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__label__cc	0.731648	0.268352	Parlato Case Roger Stone FR’s Mission K.R. Claviger Raniere Beset By Ringworm Editor’s Note: This is the first of two updates on Keith Raniere’s status at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, NY. Although this one is entirely focused on his latest ailment, the other will provide a more general overview of what’s going on with him there. Things continue to go downhill for Keith Alan Raniere, the man who used to insist on being called Vanguard but who will now be known forevermore as Federal Prisoner #57005-177. MK10ART’s beautiful painting of Keith Alan Raniere. In the two weeks since 12 jurors took less than 5 hours to find him guilty on all seven charges he was facing, Raniere has spent almost a full week in the Suicide Watch Unit at MDC – and then been assigned to a small Transient Unit as he awaits sentencing. Ringworm Alert Shortly after being released from the Suicide Watch Unit, Raniere was diagnosed with a severe case of ringworm. Despite its common name, ringworm is not caused by worms. Instead, it is a fungal infection that often forms a ring-shaped rash. Ringworm Fungus The ringworm fungus thrives in warm, moist areas such as the groin area and between the toes. But once the ringworm fungus has found an access point, it can quickly spread to other areas of the body. Ringworm of the Beard To go along with all of his other spectacular achievements – world’s smartest man, East Coast Judo Champion at age 11, concert pianist, #1 brander of women in the Western hemisphere – Raniere has developed a spectacular case of ringworm. It’s literally all over his body. Ringworm on Shoulder Minor cases of ringworm are treated with antifungal creams. But severe outbreaks – like Raniere’s case – are usually treated with oral medications such as terbinafine, itraconazole, griseofulvin, fluconazole, ciclopirox, or naftifine. Unfortunately for Raniere, he’s currently incarcerated at MDC – a prison that is notorious for its minimalist approach to treating prisoners’ ailments. Metropolitan Detention Center So, instead of receiving any oral medications, Raniere is being supplied with multiple tunes of antifungal cream – which he’s been applying all over his body several times per day. The result is that he’s now walking around with splotches of white cream visible in several areas – which has made him anathema to the other prisoners in his unit (Ringworm is highly contagious — and easily spread from one person to another). “No room at this table…” “Don’t sit your ass there…” “Get the fuck outta here…” Poor little, Keith. No one wants to be near him… Bangkok: Former Coach Who Saw ‘Good’ in Nxivm Is Trying to Whitewash Cultish Behaviors Frank Parlato Is It Virtue Signalling to Call Kristin Kreuk a Virtue Signaller? Raniere Loses All Rights to Nxivm, First Principles, Judge Rules Leave a Reply to soccermom1245 Cancel reply La vida en la prisión de Keith Raniere – Informaciones Virales says: […] ese culto sexual NXIVM y su líder execrable, Keith Raniere? Condenado por un jurado, en menos de cinco horas, de tráfico sexual, pornografía infantil y marca de sus "esclavas" femeninas con […] Film Review: ‘Groundhog Day’: Keith Raniere’s Life in Prison – Truthbaron says: […] that sex cult NXIVM and its execrable leader, Keith Raniere? Convicted by a jury, in less than five hours, of sex trafficking, child porn, and branding his female “slaves” with his […] News Briefs – 07/07/2019 \| says: […] Raniere covered in Ringworm fungal infection. HIgh stress in a guy not accustomed to it. […] Worm-that-turned. says: For the stubby Connoisseur of bodily fluids: https://www.makelifenatural.net/can-urine-therapy-cure-ringworm/ I give you permission to enjoy it. Snorlax says: I think hell just get pissed… Epic! says: This is karma in action. May every single one of his sins against humanity manifest and come back to haunt him. lair lair, ringworm on fire says: He should use his super Vanturd powers to heal himself. Oh wait, that was a big fat lie, wasn’t it? On the upside for Keith, Bubba might be less likely to stick up an ass full of worms. Girl Scout Cookies says: PS. Love the Ringworm close-up pic that looks like a duck. Excellent. Would be fitting as heck if he had a massive outbreak near his junk, if not directly thereon. niceguy says: If Raniere’s health has all ready deteriorated to the point that his immune system is overwhelmed by ringworm….. ……He is not going to last. Something is seriously wrong with his immune system. Below is a link to an article that explains the significance of an individual coming down with an extreme case of ring worm. Needless to say, if the Frank Report ever holds a Death Pool game I am choosing Vanguard. You think a guy named Vanguard would be a hell of a lot tougher….. Curious how long you think Raniere lasts? I bet he lasts two more years in lock up. That’s it. I bet he kills himself before someone kills him. niceguy68 says: Girl Scout cookies, Keith’s Raniere life span……my simple estimation: Physical Health: Raniere has suffered a number of skin (epidermal) infections. If you read the article I left a link to… I think you’ll come to the same conclusion that I did which is there is something seriously wrong with his immune system. I believe he’s had three separate incidences of skin infections. If he gets a bad case of staph (Staphylococcus), it could kill him. The antibiotics for staph can cause infection C. diff., and lead to partial colon removal. Basically, to sum it up, any biotics are so powerful that they kill your gut biome and damage your colon. I actually know someone that this happened to. Physical health problems Will probably kill him within 5 to 8 years. Mental Health: My opinion is that Raniere’s mental health is tied to his legal status currently. My understanding is that the federal appeals courts process takes over a year. If you lose his appeal, the odds that he will commit suicide will go up greatly. If he wins the appeal, it should give him the strength to persevere. I believe he will not commit suicide for at least a year or more. The only cult leaders that I can think of that ever committed suicide were Jim Jones (Jonestown massacre) and the cult leader of Heaven’s Gate. I think as long as Raniere has penpals outside of prison and people he thinks he controls from inside the walls of prison, that will keep his megalomaniac spirits up….. Giving him the fortitude to carry-on. I give Raniere 5 years. He’s been in prison less than two years and he’s already completely deteriorated. I wrote this response on my iPad notes earlier at the train station I had a lot of free time 😉 GirlScoutCookies, I give him 5 years. I do not believe his immune system is good enough to fight off all of the pathogens and diseases found in prison. I don’t think he will commit suicide. Thanks! I agree his immune system has been compromised and most likely will be a factor. Interested to know what others think? buwygfib says: Isn’t there some patent pending technology he could use on himself to get rid of this?? Patent sill pending... says: That’s the problem – the patent is still pending. Apparently it has been applied applied at NXIVM for years, but the effect will not occur until the patent is passed. Everybody still waitin for their miracles to manifest. Pyriel says: It must be a special case of ringworm – the Vanguard strain. It appears as his initials. soccermom1245 says: multiple tunes of antifungal “Fa la la la la, la la la la. Soccermom–This is so funny!!! That cracked me up! K.R. Claviger says: And the best part is that it’s true! Ahhhh, the sweet sweet smell of Schadenfreude. There is nothing like it. This is funny! LOL Suicide Watch says: a week long? Is this usual? Probably on the outer range of “normal” for MDC but well within the guidelines. shadowstate1958 says: It could get worse. He could get Hookworm. “Hookworms are intestinal, blood-feeding, parasitic roundworms” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookworm As much as I try to not take delight in the suffering of others, today I will gladly make an exception. He should be so happy there with lots of new friends with similar interests. As regards the ringworm: Does anyone know if he’s had a shower this year? Somebody got him into the shower before he did that interview with Allison Mack, but that was a while ago now. Raniere Brooding Over Conviction – Already Planning Appeals Ask Bronfman or Epstein — Money Rules at the Department [Store] of Justice About Frank Parlato Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist. His work has been cited in major publications all over the world, including The New York Times, The Daily Mail, VICE News, CNN, Fox News, Rolling Stone, People Magazine, and more. Frank Parlato was the lead investigator and coordinating producer of Investigation Discovery's 2 hour blockbuster special 'The Lost Women of NXIVM.' Frank Report is dedicated to Frank's investigative journalism and the pursuit of truth. Read more about Frank Report's mission. If the whole world stands against you sword in hand, would you still dare to do what you think is right? If you have a tip for Frank Report, send it here. Email: frankparlato@gmail.com Archives Select Month January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 Neglected Impeachment Intelligence on the Biden-Burisma-Trump Proceedings Include Drugs Routed Through Hawaii Finally Someone from Nxivm Makes Case [Other Than Bouchey] for Good in Nxivm – Meet Lisbeth Calandrino About Frank Report Frank Report is one of the internet’s last destinations for true, unfiltered, hard-hitting journalism. Since 2015, articles published by Frank Parlato on Frank Report have exposed major scandals and criminal enterprises (including the NXIVM Cult). Frank Parlato was the lead investigator and coordinating producer of Investigation Discovery’s 2 hour blockbuster special ‘The Lost Women of NXIVM.’ Copyright © 2015-2019 Frank Report.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1531
__label__cc	0.648079	0.351921	← The King and the Clown Come Face to Face in New Trailers for Korean Drama “The Crowned Clown” “Encounter” Sees Dip in Korean Drama Ratings But is Still Performing Great → Well, 2018 is drawing to a close which is really pretty crazy. But that means we get to look back on all of those wonderful Korean dramas that we got to enjoy throughout the year. The drama community experienced some shake ups this year like the big DramaFever shutdown, but it was mostly a great year and the drama watching goes on. I watched a whole bunch of dramas again and lots of them were wonderful. I also greatly enjoyed chatting about dramas with all of you. I love connecting with you all and sharing our love of Korean dramas. Let’s continue that in 2019! But now onto the list! This list includes all of the dramas that I watched which aired and concluded their runs in 2018. We are going to be counting down my favorite dramas from least to most favorite. I didn’t complete any real duds as far as new dramas go, so even though some of the dramas were a little ho hum, most were at least moderately enjoyable. Full reviews are also available for all of them. As always, this is completely my opinion on these dramas, and it does not reflect Korean or international ratings or the popularity of any particular drama among fans. I watched a bunch of dramas, so stay tuned for the grand total when this list is combined with other dramas I watched at the end of the article 🙂 33. Handsome Guy and Jung Eum Handsome Guy and Jung Eum is a very typical romantic comedy and an overall light watch with the standard couple progression from bickering to lovers. There’s comedy, romance, and cliches. Toss in a few problems along the way, a little bit of trauma, and there you have it. It lacked a strong central plot and was pretty generic overall. The main thing I liked was Nam Goong Min and Hwang Jung Eum. I usually enjoyed them when they were on screen together since they were a fun couple and have plenty of cute and sweet moments. The drama really doesn’t stand out, but it is mostly pleasant and can work if you’re just looking for an easy filler that is cute and not too complicated. Don’t expect too much and you will probably be fine. My Rating: 6/10 (Handsome Guy and Jung Eum Review) 32. Great Seducer Great Seducer was kind of all over the place and had a ton of problems. I still thought it was a decent watch, and I think it did just enough right to satisfy my tastes to balance out all the not so good. But there really was a lot of not so good! The execution of the drama as a whole was messy with the writing, editing, and characters. The seduction aspect of the drama was also a big let down. But I do have a soft spot for this type of story. Woo Do Hwan and Joy were cute enough together and shared some very emotional moments. There is stuff to like, but it’s buried in a mess. Proceed with caution with this one. My Rating: 6/10 (Great Seducer Review) 31. Switch: Change the World Switch: Change the World was an overall okay watch, but that about sums it up for me. Jang Geun Suk was fantastic in dual roles as a con artist and a prosecutor, and it has a fun crime caper premise. But the drama wasn’t particularly engaging for me as I wasn’t able to become emotionally invested and many of the early episodes felt episodic. Switch: Change the World is an easy enough watch though. If you like lighter, crime caper style dramas, this is a good drama to go for. Everything is done just well enough to not create any huge issues. And for those of us who like Jang Geun Suk, this is a great drama to enjoy more of his charms as well as something a little bit different for him. Despite being a bit average, Switch does have enough going for it to make it a worthwhile watch. My Rating: 6/10 (Switch: Change the World Review) 30. Two Cops Two Cops was okay enough, but at the same time it didn’t really do anything to grab me. It’s a lighter crime drama with a love triangle and that twist of the supernatural. One of the best things was the bromance between Jo Jung Suk and Kim Sun Ho as they end up sharing a body and having to work together to solve a mystery. I felt like the romance angle kind of loses it’s fizzle as the drama progresses though. It starts out very strong and intriguing, but that plot line becomes much less important and eventually falls to the wayside. So there was definitely stuff to like in Two Cops, but it had some big issues. The slowness and lack of plot progression as well as the diminishing romance story line really took the steam out of the drama. But it’s an easy enough watch with a little bit of everything with mystery, crime, humor, and romance. It’s just too bad it didn’t do more with the excellent foundation it had to work with. My Rating: 6/10 (Two Cops Review) 29. Short Short is a simple 4 episode drama, but overall it is very enjoyable. It features a nice little window into the sport of short track speed skating as we see the friendship and rivalry between two men as they train together. The drama had this very low key and realistic feeling to it with a nice atmosphere. There are also some nice side stories to round things out. So if you’re looking for something short and sweet with friendship, rivalry, and a side of speed skating, definitely give Short a try. My Rating: 7/10 (Short Review) 28. Terius Behind Me Terius Behind Me was a mostly pleasant drama. There’s a nice bit of humor and fun with the stoic secret agent Bon taking care of a couple of rambunctious kids. The romance between Bon and Ae Rin was subtle but sweet. The spy mystery was seriously lacking, and I didn’t find it particularly thrilling. But Terius Behind Me was a fun enough story as a whole that mixed romantic comedy, family, and spy action. I enjoyed our main duo and the kids, and I laughed because of the quirky supporting characters. There are also the heartwarming moments of Bon opening up a little bit and finding a family. It’s a sweet little story that’s a pretty solid watch. My Rating: 7/10 (Terius Behind Me Review) 27. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim is an enjoyable story and all around solid romantic comedy. Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young are quite a treat as a couple, and they have a fun and sweet chemistry. Many will appreciate that they have pretty good communication skills with each other and some nice kisses to get excited about. The relationship between the main couple is definitely the backbone of the drama and the reason to watch. I did find the plot to be a little lacking particularly concerning the back story and its execution. I wish it was paced better and found myself wanting to go a bit deeper. But What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim was a fun watch overall. We have a lovely couple at the center of the story, a little something extra to add to the plot, and a nice cast of supporting characters. All in all, there’s a lot to enjoy. My Rating: 7/10 (What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim Review) 26. Devilish Joy Devilish Joy is filled to the brim with clichés and kdrama tropes, but it throws them together in a pretty entertaining way with an adorable romance, humor, and a decent plot. The first half of the drama was fairly simple and cute, but the plot really thickens up in the second half. I was surprised by how nicely the story progressed. The romance is super sweet, and I thought Choi Jin Hyuk and Song Ha Yoon were quite adorable together. So with a nice romance and some meat in the story to beef up the drama, it was pretty entertaining all around. My Rating: 7/10 (Devilish Joy Review) 25. Where Stars Land Where Stars Land was an interesting drama that I had mixed feelings on. I wasn’t big on much of the airport happenings that included job situations and multiple episodic cases that had to be dealt with. I really loved Soo Yeon’s story though! It was incredibly painful to see him struggle so much when he just wanted to live a normal life, but some very important issues were hit upon including accepting yourself just as you are. Lee Je Hoon was amazing in his portrayal of Soo Yeon and really added so much depth and emotion. His romance with Chae Soo Bin was also very sweet and moving. All in all, I was left with a pretty positive impression of the drama. My Rating: 7/10 (Where Stars Land Review) 24. Live Live takes a unique look at the lives of police officers in a more realistic way. The drama has a very slice of life quality to it that combines with a crime element. It highlights the every day struggles that the police face whether they are rookies or veterans. Live truly creates a world that feels real, and there was always a lot going on that kept things interesting. Live was a slow burn for me, but it really drew me in with its rich characters. I began to bond with them and found myself invested in their lives as we went deep with their emotions and problems. None of them were perfect and some were more difficult to like than others, but they were all just trying to make it through life and do a good job. The writing, directing, and acting all highlighted this so nicely to give us a very solid drama. My Rating: 7/10 (Live Review) 23. Greasy Melo (Wok of Love) Greasy Melo is such a quirky and off the wall series. It really was a lot of fun and had plenty of heart. I greatly enjoyed Jang Hyuk, Junho, and Jung Ryeo Won, and I thought they were perfect in their roles and fully embraced them. The drama does tend to meander around with the story and that last third gets a bit draggy with repetitive cooking scenes and competitions. But for the most part, I enjoyed Greasy Melo. I liked all of the characters, it made me laugh, and it was simply easy to watch. I found it to be a good drama to take a break from some of the heavier ones. Sometimes simple can work especially with a bunch of quirky characters and wonderful actors to make you smile. My Rating: 7/10 (Greasy Melo Review) 22. Radio Romance Radio Romance is a pretty nice watch with a cute romance coupled with a nice journey of character growth. The romance between Soo Ho and Geu Rim was very sweet. I didn’t find their relationship particularly swoony, but it felt very down to earth and comfortable. It was a nice relationship to watch blossom. While Radio Romance doesn’t do anything particularly revolutionary, it’s cute and fun with a main couple that is easy to root for. It also delivers plenty heartfelt moments to make for a thoughtful and enjoyable story. My Rating: 7/10 (Radio Romance Review) 21. Rich Man Rich man has a very classic set up, but it does its job and delivers its story in an entertaining way. I found it to be very pleasant and just all around enjoyed it. The main story develops quite nicely, and we get a well paced drama that is plotted well. The main romance is slow to develop, but the story really is more about their journey as characters, and that was done so well that I didn’t really mind. I was genuinely surprised by Rich Man. It seems so basic, yet it really pulled me. I enjoyed all of the characters, the main story, the back story, and it even had some nice little side stories. It was light and fun with a solid emotional core and a great soundtrack to enhance it. All in all, it was such a nice drama. My Rating: 7.5/10 (Rich Man Review) 20. Familiar Wife I have a love for time travel dramas, and Familiar Wife was a great story for the genre. We have a fantasy angle along with a nice mix of humor and seriousness that included some high stakes for the characters. Ji Sung and Han Ji Min nicely depicted the struggles of marriage, change, and regret. The characters were very relatable and also enjoyable with such a fun banter between them. The drama’s focus on relationships was executed really well to tie everything together. Familiar Wife was an entertaining story that was both contemplative and fun in a way that made for a thoroughly enjoyable journey. My Rating: 7.5/10 (Familiar Wife Review) 19. Just Between Lovers Just Between Lovers is a sad but beautiful story. The script was well thought out with all scenes and character interactions having importance. The love story between Junho and Won Jin Ah had a very natural progression. Rather than any big theatrics, it developed organically in a way that made each subtle development feel important. They are each in a lot of pain and have a lot of issues to work through both personally and as a couple, but their relationship is the definition of a healing one. It’s depiction of trauma and healing was heart achingly real. But even in the midst of tragedy, life does goes on. And those struggling need others to reach out to them and show them that they are not alone. Just Between Lovers shows just how much of a difference that can make. My Rating: 7.5/10 (Just Between Lovers Review) 18. Andante Andante was such a charming story! This underrated drama shines in its simplicity and thoughtfulness. In a world of flashy and exciting dramas, Andante goes against the grain. The story itself isn’t anything revolutionary, a high school boy coming of age and learning about life, but it’s execution is wonderful. The drama has such a low key and understated feel to it that I found incredibly warm and cozy. It had a bit more of a medical aspect to it than I would have liked as it dealt with end of life issues, but even that was handled so well in developing the characters and their stories. Some of the topics are uncomfortable, but the drama is always hopeful in it’s presentation of how precious the relationships of friends, family, and even strangers are as well as how beautiful life is. My Rating: 7.5/10 (Andante Review) 17. Mr. Sunshine Mr. Sunshine was a highly anticipated drama because of its writer/PD combo, and it really delivered on many levels. It featured breathtaking cinematography that highlighted the setting and exquisite costumes to perfectly bring the time period to life along with an incredibly high quality production. And the acting from our main cast is top notch in every way. The story is plotted well with plenty of stuff always going on. There are personal character journeys, action, romance, and intrigue. The drama does go through some slow spells, and it could have benefited from fewer episodes and tightening up the story. But this is definitely a case where I was so enthralled with the atmosphere and the time period that it made up for a lot of what the drama lacked. The scope of the drama definitely feels grand with a story that carries immense weight. It wasn’t perfect and had its flaws, but it’s a story that makes an impact in both an extravagant but also very meaningful way. The story of the Righteous Army is beautiful, inspiring, heartbreaking, and so emotional. It’s a unique drama among historicals, and it really delivers a memorable experience on so many levels. My Rating: 8/10 (Mr. Sunshine Review) 16. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is a dark melodrama that is quite the emotional roller coaster. We have phenomenal performances from our three leads of Seo In Guk, Jung So Min, and Park Sung Woong who gave us complex and moving performances. Absolutely amazing actors! Then there is our dangerous romance between Moo Young and Jin Kang. It is filled with lies, secrets, and tragedy. We go on a heartbreaking journey with them to learn about the mysterious Moo Young, if Jin Kang can can make a difference in his life, and what will ultimately become of these lovers. It’s a difficult road for them and for us, and The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is one of those dramas that will certainly leave an impression on you. My Rating: 8/10 (The Smile Has Left Your Eyes Review) 15. 