on @amazonprimevideo A post shared by Donald Glover (@childishgambino) on Apr 12, 2019 at 5:13pm PDT In the short film, Deni tries to stage a huge music festival on the beautiful island run by a dictator named Red Cargo (Nonso Anozie), who forces the island’s inhabitants to work in a factory. The breezy movie is all about how music can create unity and connection in the face of tyranny. Glover’s choice to release the film at Coachella– the highest grossing festival in the world— further emphasizes the power of the music festival. Even one populated by Instagram influencers trying to gain clout and peddle Revolve clothing. Though the film features three new songs, “Die With You,” “Time,” and “Saturday,” shockingly, Rihanna doesn’t get the chance to sing– prolonging her musical drought. Rih, stop making Fenty beauty kits and get back to music! We need you. (Luckily, Ms. Fenty has promised her Army a new album in 2019.) Flawless. #GuavaIsland pic.twitter.com/NeYKTPOLVs — R9 Tour (@R9Tour) April 13, 2019 Most notably, Guava Island features a re-staging of “This is America,” which takes place in the film’s factory. The re-staging features some of the same dance moves, wide-eyed expression, gunshots, and Glover’s bare chest as the original video. But having the characters sporting red jumpsuits, à la Jordan Peele’s Us, gives the video a new bite. And with the movie set outside the continental U.S., “This is America” can be seen here as an outsider’s critique of the world power and the evils of capitalism and imperialism. Donc Guava Island donne encore plus de sens et un nouveau contexte à "This is America" presque un an après la sortie du morceau. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5iGbLiW3UW — Julien (@DukeofMars) April 13, 2019 But what does it mean to release a film that critiques capitalism, at a music festival that embodies its very heights? Perhaps the Coachella crowd was meant to see it for themselves. Guava Island streamed on Amazon for free on April 13 until 9 p.m. and is now only available to Amazon Prime members. How ironic! Tags childish gambino guava island this is aamerica Isabella Weiner New York native with a Massachusetts zip code for nine months a year. Senior at Amherst College. Contributor to the "Arts & Living" section of the school's student newspaper "The Amherst Student." Pop culture obsessed. Previous ArticleHow the Kistermann twins built Crime London, the fashion brand merging vibes Next ArticlePSA! Don't be the herb who ruins 'Avengers: Endgame' for everyone	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353546
__label__cc	0.702006	0.297994	Henry Aaron’s Dream Henry Aaron's Dream Matt Tavares (Illustrator) Every kid has a wish – a dream for his or her own future. Henry Aaron was no exception. He wanted to play baseball – professional baseball -- when he grew up. But baseball stadiums in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama in the l940s were for "WHITES ONLY." After high school, Aaron played in the Negro Leagues and then, when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major-league baseball in 1947, Aaron began to dream again. It took perseverance, enormous talent, and courage for Henry Aaron to not only hold onto his vision, but also to make it a reality. Matt Tavares explores all three of these qualities in a handsome picture-book biography that is part history, part inspiration, part sports story all mixed together with a touch of folk-lore hero. Kids need their dreams – and they need heroes to be their examples. HENRY AARON'S DREAM offers both. Matt Tavares talks about creating HENRY AARON'S DREAM in a video. Click here. Reviewed by : LLW. Themes : BIOGRAPHY. BASEBALL. ATHLETES. AFRICAN AMERICANS. Well-written text and brilliantly composed art highlight the poignancy and triumph in Aaron’s story. This rousing tribute should resonate with a wide audience. Charlton, James and Cook, Sally. Hey Batta Batta Swing!: The Wild Old Days of Baseball. Margaret K. McEdlerry, 2007. Moss, Marissa. Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen. Simon and Schuster, 2004. Thayer, Ernest L. Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888. Chronicle Books, 2000. Winter, Jonah. You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! Schwartz and Wade, 2009.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353548
__label__cc	0.563385	0.436615	Jo Marchant Decoding the Heavens The Shadow King When fake pills have real effects July 19, 2016 By Jo Marchant Leave a Comment Placebos can trigger biological changes similar to those caused by drugs – even when you know you’re taking them. In April, Ted Kaptchuk addressed hundreds of physicians and scientists at the Behind and Beyond the Brain symposium in Porto, Portugal. Within minutes, ripples of laughter were spreading around the conference hall. Kaptchuk, a researcher at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, was showing the audience a cartoon in which a doctor hands over a prescription note. “I want you to take this placebo,” says the white-coated medic to her bemused patient. “If your condition doesn’t improve, I’ll give you a stronger one.” The chuckles were a response to the absurdity of openly treating a patient with fake pills. By definition, placebos have no active ingredient, so the idea that someone might benefit from knowingly taking one — let alone that different placebos could have different effects — seems nonsensical. But Kaptchuk invited his audience to take the scene seriously. Honest placebos can work, he insisted. And some placebos really are stronger than others. Kaptchuk’s trials are overturning many assumptions about the best way to care for patients, particularly those in pain. After four decades of probing the mechanisms of placebo responses, researchers are advancing the argument that inert pills are more than just negative controls in clinical trials: they can be a treatment in their own right. This excerpt is from my feature in a special supplement on pain, in the 14 July 2016 issue of Nature. To read on (it’s free), click here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v535/n7611_supp/full/535S14a.html Praise for Cure Surveys with grace what we think we know about the mysterious and troubling relationship between our minds and our bodies. The Guardian A thought-provoking exploration of how the mind affects the body and can be harnessed to help treat illness. The Economist Should be compulsory reading for all young doctors. New Scientist Praise for Decoding the Heavens An epic of forgotten geniuses, lost treasure, death-defying underwater exploration and egomaniacal scientists LA Times Sprinkled with the magic dust of an Indiana Jones adventure New Scientist Praise for The Shadow King Science journalism at its best...intense and exciting. City Book Reviews Rip-roaring story Nature Unusual, gripping New Scientist Captivating...haunting...compelling American Way My Twitter Stream Tweets by @JoMarchant Site Policies - Copyright © 2020 · Log in	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353552
__label__wiki	0.64265	0.64265	Athletic Training, Therapy, and Rehabilitation (146) Physical Education and Coaching (43) Psychology and Behavior in Sport/Exercise (24) Sport and Exercise Science/Kinesiology (60) Sport Business and Sport Management (2) Social Studies in Sport and Physical Activity (9) 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 — 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 You are looking at 11 - 20 of 206 items for : "return-to-play" x Sort by RelevanceArticle A - ZArticle Z - ADate - Old to RecentDate - Recent to OldAuthor A - ZAuthor Z - A Exertional Rhabdomyolysis: Determining Readiness to Return to Play Lindsey Eberman, Leamor Kahanov, Thurman V. Alvey III and Mitch Wasik Edited by Malissa Martin In International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training Volume 16 (2011): Issue 4 (Jul 2011) Exertional Heat Cramps: Recovery and Return to Play Michael F. Bergeron In contrast to muscle cramps that are brought on by muscle overload or fatigue, exertional heat cramps seem to be prompted by extensive sweating and a significant sweat-induced whole-body sodium deficit. As a result of a consequent contracted interstitial compartment, axon terminals of selected motor neurons can become hyper-excitable and spontaneously discharge. Barely detectable muscle fasciculations or “twitches” in the affected muscles can rapidly progress to debilitating muscle cramps in just 20 to 30 minutes. To aid recovery, salt (NaCl) and water lost from sweating should be sufficiently replaced so as to restore the extracellular volume and interstitial fluid spaces. Sweat sodium, chloride, and fluid losses incurred during training and competition need to be closely matched by daily salt and fluid intake, in order to prevent an excessive sodium deficit, maintain sufficient fluid balance, and avoid exertional heat cramps. In Journal of Sport Rehabilitation Volume 16 (2007): Issue 3 (Jan 2007) Return to Play Following Facial Fractures in a Division I Basketball Athlete Katie Walsh and Morgan L. Cooper In International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training Volume 13 (2008): Issue 6 (Nov 2008) The Pregnant Athlete, Part 3: Exercise in the Postpartum Period and Return to Play Jeffrey K. Kawaguchi and Robin K. Pickering Edited by Mary Barnum The Role of ATs in Helping Coaches to Facilitate Return to Play Laura A. Hayden and Meghan Lynch Edited by Adam Naylor In International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training Volume 16 (2011): Issue 1 (Jan 2011) Don’t Gamble: Complex Considerations for Return to Play Following Exertional Heat Stroke Edited by Douglas J. Casa Athletic Trainers’ Perceived Challenges Toward Comprehensive Concussion Management in the Secondary School Setting Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Gary W. Cohen, Melissa C. Kay, Dayna K. Tierney and Tamara C. Valovich McLeod evaluation to full participation clearance/return-to-play. 6. Please explain the baseline concussion assessment testing processes at your secondary school. 7. Please explain the postconcussion assessment testing processes at your secondary school. 8. Please discuss your level of satisfaction with the The Effect of Concussive Injury on Individual Game Performance in Professional Collision-Sport Athletes Corey P. Ochs, Melissa C. Kay and Johna K. Register-Mihalik exposures in football 1 to 1.55/1000 athlete exposures in ice hockey. 2 Professional sports leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL) and National Hockey League (NHL), have instituted policies to assess and manage concussions, including return to play; however, little is known about the In Journal of Sport Rehabilitation Volume 28 (2019): Issue 7 (Sep 2019) Novel Isokinetic Dynamometry of the Thigh Musculature During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation in Professional Soccer: An Explorative Case Study Steven Eustace, Richard Michael Page and Matt Greig Key Points ▸ Angle-specific isokinetic strength assessments should be conducted at varying angular velocities at the point of return to play. ▸ Isokinetic assessments should consider an angle-specific function strength ratio at the point of return to play. ▸ The slope of the force-velocity curve is In International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training Volume 24 (2019): Issue 2 (Mar 2019) Surgically-Managed Supraventricular Tachycardia in a Division II Men’s Basketball Player Kelly L. Holzberger, Kim Keeley and Martin Donahue management of athletic patients suspected of having this condition. A clear example of the appropriate recognition, referral, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play of an athlete with SVT serves to provide athletic trainers with the knowledge they need to function as part of the interprofessional	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353560
__label__cc	0.651459	0.348541	Far: Lone Sails Review Posted on April 19, 2019 April 19, 2019 by Mark Hamer Mellow Max Far: Lone Sails is a haunting but tranquil 3-4 hour journey across a desolate landscape that will stick with you long after the credits roll Publisher: Mixtvision Developer: Okomotive Platform: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, PC, Mac OS Availability: Out Now Price: £11.99 (PS4), £12.49 (Xbox One), £11.39 (PC/Mac) Loneliness is a difficult emotion for a video game to instil in the player. Happiness, frustration, angst, sadness, fear, they can all be conveyed convincingly to some degree. When it comes to fear, video games can arguably terrify their audience far more effectively than other forms of media. But loneliness is harder to capture. This may be because it’s not something that many games try to convey, there always needs to be NPCs to interact with, enemies to shoot, other players to cooperate with or to compete against. Some games have managed it though: for large parts of Journey (and for the whole game if you are unlucky with matchmaking) you are totally alone, in some online survival games like Day Z players will actively avoid each other, and outside of narrative devices players of Dear Esther are totally alone. All of these games have some sort of interaction with other people though, real or NPC. Not so in Far: Lone Sails. The game opens with a little girl standing by the grave of her father in the midst of a post-apocalyptic landscape. Left alone completely you only have one possible objective -to travel… somewhere. Much as with Playdead’s duo of dark puzzle platformers Limbo and Inside (games from which Far: Lone Sails clearly took more than a little inspiration), you must keep pushing on towards the right side of the screen, unsure of where you are going and what you will find along the way. Unlike Limbo and Inside though, you will not be pursued by enemies or confronted by unspeakable horrors, you are totally alone in this desolate wasteland. I say alone, you do have one companion of sorts: you travel across the dried up ocean floor that comprises the world of Far: Lone Sails in an improvised land ship, a giant hulking mass of wood and rickety machinery powered by wind and steam. The bulk of the game is made up of moving around the ship, feeding fuel to the engine, releasing steam buildups, putting out fires and repairing components, making regular stops to collect more fuel. There are brief moments when the wind picks up and you can raise your sails and relax as the desolate beauty of the wasteland passes by, but these moments are momentary breaks from the work of keeping your landship going. The traversal of the wasteland is broken up regularly with set pieces that involve some light puzzle work, nothing more taxing that those in Limbo and Inside, but enough to make you scratch your head a little. The environments in which the puzzles take place are interesting and do a good job of environmental storytelling. One takes place inside a beached submarine, another on a huge drawbridge connecting two sides of an abandoned community, and another takes you through a graveyard of ships. These puzzles, as well as painting a picture of what might have been here before, also offer a welcome break from the complete and utter loneliness of travelling across the world. One minor puzzle in particular tasks you with dialling in a frequency on a transmitter, and for a brief time a nearby radio picks up a transmission of jazz music. I grabbed that radio and took it aboard the landship and travelled on uplifted by what little companionship music could offer, and was devastated when the signal fizzed out and was left alone with the clanks and whirs of the machinery. The radio is one of a number of objects I collected during my journey that seemingly have no gameplay purpose. Sure, they can be fed to the furnace to help power the engine, but I kept hold of them all: a red letterbox, a small potted flower, an old book. I kept hold of them as reminders of what had been before whatever collapse had occurred. And what caused the collapse? What lead to the ocean drying up and all signs of human life to disappear? Far: Lone Sails never explicitly states, indeed there are no text or audio-logs anywhere in the game. But through clever use of environmental storytelling, especially during puzzle sections, hints are left of rapid developments of industry causing some sort of cataclysm. What is unclear, however, is what caused the settlements you pass, built on the dried-up ocean floor from the wreckage of ships, to be completely abandoned. The only thing that is clear is the need to push onward, inexorably, towards the ambiguous conclusion of the game. After a couple of run ins with the hostile weather of the wasteland, an escape from a terrifying environmental hazard leads to the end of the game, and as the credits roll you are left unsure whether your journey has come to an end or not. What you are left with is the inescapable feeling of loneliness that dogs you through your whole journey. I have played games that have made me laugh, games that have made me cry, games that have made me feel uncomfortable, anxious, scared. But no game has truly made me feel as lonely as Far: Lone Sails. Lonely, but not sad. There is a feeling of hope throughout your 3 or 4 hour journey, that no matter how desolate and dead the wasteland may be, the little girl in the little read coat with her little bedroom decorated with little crayon drawings and mementos of her journey, tucked away in the corner of her rickety landship, exemplifies the hope that life will continue, somehow. The version of Far: Lone Sails reviewed was a digital copy on the Playstation 4, provided by the publisher. Our review criteria and ethics policy can be found here. Posted in review LGR April Preview Moderner Warfare	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353574
__label__wiki	0.555734	0.555734	Old Vehicle in a Barn a crash course on quietness wouldn't come amiss The AFI Goal Tag Archives: miroku That Anime Fever I couldn’t appreciate anime more in any day than during this summer. Since I’m staying home this break I didn’t do anything “cerebral” or some sort. Well, you must understand, I’m trying to take back those sleepless nights last semester, where most of them were spent from pouring myself over stacks of books that rubbed my brain raw. Well anyway, students like us deserved a good, nice vacation after such traumatic experience, and now I found out that watching TV, reading books of my own choice (I think that should be emphasized) and sleeping in between those times really help me during the break. Watching anime is also a great leisure activity. *laughs. Speaking of anime, out of my boredom, I ranked my favorite ones to ten. At the tenth spot is my all-time favorite Cardcaptor Sakura. What’s good about it is that it has a very excellent original story, and very nice vivid animation. My favorite character is Shaoran, although he’s an archetype, so to speak, but his character has a high degree of verisimilitude. At ninth spot is Bokura ga Ita, or We Were There if I’m not mistaken in my English translation. I really like it because even though it’s the same pattern all over again, falling in love, breaking up, unrequited love – there is something in it that is expressed in a very subtle way. And the insert songs are so amazing. Even I, as a viewer, did have my own emotional struggle because of the conflict in Yano-Nana affair. And Yano is probably what some girls really like – after all two-thirds of the class is in love with him. The manga series is also cool, by Yuuki Obata. At the eight spot is La Corda d’Oro Primo Passo which is currently shown in Animax. With its vivid animation and musical background plus fascinating guys, I couldn’t stand the fact of missing any single episodes. Hino is so captivating, I really like her a lot. Next, at the seventh rank is Fruits Basket. It’s funny in a cute way, and even though Honda-san may appear so innocent and so naïve, she is really lovable. And see? There is always the usual love triangle affair among Tohru, Yuki and Kyo. The manga series is written by Takaya Natsuki. At the sixth spot is Midori no Hibi (Midori Days). Midori is so cute. The anime is so funny, and worth my time, but later on when you encounter the drama part, you get carried away (maybe this is because you get used to think that this is a funny one, but when you get to the emotional part you ended up being touched by something you are not used to). Seiji Sawamura’s character as a highschool delinquent is a fascinating one, and the very cute Midori is really something to look forward to every episode. How would you feel if you possessed a certain mystical stone that would increase your abilities a thousand fold? And if you’re an alchemist, you would have extraordinary power to heal all injuries and to have everlasting life. This is the story of Fullmetal Alchemist, at my fifth spot, a quest to find the ultimate Philosopher’s Stone. Edward Elric as the youngest state alchemist is utterly stunning. As you go on watching this anime you would find that there is an underlying message about the science-religion (or morality, for that matter) in it. After all, the power to possess the stone does not only bring good things, but it has the power to annihilate and destroy every single living life there is. I also like Winry Rockbell’s character, her addiction to rebuilding mechanical devices exemplifies her strong personality. At the fourth spot is Honey and Clover! It’s a very heartwarming story of college students living their college lives amidst encountering emotional struggles and life’s difficulties until they learn more about themselves. My personal favorite character is Ayumi Yamada, the Iron Girl with her excellence in making pottery, and good looks (not to mention long legs). Her unrequited love for Takumi Mayama is one of the dramatic scenes of the anime. At the third spot is Inuyasha, with its witty, amazing plot – a girl named Kagome traveling to the feudal environment using the old well and meeting the half-demon Inuyasha. The real story begins as they find the broken pieces of the Shikon no Tama, but along the way, there seems to be a lot of touching romantic episodes between Kagome and Inuyasha, and the conflict is escalated with the presence of another character, Kikyou, Inuyasha’s beloved. This is really a must-seen anime for me. My personal favorite character, aside from the main characters, is Sesshoumaru. Maybe because of his strong atmosphere that exudes in his personality. At the second spot is Blood+ – an anime produced by Production IG and Aniplex, is a story of Saya Otonashii, as she fights Chiropterans and gets rid of them and finds her own self-identity along the way. This anime is a mixture of horror, action, drama, mystery, supernatural, and romance genres all in one, which makes up the anime’s complex and concentrated plot. Saya embarks on the journey to fight the Chiropteran (vampiric creatures) with her faithful servant Haji, some members of the Red Shield, brothers Kai and Riku and other faithful friends. The plot is so amazing that once you get started watching it, you wouldn’t like missing episodes in the future. Some scenes may contain strong violence and language, which is why it’s hard to let other people see it halfway because they might not understand. This anime is so good, that I love watching it all over again. But my favorite most of all is Samurai X. The whole story is definitely amazing enough for anyone to like. The fight scenes, the language and the animation are perfectly incorporated. Kenshin Himura’s character as a wanderer and as a bloodthirsty swordsman is unforgettable. Some scenes are funny, terrifying and touching. My favorite character, other than Kenshin himself is Saito. He’s kinda disturbing but his personality is so strong for me. It’s a story of fighting for the better good, living a new life out of a dreadful past, learning to love even through circumstances when the haunting memories from the past seemed to still hang around within and being strong in one’s convictions. I love it. Posted in Listology Tagged action, alchemist, alchemy, all-time, amnesia, anemia, animation, animax, anime, anime ranking, aniplex, annihilate, archetype, art, ayumi yamada, beloved, best anime, blood+, bokura ga ita, books, break up, cardcaptor sakura, cerebral, chevalier, chiropteran, clowcards, collge, conflict, delinquent, demon, destroy, drama, dramatic, Edward elric, emotional struggle, episodes, fall in love, favorite, feudal, fever, fight, Fruits basket, fullmetal alchemist, funny, george, girls, goldsmichts, guys, haji, half-demon, hino, Honda tohru, honey and clover, horror, insert song, inuyasha, iron girl, jewel, kagome, kagome higurashii, kai, kaoru kamiya, kenshin himura, kikyou, kyou sohma, la corda d’oro primo passo, like, long legs, love, lover, megumi, memories, midori, midori days, midori no hibi, miroku, miyagusuku, music, must-seen, mystery, nana, nanami takahashi, naraku, original, our existance, past, philosopher’s stone, pottery, production ig, quest, red shield, religion, riku, romance, saito, samurai x, sango, sanosuke sagara, saya, saya otonashii, science, seiji sawamura, seinen, self-identity, semester, sesshoumaru, shaoran, shikon no tama, shippo, shishio, sleeping, sony, state alchemist, stone, story, summary, summer, supernatural, swordsman, takaya natsuki, takumi Mayama, top-ten, traumatic, TV, unrequited love, vacation, vampire, verisimilitude, violence, wanderer, we were there, winry rockbell, yano motoharu, yoshi, youkai, yuki sohma, yuuki obata https://click.discountclick.com/go/click.php?tid=923271 Khareen, 22. 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__label__cc	0.56403	0.43597	Kate Macdonald about writing, reading and publishing Research and databases non-London novels I write fiction too Hong Kong: stories from within Kate 21stC, community life, essays, political / social commentary, the life of the times, the world of work, translation October 14, 2019 October 14, 2019 This is not a book review, but a distribution post. A Hong Kong friend has been collecting publicly available blog posts, articles and Tweet threads written by people who have been caught up in the protests in Hong Kong this year. We’ve presented them here to help spread the word more widely in the anglophone world about what conditions have been like in the daily lives of Kong Kong’s citizens, and how life has changed for those who have been participating in the protests. ‘Since this summer, Hong Kong has been wracked with protest after protest. The initial cause of unhappiness — an extradition bill that would have allowed anyone in or merely stepping foot in Hong Kong to be extradited to China — has now been withdrawn (though the formal steps of withdrawal can only be taken in mid-October when the Legislative Council reconvenes). The protests still continue, however, because there is immense dissatisfaction with the brutal tactics of the police and extreme unease with the signs of police collusion with secret society gangs. The latter have been used to inflict beatings on protestors and non-protestors alike and have suffered no legal consequences. With the recent use of colonial-era Emergency Rule powers to enact an anti-mask law that makes wearing any kind of face covering to a protest illegal, there is now a fear that even more freedoms and rights are being eroded. There has been much media coverage on Hong Kong, but what you may have seen or read is only a small fragment of the picture. The is a curated collection of essays, translations, and Twitter threads intended to give you an inside view of what it has been like to be at the protests, to live in Hong Kong in a time when life is both normal and not normal, to experience the horror of trust breaking down between the police and the people, and to witness the astonishing creativity and resilience of the Hong Kong people.’ Protest Action: ‘On the Front Lines’, a translation of an essay written by a Taiwanese woman who has been actively participating in the Hong Kong protests. A Twitter thread about being tear gassed and kettled by the police in Wanchai and yet eluding arrest. A Reddit AMA [Ask Me Anything Q&A post] with a 17-year-old volunteer medic who offers first aid at protests. Translation of a Chinese newslens.com article on middle-class Hong Kong people in the protests. It’s not just students who are out on the streets. Twitter thread about the events of 21 July 2019 when gangs attacked commuters at Yuen Long station (it is widely believed that this was with the collusion of the police). This was a major turning point for many Hong Kong people. Twitter thread about the events of July 21 and why the protests have become more violent — ‘Riot is the language of the unheard’. An article from Public Radio International on the complicated relationship between the police and local gangs known as triads. This is good context for the Yuen Long attack. Twitter thread containing a translation of an Apple Daily interview with a woman who befriends and supports young teenaged protestors who have been kicked out of their homes. Emotional Fallout: the emotional roller coaster of living in Hong Kong. The double life. Karen Cheung’s article in the New York Times. ‘In Hong Kong, I go to work and see my friends as usual. But I also spend time in a parallel universe of tear gas, barricades and anonymous allies.’ Hong Kong Protest Art: master Twitter thread with breakdowns by theme — women, pop culture, Winnie the Pooh, hard hats, cats and dogs, and the use of Cantonese. For further reading, please try: Antony Dapiran, City of Protest: A Recent History of Dissent in Hong Kong (London: Penguin, 2017) A beautiful essay by the Taiwanese writer, Lung Ying Tai (translated for the Los Angeles Review of Books blog) Frank Dikotter in foreignpolicy.com on the birth of the People’s Republic of China 2019 protests citizen reporters Previous Post Kathleen Jamie, Surfacing Next Post To the recycling! 3 thoughts on “Hong Kong: stories from within” Kate – Think you. This is a public service. Kate – should be Thank” you. Apologies. I was in Hong Kong earlier this year and had some insightful conversations with local residents about their fears of what will happen when the 50 year agreement comes to an end. None of them imagined these scenes however. Follow Kate Macdonald on WordPress.com Jan Morris, Hav Margaret Kennedy, The Ladies of Lyndon Our Top Ten Posts for 2019 Where are The Women? A Guide to an Imagined Scotland Alice Jolly: Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile There ain't no pay in blogging, and when there ain't no regular income either, every little helps, and is gratefully received. Thank you! Ernest Hemingway's Islands in the Stream John Buchan's The Three Hostages Magnificently diabolical sexual politics in Jane Austen's Lady Susan Male scientists save the world in Fred Hoyle’s The Black Cloud (1957) Reading Dorothy Richardson's Pilgrimage The magnificent Modesty Blaise Monica Dickens, One Pair of Feet this is what I write about 1920s 1930s 1950s 1960s aliens Angela Thirkell archaeology art Barbara Pym biography birds detection Dornford Yates Dorothy Richardson drinking family life fantasy farming fashion fast cars feminism First World War France gender Germany Harry Potter H G Wells history Home Front immigration Ireland John Buchan John Lehmann journalism King Arthur literary history London magic Mapp and Lucia memoir middlebrow murder music Naomi Mitchison nature newspapers New York opera Paris Penguin New Writing poetry politics post-war poverty publishing Rivers of London romance satire science science fiction Scotland Second World War servants small-town America space opera swords Terry Pratchett translation travel village life Vulpes Libris Wales wartime witchcraft witches	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353586
__label__wiki	0.511323	0.511323	Home/In the News/ADSB launches online payment system ADSB launches online payment systemadmin2019-01-30T01:48:02+04:00 ADSB launches online payment system School Cash Online makes payments more convenient, safer and easier to manage and track ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Today, Algoma District School Board launches School Cash Online at all its schools. School Cash Online is an easy to use, safe and convenient way for parents and guardians to pay online for school activities, such as field trips, lunches, fundraisers, milk programs and yearbooks. “We have been in conversation with our families for the past year or so and know they will welcome this option. Cashless schools makes it easier for parents and guardians to perform some of the administrative tasks they are asked to take care of on a regular basis,” said Executive Superintendent of Business and Operations, Joe Santa Maria. “Our primary goals were to provide more security for students and parents paying fees, reduce teacher and administrative time spent on managing money and improve communications between the home and school. School Cash Online has a proven track record and we feel confident our families and staff will embrace this new technology.” For parents and guardians, School Cash Online makes payments more convenient, safer and easier to manage and track and helps them avoid missing information or missing payments. They can also approve permission forms online and make secure payments direct from their bank account, using the device most convenient for them. Payments for school activities by cash are still accepted, but the new School Cash Online option will be the preferred method of payment for all ADSB schools. Parents and guardians of ADSB students are encouraged to register for School Cash Online by clicking here. A link is also accessible through the board’s website.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353593
__label__wiki	0.719624	0.719624	Category Archives: Will Yun Lee Posted on January 16, 2020 by proxyblue57 Standard Reply Melissa McCarthy (Ghostbusters) Jude Law (A.I.) Rose Byrne (X-Men: Apocalypse) Jason Staham (Fast & Furious 7) Miranda Hart (Miranda) Jessica Chaffin (The Heat) Allison Janney (Mom) Morena Baccarin (Gotham) Will Yun Lee (The Wolverine) Bobby Cannavale (Ant-Man) Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of The Dead) Ben Falcone (Tammy) 50 Cent (Southpaw) Paul Feig (Sabrina: TTW) Richard Brake (3 From Hell) Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is a desk-bound CIA analyst guiding her partner Agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law) on a mission to Varna from a CIA office in the Washington, D.C. area. Fine kills Tihomir Boyanov after he sneezes without first finding a suitcase nuke whose location is known only to Boyanov. Meanwhile, the agency learns that Boyanov’s daughter Rayna (Rose Byrne) might know the location of her father’s device, so they send Fine to infiltrate her home. However, Rayna shoots Fine dead while Susan watches online. Rayna knows the identities of all the agency’s top agents, including Fine and Rick Ford (Jason Statham). Susan, who is unknown to Rayna, volunteers to become a field agent, and her boss, Elaine Crocker (Allison Janney), agrees. Ford quits in disgust over Susan being chosen for the assignment. Susan is sent to Paris to spy on Sergio De Luca (Bobby Cannavale). Later that night, Ford appears in the hotel Susan is staying at and insists that she will ruin the mission due to being an inexperienced field agent. The next morning, Susan sees an assassin working for De Luca, and one of his contacts, exchanging Ford’s bag for one with a bomb inside it. Susan warns Ford, then catches up to the assassin, but he is killed when they fight. Susan follows De Luca to Rome, where she meets her contact Aldo (Peter Serafinowicz), a suave Italian informant who makes inappropriate advances towards her. Susan meets Rayna in a casino, prevents Rayna’s assassination, and becomes part of her inner circle. When they fly in her private plane to Budapest, the steward kills the bodyguard and pilots and tries to kill Rayna, but Susan subdues him and lands the plane in Budapest. Rayna believes Susan to be a CIA spy, but Susan convinces Rayna that her father hired her to be Rayna’s bodyguard. In Budapest, the two encounter Susan’s best friend Nancy B. Artingstall (Miranda Hart), who is sent by Crocker to provide back-up. After being shot at in the street, Susan orders Nancy to get Rayna to safety while she pursues the shooter’s vehicle. The shooter turns out to be CIA double agent Karen Walker (Morena Baccarin), who sold Rayna the names of the agents. As she is about to shoot Susan, Walker is killed by an unknown sniper. Later that night, Susan and Nancy accompany Rayna to a party. The contact is De Luca’s associate, Lia (Nargis Fakhri). Nancy creates a diversion so Susan can fight Lia, who is a skilled assassin. Just as Susan is about to arrest Lia, she is fatally stabbed in the chest by an unknown assailant, who turns out to be Bradley Fine. Susan is captured and is told that Fine faked his death so he could become Rayna’s lover. After Susan is imprisoned with Aldo in a bunker, Fine appears and reveals to Susan that the real reason he faked his death was to gain intelligence on the device’s location, which could only happen if he gained Rayna’s trust. Fine also reveals that he was the one who assassinated Karen. Susan and Aldo escape after subduing two bodyguards. Eventually, Susan accompanies Rayna and Fine at De Luca’s mansion while posing as a double agent. Chechen terrorist Solsa Dudaev (Richard Brake) and his men arrive to purchase the device for a suitcase full of diamonds. Rayna then reveals the location of the device. However, De Luca, now in possession of the device and doubting that Dudaev can safely smuggle it into the United States, kills him and his men and keeps the diamonds. De Luca intends to sell the device to someone who can transport it to New York City within a week. As De Luca is about to kill Rayna, Ford appears and distracts him, allowing Susan to save Rayna’s life again. De Luca escapes with the device and diamonds on his helicopter, with Susan and Ford clinging to the landing gear. Ford loses his grip, causing him to falls into the lake ocean, leaving Susan to confront De Luca in the helicopter alone. After Nancy and Aldo arrive in a helicopter and help Susan kill De Luca, Crocker shows up to recover the device. Rayna is arrested, but it is implied that she has come to like Susan as a friend. After Aldo reveals to Susan that his real name is Albert and he is an MI6 agent, he invites her to dinner should they ever cross paths in London, which Susan accepts. Susan declines a similar offer from Fine and instead opts for a girls’ night out with Nancy. The next morning, Susan is shown screaming after waking up amidst empty champagne bottles, realizing that she has slept with Ford. I thought Spy would be just another parody of the James Bond-type of movies, cheap and cringy. But I was wrong! This is a highly entertaining and intelligent film. The leading lady Melissa McCarthy excels in this clever action-comedy galore. The ensemble of actors, the script, director’s work all makes for a great film. Posted on November 30, 2019 by proxyblue57 Standard Reply Dwayne Johnson (Fast & Furious 8) Carla Gugino (Faster) Alexandra Daddario (Texas Chainsaw 3D) Ioan Grufford (Ringer) Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) Paul Giamatti (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) Art Parkinson (Dracula Untold) Kylie Minogue (Sample People) Colton Haynes (Arrow) Robin Atkin Downes (Babylon 5) Raymond “Ray” Gaines is a Los Angeles Fire Department Air Rescue pilot in the midst of a divorce from Emma and planning a trip to San Francisco with his daughter Blake. Meanwhile, Caltech seismologist Dr. Lawrence Hayes and his colleague Dr. Kim Park are at Hoover Dam doing research for a new earthquake predicting model when a nearby and previously unknown fault ruptures. This triggers a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that collapses the dam and kills Park after he rescues a little girl and throws her to Hayes as he falls to the collapsing ground. When Ray is called into work because of this, Blake goes with her mother’s new boyfriend Daniel Riddick to San Francisco, instead of Ray. Hayes discovers that the entire San Andreas Fault is shifting and will soon cause a major earthquake, thereby destroying cities along the fault line. Emma is having lunch at a hotel in Downtown LA with Daniel’s sister Susan when the fault shifts triggering a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, with Susan among the casualties during the event. Rather than reporting for emergency rescue duty, Ray saves Emma from the collapsing building, and they escape the city aboard his helicopter, barely managing to swerve around the US Bank Tower as it comes crumbling down. In San Francisco, Daniel brings Blake to his office where she meets Ben, an engineer from England seeking employment and his brother, Ollie. Daniel and Blake leave the premises, but they become trapped in their car in the parking garage after a string of earthquakes, with Blake getting her legs pinned in the event. Daniel flees but Blake is found by Ben and Ollie, who help her escape. They then find a working phone in Chinatown and Blake calls Ray and Emma, who fly to San Francisco to save her. En route, Ray’s helicopter fails, forcing him to make an emergency landing at a shopping mall in Bakersfield. Amid the chaos of looting, he steals a truck and he and Emma escape. They come across an older couple broken down on the side of the road where the San Andreas Fault has opened up, blocking the road and the couple, who happen to own an airplane, agree to give it up in exchange for Ray’s vehicle. In San Francisco, Blake, Ben and Ollie are trying to find a place to signal Ray, as the point they agreed to meet at, Coit Tower, is engulfed in flames. On approach, Ray and Emma are forced to parachute in the city when a 9.6 magnitude quake hits the city, becoming the largest earthquake in history. Much of the city is left in ruins and Blake, Ben and Ollie narrowly survive. Ray and Emma, realizing they cannot make their way through the destroyed city, are able to commandeer a boat only to see that the water in the bay is beginning to recede, indicating that a megatsunami is approaching. As it approaches, Blake, Ben, and Ollie run into a building under construction which Daniel helped design. Ray and Emma, accompanied by dozens of other people in boats, manage to make it over the wave before it crests, barely avoiding a huge cargo ship getting caught up in the wave. They then watch in horror as the giant tsunami hits the Golden Gate Bridge with the enormous cargo ship, which snaps the center span cleanly in two; Daniel is among those killed when a loose shipping container crushes him. The wave then proceeds into the ruined city, swamping cruise ships, killing thousands and flooding the building Blake is in. Emma and Ray make their way through the flooded downtown area and are finally able to locate Blake, Ben, and Ollie as the building begins to sink beneath the water. Ray dives into the building to save Blake as she becomes unconscious while trapped underwater, while Emma breaks into the building with the boat and rescues everyone just as the building also collapses; however, it appears too late as Blake has seemingly drowned. Ray, however, manages to resuscitate her, and the family is happily reunited. They head to a relief camp where the reconciled Ray and Emma talk about their future; on the remains of the Golden Gate Bridge, an American flag unfolds, giving hope that the city will recover and rebuild as rescue vehicles descend on the radically altered landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area. Then the camera zooms out to see the whole Bay Area, showing that the bay now extends south from San Jose to Santa Cruz, turning the San Francisco peninsula into an island. Typical Rock actioner with great special effects and so so acting but I don’t think anyone expected an Oscar. The Rock does what he does best and it makes for an enjoyable watch.Classic popcorn movie. REVIEW: THE WOLVERINE Posted on July 16, 2017 by proxyblue57 Standard Reply Hugh Jackman (Real Steel) Tao Okamoto (Hannibal) Rila Fukushima (Arrow) Hiroyuki Sanada (Sunshine) Svetlana Khodchenkova (Metro) Brian Tee (Jurassic world) Hal Yamanouchi (Push) Will Yun Lee (Elektra) Famke Janssen (The Faculty) Patrick Stewart (American Dad) Iam McKellen (Lord of The Rings) Tess Haubrich (Treadstone) In 1945, Logan is held in a Japanese POW camp near Nagasaki. During the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Logan rescues an officer named Ichirō Yashida and shields him from the blast. In the present day, Logan lives as a hermit in Yukon, tormented by hallucinations of Jean Grey, whom he was forced to kill to save the world (X-Men: The Last Stand). He is located by Yukio, a mutant with the ability to foresee people’s deaths, on behalf of Ichirō, now the CEO of a technology zaibatsu. Ichirō, who is dying of cancer, wants Logan to accompany Yukio to Japan so that he may repay his life debt. In Tokyo, Logan meets Ichirō’s son, Shingen, and granddaughter, Mariko. There, Ichirō offers to transfer Logan’s healing abilities into his own body, thus saving Ichirō’s life and alleviating Logan of his near-immortality, which Logan views as a curse. Logan refuses and prepares to leave the following day. That night, Ichirō’s physician Dr. Green (also known as Viper) introduces something into Logan’s body, but Logan dismisses it as a dream. The next morning, Logan is informed that Ichirō has died. At the funeral, Yakuza gangsters attempt to kidnap Mariko, but Logan and Mariko escape together into the urban sprawl of Tokyo. Logan is shot and his wounds do not heal as quickly as they should. After fighting off more Yakuza on a bullet train, Logan and Mariko hide in a local love hotel. Meanwhile, Ichirō’s bodyguard Harada meets with Dr. Green who, after demonstrating her mutant powers on him, demands he find Logan and Mariko. Logan and Mariko travel to Ichirō’s house in Nagasaki, and the two slowly fall in love. Meanwhile, Yukio has a vision of Logan dying, and goes to warn him. Before Yukio arrives, Mariko is captured by the Yakuza. After interrogating one of the kidnappers, Logan and Yukio confront Mariko’s fiancé, corrupt Minister of Justice Noburo Mori. Mori confesses that he conspired with Shingen to have Mariko killed because Ichirō left control of the company to Mariko, and not Shingen. Mariko is brought before Shingen at Ichirō’s estate when ninjas led by Harada attack and whisk her away. Logan and Yukio arrive later and, using Ichirō’s X-ray machine, discover a robotic parasite attached to Logan’s heart, suppressing his healing ability. Logan cuts himself open and extracts the device. During the operation, Shingen attacks but Yukio holds Shingen off long enough for Logan to recover and kill Shingen. Logan follows Mariko’s trail to the village of Ichirō’s birth, where he is captured by Harada’s ninjas. Logan is placed in a machine by Dr. Green, who reveals her plans to extract his healing factor and introduces him to the Silver Samurai, an electromechanical suit of Japanese armour with energized swords made of adamantium. Mariko escapes from Harada, who believes he is acting in Mariko’s interests, and frees Logan from the machine. Harada sees the error of his ways and is killed by the Silver Samurai while helping Logan escape. Meanwhile, Yukio arrives and kills Dr. Green as Logan fights the Silver Samurai. The Silver Samurai severs Logan’s adamantium claws and begins to extract Logan’s healing abilities, revealing himself to be Ichirō, who had faked his death. Ichirō regains his youth, but Mariko intervenes and stabs Ichirō with Logan’s severed claws. Logan regenerates his bone claws and kills Ichirō. Logan collapses and has one final hallucination of Jean, in which he decides to finally let go of her. Mariko becomes CEO of Yashida Industries and bids farewell to Logan as he prepares to leave Japan. Yukio vows to stay by Logan’s side as his bodyguard, and they depart to places unknown. In a mid-credits scene, Logan returns to the United States two years later and is approached at the airport by Erik Lehnsherr, who warns him of a grave new threat to the mutant race; and Charles Xavier, whom Logan thought was dead. The Wolverine was a step up from X-men origins: Wolverine with a more well rounded story, The action is amazing, and the nice little tag at the end of the film links it up with Days of Future Past. REVIEW: THE KING OF FIGHTERS Maggie Q (Divergent) Sean Faris (The Brotherhood 2) Ray Park (Star Wars – Episode I) David Leitch (V For Vendetta) Francoise Yip (Blade: Trinity) Monique Ganderston (Smallville) At a museum in Boston, Rugal Bernstein steals three relics: The Kagura Mirror, the Yagami Necklace and the Kusanagi Sword. He uses them to disappear into a dimensional portal to awaken the mythical entity known as the Orochi, which grants limitless powers. The sword is revealed to be a fake and the quest is delayed. Mai Shiranui is told by an injured Chizuru Kagura the real sword is with Saisyu Kusanagi at a mental institution. She is warned she must defeat Rugal and her boyfriend, Iori Yagami, should not be involved. At the institution, Mai meets a catatonic Saisyu and his son, Kyo, but Iori’s presence suddenly breaks Saisyu’s catatonic state, and the elder Kusanagi threatens to kill Iori before losing consciousness and dying. At another hospital, Chizuru is recovering from her injury and is informed by her colleague, Scott, that Rugal has altered the King of Fighters database and issued challenges to fighters around the world. CIA agent Terry Bogard enters Chizuru’s room, demanding information on Rugal’s whereabouts and the tournament. She tells that different dimensions exist, but he does not believe. Chizuru tells Terry to go to Seattle and ask Mai, who is an undercover operative sent by the CIA to infiltrate Chizuru’s organization a year ago. At a cemetery in Seattle, where Saisyu is buried, Kyo and Iori confront each other. Iori explains that both Kusanagi and Yagami clans were destined to be enemies. Mai hitches a ride with Kyo to his home, where she explains that she is looking for the Kusanagi Sword. Kyo tells her that centuries ago, a Yagami ancestor attempted to release the Orochi, but it consumed him with murderous rage. Kyo’s ancestor killed the Yagami and returned the Orochi into its world. Mai tells Kyo that Rugal is out to unleash the Orochi. Kyo wants to confront Rugal, who destroyed his father’s mental state. At a hotel, Mai and Kyo meet up with Iori and Terry. Rugal is using the tournament dimension to merge it with the real world. After Mai blows her cover in front of Kyo, Iori puts on his Bluetooth headset and enters the tournament dimension to confront Rugal. There, he defeats Rugal’s servants, Mature and Vice, only to have his mind consumed by the Orochi. The next day, Kyo is lured into the tournament dimension, where he first fights Rugal and loses, but is allowed to live as a warning. Kyo brings out his ancestral sword and joins Chizuru and Terry into the tournament after Mai is dragged in by Rugal. When the four meet up, they are separated into different dimensions, with Kyo fighting Rugal, and Mai and Terry facing Mature and Vice. Rugal is about to decapitate Kyo, when Iori appears and intervenes. Rugal reveals to Kyo that several years back, he battled Saisyu, Chizuru and Iori over control of the Orochi. During that fight, Iori allowed the Orochi to take over his body, defeating Rugal, but also destroying Saisyu’s mental state by bashing his head against a wooden barrier several times. This leads to a fight between Kyo and Iori. Kyo slashes Iori in the back, releasing the Orochi from his body. Disappointed by the outcome of the fight, Rugal sends Kyo, Iori and Mai into another dimension to face them with his full potential. Chizuru and her multiple clones appear, revealing that she has found the mirror and the necklace. The heroes fail in their first attempt to combine the relics and trap Rugal, with Chizuru mortally wounded. Mai takes her place as the mirror holder, but as she, Kyo and Iori corner Rugal, they are once again overcome by his powers. Rugal destroys Kyo’s sword, but as he is about to finish him off with a fireball, Kyo magically generates a new sword to block it. He then throws the sword and destroys Rugal. Back in the real world, Scott places a lantern on the ocean in memory of Chizuru. Kyo decides to keep the family tradition by continuing with the tournament. He reflects on his late father’s teachings while Iori stares at him from the other side of the pier. if your looking for a film, with a strong story, with nicely played out characters, with enough action and explanations or just generally enjoy some good fight scenes, then i recommend this film to you, REVIEW: SUPERMAN UNBOUND CAST (VOICES) Matt Bomer (Tru Calling) Stana Katic (Heroes) John Noble (Sleepy Hollow) Molly C. Quinn (Castle) Diedrich Bader (Batman: The Brave and The Bold) Jason Beghe (X-Men:First Class) Frances Conroy (How I Met Your Mother) Melissa Disney (In A World) Alexander Gould (Weeds) Stephen Root (King of The Kill) Wade Williams (Gangster Squad) Offering herself as a hostage, Lois Lane is caught in an aerial confrontation between her terrorist captors and the unpredictable Supergirl before Superman arrives to save the day. Soon after, knowing Superman’s civilian identity, Lois attempts to get Clark Kent to make their relationship public despite his fear of the consequences, but their argument is halted by a Daily Planet staff meeting before Kent leaves after being alerted to an approaching meteor. Intercepting it, Superman learns the meteor is actually a robot that he promptly defeats before activating its beacon and taking it to the Fortress of Solitude. With help from a fearful Supergirl, Superman learns the robot is actually a drone controlled by a being named Brainiac, a Coluan scientist who subjected himself to extensive motor, skeletal and cybernetic enhancements, turning him from a human like, thin, and hairless being to a muscular, red eyed giant with computer like components and enhanced physical abilities compatible to Superman’s. Supergirl, horrified at seeing Brainiac, reveals from her experience with the monster. Brainiac seized and miniaturized Krypton’s capital city of Kandor prior to the planet’s destruction with her father and mother attempting to track him down before they mysteriously lost contact with Krypton. She is now worried that Brainiac will do to the world what he did to Kandor. Fearing more drones would come, Superman flies through the galaxy with a Kryptonian spacecraft in an attempt to track down Brainiac before finding his drones attacking a planet. Though he attempts to stop them, Superman witnesses Brainiac capture the planet’s capital like he did with Kandor before firing a Solar Aggressor missile to consume the planet in its exploding sun. The explosion knocks Superman unconscious and he is brought on board Brainiac’s skull shaped, tentacled ship. Coming to in the examination room, he fights his way through the vessel before he discovers a room full of bottled cities prior to being attacked by Brainiac. At this point, confirming that he spared Krypton because of its eventual destruction, Brainiac is shown that he has been collecting information on all the planets he visited and uploading it into his neural core before destroying them. Using Superman’s spacecraft and his telepathic abilities, Brainiac discovers that he has been living on Earth. Brainiac decides to chart a course to Earth while sending Superman into Kandor. Inside Kandor, his strength waning due to the artificial red sun, Superman meets his uncle Zor-El and aunt Alura. They explain that Brainiac was instructed to learn all that is knowable about the galaxy. Being a cyborg, Brainiac interpreted his directive literally and realized that he could not achieve this goal because life keeps changing. His knowledge of one world would become out-of-date as soon as he moved on to the next world. Brainiac therefore destroys civilizations after studying them so that they cannot change further, thus leaving him with a literally complete and up-to-date knowledge of them. Superman formulates a plan and escapes Kandor using the subjugator robots. From there, Superman disables Brainiac’s ship and takes Kandor with him back to Earth. At that time, Lois learns from Supergirl why Superman left and alerts the Pentagon of a possible invasion by Brainiac, who eventually repairs his ship and arrives in Metropolis. Despite everyone, including Supergirl, doing their best to fend his drones off, Metropolis is encased in a bottle and both Superman and Supergirl are captured. Having hooked Superman up to his ship, Braniac reveals that Earth offers nothing to him, tortures Superman by overloading his mind with data to obtain Kandor and attempts to destroy the planet. However, telling his captor what Earth means to him, Superman breaks free and then frees Supergirl and convinces her to stop the Solar-Aggressor from hitting the sun. Remembering Zor-El’s words about Brainiac’s ideals, Superman knocks him out of the ship and they crash into a swamp. As he fights Braniac, Superman forces the cyborg to experience the chaos of life itself outside of the safe, artificial environments he has created. Eventually, the combined mental and physical strain takes its toll on Brainiac and he combusts and is reduced to ash and molten machinery. After restoring Metropolis, taking Kandor to another planet to restore its normal size and establishing a Kryptonian colony, Superman makes his love life with Lois as Kent public with a marriage proposal. However, placed in the Fortress of Solitude, Brainiac’s remains glow, indicating that Braniac still has some degree of his power. The movie has plenty of action not just between Superman and Supergirl vs. Braniac; but the people of Earth and Krypton fighting back as well. I like that fact that Brainiac is one of the villains that can match Superman physically REVIEW: RED DAWN (2012) Posted on May 3, 2016 by proxyblue57 Standard Reply Chris Hemsworth (Thor) Isabel Lucas (Immortals) Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) Adrianne Palicki (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) Edwin Hodge (The Purge) Josh Peck (Aliens In The Attic) Brett Cullen (Ghost Rider) Alyssa Diaz (The Vampire Diaries) Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen) Kenneth Choi (The Terminal) Matt Gerald (Daredevil) Michael Beach (Aquaman) An introductory montage shows the fallout of the economic crisis in the European Union and a weakened NATO alliance, amid increasing co-operation between an increasingly militant North Korea and ultranationalist-controlled Russia. The increased deployment of U.S. troops abroad (and the highlighted threat of cyberwarfare) leaves the mainland vulnerable. U.S. Marine Jed Eckert is home on leave in Spokane, Washington. He reunites with his father, Spokane Police Sergeant Tom Eckert and his brother, high school football player Matt Eckert. The morning after a mysterious power outage, swarms of invading North Korean paratroopers and transport aircraft attack the city. The two storm out of the house and Matt witnesses an F-16 shoot down a Korean transport plane while they leave in a pick-up truck. Their father tells them to flee to their cabin in the woods while he helps the townspeople. They are later joined there by Matt’s fellow students Robert, Daryl, Toni, Danny, Julie, Greg and Pete. Tensions build as the teens try to decide whether to surrender to the invaders or resist, with Pete ending up betraying their position. North Korean soldiers, under the command of Captain Cho, bring Sergeant Eckert and the mayor out to convince the group to surrender, but Cho executes Sergeant Eckert after he refuses to cooperate and actively encourages them to resist (or die trying). Jed intends to fight and the others agree to join him, calling themselves the Wolverines after their school mascot. After acquiring weapons, establishing a base in an abandoned mine, and being trained by Jed, the Wolverines begin a series of guerrilla attacks against soldiers and collaborators, including Pete. During one attack, they lose Greg, but rescue Matt’s girlfriend, Erica. The North Koreans retaliate by bombarding the surrounding woods to destroy the Wolverines’ base, killing Danny and Julie, with the remaining survivors fleeing deeper into the woods. The Wolverines encounter Marine Sergeant Major Andrew Tanner and Marines Smith and Hodges. They reveal that the Russian-backed North Korean invasion used an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon that crippled the U.S.electrical grid and military infrastructure, followed by landings of the invasion of the entire East and West Coasts. American counterattacks eventually halted their advances, leaving an area stretching from Michigan to Montana and Alabama to Arizona as “Free America.” They also reveal that Captain Cho carries a suitcase containing an EMP-resistant radio telephone that would enable the U.S. command to monitor invasion force radio traffic and regroup for a counter-offensive. The Wolverines assist Tanner, Smith, and Hodges in infiltrating the North Koreans’ center of operations at a local police station. They succeed in stealing the suitcase with Jed avenging his father’s death by killing Cho, though Hodges is mortally wounded. The Wolverines escape with the radio and regroup at their base. The Wolverines are ambushed by Russian Spetsnaz, and Jed is killed by a sniper as he walks past a window. Matt and the rest of the Wolverines escape with the radio to the Marines’ extraction point. The next day, Robert comes to the realization that during the police station escape, Daryl had been tagged with a tracking transmitter and that the Russians have been homing in on him ever since. After some thought, Daryl accepts the fact that he cannot go on with them, Robert gives Daryl his M249 SAW, and Daryl decides to stay behind, presumably to ambush the pursuing group and likely die in the encounter. The group delivers the radio to Tanner and Smith, who depart in a helicopter. The remaining Wolverines stay behind and continue to fight; a scene shows the Wolverines recruiting more members and raiding prisoner camps. Matt uses Jed’s speech to convince others to join their cause. In the end of the film, the Wolverines, under Matt’s command, raid a North Korean prison camp, setting hundreds of prisoners free. Rising above the flaws of Red Dawn, i found it to offer an action packed & emotional ride along a fictional story that is somewhat as semi-believable now, as it was back in the 80’s. I quite like this version. Colin Farrell (Daredevil) Kate Beckinsale (Underworld) Jessica Biel (The A-Team) Bryan Cranston (Drive) Bokeem woodbine (The Breed) Bill Nighy (Hot Fuzz) John Cho (Sleepy Hollow) Steve Byers (Smallville) James McGowan (Bitten) Michael Therriault (Reign) Emily Chang (the Vampire Diaries) Ethan Hawke (The Purge) Cam Clarke (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Bridget Hoffman (Darkman) At the end of the 21st century, Earth is devastated by chemical warfare. What little habitable land remains is divided into two territories, the United Federation of Britain (UFB, located on mainland Europe) and the Colony (Australia). Many residents of the Colony travel to the UFB to work in factories via “the Fall”, a gravity elevator running through the Earth’s core. A Resistance operating in the UFB seeks to improve life in the Colony, which the UFB views as a terrorist movement. Colony citizen Douglas Quaid[8] has been having dreams of being a secret agent, aided by an unknown woman. Tired of his factory job building police robots with friend Harry, he visits Rekall, a virtual entertainment company that implants artificial memories. Among the choices Rekall salesman Bob McClane offers Quaid are the memories of a secret agent. An emblem of rekall is stamped onto his arm. Just as Quaid is starting to be implanted, McClane discovers that he already has real memories of being a covert operative. As McClane starts to question Quaid about the memories, UFB police officers burst in, killing the Rekall crews and attempt to arrest Quaid. Quaid instinctively reacts and kills the officers before escaping. Upon returning home his wife Lori attempts to kill him, revealing that she is an undercover UFB agent who has been monitoring him for the past six weeks. After Quaid escapes, Charles Hammond, a “friend” Quaid does not recognize, contacts him and directs him to a safe-deposit box. Quaid finds a recorded message from his former self with the address of a UFB apartment. While being pursued by Lori and other human and robot police, Quaid meets Melina, the woman from his dreams. At the apartment Quaid finds another recording, revealing that his name is actually Carl Hauser, an agent working for UFB Chancellor Vilos Cohaagen. After defecting to the Resistance, Hauser was captured by the UFB and implanted with false memories. The recording reveals that Cohaagen will use robots to invade the Colony so the UFB will have more living space. Hauser, however, has seen a “kill code” that would disable the robots. The code can be recovered from his memory by Resistance leader Matthias. Melina reveals that she was Hauser’s lover before Hauser was captured; she proves that they knew each other by showing that they have matching scars from a time they were both shot whilst holding hands. The police surround the apartment building and Harry appears. He tries to convince Quaid that he is still in a Rekall-induced dream and that killing Melina is the only way out. Quaid is conflicted, but notices a tear on Melina’s cheek and shoots Harry instead. Lori pursues the pair inside the building’s lifts, but fails to capture them. Quaid and Melina meet with Matthias. While Matthias searches Quaid’s memories, Lori and Cohaagen storm the Resistance base. Cohaagen reveals that Hauser was in fact working for him without Quaid even knowing it due to the memory alteration, using the kill code as a trap. Cohaagen kills Matthias and arranges to restore Hauser’s memory before leaving with Melina as a prisoner. As the officers are about to inject Quaid, Hammond (revealed to be one of the police officers involved in the raid) sacrifices himself to help Quaid escape. Cohaagen begins his invasion of the Colony, loading the Fall with his army of robots. Quaid sneaks on board, setting timed explosives throughout the ship while searching for Melina. After freeing her, they climb atop the Fall as it arrives at the Colony. As they fight the soldiers and Cohaagen, Quaid’s explosives detonate. Quaid and Melina jump off before the ship plummets back into the tunnel and explodes underground, killing Cohaagen and destroying his army and The Fall itself. Waking up in an ambulance, Quaid is greeted by Melina. When he notices that she is missing her scar, he realizes that she is Lori using a holographic disguise; they fight and Lori is killed. Quaid finds the real Melina outside the ambulance and they embrace. As the news channels declare the independence of The Colony, Quaid notices that the emblem of Rekall that was stamped on his arm has disappeared. He looks up to find an advertisement of Rekall on an electronic billboard. Just before Quaid can kiss Melina, the screen cuts to black, making it open to interpretation whether Quaid was actually living the memory of a spy at rekall. I love the first Total Recall film and put off watching this version due to the negative reviews and uncomplimentary comparisons with Paul Verhoeven’s original, but when I finally got around to watching this movie I was more than pleasantly surprised. Undoubtedly more dour and lacking the humour of its predecessor this is nevertheless an entertaining, action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled, visually spectacular SF movie. Tom Tyler Tom Wikinson Tom Wisdom Tom Wlaschiha Tomar Re Tommie-Amber Pirie Tommy Bond Tommy Flanagan Tommy Lister Tongayi Chirisa Tony Amendola Tony Curran Tony Darrow Tony Zucco Tonya Pinkins Torrance Coombs Torrey DeVitto Toru Uchikado Toshishiro Obata Townsend Coleman Tracey Walter Traci Beluishi Tracy Lynn Cruz Tracy Middendorf Tracy Scoggins Tracy Spiridakos Trapster Travis Van Winkle Traylor Howard Treat Williams	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353594
__label__cc	0.743913	0.256087	Danau of Myanmar (Burma) Photo source: Copyright © Henk Sebregts. Used with permission. People Name: Danau Country: Myanmar (Burma) Language: Danau Unreached: Yes People Cluster: Mon-Khmer Primary Religion: Buddhism % Adherents: 0.50 % % Evangelical: 0.40 % Progress Status: 1.0 Statistics Source: Joshua Project Profile provided by: www.joshuaproject.net Map source: World Factbook According to author and researcher Richard Diran, '100,000 or more' Danau people live in central areas of Shan State and the northern part of Kayah State in Myanmar. One of the main centres for the Danau seems to be the town of Pindaya, located about 50 kilometres (32 mi.) north of Kalaw and Taunggyi. The Ethnologue, on the other hand, gives a figure of just 10,000 Danau in Myanmar, which has in turn been used by Christian organizations. This lower figure is incorrect. The Danau cover a large geographical area. Furthermore, the most recent census taken in Myanmar / Burma—the 1931 census conducted by the British—listed 77,941 Danau people. The name Danau is derived from donake, meaning 'brave archers'. One account says: 'In the 16th century the Danau were King Alaungpaya's archers and on returning from wars in Thailand settled in the Pindaya area.' Pindaya is home to the famous Pindaya limestone caves, overlooking the picturesque Boutaloke Lake. 