100 Days My Prince 100 Days My Prince started strong as the story reeled me right in and had me completely engaged. There were scheming bad guys, conflicted assassins, and a village full of fun and colorful characters. Politics, betrayals, and tension filled the palace. D.O. and Nam Ji Hyun were both great in their individual roles, and I enjoyed their unique romance. Everything balanced out to make the story pretty solid all around. So as one of our few historical offerings this year, 100 Days My Prince more than satisfied what I like about the genre. It had action and excitement as well as being fun and humorous. The pacing was great, and it kept me thoroughly entertained all the way through. My Rating: 8/10 (100 Days My Prince Review) 14. Your Honor Your Honor was really great on many levels. It had a pretty decent central story to keep me engaged throughout the show along with compelling individual cases and other cases that tied into the main story. Yoon Shi Yoon’s comedic abilities were on full display, and he was so much fun to watch. He also delivered an extremely compelling dual performance as two very different twin brothers. The romance between him and Lee Yoo Young was so sweet, and they were all kinds of cute together. It’s hard for legal dramas to really win me over, but this one did. The characters and story were great, and I was never bored. Talk about a very pleasant surprise! My Rating: 8/10 (Your Honor Review) 13. My ID is Gangnam Beauty What a nice drama My ID is Gangnam Beauty turned out to be! It ended up being a very thoughtful drama that explored some complicated issues including standards of beauty and how society treats people because of their perceptions of beauty. It executed its story wonderfully to keep me fully engaged and never bored. Mi Rae’s journey is a moving one as she tries to navigate life after plastic surgery and realizes that it brings its own problems. Cha Eun Woo and Lim Soo Hyang were also very sweet as a couple, and I really liked how they helped each other in so many ways. Despite some heavier topics, the drama never gets overly angsty and remains fun throughout. It was such an enjoyable drama, and I’m happy I checked it out. My Rating: 8/10 (My ID is Gangnam Beauty Review) 12. Lawless Lawyer Lawless Lawyer is a slick drama with a fantastic story. The legal stuff is well balanced with the overall story and the thriller element which included plenty of excitement outside of the courtroom. The plot is very well done with a few twists and turns and wonderful pacing. The characters from the heroes to the villains are all interesting and engaging to help bring this story to life. And how wonderful to see Lee Joon Gi get to showcase his charms in a drama while still delivering the intense emotions we would expect from him. The rest of the cast is absolutely amazing bringing so much talent. Lee Joon Gi and Seo Ye Ji also make one fantastic couple with some seriously amazing chemistry. Lawless Lawyer was such a fun watch that provided a nice mixture of elements. The story, thrills, characters, and talented actors all came together for an entertaining drama that left me pretty well satisfied. My Rating: 8/10 (Lawless Lawyer Review) 11. Hwayugi (A Korean Odyssey) Hwayugi was a whole lot of fun with it’s comedy as well as it’s heavy fantasy element with it’s demons, ghosts, magic, and curses. It created such an entertaining world with individual stories and elements that were interesting and engaging. I just loved the characters and the fantasy world, and I was pretty happy just spending time there. Lee Seung Gi was back and better than ever! He was full of that rascally charm, and I was so thrilled to see this wonderful performance by him. Cha Seung Won and Oh Yeon Seo were also thoroughly enjoyable to make for an all around fantastic cast. So all in all, I was quite pleased with Hwayugi. I waited a long time for it, and it didn’t disappoint. It was a fun ride that I’m sad to see end. I really enjoyed myself and will miss these characters and this crazy magical world. My Rating: 8/10 (Hwayugi Review) 10. I’m Not a Robot There really is so much to love about a drama like I’m Not a Robot. It starts out cute, but as the story thickens, it gets so good! It just gets better as it goes along. Yoo Seung Ho does what he does best and completely rips my heart out as he deals with a serious health problem, isolation, and loneliness. He brought forth every emotion with such power and thoughtfulness. I’m Not a Robot is a very sweet love story at its heart. Yoo Seung Ho and Chae Soo Bin are super cute together. There are tons of adorable moments throughout the drama to make your heart flutter. But watching them fall in love and care for each other was the best part. This couple was so nurturing towards each other, and it was truly wonderful to see. The story was balanced well between lighter moments and the more serious and heartbreaking ones. There’s plenty to enjoy in this lovely tale of a man who was shut off from the world who begins to break free because of one woman pretending to be a robot. My Rating: 8/10 (I’m Not a Robot Review) 9. Come and Hug Me Come and Hug Me is such a heart wrenching story. It’s a dark tale with compelling characters that will break your heart. It really sets itself apart from other dramas in many ways. This melodrama is incredibly dark and sad yet at the same time it has this theme of hope and the possibility that no matter what horrible things have happened in life, you still have a chance to be happy. That is if you can somehow survive a serial killer coming for you. Jang Ki Yong and Jin Ki Joo gave wonderful performances as this couple that really have the odds stacked against them. Their relationship is so nurturing, beautiful, and heart breaking. Their love story is one of immense pain and sadness but also so much love. If a couple ever deserved to somehow find happiness, it’s these two. Come and Hug Me was beautifully written to highlight these tragic characters and their story. It’s filled with tension from beginning to end with pacing that kept me engaged as this haunting tale unfolded. Every episode and scene is important which is why the drama is so well done. Come and Hug Me really moved me, and it is the kind of drama that will leave a lasting impression. My Rating: 8.5/10 (Come and Hug Me Review) 8. Are You Human Too? I was excited to check out this sci-fi drama, and lucky for me, I seriously enjoyed it! It ended up being a nice mix of melodrama and sci-fi with a dash of rom-com. I got more and more into the show as it went along as the stakes for the characters grew, the tension thickened, and secrets being revealed caused varying levels of trouble. It was a fun ride! Seo Kang Joon was absolutely adorable as our sweet robot Shin III. I loved his character growth as well as his cute romance with Gong Seung Yeon. Overall, Are You Human Too? was a fun story that took me on some very wonderful character journeys. The romance was nice and connected well with the overall story. The show was thoughtful while also having some great melodramatic qualities with a dose of action. There are a few twists and plenty of excitement all the way through the final episode. And all that makes for a pretty great experience all around. My Rating: 8.5/10 (Are You Human Too Review?) Bad Papa is such an underrated drama! It’s pretty different from most of the dramas out there, and it was just an all around wonderful surprise. It was this odd mixture of family, melodrama, action, and sports. Jang Hyuk was just amazing as always and gave a very multifaceted performance. There were all sorts of things going on in the drama which kept things interesting all of the time. The show hits upon lots of family issues and did well at showing them from each of the members’ perspectives. I was genuinely interested in all of the characters and liked seeing the relationships play out. And though there was a good amount of dramatics there was also some humor to lighten things up. I loved all of the topics it hit upon and that the plot was so engaging from start to finish. It made me laugh, cry, and experience so many emotions. Sometimes a drama comes along and surprises you, and Bad Papa was just that drama. My Rating: 8.5/10 (Bad Papa Review) 6. Longing Heart What a sweet little drama this is! Longing Heart surprised me by just how charming of a story it was. It has such likable and wonderful characters that bring to life this time travel romance with plenty of heart, laughter, and feels. I thought the drama had a lovely mixture of being a sweet love story with plenty of cute and fun moments as well dealing with a couple heavier aspects of the story that allowed things to go deeper emotionally as the drama progressed. It was balanced very well. Longing Heart is wonderful if you are looking for a sweet drama that has romance, bromance, a good story, and that touch of fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. My Rating: 8.5/10 (Longing Heart Review) 5. Grand Prince Grand Prince did everything I love in a historical by giving me romance, action, angst, and thrills. I got all swoony with the romance between Yoon Shi Yoon and Jin Se Yeon as they are the definition of star crossed, fated lovers. There was also the complicated love-hate brother relationship between Yoon Shi Yoon and Joo Sang Wook which is filled with intensity, betrayal, and heartbreak. I thought all of the other elements of Grand Prince came together beautifully. The script was well written, and the pacing was great from start to finish. There are also plenty of dramatic events to keep things exciting. Fantastic performances were given by all three of our leads. It was seriously all so well done to make for a wonderful adventure filled romance from start to finish! My Rating: 8.5/10 (Grand Prince Review) 4. Return Return was quite the crazy and suspenseful murder mystery drama! The pacing was fantastic, and there was always something happening as one crazy event led to another. What starts out as one murder soon opens a huge can of worms. The drama peels back the story layer by layer to reveal one secret after another. Things were constantly shifting with each new development to make for a fast paced and exciting ride. With plenty of twists and turns throughout the drama, I was frequently surprised by what was going on. So many crazy things happened that I was constantly wondering what the characters would do next and how they would get out of the difficult situations they created. And the entire cast was simply fantastic from start to finish! Return isn’t a drama that will give you warm fuzzies or lots of lovable characters. But it is perfect if you’re looking for a crime melo with excitement, twists, turns, and lots of craziness as a group of spoiled elites fall deep into a hole of lies, deception, and murder. My Rating: 9/10 (Return Review) 3. Money Flower Money Flower is the definition of soapy goodness! This is one of those juicy revenge dramas filled with secrets of all kinds and twists at every turn. There are affairs, birth secrets, cover ups, bribery, and even murder! It’s makjang at its finest. There is an intricate revenge plan in place as we have Pil Joo as the puppet master who plays everyone according to his wishes. It’s brilliant to watch unfold! Jang Hyuk is perfection in this role, and you must have someone like him to convey the many aspects of Pil Joo. Watching him was completely captivating, and he commands your attention with just his presence. A phenomenal performance by Jang Hyuk all around! The drama was mapped out beautifully. It always knew where it was going and had a purpose. There was always plenty of tension as secrets kept piling up and everyone worked to avoid being discovered. And there are lots of big reveals with each of them being incredibly satisfying to watch play out. Money Flower executes this type of genre to perfection to make for an all around intense, emotional, and entertaining watch. This is one not to miss out on! My Rating: 9/10 (Money Flower Review) 2. Thirty But Seventeen Thirty But Seventeen is such an endearing, funny, and heartwarming drama! It’s fairly simple, but it’s a story of healing that delivers so much emotion and heart in the best kind of way. It’s the definition of a feel good drama. It’s primarily a story of character journeys about people dealing with the aftermath of tragedy. Seo Ri copes with building a life after losing so much time and everyone she loved while Woo Jin suffers from extreme guilt and traumatic memories. My heart broke for them. But it was simply amazing watching them grow and heal. Yang Se Jong and Shin Hye Sun are such a sweet couple that cares for each other very deeply. Their relationship is supportive, endearing, and so sweet. And the supporting cast is filled with fun and quirky characters. Thirty But Seventeen is a wonderful mixture of good story, humor, and heartfelt moments. It’s pretty much what I want from a romantic comedy. What a fantastic and beautiful drama! My Rating: 9/10 (Thirty But Seventeen Review) And the #1 drama of 2018 is… 1. Eulachacha Waikiki Eulachacha Waikiki is the ultimate feel good drama that is completely packed with comedy, yet is also full of heartwarming and meaningful moments thanks to its wonderfully quirky and endearing characters. It’s laugh out loud funny as the characters get into some completely ridiculous situations. The drama is then able to immediately flip from extreme comedy to such tender moments where you really feel for the characters. This isn’t a show with a big plot, but it has some nice little character and relationship journeys to enjoy. This drama brought so many smiles to my face and just made for such a fun time. I grew so attached to the Waikiki Guesthouse family, and I enjoyed every single minute of it! My Rating: 10/10 (Eulachacha Waikiki Review) Other Dramas I Completed in 2018 As a year end review, here is a list of the older Korean dramas, drama specials with less than the equivalent of 3 full length episodes, and dramas from other Asian countries that I completed this year. Full reviews for each drama are available by clicking on the drama title. Here they are broken into categories depending on how much I liked them with each category listing the dramas alphabetically: Loved: Okay: God’s Gift: 14 Days Stars Falling From the Sky Disappointed: 109 Strange Things That ends up being 33 new dramas and 10 other dramas for a grand total of 43 dramas! Not half bad, lol. 2018 had a lot of fun memories thanks to these amazing dramas. I’m sad to say goodbye, but it’s time to welcome in 2019 and a whole new batch of entertaining dramas! How was 2018 for you? What were your favorite dramas of the year? Copyright © 2015-2018 by Kdrama Kisses. This entry was posted in Articles, Drama Guides and tagged Jang Geun Suk, Jang Hyuk, Ji Sung, kdrama, Korean Drama, Lee Joon Gi, Lee Seung Gi, Park Min Young, Seo In Guk, Seo Kang Joon, Yang Se Jong, Yoo Seung Ho, Yoon Shi Yoon. Bookmark the permalink. 47 Responses to Best Korean Dramas of 2018 Subhajit says: First one to comment Kay! I was introduced to kdramas just 3 months ago, but still managed to watch some nice dramas . The best thing was that the first kdrama i watched was ‘secret love affair’ , which was by far THE BEST!! And lol! ‘where stars land ‘ could have been at the top , had they not reduced the original 40 eps to mere 32 ! Thank you Kay! Wishing you in advance for this Christmas ! Lets have a dinner at my home … Mom cooks awesome dishes! Lol! Thank you! Yay! Glad you were quick to the year end party, hehe 🙂 And an official welcome to the wonderful world of kdramas! And I know what you mean about the first kdrama. For many of us that first drama will always hold such a special place in our heart. Where Stars Land really did have a lot going for. I can see why it would be towards the top of your list. It had some problems, but it sure left an impact on me. And an early Merry Christmas to you too! I hope you enjoy all of that yummy food! 🙂 Kdrama Crazy says: Waao! Laughter in Waikiki at the top. 😍 Haha, yep, that drama made me laugh soooo much, and I just have so much love it! 🙂 Haven’t watched-The smile has left your eyes, Eulachacha Waikiki, return, grand price, bad papa, longing heart (confused it with meloholic but now I will give this one a chance) Didn’t like- money flower, are you human too (decent but not my fav) My favs- come amd hug me, I am not a robot, just between lovers, my id is gangnam beauty. I see that you too haven’t watched Something in the rain. Ooh, I really liked all of your favs! Lots of great stories and some wonderful couples in those dramas. And definitely check out Longing Heart if you get a chance. It’s super cute 🙂 Ah, I did actually watch a few eps of Something in the Rain but sadly, dropped it. It’s a style of show I personally don’t gravitate towards. I hope it was a good one for you though 🙂 I haven’t watched and not interested as of yet. I was just wondering because I heard a lot about it. I also read that many were not happy with it’s second half. I will try Longing heart soon. Thanks. 🙂 Yeah, it was definitely a popular one, particularly during the first half of its run. Everyone was swooning over the main couple, hehe. But yes, it sounds like most were really disappointed in the second half and the direction it went. I didn’t make it that far though. And hope you enjoy Longing Heart! 🙂 Also, lookinf forward to 2019 kdramas amd blogging about them at the same time. 😀 I’m looking forward to both as well 🙂 🙂 🙂 Kukay says: My top 3 favorites for 2018 are Are You Human?, Mother and Suits. As of today, my 2018 drama list: 12 completed 2018 dramas 26 completed old dramas 16 plan-to-watch 2018 dramas currently watching : Scholar who walks the night and my strange hero Looking forward to 2019 kdramas and hope to finish all my plan-to watch kdrama list. Keep blogging kdramakisses! 😜 Oooh, you got in a lot too! I’m glad you loved Are You Human Too? I loved that one also! I’ve still got quite a few 2018 dramas on my list too, including Mother. Guess they will have to wait until next year. My Strange Hero is one I’m really excited about. And I really liked Scholar. Big Lee Joon Gi fan though, hehe. And thank you for the encouragement! I look forward to all of those new dramas 🙂 I’m a fan of Lee Joon Gi too, but not of a Action Drama… but hoping to watch my remaining LJG dramas Gunman in Joseon, Criminal Minds and Lawless Lawyer. Thanks again for the nice blog! 🙂 Yay for Lee Joon Gi fans! 🙂 Joseon Gunman is pretty good and Lawless Lawyer is amazing for a legal thriller. Criminal Minds is the only Lee Joon Gi drama I have completely disliked. I struggled through 13 eps and put it on hold. I plan to eventually finish it, but suffice to say, it will get a very low rating from me, lol. Everything else from Lee Joon Gi is golden though 🙂 43 kdramas! That is just… WOW! I counted mine and looks like I managed to finish 10. 😀 I do believe that’s the lowest number of kdramas I’ve watched ever. Guess my faves would be Life on Mars, My Ahjussi and Just Between Lovers, but I’ve still got couple of 2018 dramas I aim to tackle at some point, so there might be fiew more to add to that list. Well, 10 is definitely not a bad number, plus I’m guessing you have a few other Asian dramas that would make your list 🙂 And yay for Just Between Lovers! There is usually at least one drama that we both enjoyed, hehe 🙂 Good luck on getting in those last few! BiblioNyan says: I haven’t seen many of these at all, but my two favourites made the list and I’m so happy! Are You Human Too? and Lawless Lawyer. I loved them! I’m going to bookmark this so I can use it as a watchlist, haha. ♥ Well, those are two amazing dramas to make your list! I seriously loved both of them 🙂 Haha, I hope you find some other good ones to check out from this list 🙂 Love your recap list! Helps me re-organize the order in which I watch things 🙂 Can’t wait for 2019!! Thank you! Glad you can use it to sort through some of those dramas 🙂 I’m super excited for all of those 2019 dramas too! Oh, and I was curious, so what ended up being your favorite drama of the year? I’ll be preparing mine, so please get ready! Haha. I’ll be ready! hehe 🙂 Earlier dramas that I finished this year: Circle: Two Worlds Connected (7/10) Scholar Who Walks the Night (7/10) Whisper (7.5/10) Shopping King Louis (8/10) Because This Is My First Life (8/10) Criminal Minds (8/10) – despite being lacking as a crime drama, and even that very vague finale, I still did enjoy it much. Yong Pal (8.5/10) Missing You (8.5/10) – I could have given it more than that rating, but Zoey’s unending crying is too much for me. Cinderella Sister (8.5/10) The Liar and His Lover (8.5/10) – Glad that I was finally able to watch it, so good! Tunnel (9/10) Radiant Office (9/10) – Go Ah Sung is outstanding in here. 🙂 Age of Youth 2 (9.5/10) – Wished they could have retained the orig cast. But the second season was still as fabulous as the first. I just like the first just a very bit more. 🙂 And I am dying to see its third installment. Pls, PD nim… Jaeballlllll….. 🙂 Good Doctor (9.5/10) *Age of Youth 1 (9.5/10) You got in so many great earlier dramas! I’ve seen a good chunk of them too. My favs would be Missing You, Shopping King Louie, Circle, Scholar, and The Liar and His Lover 🙂 Here is my great year-list of 2018 dramas, I finished watching. 🙂 25. Return (6/10) 24. You Drive Me Crazy (6/10) 23. Life on Mars (6.5/10) 22. Radio Romance (6.5/10) 21. About Time (7/10) 20. Hymn of Death (7/10) – I still have to watch its third and finale episode. I just included it because I am pretty sure that I’ll of course finish it before the year ends, hehehe. 19. Nothing to Lose (7.5/10) 18. Beauty Inside (7.5/10) 17. Ghost Detective (7.5/10) 16. Hwayugi (8/10) 15. Familiar Wife (8/10) 14. My Mister (8/10) 13. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (8/10) 12. Two Cops (8.5/10) 11. Are You Human Too (8.5/10) And here is my top 10 2018 K-Dramas: 10. Jugglers (8.5/10) – Baek Jin Hee – Choi Daniel ❤ 9. Lovely Horribly (8.5/10) – I nominated Song Ji Hyo and Park Shi Ho as loveteam of the year. :))) 8. Where Stars Land (9/10) – impressive writing, mixed genres and charismatic leads. 7. I'm Not a Robot (9/10) – Had shed many tears on this one. T.T 6. Your Honor (9/10) – best legal drama of the year, and I also nominate Yoon Shi Yoon and Lee Yoo Young as loveteam of the year. 🙂 5. Black Knight (9/10) – 20 episodes weren't enough for me to fully say goodbye to it. i mean, it needed at least 4 more episodes. 😦 Missing Seo Ji Hye unni. 😦 4. 30 But Seventeen (10/10) – cute and cute and cute. Hehehe. And the amazing storytelling is one of its best assets. 🙂 3. Misty (10/10) – I don't care much about the finale and its explosives. In fact, I like the twist so so much. The best melo this year. :))) Go Hye Ran, fighting! 2. Happy If You Died (10/10) – Still have 6 (or 12) more episodes. But I am confident I can finish it this year. 🙂 And this drama is just too outstanding. very heartfelt, and very exciting. :)))) and the number 1 drama this year is….. 1. (of course) Eulachacha Waikiki. I'm missing it more now that I mention it. 😦 Have to rewatch this amazing and very exceptional comedy romance drama once again. :))) So that was it! 🙂 Ahhh! We have the same number one! Gotta love Eulachacha Waikiki 🙂 And I’ve seen most of your list here too. I’m very intrigued to see Happy If You Died. You’ve already got it at #2! And then I loved Thirty But Seventeen, Are You Human Too?, I’m Not a Robot (cried on this one too, hehe), and Hwayugi. And lots of others were great. There really were so many great dramas this year! 🙂 And congrats on your many drama achievements for the year! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you thank you. 🙂 Congrats to us all, kdrama lovers. 🙂 For watching and liking and loving number of good and great dramas this year. Mirikeurismaseu and hwaiting for 2019!!! Yes, yes! Let’s hope 2019 is as good as 2018! 🙂 Hi Kay! Will you do a KDramaKisses Awarding this year? I am excited to share mine. 🙂 Haha, gotta love your timing! I had already had the Kdrama Kisses Awards post scheduled and was off to bed before you even left your comment 🙂 Hope you enjoy it, and I’m looking forward to hearing your favs too 🙂 Pingback: Kdrama Kisses 2018 Korean Drama Awards \| Kdrama Kisses This list is disappointing, Kay. Disappointing because I watched only a few. LOL. I think one of my bad decisions this year was to watch Meteor Garden. I reached a good 40 episodes which I could have used to watch 3 Kdramas. HAHAHA. Haha, well, I guess there could be worse reasons to be disappointed 😉 Yeah, a drama like Meteor Garden could definitely put you behind. I’m always thinking like that too when it comes to long dramas. I’m like, I could get in 3 or 4 regular dramas in that time! lol 🙂 Yeah I found another Chinese drama (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) on Netflix that has very good reviews online. But it has 58 episodes! Nope, I have learned my lesson. LOL. They are dangerous! lol. That one is actually on my list too. Really not sure when I can try to work it in though. I have sooooo many other dramas to watch, hehe Hahahaha. Good to know it’s also on your list. Only a 10 (or maybe 9.5 haha) from you will make me even consider it. Though your chinese dramas usually get just a 7. But a love story that spans 3 lifetimes? That’s an epic love story I want to watch! Hope you get to watch it. 😊 You’re spot on my cdrama ratings, hehe 🙂 But never say never! I love epic stories like that too. I do have some trouble getting into high fantasy type dramas though. But I definitely plan to try it at some point 😉 Noël says: WOW!!! You certainly got your fill of K-dramas this year! 🎉👏I don’t know how you manage to squeeze them all in!!! I wish I had some of your drama viewing super powers. 😂This is a great list. I watched a few of these myself, but there are also some here that you’ve recommended that I will need to check out! I did! I’m nice and full, lol. I wish my super power was way more amazing, but it’s just….really good time management, hehe. I make a schedule and stick it to it 😉 There were a lot of fun dramas this year. I had so much fun thinking back on all of them. What was your favorite drama this year? I hope you can find some other good ones to check out from the list to get off to a good start next year! 🙂 I seem to be great at making schedules but I’m still working on the “sticking with it” part. 😂 It’s actually hard for me to pick despite the fact that I only watched a very limited amount. Of course LL is up there, but I think my favorite might have to be Mother. I was really surprised by how intense and compelling it was. Very moving! I’m definitely looking forward to 2019. I’m most excited for Kingdom and The Crowned Clown! But I’ll definitely be watching some 2018 dramas that I missed as well. 😄 Haha, yeah, that’s definitely the trickiest part of scheduling 😉 Ooh, I still really want to check out Mother at some point. I put if off because I definitely wanted to be in the right mood for something so heavy, but then the DramaFever ship went down and took it with it. I can’t hardly stand using the other sites, so I’m waiting to see if it gets picked up. Hoping! Yay for the The Crowned Clown! I think that is my most anticipated drama coming up in 2019 so far. Yeo Jin Goo in dual roles in a historical! What could be better? (well, maybe Lee Joon Gi. I have definitely fantasized about him being in this drama, hehe. Yeo Jin Goo is perfect for it though!) And I’m just thrilled we have quite a few historicals coming our way to end the drought! 🙂 I don’t blame you I actually did the same thing and waited until months after it aired because I knew I was going to have to build myself up for that kind of emotional rollercoaster. 😂It’s a shame about DramaFever though. That totally came out of left field. Hopefully it will get picked up so you can get that chance. Mine too! Hahaha I definitely shared your LJG fantasies, but if there was anyone I would have wanted for the role if LJG couldn’t have it, it would be YJG. Very excited because although he is young, I think he is very well equipped for a role like this and this will be a great opportunity for him to showcase what he can do in a more adult level role. And, indeed I am with you. So glad this 2018 sageuk drought seems to be coming to an end. It was agonizing. 😭 It sure did! Nothing like watching an episode, taking an hour break, come back and the whole service is gone! They had quite a few new exclusives, but then they had such an amazing catalog of older dramas. I’m still not over it! lol Yep, as much as I know Lee Joon Gi would have completely rocked a role like this, I have no question that Yeo Jin Goo will do just as good. He really is such a talent. Has been since he was little, but he’s just grown so much already despite being so young. He’s always had a maturity beyond his age though. So looking forward to seeing him give another amazing performance. Bring on the sagueks! 🙂 Omg lmao…that’s so tragic… what a rude awakening. For sure! He is talented beyond his years. I’m just glad he’s taking on projects that do him justice. He’s already looking amazing in the stills and trailers. I’m super impressed with the costume quality and overall feel of the drama already too. I actually think I’m going to like it more than the film. Fingers crossed! 🤞😄 It really was! I think the only thing worse were the people I heard were actually right in the middle of actually watching an episode when it suddenly stopped. Like really? Was it necessary to go about it that way? I think we all felt burned, lol I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen too! I agree, the drama looks very high quality, and Yeo Jin Goo just looks great, especially in costume. I pretty much have loved everything Yeo Jin Goo has done, but we know this will be a role that will allow him to showcase his amazing range. I already know he’s going to break my heart! hehe 🙂 It’s definitely so bizarre how it just shut down without any kind of warning whatsoever. Like…that’s just business 101…letting your customers know ahead of time, especially if they’re paying for it lmao. Yes! He is absolutely one of those actors that just fits perfectly with sageuk. There’s only a select few that I feel really, truly match that time period and blend right in and YJG is definitely one of those lucky few. Completely agree! He’s just made for sageuk’s, and I always know I will love watching him in one 🙂	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1544
__label__wiki	0.954979	0.954979	Kane Brown Explains His Twitter Deactivation Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Kane Brown deleted his official Twitter account earlier this week, but it didn't last long. Fans who tried to access the singer's @KaneBrown account starting Wednesday received an error message that read "This account doesn't exist." The "Homesick" singer offered this explanation in his Instagram Stories on Friday morning (Aug. 30), a few days after deactivating: So my management team will be running my twitter and Facebook from now on so I can focus on music and my family and stay off my phone it's taking over my life lol so instagram will be the only thing u can get ahold of me on at least until the next album (sic) Taste of Country reached out to Brown's representatives for further clarification, but did not receive a response. His account was active again by Friday afternoon. This isn't the first time Brown has deleted a social media account. In April 2018, he and then-fiancee Katelyn Jae deleted their Instagram profiles, stating, "Need people to miss me for a certain thing I have coming up." The profile returned not long after that interview with Chicago radio station Big 95.5, and he now has more than two million followers. Kane Brown's New Truck Will Make Your Drool: Several outlets have suggested Brown's departure from Twitter had something to do with not receiving any nominations for the 2019 CMA Awards. The star shared this Steph Curry gif to Twitter immediately after the nominees were revealed on Wednesday (Aug. 28): The 25-year-old Georgia native has never received a nomination for a CMA Award, despite having four No. 1 hits and several platinum recordings, but he has not confirmed that his departure from Twitter had anything to do with feeling snubbed. Brown and his wife will be welcoming their first child, a baby girl, very soon. Both have shared many photos of her growing baby bump on Instagram in recent weeks. Kingsley Rose Brown even has her own Instagram account. Kane Brown and 14 Country Stars You Forgot Did Reality TV: Source: Kane Brown Explains His Twitter Deactivation Filed Under: Kane Brown	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1545
__label__wiki	0.649519	0.649519	Bevan Davies Featured Works Biography Exhibitions Publications News Back Holmby Avenue, Los Angeles, 1976 vintage ferrotyped gelatin silver print Apartments near Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 1976 Gayle St. #139, Los Angeles, 1976 #153 Beverly Hills, CA, 1976 116 Berendo, Los Angeles, 1976 Los Angeles, 1976 vintage gelatin silver print Silver Lake, Los Angeles, 1976 Apartment Houses, Los Angeles, 1976 Hudson and Franklin Streets, New York, 1977 Bond Street, Facing North, New York, 1976 View from 475 Broadway, New York, 1976 94 Greene Street, New York, 1975 Broadway, New York, 1976 16 x 200 inches Column, Mercer Street, 1975 425 Broome Street, New York, 1976 vintage ferrotype gelatin silver print Walker Street, New York, 1976 11 Mercer Street, New York, 1975 72-76 Green Street, New York, 1975 Hudson Street, New York, 1975 652 Broadway, New York, 1976 109 Prince Street, New York, 1975 155 West Broadway, New York, 1975 144 Wooster Street, New York, 1976	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1550
__label__wiki	0.936734	0.936734	Media Personalities JustRichest Biography and Celebrity Profiles, Full Net Worth, Movies & TV Home Actresses Christel Khalil, Stephen Hensley’s Ex-Wife: Meet Her Son And Parents Christel Khalil, Stephen Hensley’s Ex-Wife: Meet Her Son And Parents Iheoma Okenwa For more than two decades, Christel Khalil has been a regular face on our screens and her charismatic talents always leave fans begging for more. Besides embodying several characters on TV and film, she has other artistic talents that have established her as a star in the entertainment industry. Away from the camera, the Y&R star counts her family members as her strongest support system. Khalil’s quest for freedom has made her take some life-changing decisions both in her personal and professional life. Find out interesting facts about Khalil’s personal life including her parents, siblings, and son. Who is Christel Khalil? A native Californian born on November 30, 1987, Christel Adnana Mina Khalil has been on the acting scene since the age of five. The actress has not disclosed any information about her educational background but for career, she made her screen debut on TV in the year 1993 after landing the guest role of Crystal in the sitcom The Sinbad Show. She has since followed up with other TV roles in series such as Family Matters (1996), George & Leo (1997), That’s So Raven (2003 – 2004), W.I.T.C.H (2004 – 2006), and Malcolm in the Middle (2006). Khalil’s most famous role yet is clearly that of Lily Ashby on The Young and the Restless. She joined the show in 2002 on a contract basis until 2005. The actress was made a series regular in 2006 but dropped to recurring status in 2018 after voicing her dissatisfaction with her role as Lily. Besides Y&R, Khalil also has credited TV roles in NCIS: Los Angeles (2012), and 2 Broke Girls (2012). More so, Christel Khalil made her film debut in 1995 with the movie Dragon Fury. Her other big-screen credits include Matilda (1996), You’re Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley’s Christmas Party (1997), Milo (1998), Interview with the Assassin (2002), White Like the Moon (2002), Chronologia Human (2017), and Bedlam (2017). Since dropping down her status on the Y&R series, Christel Khalil has pursued other film projects landing big roles in Sorority Stalker: No Good Deed (2018) and We Need To Talk (2019). How Long Was She Married To Stephen Hensley? Christel Khalil was once happily married to her fellow actor Stephen Hensley. Details regarding the former couple’s romance from the outset are quite sketchy but they are believed to have dated for a while before tying the knot in September 2008. All were presumed well for the celebrity pair until 2011 when Christel and Stephen’s marriage hit the rocks. Following their split, Khalil moved on to Ray Wicks. The couple was together until mid-2015 before calling it quits. More recently, the actress was linked to a businessman called Sam Restagno from Canada. Though details of their romance have not been disclosed, they are believed to have been dating for a couple of years. Meet Christel Khalil’s Son and Parents Christel Khalil and son Michael image source Christel Khalil is a proud mom to Michael Caden Hensley, the son she had with her ex-husband Stephen Hensley in April 2010. The actress who currently resides with her son in Toronto, Ontario, is grateful for the joy of motherhood which has helped her understand and focus on the more important things in life. From empathy to compassion to selflessness and so much more, Khalil claims her son Michael whom she had at a young age has taught her many life lessons. The Y&R star also shares a close bond with her family and doesn’t hesitate to flaunt some of their special moments with fans on social media. Meanwhile, Christel Khalil is one of the four children born to her parents – Belita Edwards and Adnan Kahlil. She and her three older brothers have a rich cultural heritage. The siblings have paternal Pakistani roots as well as mixed maternal ancestry that cut across Africa, Europe, and Native America. She also has a younger half-sister from her dad. See Also: Hannah Gross – Bio, Height, Siblings, Parents, Facts About The Actress Other Interesting Facts about Christel Khalil 1. Khalil is also musically talented and prides in her ability to play some musical instruments such as the guitar. She featured in Johnny Britt’s 2012 music video – Beautiful Queen. 2. When the cameras are not rolling, Khalil who is an avid traveler spends her time traveling across the globe. Additionally, she enjoys hiking, cooking, dancing, playing the guitar, practicing yoga, singing, and also horseback riding in her leisure time. 3. Besides her acting gigs, Christel Khalil has also added modeling to her resume. In 2015, she modeled for a non-profit organization called True Connection. 4. Christel Khalil’s role on The Young and the Restless has earned her no less than 14 prestigious award nominations. But some of her career highlights were in 2008 and 2012 when she took home an NAACP Image Award and a Daytime Emmy Award, respectively. 5. Khalil is also quite popular on social media. She is active on some networking platforms and fans can connect with the actress on Twitter (@christeladnana) and Instagram (christeladnana). Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that needs updating, Contact us! Victoria Justice Net Worth: How Much She Makes From Movies And TV Shows What Is Victoria Justice Doing Now Since ‘Victorious’ was Cancelled? What Is Victoria Justice’s Age, Height, Does She Have A Sister? 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We cover celebrity profiles, entertainment and lifestyle with articles and stories on everything from richest and most expensive lists to net worths, quotes, guides and reviews Fullnetworth Listabuzz © Justrichest.com 2020 - All Rights Reserved	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1556
__label__wiki	0.677413	0.677413	Adams Golf ERISA Litigation United States District Court for the District of Delaware Advocate Health Care Network United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Albany, NY Nurse Wage Antitrust Conspiracy United States District Court for the District of New York Amazon.com Inc. Securities Litigation United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Seattle American Insurance Group Inc. ERISA Litigation II Anadarko Basin Oil and Gas Antitrust Litigation United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma Anthem Inc. Data Breach Class Action and Consumer Litigation, Consumer and Data Privacy Protection United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division Ascension Health and Ascension Health Alliance United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Bank of New York Mellon Corp. Forex Transactions Litigation Bartell Drugs Fair Prescription Coverage United States District Court, Western District of Washington at Seattle Bear Stearns Cos. ERISA Litigation Beazer Homes USA Inc. ERISA Litigation United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division Bon Secours Health System, Inc. United States District Court for the District of Maryland Multnomah County Circuit Court, State of Oregon Catholic Health East (“CHE”) United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Colonial BancGroup Inc. ERISA Litigation United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Northern Division Countrywide Financial Corp. ERISA Litigation United States District Court for the Central District of California DairyAmerica, Inc. Milk Price Misreporting U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Delphi Corp. Securities, Derivative and ERISA Litigation United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division Dental Supplies Antitrust Litigation United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York Search by Status Investigation Active Closed Settled To Be Refiled Search by Practice Antitrust and Trade Regulation Appeals Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Class Action and Consumer Litigation Consumer and Data Privacy Protection Employee Benefits and Retirement Security Employment Law Environmental Litigation Financial Products and Services Governments and Municipalities Institutional Investors International Law Mass Personal Injury/Tort Mortgage Put-Back Litigation Opioid Litigation Securities Whistleblower Clear	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1559
__label__wiki	0.614615	0.614615	008 – Journey to Notodden – Part 1 On April 2, 2018 April 4, 2018 By jaybirdaviationphotos@gmail.comIn 008 - Journey to Notodden – Part 1 In September 2017, I spent a long weekend in Notodden, Norway to attend the Telemark Air Show, and for me to complete a magazine assignment for Warbird Digest. It was a very fast, action-packed weekend, complete with some terrific airplanes, gorgeous weather, and more than a couple of surprises along the way. Most important, however, I forged some friendships that I hope will last a lifetime, and some memories that I KNOW will! So here is the story. My fascinating journey to Notodden started in July 2017. I’d met Thore Thoresen at the N.A.T.A. (North American Trainer Association) formation flying clinic for T-28s at Sheboygan WI, just prior to Oshkosh. Thore flies warbirds for the Norwegian Flying Aces, which had just taken delivery of its T-28B the month before. Thore was anxious to learn as much as he could from the folks who had been flying them for years, and, of course, to network. I introduced myself as an aviation photojournalist and showed him some of my photos and articles and before I knew it, he had invited me to attend the Telemark Air Show at Notodden, Norway (ENNO) to take photos and write about the T-28, a combat veteran. I had a conversation with Tim Savage of Warbird Digest, who agreed that it would make an interesting article and less than six weeks later, I was off to Norway. In the way of background, the T-28 is owned and maintained by The Norwegian Flying Aces. This organization was founded by Runar Vassbotten and Frode Granlund, both of whom are both keen and experienced pilots. In addition, Runar is a long-time aircraft maintenance technician. They are co-founders of Pilot Flight Academy, a successful commercial flight school based in Norway with students from many nations. They both also have a deep interest in historic aircraft and began fulfilling that passion by acquiring a Boeing Stearman. This was followed shortly after by a T-6G Texan. Both aircraft are in pristine condition. The aircraft are based at Notodden Airport, some 115km southwest of Oslo. In 2017, the Norwegian Flying Aces identified the T-28 as a desirable addition, and a group of pilots interested in getting flight time in a Trojan was assembled. After looking at more than a dozen different aircraft, they found T-28B, aircraft 352, in Canada. I arrived in Oslo on Thursday, August 31, and set out the next day to Notodden. It was about a 3-hour trek by train and bus through some beautiful Norwegian countryside. I was met at Notodden by Thore and Runar, who whisked us away to the home base of the Norwegian Flying Aces at Notodden Airport. I’m glad I arrived when I did because I got there just in time to see UC-64A, LN-TSN, MSN 4470515. It is owned by Norsk Luftfartssenter Bodø AS, and was at Notodden for some maintenance work. I just about had time to take my camera out of my bag when it taxied out and took off. It was a great start to the weekend. There were a number of general aviation aircraft at Notodden. With open access to the airport and gorgeous weather, I was photographing everything in sight. LN-BAA, MSN BB-1327, KING AIR B200, registered to Bergen Air Transport AS LN-ERA, MSN 330, ERACER MKII, registered to Tore Bjelgerud LN-FTL, MSN 42.N053; Diamond DA-42; registered to Sky Management AS LN-SAD, MSN 15.814; Saab MFI 15-200A; registered to Vassbotten Øyvind LN-YRU, MSN 12 SI 67; 3000 SIRIUS; registered to Grenland flyklubb On Saturday morning, planes for the air show started filtering in to Notodden. It was fun being able to get up close and personal to a variety of airplanes, practically all with Norwegian or other European registrations, and many in color schemes not typically seen in the US. Certainly, one of the stars of the show was G-BZNT (msn 893019) is a 1968-model Aero L-29. It was recently delivered to Russian Warbirds of Norway from its previous home in Wales and still wore its British registration. It was acquired by Russian Warbirds of Norway to replace a similar-type jet that was lost in September 2016 in a hangar fire. In all, two L-29s and two Yak-52s were destroyed in that fire, but thankfully, nobody was hurt. Russian Warbirds of Norway clearly diplayed a sense of humor when the organization registered its PZL-Mielec AN-2 as LN-KGB (MSN 1G23028). It was by far the largest participant in the air show. Yak-52s are a favorite among aerobatic pilots worldwide. LN-LBS, MSN 0012207; YAK52W; registered to Kjetil Dalseid LN-AIA, MSN 9411809; YAK52; registered to AirAdvantage AS LN-DHC, MSN WB586; DHC-1 Mk.22; registered to Nedre Romerike Flyklubb Veteranflygruppa LN-FTX, MSN 75-4952; BOEING A75N1; owned by Norwegian Flying Aces LN-KCJ, MSN 140-11721; Cessna 140; registered to Vassbotten Øyvind LN-NCC, MSN 1167; DHC2 Mk. I; registered to Cybrair AS. Many smaller aircraft are fitted with floats to facilitate their use on the many waterways of Norway. LN-PFX, MSN CCF-4194, HARVARD-4, Registered to Norwegian Flying Aces Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon. 007 – DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Props March 30, 2018 2 thoughts on “008 – Journey to Notodden – Part 1” Bill Larocca Perfect pictures as always. jaybirdaviationphotos@gmail.com Thank you sir. Glad you like.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1561
__label__cc	0.730156	0.269844	Research In Motion’s Record Year “For its fiscal third quarter, Waterloo (Ont.)-based RIM reported sales of $835 million, up 49% from the same period a year ago, and profits of $176 million, or 93 cents a share. That beats the year-ago quarter by 46%.” I guess NTP didn’t hit them too hard. (tags: rim wireless palm) BadVista Blog — BadVista “…BadVista.org, a campaign with a twofold mission of exposing the harms inflicted on computer users by the new Microsoft Windows Vista and promoting free software alternatives that respect users’ security and privacy rights.” Seems like the FSF’s time could be better spent. (tags: vista microsoft fsf linux windows) VMware Workstation 6.0 Beta Release Notes The beta for VMware Workstation 6.0 has arrived — I’m downloading it now. Among the features 6.0 will include are support for Vista as a host OS, support for running VMs in the background, and support for high-speed USB 2.0 Devices. It’ll post at Free Enterprise once I’ve tested it. (tags: vmware virtualization) Finding the Linux Desktop Amy Wohl says that Linux is ready for desktop users, but desktop users aren’t ready for Linux. I happen to agree, but there’s a definite IF… IF you’re not tied to a Windows-only app, whether for real or sentimental reasons, then Linux can suit you very well. Linux has been doing so for me for years now. (tags: linux) Microsoft Watch – Vista – Vista Won’t End Windows XP Availability “That said, Microsoft will make Windows XP available for from 12 to 24 months after Vista’s general availability, depending on the sales channel.” That’s how long it’ll take for Vista sales to really get cooking. (tags: windows vista) This entry was posted in FE on December 23, 2006 by Jason Brooks. ← links for 2006-12-22 links for 2006-12-27 →	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1565
__label__cc	0.734317	0.265683	Jeffco Public Schools » District Services » Facilities » Jeffco Builds » About Jeffco Builds Pick Your School Thank you, Jeffco Voters! In the fall of 2018, Jeffco voters approved ballot measure 5B — a $567 million bond investment for needed capital improvement projects at schools across the district. This investment allows us to provide our students and educators safe, high-quality learning environments. Specifically, Jeffco Public Schools will use these funds to: • Add and expand career/technical education facilities; • Upgrade safety and security equipment in school buildings; • Repair, renovate, equip, and reconstruct buildings to ensure our schools are safe, efficient and accessible to all students, including those with disabilities; and • Construct, furnish, equip, and support needs in buildings and classrooms at all schools in the district, including charters. Over the next six years, we will: • Build three new schools; • Replace three existing schools with new buildings (demolition of an older facility and construction of a new building on the current site); and • Complete 23 major additions to existing school facilities. Additionally, significant improvements will come to all schools across the district. Including safety and security updates. The importance of bringing the pre-1980s high schools up to par with newer buildings was emphasized to the community and will be the first to begin construction. Facilities that have received little improvement in the past were also given higher priority. Projects at newer facilities were placed later on the timeline so that current structures and systems would continue to be utilized, but immediate needs that occur over the next six years will be addressed. Additionally, smaller projects were grouped together for cost-saving purposes: type of work within an articulation area and smaller renovations were packaged together so they can be completed by a single contractor. This practice saves money and provides us a better value. Finally, projects were determined by cash flow, meaning how much the projects will cost and how much can be spent over a specified period. However, every articulation area has a project that will begin in 2019. Jeffco Public Schools has been providing educational excellence for more than 60 years. Our mission is to provide a quality education that prepares all children for a successful future.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1566
__label__wiki	0.666953	0.666953	Tumor regression mediated by oncogene withdrawal or erlotinib stimulates infiltration of inflammatory immune cells in EGFR mutant lung tumors Deborah Ayeni1, Braden Miller2, Alexandra Kuhlmann3, Ping-Chih Ho3,4, Camila Robles-Oteiza3, Mmaserame Gaefele2, Stellar Levy2, Fernando J. de Miguel2, Curtis Perry3, Tianxia Guan3, Gerald Krystal5, William Lockwood5, Daniel Zelterman6, Robert Homer1,7, Zongzhi Liu1, Susan Kaech2,3,8 & Katerina Politi ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6064-45271,2,9 Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer volume 7, Article number: 172 (2019) Cite this article Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like erlotinib are effective for treating patients with EGFR mutant lung cancer; however, drug resistance inevitably emerges. Approaches to combine immunotherapies and targeted therapies to overcome or delay drug resistance have been hindered by limited knowledge of the effect of erlotinib on tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Using mouse models, we studied the immunological profile of mutant EGFR-driven lung tumors before and after erlotinib treatment. We found that erlotinib triggered the recruitment of inflammatory T cells into the lungs and increased maturation of alveolar macrophages. Interestingly, this phenotype could be recapitulated by tumor regression mediated by deprivation of the EGFR oncogene indicating that tumor regression alone was sufficient for these immunostimulatory effects. We also found that further efforts to boost the function and abundance of inflammatory cells, by combining erlotinib treatment with anti-PD-1 and/or a CD40 agonist, did not improve survival in an EGFR-driven mouse model. Our findings lay the foundation for understanding the effects of TKIs on the tumor microenvironment and highlight the importance of investigating targeted and immuno-therapy combination strategies to treat EGFR mutant lung cancer. EGFR mutations are found in 10–15% of lung adenocarcinomas in the US and are enriched in tumors from never or former smokers [1]. Lung adenocarcinoma-associated mutations in exons encoding the tyrosine kinase domain of this receptor most commonly include either deletion of a four amino acid motif (LREA) in Exon 19 of EGFR or a point mutation in Exon 21, which substitutes Arginine for Leucine at position 858 (L858R) [2]. These mutations confer sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as erlotinib, gefitinib and afatinib, current standard of care therapies for the treatment of this subset of lung cancer. However, drug resistance inevitably develops on average after 12 months of treatment [3, 4]. In more than 50% of cases, acquired resistance to erlotinib is driven by a second site mutation in EGFR, T790M [3, 5], which alters the affinity of the receptor for ATP and as a consequence to the drugs [6]. Novel 3rd generation TKIs that specifically inhibit mutant EGFR (and spare wild-type EGFR) are now also approved to treat this disease in both the first and second line settings to overcome and/or delay the onset of resistance [7]. Even with these improvements, however, none of the therapies are curative [8]. Therefore, demands for novel therapeutic approaches are high. Recent advances show that targeting the immune system is a useful approach to treating lung cancer. Mounting evidence suggests that tumors stimulate the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment to evade the immune system by facilitating tumor-infiltrating T cells to display an exhausted phenotype [9] such that they are unable to proliferate and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines [10, 11]. Agents that target inhibitory molecules (e.g. PD-1, CTLA4) on T cells and/or their cognate ligands (e.g. PD-L1) on tumor and immune infiltrating cells have shown promising results in treating lung cancers and are now FDA-approved. However, overall there appears to be a lower response rate to PD-1 axis inhibitors associated with EGFR mutations. In a retrospective evaluation of patients treated with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors, it was found that objective responses in patients with EGFR-mutant tumors was 3.6% compared to 23.3% in those with EGFR wild-type tumors [12]. In spite of this, there are clear indications that a subset of patients with EGFR mutant lung cancer benefit from these therapies [13,14,15]. Moreover, preclinical models demonstrate that the immune system plays an important role in modulating the growth of EGFR mutant tumors [16]. In one study evaluating the combination of erlotinib plus nivolumab, durable tumor regression in both treatment (TKI or chemotherapy) naïve and TKI-treated patients was reported [17] and there are several additional trials evaluating the efficacy of combining PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with EGFR TKIs [13]. However, toxicities have raised concerns that treating patients with EGFR TKIs and immune checkpoint inhibitors concurrently may not be the optimal approach to use these agents in combination. Given these findings, studies are necessary to understand the effects of EGFR TKIs on the tumor microenvironment and the immunological consequences of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with EGFR TKIs. Several studies have examined the effect of kinase inhibitors on the tumor immune microenvironment. The BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib, for instance, has been reported to increase intratumoral CD8+ T cell infiltrates [18], increase tumor associated antigens and improve effector function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes [19]. However, a subset of tumors resistant to vemurafenib exhibit features of T-cell exhaustion and reduced antigen presentation suggesting that these may be resistant to checkpoint inhibitors [20]. Similarly, in lung cancer cell lines, two studies have revealed that TKI treatment leads to down-regulation of tumor PD-L1 expression [21, 22]. Moreover, it has also been shown that erlotinib can impair T cell-mediated immune responses via suppression of signaling pathways downstream of EGFR critical for cell survival and proliferation [23]. Further supporting that erlotinib could have immunosuppressive effects on the immune system, erlotinib has been posited to down-regulate TNF-α mediated inflammation characteristic of psoriasis [24]. In addition, a study in mouse models of EGFR mutant lung cancer reported increased leukocyte infiltration and enhanced antigen-presenting capabilities after 24 h of erlotinib treatment [25]. While these studies point to modulation of the immune system by TKIs like erlotinib several unanswered questions remain: 1) in addition to the abundance, how is the functionality of the immune cells affected by erlotinib, and specifically of lung-resident immune cells that have not been examined in prior studies? 