'Inside the cavern there are more than 8,000 Buddha images—made from alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer and cement—which have been put there over the centuries and arranged in such a way as to form a labyrinth throughout the various cave chambers.' The Danau speak their own language, which is part of the Mon-Khmer branch of the Austro-Asiatic family. It is related to the Palaung Pale and Riang languages spoken in the same area. An estimated 95 per cent of Danau people adhere to Theravada Buddhism, mixed with spirit worship and occult practices. Mission Outreach, a New Zealand-based Christian organization, has mentioned the Danau people in one of their newsletters. They asked, 'Who are the Danau?.... They are fishermen and cotton growers. They embrace Buddhism and practice witchcraft and black magic. Geographical restrictions coupled with Myanmar's military rule make access to this group quite difficult.' Only about 500 Danau people are believers in Jesus Christ, although some encouraging growth has taken place in recent years. Mission Outreach explained how a 23-year-old Lahu pastor named Ahbarel 'longed to reach the 50 or more Danau families in a neighbouring village. He felt that pastoring a Lahu church and reaching the Danau at the same time was much too difficult.' After attending a training course in March 1998, Ahbarel excitedly reported, 'The Lord brought us to the Nong Cho area where some Danau live. Now, we have established a Danau church there with 10 members.' In one of his visits to another area in the Shan State, Ahbarel led a Danau man to the Lord. His name was Soe Aung. 'I enjoyed doing many worldly things,' Soe Aung confessed. 'I habitually drank alcohol and chewed betel nut. When I heard about Jesus, I realized how dirty and sinful I was. I was so happy when I learned that there was someone who can forgive my sins and make me clean. His name is Jesus. That day I received Jesus as my Savior. Today I have the assurance that God will not leave me even when I face difficulties. Before God and man, I declare that I have given my life to Jesus.' Text source: Copyright © Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest. Used with permission.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353602
__label__cc	0.744829	0.255171	Piazza Aldo Moro 4 - 70122 Bari - Italia HOTEL In the heart of Bari ROOMS & SUITES Comfortable details BOOKINGS Choose your room GALLERY Photo & Video CONTACTS Tel & Email BARI Visit the city Home Bari Visit the city of Bari It boasts the largest seafront in Italy, decorated with marvelous historic buildings. The city of Bari, between fishing boats and long strips of sand and rock, awaits you. The Petruzzelli Theater The Petruzzelli Theater is the largest theater in the city of Bari and the fourth largest in Italy. The history of the Bari theater began when Onofrio and Antonio Petruzzelli presented the design of the structure at the Bari Town Hall. The Petruzzelli proposal was accepted in 1896. In October 1991, the theater was devastated by a violent arson, then resurrected on December 6, 2009, the day when it was inaugurated the first season of Petruzzelli rebuilt after the pyre with the Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. 5′ walking Corso Cavour, 12 The Margherita Theater The Margherita Theater is one of the historic theaters of the city of Bari and is currently undergoing restoration and conversion into a museum of contemporary art. The theater is the first building built in Bari in reinforced concrete, and unique in Europe for the particular construction on stilts. Being entirely surrounded by water, the theater was connected to the mainland by a jetty. 7′ walking Piazza 4 Novembre The Norman Castle – Swabian The Norman Castle – Swabian of Bari, symbolic building of the city of Bari, is an imposing fortress that stands on the edge of the old city. The medieval fortification dates back to around 1132. The building, wanted by the Norman king Ruggero II, is surrounded by the ancient moat that runs along three sides, with the exception of the northern band, once bathed by the sea. 12′ walking Piazza Federico II di Svevia The Basilica of San Nicola The Basilica of San Nicola in the heart of the city of Bari, is one of the most significant examples of architecture of the Apulian Romanesque style. The Basilica was built in Romanesque style between 1087 and 1100, during the Norman domination. The building of the basilica is linked to the relics of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the city of Bari. 12′ walking Largo Abate Elia, 13 “"Excellent location" - I highly recommend this hotel, I was very happy with my room which had a nice view of the square and whi...” Kerry - “"Friendly staff" - perfect room and bathroom! The staff is really kind and always available for any request. Breakfast was the i...” Alfio B - “"Fabulous" - I greatly appreciated the professionalism and friendliness of the staff, especially the Recepition are truly availa...” Antonio da Lecce - “"Centralissimo Hotel" - The hotel is located in an optimal position, as it is located on the square of the central station of Ba...” Graziella A. - “"August 14th Night" - We stayed with friends in this very central hotel. The room was very spacious and modern. Extremely clean ...” Gemmax92 - Piazza Aldo Moro 4 - 70122 Bari Italia +39 080 523 50 40All days 24h info@leondorograndhotel.itWe reply within 24 hrs In the heart of Bari stands the Grand Hotel Leon d’Oro, a large, elegant and comfortable hotel, opposite the Central Station. Grand Hotel Leon d’Oro is located in a central position in the Murat district of Bari. All the tourist attractions of the historic center are reachable within a few minutes on foot. © 2019 Grand Hotel Leon d'Oro. All Rights Reserved. Credits www.exasys.it. PIVA 08021330728	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353604
__label__wiki	0.549041	0.549041	Fish and Wildlife requests sage grouse extension tags: Agriculture, beef, cali, Colorado, disease, energy, event, greater sage-grouse, Idaho, legislation, livestock, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, ranching, sage-grouse, South Dakota, USFWS, Utah, Washington, Western Watersheds Project, wildlife, Wyoming [Source: Bloomburg Business Week] The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has asked a federal judge in Idaho for a one-week extension for submitting an endangered species finding for the greater sage grouse. Attorneys for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested the extension Monday because the agency’s director, Sam Hamilton, died Saturday after suffering chest pains while skiing in Colorado. They pointed out that Fish and Wildlife officials who otherwise would be working on the finding will be attending Hamilton’s funeral Wednesday. A deadline this Friday to pursue listing of sage grouse as either endangered, not endangered, threatened or warranted for listing but precluded by higher priorities results from a lawsuit filed by Idaho-based Western Watersheds Project. The group’s executive director, Jon Marvel, said Tuesday that Western Watersheds doesn’t oppose the request before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to extend the deadline to March 5. “Under the circumstances, I think there would not be any opposition,” Marvel said of Winmill. Winmill ruled in 2007 that political pressure had tainted an earlier Fish and Wildlife decision not to list sage grouse. Last year, he gave the agency until Friday to issue a new finding. Winmill hadn’t decided on the extension as of Tuesday morning, according to court officials. Sage grouse can be found in 11 states: Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and the Dakotas. The chicken-size, brown bird has been in decline due to loss of their sagebrush habitat, biologists said. About half of North America’s sage grouse are believed to be in Wyoming. Conventional gas drilling in Wyoming has led to numerous wells, roads, pipelines and other facilities in sagebrush habitat. Coal-bed methane drilling in Wyoming also has created breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus, to which sage grouse have little, if any, resistance. Invasive cheatgrass, which is susceptible to frequent burning, has taken a toll on sagebrush in Nevada. Officials in the oil and gas, wind energy and livestock industries worry that new regulations to protect sage grouse could make their business more difficult across much of the West. ← Much at stake as grouse endangered finding nears A stink in Central California over converting cow manure to electricity →	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353621
__label__wiki	0.607345	0.607345	The Royal Tutor #29 Prince Kai, Heine, Ludwig and Maximillian arrive at manor of "Student R" to discuss and apologize for the actions of the past. But with Ludwig ambushed upon arrival, what fate is in store for the others...?Read the latest installment of Higasa Akai's THE ROYAL TUTOR! Higasa Akai Historical Manga Prince Licht's fascination with coffee should come as no surprise given his affinity for his part-time job at the cafe, but when Leonhard suggests the bitter drink should be banned from the kingdom, can Lichie help him develop an appreciation...? The Case Study of Vanitas Step once more into the imagination of Jun Mochizuki, creator of New York Times-bestselling PandoraHearts! A tale of vampires and curses set in a whimsical and dark steampunk Paris unfolds! On the streets, rumors abound of a clockwork grimoire said to sow curses among the vampires. Now, guided by the Book of Vanitas, the gears begun to turn, and the story of two men, Noe and Vanitas, takes shape.. Just a stone's throw from London lies the manor house of the illustrious Phantomhive earldom and its master, one Ciel Phantomhive. Earl Phantomhive is a giant in the world of commerce, Queen Victoria's faithful servant...and a slip of a twelve-year-old boy. Fortunately, his loyal butler, Sebastian, is ever at his side, ready to carry out the young master's wishes. And whether Sebastian is called t How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom "O, Hero!" With that cliched line, Kazuya Souma found himself summoned to another world and his adventure--did not begin. After he presents his plan to strengthen the country economically and militarily, the king cedes the throne to him and Souma finds himself saddled with ruling the nation! What's more, he's betrothed to the king's daughter now...?! In order to get the country back on i Little Witch's Collier In a castle atop a hill, in the south of France, lives a little witch named Lulu. Hidden away from the rest of the world and forced to wear a collier around her neck to control her powers, all Lulu wants to do is escape into the real world--and will stoop to anything in her mischievous attempts to leave! But her life slowly begins to change when her new teacher, a man named Camillo, arrives...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353632
__label__cc	0.587424	0.412576	Music, Arts, & Culture Best of SLO New Times San Luis Obispo Opinion » Shredder Do behave! by The Shredder Am I having a flashback or déjà vu? I feel like we've already had a community fight about a facility serving homeless individuals that residents threw a NIMBY fit over. Oh wait, I know. It happens every damn time! It was only a few months ago in November that I was wagging my little Shredderlicious finger at the city of Atascadero for poo-pooing a much-needed homeless warming shelter right out of town. Lucky for those without a roof over their heads, a nonprofit stepped up to take care of something that the city basically refused to do. Transitional Food and Shelter found some churches willing to lend a roof for the night, set up cots during rainstorms and cold nights, housed between 20 and 60 homeless individuals for the night, and packed everything up by morning. And for the next city full of NIMBYs that's going to get an infamous Shredder finger wag, I'll turn my attention to not one, but two! Residents in Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande basically lost their damn minds over the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition's decision to purchase the Hillside Church on Newport Avenue without talking to every one on the block about it first! Hmm. Is that one of the caveats to purchasing a property? I had no idea. I might need to check in with my fellow creekbed residents about the new cardboard box that I dragged under the bridge because I can't afford to put it anywhere else. I thought this was a free country, where an entity with money can buy whatever it damn well pleases without talking to anybody about it first. Isn't that Capitalism 101? The property is still in escrow and the project that's proposed for the property is still in the conceptual stages. Those plans include transitional housing for young adults aged 18 to 24, and 20 permanently affordable housing units (brought to you by Peoples' Self-Help Housing). But, and here's a key statement, nothing has been decided yet. Yet, the good(ish) people of the Five Cities are flipping out—and they've already made lawn signs! Lawn signs! "Right idea, wrong location," the signs proclaim. They should say: "Caution, NIMBY at work. Anywhere but here." Maybe you guys should call San Luis Obispo's NIMBY king T. Keith Gurnee. I heard that he knows a couple of things about lawn signs and getting his way. You could get all of the advice you need with one phone call! Arroyo Grande resident Ben Oakley complained about a lack of transparency and said that residents found out that the location had been used as a winter warming center without their knowledge! Hey guys, I've got some news for you. Turns out that churches are used as warming shelters all over this county without ringing the neighborhood alarm. Because when people hear the word homelessness, all they can think of are drug-addled hobos with mental health issues who sexually assault small children. We're talking about youth and families here! People who probably need some help to get their adult life started on the right foot because they don't have anyone else to turn to. Where do you want to put them? In an industrial area? Out of sight, out of mind? Away from town? Turns out, if you're away from town, you might need a secondary access road due to public safety concerns, which is a big problem for BKS Cambria LLC's Max Schaefers, who represented a proposed campground and weird dormitory lodging facility in Cambria. He seems to think that a helicopter pad is just as good as a road! "Safety of our guests is our primary concern," he told the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on April 9. "We'll ask them if they're OK with the property and these dangers and if they still want to camp on our site. And if they sign a waiver, why shouldn't they?" Oh really Schaefers? What are you going to put on the waiver? "In case of fire, the only way out is two-by-two via helicopter. You buy, we'll fly. Cambria is a tinderbox full of dead Monterey pines. Sorry we don't have a public safety access route on the property, but you are camping, and that's risky. Sign here." It's like he forgot about the fire that swept through Paradise last year. A bunch of people died because the town didn't have good access routes for emergency situations that called for an evacuation. "Denied!" county supervisors voted. Man, the elected crew that lords over SLO County was on a tear that day! They unanimously kicked CFAM out of Nipomo! One of the largest cannabis growing operations in the county, gone! Why? Oh, just unpermitted structures, growing thousands of more plants than are allowed by the county ordinance, illegal subletting to cannabis growers outside of SLO County, and being a shitty neighbor. Is that all? If I was a fellow cannabis grower, I would definitely want CFAM out of town. WTF was the point of legalizing the pot industry and crafting ordinances if you dumbasses are just going to flout it anyway? If you want to be legally viable, then be legal! Don't be a shady CFAM baby. Δ The Shredder just wants everyone to behave—well almost everyone. Send comments to shredder@newtimesslo.com. `)) jQuery(`#${fdnSlotId}`).each(function(){ googletag.display(fdnSlotId) }) // return // } } } }) © 2020 New Times San Luis Obispo	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353639
__label__cc	0.62661	0.37339	As we move into a new era of unprecedented levels of migration and heightened effects of climate change and conflict, this section presents articles and commentary on this new world and its challenges to inform a new generation of global citizens. Climate Change, Migration & ConflictRelated Readings Europe’s Migration Crisis: No End in Sight By Judith Bergman. (Originally published May 2, 2016 in Gatestone Institute. Re-printed with permission) Pope… The InstituteMay 2, 2016 Climate Change, Migration & ConflictVideo Immigration Lawyer Outlines Security Risks of Syrian Refugees to Canada https://youtu.be/ylEJBjIrLMc Toronto-based immigration lawyer Guidy Mamann outlines the security risks involved in Canada's fast-tracking of Syrian… The InstituteApril 28, 2016 Merkel, Migration, Manipulation and Mayhem The horror of the November 16, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris had begun to fade… Dr. J. Paul de B. TaillonFebruary 19, 2016 David Harris on “Security Issues Surrounding Immigration” https://youtu.be/YfYQtGVbJlU David Harris, Director INSIGNIS Strategic Research, spoke at our conference on "Resilient Critical Infrastructure &… The InstituteNovember 14, 2015 David Harris on Canada’s role in the Migration Crisis https://youtu.be/Zbu0NzCdyOs David HarrisSeptember 30, 2015 Security Implications of The Migration Crisis The following slides were used in a presentation by a member of The Mackenzie Institute's… The InstituteSeptember 25, 2015 A message from one of our sponsors If you like what you see, and would like to support independent journalism and Canadian charities, consider donating today	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353641
__label__cc	0.622746	0.377254	Assessing the technical damage Commodities Technical Analysis, November 25th — November 29th So, You Want To Live Tiny? Here’s What To Consider When Choosing a House, Van or Caravan 2:00PM Water Cooler Special: Warren Goes Rovian by Signal Boosting and Fundraising Off a Poorly Sourced Politico Hit Piece Home / Naked Capitalism / Why the UK Needs a Financial Transaction Tax Why the UK Needs a Financial Transaction Tax Yves Smith December 4, 2019 Naked Capitalism My articles My siteMy books Yves here. On the one hand, this article clears up some popular, and in many cases, lobbyist-propagated misconceptions about a transaction tax. Oddly, it fails to make the most important argument in their favor: that more and more studies are finding that outsized financial sectors are bad for growth, and that secondary market trading (as in buying and selling of financial assets in the market, as opposed to their original sale to raise money for the company and/or its owners) is the most unproductive activity. Troublingly, this post also makes much of the money-raising potential of a transaction tax, that is not its main purpose. A transaction tax, like a carbon tax, is a Pigovian tax. Its primary purpose is to reduce undesirable activity, like high frequency trading. Generating Yves Smith considers the following as important: Banking industry, Credit markets, Derivatives, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, politics, taxes, The dismal science Danny Ratliff writes FPC: Do You Have A “Financial Vulnerability” Cushion? Yves Smith writes How Climate Change Influenced Australia’s Unprecedented Fires Yves Smith writes Integrating Black and White American Economic History Yves here. On the one hand, this article clears up some popular, and in many cases, lobbyist-propagated misconceptions about a transaction tax. Oddly, it fails to make the most important argument in their favor: that more and more studies are finding that outsized financial sectors are bad for growth, and that secondary market trading (as in buying and selling of financial assets in the market, as opposed to their original sale to raise money for the company and/or its owners) is the most unproductive activity. Troublingly, this post also makes much of the money-raising potential of a transaction tax, that is not its main purpose. A transaction tax, like a carbon tax, is a Pigovian tax. Its primary purpose is to reduce undesirable activity, like high frequency trading. Generating meaningful revenues is not their main goal, although that may happen too. Needless to say, these arguments about the desirability of a transactions tax for the bank-heavy UK also apply to the US. By Avinash Persaud, Emeritus Professor of Gresham College. He is a former senior banker at J. P Morgan, State Street. He has been a member or chair of international commissions of experts on International Financial Reform. Originally published at openDemocracy The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said that the Labour Party will probably raise less than the £8.8bn it predicts by extending the UK Financial Transaction Tax (FTT). The reasons it cites are the same general criticism of FTTs posed by lobbyists. Labour cites my work in their tax design, a design that reduces the specific risks the IFS cites and makes conservative assumptions on impact and collection. It is fake news that FTTs are hard to do and raise little. Labour’s proposal borrows from the best examples of the 40 countries that already raise £30bn per year from FTTs. They exist in the biggest financial centres like those in the US, Switzerland and Hong Kong, and in the fastest growing markets like India, China and Singapore. The best FTTs, unlike a 1980s Swedish brokerage tax, are not based on where a transaction takes place. Currently, anyone who switches from trading a UK share in London to Hong Kong, still pays the 0.5% stamp duty on share purchases because their transaction will be legally unenforceable if they do not. No investor wants to save 0.5% of an investment to risk losing the other 99.5% of it. The UK stamp duty on shares has one of the lowest levels of evasion. Previous governments have allowed the tax-take from the existing FTT to slip by allowing high frequency traders to claim that they are market makers. High frequency traders buy and sell shares when liquidity is already plentiful but when markets are sliding, they use a combination of superior technology and conflicted interests to run ahead of long-term investors and sell more, using up liquidity and making markets fragile and volatile. Labour proposes to end the abuse of the market making exemption. Where a derivative instrument is issued is easy to shift and so extending the FTT to derivatives needs to be done on the basis of whether the beneficial owner is a UK tax resident. This limits the amount that will be collected but also ensures there will be no relocation of trades out of London. A UK tax resident will not save tax by shifting the trade abroad and foreigners aren’t paying the tax on derivatives so they wont shift their trades either. British tax residents already pay UK income and capital gains taxes on foreign held shares and this has not caused everyone to leave and live in Zug. And today financial regulation and anti money laundering rules make it hard for financial firms to fudge residency for tax purposes. Jurisdictions where financial institutions do not ask who the beneficial owner is or have not signed up to the mutual sharing of tax information get black listed and excluded from all financial transactions. The IFS repeats a claim from so-called experts that taxing derivatives is hard to do. But new regulations require almost all derivative transactions to be netted, cleared and settled in a central place. The private clearing houses that do this charge a small fee for every individual derivative they clear. This fee is similar in size to Labour’s proposed tax. The economic impact of a fee that contributes to the bottom line of a private clearing house or a tax that boosts government revenues is the same. These fees have proved easy to collect and have not caused any noticeable reduction or relocation of market turnover. Investors will want to show they have paid the new tax as clearing houses will not accept instruments where potential tax evasion makes the legal enforceability of the transaction in doubt. Given that VAT is not levied on financial transactions and given the enormous cost of financial regulation and bank bail outs, the financial sector is under-taxed. Labour’s FTT will deliver a fairer contribution. But it will do far more. It will rebalance the economy towards long-term investing, boosting sustainable growth. FTTs do this because transaction taxes do not fall on all consumers of finance equally, but on those who trade most frequently. Pension funds and insurance companies will pay least and hedge funds and high frequency traders most. Turnover of high frequency trading will drop. Taking this froth out of the markets will make UK markets more stable and inviting to long-term investors. This tax on churning will have the added advantage of shining a torch on all of the other transaction costs that the industry charges consumers, often via the excessive churning of investment portfolios they manage. Fast finance has led to a misallocation of investment away from the productive sectors and a secular decline in the rest of Britain. Let us reverse this trend and build a new citadel of long term finance in London. Tags Banking industry Credit markets Derivatives Free markets and their discontents Guest Post politics taxes The dismal science About Yves Smith My articlesMy siteMy books Previous Opening of Formerly Secret FDA Database Exposes Medical Device Failures, Spurring Lawsuits Next Links 12/4/19 Opening of Formerly Secret FDA Database Exposes Medical Device Failures, Spurring Lawsuits	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353642
__label__wiki	0.905386	0.905386	Piers at the South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee are damaged after high winds from the recent storms pushed water ashore. MICHAEL SEARS, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL High winds from the recent storms pushed water ashore doing damage to the pavement at the McKinley Marina boat launch along Milwaukee's lakefront. A warning sign is covered by ice at Clark Square in Evanston, Ill., Sunday. Nam Y. Huh City of Greenville, Miss., trucks and employees, work to clean up debris Saturday from a storm along Main Street. Jon Alverson, The Delta Democrat-Times Pavement at the McKinley Marina boat launch along Milwaukee's lakefront is damaged as a result of recent storms. Icy roads, deadly tornadoes, punishing waves — severe weekend weather has been blamed for 11 deaths and major damage in parts of the Midwest, South and Northeast. In Wisconsin, high winds, towering waves and flooding caused millions of dollars in damage to Port Milwaukee on Lake Michigan. Port Director Adam Schlicht called it “an unprecedented event at Port Milwaukee.” Winds gusted up to 50 mph, and waves reached 6 to 8 feet high. Schlicht said the port’s international docks, which are closed for the season, sustained “significant damage.” High winds from the recent storms pushed water ashore, doing damage to the pavement at the McKinley Marina boat launch along Milwaukee's lakefront Sunday. Winds gusted up to 50 mph, and waves reached 6 to 8 feet high. MICHAEL SEARS, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTNEL Floodwaters reached 3 feet on some parts of Jones Island under the Hoan Bridge. Flooding was receding Sunday, and the inner harbor was expected to reopen early Monday. The Madison area escaped the brunt of a powerful storm Saturday that tracked more to the south than expected, but more snow was expected Sunday night and Monday night, according to forecasters. By Sunday morning, all Madison streets had been plowed and a snow emergency that had been expected to continue into Monday was canceled. But in the South and the Northeast, tens of thousands remained without electrical power Sunday as a result of storms a day earlier. Officials in far-flung locations were assessing the damages while utility crews worked to restore power. Severe storms sweeping across parts of the U.S. South were blamed for deaths and destruction, Saturday, including the damage to this downtown Greenville, Miss., home. Faith Alford, WABG The storms toppled trees, ripped off roofs and, in some areas, reduced buildings to rubble. The National Weather Service said it was a tornado packing winds of at least 134 mph that hit Alabama’s Pickens County on Saturday, killing three people. “I could hear everything just coming apart,” Larry Jones, standing amid rubble , said in a video posted by The Tuscaloosa News. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey praised the state’s first responders in a statement Sunday expressing grief over the deaths. “This morning, I have reached out to both the county leadership as well as the legislative delegation to offer my deepest condolences in this terrible loss of life,” Ivey’s statement said. In northwestern Louisiana, three fatalities were blamed on high winds. A man in his bed in Oil City, Louisiana, was crushed to death by a tree that fell on his home early Saturday. A couple in nearby Bossier Parish were killed when the storms demolished their mobile home. The National Weather Service said a tornado with 135 mph winds hit the area. In Lubbock, Texas, two first responders were killed when they were hit by a vehicle at the scene of a traffic accident on icy roads. In Iowa, where a semitrailer on Interstate 80 overturned, a passenger was killed in similar road conditions. Near Kiowa, Oklahoma, a man drowned after he was swept away by floodwaters, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. Icy weather also complicated travel in some areas. Winter weather prompted the cancellation of more than 1,200 flights Saturday at Chicago’s two main airports. Branches are covered with ice Sunday in Evanston, Ill. Pounding waves and steady rain brought by a winter storm Saturday forced the closure of parts of Lake Shore Drive and South Shore Drive due to flooding. Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press High winds and icy weather were factors in power outages affecting tens of thousands of people in the South and the Northeast. The PowerOutage.US website, which tracks outages, reported more than 11,000 outages in New York as of Sunday evening. Outage numbers were falling but there remained more than 10,000 people and businesses without power in West Virginia; roughly 17,000 in the Carolinas; 14,000 in Alabama; 20,000 in Mississippi, and 12,000 in Arkansas. Severe storms sweeping across parts of the U.S. South were blamed for deaths and destruction, including this toppled tree near downtown Greenville, Miss., Saturday. Entergy Corporation said its subsidiaries serving Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi were working to restore power to roughly 30,000 Sunday, mostly in Mississippi and Arkansas. That was down from a peak of 134,000 outages in the entire Entergy system. High winds, tornadoes and unrelenting rain Saturday battered a large area of the South, including damages to a number of downtown Greenville, Miss., businesses. Faith Alford, WAGB While most service was expected to be restored later Sunday, some in areas of Arkansas and Mississippi with extensive damage might take longer, said spokeswoman Lee Sabatini. “They have had extensive infrastructure damage,” Sabatini said of those two states. For some, it was just the latest outbreak during months of extreme weather . The storm system spawned a tornado Saturday near Tazewell, in northeast Tennessee, for the second time in less than three months. The National Weather Service said on Twitter that it appeared to have maximum winds of 65 mph. No injuries were reported. A tornado with 80 mph winds touched down in Tazewell on Oct. 31. Port Milwaukee Capital W: Plug in to Wisconsin politics Subscribe to our Politics email! You'll get a weekly recap of the goings-on at the State Capitol, delivered free to your inbox every Friday. In Madison, the snow emergency was supposed to last until Monday, while Monona, Sun Prairie and McFarland said the snow emergencies were in effect until Sunday early afternoon. Snow emergency declared in Madison, alternate side parking in effect through Monday Between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday, vehicles must be parked on the even numbered side of the street. The powerful system has tracked a little southeast of what was expected, which means not quite as much snow for south-central Wisconsin while a heavy blow falls on southeast Wisconsin, according to forecasters. Freezing rain, ice creating hazardous road conditions A winter storm system that spanned the Midwest and parts of the southern U.S. brought freezing rain, ice and hazardous road conditions to Madison Friday. The storm will hit Friday night and then again Saturday afternoon into the night, delivering ice and heavy snow to southern and eastern Wisconsin, with only the far northwest portion of the state totally escaping the impact, according to forecasters. Snowstorm set to deal much heavier blow to southern Wisconsin than originally forecast. See how much will fall and when Several inches are possible in many locations in what is developing to be a storm packing a double punch Friday night through Saturday night, according to forecasters. Possible big snowstorm Friday into Saturday part of active pattern for southern Wisconsin this week Light snow and freezing drizzle is expected overnight into Tuesday morning, with Thursday the only day all week without precipitation chances, according to forecasters. Racine mayor issues emergency declaration for shoreline damage from weekend storm An emergency declaration positions the city of Racine to be able to ask for state and federal assistance. 20-foot discharge pipe to Lake Michigan thrown 'like soda can' in Saturday's big storm, Racine officials say “This is something I’ve never seen before, and I’ve been in this community my entire life,” Racine Public Works Commissioner John Rooney said about the weekend storm damage to Racine’s lakefront.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353643
__label__wiki	0.877831	0.877831	“Come Along” by COSMO SHELDRAKE is #1 on “Alt Nation”! Rising London, UK multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Sheldrake hit another milestone this week as his rising single “Come Along” hits #1 on Alt Nation’s Alt 18 Countdown and his first ever North American Tour sold out stops in New York City and Chicago in just an hour and Los Angeles and Toronto in less than a week. Tickets are still available for his San Francisco, CA show via www.cosmosheldrake.com and more tour dates are set to be announced soon. Earlier this month, Sheldrake released the Deluxe edition of his debut album, The Much Much How How and I via Tardigrade Records/AWAL which features a full instrumental version of the album – listen here. Sheldrake has seen budding international success over the last several months thanks to an ear-grabbing synch for Apple’s new iPhone XR ads with his song “Come Along.” The single quickly hit #1 on Spotify’s US Viral chart, #2 on the US Shazam Chart, plus made debuts on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs (#3) and Emerging Artist Charts (#23). Sheldrake, who has always incorporated sound from the natural world into his work, helped stage a polyphonic musical intervention in London earlier this week in collaboration with Extinction Rebellion. Check out a recap here or below, the composition heard in the piece was composed by Sheldrake entirely out of endangered British birds and was streamed live on smart phones and portable speakers in four separate parts. Web \| Instagram \| Twitter \| Facebook \| Apple Music \| Spotify \| Bandcamp \| YouTube \| SoundCloud MORTIIS Releases Music Video for “Visions Of An Ancient Future” Like FLO-RIDA, PLAIN WHITE T’S Wants You to Get “Low” in Music Video! SET IT OFF Sets Dates for Summer Headlining Tour! grandson Thinks You Should “Apologize” if You Don’t Check Out His Music Video, Performing at Woodstock 50 this Summer! Tags: Cosmo Sheldrake Music News Previous DEAD KENNEDYS “DK40” is Out April 26th via Manifesto Records! Next THE HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES Announce Release of “Rise” on June 21st via earMUSIC! We Nerd Out Vol. 56: Kenneth Stringfellow and Jon Auer of THE POSIES Converses with The Don of "The Don's Hit List Podcast" on #GoosebumpMoments	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353644
__label__wiki	0.902019	0.902019	News ► KINGDOM HEARTS 3 receives nominations for Best Score/Music and Best RPG at The Game Awards Thread starter Sign Site Staff Manager The nominees for The Game Awards 2019 have just been announced! KINGDOM HEARTS III has received nominations in two categories: Best Score/Music and Best RPG, listed below: Best Score/Music: Best RPG: Cast your votes on the official website or through Google. Winners will be revealed live at The Game Awards on December 12th. Some great categories to be nominated for! Fingers crossed it can win at least one! This makes me happy. I know people didn't like this game, and I agree with so many of the justified criticisms of it. But I'm still glad that it's being recognized as a good game nonetheless. Reactions: Perkilator Well KH3's score was pretty great so I think it's best chance is with the music award. Wonder what other RPGs it's up against? Zettaflare said: I've added the other games it will be competing with in those categories Best Music is a heavy tie between DMC5 and KH3 for me since I love both soundtracks to death. Best RPG however, I only played KH3 out of the ones on the list so... Reactions: KHRULER A DLC or a game that isn't a real RPG will rob KHIII. Sign said: I could see Monster Hunter World: Iceborn taking the best RPG Award if it doesnt go to KH3 Same, unfortunately. Which is unfair in my opinion, as Monster Hunter World (base game) already won Best RPG last year. MATGSY & it's not even a RPG. Reactions: Sign MATGSY said: And it's an expansion. If it were a standalone game I'd kinda understand. SweetYetSalty Even though I haven't played the other games, I vote for KHIII in both categories and I hope they win! I'm bias and have no shame in showing my Kingdom Hearts favoritism. Reactions: Perkilator and Sign KeybladeLordSora said: DQXIS would've been a better nom even if it was a late port of a 2018 game. Outer Worlds is totally gonna win regardless. I sadly feel that KH3 will lose in both categories. Two music based games are on there, and DMC5 will likely win even if it's just because of Devil Trigger. That and KH3's soundtrack itself still doesn't have an official release. And KH3 is just way too divisive of a game as is. It getting Best RPG or not getting it will only cause more arguments to start, with "It didn't deserve it anyway" being a likely phrase that'll pop up in said arguments. Not only that, but no one would want to vote for a game that has a faulty Guard... edit: sorry for sounding so negative. I'm...not really in much of a good mood right now. I don't care about the other games, my votes will go straight to KH3! It needs to win best RPG and how dare those people make "Face My Fears" and "Don't Think Twice" lose to the other music from those games! Reactions: SweetYetSalty SuperSaiyanSora It just is what it is. If KH2 Final Mix had come out in 2019, it wouldn't win Best RPG either. Most people loved the game, and I think that's what counts. Is it perfect? No, but it didn't need to be. And with almost a year later, the arguments are already worn out. Had KH3 been literally any other game BUT KH3, nobody would care to this degree, and that's just how it goes. It would be amazing for it to win, but what matters most is your experience is with the game. Like for me, I LOVE KH3, so I don't give a single fuck who thought it was trash or "weak" or so on and so forth. I know what resonated with me and I know I bought it with my own money, so while other opinions are interesting to hear... I trust mine the most. And if anything, this should light a fire under Osaka Team's ass to make the next KH title an absolute masterpiece. You won't knock it out the park every time (even I feel like they honestly did), and now they've got enough experience and resources to deliver on something incredible. It's not the end of the world, and certainly not the end for Kingdom Hearts anytime soon, so even though it might be disheartening, just know that in another 3 years or so, KH'll have its time to shine again. Reactions: SweetYetSalty and Sign Had the awards happened earlier I would have more hope. The dust has settled and some feel conflicted towards 3. We will see who has the bigger fan base that voted. Reactions: KUUXIII Absent said: I mean, even before and after launch there was a lot of conflicted feelings for KH3. What I am hoping is that KH fans are just rabid enough to vote regardless if they loved KH3 or not. I know I did. Face My Fears said: Different strokes for different folks? DMC5 has phenomenal music and so does Sayonara Wild Hearts. Death Stranding is all about its music, too, although I don’t think it is fair for it to be in this category since it is mostly comprised of licensed music by Kojima’s favorite band. KH3 is a bunch of rearrangements and I personally don’t think the game is a good showcase of Shimkmura, Ishimoto, or Sekito’s skill as a lot of the music is very...forgettable outside of some very key pieces. And the biggest issue is that there is still no OST release. How are we supposed to even know what the name of these songs are or have any sort of attachment to those songs when they are played once in a short cutscene in a part of the game you have to replay to experience all over again? Sorry. I just...don’t like the way KH3’s OST has been handled. Face My Fears and Chikai/Don’t Think Twice are the BEST parts of KH3. The rest? Not so much and I love Shimomura, Ishimoto, and Sekito. Reactions: SweetYetSalty and Zettaflare Well, at least it got nominated! That's something.....right? I mean, regardless of whether you (speaking generally) think KH3 has a chance of winning, or if it's deserving, it doesn't change the fact that it's been nominated. Some extraordinary work was done on the game and it's a rare chance to be recognized on the global stage, so let's support it I mean, you should vote for the game you think is most deserving of the win lol Reactions: KUUXIII and SweetYetSalty	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353648
__label__cc	0.58661	0.41339	Fantasy macroeconomics The prize for the biggest piece of pure fantasy yesterday must go to the Chancellor when he said this: “Today, our goal is for Britain to become the most prosperous of any major economy in the world in the coming generation, with that prosperity widely shared across our country.” In terms of a key measure of our long term prosperity - output per hour worked - we were indeed catching up with the US, France and Germany until 2008, but since then we have lost ground as productivity growth has stagnated. But the fantasy that was most on display yesterday in commentary about the budget was the idea that the budget deficit was or is our major problem. I watched Robert Peston go into great detail about just how large the budget deficit still was (how much we were borrowing every minute - that kind of thing). I saw Financial Times editor Tony Barber describe what a hole the UK was in when the Coalition came to power, because the deficit was 11% of GDP. [1] The implication in both cases is that these numbers are so large we have to immediately focus on bringing them down. The hole I remember from 2010 and before was the Great Recession, which in turn was caused by a financial crisis. They really were major events, which had major impacts on people, and which therefore demanded an immediate policy response. The deficit exceeding 10% of GDP had no real impact whatsoever. Interest rates on government debt stayed well below the level of the previous ten years, and over time fell further. Here is the growth in GDP per head and the public sector net borrowing to GDP ratio going back to 1985. In the early 1990s we had a small recession as we tried to stay in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism at an overvalued exchange rate. Public borrowing rose to 7% of GDP for two years. But the economy recovered rapidly following the 1992 depreciation and associated monetary policy easing, and the deficit came back down. In 2008/9 we had a much larger recession, and as a consequence the deficit ratio rose rather more. But the key point was that this rise in the deficit in both periods was largely a response to the decline in GDP, which helped moderate the recession, and not an immediate problem in itself. So the idea that in 2010 we were in a deep hole because of the deficit is just fantasy macroeconomics. It replaces something real (a financial crisis and deep recession) with something of little immediate consequence. The problem with living in a fantasy world but taking actions in the real world is that you make big mistakes, like starting fiscal austerity while still in a liquidity trap, which has made each UK adult and child on average at least £1,500 poorer. For mediamacro, which inhabits the same fantasy world, it means you ignore the important issues. So we had everyone getting excited about the completely meaningless fact that the Chancellor had pencilled in an expansion in spending in 2019 and 2020. (Thank goodness for the OBR, whose use of the word 'rollercoaster' helped expose this circus.) As a result, comment largely ignored the problem of productivity stagnation, the absence of any expected growth in net trade, and more generally the persistence of macroeconomic imbalances that on earlier occasions the Chancellor had said it was vital to correct. Martin Wolf, who thankfully is very much part of the real world, said the Chancellor had “made the best of what is, in truth, not that strong a hand”. [2] I think Martin is being too generous. The Chancellor asked us to enter a fantasy world, where the fact that living standards just might end up higher than when he came into office is regarded as a success, where employment growth that matches or exceeds output growth is regarded as a triumph, where finally achieving what are no more than average growth rates in GDP per capita during what should be a recovery phase is praised, and where reducing the deficit is all important. It is a shame that too many others seem happy to share this fantasy. [1] In financial year 2009 the PSNB was actually 10.2% of GDP. [2] Chris Giles, Sarah O’Connor and Vanessa Houlder at the FT have a nice graphical summary of key variables that backs this up. Labels: 2015, budget, deficit fetishism, fantasy, Osborne James in London 19 March 2015 at 09:03 Why the monomania about per capita GDP? Japan's done very well on that measure, but is their economy a success? What about total numbers employed? What about considering the supply side shock from the greater potential workforce? What should we have done, 5mn less employed but higher productivity? A fantasy world, and a wonderful world, would have been current record numbers employed and higher productivity, but there are very few countries that have done that. DavidS 19 March 2015 at 15:01 Per capita GDP is worth knowing because what interests me - and I think most other rational economic beings, not to mention real people, is how much cake is - how many resources are - available to me. 5 million unemployed but sufficiently high productivity is potentially - and I emphasise that - a better situation than everyone working flat out but on the bread line. In practice, it's true, we are so bad at distributing income that we have to keep people employed even when we don't need the output in order to have a way of awarding them enough money to live something approaching a decent life. But the purpose of life is not work - in my book - the purpose of work is to enable a better life. Is China a better place than us because they have more people (not percentages, we're talking absolute numbers) employed? If we don't have decent productivity then we can't afford the things that make life worth living - education, culture, medicine, even sports. Do you remember The Clash, too? "Career Opportunities". Great tune, lyrics. I still sing it. But we do have to grow up, eventually. BenL8 21 March 2015 at 12:05 We are so bad at income distribution . . . yes. The CBO in the U.S. analyzed income distribution for the U.S., $93,900 per household, about 117 milllion households in 2011, and therefore about $11 trillion income for all. That $93,900 per household while the median receives $51,000, while the median worker earns $28,000. And the wealth distribution is worse. We have the same austerity fantasy world with the GOP proposing year after year to reduce by 25% a sector of government amounting to 40% of the government. These services are not needed? They are not worth the expense? Private mechanism of support and distribution will work better? Paul Hayes 19 March 2015 at 09:42 Ah yes - that FT guy's remark on last night's Newsnight. &_& Watching Labour's Chris Leslie squirming was painful too. Spoken like a true MMTer. One day, financially illiterate voters and the macro-media, will come to understand, that sovereign fiat currency issuing governments, do not have to borrow in their own currency. And, that taxes don't physically pay for anything per se. The biggest political confidence trick; played on the little people; exposed as the greatest Ponzi scheme of all time. (Acorn). My favourite comment yesterday came from Lionel Barber on the BBC, ex-FT editor, who said George Osborne had adopted a new haircut so he could look like a Roman and in so doing take the economic crisis more seriously. And as for BBC coverage generally, in which Larry Summers ex-student Stephanie Flanders returned to Andrew Neil's show to pass on her anti-liquidity trap knowledge from the pocket of JP Morgan Chase asset management rather than doing as she did previously from the presumably less well paid role at the BBC; the HSBC-farce at the BBC Trust; and Robert Peston who has proven to be a culpable as the rest..well, it does require the patience of Seneca for those who have to observe it all. Mainly Macro 20 March 2015 at 03:05 Lionel Barber is still the FT's editor. Simon, You are completely right about the myth of a government debt problem. But do you believe the collapse in productivity, or do you think we may be underestimating output? The steady fall in core inflation certainly gives weight to the idea that we are underestimating the capacity to produce more if the demand is there. I'm also dubious about the survey evidence suggesting no spare capacity, but I have not had the time to explore this in more detail. The obvious way to settle these doubts is to expand demand and see how far we can go. Graeme Smith 20 March 2015 at 03:20 It's one thing to criticise ignorant politicians and 'mediamacro' for their faulty macroeconomics, but what are we to think when the same comes from other economists? I wonder if you would like to comment on the leader in yesterday's FT from Jeffrey Sachs? [1] He's clearly no Keynesian tho' he doesn't say which church he actually belongs to. The policy differences that become apparent are not just a difference of emphasis here or there, but diametrically opposed views on something as basic as fiscal contraction in a recession - something that the generalbpublic could be entitled to expect economic theory to have a reasonably coherent view on by now. It is these fundamental contradictions that open the way for mediamacro and mendacious politicians. [1] UK Budget 2015: UK has reason to be cheerful but not complacent - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1a64cf54-cca5-11e4-b5a5-00144feab7de.html I agree, but I would add two points. First, if you survey academic economists, they tend to be virtually unanimous that fiscal expansion will raise output in a liquidity trap. It is, after all, what the work horse macro models say. So the economists you may see in the press are a biased sample. Second, this biased sample comes not only from media bias, but from two other things - a tendency to rely too much on City economists, and a desire to always present a 'balanced' view, even when the weight of expert opinion is not balanced. Andreas Paterson 20 March 2015 at 04:57 It's hard to know where to start with Sachs, her uses the phrase "substantial recovery" but it's hard to see how you could use this to descibe the recent recovery. In GDP terms it looks like a very slow disappointing recovery and even worse in per capita terms. There have been more specific predictions made that haven't turned out as expected but the only thing that's really surprised has been employment, which has enjoyed a much better recovery than expected. A few other things are just bizzare: Yet Keynesians have tended to downplay the role of monetary policy, arguing that once nominal interest rates hit zero, further monetary expansion becomes futile — a theory known as the “liquidity trap”. This was mistaken: even at near-zero interest rates, monetary expansion boosts stock market valuations. Why would we judge the efficacy of monetary expansion on stock market valuations? That just seems like a throughly bizzare measure on which to judge a policy. The feeling I get from Sachs is that he's taken a position and is now retrospectively trying to justify that position by seizing on whatever supporting data he can get. Ari Andricopoulos 20 March 2015 at 09:30 Could I suggest that this is also a contender for prize of biggest work of fantasy: "When I first came here as Prime Minister five years ago, Britain and Greece were virtually in the same boat. We had similar-sized budget deficits. The reason we are in a different position is we took long-term, difficult decisions and we had all of the hard work and effort of the British people." David Cameron at the EU summit. Thank you David for saving Britain, Ari - do you have a reference for this quote? The wonder of an independent monetary policy, highly effective, even at the ZLB - although not as effective as it could have been. gastro george 20 March 2015 at 13:17 Welcome to the Tory fantasy world. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-19/cameron-retreats-to-u-k-focus-as-eu-leaders-talk-ukraine I saw it on here - see 15.06 yesterday: http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/mar/19/eu-leaders-summit-greek-bailout-talks-live-updates I typed into Google to get the full quote, which I found here (a bit of an obscure source): http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/eu-leaders-dampen-greek-hopes-for-bailout-relief/article_598f40ae-0008-55ac-a6ee-44a276d50e1b.html Tim Wilkinson 20 March 2015 at 13:54 I've been trying to work out what this 'productivity stagnation' is all about, and finding no clear answers - S Flanders seems to favour using language that hints at lazy workers, M Wolf comes out with rather mealy-mouthed stuff like "An important question is how far the reaction of a flexible labour market to policy-induced weakness in demand explains this dramatically poor productivity outcome." Meanwhile the article cited in fn [2] says: "The jobs boom is all the more extraordinary because the economy has grown less, not more, than the OBR thought it would. This means productivity growth has been dreadful and that has translated into very weak wage growth and a five-year fall in real pay." None of this helps explain the 'low productivity' phenomenon, and I think this is because it is much more an artefact than a discrete causal factor. The level of labour-productivity is after all derived from two more directly measurable quantities; 1. tital output, and 2. jobs (or hours worked). 1. The level of total output is not attracting any surprise - an eventual recovery of something like this feeble level was pretty much what would be expected. 2. The employment figures, on the other hand, attract adjectives like 'stunning', 'amazing', and perhaps most aptly, 'incredible'. A sidebar inserted into the FT article from fn[2] has this: "Given the weaker-than-expected economy, low unemployment with poor productivity and wage growth was probably a better outcome than the alternative of high unemployment with decent productivity and wage growth." Normally one might suppose it pretty odd to hold constant poor economic performance and then decide whether to apportion it to lots of low-productivity jobs or a smaller number of high-productivity jobs. Assuming the causal order has not been suspended, this is not a decision anyone was ever in a position to make. What might make sense from a political point of view would be swell the employment figures by directly fiddling them and/or their reported hours and by forcing people into hopeless attempts at self-employment or non-jobs like workfare placements in charity shops. The idea that the employment figures are not really what they seem appears to me the best explanation for the unbelievably high employment figures, and thence also for the unexplained failure of 'productivity'. It's clear austerity in a liquidity trap is like hammering a nail in one's foot if you have your own currency. Why the fantasy? Ideology (we hate the poors, in US you know who those folks are, history isn't pretty), morality (we profligates deserve to suffer ), class bias, an inability to understand varying macroeconomic conditions merit varying responses. But fundamentally what drives right wingers is a profund lack of empathy fuelled by narcissusism. I have wealth, I'm better than you, lemme buy political power. A quick note on two recoveries Greece and other benefit scroungers Protecting the public from policy entrepreneurs Rollercoasters and rules Why do central banks use New Keynesian models? Zero UK Inflation Controlling the past Default panic and other tall stories Sticky wages both sides of the Atlantic A productive budget? Is the Walrasian Auctioneer microfounded? Radical macro lessons from the Great Recession The power of financial markets Austerity: Nick Rowe's not so silly question A campaign based on ignorance Deflation, inflation, oil prices and asymmetries Fiscal policy, correlations and causation Eurozone fiscal policy - still not getting it	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353649
__label__wiki	0.868181	0.868181	Source: Queens Ledger Subject: Housing & Environmental Justice Will New Law Make The Road To Repairs Easier? By Phil Guie Tenants and community activists rallied in front of 531 Knickerbocker Avenue this past Monday, calling attention to poor living conditions as well as new legislation intended to protect the public from negligent landlords. A crowd of more than 40 people chanted "Fight! Fight! Fight! Housing is a right!" alongside residents of the four-story building in Bushwick, who told horror stories about collapsing floors, winters without heat, and rat infestations. Katherine Diaz, who lives with seven children in a ground-floor unit at 531 Knickerbocker, said ten fires have broken out since they moved in due to a malfunctioning boiler the landlord never replaced. In addition, she said the building has 269 open housing code violations, including 78 "Class C," or immediately hazardous alerts. Meanwhile, despite thousands of dollars in fines levied by the city over the years, Diaz estimated the landlord has paid a total of $3.96 to rectify the problems. As a result, she called on the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the agency that works to revitalize existing housing throughout New York City, to fix the buildings in accordance with the Safe Housing Act, and subsequently charge the landlord for the work. "Fix it now!" Diaz said to cheers. Under the Safe Housing Act, which went into effect on Tuesday, the city would target 200 buildings with the most housing code violations each year, aggressively inspect them, and require their owners to make substantial repairs within four months. Not complying results in HPD stepping in, alleviating the conditions themselves, and billing the landlord for the work. A tenant of the neighboring building, which has the same owner and possibly worse problems, said there is currently no way to demand help from the landlord, since the phone number listed in the lobby was disconnected years ago. As a result, Michelle Minthe, who lives on the fourth floor, appealed to HPD to invoke the Safe Housing Act and intervene immediately. "We have children," she said. "We deserve the right to live like everyone else. Please help!" According to tenants like Diaz, who had city workmen over repairing the hole caused by her bathroom collapsing the week before, relying on the city for support is nothing new. The previous winter, after the landlord removed the broken boiler, she said the building was without heat or hot water for several months, until HPD provided an emergency truck. "It was the city who supplied us with heat," she said. Likewise, the city stepped in to fix her floor after inspectors determined the hole constituted an emergency situation. "[The inspectors said] if they didn’t fix it, any day the bathrooms and the rest of the building could have fallen in," said Diaz, who has lived at 531 Knickerbocker for roughly six years. Hopefully, with the new legislation in place, her family’s next six years will not be nearly as rough. As Elsa Jimenez of Make the Road By Walking pointed out, in the past, "landlords took a long time to fix problems." "Now, instead of waiting years, they must immediately provide hot water and heat," said Jimenez, whose organization will continue reminding tenants they must call 311 to report unsafe living conditions.