2) does the immune microenvironment return to normal after tumor regression or are there lingering consequences of the presence of the tumor? 3) are the effects of erlotinib treatment in vivo on the immune microenvironment mediated by erlotinib or are they due to the process of tumor regression? and 4) what are the more long-term effects of erlotinib on the immune microenvironment beyond the effects observed acutely after treatment? To address these issues, we utilized a previously developed immunocompetent mouse model of EGFR mutant lung cancer [26] and tested the consequences of erlotinib or oncogene de-induction on the immune microenvironment. CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice were previously described [26]. Mice were fed chow containing doxycycline (625 ppm) obtained from Harlan-Tekland. The animals were housed in a pathogen-free facility and animal studies were performed in accordance with and with the approval of the Yale University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC protocol numbers: 2016–11364, 2016-10806 and assurance number: D16–00416). In vivo treatment with Erlotinib Erlotinib was purchased and purified at the organic synthesis core facility at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), dissolved in 0.5% methylcellulose and administered intraperitoneally at 25 mg/kg, 5 days a week. Mice were euthanized by CO2 asphyxiation. Magnetic resonance images of isofluroane-anesthetized mice were collected using a mini-4 T horizontal-bore spectrometer (Bruker AVANCE). Throughout data collection, each animal was anesthetized on a steady flow of isofluroane and oxygen (2–2.5% v/v) and core-body temperature was maintained at 37 ± 1 °C. Imaging parameters were optimized to effectively discriminate between healthy lung and areas with tumor. Tumor burden in each animal was quantified by calculating the volume of visible lung opacities in every image sequence using the BioImage Suite software [27]. Tumor digestion Lungs from normal, untreated, tumor-bearing or treated mice were mechanically digested and incubated in HBSS with 0.5 mg/ml collagenase IV and 1μg/ml DNase 1 at 37 degrees for 1 h after which the solution was filtered using a 70 μm cell strainer. The resulting single cell suspension was incubated in ACK lysis buffer for 5 min to lyse red blood cells. Flow cytometry and cell sorting Single cell suspensions of lung tumors or splenocytes were resuspended in FACS buffer (PBS + 1%FBS). Cells were then incubated with anti-Fc receptor antibody (clone 2.4G2) on ice for 15 min followed immediately by staining with respective surface antibodies for 30 min. For intracellular cytokines, T cells were stimulated with PMA/ionomycin (Sigma Aldrich) and Brefeldin A for 5 h at 37 degrees. The cells were stained first with surface antibodies then fixed in Cytofix/Cytoperm buffer (BD Biosciences) followed by staining with antibodies to detect proteins present in intracellular compartments. FoxP3 staining was done in a similar manner. Samples were acquired on an LSRII flow cytometer and analyzed with Flowjo. Cells were sorted on the BD FACS Aria at the Yale Cell Sorter Core facility. Cells were sorted based on the expression of the following markers: CD4 T cells: CD45+/CD3+/CD4+, CD8 T cells: CD45+/CD3+/CD8+, Alveolar macrophages: CD45+/ CD11c+/SiglecF+, Tumor epithelial cells: CD45−/CD11c-Epcam+. In vivo labeling of immune cells Mice were retro-orbitally injected with 3 μg of biotin-conjugated CD45 (clone 30-F11) for 5 min, immediately after which animals were sacrificed. Lung tissue was collected, processed and stained as described above. T cell proliferation assay Splenocytes and single cell suspensions were collected from spleen or lungs of tumor bearing mice. T cells were enriched using a purified antibody cocktail consisting of IA/I-E, B220 and F4/80. Purified cells were loaded with 5 μM CFSE at room temperature for 15 min in the dark. T cells mixed with anti-CD28 were seeded on CD3 coated plates followed by treatment with 10 μM Erlotinib or DMSO for 5 days. Proliferation was determined by CFSE dilution using flow cytometry. Histology, immunofluorescence and cell quantification Lung tissue from normal, tumor bearing untreated and treated animals was collected after sacrifice, fixed overnight in 4% paraformaldehyde and rehydrated in 70% ethanol until submission for paraffin embedding and sectioning at the Yale Pathology Tissue Services. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, CD3 (Spring Biosciences; 1:150), EGFRL858R (Cell Signaling; 1:400), FoxP3 APC-conjugated (eBioscience; 1:50), Ki-67 (BioLegend; 1:50) and Cytokeratin 7 (Abcam; 1:300) antibodies. Positive cells in a 40X field of view were manually counted using a plugin for ImageJ called Cell Counter. At least three representative tissue locations were used to quantify and values were averaged for each mouse. Bio-Plex Cytokine assay Healthy lungs or tumors were crushed and homogenized in cold PBS with 1X protease inhibitor cocktail and 1% Triton X-100 (Thermo Scientific). Equal amounts of total protein were analyzed in triplicates using the Bio-Rad Mouse 23-plex cytokine assay (Bio-rad, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. RNA extraction, purification and quantitative real-time RT-PCR For RNA extraction and purification, the Arcturus PicoPure RNA isolation kit was used according to manufacturer’s instruction and cDNA was synthesized using the SuperScript II Reverse Transcriptase from Invitrogen. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed using the Taqman assay (Invitrogen). Ct values were recorded and relative gene expression was determined using the ΔΔCt method. RNA sequencing and gene expression data RNA sequencing was performed using the illumina HiSeq 2000 platform through the Yale Stem Cell Center Genomics Core facility. R1 reads from each paired-end reads were aligned to the mouse genome (version mm10) using bowtie2 [28] in local mode, followed by annotation of counts to each gene by gencode (version M10) [29]. Differential expression in each cell type between experimental conditions was performed with the DESeq2 [30] R package. Ingenuity pathway analysis Enrichment analyses of canonical pathways were performed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA, Ingenuity Systems). Genes with an adjusted P value lower than 0.05 were included and Ingenuity Knowledge Base (Genes Only) was used as reference set for the analyses. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 7.0 software and p-values, where indicated, were determined using the parametric, student’s t-test. In vivo treatment with erlotinib, agonistic anti-CD40 antibody and anti-PD-1 antibody Tumor bearing EGFRL858R mice were treated with erlotinib alone or in combination with an agonistic anti-CD40 antibody and/or anti-PD-1 antibody. Erlotinib (obtained from the Organic Synthesis Core Facility at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) was suspended in 0.5% (w/v) methylcellulose. The agonistic anti-CD40 antibody and anti-PD-1 antibody (both from BioXcell) were diluted in PBS. Erlotinib was administered intraperitoneally at 25 mg/kg per mouse, 5 days a week while the agonistic anti-CD40 antibody and anti-PD-1 antibody were administered intraperitoneally at 250 μg/mouse, every 3 days. Tumor volume was assessed by MRI before, during and after treatment duration and at the end of study, mice were euthanized by CO2 asphyxiation. Increased inflammatory T cells following erlotinib treatment in EGFR mutant lung cancer mouse models To evaluate the changes that occur in the immune microenvironment upon TKI treatment, CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R bitransgenic mice on a doxycycline diet were treated with erlotinib, an EGFR TKI, for a period of 2 weeks (Fig. 1a). In six tumor bearing mice after 2 weeks of erlotinib treatment, the disease is mostly undetectable by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (Additional file 1: Figure S1A) and largely resolved histopathologically (Additional file 1: Figure S1B). At the end of the treatment, lung and spleen single cell suspensions were prepared and analyzed by flow cytometry. We compared the immune profiles of normal healthy lungs from four mice and lungs from six tumor-bearing untreated and six erlotinib-treated mice. To ensure that the effects observed were not due to the presence of doxycycline in the mouse diet, all of the mice, including controls were maintained on doxycycline for the same amount of time. We found a consistent reduction in the fraction of CD45+ immune cells and the absolute number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells per gram of lung tissue in untreated tumor-bearing lungs that was reversed upon TKI treatment (Fig. 1b and Additional file 1: Figure S1C&D). The immunosuppressive microenvironment in murine EGFRL858R –induced lung adenocarcinomas is partially reversed by erlotinib. (a) Experimental outline of tumor induction and erlotinib treatment. CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice and littermate controls on a doxycycline diet (green arrow) for 6–7 weeks were treated with erlotinib or left untreated for 2 weeks. Infiltrating immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantification of (b) CD4 and CD8 T cells (c) FoxP3 positive CD4 T cells (d) Treg/ CD8+ T cell ratio and (e) PD-1 positive FoxP3- and FoxP3+ CD4 and CD8 T cells in the lungs (and spleens) of normal lung (NL) and tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Data are obtained from three independent experiments, (n = 4–6 mice per group). Data are shown as mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test To determine whether there were any differences in the T cells in tumor-bearing lungs indicative of an immunosuppressive microenvironment, we quantified regulatory T cells present in the different conditions. We observed a significant increase in Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the lungs of tumor-bearing mice regardless of erlotinib treatment (Fig. 1c and Additional file 1: Figure S1E) suggesting that these immunosuppressive cells, which also may play a role in tissue repair, are retained even following erlotinib-mediated tumor regression. Despite the lack of a major shift in the proportion of Tregs in the erlotinib-treated lungs, the Treg/CD8+ T cell ratio decreased with erlotinib treatment, likely due to the increase in CD8+ T cells and indicative of a shift towards a more immunostimulatory microenvironment (Fig. 1d). Interestingly, these Tregs retained a high level of PD-1 expression that was unchanged with erlotinib treatment (Fig. 1e and Additional file 1: Figure S1F). To confirm these findings using an orthogonal approach, we used immunofluorescence to detect the tumor cell marker, cytokeratin, a pan T cell marker CD3, and the Treg marker, Foxp3. We observed that erlotinib treatment induced infiltration of T cells into the lungs compared to untreated tumor-bearing lungs (Additional file 1: Figure S1G). Our quantification of Foxp3+ cells from these sections also revealed that there was no significant difference in their abundance between untreated and erlotinib-treated lungs (Additional file 1: Fig. S1H). In vitro T cell stimulation assays demonstrated that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed increased production of the cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 after erlotinib treatment indicative of an activated phenotype (Fig. 2a&b and Additional file 1: Figure S2A). These results suggest the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment in the lungs of mice with EGFRL858R tumors, which is consistent with findings from a mouse model of EGFREx19del mutant lung cancer [16]. Erlotinib treatment leads to an increase in the numbers of lymphocytes, their higher cytokine production and a limited reduction in the proportion of Tregs. Increased production and presence of immunostimulatory cytokines following erlotinib treatment. Quantification of the levels of indicated effector cytokines from (a) CD4 T cells and (b) CD8 T cells after PMA/ionomycin stimulation and intracellular cytokine staining of cells in the lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Quantification of naïve and effector (c) CD4 and (d) CD8 T cells in lungs of CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R tumor bearing mice untreated or treated with erlotinib for 2 weeks. Data are from three independent experiments, (n = 3 mice per group) (e) Quantification of chemokines and cytokines in lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Proteins (from a panel of 23) with significantly different levels between untreated and erlotinib-treated lungs are shown. Data are shown as mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test To further study the properties of tumor-infiltrating T cells after erlotinib treatment, we used an in vivo labeling approach to distinguish circulating and parenchymal lung T cells from tumor-bearing mice left untreated or treated with erlotinib for 2 weeks (n = 3 mice per group) [31]. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the lungs were further classified as naïve or effector based on their expression of molecules involved in lymphocyte migration (e.g. CD62L) necessary for T cell entry into lymph nodes through high endothelial venules [32] and molecules involved in lymphocyte adhesion (e.g. CD44) required to enter sites of inflamed peripheral tissues [33], where interaction with target antigens can occur. Naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, defined as CD62Lhigh CD44low, were unchanged after erlotinib treatment (Fig. 2c). Conversely, percentages of CD62Llow CD44high effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were significantly increased after treatment (Fig. 2d), suggesting that erlotinib treatment leads to increased effector T cells in the tumor microenvironment. There was no significant difference in the expression of Granzyme B on CD4+ or CD8+ T cells from tumor bearing lungs before and after erlotinib treatment (Additional file 1: Figure S2B). Moreover, compared to a splenocyte control (Additional file 1: Figure S2C), T cells in the lungs expressed very low Granzyme B (GzmB) after in vitro stimulation. We investigated the expression of CD107a, a marker of T cell degranulation following stimulation, and observed undetectable expression. This suggests that in spite of enhanced cytokine secretion after erlotinib, the T cells in the tumor microenvironment do not degranulate. In order to further characterize lung CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, we isolated lung-resident CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and performed RNA sequencing to query their gene expression profiles. As predicted, we detected abundant expression of T cell lineage markers Cd3e, Cd4, Cd8a and Cd8b in the relevant cell populations that was unchanged by erlotinib treatment (Additional file 1: Figure S2D&E). In addition, we found that T cells from untreated tumors and erlotinib treated tumors have similar levels of expression of the T-cell co-stimulatory molecules Cd28, Cd27 and Icos (Additional file 1: Figure S2D&E). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed leukocyte extravasation signaling and agranulocyte adhesion and diapedesis (extravasation) amongst the top ten pathways that changed significantly after erlotinib treatment suggesting that erlotinib treatment modulates lymphocyte properties related to movement and migration (Supplementary Table 1). Next, to gain insight into the cytokine milieu present in EGFR mutant tumors and how this changes with erlotinib treatment, we used a multiplex immunoassay to measure the protein level of 23 cytokines from whole lung lysates of untreated and treated tumors. We found that the T cell chemoattractants CCL2 and CCL5 increased after erlotinib treatment, as did the levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IFN-γ, IL-12p40) (Fig. 2e). Concomitant decreases in the cytokine CCL3 and chemokine CXCL1 were found. Overall, these data suggest that erlotinib leads to changes in the lung tumor microenvironment that are conducive to the recruitment and survival of T cells. Tumor regression mediated by erlotinib indirectly leads to the changes in the immune microenvironment We further questioned whether the effect of erlotinib on the tumor microenvironment was a direct consequence of the TKI or an indirect result of drug-induced tumor regression. To address this question, we leveraged the inducible nature of our model system and removed doxycycline from the diet of six tumor-bearing EGFRL858R mice for 2 weeks. Doxycycline withdrawal turns off the transgene initiating rapid tumor cell death similar to that observed with erlotinib (n = 6 mice) [26], (Fig. 3a and Additional file 1: Figs. S3A and B). As is the case with erlotinib, we saw an increase in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the lungs of these models (Fig. 3b, Additional file 1: Figure S3C and D). Dox withdrawal had a more profound effect on Tregs which decreased significantly following oncogene de-induction (along with a corresponding decrease in the Treg/CD8 ratio) compared to what was observed with erlotinib treatment (Fig. 3c and d). To further explore whether tumor regression, and not erlotinib directly, was causing the observed changes in the immune microenvironment, we studied mice with EGFR mutant lung cancer induced by expression of the EGFRL858R + T790M mutant that is unresponsive to erlotinib treatment (Additional file 1: Figs. S3A and B) [34]. Following erlotinib treatment of six L + T tumor-bearing mice we did not observe changes in the immune microenvironment (Fig. 3b, c&d). We also treated mono-transgenic (either TetO-EGFRL858R+;CCSP-rtTA- or TetO-EGFRL858R-;CCSP-rtTA+) healthy littermates with erlotinib for 2 weeks as an alternative approach to query whether the inhibitor exerts non-specific effects on immune cells and observed no differences in the immune microenvironment between erlotinib treated or untreated lungs (n = 4 mice per group) (Additional file 1: Fig. S3E and F). These results lead us to conclude that the changes in the immune microenvironment are not a result of a direct effect of erlotinib on immune cells but rather a consequence of the process of tumor regression itself. Changes in T cells in the immune microenvironment are due to tumor regression. (a) Experimental outline of tumor induction and erlotinib treatment. CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R or CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R + T790M mice and littermate controls on a doxycycline diet (green arrow) were treated with erlotinib or left untreated for 2 weeks or taken off doxycycline diet. Infiltrating immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantification of (b) CD4 and CD8 T cells, (c) FoxP3 positive CD4 T cells and (d) the Treg/ CD8 ratio in lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R or CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R + T790M mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks or after doxycycline withdrawal. Data are from three independent experiments, (n = 4–6 mice per group). Data are shown as mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test To further study whether erlotinib directly affects tumor-infiltrating T cells we used in vivo labeling to distinguish circulating (i.e., cells in the vasculature) and parenchymal lung T cells followed by flow cytometry analysis. Notably, erlotinib treatment led to an increase in the absolute number of T cells present in the lung epithelium compared to untreated tumor-bearing lungs (n = 6 mice per group) (Fig. 4a). This translated into a 4-fold increase in CD4+ T cells and 2-fold increase in CD8+ T cells (Fig. 4b). This difference was not as prominent in the circulating T cells collected from the mouse lungs (Additional file 1: Figure S4A & B). Interestingly, the lung CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed decreased Ki-67 positivity upon erlotinib treatment suggesting that the increased number of these cells was not due to increased proliferation following erlotinib treatment (Fig. 4c). Co-immunofluorescent staining of lung sections with antibodies against CD3 and Ki-67 showed a similar trend (Fig. 4d and e). Analogous findings were observed in samples from mice following doxycycline withdrawal (n = 4) supporting the possibility that the decrease in T cell proliferation is an indirect effect of the tumor regression rather than a direct effect of erlotinib on the T cells (Additional file 1: Figure S4C). Erlotinib-mediated tumor regression increases lung T cells. (a) Absolute number and (b) Fold change in number of parenchyma lung CD4 and CD8 T cells of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Quantification of (C) Ki-67+ CD4 and CD8 T cells of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. (d) Immunofluorescent (IF) stain and (e) quantification of CD3 T cells (red) and Ki-67 positive cells (Cyan) in lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Nuclei were counterstained with Dapi (blue). Data are obtained from three independent experiments, (n = 4–6 mice per group). Data are shown as mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test To further confirm that erlotinib did not act directly on T cells, we evaluated its effect on T cell proliferation by performing CFSE staining (Additional file 1: Figure S5A and B) of 10 μM erlotinib and DMSO-treated T cells isolated from spleens and lungs of tumor-bearing mice. We found that erlotinib, even at this high concentration, did not alter T cell proliferation in vitro (Fig. 5a, b and Additional file 1: Figure S5C). We also tested the effects of this TKI on T cells after LCMV infection in vivo (Fig. 5c) and found no effect on the abundance of CD44+ activated CD4+ or CD8+ T cells with erlotinib treatment (Fig. 5d&e). In addition, we did not observe a significant difference in Ki67+ CD4+ or CD8+ T cells between erlotinib and vehicle treated mice (n = 3 mice per group) suggesting that erlotinib does not affect proliferation of these cells directly (Fig. 5f). Erlotinib does not diminish T cell proliferation in vitro or in vivo. Quantification of erlotinib-treated (a) CD8 and (b) CD4 T cells isolated using magnetic beads from lungs and spleens of tumor bearing four CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R + T790M mice and labeled with CFSE. The proportion of dividing cells was assessed 120 h after 10 μm erlotinib or DMSO treatment based on CFSE dilution. (c) Experimental layout of control, non-tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice infected with LCMV for 8 days with intervening daily administration of erlotinib or vehicle for 5 days, (n = 3 mice per group). Splenic T cells were collected and analyzed by flow cytometry. (d) Representative FACS plot showing the percentage of CD44+ CD4+ or CD44+ CD8+ T cells and quantification of (e) CD44+ CD4+ or CD44+ CD8+ T cells. (f) Ki-67+ CD4+ or Ki-67+ CD8+ T cells from vehicle or erlotinib treated LCMV infected mice. Data are shown as mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test Erlotinib treatment leads to increased maturation of myeloid cells First, we investigated the proportions of myeloid cell populations following erlotinib treatment. Specifically, we measured the percentage of alveolar and interstitial macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells (Fig. 6a). As observed by others [35], there was a prominent expansion of alveolar macrophages (AM) in tumor-bearing mouse lungs and this cell population was significantly decreased after erlotinib treatment (Fig. 6a) likely due to decreased proliferation of those cells as shown by a lower percentage of Ki-67+ positivity in that population after TKI treatment (Additional file 1: Figure S6A). In direct opposition to the pattern observed with AMs, interstitial macrophages and neutrophils were decreased in tumor-bearing lungs compared to controls and increased after erlotinib treatment, (n = 4–6 mice per group) (Fig. 6a). Dendritic cells were notably absent in tumor-bearing untreated lungs compared to their healthy lungs counterpart. We did observe a significant increase in CD103+ dendritic cells after erlotinib treatment (Fig. 6a). Erlotinib decreases alveolar macrophages and mediates a macrophage phenotypic switch indicative of an improved maturation. Quantification of (a) myeloid cell populations, (b) mean fluorescent intensity of the co-stimulatory molecule, CD86 in alveolar macrophages (AMs), (c) Irf5 and (d) Cd274 mRNA expression in AMs (E) PD-L1 mean fluorescent intensity on AMs in lungs of control (normal) and tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. (f) Quantification of myeloid cell populations in lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R treated with erlotinib or taken off doxycycline diet for 2 weeks or CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R + T790M mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Data are obtained from three independent experiments, (n = 4–6 mice per group). Data are shown as mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test Pulmonary AMs serve diverse roles in defense against pathogens in the respiratory tract. In addition to their well-established phagocytic roles and microbicidal functions [36], they also initiate pro-inflammatory responses through secretion of cytokines, which can stimulate T helper type 1 (TH1) responses or anti-inflammatory responses through secretion of IL-10 [37]. Finally, AMs have been described as poor antigen presenting cells, due to low expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 [38]. We observed an increase in the mean fluorescence intensity of CD86 on AMs suggesting a mature antigen presenting phenotype (Fig. 6b). Further supporting a switch in the macrophages to a pro-inflammatory phenotype, Irf5 expression was increased in AMs isolated from erlotinib-treated lungs (Fig. 6c). High expression of Irf5 has been shown to be characteristic of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, which are potent promoters of TH1 responses [39]. The levels of expression of M2 macrophage markers such as Chitinase-like 3 or MRC-1 were unchanged in lung tumors compared to healthy lungs or after erlotinib treatment. Interestingly, gene expression of Cxcl2 increased in AMs after erlotinib treatment (Additional file 1: Figure S6B). This could potentially explain the increased neutrophils observed in TKI-treated lungs (Fig. 6a). These results suggest that erlotinib-induced tumor regression treatment triggers an inflammatory response in AMs. Since a decrease in CD8+ T cell responses can be mediated by immune checkpoint ligands such as PD-Ligand 1 (PD-L1 or B7H1), we investigated whether the levels of this molecule were modulated by erlotinib. We found increased Cd274 (the gene encoding Pd-l1) expression and Pd-l1 protein on AMs after erlotinib treatment (Fig. 6d&e), perhaps as a consequence of an adaptive immune response triggered by the inflammatory microenvironment induced by erlotinib. Moreover, IFN-γ secreted by activated effector T cells, described earlier, has been shown to induce Pd-l1 in mouse models [40]. However, we did not observe a significant difference in expression of Cd274 on Epcam+ cells from normal lungs compared to cells from tumor bearing or erlotinib treated lungs (Additional file 1: Figure S6C). Here, we also queried whether the effect of erlotinib on myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment was a direct consequence of TKI or an indirect result of drug-induced tumor regression. We saw decreased AMs and increased interstitial macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells after doxycycline withdrawal (Fig. 6f). Notably, in EGFRL858R + T790M mice, there was no significant difference in any of these myeloid cell populations before and after erlotinib (n = 6 mice per group) (Fig. 6f), further suggesting that the changes we observed are as a result of tumor regression. In four mono-transgenic healthy littermates treated with erlotinib for 2 weeks, we observed a significant reduction in the AM population but no differences in other myeloid cell populations (Additional file 1: Figure S6D). Boosting T cell abundance or function does not protect erlotinib-treated mice from tumor recurrence Our data suggest that erlotinib largely restores the immune TME to that found in non-tumor bearing lungs, including the infiltration of cytokine-producing T cells. We wondered whether by doing this erlotinib creates the conditions for further therapeutic immune stimulation. We postulated that boosting the immune response to the tumors by targeting key molecules present on immune cells in the TME could potentially stimulate T-cell responses to the tumor cells and protect mice from tumor recurrence. To investigate this possibility, we tested the effects of therapeutic approaches to enhance T cell activity either by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 axis using an anti-PD-1 antibody and/or using an agonistic CD40 antibody on the EGFRL858R-induced tumors alone or in combination with erlotinib. Agonistic CD40 antibodies have been shown to activate antigen-presenting cells, leading to a stimulation of T cell-specific antitumor responses [41] and in our models, we observed an increase in CD8+ T cells compared to untreated or erlotinib treated lungs (Additional file 1: Figure S7A) with the CD40 agonist, (n = 4–6 mice per group). Those CD8 T cells expressed higher Ki-67 and Eomesodermin (Eomes) (Additional file 1: Figure S7B&C) indicative of increased proliferation and activation of the transcriptional program necessary for the differentiation of effector CD8+ T cells [42]. Two-week treatment revealed that there was no difference in tumor burden between untreated tumors, anti-PD-1 and/or CD40 agonist-treated tumors (Additional file 1: Figure S7D). Not unexpectedly, given the magnitude of the effect of erlotinib on these tumors, there was not any difference in tumor regression mediated by erlotinib or erlotinib plus the anti-PD-1 and/or CD40 agonist (Additional file 1: Figure S7D&E). We then investigated whether the CD40 agonist or anti-PD-1 treatment could in combination with erlotinib delay tumor relapse. To test this, we treated tumor-bearing mice, induced with doxycycline for 6–7 weeks, with erlotinib alone or a combination of erlotinib plus the CD40 agonist or anti-PD-1 for 4 weeks (Fig. 7a), (n = 5–10 mice per group). As expected after 4 weeks there was no detectable tumor by MRI, with complete tumor shrinkage in all treatment groups (Additional file 1: Figure S7E). At the end of 4 weeks, the mice were taken off erlotinib but continued on the CD40 agonist, anti-PD-1 or the CD40 agonist plus anti-PD-1 (Fig. 7a). We did not see any benefit on survival or tumor burden quantified by MRI (Fig. 7b and Additional file 1: Figure S7F). Boosting T cell function does not prevent recurrence after erlotinib treatment. (a) Experimental design and (b) survival curves of the erlotinib and immunotherapy combination study. CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice were treated with erlotinib alone or in combination with immunomodulatory agents as in arms 1–4 for 4 weeks after which erlotinib was halted and immunotherapy continued until mice were moribund, (n = 5–10 mice per group) In this study, we investigated the changes that occur within the immune microenvironment in a mouse model of EGFR mutant lung cancer after treatment with the TKI erlotinib. We found that erlotinib treatment led to the re-establishment of most features of the immune microenvironment found in the lungs of healthy non-tumor bearing mice. Importantly, the erlotinib-mediated changes were not due to a direct effect of the TKIs on cells in the immune microenvironment but rather they were stimulated by the process of tumor regression itself. However, despite increases in cytokine-producing CD4 and CD8 T cells following erlotinib-treatment, combination treatment with immunotherapies like anti-PD-1 or a CD40 agonist did not effectively prevent tumor relapse. Given the increasing interest in combining targeted therapies and immunotherapies, efforts to study the consequences of targeted therapies on the tumor immune microenvironment are growing [43]. Our findings demonstrating that erlotinib-mediated tumor regression is partially immunostimulatory are consistent with observations made with EGFR TKIs and with other targeted therapies. Studies of the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in a mouse model of Braf mutant and Pten deficient melanoma showed increased cytokine producing T cells in tumors following kinase inhibitor treatment [41, 44]. Similarly, activated CD8 cells were also more abundant in a Kit mutant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) model after imatinib treatment [45]. EGFR TKIs have also been shown to have immunostimulatory properties (that we now understand are likely due to the tumor regression that they induce). Venugopalan and colleagues demonstrated that 24 h after TKI treatment, when extensive cell death is occurring, immune cell infiltration in the lungs of mouse models of EGFR mutant lung cancer is increased [25]. Jia and others also showed an increased population of immune cells in this model after TKI treatment, with the maximum effect observed 48 h after treatment [46]. Prior to our study, the consequences of TKIs like erlotinib on the immune microenvironment after maximum tumor regression had not been examined. Since TKIs are administered daily and patients receive these therapies continuously, understanding the longer-term consequences of these drugs on the immune microenvironment is critical. The immune cell infiltration patterns found at 24 h [25] and 2 weeks (in our study) are similar consistent with the possibility that the process of tumor regression serves as a trigger for these changes. These indications of immune activation were counterbalanced by data indicating that after erlotinib treatment the tumors retained some immunosuppressive properties including abundant regulatory T cells (Fig. 1c) and increased levels of PD-L1 (Fig. 6d and e). While the Tregs may be indicative of immunosuppression persistent after erlotinib, the cells may also be playing a role in tissue repair after inflammation [47]. Whether targeting these elements of immunosuppression would be an effective strategy to slow tumor growth is currently unknown and actively being investigated. Such studies could include direct targeting of Tregs either by using antibodies such as ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) that can deplete Tregs [48] or, in genetically engineered mouse models, by ablating Tregs [49]. PD-1 axis inhibitors have been shown to modestly prolong survival of mice with EGFR mutant lung cancer [16], however, whether in combination with erlotinib this translates into improved survival and/or delays the emergence of resistance is unknown. In patients, the response rate of EGFR mutant tumors to PD-1 or PD-L1 blockade is below 10% and therefore lower than in NSCLC as a whole (RR ~ 20%) potentially due to the lower immunogenicity of the tumors mainly arising in former/never smokers and having a low mutational background [14, 50,51,52]. Large studies of TKIs in combination with checkpoint inhibitors have not been conducted to date in part due to concerns regarding the toxicity of these combinations. However, in a small study of erlotinib in combination with nivolumab, the combination was well-tolerated and the response rate to the combination in the refractory setting was 15% suggesting that some patients benefit from these agents [17]. We attempted to determine whether leveraging the immune cell changes in the TME mediated by erlotinib with an immunotherapeutic agent like anti-PD-1 or an agonistic CD40 antibody could further stimulate the immune system to exert anti-tumor effects. We found that addition of these agents to erlotinib treatment did not prevent or delay tumor relapse. These data indicate that the tumors are refractory to T-cell mediated killing even when T cells are abundant and not exhausted. It has been established that lung tumors in genetically engineered mouse models, including the EGFRL858R model we used, have a significantly lower frequency of nonsynonymous mutations compared to human lung adenocarcinomas [53, 54]. The low frequency of somatic mutations that arise during tumor development in these models lead to the generation of few neoantigens to induce T cell responses. This may explain the lack of a strong T cell-mediated immune response in this tumor model [55]. Future studies aimed to study antigen-specific T cell responses in new systems that express model antigens and/or have higher mutation burdens more reflective of human lung cancer are ongoing. An alternative but not mutually exclusive possibility is that multiple immunosuppressive pathways active in the tumors need to be simultaneously inhibited to engage the immune system. This is supported by our data showing that Tregs represent a significant fraction of T cells that are present in EGFRL858R-induced tumors following erlotinib treatment. The extent to which these signals play a role in tumorigenesis and need to be reversed for tumor regression is still poorly understood. There are several ways in which targeted therapies may be affecting immune cells. They could either be acting directly via on-target or off-target activities on immune cells present in the tumor. Alternatively, the changes could be an indirect consequence of the biological effects (e.g induction of apoptosis) of targeted therapies. Indeed, forms of cell death, like necrosis, have long been recognized as having potentially immunogenic consequences, and data suggest that apoptosis could also have immunological effects [56]. In support of this, our study provides evidence that the TKI erlotinib itself does not act directly on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment but rather changes in immune infiltrates result indirectly from the process of tumor regression. First, we found that in a mouse model of erlotinib-resistant lung cancer in which tumors do not regress upon treatment with the TKI, low numbers and functionally impaired CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes are found similar to untreated tumors even following TKI treatment. Second, erlotinib did not affect the proportion of lymphocytes in the lungs of healthy non-tumor bearing mice. Third, erlotinib treatment of lymphocytes isolated from tumor-bearing mouse lungs or from spleen does not affect their proliferation or activation. Others have shown that erlotinib does inhibit the proliferation of T cells isolated from mouse lymph nodes [23]. It is possible that these differences are due to the different biological contexts examined, namely lung or spleen cells from tumor-bearing or LCMV-infected mice as opposed to T cells from wild-type lymph nodes. Erlotinib has also been shown to act directly on tumor cells by increasing MHC I antigen presentation rendering them more responsive to T-cell mediated attack [57]. However, it is unclear whether such mechanisms would be in play in EGFR mutant tumor cells that are undergoing apoptosis but rather in EGFR wild-type tumor cells where erlotinib does not lead to cell death. Our study has several translational implications. First, the data underscore the difficulty of harnessing CD8 T cell cytotoxicity in the context of poorly antigenic tumors like those present in these mouse models of EGFR mutant lung cancer. It is possible that strategies to leverage the immune system that do not rely on CD8 T cells may be more successful in these tumors such as targeting innate immune cells. Indeed, depletion of alveolar macrophages has been shown to reduce tumor burden in these models [35] suggesting that targeting these cells may be an avenue for therapeutic benefit. Second, our study highlights how the process of tumor regression itself leads to the observed changes in the tumor immune microenvironment rather than representing a direct effect of erlotinib on immune cells. Understanding the contributions of individual drugs to the tumor immune microenvironment can be important for selecting therapeutic combinations to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. In the case of EGFR mutant lung cancer, where there are concerns about combining TKIs with immunotherapies, like immune checkpoint inhibitors due to toxicity, it is possible that other agents that lead to tumor regression could be used. This could be relevant in tumors resistant to TKIs when TKI treatment is no longer an option and other approaches need to be explored. A limitation of our study is the absence of confirmatory evidence of our findings in TKI-responsive tumor specimens from patients. Such samples are challenging to obtain because biopsies are not routinely performed when a tumor is responding to therapy. Future clinical trials of TKIs that include on-treatment biopsies like the ELIOS Study (NCT03239340) will be valuable to evaluate TKI-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment in human tumors. An additional limitation of our study is the low mutation burden of tumors in genetically engineered mouse models [53]. Even though our model provides a physiologically relevant tumor microenvironment, the low frequency of somatic mutations that arise during tumor development limits the number of neoantigens that can induce T cell responses. Altogether, our findings lay the foundation for understanding how TKIs modulate the tumor immune microenvironment and their association with the process of tumor regression. These studies also provide us with insight into the features of the immune tumor microenvironment under continuous TKI exposure and whether these can be leveraged therapeutically. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author opon request. Alveolar Macrophage Gzmb: Granzyme B MRI: TH1 : T helper type 1 TKI: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor Pao W, Miller V, Zakowski M, Doherty J, Politi K, Sarkaria I, et al. 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Cancer immunology research. 2018. Sequencing was conducted at the Yale Stem Cell Center Genomics Core facility, which is supported by the Connecticut Regenerative Medicine Research Fund and the Li Ka Shing Foundation. We thank Dr. Nikhil Joshi for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by NIH/NCI grants R01CA195720 (KP and SK) and P50CA196530 (KP), a Yale Cancer Center Co-Pilot award (KP and SK), the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) (D. Ayeni), the Heller Family Cancer Research Fund, the Ginny and Kenneth Grunley Fund for Lung Cancer Research (KP) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Pre-doctoral fellowship (D. Ayeni). Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, SHM-I 234D, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA Deborah Ayeni , Robert Homer , Zongzhi Liu & Katerina Politi Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA Braden Miller , Mmaserame Gaefele , Stellar Levy , Fernando J. de Miguel , Susan Kaech Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA Alexandra Kuhlmann , Ping-Chih Ho , Camila Robles-Oteiza , Curtis Perry , Tianxia Guan & Susan Kaech Present address: Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Ludwig Cancer Research Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland Ping-Chih Ho British Columbia Cancer Agency, B.C, Vancouver, V5Z 1L3, Canada Gerald Krystal & William Lockwood Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA Daniel Zelterman VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, 950 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA Robert Homer Present address: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA Susan Kaech Department of Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA Katerina Politi Search for Deborah Ayeni in: Search for Braden Miller in: Search for Alexandra Kuhlmann in: Search for Ping-Chih Ho in: Search for Camila Robles-Oteiza in: Search for Mmaserame Gaefele in: Search for Stellar Levy in: Search for Fernando J. de Miguel in: Search for Curtis Perry in: Search for Tianxia Guan in: Search for Gerald Krystal in: Search for William Lockwood in: Search for Daniel Zelterman in: Search for Robert Homer in: Search for Zongzhi Liu in: Search for Susan Kaech in: Search for Katerina Politi in: DA, BM, AK, PCH, CRO, MG, SL, FdM, CP, TG, GK, WL, DZ, RH, ZL, SK and KP acquired, analysed and interpreted data. DA and KP wrote and revised the manuscript. SK and KP supervised the study. All authors read and approved the manuscript. Correspondence to Katerina Politi. Animal studies were performed in accordance with and with the approval of the Yale University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The authors have the following competing interests to disclose: -Research funding from AstraZeneca (KP, SMK), Roche (KP, SMK, P.-C. H.), Kolltan (KP) and Symphogen (KP), Tempest Therapeutics (SMK). -Consulting/Advisory Role honoraria from AstraZeneca (KP), Merck (KP), Novartis (KP), Tocagen (KP), Pfizer (P.-C. H.), Chugai (P.-C. H.), Elixiron Immunotherapeutics (P.-C. H.), Dynamo Therapeutics (KP), Maverick Therapeutics (KP). -Royalties in IP licensed from MSKCC to Molecular MD (KP). Figure S1. MRI images, histology and representative flow cytometry plots of normal or tumor-bearing lungs before and after erlotinib. (A) Coronal images of CCSPrtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mouse lungs before (left panel) and after (right panel) treatment with erlotinib. (B) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain of lungs from control (normal) and tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Bar: 50 μm. Absolute number of (C) CD4 and (D) CD8 T cells normalized to weight of lungs of control (normal) and tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Representative FACS plot showing percentage of (E) FoxP3+ and FoxP3- CD4+ T cells (F) PD1+ FoxP3+ T cells. (G) Immunofluorescence (IF) stain of lung epithelial cells (green), CD3 T cells (red) and FoxP3 Tregs (Cyan). Nuclei were counterstained with Dapi (blue) (H) Quantification of FoxP3+ CD3 T cells in lung tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks stained by IF. Data are shown as mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test. NS, non-significant. Figure S2. Representative flow cytometry plots of cytokine producing T cells and gene expression profile of T cells isolated from tumor-bearing lungs before and after erlotinib. Representative FACS plots showing the percentage of (A) TNF-α+, IFN-γ+, and IL-2+ CD4 T cells. (B) Quantification of GzmB+ CD4 and CD8 T cells after PMA/ionomycin stimulation and intracellular cytokine staining of cells in the lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. (C) Representative FACS plot showing percentage of GzmB+ splenic CD8 T cells after PMA/ionomycin stimulation and intracellular cytokine staining of cells. (D) CD8 and (E) CD4 T cells isolated from CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R tumor bearing mice untreated or treated with erlotinib. Heatmap was generated using normalized expression values. NS, non-significant. Figure S3. MRI images, histology and representative flow cytometry plots of erlotinib sensitive and resistant tumors. (A) Coronal images of: CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mouse lungs before (left panel) and after (right panel) cessation of doxycyline and CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R + T790M mouse lungs before (left panel) and after (right panel) treatment with 2 erlotinib. (B) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain of lungs from tumor bearing: CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R untreated or taken off doxycycline diet for 2 weeks and CCSP-rtTA; TetOEGFRL858R+ T70M mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Bar: 50 μm. Absolute number of (C) CD4 and (D) CD8 T cells normalized to weight of lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R or CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R + T790M mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks or taken off doxycycline diet. Data are obtained from three independent experiments, (n = 4–6 mice per group) * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test. Quantification of (E) CD4 and CD8 T cells and (F) FoxP3 positive CD4 T cells in the lungs of control (normal) mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Data are shown as the mean ± SD. NS, non significant. Figure S4. Quantification of circulating and proliferating T cells. (A) Absolute number and (B) Fold change in number of circulating lung CD4 and CD8 T cells of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. (C) Ki-67+ CD4 and CD8 T cells of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks or mice taken off doxycycline for 2 weeks. Data are shown as the mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test. NS, non-significant. Figure S5. Experimental outline of CFSE labeling and analysis. (A) Flow chart for isolation, labeling and treatment of T cells from lungs and spleens of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice. FACS plot showing (B) as a control for the technique, unlabeled vs CFSE labeled splenocytes (Day 0) and (C) Untreated CD4 and CD8 T cells from lungs and spleens at Day 0 as well as CD4 and CD8 T cells from lungs and spleens treated with 10 μm erlotinib or DMSO after 5 days (120 h). Figure S6. Quantification of proliferating alveolar macrophages and myeloid cells in healthy lungs before and after erlotinib treatment. (A) Ki-67 positive AMs, (B) Cxcl2 expression in AMs, (C) Cd274 mRNA expression in Epcam+ tumor cells from lungs of control (normal) and tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. (D) Quantification of myeloid cell populations in the lungs of control (normal) mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib for 2 weeks. Data are shown as the mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test. NS, non-significant. Figure S7. Tumor volume measurements and survival analysis. Quantification of (A) CD8+ T cells, (B) Ki-67+ CD8+ T cells and (C) Eomes+ CD8+ T cells in the lungs of tumor bearing CCSP-rtTA; TetO-EGFRL858R mice in the absence (−) and presence (+) of erlotinib, CD40 agonist or erlotinib plus the CD40 agonist for 2 weeks, (n = 4–6 mice per group). (D) Tumor volume quantified at 1 and 2 weeks after treatment measured by MRI normalized to pretreatment tumor volume. Change in tumor volume (E) pre-treatment and 1–4 weeks after treatment with erlotinib alone or erlotinib and immunotherapy combination and (F) pretreatment, 1–4 weeks after treatment with erlotinib alone or erlotinib and immunotherapy combination and 1–3 weeks after stopping erlotinib (relapse), (n = 5–10 mice per group). Data are shown as the mean ± SD and * is P < 0.05 in a student’s t-test. NS, non-significant. (XLSX 66 kb) Ayeni, D., Miller, B., Kuhlmann, A. et al. Tumor regression mediated by oncogene withdrawal or erlotinib stimulates infiltration of inflammatory immune cells in EGFR mutant lung tumors. j. immunotherapy cancer 7, 172 (2019) doi:10.1186/s40425-019-0643-8 Basic Tumor Immunology	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1572
__label__cc	0.511828	0.488172	We’ve got something to say New York City Landmarks Complaints Landmarks doesn’t listen. Posted bylandmarkscomplaints June 19, 2019 July 1, 2019 40 Comments on Landmarks doesn’t listen. Strand’s lawyer, Alexander Urbelis, went into detail about how we tried to work with and warn Landmarks about the consequences of their actions at our press conference on June 11, 2019. All of our efforts made no difference. Alexander Urbelis said, “We asked Landmarks time and again to take a broader view of what constitutes preservation, when that process could destroy a cultural institution like the Strand.” Landmarks refused. We asked Landmarks to reschedule its first hearing because it fell on the Strand’s busiest and most important time of the year – the holiday season. Landmarks denied this. We told Landmarks that the Strand is a fragile 92-year-old book store that simply cannot sustain the added costs landmark designation. Landmarks ignored us. We told Landmarks that their plan to designate this building put in jeopardy 238 full-time union jobs. Landmarks didn’t care. We told Landmarks that the Strand is more than a book store to the residents of this city, and that now, more than ever, institutions like the Strand need to be protected. Landmarks dismissed this. We reminded Landmarks of what Charles Scribner III said 30 years ago, when his landmarked book store was closing: “The whole landmarks situation is a mess . . . there has to be some relief to the people willing to operate independent book stores today.” Landmarks didn’t learn from this. We offered testimony from notable authors, like Fran Leibowitz, Gary Shytengart, Hank O’Neil, and others, all of whom opposed this landmark designation because it could destroy the Strand. Landmarks snubbed them. We gave Landmarks the results of a CBS news poll that showed that 83% of New Yorkers opposed plans to landmark the Strand. Landmarks refused to acknowledge this. We came to Landmarks with a win-win solution: a preservation easement that would have given greater protection to the façade of this building than landmarking would have done. Landmarks rejected this. We tried to work with Landmarks to adopt a Master Plan that would address the Strand’s concerns as well as protect the Strand’s building itself; we asked for a postponement of the hearing so we could continue to work on this Plan and have it submitted prior to the hearing. Landmarks refused to delay this morning’s vote. By fighting Landmarks’ actions in the public and being fully transparent about our efforts, we hope that this will inspire you to share your own thoughts and experiences dealing with the Landmarks bureaucracy in NYC. Please do not share any confidential information (e.g. phone numbers, addresses) about yourself or anyone else. While we invite our community to share their grievances, we ask that you be respectful of others’ personal information. Any comments disregarding this single rule will be removed immediately. Posted bylandmarkscomplaints June 19, 2019 July 1, 2019 Posted inUncategorized A.B. Ducao says: If the community, the customers, and the owners of Strand Bookstore don’t want it to be landmarked, it shouldn’t be landmarked. I absolutely love the Strand, I’ve been a customer for 21 years, and I honor its mission to stay open and not sell out to larger corporations. Hopefully the government will eventually honor this mission, too. 83% of us told you we didn’t want our beloved bookstore to become government property. The bookstore itself wanted to remain free and independent, which should ring some bells for anybody who’s ever taken an American history class. This isn’t protection. It’s fascism. indexzero says: When I first moved back to New York from university in 2007 I worked in a landmark building near Houston and Broadway. That summer the air conditioning broke. Due to landmark restrictions on construction and permits within the building the building management was unable to fix the air conditioning for months. It was torture and despite Landmarks being solely responsible for the delay there was no apology and no improvement in their processes communicated to us. Reform Landmarks. Save The Strand. Landmark designation is a death sentence for many active communities and businesses who simply can not afford the exorbitant cost of upkeep. It is a beaurocratic power move, more concerned with a narrow ideal of what New York could or should be rather than supporting the reality of the diverse thriving institutions (and the people!) that give New York its character. It is clear landmarking the Strand was an act of those most separated from genuine connection with and appreciation for the people of New York. I hope at least one of you wealthy landmarkers has enough humanity to financially support the Strand rather than let it crumble and turn into another vapid, cookie cutter modern building. I have been generally supportive of NYC Landmarks Preservation and appreciation their efforts to protect NYC’s heritage. However, landmarking the Strand is a terrible idea. The Strand is a NYC institution which needs our support–not hamstrung by your regulations. and as much as I love the Strand, I don’t see much architectural merit deserving of preservation. It’s the Strand itself that needs to be preserved; Landmark status only threatens its survival. Jonathan Cherr says: My disgust and outrage at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission is reinforced almost weekly. I’ve watched as historic neighborhoods, including unique, irreplaceable 19th-century buildings, have been despoiled by huge hipster hotels and luxury housing, much of it ugly high-rises that wouldn’t be out of place in an industrial park. Its decisions can only be understood as giveaways to pols and their politically connected developers and retribution against anyone who stands in the way of them. It’s long past time that Landmarks be abolished and replaced with an agency that is works for the people, culture, and historic legacy of NYC. Melissa Stern says: Of all the buildings that should have been or should be landmarked in NYC, the city agency has almost obsessively focused on The Strand building, ignoring the owners in all aspects of the hearings. This family owned business has been a “landmark” in NYC, all on it’s own fro decades. The financial costs that the City will impose will drive them out of business. Is that the purpose of the Landmarks Commission? The number of significant buildings that Landmarks has allowing to be destroyed to build glass towers, to accede to the demands of Developers is shocking. The Commission seems quite tone deaf to the needs of local business, though they seem quite able to understand the desires of Developers. Adam Hobbins says: It is terribly disappointing, although not too surprising, to hear that the Landmarks Preservation Commission chose to landmark the Strand even as the bookstore begged them not to. Why is it that our local government offers immense tax breaks and subsidies to corporations with purposefully inhumane working conditions for their lowest tier employees like Amazon, yet in the same breath they effectively cripple local businesses staffed by unionized employees like the Strand? When Amazon tried to set up shop in Queens, the people spoke up and said that they didn’t appreciate the way the government was doing things. Amazon cancelled their plans for HQ2 in Queens. Now people have spoken up again, asking their local government not to landmark the Strand, and the government hasn’t listened. It’s the duty of the people to voice their opinions. When they do, it’s the duty of elected officials and governmental institutions to listen and serve the interests of the people. We’ve spoken. It’s your turn to uphold your end of the deal and do what’s right for us and for our city. Jonah Newman says: There are enough economic forces working against independent bookstores even WITHOUT Landmarks taking this unconscionable action. The only thing that can save places like The Strand is community action. We need to fight as citizens for the values, community spaces, and cultural institutions we cherish. Mary Judge says: The Strand and the few stores left like it! are the heart of a throbbing city: NO new store could ever take its place. To cool our New York heads and fill it with wonder we need only to enter the doors of the Strand, wander its aisles and plunk down with a book to be transported to another time or place. It’s a shrink’s coach downtown 🙂 Hands off The Strand! Ilya Schwartzburg says: I testified a couple of years ago against a new historic district where I just bought an apartment. It was entirely done to satisfy local preservationists who agitated as a hobby in retirement. I don’t want to develop professionally and raise a family in an area that is permanently aging and hostile to change. The landmarking process is nakedly political and needs to be reformed. Landmarks is a useless, soulless bureaucratic institution. Perhaps if they actually worked with people instead of forcing their will upon them, they’d realize that they do only harm. Marshall Cunningham says: I am not a New Yorker, not familiar with the intent of the Landmarks commission, not even a customer of the Strand, but I am shocked to action to say in these times of shouting, a time for respectful discussion is urgently needed. Let not the example of indignation we see in our country justify either side of this issue but to rise above and give ear to both sides. A solution will never come from heavy handedness nor from ignoring the voices of decent people concerned about preserving The Strand. Phillipe Martin says: NEW YORK NEEDS THIS. Don’t let us crumble into the post-carbon age without the literary haven provided by one of the oldest and most revered merchants in the city. The Landmarks Preservation membership must live a different reality than the denizens of NYC who value what The Strand Bookstore contributes to the preservation of intelligence in our time. Were The Landmarks Preservation responsible for supplying funding to maintain and sustain both their their position and beliefs designating The Strand Bookstore as “landmark preserved” would make sense and demonstrate validity of concern for what’s best for us. I strongly disagree with Landmark’s decision. Ebert Mahon says: Why is it no one on the Landmark board acknowledged the thoughts of Strand and its supporters? This great business should be allowed to live and not be placed in an Economic stranglehold. aampocom says: What makes something a landmark is the fact it has stood the test of time on its own. It has to also be significant culturally and/or historically. Something like The Strand is a landmark all on its own. It doesn’t need a city imposed declaration. It has been there and will continue to be there as long as it has relevance. If people want to protect it, it will be there without being declared a landmark by the city. It is very much like the concept of evolution. It might change, but it’s changes will make it better. As it changes it maintains more relevant to the people who want it it there. The city seems to be adding unneeded classification for something that doesn’t need protection. What the city should do is find ways to keep it relevant and accessible as it is. Keep crime down in the neighborhood. Make sure the street is clean. Make sure people from all over knows it exists and that the city at large is proud of The Strand and all that it signifies. Linda NewmanL says: As a dweller in a landmarked cooperative apartment I truly sympathize with Strand bookstore. Landmark status , as far as I can tell, does nothing to improve the property. On the other hand, it doubles the cost of improvement and repair (even of the sidewalks in front of the building), and more than doubles the time it takes to make such improvements and repairs, due to the slow and unresponsive action of the Landmark Commission’s bureaucracy. And it is even worse for the Strand, which is a business and has to make a profit. Weiser says: Leave Strand Alone, it’s hard enough they have to compete with Amazon Robots I’ve been coming to Strand for over a decade-and telling everyone I know about it! My visits were more frequent when I lived in the city, but even now, living in the Capital District, nearly every time I’m in the city I visit Strand. It is magical and perfect the way it is, HOWEVER having a historic facade is NOT more important than having a living independent bookstore. I wouldn’t rather have a “preserved” anything over it remaining living and vibrant. Strand is singular, unique, and an amazing survivor as an independent bookstore-continuing to be apart of the community, hosting events and author signings, not just selling books. The Strand is part of the present, not just thw historic, Manhattan, and I hope it will continue to grow with, and into, the future Manhattan and greater NYC. Please do not strangle it to death!!! Beverly Bullock (@bcbnyc1) says: This bullying of The Strand displays the worst of Landmarks. Why not work WITH these great merchants, this irreplaceable store, which is truly an invaluable treasure of New York. Jerry Payne says: I’m not a native New Yorker but I do purchase books there. Why did landmark ignore everything that was presented by its owner? Appears to me that they have a personal agenda and that is to put the small businesses out of business? Is it for Amazon, Prime, and other big corporations so that they will have no competition? Push out the small business owner and eliminate good union jobs for the sake of profit. I don’t shop the big box stores where I live instead, I shop at community stores that have been around for years. Yes, we have the big box stores but they are in it for a profit and pay low wages without benefits. Once the competition is gone then they will increase prices and destroy community stores. Their profits go to out of state interests and seldom have they become a good community business. Leave Strand alone as I haven’t heard where the Constitution has been rewritten removing the freedom of choice and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Strand has been doing that for centuries to stay community friendly, good union jobs for families who have lived in NY for years and is well know by the people that shop there. Why do you want that to stop, landmark? What’s in it for you? Backoff. Polly Morse says: I think it’s wrong to knowingly destroy the very thing you are insisting you are preserving. To slowly destroy The Strand in the name of preservation is an abomination. If the cure kills the person along with the disease, then what is the point? Raymond Blum says: My own experience as a homeowner of a landmarked home has shown that they push arbitrary tasks and expenses onto the property owner and are completely unresponsive – phones go to voicemail, messages are not returned, emails are ignored. What a complacent, abusive bureaucratic institution. Tyler Hathaway says: The last of its kind, and one of the few remaining independent bookstores anywhere, and the bureaucrats want to protect a successful business from itself, hamstringing it as a viable business? Who are these people anyway??? I didn’t vote for ANY of them, that’s for sure. Georgie Lee says: Walls of print for 92 years able to fortify itself do not need government intervention to protect it. The Strand Bookstore has been fruitful and strong in its autonomy. There’s no need or reason to be controlled by the Landmarks Preservation. LET IT BE! A landmark designation by the New York City Landmarks Commission is a taking without compensation. I hope this can be challenged on Constitutional grounds, and the Commission disbanded. During 30 or so years I’m shopping Strand, — 2nd floor got added — 3rd floor got expanded — 1st floor got rearranged Those were all excellent changes, allowing, to my delight, to display more books, and greatly increasing browsing space — a huge convenience for the customers. My question is — if the designation happened earlier, would it have delayed those very positive changes that made the store so much better? If the answer is “yes” — which I think IS the answer, than you got the answer to the question of “is the landmark designation good or bad?” It is bad for the customer, and hence is bad, period. When reading how Nancy’s concerns were simply ignored by those dead-set on the outcome, I was also thinking of my own experience in the federal courts, where judges simply replace parties’ argument with the bogus argument of their own concoction so as to decide cases the way they wanted to, not the way they have to. Clearly, judging — be it at the Landmarks, or in federal courts — is badly impaired, despite all guarantees of “due process.” Somehow, when you need it, this “due process” is nowhere to be found… Jascha Narveson says: The degree to which Landmarks has refused to cooperate or even communicate with The Strand should be proof enough that Landmarks is in the wrong on this. It seems clear that their decision to landmark the Strand was pre-determined, and they felt no need to consider other viewpoints. This is no way to run a city, and these people should be replaced with people who take the job of the Landmarks commission seriously. Paula Jaslow says: Great bookstores are more rare than historic buildings these days. Please look to the content of this building and how important it is to preserving and nurturing human interaction. munich Li 1860 says: strands books store is important to us because we can buy books any books that include manga books and sell books so stop make strands bookstore a landmark got it domo aligato and one more think strands bookstore need to protest #love 漫畫迷 David Mark Brown says: Landmarks seems to be placing ‘bricks & mortar’ over ‘books & culture & working families.’ This decision ignores our neighborhood and echos similar judgements e.g. the end of the Brooklyn Dodgers decades ago and the long decline of a neighborhood. We are now all suspicious of the real intent. Shary says: Cultural preservation is more than just bricks. In an era when Amazon is obliterating physical bookstores in cities, it is required to protect at least the very unique ones which the Strand certainly is. This is the equivalent of threatening the public libraries, it is about access to physical books, flipping through a book you didn’t know you needed. Thirty years on, I still miss the pleasure of going into Scribner’s on 5th Avenue! Don’t do the same thing again!! We learned from the destruction of Penn Station. Can you learn from the destruction of Scribner’s?? frankremley says: “The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.” The people in, of, and around The Strand did not want this. Reconsider this decision with open hearts and minds all the while questioning why the people were not listened to because the people have been and shall always remain more important than money. The fact that landmarking an institution like The Strand could cause it to close down seems counter intuitive. The Strand is a landmark in our hearts (we don’t need any official designation) and it will forever be the best bookstore in the world. It truly breaks my heart that the city could potentially destroy a oasis like this. I stand with Nancy and The Strand and whole heartily oppose the Landmarks designation of this site. The city should protect these small business owners as opposed to putting more burden on their shoulders. I hope to God that we can keep this amazing business alive. Alexander Urbelis says: I am a partner in the Blackstone Law Group and we are proud to represent the Strand. We opposed the landmark designation of the Strand because this entire process has been wrong and wrongheaded from the start. The very unpleasant truth of landmarking is that it imposes significant costs on building owners and small businesses alike, who bear that cost for the benefit of others to enjoy. The Strand’s very existence is an ongoing and marginal proposition, and the Strand cannot and should not have to sustain the costs and encumbrances of landmarking without its consent. What is at stake is New York’s oldest and greatest bookstore and hundreds of union jobs, on which countless families depend to put food on the table and provide healthcare to their spouses and children. Landmarks and the City of New York should be ashamed that they have put in peril the future of the Strand and the families that count on this small business to survive. For the residents of this city, the Strand is more than a book store: it is a resource, it is a meeting place, a town hall, a vault of history, a center of learning, and a place where ideas clash and dialogue is established. Now, more than ever – in this era of divisive and binary politics – institutions like the Strand need to be protected. We will never stop fighting because the Strand is worth the struggle. Buildings don’t make New York the greatest city on Earth: it is what goes on within those buildings that matters most. This website fully documents our efforts to convince Landmarks of their folly, and at every turn we – and our tens of thousands of supporters – were rebuffed, ignored, and even belittled. What transpired is not record of city agency that is responsive to needs of a small business owner. — Why else would Landmarks proceed with this vote without the Strand’s consent, or offering any protection to NY’s last independent book store? — What transpired is not a record of a city agency that is either transparent or has nothing to hide. — Why else would Landmarks, less than 24 hours before their vote on June 11, dump thousands of pages of documents on us that were the subject of our FOIL languishing since February 5? — — Especially when those documents show that Landmarks seemed more interested in digging up dirt on Nancy Bass Wyden’s personal life, than the architectural integrity of 826 Broadway. – — Especially when those same documents show that Landmarks was more interested in seeking out disgruntled Strand employees than hearing the voices of New Yorkers who love the Strand. – — Especially when many of those documents contain redacted communications with the Mayor’s office, the Deputy Mayor’s office, and former Landmarks commissioners. — What else are they trying to hide? We intend to find out: we have filed our FOIL appeal on June 26 and will not rule out legal action to annul this ill-conceived and ill-informed decision of a city agency that is entirely unsympathetic and unresponsive to the people of this great city. Propelled not by common sense or common purpose, but by shear intuitional inertia, we cannot permit Landmarks to threaten the Strand, or any other beloved homegrown businesses. We deserve more from our city agencies and we must demand accountability. Now is our chance to force Landmarks to listen and address the many complaints of business owners, small-business supporters, and Strand supporters. Please join the fight, share your experiences and grievances, and let your voice by heard. I thank you for your support. Alexander Urbelis Freda Kerman says: I strongly oppose the decision to landmark the Strand bookstore on lower Bway. The committee did not heed the overwhelming opposition of New Yorkers to this decision. The Strand is its own landmark without the interference and obstruction of the Landmarks committee! Nancy Bass Wyden says: I’m proud to provide a forum for the public to voice their concerns and complaints against Landmarks. As the third-generation owner of the Strand, I promised to take our fight against Landmarks to the grassroots level. This website is part of that fight. And I will continue to fight any and every action that threatens the existence of the Strand. From the outset, this entire landmarking process has been misguided, misused, and it started as the product of typical city politics and horse-trading. When Mayor de Blasio and Councilwoman Carlina Rivera struck an ill-conceived political deal to re-zone the area south of 14th Street and Union Square as the city’s Tech Hub, the City needed to landmark a few buildings to satisfy preservationists. The local preservationists were rightly worried that real estate developers might purchase buildings, demolish them, and erect soulless glass towers. Preservationists provided Landmarks with a list of over 200 buildings they suggested needed protection. What did Landmarks do? They did what they always do: They ignored the wishes of the people. Landmarks designated only seven buildings, and the Strand’s building was one of those sacrificial lambs. Our building was never in danger – and neither were any of the other six buildings that were also designated. If you’re skeptical, you don’t have to take my word for this. As Andrew Berman, Executive Director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation told Patch.com, “The landmarking of these seven buildings, none of which (unlike many of their neighbors) are currently endangered, comes nearly a year after the City Planning Commission and City Council approved the upzoning nearby for a ‘Tech Hub.’” A building two blocks from the Strand that Landmarks did not designate is the St. Denis Hotel – where President Lincoln and Mark Twain stayed, where Alexander Graham Bell first demonstrated the speaking telephone to New Yorkers, and where Susan B. Anthony addressed the women’s Suffrage Association. That was a building that was in danger and badly needed landmarking. That building is now in rubble and will be replaced by a soulless glass tower. If Landmarks had their priorities in order, that building and all the history that went with it would not have been lost to New Yorkers forever. As the ‘About Us’ section of this website illustrates, we told Landmarks that they might unintentionally destroy the Strand, that local union jobs are at stake, and that we would gladly place a preservation easement on the building. We tried to work out a Master Plan with Landmarks, but instead of waiting to see what the Strand needed to survive, Landmarks barreled forward, without our buy-in, without our consent, and without providing any protection to our 92-year-old independent bookseller. At one of my numerous meetings with Landmarks, I asked a simple question: can you guarantee that landmarking will not cost the Strand jobs or its existence? Landmarks could not make that guarantee. That is why we are fighting back. I owe this to my grandfather and father, both of whom struggled their entire lives to create the beloved NYC institution that is the Strand. I do believe that the people themselves can effect real political change. Real change does not start in government buildings—it starts at the grass roots level. It’s not trickle down, it’s bottom up. So, I ask that you, too, add your voice to this website, to share your thoughts and concerns about the Strand, and to share your grievances about Landmarks. Individually we may have been ignored, but collectively we will effect positive change, governmental accountability, and we will win this ongoing fight. Thank you. Nancy Bass Wyden Isaiah Laderman says: What is important about Strand Bookstore as a landmark is not anything about its building, and everything about the unique kind of bookstore it is. We’ve got something to say, Create a website or blog at WordPress.com	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1575
__label__wiki	0.553122	0.553122	Brexit, Wexit: Things Can Only Get Better! On 27/06/2016 04/11/2017 By JacIn British Nationalism, Cardiff, English Nationalism, European Union, Ukip, Welsh Government, Welsh Labour, Welsh Language, Welsh Media, Welsh Nationalism106 Comments THE REFERENDUM RESULT In my previous post I set out my reasons for voting to leave the European Union. I didn’t think I’d be on the winning side, but there you are. On Thursday night I’d planned to watch the results programme for a bit and then head to bed around midnight. My expectations of defeat seemed to have been met with the announcement of a substantial rise in the value of the pound and bookies telling us that one of the horses in this race was en route to the knackers yard. It wasn’t long before Nigel Farage conceded defeat. But then a different mood began to take hold as news filtered through that pollsters, bookies and other self-appointed interpreters of the public mood might have got it wrong. For it seemed that up in north east England, in Newcastle, and Sunderland, the unwashed were in revolt. Then the results started to arrive. Newcastle, where the Remain campaign had expected a substantial majority, was 50 / 50. (Were they blaming the EU for the Toon getting relegated?) Then came Sunderland, where Leave achieved 61.3%. (But the Black Cats escaped relegation!) Some pundit reminded us that Sunderland has a big Nissan car plant, located there to access the European market, so why were people voting Leave. Cue for much tut-tutting and superior mutterings about voters being ‘uninformed’ (i.e. stupid). It wasn’t long before Nigel Farage ‘unconceded’, and had a celebratory pint. As more results became known a picture emerged suggesting that results could be predicted with near-certainty