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353651
__label__wiki	0.902866	0.902866	TR Daily Mapping, Not Subsidizing Overbuilds Seen as Digital Inclusion Issue Mapping, Not Subsidizing Overbuilds Seen as Digital Inclusion Issue The FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) today approved recommendations from its digital empowerment and inclusion working group that urge the FCC to improve its broadband mapping to address digital redlining practices and that ask FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to include overbuilding as an area for the next ACDDE to work on. During a video presentation at the beginning of today’s ACDDE meeting, the group’s last under its current charter, Chairman Pai said that the FCC is “well into the process of chartering a new ACDDE and soliciting members” for it. Jamila Bess Johnson of the Media Bureau, who serves as the designated federal officer of the ACDDE, urged members to apply for the new committee. Nominations are due July 10. The recommendations on digital redlining and overbuilding came from the access and deployment subgroup of the digital empowerment and inclusion working group. ACDDE member Nicol Turner-Lee, a resident fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Technology Innovation, delivered the subgroup’s report on digital redlining. The ACDDE approved unanimously the subgroup’s recommendations that the FCC “should improve its broadband mapping and reporting to reduce the likelihood of digital redlining practices” and “should charge the next ACDDE with the development of a ‘best practices toolkit’ to guard against digital redlining practices.” Working member S. Jennell Trigg, representing the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, delivered the subgroup’s report on the overbuilding issue, which said that when government subsidizes network overbuilds, it diminishes the reach and effectiveness of its support in bringing service to unserved areas and hurts private sector firms, including small and minority- and women-owned businesses, that are trying to provide service. “We’re not anticompetition; we just want to make sure everyone has service first,” Ms. Trigg said in response to a question about the need to ensure that consumers in underserved areas receive the benefits of competition. The full ACDDE approved the subgroup’s recommendation of “a framework and ten principles to, inter alia, help better allocate local, state, and federal funding to designated areas that lack access to terrestrial broadband service offering a minimum of 10/1 Mbps speeds,” as well as its recommendation that the ACDDE “request Chairman Pai to task the next ACDDE to continue to identify strategies that will prevent overbuilding.” Ms. Turner-Lee also presented the report of the digital empowerment and inclusion working group’s digital adoption subgroup. It recommended that the FCC “should convene a Digital Inclusion Workshop, which would bring together public and private stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil society organizations. The proposed workshop would allow like-minded experts to review, define, and agree on baseline standards for what constitutes digital inclusion today and how we can build more opportunities to drive digital equity at the national, state, and local levels.” Working group member Harin Contractor, customer success manager at Socrata, presented the use subgroup’s report, which was a working paper and which did not contain recommendations. He said they hoped the rechartered ACDDE would take up the issue. One possible action the FCC could take “tomorrow” would be to establish a memorandum of understanding among the Universal Service Administrative Co., the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Department of Labor “to enable workforce centers at libraries,” he said. Another helpful approach would be to encourage innovative use of TV white spaces, he added. “We hope this white paper goes forward and gets refined,” Mr. Contractor said. ACDDE member Maurita Coley Flippin, president and chief executive officer of the Multicultural Cultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council, presented the report of the diversity in tech working group Chair Marc Morial, the president and CEO of the Urban Institute, who could not attend. The group learned “that there has not been much data or study of the root causes of lack of diversity in tech industry,” Ms. Flippin said. It “also learned there had not been much progress to address it.” The group conducted off-the-record confidential interviews with six tech companies to learn about their efforts to address their lack of diversity. ACDDE member and employment subgroup chair Monica Parham, who is the director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Talent Consulting, said that the subgroup “wanted to focus on the idea that tech companies aren’t simply engineers” as a way of getting around the pushback from companies that the problem is a lack of diversity in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education pipeline. Ms. Flippin said that the working group categorized companies by the maturity their of D&I (diversity and inclusion) phase: those in an early growth stage, that have started developing an organizational approach to D&I; those in the growth state, where there is an established organizational approach to diversity and dedicated senior level staff responsible for diversity, among other things; and those in a mature stage, with D&I efforts led by a senior, executive-level leader with direct access to corporate leadership and “related upskilling apparent in the dedicated D&I staff.” Ms. Parnham noted that because “tech companies hire from other tech companies,” a lack of hiring diversity at one firm has a ripple effect throughout the sector. The ACDDE adopted the subgroup’s recommended best practices, including incorporating D&I into the internal infrastructure; implementing an organizational approach to D&I at the outset; establishing metrics and accountability; and establishing strategic partnerships. ACDDE member Ronald Johnson, chief subject matter expert–diversity and inclusion at WISPA, presented the supplier diversity subgroup’s report. Similar to the analytical approach of the employment diversity subgroup, the supplier diversity subgroup categorized companies that it spoke with by the age of their supplier diversity program and the age of their small business and diverse supplier development program. The ACDDE approved the subgroup’s best practice recommendations: Supplier diversity expenditures can be neither too large nor too small, and the important thing is to make that first step; stay informed and connected with diverse entrepreneurial networks; track, plan, and measure what is important to the company; serve as a source of information; and collaborate and partner with other firms and local agencies. Mr. Johnson said that areas for improvement that the subgroup found in talking to companies were a lack of formal programs; a lack of online portals or accessible information; and “spotty commitments.” He said that the “best-of-the-best practices” that they found included taking a top-down approach; creating a supplier diversity development plan; create a supplier diversity web portal; developing partnerships; collaborating with schools, nonprofits, and other institutions; and nurturing small and diverse business growth through trainings and resources. Ms. Flippin said that the diversity in tech working group’s report includes an appendix with a tech research guide for job seekers and suppliers. Mr. Contractor said that he would have been interested in the effects of geography on diversity, noting that there are lower levels of African American tech employment in Silicon Valley than in Atlanta or Washington. He also said he was interested in the effects of fissuring and the reliance on contractors in the tech sector on employment diversity. “If work [on this issue] continues [under the next ACDDE], I would like to see more focus on what state and local partners can do,” he added. ACDDE member Chris Wood, executive director of the LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute, added that if work continues on these issues, he would like to see information on LGBTQ inclusion. The ACDDE approved the report of the diversity in tech working group unanimously. The broadcast diversity and development working group also delivered a report today, calling for, among other things, reinvigorating the tax certificate program to improve access to capital and finding ways to “open pathways to access to spectrum.” —Lynn Stanton, [email protected] MainStory: FederalNews FCC BroadbandDeployment BroadbandAdoption Spectrum, Auction Policy Debated at Senate Hearing CBA: Unilateral FCC C-Band Action ‘Legally Perilous’ Industry Response to Commerce’s Supply Chain NPRM Generally Critical Federal Telecommunications Law, Second Edition By Peter W. Huber, Michael K. Kellogg, John Thorne	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353657
__label__cc	0.731068	0.268932	Burlington News Home » Burlington’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force: Small Business Focus Group Highlights Burlington’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force: Small Business Focus Group Highlights By John Bkila Join the many residents who have signed up for updates on Burlington issues and to provide input on key decisions The first of four targeted focus group sessions took place Monday (April 8) afternoon as the Mayor’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force initiative continues. Monday’s session was open to small business owners in Burlington and, since space permitted, took place in the Mayor’s Boardroom at City Hall from 2-3:30 p.m. Attendees represented a range of industries including retail (clothing and food), marketing and consulting, and safety training businesses. Joelle Goddard-Cooling attended as owner of Joelle’s and Jeff’s Guy Shop, as well as an active member of the Burlington Downtown Business Association. Maria N. Thornton, owner of Flour Child Bakery, and Steven Hewson, owner of La Crème de la Crème Creamery attended, as did Kathryn Davies, Lead Instructor & Safety Consultant from Life’s Emergency Training, Maroun Naser, owner of VideoTube.ca, and Chantelle Misheal, City Program Coordinator of BurlingtonGreen. Mayor Meed Ward and Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith were in attendance, as was Anita Cassidy, Acting Executive Director of the Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). These business owners varied from spending 20-plus years running a successful small business here in Burlington, to those who are just celebrating their one-year anniversary. Many of them indicated the reason they chose Burlington as the place for their business was a combination of living here and calling it home, loving the people and culture around them, and the great amenities we have like the lakefront and all our festivals and events. Similar to what was discussed at the broader town hall on March 28, the group shared stories of the origins of their businesses, why they chose to locate in Burlington, and what challenges they have faced over the years in growing their business here. The smaller group session, with many having similarities in size and scale, were able to focus their conversations on issues that are more common to small businesses in our City, and build on one another’s comments and learnings. Some of the highlights of the discussion included the following: Access to qualified young labour. Factors that play a significant role in that challenge are a) the high price of living in Burlington and b) the difficulty in commuting here by anything other than a personal automobile, which many don’t have. Trying to recruit skilled employees from surrounding trade schools/colleges/universities is difficult when they find out how expensive starter townhomes or condos are here. With the often bus-train-bus experience most would have to partake in should they decide to commute from a neighboring community with potentially more affordable real estate options, the length of time of the commute becomes too prohibitive. Bottom line: more needs to be done to allow young people to live and/or work here, whether it’s through more affordable housing options or better/faster transit options. Red Tape. Many examples were given of challenges before a business could open, and the labyrinth of approvals and expenses that came along the way. Reference was made to needing engineering approvals on storefront signage (a reasonable request to ensure they’re safe and won’t fall on anyone) but there was a lack of understanding of whether the $800 engineering fee was reasonable, or whether more could be done to educate new business owners about alternative options that may be more affordable. Other examples were given about starting down one path of approval, only to be told later in the process that additional items were needed and additional expenses would have to be incurred that they had not budgeted for. Answers given by City Staff were referenced as sometimes being inconsistent with one another, leading to confusion. Overall, many spoke about a lack of support through the process. Those who had been around for 20+ years made reference to having strong and experienced mentors and using their own hard work and ability to pull in experts to advise them on things from accounting to networking and beyond. Some attendees had no idea if they belonged to their local BIA (or whether they even could), and most did not know about support that could be provided to them through partner organizations like the BEDC. Many wished they could give advice to new businesses setting up shop and better inform them of whether the location they are choosing is appropriate for their business model to help them avoid failure, and whether landlords and real estate agents can better help facilitate that evaluation for likelier long-term success. Bottom line: Can a smarter welcome package be created for those exploring starting a new small business in Burlington – one that outlines all the steps needed before opening, the demographics of different neighborhoods, and clearly directs people to the other resources available to help them get there? Can our staff be well-trained to provide a supportive and welcoming “red carpet” experience when new businesses reach out to start the process? Parking. While this is more of an issue for small business owners south of the QEW, such as in Aldershot or Downtown Burlington, it is a known challenge and source of frustration. When discussing Free Parking in December…business owners referenced abuse by people who already have parking passes elsewhere like their condos (but find street parking more convenient), and those who are employees of local businesses and drive to work that month since they can now get free parking. Neither option helps paying customers find additional spots. It was generally felt that there were too many confusing rules around parking in general (paid during the day but not after 6, but free in December, but still no parking anywhere for longer than 3 hours although there are some lots with exceptions to that, etc…). Bottom line: we need to think about the initiatives we are implementing around parking and whether they are supporting the goal they were intended to support. Foot Traffic. With many businesses dependent on foot traffic, weather plays a significant role in deterring people from coming across their business unless it is nice outside. There is a history of vacancies in areas due to past landlord decisions that didn’t feel supportive to the surrounding economy, and with new high-rise developments coming, people are worried about more empty storefronts due to potentially high rents. Bottom line: While it was understood the City doesn’t control the weather, or the decisions of landlords, discussion turned to what more we could do to encourage residents from all over town to visit popular events (via shuttle buses, for example) and if we could create more events that take place in varied neighborhoods rather than always downtown. Next up on the focus group list this week is a session with City Staff and Partner Organizations, so we will have that newsletter out as soon as we can compile the insights and comments. Thank you for following along with us as we continue to collect the stories and suggestions that will help make Burlington the best place to do business! Sign up for the RTRC Task Force email newsletter version by clicking the link. ADDITIONAL RELATED POSTS: Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force Launches with Town Hall for Burlington’s Business Community City Staff and Partner Organization Focus Group Highlights Large Business and Manufacturers Focus Group Highlights Development and Real Estate Industry Focus Group Highlights Rural Business Focus Group Highlights Receive new post notifications by email 2 thoughts on “Burlington’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force: Small Business Focus Group Highlights” Joe Gaetan The Canadian Condominium Institute Golden Horseshoe Chapter CCI-GHC looks forward to commenting on parking during the upcoming meeting to review Burlington’s City Wide Parking Standards. Kathryn Davies Thanks for taking an active interest in Burlington’s small business. I really felt We were not just listened to but heard. Commenting Guidelines (click left arrow to read) Here are guidelines before you comment, and our expectations before we will post: Be civil. Would you speak this way to a good friend? If not, rewrite. Focus on the issues. Build your argument and make your case in support of your opinion from facts, research or other sources. That way we can all learn. “I disagree with so-and-so because…” is fine; “So-and-so is naïve/stupid for thinking the way he/she does and here’s why…” is not acceptable. Don’t make personal attacks. Don’t assume motives of those you disagree with, make unfounded allegations, spread rumours, or engage in any other behaviours that would discourage you from participating if someone said this to, or about, you. The Golden Rule applies: Do unto others as you would have done to you. We will edit or not post comments with this type of content. Say it once: When comments from the same individual or individuals become repetitive, going over ground already stated, we reserve the right to close commenting. Use your full, and real, name. If wish to make a comment in public, we expect you will publicly stand behind it with your name. If you don’t want to publicly reveal your name, that’s fine; you are always welcome to share your thoughts with me privately via my email below. I welcome and consider all feedback in making decisions for the community. Have fun, consider and learn. Share your views and read those of others. May we all benefit from a healthy exchange of ideas, and learn a little more about the people in our community, what you think, and what’s important to each of you. You may end up changing your mind about an issue; even if you don’t, we hope everyone will gain a greater understanding of why people have different perspectives. John Bkila What Happened to Burlington’s Roly Bird Horse Chestnut Tree? Keeping You Updated on Burlington’s Interim Control Bylaw and Official Plan Burlington Mayor’s 2020 State of the City Address on Jan. 30 First 2020 Key to the City Recipient Burlington Veteran Gordon Schottlander Email: mayor@burlington.ca Constituent Assistant: Georgie Gartside georgie.gartside@burlington.ca	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353667
__label__cc	0.530293	0.469707	Home Sectors Consumer Tesla Stock: What Model 3 Means for the Company Tesla Stock: What Model 3 Means for the Company By Maitali Ramkumar Tesla (TSLA) stock has been on an upward spree since its earnings. In the third quarter, Tesla saw high Model 3 deliveries. Currently, Model 3 is the company’s best-selling vehicle. Overall, Model 3 accounted for 82% of Tesla’s total deliveries in the third quarter. Tesla’s stock price has risen 37.2% sequentially. The stock fell earlier in the year when Model 3 deliveries were weaker. To learn more, read Tesla Stock Has Been on a Roller-Coaster Ride in 2019. In the first nine months of 2019, Tesla’s Model 3 deliveries were at 208,265 units. As a result, the vehicle is the bestselling EV model globally. Tesla stock: Model 3 tops the chart According to a Clean Technica report, Tesla’s Model 3 is first on the list of the top electric vehicles globally. According to the report, Tesla’s Model 3 sales were at 221,274 units from January to October this year. No other model came close to Model 3’s sales level. The next three vehicles on the list had sales ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 units. Model 3 is Tesla’s bread and butter Tesla’s Model 3 seems to be dominating the global EV market. The model is also crucial for the company. Model 3 is Tesla’s main revenue and earnings source. The company’s other models, like Model S and Model X, accounted for just 19% of its total volumes in the first nine months. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, “The Model S and X are really niche — they’re really niche products. I mean, they’re very expensive, made in low volume. To be totally frank, we’re continuing to make them more for sentimental reasons than anything else. They’re really of minor importance to the future.” Model 3 and Gigafactory 3 Tesla built Gigafactory 3 in China to strengthen its Model 3 positioning. The company aimed to price Model 3 competitively for the Chinese market. Globally, China is one of the leading markets for electric vehicles. Gigafactory 3 is set to deliver Model 3 soon to customers. The cost of the Chinese Model 3 will be lower. Tesla will save costs related to importing the vehicle. Due to local production, Tesla won’t be impacted as much by trade tension between US and China compared to peers. Tesla’s earnings Next year, Tesla will usher in a new era of growth. Model 3 will be produced in the US and China. The expansion should ramp-up Model 3 volumes significantly. Higher quantities will result in increased revenues and earnings for the company. Analysts see a massive upside to Tesla’s earnings in 2020. Also, Model Y, which will hit the markets next summer, should support Tesla’s total volumes. Analysts expect the company to post a loss of $0.6 per share in 2019 due to restructuring activities and fluctuating deliveries. However, they expect Tesla to post profits of $5.5 per share in 2020 due to ramp-ups and new product launches. Earnings expansion could boost Tesla stock Tesla is about to enter the growth phase next year. Model 3 will play a vital role in this phase. Wall Street has started factoring in the potential upside in Tesla’s stock price from earnings expansion. As a result, analysts raised their target prices on the stock. Notably, Morgan Stanley’s bull case scenario places a target price of $500 on Tesla shares. The firm expects Tesla’s Model 3 production to ramp up to 450,000 units per annum by 2024–2025. Morgan Stanley expects Tesla’s electric pickup truck, Cybertruck, to support future growth. Piper Jaffray also has raised its target price on Tesla stock. To learn more, read Why Tesla Is a ‘Must-Own’ as per Piper Jaffray. Overall, Model 3 is crucial for Tesla. The ramp-up should raise the company’s earnings, which could help its stock price. bull case ceo elon musk Piper Jaffray tesla elon musk tesla shares Tesla stock Tesla stock price TSLA stock price Coca-Cola Stock Rises on Credit Suisse Upgrade Kohl’s Gets a Downgrade after Dismal Holiday Sales Tesla Stock Downgraded: Is the Party Over? Bears Return to Walgreens Stock, Challenges Persist Did Piper Sandler Get More Bullish on Tesla Stock?	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353669
__label__cc	0.631287	0.368713	Европа, мигранты: этапы Когда европейские страны резко увеличили приток мигрантов, было понятно, что большие социальные изменения совершенно неизбежны. Интересно, как различаются разные стадии этого опыта у достаточно похожих стран. Немцы впереди всех, на стадии торговли Датчане пока только дошли до гнева, получается страшненько, но дедушке Адольфу бы понравилось: Starting at the age of 1, “ghetto children” must be separated from their families for at least 25 hours a week, not including nap time, for mandatory instruction in “Danish values,” including the traditions of Christmas and Easter, and Danish language. Noncompliance could result in a stoppage of welfare payments. [...] One measure under consideration would allow courts to double the punishment for certain crimes if they are committed in one of the 25 neighborhoods classified as ghettos, based on residents’ income, employment status, education levels, number of criminal convictions and “non-Western background.” Another would impose a four-year prison sentence on immigrant parents who force their children to make extended visits to their country of origin — described here as “re-education trips” —in that way damaging their “schooling, language and well-being.” [...] Some proposals have been rejected as too radical, like one [...] that would confine “ghetto children” to their homes after 8 p.m. Особенно впечатляет, что датчане не стесняются называть свои зоны с особыми законами "гетто". В Швеции официальная позиция пока отрицание: In March, Labor Market Minister Ylva Johansson appeared on the BBC, where she claimed that the number of reported rapes and sexual harassment cases “is going down and going down and going down.” In fact, the opposite is true, which Johansson later admitted in an apology. Similarly, in an op-ed for the Washington Post, former Prime Minister Carl Bildt described the country’s immigration policy as a success story. He did not elaborate on violent crime. After repeated attacks against Jewish institutions in December [...] Bildt took to the same paper to claim that anti-Semitism is not a major problem in Sweden. Another spectacular example is an official government website on “Facts about migration, integration and crime in Sweden,” which alleges to debunk myths about the country. One “false claim” listed by the government is that “Not long ago, Sweden saw its first Islamic terrorist attack.” This is surprising, since the Uzbek jihadist Rakhmat Akilov has pleaded guilty to the truck ramming that killed five people in Stockholm last April and swore allegiance to the Islamic State prior to the attack. Особенно эффективна должна быть борьба с преступностью, если отказаться собирать статистику, а полицейским запретить указывать приметы подозреваемых. При этом знакомые лондонские шведы рассказывают всякие страшилки про коллапс в шведских школах, и образовательный, и с уровнем насилия. crisis, europe, migration	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353674
__label__wiki	0.630067	0.630067	Azzolina may sell liquor license in Middletown Another brutal court fight ends with Middletown coming out as the loser. Back in 1998, before all the infighting and bad blood between life long resident and former NJ State Asemblyman Joe Azzolina and the Republicans that run Middletown, the township issued a 3rd liquor license to Mr. Azzolina’s company, Circus Liquors Inc. In 2005 when the battle over Mr. Azzolina’s “Town Center” project was boiling over, Middletown “realized” that the 3rd liqour license that they issued was illegal because the State limits the number of licenses a person or company can hold to two, so they wanted it back. Mr. Azzolina said “No”, he paid the town for it, it was his and he would sell it. This of course sparked another lengthy and expensive court fight, that the township hoped would force the Azzolina family to cave in under yet another retaliatory, expense and pressure filled, drawn out legal battle. Last year it seemed that Middeltown won the battle when the State Appellate Court ruled in favor of Middletown. Not conceding that the battle was lost, Joe Azzolina appealed the case to the State Supreme Court. So, in today’s Asbury Park Press comes word that the Supreme Courts has made it’s decision. The Justices ruled unanimously yesterday to overturn the lower courts ruling, which would have allowed Middeltown to confiscate the illegal liquor license and sell it to another party. Once again Joe Azzolina comes out on top and wins the war. He can now sell the lquor license himself. No doubt, this loss cost Middletown big time legal fees that could have gone to better uses if they would have just swallowed their pride and allowed Azzolina to sell the license himself in the first place. But because of the hard feelings and bad blood between the ruling Middeltown GOP and the Azzolina family over “Town Center” they decided to fight him in court. This is just another example of how the Republicans have screwed Middletown over the years. And when you think of it, the one to have made out the most from this is Bernie Reilly, the Township Attorney, it must have made him a fortune. Filed under Asbury Park Press, Joe Azzolina, liquor license, Middletown Republicans, state supreme court, Town Center American Optimism Grows A new McClatchy/Ipsos poll finds the public mood “appears to be lightening,” with 55% of Americans saying they think the country is moving in the right direction and only 38% saying it’s on the wrong track. Just a month ago, the right track/wrong track margin was 45% to 48%. In addition, President Obama remains highly popular, with 65% of Americans approving of how he’s handling his job and 31% disapproving. Filed under McClatchy/Ipsos poll, opinion poll, political wire, President Obama	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353676
__label__wiki	0.568503	0.568503	(980) 265-1976 SALES@MIDWOODGUITARSTUDIO.COM Create An Account My Account Electrics Electrics Duesenberg Guitars Novo Guitars Rivolta Guitars Tom Anderson Guitars Acoustics Acoustics All Acoustics Collings Acoustic Guitars Eastman Acoustic Guitars Basses Basses All Basses Mayones Basses Music Man Basses Suhr Basses Amps Amps All Amps 3rd Power Amps Aguilar Amps Bogner Amps Darkglass Amps Dr. Z Amps Headstrong Amplifiers Henriksen Amps Magnatone Amps Matchless Amplifiers Oldfield Amps PRS Amps Suhr Amps Swart Amps Two-Rock Amplifiers Pedals Pedals All Pedals Aguilar Pedals API Audio Pedals Beetronics Pedals Caroline Guitar Co. Pedals Chase Bliss Audio Pedals Darkglass Electronics Pedals Eventide Pedals Fishman Pedals Gamechanger Audio Pedals Goodwood Audio Pedals Greer Pedals J Rockett Pedals King Tone Pedals Meris Pedals Origin Effects Pedals Pettyjohn Electronics Pedals Strymon Pedals TC Electronics Pedals Vemuram Pedals Victory Amps Pedals Xact Tone Solutions Pedals Pro Audio Pro Audio Summing Amps Used & Vintage Used & Vintage All Used & Vintage Used Amplifiers Used Basses Used Pedals Merch Merch My Account Create An Account SALES@MIDWOODGUITARSTUDIO.COM The Martin family has been crafting high-end acoustic guitars for almost two centuries. Their story begins in Germany around 1800 with the birth of Christian Frederick Martin Sr. His father, George Martin, was credited with the “completion” of the acoustic guitar design, which had arrived by way of Spain in the mid 18th-century. Traditionally cabinet makers, Christian Martin sought to further develop his father’s musical instruments, and went to study with the renowned luthier, Johann Stauffer, in Vienna (the Stauffer-style headstock was used on some early Martin models, and later inspired the headstock of the Fender telecaster). After returning to Germany and setting up shop, he came into conflict with the violin guild (German craftspeople operated under a guild system at the time). Desiring exclusive access to the production of musical instruments, the violin builders publicly slandered Martin’s guitars, claiming they were crude and no more musical than his cabinetry. They even initiated a legal proceeding in an effort to force him to cease production. Although the court ruled in Martin’s favor, he was so disgusted by the experience that he set sail for New York City and in 1833, C.F. Martin & Company was born. In 1938, he transplanted his shop to Nazareth, Pennsylvania. By the 1850s his business was doing quite well. He began innovating his design, starting with the “X”-braced soundboard, which is still used by virtually all acoustic guitar builders to this day. After C.F. Martin Sr.’s death, he was succeeded by C.F. Martin Jr, who died suddenly in 1888, and was succeeded by his son, Frank Martin. Only 22 years old when he reached the helm of the company, Frank Martin was a brilliant businessman who led the company into the 20th century. His first major advancements were to establish independent control of distribution (often traveling personally from retailer to retailer) and to begin production of “mandolins”, a folk instrument recently imported from Italy. Martin grew and grew, steadily expanding operations and dealerships. They rode the Ukulele boom of the 20s and weathered through the Great Depression. Two of their biggest innovations came around 1930, with the 14-fret neck and the Dreadnought. Frank Martin died in 1948. At this point it’s worth addressing the phoenoma of the “pre-war” Martin, which refers specifically to the instruments produced before WWII. Some of the distinctive features of these instruments were Adirondack Red Spruce tops, forward-shifted, deeply scalloped X-bracing, and herringbone trim on the rosewood models (Brazilian Rosewood was the default rosewood used by Martin until 1969, when they started using East Indian Rosewood due to supply issues). Connoisseurs have come to associate all three of these things with the “Golden Era” of Martin guitars. Why were these coveted features done away with? In the case of the species of spruce used for their soundboards, Martin was having trouble sourcing cosmetically clean pieces of Adirondack, so they switched to Sitka with little consideration for the tonal difference. It wasn’t until later that folks became aware of the higher stiffness to weight ratio of Red Spruce. That said, Sitka is more of the “everyman” wood in that it’s the best suited for strumming. As for the X-bracing, Martin was responding to the developing player preference for heavier strings. The retirement of herringbone trim had to do with the war itself. Herringbone purfling was a German export. Martin grew and grew, and today is run by C.F. Martin III. In recent years, they have plowed both forwards and backwards, offering a combination of environmentally conscious modern models and ambitious re-creations of their canonical instruments. Here at Midwood we like to carry a wide offering of Martin guitars at diverse price points. We have Dreadnoughts, OMs, and OOs that are effectively clones of inconic 30s instruments as well as updated, modernized models. One thing they all have in common, however, is that Martin sound. It’s the sound that started it all. SEE MARTIN INVENTORY INTERESTED IN A MARTIN? 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__label__wiki	0.685888	0.685888	The Philippine Army (PA) has embarked on the acquisition of additional artillery systems to improve its capabilities and increase its firepower delivery in support of ground forces. The Philippine Army's 155mm Howitzer, Self Propelled System Acquisition Project is the latest acquisition program that focuses on "shoot and scoot" through combining mobility and firepower. This project appears to be a follow-on to the improvements provided by an earlier acquisition project involving the delivery of additional 155mm Towed Howitzers for the PA's Army Artillery Regiment (AAR). This would be the first time that the PA would undertake the acquisition of brand new Self Propelled Howitzer systems, although this is not the first time that the Philippine Army will be operating such systems. The Elbit Systems ATMOS 2000 155mm self propelled howitzer system, which is the selected system of the Philippine Army for its 155mm Howitzer, Self Propelled System acquisition project. Photo taken from Elbit's website. The Philippine Army (PA) has been pushing for the acquisition of a 155mm self propelled howitzer system for decades, although it was in 2013 that the Philippine Army has become vocal of such plans. Israel's Elbit Systems has answered the PA's call and offered their ATMOS 2000 155mm self propelled howitzer system in 39 and 52 calibre variants. Apparently, the PA preferred to acquire the longer ranged 52 calibre variant as an improvement over its existing Soltam M-71 155mm/39 calibre towed howitzers. It was decided later on to move the planned acquisition to the Horizon 2 phase of the RAFPMP after funding issues became apparent on the Horizon 1 phase. 155mm Howitzer, Self Propelled System Acquisition Project Note: Edited as of 02 October 2019. * End User: Philippine Army (Army Artillery Regiment) * Quantity: 2 batteries * Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) Procurement between the DND and Israel Ministry of Defense-SIBAT * Source of Funding: From other sources, to be paid via Multi-Year Obligatory Allocations (MYOA). * SARO Release: TBA * Winning Proponent: Elbit Systems Land & C4I * Product for Delivery: - 12 units of Elbit Systems ATMOS 2000 155mm/52cal Self Propelled Howitzer - Truck Platforms, most likely using Mercedes Benz or MAN 6x6 All Terrain Trucks * Contract Price: TBA * First post by MaxDefense: 25 June 2013 * MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PA155mmSPHAcquisition * Status: Procurement phase ongoing. Post Qualification Inspection with Elbit Systems done on December 2018. Awaiting release of Notice of Award (NOA). 24 June 2013: As posted on our community social media page on Facebook: The Philippine Army is reportedly pushing for the purchase of the Israeli ATMOS 2000 155mm self-propelled howitzer made by Soltam/Elbit Systems. Number of units requested unknown yet. Based on the report, the PA is interested on the 39 calibre variant, and was being proposed to replace an earlier order of 12 units of 155mm towed howitzers made also with Elbit Systems Land & C4I. The report from Manila Standard can be accessed by clicking the link HERE. Elbit Systems' Soltam ATMOS 2000 155mm self propelled howitzer system. Photo taken from Elbit's website. MaxDefense released a blog entry regarding the Philippine Army's push to acquire the Elbit Systems ATMOS 2000 155mm self propelled howitzer system. The blog entry can be accessed through the link posted below: "Philippine Army pushing for the Purchase of Israeli ATMOS 2000 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer" - first posted on 25 June 2013 The ATMOS 2000 system, using a 6x6 platform. Credits to original source of the photo. Pres. Duterte recently made an in-principle approval of the Horizon 2 phase Priority Projects "shopping list" worth Php300 billion, which includes the acquisition of at least 12 units of 155mm Howitzer, Self Propelled Systems with a proposed ABC of Php2,388,000,000.00 It now remains to be seen when the DND and PA would put the project in the procurement phase, or what the mode of procurement would be. Based on information from MaxDefense sources, it appears that Elbit Systems' Soltam ATMOS 2000 155mm SPH remains the top choice of the Philippine Army's Army Artillery Regiment., and has several PA and DND officers and officials have already been given demonstration on the system in Israel before. An ATMOS 2000 SPH was demonstrated to the DND and PA Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC) during the pre-delivery tests of the Soltam M-71 155mm towed howitzer conducted last mid-2017 in the Negev Desert in Israel. The SPH can be seen with the M-71mm THs during the tests. Photo exclusively shared to MaxDefense by sources from the DND. MaxDefense was informed by sources from the DND that the Post Qualification Inspection (PQI) with Elbit Systems Land & C4I for the 155mm Howitzer, Self Propelled System Acquisition Project has been completed, with Elbit Systems passing the inspection. The PQI is an important part of the procurement process as it allows the procuring body to check if the submitted documents, technical capabilities, and financial statements of the proponent are factual and viable. It would only be a matter of time then before a Notice of Award (NOA) can be released by the DND in favor of Elbit Systems Land and C4I. Based on information from MaxDefense sources, the Multi-Year Obligation Authority (MYOA) for the 155mm Howitzer, Self Propelled System acquisition project remains unapproved, and the DND and the Philippine Army are awaiting for the government to make this happen. The MYOA is needed to allow the DND to pay the project on an instalment basis of a few year based on the accomplishment milestone of the proponent. In this case, it could be somewhere between 2 to 3 years. 14 August 2019: The Philippine News Agency's interview with Philippine Army Chief of Plans Col. Romulo Manuel included a confirmation that the acquisition of Self-Propelled Howitzers are among those in the procurement programs of the Horizon 2 phase. While this is not the first time it was confirmed by the military, this is the latest confirmation of such project. The article from PNA can be accessed HERE. But it is not expected to stay for more than 1 year. The ATMOS 155mm/39 caliber self propelled howitzer. Photo taken from Army Recognition website. MaxDefense received clarification from a source involved in the Philippine Army's Self Propelled Howitzer acquisition project, correcting previous information we posted on this resource page and to our previous posts. Among the clarifications and corrections made are the following: 1. Post Qualification Inspection (PQI) for the project that was originally scheduled on December 2018 was confirmed that have not happened, after the Department of National Defense cancelled it and pushed the project to be awarded in 2020 instead of within 2019. Instead, the PQI was rescheduled and will proceed at a later date, hopefully before the end of 2019, although the exact date is still not confirmed by any party. 2. Elbit Systems actually offered the longer 52 caliber variant of the ATMOS SPH, not the shorter 39 caliber variant. This is actually a positive news as it means the Philippine Army is getting the better variant capable of engagements at a longer range. 3. With the project bumped to 2020, the platform is still not finalized but it will be a selection between German truck manufacturers Mercedes Benz or MAN, although Mercedes Benz has already confirmed its support for the Philippine Army project. Consideration will be on the availability of distributor in the Philippines which appears to be in favor of MAN. MaxDefense believes that both truck manufacturers are among the best in the world, and whatever is selected would be highly acceptable. For comparison, Thailand is using MAN trucks although the Israelis are using Mercedes Benz for their ATMOS self-propelled howitzers. 4. Pres. Duterte has approved the implementation of a Multi-Year Contract payment process only this month, and has forwarded it to the Department of Budget and Management for implementation and appropriation. Until funds are secured, the DND has decided not to proceed with the PQI to avoid a similar issue when the DND and PAF completed PQI, contract signing and NTP release without DBM providing the funding, resulting to delays for several months in the project implementation. These are important updates to the project, although it is disappointing that it moved back due to lack of sufficient budget from the DND and the national government, especially when the same government can actually produce instant funding for projects that are meant for political reasons. Good news is that Elbit System's offering to the Philippine Army is actually based on the 52-caliber variant, not 39-caliber as previously reported. Photos credited to original sources. First edit and release: 22 June 2019 Harford June 28, 2019 at 9:59:00 PM GMT+10 still on-Hold? Unknown July 15, 2019 at 9:22:00 PM GMT+10 Kulang pa ito sir Anonymous August 17, 2019 at 1:50:00 PM GMT+10 Any news about the South Korean K136 MLRS? PinoyMakabayan14 August 18, 2019 at 9:24:00 PM GMT+10 I hope this will be able to push through as i am saying we can also reverse engineering those old 155 mm cannons from our reserve old piles stocks and put them in local trucks same as ATMOS 2000 as a indigenous variants, we have the knowledge, skills and experiences from our own Filipino craftsmanship and everyone knows it can be done with the support of our government and the AFP DND research and development groups.. Anonymous September 14, 2019 at 4:21:00 PM GMT+10 ...and the hydraulic system? cannibalized from old DPWH backhoes? hahaha. PinoyMakabayan14 October 4, 2019 at 7:24:00 PM GMT+10 Kung wala ka abilidad hindi ka Pilipino d mo pwede iasa mo lahat ng bagay sa banyaga halata naman may crab mentality ka pa kapwa mo kababayan sinisiraan mo kung ikaw may alam hydraulic system kahit luma yan kapag napalitan ng mga bagong pyesa gagana yan d mo pa ginagawa umaangal ka na? Use your coconut head kung meron ka nyon engot! Unknown August 22, 2019 at 2:57:00 PM GMT+10 how many howitzers in 0ne battery sir max? Yung Mercedes Benz 6x6 All Terrain Truck ba ang bagong platform truck? ksi sa ibang international blogs TATRA Hybrid ang nabanggit nilang platform para sa ATMOS 2000 e. Eidelweiss September 16, 2019 at 1:21:00 PM GMT+10 I prefer the the Tatra platform than the Mercedes. Defense the Motherland September 16, 2019 at 4:18:00 PM GMT+10 Can we request an update from PA??? Any updates for Kooryong K136???	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353680
__label__wiki	0.904883	0.904883	Stereo View of 'Mount Remarkable' and Surrounding Outcrops at Mars Rover's Waypoint NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used its Navigation Camera (Navcam) to record this stereo scene of a butte called "Mount Remarkable" and surrounding outcrops at a waypoint called "the Kimberley" inside Gale Crater. The image appears three-dimensional when viewed through red-blue glasses with the red lens on the left. The butte stands about 16 feet (5 meters) high. Its informal name comes from a mountain and national park in Australia. The rover team plans to drive Curiosity to the flatter outcrop at the base of the Martian Mount Remarkable for a close-up inspection that might include drilling into the rock. This mosaic view combines multiple images taken during the 597th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (April 11, 2014). That same day, the rover had driven 90.2 feet (27.5 meters) and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter observed Curiosity at the location from which the rover captured this panorama. The resulting image from the orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera is online at PIA18081. A map showing Curiosity's route from the August 2012 landing site to the Kimberley is online at https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/6153/curiositys-traverse-map-through-sol-597/. Curiosity's science team chose the Kimberley in 2013 as a waypoint for science investigations along the route to the mission's long-term destinations on the lower slopes of Mount Sharp, in the middle of Gale Crater. This waypoint offers set of outcrops of different types of rock layers exposed close together, so that their relationship to each other can be studied. The team refers to the rock layer surrounding the base of Mount Remarkable as the "middle unit" because it is intermediate in location between rocks that form buttes in the area and lower-lying rocks that show a pattern of striations. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Science Laboratory Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL designed and built the project's Curiosity rover and the rover's Navcam. For more information about Curiosity, visit https://www.nasa.gov/msl and https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/. Image source: https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA18084 [51, 178, 176, 175, 190] This color image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) shows bedrock layers of diverse colors and composition. Colorful Layers in Ariadnes Colles Follow along on a tour of the landing scene of NASA's Curiosity rover in this video made up of images from two NASA orbiters. The movie begins with a global image from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor, ... Zooming in on the Scene of Curiosity's Landing This stereo view from the navigation camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows a vista across Endeavour Crater, with the rover's own shadow in the foreground. The view spans 216 com... Opportunity Overlooking Endeavour Crater, Stereo View A member of NASA's Mars 2020 project checks connections between the spacecraft's back shell and cruise stage at NASA's Jet propulsion Laboratory on March 26, 2019. Taking Mars 2020 Integration Head-on The distant blob seen in the view on left, taken by a Hazard-Avoidance camera on NASA's Curiosity rover, may be a cloud created during the crash of the rover's descent stage. Pictures taken about 4... Witnessing the Descent Stage Crash? The white arrows indicate locations in this scene where numerous seasonal dark streaks, called "recurring slope lineae," have been identified in the Coprates Montes area of Mars' Valles Marineris b... Numerous Seasonal 'Lineae' on Coprates Montes, Mars Mars has two small, asteroid-sized moons named Phobos and Deimos. Phobos in Transit This portion of a color mosaic taken by NASA's Mars Curiosity rover shows strata exposed along the margins of the valleys in the "Pahrump Hills" region on Mars. Martian Layers Thicker on Top An elongated crater called "Spirit of St. Louis," with a rock spire in it, dominates this stereo view from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars (Stereo) Five years of images from the front left hazard avoidance camera (Hazcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover were used to create this time-lapse movie. The inset map shows the rover's location in Mars'... Rover POV: Five Years of Curiosity on Mars The rippled surface of the first Martian sand dune ever studied up close fills this Nov. 27, 2015, view of "High Dune" from the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity rover. This site is part of the "Bagn... 'High Dune' is First Martian Dune Studied up Close NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft has been fully stacked for flight in this photograph from inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Mars Science Laboratory Stacked Spacecraft This infographic shows the various sources of carbon dioxide on Mars and their estimated contribution to Martian atmospheric pressure. Terraforming the Martian Atmosphere A mineral vein with bright and dark portions dominates this image of a Martian rock target called "Rona," which is near the southern, upper edge of "Vera Rubin Ridge" on Mount Sharp. Brushed Vein in 'Rona' on 'Vera Rubin Ridge' A test of a new percussive drilling technique at NASA's JPL. Later this week, NASA's Curiosity rover will test percussive drilling on Mars for the first time since December 2016. Percussive Drill Test at JPL This image covers a region of Mars near Nili Fossae that contains some of the best exposures of ancient bedrock on Mars. A Wild Assortment of Jumbled Rocks This 360-degree panorama was taken by "Dusty," a fully-working replica of NASA's Opportunity rover at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The panorama was taken as part of a software test. Memb... Dusty's Panorama Technicians and engineers in clean-room garb monitor the first drive test of NASA's Curiosity rover, on July 23, 2010. Curiosity at Center of Attention During Test This is one of the first images taken by NASA's Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars the evening of Aug. 5 PDT (morning of Aug. 6 EDT). What Lies Behind Curiosity The development of the Mars rover Curiosity's capabilities for drilling into a rock on Mars required years of development work. Preparation on Earth for Drilling on Mars This image, taken in the Spacecraft Assembly Facility's High Bay 1 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, on July 23, 2019, shows a close-up of the head of Mars 2020's remote sen... The Tippy Top of Mars 2020 Members of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission listen to a voice message from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in the mission support area at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The message, which h... Interplanetary Voicemail This image shows engineer Sean Haggert. Wearing a white lab coat, gloves, face mask, and hair covering to protect spacecraft parts from contamination, engineer Sean Haggert places his hands on eith... Big Wheels Cross The Finish Line...for Now! This 360-degree scene shows the surroundings of the location where NASA Mars rover Curiosity arrived on the 59th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission on Mars (Oct. 5, 2012). Curiosity's Location During First Scooping	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353690
__label__wiki	0.884897	0.884897	Taboola buys video advertising firm ConvertMedia The acquisition better positions Taboola toward its goals of becoming a webwide powerhouse of video and native ads. Barry Levine on July 26, 2016 at 12:18 pm A video ad for a car maker, served via ConvertMedia Content discovery platform Taboola announced today it is buying outstream video ad firm ConvertMedia. Although deal terms were not made public, TechCrunch reported that the price was “just under $100 million.” The Israel-based ConvertMedia provides outstream videos that reside inside publishers’ content. In other words, it is a complement to Taboola’s article-focused content discovery platform, which provides those recommendations at the bottom of pages across the web. Here’s how Taboola’s content recommendations typically appear on a page: In a blog post about the acquisition, Taboola CEO and founder Adam Singolda wrote that the two companies share a common goal: “to become one of the top video/TV companies in the world.” “We project that together we’ll stream over one billion videos a day and operate on the same scale as YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook,” he wrote. His New York City-based company says it serves content recommendations to over a billion users monthly. The newly enlarged company, he said, can also now offer “a full native funnel” to publishers, so that either sponsored content or video can be targeted to “the right user at the right time.” Standalone or outstream sponsored videos are a lucrative source of revenue for publishers, who are increasingly wary of having their content distribution options limited by Google and Facebook. Singolda has said that he expects more ad spending will move to outstream video. Meanwhile, Verizon’s new purchase of Yahoo indicates it is positioning itself to become the third biggest content/ad giant, but Taboola has previously partnered with Verizon-owned AOL to expand each company’s content distribution footprint. Taboola’s new acquisition also builds on its drive to become a bigger player in native ads. In March, the company launched its native ad server, Taboola Native. It is a free, white-labeled version of its personalization platform for the placement of native ads on publishers’ sites and elsewhere on the web. A bike maker, for instance, might have native content that it wants to place on related sites, which Taboola Native can provide. Last month, Taboola partnered with AppNexus so that advertisers could buy Taboola native ads programmatically. Channel: Martech: AdvertisingMarketing ToolsNative Advertising & Martech	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353691
__label__wiki	0.628006	0.628006	Ariana Grande shares heartbreaking message on social media after tragic concert Ariana Grande performs at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas in 2016. Image: Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock By Keith Wagstaff 2017-05-23 03:31:52 UTC The pain was apparent in Ariana Grande's words early Tuesday morning. Only a few hours after an explosion rocked her concert in Manchester, England, Grande reached out to fans with a heartfelt message on Twitter. Here's her tweet, sent out just before 4 a.m. local time in Manchester: from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words. — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017 The blast killed at least 19 people and injured around 50 others as the show was ending. Many of her peers tweeted messages of support after news of the explosion spread, and plenty of people used social media to help house and connect people affected by the blast. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this horrific act in Manchester. We need to do better. We need to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. — Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) May 23, 2017 every musician feels sick & responsible tonight—shows should be safe for you. truly a worst nightmare. sending love to manchester & ari — Lorde (@lorde) May 23, 2017 I'm heartbroken over what happened in Manchester tonight. Sending love to everyone involved. H — Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) May 23, 2017 Absolutely Horrendous what happened in Manchester tonight. My thoughts are with the great people of Manchester and also Ari and her team xx — Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) May 23, 2017 WATCH: No, this is not a photo of Ariana Grande after the Manchester attack Topics: Ariana Grande, manchester, manchester-explosion, other, Social Media	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353693
__label__cc	0.699052	0.300948	Ameristep Element Review Leave a Comment / Hunting / By Trey / December 15, 2018 December 15, 2018 Ameristep is one of the biggest names in hunting blinds, and their most popular item is the Care Taker blind. But they have a wide selection of other blinds, too. Although not as well-known as the Care Taker, the Element brims with cool features. Here’s a closer look. 1 What We Like 1.1 Pros Summary 2 What We Wish was Different 2.1 Cons Summary 3 What Other Customers Say 4 Wrapping Up 5 Purchasing the Ameristep Element Hunting Blind Think of the Element as the Care Taker’s big brother. It’s larger than the Care Taker, but still has many of the same benefits. Like all the Ameristep blinds, the Element is durable. The 100% polyester shell fabric has a ZS3 carbon-enhanced coating which helps reduce scent, noise, and sheen. It’s a nice combination of durability, water resistance, and breathability. An interior coating of ShadowGuard reduces shadows and silhouettes when you’re inside the blind. Between the ZS3 coating and the ShadowGuard, you can move around normally within the blind without worrying too much about alerting game. At 75 inches wide and 67 inches tall , the blind is pretty big. Three adults can fit inside comfortably (the Care Taker fits two). However, it’s also lightweight and portable. When folded, it slips into the included backpack. Plus, it weighs just 18 pounds. You should have no problem carrying it through the woods all day. Setup takes just a minute a two. This is a spider hub blind, which is generally considered one of the most solid types. It has a boxy shape with four walls. Spider hubs are known for their stability and quick setup . Each panel of the blind has a pop-out hub with metal stamping. Setting it up takes just a few minutes. New hunters often underestimate the spider hub. After all, the design looks relatively simple. Many people assume it isn’t sturdy because of its weight, but a spider hub will stay in place in all sorts of weather including rain, wind and even snow. The Element has a whopping ten windows. You’ll be able to see in every direction. Each mesh window has a gun port for easy shooting. I liked how the blind had ports on every side, including the door side. A door-side port is rare in a blind, but it’s helpful for shooting in brush. The last feature which stands out (well, metaphorically) is the camo. It’s Mossy Oak Breakup, which will fit into forests and other wooded areas pretty much year-round. You can also use the included brush loops to add foliage to the outside of the blind. Pros Summary Durable, weather-resistant shell Large size fits three adults Stable spider hub construction Ten windows for 360-degree visibility What We Wish was Different Compared to other spider hub blinds, this one is somewhat cumbersome. That’s just an unfortunate trade-off due to the large size. But folding it down can be awkward . Plus, the backpack strap isn’t very sophisticated. It’s barely more than a shoulder strap. The construction isn’t up to the same level of quality as the blind itself. The Mossy Oak Breakup Camo didn’t have me completely sold, either. While it’s great in certain conditions such as fall, the blind will stand out when there’s snow on the ground . It’s also not ideal camo for areas with an abundance of greenery. Finally, I had two rather significant problems with the mesh over the windows. First, it’s hard to see through in low light. But if you remove the mesh, game will likely be able to spot you. My other issue with the mesh is that it’s held in place by Velcro. Adjusting the mesh makes a pretty loud noise which will likely scare away game. Overall, this blind is a great choice for three people to share. It’s also a fine option for two people who want plenty of elbow room. But if you typically hunt alone, or don’t mind being relatively close with your hunting partner, you might prefer the Care Taker blind. The Care Taker is just a bit easier to use and carry, but still has the same durability and quality construction as the Element. Cons Summary Camo style lacks versatility Velcro mesh is noisy Backpack strap is a bit flimsy Takedown can be cumbersome What Other Customers Say Generally, owners of this blind like how easy it is to use. Stacy F. praised the fast, simple setup. As a bowhunter, she also liked the vertical windows on the corners of the blinds. Foster J said he’d been using this blind for many years. However, he cautioned against using it in heavy snow , as the roof can sink in. I didn’t experience this problem, but it is something to keep in mind. Other customers did have some issues with Ameristep. W.R. Brown said he was unable to find replacement parts. He also said customer service was difficult to reach. By far the most common complaint was about the Velcro straps. User “Notneb” said that not only did the straps make a lot of noise when used, but the mesh was also hard to see through, especially in low lighting conditions. As with other Ameristep products, the main selling point here is quality construction . The ZS3 carbon coating and polyester shell help conceal sights, sounds, and noises. You don’t have to worry about accidental tears or other damage. Plus, like all Ameristep blinds, setup is simple. You can carry the 18-pound blind with you using the included backpack strap. Because it’s a spider hub, it takes just a few minutes to unfold and put in place . You’ll want to make sure the Mossy Oak camo print is suitable for your preferred hunting ground. It’s not the most versatile style, and it’s not the best choice for winter hunting , and the blind doesn’t handle snow buildup very well. The Ameristep Element is the #3 choice in our list of best hunting blinds. Purchasing the Ameristep Element Hunting Blind The Ameristep Element is a must-buy if you want a high-quality blind which can fit up to three people. You’ll stay concealed from game without feeling cramped or claustrophobic. It has all the benefits of the popular Care Taker plus extra room. Ameristep Element Hunting Blind 75"W x 67"H NS3 carbon enhanced fabric. ShadowGuard coating reduces scent, noise and sheen Shoot through mesh windows with gun ports Brush loops for adding natural cover Includes backpack, stakes, and tie-down rope Mossy Oak Break-Up country camo. 75 Inch Shooting Width x 67 Inch Height	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353694
__label__wiki	0.631973	0.631973	General News Wed, 16 Oct 2019 Dismissed whistleblower petitions CHRAJ over alleged corrupt practices at MMT The former Security Coordinator of the Metro Mass Transit Company Limited (MMT), Lawal Fuseini, has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over alleged corruption in the procurement of buses for the Metro Mass Transit Company. Speaking on Eyewitness News, Lawal Fuseini who was recently dismissed by the MMT stated that “I picked up some intelligence earlier this year concerning the fact that the buses that the Metro Mass Transit Limited were about to commission had some kind of fraud in it. The information has it that the contract was overbloated.” For the buses procured, Lawal Fuseini said a Chinese Company had initially pegged the price of each bus at $75,000 “but when we took the contract document, we realized that the amount was even 100 percent more than was quoted to be the cost of the buses.” The final amount allegedly came up to about $175,000, which he described as “unreasonable” and eventually triggering his suspicion. According to him, “no one at metro mass was even aware of what was even happening” as the government made moves to procure the buses that were not tested for Ghana’s terrain. Lawal Fuseini was behind an earlier petition that led to the interdiction of Bennet Aboagye as MD of the company. The then-Security Coordinator of the MMT petitioned the office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate alleged procurement malpractices for the purchase of some 300 buses. He was sacked from the company earlier in October with the company citing his purported misconduct and “unbridled recalcitrance” as the reason for the sacking. Metro Mass drivers suspend strike after meeting with management NPP Communicator slams Kevin Taylor over MMT brouhaha Probe 'fraudulent' $8.7m Metro Mass buses – Sacked staff petitions CHRAJ October rains not unusual – Meteorological Agency ‘Whistleblower’ MMT Security Coordinator fired	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353697
__label__wiki	0.631297	0.631297	Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Bahamas Visiting the Bahamas E-Passport Online Renewal MOFA Leadership Overview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs The Passport Office Consular Division (CD) Protocol Division (PD) Heads of Division Citizens And Residents Technical Assistance & Training Obtaining Official Documents Obtaining a Bahamian Passport Visitor’s Visa – OOD ePassport Online Renewal Services Bahamas Overseas Offices Embassies and High Commissions Missions Accredited to International Organizations Consulates General Who needs visas to enter The Bahamas Registration of Bahamian Nationals Abroad Assistance For Bahamian Nationals Abroad Bahamians Detained Abroad Visitor’s Visa – Consular Services Information for Nationals in Distress Apostilles/Legalization of Documents Foreign Policies & Treaties Foreign Policies International Obligations Bills Laws & Acts Laws Online Ministry of Foreign Affairs Laws Online Resident Honorary Consular Corp NON RESIDENT DIPLOMATIC CORPS About Us >Latest News >MOFA Leadership >Overview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs >Department of Foreign Affairs >The Passport Office >Consular Division (CD) >Protocol Division (PD) >Heads of Division >Contact Us Services >Citizens And Residents >Technical Assistance & Training Obtaining Official Documents >Obtaining a Bahamian Passport >Visitor’s Visa – OOD >ePassport Online Renewal Services Diplomatic Relations >Bahamas Overseas Offices >>Embassies and High Commissions >>Missions Accredited to International Organizations >>Consulates General Consular Services >Overview >Who needs visas to enter The Bahamas >Registration of Bahamian Nationals Abroad >Assistance For Bahamian Nationals Abroad >Bahamians Detained Abroad >Visitor’s Visa – Consular Services >Information for Nationals in Distress >Apostilles/Legalization of Documents Foreign Policies & Treaties >Foreign Policies >Treaties >International Obligations Trafficking in Persons >General Information >Frequently Asked Questions Bills Laws & Acts >Laws Online >Ministry of Foreign Affairs Laws Online Resident Honorary Consular Corp NON RESIDENT DIPLOMATIC CORPS Home » Working Group Conference for the U.S. Caribbean Resilience Partnership: Building Bridges to Reach A More Resilient Future Working Group Conference for the U.S. Caribbean Resilience Partnership: Building Bridges to Reach A More Resilient Future 23rd to 24th October, 2019 The Bahamas was represented at the Working Group Conference for the U.S. Caribbean Resilience Partnership: Building Bridges to Reach A More Resilient Future in Bridgetown, Barbados from 23rd to 24th October 2019, by a delegation comprising Captain Stephen Russell, Director of the National Management Agency of The Bahamas and Foreign Service Officer Ms. Sherry Johnson Deal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This Conference which was facilitated by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Cynthia Kierscht, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Deputy Assistant Administrator Barbara Feinstein, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), USAID, brought together 18 Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago) the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Regional Security System (RSS), international donors, and non-governmental partners, including universities and the private sector. The working group assessed disaster resilience needs and proposed next steps to better coordinate efforts regionally. This event built on the Inaugural Meeting of the Partnership, which took place on the 12th April, 2019, in Miami, Florida, where the Hon. Darren A. Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs, led The Bahamas’ delegation. The United States Government under its U.S.-Caribbean 2020 Agenda is committed to advancing security, diplomacy, prosperity, energy, education, and health in the Caribbean. In keeping in line with this commitment, it was announced at the opening ceremony that as a part of this ongoing effort, the United States will be providing $1.5 million to increase disaster preparedness and resilience under the U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership. It was also announced that this partnership aimed to strengthen U.S.-Caribbean cooperation and advance greater resilience to withstand the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, and extreme weather events by leveraging American and Caribbean innovation and expertise. Funding will support technical exchanges and consultations between U.S. interagency resilience experts, ministries, and disaster management officials from the Caribbean region. As one of the highlights of the Conference, Captain Stephen Russell presented on The Bahamas’ efforts on disaster resilience: lessons learned about advanced planning for recovery and identifying gaps. Same was well received by participants and added to a fruitful panel discussion on resilience moving forward. At the conclusion of the Conference, regional best practices and recommendations were proposed to improve risk awareness, to strengthen hazard mitigation and climate adaptation efforts, to enhanced community and infrastructural resilience, to bolster coordination in regional disaster response and to enhance planning for post-disaster recovery including economic recovery, inter alia. Following the closing ceremony, participants were driven to a work site in Holetown, Barbados, for the purpose of seeing first-hand the adaptation measures to counter the effects of climate change, more specifically, water resource management and flood resilience. 2020 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS OF OAS MEMBER STATES — GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA The Department of Human Development, Education & Employment of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, through the OAS Partnerships Program for Education & Training, invites Bahamian nationals to submit applications to become recipients of scholarships and study in China at all levels. The document also lists the following info: Application criteria & eligibility Scholarship… India’s High Commissioner Pays Courtesy Call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs NASSAU, The Bahamas — India’s High Commissioner to The Bahamas His Excellency M. Sevala Naik (centre left) paid a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, January 8, 2020 where he was greeted by Permanent Secretary Peter Deveaux Isaacs and other officials of the Ministry. Pictured from left during the courtesy call: Foreign Service… The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and The Republic of Belarus Establish Diplomatic Relations 9th December 2019- The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Republic of Belarus formalised diplomatic relation through the execution of a Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. . The signing ceremony was held at the Permanent Mission of the Republic Belarus to the United Nations – New York. Her Excellency Ms. Sheila Carey,… REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE DARREN A. HENFIELD, MP, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS Nassau, The Bahamas Monday, 16th December 2019 My Parliamentary Colleague and High Commissioner to CARICOM Reuben Rahming; The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps (Ambassador HUANG Qinguo, People’s Republic of China) (Our host) The Dean of the Honorary Consular Corps (Mr Maxwell Gibson, Republic of Korea) Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the… Bahamas-CARDI Host Country Agreement Signing Ceremony 9 December 2019 – The Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Mr Barton A. Clarke, paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas to sign a Host Country Agreement to further facilitate the work of CARDI in The Bahamas. The Hon. Marvin… To protect and advance the national interest of The Bahamas through the proactive coordination and management of foreign relations with partner ministries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations…read more Tsescorts Bahamas.Gov.Bs Goodman's Bay Corporate Centre 2nd Floor, West Bay Street Nassau City, New Providence Bahamas. mofabahamas@bahamas.gov.bs If there is an emergency during non-office hours, please call – 827-3106 (local) +1-242-827-3106 (overseas). Copyright 2017 - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The Bahamas	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353699
__label__cc	0.511236	0.488764	The Rise of China China's reform progress tops congress agenda by Sophia Yan @sophia_yan March 5, 2014: 5:25 AM ET China kicks off its annual parliamentary meetings in Beijing Wednesday. China's annual parliamentary meetings kick off Wednesday, offering Beijing a chance to gauge progress on key economic reforms outlined last year. The National People's Congress, often criticized as mere political theater, remains an opportunity for top Communist Party brass to reveal new plans and announce economic targets. This year's meetings are of particular note -- it's the first such gathering that President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang will preside over, since assuming their top posts a year ago. Beijing promised a slate of reforms last year at two major political meetings, broadly pledging to clean up corruption, stabilize economic growth, and open up China's financial markets. That was on top of social measures that aimed at clearing heavy pollution and easing family planning policies. Related story: China sets 7.5% GDP target The reform measures are nothing if not ambitious. Capital Economics called one laundry list of proposals "the most impressive statement of reform intentions that we've seen this century." But the big question is whether Beijing will follow through on its promises. Some reform initiatives -- such as reforming state-owned companies, managing local government debt and fiscal reform -- have lacked specifics. Xi's sweeping anti-corruption campaign has placed a number of government officials and company executives under investigation. Officials have been banned from conspicuous spending -- no more extravagant banquets, riding in showy cars and gifting luxury items. Some critics say the crackdown is more about knocking out political opponents, but either way, it's a move that has gathered significant momentum. China has also begun testing a number of financial reforms in a free-trade zone in Shanghai, including greater foreign investment access and experimentation with market-based interest rates. Baidu, Alibaba challenge Chinese banks Related story: China's anti-corruption drive eats into growth More recently, the People's Bank of China has allowed the tightly-pegged yuan to fluctuate a bit more than usual -- a possible sign that Beijing is getting serious about building a more market-driven economy. Despite these strides, China still faces an uphill battle in implementing some reforms, especially in the face of slowing economic growth. While economists agree China needs to change, gains may not be reflected in the economy for years. Related story: Beijing loses billions as rich skip taxes Looking ahead, there are a number of areas that experts say the government must still address, including tax reform, shadow banking regulation, food safety and shoring up the country's social safety net. Tackling even just one of those could help alleviate a number of major challenges. Tax reform, for example, "is crucial for addressing local government debt, property bubbles, and financial risk," analysts at Barclays wrote in a recent research note. CNNMoney (Hong Kong) First published March 4, 2014: 8:32 PM ET	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353703
__label__wiki	0.925909	0.925909	America’s Choice 2016 Boston Globe's Donald Trump satire: 'Deportations to begin' by Brian Stelter @brianstelter April 10, 2016: 4:29 PM ET Trump's new Sunday show strategy: silence Sunday's Boston Globe warned readers about the "deeply troubling" risks of a Donald Trump presidency by publishing an imaginary front page from April 9, 2017. "Deportations to Begin," the top headline blares. "Markets sink as trade war looms," says another. "New libel law targets 'absolute scum' in press," says a third. The satirical front page -- which replaces the usual front of the newspaper's Ideas section -- includes jokes but seeks to make a very serious point. "This is an exercise in taking Donald Trump at his word," Ideas section editor Katie Kingsbury told CNNMoney. Trump's word for the Globe on Sunday was "stupid." He ridiculed the "worthless" paper during a rally in Rochester, New York. The Globe "made up the whole front page," which "is really no different from the whole paper," he said, earning laughs from the crowd. Trump also mocked the previous owner of The Globe, The New York Times Company, for spending $1.3 billion to buy the paper, then selling it two decades later for "one dollar." (It sold for $70 million.) Trump separately criticized The Times and The Washington Post. According to Kingsbury, the Globe's intent with the satirical cover was "to create a conversation about what a Donald Trump presidency could look like." It succeeded -- garnering a mixture of acclaim and criticism. Via @GlobeOpinion - The front page we hope we never have to print. https://t.co/AAGNFEEjRC pic.twitter.com/SzNJovzzoH — The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) April 9, 2016 A tweet from the Globe called it "the front page we hope we never have to print." The section front includes an "editor's note" that says "This is Donald Trump's America." It was produced by the editorial page of the Globe, which is separate from the newsroom. When readers open up the section, they'll see a full-page editorial on page two titled "GOP Must Stop Trump." The editorial says Ted Cruz would be "perhaps more dangerous" than Trump and asserts that the party should rally behind Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan at the convention instead. The actual Ideas section starts on page three. The faux front page resembles an April Fools Day prank by a college newspaper -- but is bound to get a lot more attention. Ladies and gentlemen, we are living through history... pic.twitter.com/A56KmNOY4g — MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) April 9, 2016 The widely-read Drudge Report revealed the editorial on Saturday afternoon by posting photos of the 2017 front page and calling it "fake news." Kingsbury disputed that description. "It's a satire produced by the Editorial Page -- this will be clear to readers of the Globe when they get their papers," she said. The page includes many actual Trump quotes, including his pledge to deport criminals who are in the United States illegally "so fast your head will spin," and his comment that "70 to 75% of reporters are absolutely dishonest. Absolute scum. Remember that. Scum." One of the articles quips that Fox News host Megyn Kelly, in a Trump presidency, has been "placed on a White House blacklist." There are numerous jokes, including the renaming of Yellowstone National Park as Trump National Park and a proposal to remake Trump's reality show "Celebrity Apprentice" using "hand puppets." The page also warns of a potential "global recession" due to Trump's trade barriers, including a chart portraying a 6,500-point drop in the Dow. Another headline, "U.S. soldiers refuse orders to kill ISIS families," references Trump's comment that the military should "take out" the families of terrorists. CNNMoney (New York) First published April 9, 2016: 7:56 PM ET	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353704
__label__wiki	0.665857	0.665857	Revision as of 11:53, 25 September 2015 by Dusan (talk \| contribs) (→‎Literature) 2.1 Matthew Fuller, Media Ecologies, 2005 ElectroSmog Jussi Parikka Transnatural Matthew Fuller, Media Ecologies, 2005 From Joel Slayton's foreword Media ecology is a very slippery term. It is often used to refer to both an interlaced topological analysis of media objects, as an environ, as well as an accounting of their function. It can also be an address of the materiality and immateriality of media objects, devices, and systems in terms of their form as both pattern and presence including the relative nature of their function. The term also refers to the multiplicity of meanings associative to the constituent binding relations of information objects contained within the ecology, its language. And, as Matthew Fuller illuminates, media ecology is also a descriptor of the parallel histories and affordances of context. Within the multiplicities of these ecologies, complexity reigns supreme. Nonlinear, selforganizational, and transpositional systems behavior combine autopoietically at the intersection of media collisions. Complementing Manuel De Landa’s reading of the phase space model and Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari’s poetics of the machinic phylum, Fuller directs our attention toward aesthetics of layering composed of multiple relations of media dimensionality. These are dimensionalities operating as self-referencing structures that cooperate to produce something in excess of themselves and emerge in new structures of political, material, and aesthetic combination. From Fuller's introduction The term media ecology is used and in circulation in a number of ways [..earliest use of the term that I have noticed is an intriguing short article in the form of a set of notes in a magazine of experimental video, Radical Software. Raymond Arlo, "Media Ecology", Radical Software 1:3 (Spring 1971), p 19.] [..] "Media ecology,” or more often “information ecology,” is deployed as a euphemism for the allocation of informational roles in organizations and in computer-supported collaborative work. Commonly, it is used as a saccharine term for the “natural” structuring of the microscopic to macroscopic dimensions of class composition and command in a workforce. On the one hand, this is done on a mundane level, such as in the ordering and management of reception staff within an organization, making sure they have the location, communications filter-rating, and availability of all other staff at their fingertips. Of keen interest too in such contexts is how information flows are routed within an organization. So the term often also implies an interrelationship with knowledge and time management processes, intellectual property regimes, database and software design, content control, access structuring, metadata, archiving, and the use and generation of new document and information types. A third, and related current is how auditing processes and “quality control” extend through informationalization into greater parts of contemporary work-patterns. In other words, the terms “media ecology” and “information ecology” are highly susceptible to interpretation as part of the jargon effluvia of the early twenty-first century. Underlying these terms, however, are key discussions about the development, contestation, and invention of life in the present day. Some of these issues will be discussed here, but somewhat at a tangent to the refrain of life, as a subset of a larger enterprise opportunity in which they are often found. In a related sense, in that there is something of a shared predisposition to an uncomplicated but rather more spiritually troubled technological determinism, is another use of the term by a current surrounding media commentor and educationalist Neil Postman [1]. Here, “media ecology” describes a kind of environmentalism: using a study of media to sustain a relatively stable notion of human culture. The intellectual background of this current includes Marshall McLuhan, Lewis Mumford, Harold Innis, Walter Ong, and Jacques Ellul—a vivid set of resources. Here, “ecology” is more usually replaced with the term “environment” or is used as a cognate term where the fundamental difference between the two concepts is glossed over. Echoing differences in life sciences and in various Green political movements, “environmentalism” possesses a sustaining vision of the human and wants to make the world safe for it. Such environmentalism also often suggests that there has passed, or that there will be reached, a state of equilibrium: that there is a resilient and harmonic balance to be achieved with some ingenious and beneficent mix of media. Ecologists focus rather more on dynamic systems in which any one part is always multiply connected, acting by virtue of those connections, and always variable, such that it can be regarded as a pattern rather than simply as an object. At times there is certainly an overlap of interests between this book and this current, particularly in attempts to investigate how media can be said to have certain kinds of causality. However, as with the business-oriented discussions of media and information management, much of the work in this second current is rather too often symptomatic of other, more fundamental shifts in cultural modes: how much longer until the ever-awaited fall of the book? Instead of providing a sing-along chorus to these changes, as the first current does for those parts of life falling under the regime of economics, the latter seeks too often only to trace them with the properly cultivated kind of detached horror. Their conceptual resources, however, have more to offer. A third strand of use of the term is discernible in some of the most interesting parts of literary studies in recent decades in, for instance, the writings of Katherine Hayles [How We Became Posthuman, 1999; Writing Machines, 2002], Friedrich Kittler [Discourse Networks 1800/1900, 1990], and others such as the critic and editor Joseph Tabbi [2]. These representatives of a thread of study in which literature becomes a part of a subset of media, and thus of discursive storage, calculation, and transmission systems, have fundamental insights to offer. Such work makes electronic or code-based logical composition and a developed theorization of interaction come into play with cultural analysis and production. Of particular use too is such work’s discussion of domains usually roped off as science, its varied histories and philosophies. Such work also often serves to complicate and open up the possibilities to be found in the second thread. The interrelation of Kittler and McLuhan—despite the former’s amused anticipation of the moment when man is occluded and finally ignored by his “extensions”—is clear, for instance. Where these thinkers gain perceptual and methodological power is in the introduction of, broadly speaking, poststructuralist concerns to the fundamentally humanistic, or even intrinsically religious, concerns of the “environmental” approach. It must be said, however, that here the specific term “media ecologies” is used largely either as an aside, or more precisely as something already accessible as a known object of reference. The context of this writing is to take this named thing, to take advantages of this reference in circulation, a scrap of phrase or conceptwrapper, and to make use of it, but also to test it and, one hopes, to extend its precision. A key reference in doing so will be to make use of a sense in which the term ecology has also been extended in texts by Félix Guattari working among social movements that have themselves made such links. It will be clear from a scan of this book that Guattari, his serial collaborator Gilles Deleuze, as well as writers who have made their own uses of their work, such as Manuel De Landa and Howard Slater, provide a persistent thread of reference. Guattari himself derives a great deal of conceptual ground from the cybernetician and anthropologist Gregory Bateson. Guattari’s use of the term ecology is worth noting here, first, because the stakes he assigns to media are rightly perceived as being profoundly political or ethico-aesthetic at all scales. Aligning such political processes with creative powers of invention that demand “laboratories of thought and experimentation for future forms of subjectivation” also poses a demand for the inventive rigor with which life among media must be taken up. Equally, Guattari’s repeated linkage and cross-fertilization of the three modes, “mental,” “natural,” and “social” of ecology within “ecosophy” provides insight into the way that any of these or other modes of an ecology always demand carrying over into another mode, another universe of reference, and always another, in order for these laboratories, whether in texts, persons, movements, or at other scales, to have any function. Matthew Fuller, Media Ecologies: Materialist Energies in Art and Technoculture, MIT Press, 2005. Jussi Parikka, "The Universal Viral Machine: Bits, Parasites and the Media Ecology of Network Culture", CTheory, 15 December 2005. Jussi Parikka, "Contagion and Repetition: On the Viral Logic of Network Culture", ephemera 7:2 (2007), pp 287-308. Jussi Parikka, Digital Contagions: A Media Archaeology of Computer Viruses, New York: Peter Lang, 2007. Conclusion, [3]. Luciana Parisi, "Technoecologies of Sensation", in Deleuze \| Guattari & Ecologies, ed. Bernd Herzogenrath, New York: Palgrave, 2009, pp 182-199. Mark B. N. Hansen, "System-Environment Hybrids", in Emergence and Embodiment: New Essays on Second-Order Systems Theory, eds. Mark B. N. Hansen and Bruce Clarke, Duke University Press, 2009, pp 113-142. Jussi Parikka, Insect Media: An Archaeology of Animals and Technology, Minnesota University Press, 2010, 320 pp. Bernard Stiegler, Frédéric Neyrat, "Interview: From Libidinal Economy to the Ecology of the Spirit", Parrhesia 14 (2012), pp 9-15. Erich Hörl, "Le nouveau paradigme écologique. Pour une écologie générale des techniques et des medias", trans. Guillaume Plas, Multitudes 51 (2012), pp 74-85. (in French) Erich Hörl, "A Thousand Ecologies: The Process of Cyberneticization and General Ecology", trans. Jeffrey Kirkwood, James Burton, and Maria Vlotides, in The Whole Earth. California and the Disappearance of the Outside, eds. Diedrich Diederichsen and Anselm Franke, Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2013, pp 121-130. Stephen Rust, Salma Monani, Sean Cubitt (eds.), Ecomedia: Key Issues, Routledge, 2015. [4] Erich Hörl (ed.), The Ecological Paradigm. Perspectives of a General Ecology of Media and Technology, Fordham University Press, (forthcoming). [5] On art and ecology Nohra Corredor, "What is Ecological Video Art?", 2006. Keith M. Armstrong "'Grounded Media': Expanding the Scope of Ecological Art Practices within New Media Arts Culture", Media-Space Journal 1 (2008). Sam Bower, "A Profusion of Terms", 2010. Excerpt from Haeckel's definition of ecology, 1866. View online. Jakob von Uexküll, Streifzüge durch die Umwelten von Tieren und Menschen, [1934] 1958. Download. Primary references Ernst Haeckel, Generelle Morphologie der Organismen, Bd. 2, Berlin: G. Reimer, 1866, 574 pp. (in German). Coins the term ecology [Oecologie]: "Unter Oecologie [οἶκος, der Haushalt, die Lebensbeziehungen] verstehen wir die gesammte Wissenschaft von den Beziehungen des Organismus zur umgebenden Aussenwelt, wohin wir im weiteren Sinne alle 'Existenz-Bedingungen' rechnen können. Diese sind theils organischer, theils anorganischer Natur; sowohl diese als jene sind, wie wir vorher gezeigt haben, von der grössten Bedeutung für die Form der Organismen, weil sie dieselbe zwingen, sich ihnen anzupassen. [..] Die Descendenz-Theorie erklärt uns also die Haushalts-Verhältnisse der Organismen mechanisch, als die nothwendingen Folgen wirkender Ursachen, und bildet somit die monistische Grundlage der Oecologie." (pp 286-7). English trans.: "By ecology [οἶκος, household or housekeeping, living relations], we mean the whole science of the relations of the organism to the environment including, in the broad sense, all the conditions of existence. These are partly organic, partly inorganic in nature; both, as we have shown, are of the greatest significance for the form of organisms, for they force them to become adapted. [..] Thus the theory of evolution explains the housekeeping relations of organisms mechanistically as the necessary consequences of effectual causes and so forms the monistic groundwork of ecology" (Stauffer 1957:140-1). Jakob von Uexküll, Streifzüge durch die Umwelten von Tieren und Menschen: Ein Bilderbuch unsichtbarer Welten, Berlin: J. Springer, 1934, 102 pp; repr. Hamburg: Rowohlt, 1956, 182 pp; 1958; 1962; Frankfurt am Main: S.Fischer, 1970, 206 pp. Illustrated by Georg Kriszat. (in German) "A Stroll Through the Worlds of Animals and Men: A Picture Book of Invisible Worlds", in Instinctive Behavior: The Development of a Modern Concept, ed. & trans. Claire H. Schiller, New York: International Universities Press, 1957, pp 5-80; repr. in Semiotica 89:4 (1992), pp 319-391. Zwerftochten door de werelden van dieren en mensen, Amsterdam: Wereld-Bibliotheek, 1958. (in Dutch) Dos animais e dos homens: digressões pelos seus mundos próprios. Doutrina do Significado, trans. Alberto Candeias and Anibal Garcia Pereira, Lisbon: Livros do Brasil, 1959, 205 pp. (in Portuguese) Mondes animaux et monde humain suivi de La théorie de la signification, trans. Philippe Muller, Paris: Denoël, 1965. (in French) A Foray into the Worlds of Animals and Humans, with A Theory of Meaning, trans. Joseph D. O’Neil, University of Minnesota Press, 2010, 272 pp. Gregory Bateson, Steps to an Ecology of Mind, San Francisco: Chandler, 1972, 542 pp; Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1987. Formulates the concept of the three ecologies: three interconnected networks existing at the scales of mind, society and the environment. Whereas Darwin's theory of natural selection argued that "the unit of survival was either the family line or the species or subspecies", Bateson argues that "the unit of survival is organism plus environment. We are learning by bitter experience that the organism which destroys its environment destroys itself." He concludes that "the unit of evolutionary survival turns out to be identical with the unit of mind. Formerly we tlought of a hierarchy of taxa - individual, family line, subspecies,species, etc. - as units of survival. We now see a different hierarchy of units - gene-in-organism, organism-in-environment, ecosystem, etc. Ecology, in the widest sense, turns out to be the study of the interaction and survival of ideas and programs (ie., differences, complexes of differences, etc.) in circuits." (taken from Guattari 2000:70) Félix Guattari, Les trois écologies, Paris: Galilée, 1989, 74 pp. (in French). Guattari expands Bateson's concept: "nature cannot be separated from culture; in order to comprehend the interactions between eco-systems, the mechanosphere and the social and individual Universes of reference, we must learn to think 'transversally'" (2000:43). As três ecologias, trans. Maria Cristina F. Bittencourt, Campinas, SP: Papirus, 1990. (in Portuguese) The Three Ecologies, trans. Ian Pindar and Paul Sutton, London: Athlone Press, 2000, 174 pp. "Ecology" in the intersections of art, technology, science and culture, compiled by Stephen Wilson. See also the section "Natural phenomena". Media Art Ecologies programme at Furtherfield. Greenmuseum.org uses "environmental art" as an umbrella term to encompass "eco-art" / "ecological art", "ecoventions", "land art", "earth art", "earthworks", "art in nature" and even a few other less-common terms. Retrieved from "https://monoskop.org/index.php?title=Media_ecology&oldid=63035"	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353705
__label__wiki	0.9669	0.9669	Watch Rubblebucket's Spirited Art-Pop Set in the Paste Studio By Lizzie Manno \| October 25, 2018 \| 1:40pm Image via YouTube Music Features Rubblebucket On Wednesday, Rubblebucket stopped by the Paste Studio to perform songs from their latest full-length, Sun Machine, which came out this August via Grand Jury Music. The Brooklyn duo made up of Kalmia Traver and Alex Toth brought some guest musicians to bring their joyful new album to life in our New York City studio. Paste recently interviewed Traver for a feature about Sun Machine’s dark, personal lyrics masked with celebratory, danceable pop songs. Asked whether the record is equal parts joy and pain, Traver responded with another question, “Isn’t that life?” She also explained that feeling of putting out such a powerfully vulnerable record. “It’s just cool to feel like you’re making a whole patchwork experience that all finally comes together and culminates in this little package in a CD or a vinyl,” says Traver, “just kind of propagating your little patchwork out into the universe, hoping it touches somebody.” Rubblebucket’s mix of experimental pop and dance funk is as intoxicating to watch as it is to listen. They played three tracks from the record in the Paste Studio—”What Life Is”, “Fruity” and “Lemonade”—which you can watch below. rubblebucket sun machine Also from Rubblebucket The 20 Best Live Acts of the 2010s By Ellen Johnson & Paste Staff November 12, 2019 \| 10:20am Bonnaroo 2019 Day 3 Recap: Kacey Musgraves, John Prine, The Lonely Island and More By Ellen Johnson & Lizzie Manno June 16, 2019 \| 1:30pm Ryan Dugré: The Humors By Robert Ham March 22, 2019 \| 11:18am Watch Rubblebucket Party in the Paste Studio on This Day in 2016 By Ellen Johnson January 9, 2019 \| 11:20am Rubblebucket - Full Session By Paste Magazine October 25, 2018 \| 12:00am Rubblebucket - Lemonade By Paste Magazine October 25, 2018 \| 12:00am More from Rubblebucket The Week In Music: The Best Albums, Songs, Performances and More By Ellen Johnson January 17, 2020 \| 11:34am The Paste Podcast #38: The Witcher & The Dead South By Paste Staff January 17, 2020 \| 11:00am Listen to Patti Smith's Art-Punk Version of the Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes" From 1976 By Loren DiBlasi January 16, 2020 \| 5:08pm Daily Dose: Tiña, "Dip" By Lizzie Manno January 16, 2020 \| 1:30pm Daily Dose: Westerman, "Blue Comanche" By Lizzie Manno January 15, 2020 \| 3:15pm “Camaraderie & Community” At The Core of Nashville’s Gender Revolution By Andy Crump January 15, 2020 \| 12:00pm	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353707
__label__cc	0.661726	0.338274	What Happened to the Portcullis? A view on developments affecting Global Customs & Trade Customs Modernisation Release 1 launch 9/11 Vivid Memories WCO-SACU IT-Connectivity & Data Exchange Conference 2012 Non-Intrusive Inspection New generation NII technology Scanner Procurement Basics WCO Data Model SARS Detector Dog Unit (DDU) South African Trade Stats International Customs Theme 2020 Visitors to this Site Latest news from the WCO WCO supports the Pau Declaration by G5 Sahel countries’ Heads of State and the French President January 16, 2020 WCO addresses Working Party on Customs Union under Croatia's EU Council Presidency January 14, 2020 The Seventh WGRKC Meeting Discussed the Way Forward for the Comprehensive Review of the RKC January 14, 2020 The WCO INAMA Project and the Nigeria Customs Service join forces to combat Illegal Wildlife Trade January 14, 2020 The new 2022 Edition of the Harmonized System has been accepted January 8, 2020 WCO supports Thailand on the Harmonized System and Advance Rulings on 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Facilitation (173) Trade Statistics (9) transfer pricing (1) Transnet (30) Travel Allowance (3) UN/Edifact (6) under invoicing (2) USCBP (37) Utility Block (5) Waybill (2) WCO (165) Weapons of Mass Destruction (2) World Bank (15) World Customs Journal (6) WTO (47) X-Ray scanning (15) Tag / economy February 10, 2016 by Mike Poverello SA – New Bills discouraging trade and investment Africa, Foreign direct investment, International Trade, Trade and Industry, United Nations BRICs, economy, EU, FDI, geopolitical, investment, South Africa, trade relations, Tutwa Consulting, US South Africa is moving away from a policy promoting trade and investment to one that contradicts this, a roundtable on SA-European Union (EU) trade relations heard on Tuesday. This comes as global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows jumped 36% last year to their highest level since the global economic and financial crisis began in late 2008, but plummeted in emerging markets, especially SA. The most recent United Nations (UN) Conference on Trade and Development global investment trends monitor shows FDI into SA fell 74% to $1.5bn last year, while FDI inflows to Africa fell 31% to about $38bn. Central Africa and Southern Africa saw the largest declines in FDI. The end of the commodity “supercycle” and the plunge in oil prices affected new project developments drastically, the UN body said. This had also affected Brazil, Russia and China, but not India, whose economy had surged ahead of late. Peter Draper, MD of Tutwa Consulting, which researches policy and regulatory matters in emerging markets, said the promulgation of legislation such as the private security bill and the expropriation bill, created an impression that SA was not an attractive investment destination. “What lies behind all of that, I think, is an ideological agenda, which is not favourable to business,” he said. “Geopolitically there is no love between SA and the US and SA and the EU. (But) There is lots of love for the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, SA).” South African and international business have raised the alarm over the quiet signing into law of SA’s Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill late last year, after the government had acknowledged that it would do little to promote trade. Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry said last week that the African National Congress had directed its economic transformation subcommittee to review the trade agreements signed by SA since 1999. It said SA’s goal in “negotiating” trade agreements was to support national development objectives, promote intra-African trade and the integration of SA into global markets. This is likely to be highly controversial after the government from 2013 unilaterally cancelled about 13 bilateral investment treaties with major EU countries, drawing warnings from the bloc that this could damage trade relations. Investors fear the Protection of Investment Bill has diluted recourse to international arbitration over trade disputes, and enhances the possibility of expropriation. Critics also say it contradicts SA’s obligations under the Southern African Development Community’s finance and investment protocol, by undermining equitable treatment between foreign and domestic investors. John Purchase, CE of agribusiness association Agbiz, which with Tutwa Consulting organised yesterday’s roundtable, said the bill had not answered “all those questions around the bilateral investment treaties”. Source: Business Day January 13, 2015 by Mike Poverello China’s Second Continent – the new colonisation of Africa Customs, Customs Academia, Economic development, International Shipping, International Trade Africa, book, China, China’s Second Continent, colonisation, economic expansion, economy, Howard French, Trade Former US Diplomat Brooks Spector takes a look at this important book (Daily Maverick) that should be on every economic policy maker’s reading list. Howard French’s China’s Second Continent, offers a very different – and provocative – perspective on China’s economic future, with special attention on Africa. Building on years of experience in both China and Africa, and following months of personal inquiry across the continent to search for answers to the questions of what China really wants in Africa, and how it is going to get there, French has effectively turned these questions on their head. Instead of writing about China’s international economic policies in the language of the think tanks, of Wall Street and The City, or government councils in Whitehall or Washington, French has focused instead on what a million individual Chinese have done – or are now doing – throughout Africa, almost without regard to what the Chinese government may have planned or been thinking. In tackling the topic through this optic, French has given this vast Chinese movement into and across Africa crucial human dimensions. For the full review please visit this hyperlink. China’s Second Continent is available in hardcopy and electronic publication from online book stores. Source: Daily Maverick April 12, 2014 by Mike Poverello Nigeria vs South Africa – size matters, but so does development BRICs, economic inequality, economy, GDP, Massmart, Nigeria, population, Shoprite, South Africa, stock exchange, Wal-Mart What matters more: the size of the pie or how many mouths it has to feed? It depends whether you’re eating pies, or selling them. Most of Nigeria’s 170-million people live below the poverty line, so many complained they didn’t feel any richer when the oil producing nation’s statistics bureau announced on Sunday the economy had replaced South Africa as the continent’s biggest. Nigeria’s 2013 GDP was rebased up to an estimated nearly $510-billion – a “pie” one and half times the size of South Africa’s, but feeding more than three times as many people. But development economists argue that their attention should be on improving the health, education and incomes of ordinary Nigerians, many of whom struggle to feed their families. In 2013, the Economist Intelligence Unit rated Nigeria the worst place for a child to be born out of 80 countries surveyed. “Really what matters in the end is per capita, how well our individuals are doing,” World Bank chief Africa economist Francisco Ferreira said after the statistical change in Abuja. “I don’t want to rain on Nigeria’s parade … but what matters are living standards for everyone.” In GDP per capita terms, Nigeria is looking healthier than before rebasing: per capita GDP was $2 688 last year, from an estimated $1 437 in 2012. Yet that masks growing inequality: at around 60%, absolute poverty in Nigeria is stubbornly high despite five years of average 7% annual GDP growth. But are better living standards for all really what matters to investors looking to cash in on a big economy? On a per capita basis, Botswana, Mauritius and Seychelles are among Africa’s top five richest states. None has a population of more than two-million, so they are admired but cannot claim heavyweight status when it comes to competing with other African countries for the attention of foreign investors. “Seychelles is the only African country listed under ‘very high human development’. But when did you last hear Seychelles mentioned during discussions on global political economy?” commentator Azuka Onwuka wrote in Nigeria’s Punch newspaper. “A high GDP means external … investors pay more attention. The US and Europe no longer look down on China and India.” Population Power Nigeria’s potential is predicated on its large population. Economist Jim O’Neill notably included it in his MINT group of countries, alongside Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey, which he thinks will join the BRICs (Brazil, India, Russia, China) he named as the emerging economies shaping the world’s future. All have large, swelling populations, with a demographic bulge around the soon-to-be-most-productive younger generations. For businesses deciding where to invest next, a consumer market of 170-million beats the Seychelles’ 85 000. “Size matters,” Oscar Onyema, chief executive of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, said. “Size means you will be able to do … projects you would not have considered in smaller economies.” For retailers targeting customers at the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid, a national income spread around more households – lower GDP per capita, in other words – might actually be a good thing, many economists argue. If you are selling washing powder or fizzy drinks, better a large number of consumers on modest incomes than a small number of wealthy. There is only so much cola most people can drink. For Kenyan industrialist Manu Chandaria, chairperson of Comcraft Group, which sells ironware, including corrugated roofs and pots and pans, Nigeria has massive potential. Comcraft is in 18 locations there, despite the fact that its Nigeria manager has been kidnapped three times by criminal gangs – a common risk facing businesses in southern Nigeria. “Nigeria is just colossal,” he told the Reuters Africa Summit in Nairobi. “Everybody needs to eat. Everybody needs shelter … Anybody that brings in money needs a pot to cook in, they need a roof – so we are in the right place.”. Inequality is Risky Higher up that pyramid, living standards matter more. In this regard South Africa, which still has poverty but also a big middle class and an advanced consumer society, beats Nigeria. Africa’s top energy producer relies heavily on oil, which tends to concentrate wealth in an elite at the top of the social scale – good for luxury goods firms like LVMH and Porsche, both of which have thriving operations in Nigeria. But retailers targeting a broader consumer class say Nigeria still needs better infrastructure and a more diversified economy to achieve its full potential as a mass market. “Until the country invests more in infrastructure, invests more on other activities outside of oil, until that starts to develop the economy … I think the potential is not like it is in South Africa,” said Mark Turner, Africa Director for Massmart Holdings, a unit of US retailer Wal-Mart. Massmart currently has two stores in Nigeria, with another opening in the coming weeks – compared with 300 in South Africa. Turner said he could see the company opening as many as 15 stores in Nigeria, if the country could deepen development. Yet the market attraction of Nigeria’s growing middle class is already there – Shoprite just opened a store in Kano, despite the threat of an insurgency in the north, and a Massmart ‘Game’ store will soon join it there. But Nigeria’s growing inequalities add to “political risks, as a result of perceived marginalisation,” said Razia Khan, chief Africa economist at Standard Chartered Bank. Unless something is done to lift the impoverished masses, the risk of social unrest, already being reaped in a bloody insurgency in the destitute northeast and oil theft in the south, will grow. She said: “The pressure on the authorities to create some sort of social safety net in response will be significant.” Source: Engineeringnews.co.za Poland SEZs – Case Study 20 years after Economic development, SEZ business incentives, CASE Network, economic activity, economy, Foreign direct investment, Poland, Special Economic Zones In “Special Economic Zones – 20 years later” Camilla Jensen and Marcin Winiarczyk offer a panel data evaluation of the effectiveness of Poland’s regional policy since 1994. The policy was originally initiated to foster new economic activity in designated greenfield zones in high unemployment areas at the beginning of Poland’s transition. Over time the policy has evolved and many areas including areas that encompass economic activities from the socialist period have been adopted into the scheme. The main incentive tool for new investors to locate in the SEZs are income tax reductions. In exchange Poland is expected to get new, environmentally friendly and export oriented investments that offer additional job placements. The econometric evaluation shows that the policy has been successful mainly on one criteria which is to attract foreign direct investment into the Polish SEZs. More qualitative and long-term development oriented targets such as instilling environmental friendly behaviour are lagging behind. Comparing the wage developments in and out of the zones also suggests that industries and activities located in the zones are less skill intensive and therefore also less prone to catapult Poland into its next developmental phase, which is a skill-intensive innovation driven economy. Therefore, the authors conclude that to instil among investors in SEZs better behavioural models that will lock investors into a future oriented development path, it is necessary to consider other incentives and initiatives. Read the full report at this link! Source: CASE Research Death by China Contraband, Corruption, Financial Crisis, Illicit Goods, WTO America, China, Death by China, economy, financial crisis, multinational company, WTO The featured documentary should be mandatory viewing for all small to medium company owners, economic and foreign trade advisers. While we are inclined to blame the Chinese for all prevailing economic woes, it is in fact the blatant greed of western CEO’s – multinational companies in particular – who have placed profit above prosperity of their country. The film clearly spells out the causes for the systematic destruction of the american economy and manufacturing base, all for the sake of shareholders and outrageous CEO bonuses. The rampant expansion of China in Africa should raise serious concerns for all sub-Saharan African citizens whose elected leaders appear happy, but oblivious, in courting the Chinese with little or no consideration of the realities of their economic and human rights track record. DEATH BY CHINA is a documentary feature that pointedly confronts the most urgent problem facing America today – its increasingly destructive economic trade relationship with a rapidly rising China. Since China began flooding U.S. markets with illegally subsidized products in 2001, over 50,000 American factories have disappeared, more than 25 million Americans can’t find a decent job, and America now owes more than 3 trillion dollars to the world’s largest totalitarian nation. Through compelling interviews with voices across the political spectrum, DEATH BY CHINA exposes that the U.S.-China relationship is broken and must be fixed if the world is going to be a place of peace and prosperity. Visit – www.deathbychina.com for details on acquiring this powerful documentary. “A truly life-changing, mouth-dropping documentary film…Peter Navarro’s ‘Death by China’ grabs you by the throat and never lets go.” Francesca McCaffery, Blackbook Magazine December 11, 2012 December 11, 2012 by Mike Poverello World’s Best (and Worst) Economies International Trade, Trade Facilitation, World Bank economy, Global Competitiveness Index, Global Competitiveness Report, Gross domestic product, WEF, World Bank, World Economic Forum, World Health Organization According to the WEF, competitiveness reflects the level of productivity of a country, based on its institutions, policies and economic factors. In its study, the WEF groups the 144 countries it surveys into one of three economic categories. “Factor-driven” economies are the least developed and rely on low-skilled labor and natural resources. More developed countries are considered “efficiency-driven” economies because they turn to improving output. The most developed economies, which focus on improving technology and new product and idea development, are considered “innovative.” To create the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) score for each country, the WEF ranked more than 100 economic indicators divided into 12 broad categories, referred to as pillars, that quantify the extent to which a country is competitive. The economic indicators and pillars were then scored 1 to 7. To rank the countries, some economic measures were weighted more heavily than others, depending on how the economy was categorized. Based on WEF’s Global Competitiveness Report, which ranks 144 countries that make up almost 99% of the world’s GDP, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the economies with the highest and lowest Global Competitiveness Index scores. Data from the World Bank and the World Health Organization were used to provide additional information on some economies. For a summary of the results, read – The World’s Best (and Worst) Economies – 24/7 Wall St. For the full report, a PDF download (<500 pages) is available from: World Economic Forum For a view on the impact for South Africa, read – Global South Africans May 23, 2012 by Mike Poverello Open Borders and Integrated Supply Chains break down Global Trade Barriers Border Management Agency, Border posts, Co-operative border management, Cross Border Trade, Economic development, Non Tariff Barriers, Trade Corridors, Trade Facilitation, Uncategorized, World Bank ASEAN, China, economy, Hong Kong, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, supply chains, Thailand, Trade Barriers, value chains, WEF, World Economic Forum East Asian economies have recorded marked improvements in their ability to enable trade, while traditional frontrunners Singapore and Hong Kong retain a clear lead at the top of the global rankings, according to the Global Enabling Trade Report 2012, released today by the World Economic Forum. The report, which is published every two years, also confirms strong showings for Europe’s major economies, with Finland and the United Kingdom both advancing six places to 6th and 11th, respectively, and Germany and France remaining stable at 13th and 20. Other large economies fare less well: the US continues its decline to 23rd, as does China (56th) and India (100th). Among emerging economies, Turkey (62nd) and Mexico (65th) remain stable while Chile (14th), Saudi Arabia (27th) and South Africa (63rd) climb in the ranking. ASEAN members Thailand (57th), Indonesia (58th) and the Philippines (72nd) also improve. Perhaps the proponents of OSBPs and a BMA in South Africa have not read this or have deeper insight into the matter. As well as ranking nations’ trade openness, the report finds that traditional notions of trade are increasingly outdated as global value chains require new measurements, policies and cooperation. The report also finds that security, quality and trade can be mutually reinforcing through supply chain integrity efforts, but a knowledge gap in identifying buyers remains an important barrier. The biennial report, covering 132 economies worldwide, measures the abilities of economies to enable trade and highlights areas where improvements are most needed. A widely used reference, it helps countries integrate global value chains and companies with their investment decisions. At the core of the report is the Enabling Trade Index, which measures institutions, policies and services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders and to destination. It breaks the enablers into four issue areas: market access, border administration, transport and communications infrastructure, and business environment. The Index uses a combination of data from publicly available sources, as well as the results of the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum with its network of partner research institutes and business organizations in the countries included in the report. The 2012 results demonstrate that the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement has facilitated trade since its entry into force in 2010. This year, the report also directly captures the most important obstacles to exporting and importing in each country, and notes the strong links between import and export success. Source: AllAfrica.com / WEF Enhancing South Africa’s and Africa’s development through Regional and Continental Integration (mpoverello.com) May 8, 2012 May 8, 2012 by Mike Poverello Importers and Exporters may see doubled freight rates by 2015 Cargo carrier, Export, Freight Forwarders, International Shipping, Logistics, Trade and Industry, Trade Corridors Containerization, economy, Economy and trade, fleet capacity, MTS Logistics, ship, shipping charges, TEU, transportation, vessel Get ready for a crazy roller coaster ride…As is already well known, the current situation in the shipping world is that there is a large lack of demand against the current overall supply of container space. Today, the current fleet capacity is around 15.5 million TEUs. Since 2005, the total capacity has roughly doubled – literally. Because of the imbalance of supply/demand, carriers are losing blood and even declaring a negative balance sheet for end of 2012. This situation pushes them to the dilemma of getting bigger or getting smaller. Getting bigger means buying new, larger ships. These ships allow carriers to improve their cost effectiveness, work with smaller crews and lower their capital costs. On the other hand, some carriers are getting smaller; serving more niche markets where larger vessels will not call since that will reduce the efficiency of the vessel. You can imagine that a 15,000 TEU ship will not make 3 ports in the same country – if that country is not China. These are the things we see and hear everyday. However a more important game is being played behind the scenes which has a crucial effect on the whole industry. According to Bloomberg; DNB ASA, the world’s largest arranger of shipping loans, expects the shipping industry to have a funding gap of $100 billion by 2015, as European banks are reducing their support to maritime transport. Even if US and Asian banks have an increased interest on maritime loans; EU banks account for 90% of the global ship lending. Considering net shipping loan losses at Nordea Bank AB (NDA), the world’s No. 4 shipping lender, tripled to 135 million euros ($179 million) last year because of “weak market conditions” and “a general decline in vessel values”, everyone will be thinking twice before granting a loan. In addition to that, since there will be less vessel orders with reduced prices, it will be forcing some yards to close in the following 12 to 18 months. How is this going to affect exporters/importers? That’s our major question of course. Considering several factors; the EU Crisis, US getting out of recession, Arab spring is over; it will take another couple of years to get on track for sure. According to HSBC Global Connections, despite the current climate, the overall trend for international trade is positive with growth acceleration sooner than expected from 2014, than 2015. Over the next 5 years an annualized growth rate of %3.78 is forecasted for international trade. The main countries that will be carrying the growth are China and India, and China is expected to have an annualized growth of 6.60% in imports and 6.61% on exports; while India is expected to have 6.81% growth in imports and 7.60% in their exports from 2012 to 2016. Now, according to 2010 stats, worldwide container traffic reached 560 million TEUs – an all-time high. China & Hong Kong Ports handle close to 169 milllion TEUs, 18% of this traffic. We need to keep in mind though, this is not only China exports/imports but also transshipped cargo that goes via those ports to other Asian nations. With that in mind, if we take the growth rate with an average 6% for that region and multiply this with 169 million, we come up with a possible increase of 30 million TEUs annually and 500,000 TEUs weekly basis increase only in the region that handles %18 of global trade.Now, lets go back to the supply side. The major banks will be reducing loans, there will be less ship orders and there will be less ship yards to build new ships. How is this going to affect the years 2014-15 and later? Can Fidan believes very tough years will come for exporters/importers in the sense of shipping costs and finding available space. Prepare to see more of the complaints from exporters not being able to find space and getting asked to pay very high freight charges like we were seeing in 2010. However, this time the difference will be, there won’t be any idle vessels sitting in Singapore or any new ordered vessels to come in and let everyone breath. Considering today, this sounds improbable… Well? the facts are out there and they show that the roller coaster ride we are on will just get crazier. Source: Can Fidan, MTS Logistics	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353708
__label__wiki	0.667799	0.667799	In Search of Fiscal Interactions: A Spatial Analysis of Chinese Provincial Infrastructure Spending Zheng, Xinye and Song, Feng and Yu, Yihua and Song, Shunfeng (2014): In Search of Fiscal Interactions: A Spatial Analysis of Chinese Provincial Infrastructure Spending. Forthcoming in: Review of Development Economics Using a dataset for 31 Chinese provinces from 1998 to 2006, this paper provides a spatial Durbin panel analysis to test for fiscal interactions among China's provinces in their public spending on infrastructure. We find significant positive interactions across Chinese provincial governments. Further analysis attempting to distinguish between the possible sources of such fiscal interactions reveals evidence of expenditure competition instead of yardstick competition. 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__label__wiki	0.68399	0.68399	Shakespeare's Practical Jokes: An Introduction to the Comic in His Works (review) Robert Hornback Renaissance Society of America Shakespeare's Practical Jokes: An Introduction to the Comic in His Works David Ellis . Shakespeare's Practical Jokes: An Introduction to the Comic in His Works.Cranbury: Bucknell University Press, 2007. 236 pp. index. bibl. $52. ISBN: 978–0–8387– 5680–5. Studies of Renaissance comedy have long been constrained by applications of such domineering models as the anthropological-genre study of Northrop Frye, the festive-carnivalesque mode of C. L. Barber and Mikhail Bakhtin, the New Historicists' subversion-containment paradigm, the psychological theory of Freud, and the sociological approach of Bergson. Anyone who has worked extensively with comedy recognizes the limitations of these universalizing theories and the need for thoughtful new work challenging them. David Ellis has written such a book, one that begins to recover the richness, flexibility, and nuance of Renaissance comedy. Eschewing the "trail of 'essence'" (23) leading to that "mirage of perfect definition" (109) of the comic (i.e., humorous), Ellis offers new means for appreciating the depth and variety in Shakespearean drama by closely examining prevalent practical jokes. He thus analyzes the gender and status of Shakespearean practical jokers and their victims (chapters 1 and 2), Falstaff's role as both comic butt and escape artist (chapter 3), the ideal victim (chapter 4), the joke gone too far (Malvolio, chapter 5), the triumph of the butt Parolles over shame (chapter 6), and villainous practices (chapter 7). While attending to performative aspects throughout, Ellis employs several other strategies, notably, comparing the jokers and victims of Italian beffe (cruel literary practical jokes, as in Boccaccio) to those in Shakespeare, a comparison that underscores heightened sympathy in the latter. Contrasting Shakespearean and Jonsonian practical jokers and victims, as well as the roles of Shakespearean comic actors Will Kemp (for example, Bottom and Falstaff) and Robert Armin ("artificial fools" like Feste), likewise proves illuminating. Also productive, if familiar to experts, is Ellis's illustration of how often scholars have conflated comedy, a classical genre with a happy ending, with the commonplace meaning of comic ("'what makes us laugh'" [24]). The comic emerges here instead as something not merely laugh-inducing but rather as capable of eliciting a range of emotions and thought. Ellis demonstrates, for instance, that longstanding theories —for example, the classical-Hobbesian-Bergsonian lack of sympathy —fall short when assessing Shakespeare's comic deceptions, in which sympathies and power shift from jokers to victims and laughter is not always the final result. Ellis expresses skepticism for apologists that explain away what is discomfiting by an "appeal to the difference between the Elizabethan period and our own" (77, 149). Yet, if lazy historicism speciously constructs the past —particularly what Elizabethans laughed at —as simply alien to us, Ellis himself employs overstated cultural oppositions, as when he raises the question of "whether certain jokes played by authority on social inferiors in Shakespeare fail to strike us as funny because the gap between our political culture" and his "is in fact so great" (71–72). Whereas his own analysis "discredits the idea that [Shakespeare] either catered to, [End Page 1041] or shared in, some supposedly common Elizabethan disinclination to allow comedy to be compromised by human suffering" (151), Ellis occasionally invokes the well-worn assumption that "Elizabethan society was far more cruel, brutal, and coarse than ours" (78). An engaging but digressive style sometimes leads down blind alleys when Ellis reviews criticism at length without integrating it meaningfully into his own discussion. At such times, his argument can prove dismissive of recent theoretical approaches (feminist and New Historical), even as his examples of various critical excesses are well-chosen. He especially laments what he calls "'radical' critics" who "present themselves as an embattled minority when they do in fact constitute a powerful and dominating presence in the academic and publishing establishment," to the extent of "conjuring up a benighted opposition of straw men and women" (133). One senses that, perhaps having suffered the effects of dogmatic critical orthodoxy that too often excludes the kind of work in which he engages, he cannot resist the temptation to settle old scores. Some such jousting is constructive, but Ellis risks diverting our attention when some necessary question of... Archived 2009	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0087.json.gz/line1353715

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