by checking an area’s indicators of wealth – poor areas were voting to Leave, rich areas voting to Remain. There were of course exceptions, such as Liverpool (58.2% Remain), a result some attributed to the pro-Leave Sun newspaper being boycotted in that city. This may have played a part, but let’s not overlook the fact that Liverpool has received billions in EU funding, perhaps more than the Valleys. What’s more, in Liverpool people can see what the funding has been spent on, and by and large they approve. Perhaps the divide in England was summed up with this article in the Guardian by John Harris headed, ‘If you’ve got money, you vote in . . . if you haven’t got money, you vote out’. The picture in Wales was almost identical; and yet, just a few short months ago Plaid Cymru was hoping for a substantial Remain majority to contrast Wales with England. (Making me wonder yet again what ‘Wales’ this lot claims to be the party of.) During the night itself, the voice that stood out for me was that of John Mann, the MP for Bassetlaw in north Nottinghamshire (to the east of Sheffield). Mann made it clear that the referendum had been largely won for Leave by Labour voters in the ‘forgotten’ post-industrial regions of England (and Wales) of which the metropolitan elite knows little and cares less. A few others also saw the true picture, but these were a minority. I found this article from the Guardian by Mike Carter compelling, it details a meandering walk from Liverpool to London. The picture in Scotland was the one we’d expected. Even so, it was strange to hear English Remain supporters blame the SNP for not getting enough of its support out, which – it was argued – might have swung the whole UK result. The claim seemed to be that because everyone knew which way Scotland would vote, many Scots Remain supporters stayed at home. In Glasgow, the largest authority, the turnout was just 56.2% (66.6% Remain), whereas in the September 2014 independence referendum the turnout was 75% (53.5% Yes). In the North of Ireland the picture was rather more difficult to interpret because the two Unionist parties followed different courses. The Democratic Unionist Party (the party of the late Rev Dr Ian Paisley) urged its supporters to vote Leave, while the Official Unionist Party favoured Remain. Both Sinn Féin and the Social Democratic and Labour Party wanted to Remain. And of course, hovering over any political debate in that part of the world is the wider consideration of relations with Britain and the Republic of Ireland. The result for the whole of the Six Counties was 55.8% Remain, telling us that many Unionists voted with nationalists and Republicans to stay in the EU. Though it’s unlikely that many of them would allow their referendum vote to be seen as support for a re-unified Ireland, which seems to be how Sinn Féin is choosing to interpret the result. Yet almost everyone views the return of a visible, patrolled border with the Republic as a dangerously retrograde step. REACTIONS AND FALL-OUT The chaos that has ensued is being attributed to a number of factors, with ‘uncharted waters’ being among the favoured analogies, and not just with those of a nautical bent. Of course it’s true; no one has ever been in this situation before so no one is quite sure what happens next. Certainly our politicians seem to be lost. Though it’s significant that those who led the Brexit campaign – Farage excepted – seem to be backtracking. Strange behaviour for victors. They remind me of a gang of young tearaways who went to start a fire in their school but didn’t mean to burn the whole place down. We can now divide the Brexiters into two camps (as indeed they split themselves during the referendum campaign). First, we have those who want to disengage from the EU but regard ‘losing’ Scotland and Ireland as too high a price to pay, hence the backtracking. These can be regarded as BritNats. While on the other hand we have those who want to go the whole hog and have an England independent of the EU, independent of Scotland and Wales, independent of just about everybody and everything. We could be unkind, but let’s call these the EngNats. They include the twat in this article who believes that Catholic Croatia is not part of Europe. But what really struck me about the reporting of the referendum and its result was the uncomprehending anger of London commentators, luvvies and others who know less about the lives of people in Sunderland and Swansea than I do about yak herders on the Eurasian steppe. ‘How could they be so stupid?’ was their cry. The BBC – wedded to the US-NATO-EU line I wrote of in my previous post – didn’t actually call those who voted Leave ‘stupid racist bastards’ . . . it was marginally more nuanced. Perfectly illustrated with the picture below for an article on the BBC website. Some of course did not hold back. Among the more offensive Remainers I encountered was a John Niven; apparently he’s a Scottish writer now living in some Buckinghamshire slum. I can’t say I’ve read anything he’s written, and I certainly haven’t troubled Amazon since reading this asshole’s tweets. The message from infuriated Remainers was consistently offensive, insulting and intimidating. This is the liberal elite at its worst – still feeling superior but angry and confused because its collective will has been thwarted by the untermensch. Summed up rather well by his article by Brendan O’Neill in the Spectator, The howl against democracy. The ironies and paradoxes abound. Here we have a group that has for months demonised and belittled others as bigots, yet if poor whites qualified as a minority then the commentariat would be equally guilty of bigotry! When the BBC wasn’t telling us that thick bastards non-graduates voted for Brexit, it was consulting opinion among groups thoroughly representative of the population. One such group was those attending the Glastonbury Festival, an event covered to an excessive degree by the Beeb. Unsurprisingly, the sons and daughters of the Corporation’s bigwigs and their friends were simply ‘devastated’ at the referendum result. Just put yourself in the position of a single mother on hearing those views, perhaps a young woman bringing up two or three kids on a sink estate or a flat above a moneylender on a decaying High Street in a forgotten town. Will they make her regret voting Leave? No, but I’ll tell you what it will do, it’ll make her feel angry, hearing people who have so much, and can look forward to so much more, condemning her for her desperation. Yet another example of hypocrisy. For while the liberal elite and the Leftists accuse those who voted Brexit of causing divisions it is they, who largely control the media, with their patronising bullshit about stupid poor people racists, that risks turning social divisions into yawning chasms. Another popular theme was that of the young being deprived of their futures by selfish old gits. The Wasting Mule got in on the act with this piece from its Saturday edition. Dan Baker is nineteen years of age and studying in Paris. He believes that we who voted Leave have “succumbed to ignorance”. But then, Dan is 19, and knows everything. So there you are – you’re stupid and racist for voting Leave, while the ‘more mature’ among us are thoroughly bloody selfish for not dying off pronto, as we would if we really cared about Dan and other deprived youths. As in England, the insults were flying here too. One my attention was drawn to was a comment from an Englishman making a living out of covering Wales with wind turbines. (This link to his LinkedIn profile no longer works as the page has been removed. Possibly connected with Smith being reported to South Wales Police for a Hate crime.) Not only does he think the country that gives him a living is a pimple on the buttock of his homeland but he also re-tweeted another insult about us deserving a Darwin Award, given for stupidity by the kind of smart-arses who are now lashing out in all directions. UPDATE 29.06.2016: Around 6pm on the 28th this appeared on Smith’s Twitter account. I’ll conclude this section with another piece that appeared in the Mule, this one by regular columnist Carolyn Hitt. Now in the past I might have been a little unkind to Carolyn Hitt, lumping her with Jason ‘Jase’ Mohammad and the other bollocks-spouting muppets in our very own Cardiff bubble. Carolyn Hitt wanted to tell us that she grew up in the Rhondda, an area that attracted migrants from all over, and that the referendum result had “shaken to the core” her “sense of self as a Welsh person”. Serious stuff. But then she goes and blows it all by arguing that in voting to leave the European Union “the majority of Welsh voters threw in their lot ideologically with Middle England”. ‘Middle England’, be buggered! Middle England voted to Remain. The kindest thing I can suggest is that Ms Hitt had not checked the map, or the results, before rushing into print. THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES Since the referendum result became known the UK has been in a state of political chaos. the only politician who seems to know what she’s about and what she wants is Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon. Prime Minister Cameron stood down soon after the result was known and now there’ll be an election to choose his successor as Tory leader. As the new leader will lack a mandate he or she will almost certainly call a general election. The original hope seems to have been that this could be done at a leisurely pace without interfering too much with everyone’s summer holidays, but pressure from the EU seems to have speeded up the process and the new leader is expected to be in place by September 2nd. Boris Johnson is the front-runner, with Theresa May as the ‘Block Boris’ candidate. We’ve always known that the Conservative Party in Westminster is split on Europe, but what this referendum exposed is how detached from its traditional support the irredeemably metropolitan Labour Party has now become. Made obvious by the fact that those areas that voted most heavily to Leave are areas where Labour has dominated for decades. Now the prospect of a general election before the year’s out has concentrated Labour MPs’ minds and they have turned on their hapless leader Jeremy Corbyn who, they believe, could never win an election . . . which would of course result in many Labour careerists losing their seats. The problem is that while Corbyn may lack support among MPs he has the backing of party activists, many of whom are Leftist agitators and activists who took over the Labour Party around a year ago to elect him leader. So we have the Labour Party itself split between members and representatives, with a third element being the Labour voters who chose to leave the EU last Thursday against the advice of the party. These disillusioned voters have no truck with the comrades and little faith in the MPs. Consequently, the Labour Party is in one hell of a mess – and I haven’t even mentioned Scotland, where the Labour Party, for so long dominant, is almost dead and buried. The picture is different in London, where the vote to stay in the EU was 59.9%. This can be explained by greater wealth, the presence of the liberal elite / Leftist types who now control the Labour Party, plus of course large numbers of immigrants. London may have provided good news for the pro-EU campaigners but it also tells us how divided England has become. Here in Wales, Cardiff, which has long sought mini London status, grabbing all the goodies for itself, achieved that ambition last Thursday when 60% of its voters chose to Remain against a national figure of just 47.5%. Two capitals unrepresentative of the countries that support them. The vote in Wales so outraged the youth of Cardiff that many thousands a few dozen were persuaded to take part in a ludicrous march on the Notional Assembly, among their demands were a second referendum (and a third if that was lost), tattoos on the NHS, and votes for foetuses (possibly eggs). Though I didn’t spot Dan Baker among them. Perhaps the poor boy is in his Paris garret drowning his sense of betrayal with glass after glass of pastis. It only remains to discuss Plaid Cymru. When the full horror of the defeat dawned on the party leadership the immediate response from leader Leanne Wood was to propose a Labour-Plaid coalition. A response typical of those for whom Plaid Cymru is an alternative socialist party rather than a nationalist party. This suggestion was quickly dropped as opposition from within the party mounted. Though on the weekend immediately following the referendum, when we might have expected the Plaid Cymru leadership to be monitoring and debating a constantly changing situation and planning ahead, Leanne Wood and Jill Evans MEP, were attending a two-day feminist event in Cardiff, and there were other Plaid wimmin there as well. The latest news seems to be that Plaid is belatedly trying to emulate the Scottish National Party, but it may be too late. I say that because the SNP has for years been appealing directly to the Scottish people, in direct competition with the Labour Party, to the point where it was eventually able to supplant Labour; whereas Plaid Cymru has farted about with Greens, ‘feminists’, and other cross-border ‘progressives’, only focusing on Labour and Wales when forced to do so at election times, and then, almost apologetically. There will be no clean break with the European Union, things will get very messy from now on, and for the obvious reasons. There may be no break at all. Just about every pillar of the UK establishment supported the Remain campaign, and they won’t give up without a fight. (A fight most of us will not even realise is happening.) So we can expect increasing calls for a second referendum, perhaps after the general election. (It will be interesting to see what is in the manifestos.) And already we are being reminded that the referendum result is not binding, it was a ‘consultative’ exercise. With most MPs in favour of EU membership that opens up another route for the Remainers. Even so, there will still be dangerous divisions and tensions between London and the rest of England, tensions that have been obvious for some time, prompting initiatives such as HS2 and talk of a ‘Northern Powerhouse‘, which as we know plans to absorb and assimilate northern Wales. Initiatives that might benefit Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds – all of which voted Remain (though only just in the case of Newcastle and Leeds) – but will do little for Hull, Plymouth, Carlisle, Peterborough, Barnsley, Isle of Wight, Stoke, Dagenham, Wolverhampton, Doncaster, Dartford, Blackpool and countless other smaller cities and towns that voted decisively Leave. I have already dealt with the divide between England and Scotland. While UKIP and other EngNats might be resigned – even glad – to see Scotland go the BritNats will do all in their power to hang on to the country. So expect to hear promises of a ‘federal structure’ for Britain, which might – as with devolution – see Wales offered the same as Scotland to avoid showing fear of the SNP. It seems that politics in Englandandwales – as in the USA and continental Europe – is moving to the Right. For few of those who voted Remain did so for the noble and altruistic reasons the metropolitan elite and the commentariat ascribe to themselves – most voted to stay in the EU out of perceived self-interest. City traders in their Cotswold retreats who voted Remain and former steel workers in Ebbw Vale who voted Leave were driven by a very similar impulse. The next general election could be a choice between the English Centre Right and the English Extreme Right, BritNats and EngNats. Scotland will of course be insulated by the SNP and slowly extricating herself from this threatening mess (perhaps helped by the EU). Wales’ defence however will be limited to a rump Labour Party made up of careerists and mediocrities, a temporarily resurgent Hard Left, and Plaid Cymru. Which is really no defence at all. So I say, yes, by all means capitalise on the current chaos, but what Wales really needs is a national movement promoting independence for the right reasons, rather than some ad hoc alliance formed in reaction to Brexit that will fall apart once the threat passes. A national movement unconcerned with the views of metropolitan ‘progressives’ and concentrating solely on defending and promoting Welsh interests. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ END ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ EU Referendum: Why I Want OUT! On 19/06/2016 16/05/2019 By JacIn European, European Union, Welsh Government, World133 Comments As the title suggests, I am voting for the UK, but more especially for Wales, to leave the European Union. There are many reasons for this decision, some of which are set out below. And while my primary interest is Wales my concerns over the EU encompass wider, even global, issues. There have always been dreamers or idealists who’ve believed that the human race would be far happier if we had one, world government, and that wars could be avoided if we all spoke the same language. Nowhere has this belief been more explicitly stated than in those movies that see Earth threatened with alien invasion / destruction making us all pull together to defeat a common enemy. Heart-warming stuff that makes us proud to be Earthlings. Away from the idealism I believe there really are powerful and influential people working towards a similar kind of global unity. Let me allay your fears for my sanity by making it clear that I am not talking now about anything as exotic as Illuminati or Knights Templar, Zionists or Nazis, let alone aliens or disguised reptilians moving among us. These are human beings not a lot different to you and me, just more ruthless, and greedy. Among the more irritating ‘barriers’ to this one-world objective are nation-states, national identities, local governments, languages other than English, regional tastes and peculiarities. In fact, many of the things you and I cherish. So another objective for our Elite is to break down these ‘barriers’, and this is done by promoting the growth of supra-national bodies and encouraging the ‘homogenisation’ of the human race. Perhaps it’s the absence of reptilian characteristics, but those I’m referring to are not easily identifiable, though many of them will be found at the regular meetings of the Bilderberg Group. (That said, the Bilderberg Group may itself be little more than a useful distraction for conspiracy theorists.) Those I’m discussing are an ever-changing but self-perpetuating Elite that operates in the way secretive or semi-secretive groups have operated throughout history; that is, by infiltrating other organisations and also – more importantly – by recruiting those they see rising within the corporate world, the media, politics, the military and other fields. You cannot apply to join. THE POLITICAL ROUTE The best way to progress their strategy is by covering both bases in democracies where we find two major parties split along vaguely Left / Right lines, and then work through both of them. Achieved by largely removing ideology from politics and reducing political ‘debate’ to sound bites, photo opportunities, and taking up ‘positions’ that mean absolutely nothing. In recent decades this blurring has been achieved in the USA, the UK, and other Western countries sharing such a political system. And yet, the rise of Trump, the support for Sanders, the election of Corbyn (even if it was achieved by the hard Left), and increasing support for populists and nationalist parties on the European mainland, presents our putative world leaders with the biggest threat their plans have yet faced. That’s because these hiccups warn them that across the Western world an increasing number of people believe they are ruled by elites out of touch with their concerns. And they’re right. The Washington Post and the New York Times rail against Trump, ridicule his supporters, but those putting their faith in the Republican presidential candidate are not all gun-toting rednecks; they are people who have seen their jobs exported to low wage countries and their living standards fall, who have seen their patriotism exploited by one pointless and expensive war after another, who have lived through a recession caused by the reckless and criminal behaviour of people who all escaped punishment, who have seen the America they grew up in change around them. To summarise: the aspiring world Elite has been clever in taking over the political centre ground and using that control to cast the cloak of moderation over its own ambitions. To the extent that anyone outside of the imposed boundaries of ‘responsible’ debate automatically becomes ‘dangerous’, or an ‘extremist’. You know how clever this Elite has been when you hear socialists defend the EU for what it’s done for workers rights, and women’s rights, and God knows what other acts the bruvvers hold to be virtuous. I say that because the EU is merely a halfway house to the world our Elite craves. The EU serves to lull us into a resigned acceptance of vague and distant government over which we have no control, but disguises its intentions by doling out goodies to appease the gullible. The question I would ask those currently defending the EU is this, if the Elite I’m describing achieves its objective of an unelected global government that cannot be removed, do you really think they’ll still be handing out goodies? THE WORLD OF HARRY LIME If we would seek a birthplace for this Elite, then it has to be the USA. There’s a temptation to assume that it grew out of that bogeyman of ’60s activists and folk singers, the military-industrial complex, but I believe we need to go back further. In the first decade or so following the end of World War Two Europe was a very uncertain place. Not only were the Soviets camped in the east but in the west communist parties almost came to power through the ballot box in Italy and France. This frightened both the USA and the European elites trying to re-establish themselves after the disruption of World War Two. There were a number of initiatives used to counter the communist threat to western Europe. First there was NATO, with the Treaty signed on April 4th 1949. Next came the forerunner to the Common Market and the EU, the European Steel and Coal Community, announced by Robert Schuman in May 1950. Taking the fight to the communists was Gladio. Formed as a ‘stay behind’ force in the event of a Soviet invasion Gladio developed into a terrorist organisation, using false flag attacks – as part of the Strategy of Tension – to lose the Left political support and justify repressive legislation. This culminated in the 1980 Bologna train station massacre, which was initially blamed on Left-wing terrorists but was actually carried out by fascists directed by the Italian secret service. Operation Gladio can be traced through NATO back to the Pentagon and the CIA. Unsurprisingly, no one likes to talk about Gladio nowadays. Finally, we had the first meeting of the Bilderberg Group at Oosterbeek in the Netherlands in May 1954. I don’t want to dwell too much on this aspect of recent European history partly because it’s all rather distasteful, but without appreciating what was happening in the decades following WWII, it’s not easy to understand where we are today. The Strategy of Tension that invents enemies or exaggerates threats in order to justify repression is something that all governments employ to some extent. How far they’re prepared to go along this road depends on how serious they regard the challenges facing them. Though when the strategy is externally controlled then national governments may not even be consulted. By the late 1980s we were into the brief era of Glasnost and Perestroika. There were many now in the USA who believed that their country had rescued Europe from the Nazis, had then pumped in huge amounts of cash to re-build Europe, before saving us from the Communists, and that all this entitled the USA to some control over Europe. And some tangible benefits from that control. NATO, RUSSIA AND TURKEY The Soviet Union and its former Warsaw Pact allies falling apart after 1990 should have meant the end of NATO, a military alliance set up to counter the spread of Soviet communism. But no, NATO has continued to grow, and all in one direction – eastward, seeking to encircle Russia. Thankfully, people are waking up to the threat to peace posed by NATO. This very recent statement by German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, sums up many people’s fears, my own included. NATO and the EU work hand in hand. It begins by, typically, exaggerating the threat of Russian aggression to frighten eastern European states into joining NATO, with membership of the EU offered as a sweetener. For a post I wrote in February I drew up a little table showing how joining NATO is invariably rewarded with EU membership. I reproduce a slightly amended version here. Turkey is the obvious anomaly, but rest assured, the Turks have been promised EU membership . . . by the USA. Though it’s proving to be a hard sell. For a clear majority of the EU’s people do not want Turkey as a member, but the promise has been made and now a way must be found to give Turkey EU membership, or, at least, the benefits of EU membership, and this can only be done by denying the people of Europe a say in the matter. Turkey, that refuses to acknowledge its genocide against the Armenians. Turkey, a country waging constant war against its Kurdish minority. Turkey, friend of ISIS. Turkey, the Islamist dictatorship on the borders of Europe. We are supposed to welcome this country into the EU simply because it’s a loyal ally of the USA in its power struggle with Russia! I’d rather have Russia in the EU. What I’ve written should explain why President Barack Obama has made a number of interventions in support of the UK staying in the EU. In one speech he went as far as saying that we would be punished if we left the EU. (The BBC report I’ve linked to suggests that Obama was ‘doing Downing Street’s bidding’. Do these people understand nothing!) The USA wants the UK to remain in the EU for the very reasons President de Gaulle wanted to keep the UK out – because the UK (more especially, England) will always act as Uncle Sam’s Trojan Horse. The UK in the EU will make life easier for major US corporations, and continue to isolate and taunt Russia. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership should be a warning to everybody. The campaign itself has been distinguished by its lack of honesty, the absence of rational let alone intellectual discourse, and now, as I write this, by the hysteria surrounding the murder of MP Jo Cox. Apparently her killer, rather than being an unhinged saddo, living alone and friendless since his granny died, is a ruthless assassin with links to US white supremacists, the apartheid regime in South Africa (toppled 22 years ago!), and motivated by his hatred for the EU. To believe much of what I’ve heard and read in the past 72 hours, the murder might as well have been committed by Farage, Gove and Johnson. Something else worth mentioning about this killing is that once again we see the Elite and the Left in harmony. In times past of course, in the good old Gladio days, the Elite would have been targeting the Left, but currently the threat to the Elite’s agenda comes from the Right, both in the USA and in Europe, and so public opinion must be mobilised against that threat. The ‘National Newspaper of Wales’ on Saturday told us, ‘Wales united in grief’ – for a woman we’d never heard of until she was murdered! ‘National grief’, if such a thing exists, is surely reserved for tragedies like Aberfan or, if we are dealing with individuals, then someone the nation knows and loves. Also on the front page the Mule told us that the “Nation stands together to remember MP Jo Cox”. No, not really; it was just a few politicians campaigning. This killing was a truly horrible deed, but God Almighty! it has been shamelessly and distastefully milked by the Remain camp. Elsewhere we have had various groups coming out in support of remaining in the EU, including of course (drum roll) ‘The World of Showbiz’. But what sort of moron is influenced in making a very important choice by a soap opera ‘star’? Come to that, why do luvvies believe that anyone with an ounce of sense gives a toss about their opinions? Is life for them one big Graham Norton Show? The BBC and the rest have played ball to the extent that just about anyone arguing against EU membership belongs to the ‘Right Wing’ or the ‘Extreme Right’; and is ipso facto a ‘racist’ or a ‘fascist’. It seems that in the modern political spectrum there is naught but a wasteland between the advance guard of the Fourth Reich and the cuddly and ‘responsible’ Centre-Right represented by Cameron, that merges seamlessly into the Centre-Left. Which is strange, really, because somewhere in this ‘wasteland’ is where I locate myself, and I know that the neighbourhood is becoming daily more popular. And yet, the irony, not lost on anyone who follows and analyses what goes on in the world, is that the Elite-NATO nexus has not hesitated to fund and to arm overtly fascist groups in Croatia, Ukraine and elsewhere. So the message is clear – there’s nothing wrong with fascism per se but the jackbooted ones must be on the ‘right’ side. Of course, there’s no escaping the fact that this debate is essentially a Left / Right split. Perhaps this was inevitable, and I have no problem with it. What I do take issue with – and not just in this referendum campaign – is that many on the Left seem to believe they are both intellectually and morally superior to their opponents. In their eyes I am both stupid and evil for writing this. There’s no avoiding it, I suppose; we must discuss the beast itself. Though I don’t really want to spend too much time on it. Let’s start by going back in time a bit. Given my admiration for General de Gaulle, his l’Europe des patries held some attraction. Then there was the alternative of a fully federalist model that promised to do away with the existing nation-state and perhaps revive Europe’s ancient regions and submerged nations. But whichever model was chosen I believed – influenced by books such as The American Challenge – that the ambition should be a continent standing up to both the USA and the Soviet Union. A beacon to the rest of the world, offering a real alternative that balanced individual freedoms with collective responsibility for the less fortunate. The bureaucratic aberration we see today results from neither of those options I considered all those years ago. The EU today is little more than the political wing of NATO. The EU was long ago adopted by the Elite as a vehicle to carry forward its agenda. The EU today, given these links, and how NATO and the Elite provoke Russia, may even be a threat to peace. From The Telegraph online, article by Laura Hughes I suppose I also have to address immigration seeing as this is said to be the most important single reason for people in the UK wanting to leave the EU. My position is quite simple; genuine refugees should be taken in, but economic migrants should not be allowed to enter the EU unless needed. As for migration within the EU of EU citizens, well, that’s part of the package, the only way to stop it is to leave. The reason the issue is so fraught, and divisive, is that with immigration we once again see the unholy alliance between the Elite and the Left. The latter seems to believe that Europe should take in just about anybody, with few if any checks. (The attitude that led to the wake-up call of New Year’s Eve in Cologne, where the attackers were not refugees from Syria or Iraq but young, and mainly illegal, male migrants from North Africa.) The Hard Left cries crocodile tears over refugees but in reality it views immigration as just another weapon in its ongoing war against the corrupt and capitalist West. (Yawn.) The Elite of course supports uncontrolled immigration because this is a force for homogenisation, and also because it drives down wages. But using the mainstream media to vilify as ‘racists’ all those who have reservations about immigration is insulting to tens of millions of decent people across Europe, and it will backfire. It is already backfiring, on both sides of the Atlantic. The Austrian establishment suffered a bit of a shock recently when Austrians nearly voted in a Freedom Party president. (Note that for the Grauniad the FPÖ is a “far-right party”.) Now new President Christian Kern is considering introducing legislation to ban the peaceful – but embarrassing – protesters of the Identitarian movement. “We have to think about whether we are too tolerant”, says Kern. Chilling words. The conundrum for the Elite, and indeed for those who like to project themselves as ‘moderate’ and mainstream politicians, can be spelt out thus: For reasons commendable or not you want immigration, but you don’t want the political drift to the Right that challenges your authority and your plans. Yet uncontrolled immigration – even the perception of uncontrolled immigration – will always drive many voters to the Right. I shall end with one final example of how out of touch those running this circus are with the ordinary people of Europe. One issue that I guarantee unites people across Europe is their contempt for tax havens, so beloved of the Elite. Yet Europe has a tax haven at its very core, it’s called Luxembourg. When I joined Plaid Cymru back in the mid-’60s there was no question that the party believed in independence. There was no debate over the issue; it was independence, a seat at the United Nations and all the other trappings of statehood. The problem was that this inevitably raised the response that accused us of wanting to ‘cut Wales off’. (‘Cut’ being an emotive and loaded word in almost any context.) Then along came the Common Market, and Plaid Cymru seized the opportunity to promote ‘Independence within Europe’ which, it was hoped, would avoid the damaging ‘cut’ riposte. It hasn’t really worked. In fact, UK membership of the EU has not made Plaid Cymru any more popular; it has simply allowed the party to pretend that Wales somehow has a real presence in Europe, while simultaneously arguing that independence is soooo twentieth century. But the argument being pushed more than any other, by Plaid Cymru and the other parties, is that Wales ‘does well’ out of the EU. What this really means is that because Wales is relatively poor we get lots of hand-outs. It’s quite incredible to hear ‘Welsh’ Labour, largely responsible for Wales’ poverty, extol the benefits of EU membership for this reason. There’s no doubting that Wales has received billions in EU hand-outs – but look around you, where are the benefits? The truth is, as I keep saying, far too much of this funding has been wasted building up a whole stratum of Welsh life beholden to the statist ‘Welsh’ Labour Party. It’s almost as if our politicians are afraid to do what’s best for Wales in case it gives us ideas. Wales today is asleep, lulled into accepting a steady, subsidised decline. We are told by all political parties that we must be grateful for these dollops of cash because we can’t do anything for ourselves. Therefore we must stay in the EU to ensure the cash keeps coming. There needs to be a better reason than that. Finally, I ask you to consider the reasons given, by different voices, for Wales to vote Remain, and then decide whether – like me – you don’t in fact view these as the ‘cold shower’ Wales needs to finally wake us up and get us moving in the right direction: We shall lose the EU hand-outs and these will not be replaced by Westminster. Leaving the EU will result in economic meltdown. The City of London will be replaced as Europe’s No 1 financial centre. Brexit is fundamentally English nationalism. Post Brexit the UK will experience the most repressive and anglocentric government ever known. Scotland will probably become independent. I know I’m lining up with some unpleasant people (I see through them better than most), but the issue is too big to let personalities intrude. The European Union is a bureaucratic nightmare run by weaklings and a failure on every level. Worse, it no longer serves the interests of Europe’s peoples but those of a shadowy Elite that regards all nationalities, and all languages other than English, as obstacles to a world unified without the knowledge or consent of its peoples. On Thursday you won’t just be voting on the European Union; a Remain vote will also be an endorsement of NATO’s dangerous Bear-baiting; of the Elite’s global control programme, and, possibly – more likely if democracy threatens to break out – a return to Operation Gladio. You don’t want to live in this dystopian future, few do, but the wheels are already in motion. If you care about Wales, and if you want to see Wales survive and prosper as a nation in her own right, then you must vote to leave the European Union as the precondition for leaving the United Kingdom. ~~~~~~~ END ~~~~~~~ Mill Bay Homes and Pembrokeshire Housing 2 On 14/06/2016 04/08/2016 By JacIn Housing, Local Government, Planning, Public Funding, Social Housing, Third Sector, Welsh Government23 Comments This is just a brief update to my previous post. I have to be careful what I write because I’m being watched. No, honestly, this is not paranoia, certain people will be reading this very carefully. Therefore I hope you will understand that I have to be cautious, avoiding the injudicious phrase, the unintended calumny, otherwise certain persons down west will again be scuttling to £260-an-hour Ms Tracey Singlehurst-Ward of Hugh James Legal. A BIG FAT I.O.U. To recap . . . Mill Bay Homes is a ‘subsidiary’ of Pembrokeshire Housing, it’s raison d’être is to build and sell houses, then hand the profits from the sale of those properties back to the parent company so that it can build more social units for rent. It may be worth mentioning – by way of background information – that before a name change in the first quarter of 2012 Mill Bay Homes was known as Pembrokeshire Housing Two Thousand Ltd, a company set up in 1998 that never traded. FROM THE MILL BAY HOMES WEBSITE (click to enlarge) So that’s the theory, the justification for Mill Bay Homes. But how’s it working out in practice? Let’s look at what information is available, add a few things that have been said, and then let us draw some conclusions, which we are fully entitled to do, as members of the generous Welsh public that has poured tens of millions of pounds into Pembrokeshire Housing. When it comes to available information, we encounter a major obstacle in that it’s probably easier to get hold of Vladimir Putin’s personal e-mails than it is to see accounts for Mill Bay Homes. The problem being that because it’s not a regular company there’s nothing filed with Companies House. Because it’s not a charity it’s ditto with the Charity Commission. And while MBH claims to have filed accounts with the Financial Conduct Authority, the FCA says it has received nothing since the report for y/e 31.03.2013. Though when my collaborator Wynne Jones wrote to the ‘Welsh’ Government, using an FoI request to ask for those accounts he was told, by Ceri Breeze, Head of Housing Policy, that the accounts were already in the public domain – with the Financial Conduct Authority! Sometimes it’s difficult to avoid the suspicion that information is being deliberately withheld on Mill Bay Homes, and that fibs are being told in order to throw people off the scent. Anyway, let’s see what we can glean from the Pembrokeshire Housing accounts. In particular, the extracts below taken from the figures for the year ending on March 31st 2015. Figures that I suspect are connected. You will see that between 31.03.2013 and 31.03.2015 Pembrokeshire Housing’s cash reserves fell dramatically, from £12,551,763 to £2,782,838. A reduction of £9,768,926, or 78%. During the years ending 31.03.2014 and 31.03.2015 £6,135,000 was ‘loaned’ to Mill Bay Homes. The most recent figures available for Mill Bay Homes, those for y/e 31.03.2013, show a ‘loan’ of £245,000, which we can be fairly sure came from the parent company. If we add them it gives us a total of £6,360,000. Without wishing to over-egg it I suggest we must also add other costs not stipulated. For example, Pembrokeshire Housing staff must have been working on the Mill Bay Homes ‘project’, and they must have used Pembrokeshire Housing offices and equipment, plus consumables, before Mill Bay Homes was up and running. So I think we can reasonably assume that Mill Bay Homes owes Pembrokeshire Housing closer to seven million pounds than six. How is this to be repaid? Fortunately, last week’s Pembrokeshire Herald ran an article on my recent, ahem, difficulties and in this article group supremo Peter Maggs was quoted as saying, “The target is (for MBH) to deliver £1m of surplus for each of the next five years”. Which will – if achieved – return just five of the six million plus that’s owed. (Note that the Pembrokeshire Herald couldn’t get my name right – “Roytston”, they called me, bloody “Roytston”!!! Is that defamation? Maybe I need a good solicitor – I wonder if Ms Singlehurst-Ward would take the case?) ‘A MILLION A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS’, SAYS YER MAN I have no opportunity to buy the otherwise excellent Pembrokeshire Herald except when I’m visiting the county, so I haven’t seen the ‘paper myself. But someone was kind enough to send me a photograph of the article, here, and another kind act saw the piece sent as text. Seeing as we are talking of Mill Bay Homes repaying Pembrokeshire Housing a cool million a year it might be instructive to know if any of the outstanding six million plus has yet been repaid. The figures for y/e 31.03.2016 are obviously not yet available, but the previous year’s figures tell us that the princely sum of £36,070 was received. Which leaves . . . roughly the same figure we started with. And that’s without taking interest into account. Another way of looking at it would be that at the rate of £36,070 a year it would take Mill Bay Homes 176 years to repay what it owes. This might make some of you think that Peter Maggs’ claim is a little overblown, but it could be worse than that. Here are a number of things to consider: I’m told that Mill Bay Homes is working to a 17% profit margin while the building industry usually works to a 25% margin on new builds. Before anything can be returned to Pembrokeshire Housing Mill Bay Homes will have to deduct its costs. In addition, it will need to buy the next development site and go through the planning process and other procedures, then pay to build that next development. So how much from each house sale will Pembrokeshire Housing actually see? Let’s assume that the average sale price of a Mill Bay property is £130,000. At 17% and deducting the costs just mentioned Pembrokeshire Housing might see a return of £50,000 per property. Of course, these calculations are necessarily speculative due to the absence of any publicly available accounts or other information for Mill Bay Homes. If the purpose of lending money to Mill Bay Homes is to generate income to build social housing why didn’t Pembrokeshire Housing instead of lending the money to get part of it returned use all of it to build social housing? One worry I have is that achieving Peter Maggs’ target will result in unfair competition for local building firms without the benefit of Mill Bay Homes’ inexhaustible source of funding, a source that relieves it of the need to return a profit. Is this the plan? ‘Welsh’ Labour we know is anti-business, also a ‘statist’ party that wants to control everything. So is this its way of surreptitiously making house building a state-controlled industry? If not, how else do we explain a publicly-funded housing association being allowed to set up a subsidiary that is, effectively, a no-risk private house builder? One possibility is that we are discussing a trailblazer for a new type of business entirely. This is not idle speculation on my part, the idea has been knocking around for a while. I’m talking now of fully privatised housing associations. And it’s already started, as this article from the Guardian last August tells us. The advantages are obvious. Housing associations have solid assets in the form of bricks and mortar, so they’ll have little trouble finding investors and securing loans. As long as the right legal safeguards are in place for all types of tenants, and the right incentives for investors, why not relieve the public purse of a massive burden by privatising social housing in Wales? These could be lucrative, profit-making businesses. Proven by Pembrokeshire Housing itself. In 2013 it had cash reserves of £12,551,763, yet it’s one of the smaller housing associations, this is partly due to the fact that Pembrokeshire County Council retains its own council housing stock. If such a small outfit can build up such cash reserves then what is the picture with the big boys? Though that said, some people – more cynical than I, you understand – might suggest that Mill Bay Homes was set up for the express purpose of soaking up this embarrassment of cash. For the nest-egg might otherwise have had to be returned, or might have resulted in reduced funding. Because I’m sure most people would believe that a relatively small, rural housing association with over £12m stashed under the mattress should not be receiving a penny from the public purse. One thing’s for sure, housing associations as we know them in Wales are discredited. For a start, there are just too many of them, receiving inordinate amounts of funding, with too much of that money going on inflated salaries and administrative costs, and with very little effective oversight by the ‘Welsh’ Government. Housing associations are out of control, like some over-indulged adolescent forever finding new ways to get money out of his parents. In addition, and perhaps especially in rural areas, housing associations waste money on new properties for which there is no local demand, then they import tenants, many of whom have ‘issues’, because of course they can charge more for housing problem families, petty criminals, drug addicts and other undesirables than they could ever charge hard-working, law-abiding locals. Unless I receive important new information on Pembrokeshire Housing and Mill Bay Homes this may be my final post on the subject. I think I’ve said everything I need to say at present. If those who claim to be managing Wales still see nothing wrong with the parent – subsidiary arrangement I’ve described, and if they believe that the current plethora of publicly-funded and competing housing associations is the cheapest and most effective way of delivering rented accommodation, then Wales is in a bigger mess than I had ever imagined. UPDATE 17.06.2016: Surprise! Surprise! After all the attention Mill Bay Homes has been getting of late the Annual Return and Accounts for y/e 31.03.2014 and y/e 31.03.2015 are finally available on the Financial Conduct Authority website. They were added just a few days ago. As I’m tied up for the next few days I won’t have time to give these accounts the attention they deserve, but perhaps my analytical readers would like to peruse them and give us their interpretations. Here are the accounts for 2014 and here for 2015. Quickly skimming through them I was struck by the fact that in the 2015 report, in answer to question 1.19, Mill Bay Homes claims to be a Community Benefit Society because it benefits, “People seeking housing accommodation” (as opposed to any other form of accommodation). If Mill Bay Homes is accepted as a Community Benefit Society then I suggest the FCA gets ready for a rush of applications to join the club – from Wimpey, Persimmon, Redrow and all the rest. But of course MBH would defend its claim to be a Community Benefit Society by the answer it gives to 1.21, which asks how surpluses or profits are used. The answer reads, “Surplus was transferred to the parent Registered Social Landlord to invest in affordable housing”. Why not just say ‘the parent company’, why stress that it’s a RSL? And why “affordable housing” not ‘social housing’? MBH claims to build and sell ‘affordable housing’. Though these considerations bring us back to the underlying idiocy of this model. Pembrokeshire Housing, a provider of social housing, has £10m in spare cash. Rather than use that money for the purpose it was given the money is loaned to Mill Bay Homes to build and sell houses. Then perhaps £1m of profit is returned to PH for social housing. Why not use the original £10m for its intended purpose of social housing? Could it be that Pembrokeshire Housing had more money than it needed, or knew how to use, and rather than admit to that embarrassment, it came up with the absurdity that is Mill Bay Homes? UPDATE 21.07.2016: In an e-mail of July 18th Simon Fowler of the ‘Welsh’ Government’s Housing Directorate, had this to say: “We have had sight of a confirmation from the FCA that Pembrokeshire Housing and Mill Bay Homes submitted all their regulatory returns by the given deadline. It went on to confirm that due to an error at the FCA, the returns were not published. We are satisfied that PHA and MBH have not acted inappropriately – either deliberately or mistakenly – when submitting the returns required by law.” Today, my co-investigator, Wynne Jones, received an e-mail from Nazmul Ahmed at the FCA, he had this to say of the Mill Bay Homes returns: “I have spoken to my colleague and we can provide the dates we received the annual return and accounts – 2013/14- 2 June 2016, 2014/15- 2 June 2016′. The timing is significant. I published posts on Mill Bay Homes on the following dates, April 25th, May 20th and May 23rd. These were taken down under threat of legal action conveyed in a letter from Ms Tracey Singlehurst-Ward of Hugh James Solicitors of May 31st. I can imagine Ms S-W saying to MBH, ‘OK, I’ll try and put the frighteners on him, but you’ve got to get your house in order, don’t give him ammunition’. But where does this leave Simon Fowler? I think the kindest thing I can say of Mr Fowler and his colleagues is that they make it up as they go along. What I and others have learnt in recent months suggests there is no oversight of housing associations by the ‘Welsh’ Government, little regulation, and that they are free to do as they like – with hundreds of millions of pounds of our money. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ END ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT: The promised article in which I explain why I’m voting Leave in the EU referendum Mill Bay Homes and Pembrokeshire Housing On 07/06/2016 04/08/2016 By JacIn EU Funding, Housing, Local Government, Planning, Public Funding, Social Housing, Welsh Assembly, Welsh Government, Welsh Labour48 Comments THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION Late in the afternoon of Tuesday May 31st I received an e-mail from Tracey Singlehurst-Ward of Hugh James Legal in Cardiff. Ms Singlehurst-Ward was of the opinion that I’d been a naughty boy for saying things about her clients, Pembrokeshire Housing and its ‘subsidiary’ Mill Bay Homes. I of course responded. Ms Singlehurst-Ward’s letter threatened me with a deadline of 4pm on June 3rd, just three days away. If I had not drastically re-written the offending posts by that time then all manner of unpleasant things would befall me. Being a reasonable man, I offered the compromise of taking down the offending pieces by June 10th, by when I would have published a ‘clarification’ post. Having heard nothing from Ms Singlehurst-Ward by the afternoon of June 2nd I thought I’d better get in touch again, to see if my offer had been accepted. Finding that my offer had been rejected I had to accept that I was in a somewhat tricky position, and so I decided upon a tactical withdrawal by taking down the offending pieces rather than redacting the offending passages and making them unintelligible. For there were things I’d written that could be misinterpreted, some of what I’d written might have been wrong (usually due to misinformation, often from official sources). And then Ms Singleton-Ward had produced a litany of earth-shattering inaccuracies such as someone described as a ‘former councillor’ by Pembrokeshire Housing not having been a councillor in Pembrokeshire, as I had reasonably assumed, and stated. There followed a third round of correspondence between us and, hopefully, that’s the end of it, otherwise we’ll have enough material for an epistolary novel. But wait! – Ms Singlehurst-Ward and her clients haven’t read this post yet! It seemed fairly obvious from the initial salvo that someone had gone to Ms Singlehurst-Ward with a dossier of posts from my blog. This was, basically, what she sent me; screen shots from my blog topped and tailed with her listing my heinous crimes. It probably didn’t take her long to put together. But seeing as this assault on me is being funded out of the Welsh public purse, and seeing as Ms Singlehurst-Ward charges £260 an hour, maybe we should be thankful she hasn’t been asked to do too much work. WHERE I’M COMING FROM In this blog, which has been running since January 2013 (and in the blog that preceded it on the Google platform), I have consistently criticised the Labour Party and the cronyism and nepotism associated with it; a system of patronage that has seen billions of pounds of public money wasted, a system that does so much to condemn Wales to relative poverty. One of the great weaknesses of this system is that there is no effective oversight or monitoring of the bodies receiving large amounts of public funding. Much is left to self-evaluation and self-regulation, an approach that served the public interest so well with MPs, newspapers, banks, etc. On the other hand, one of the system’s strengths, certainly from the perspective of the Labour Party, is that it helps spread Labour’s influence. Because if a Labour regime in Cardiff ultimately controls the purse strings of a body in an area where the Labour Party is weak, then a passive ‘loyalty’ of the not-biting-the-hand-that-feeds-you variety can be assured. Which is rewarded with the ‘light touch’ regulation referred to in the previous paragraph. Another reason this system flourishes is due to the lack of an effective political opposition. Plaid Cymru occasionally threatens to hold Labour to account but invariably falls into line because too many in that party still view Labour as comrades in arms against the real enemy of the Tories, or the here-today-gone-tomorrow ‘threat’ of UKIP. But beyond that, Plaid Cymru is fundamentally weak. Even in the dictatorship that is Carmarthenshire Plaid Cymru, the larger party in the ruling coalition, refuses to oust, or even curb, Mark James, which tells us that the chances of Plaid Cymru seriously threatening Labour’s entrenched hegemony in Wales are close to zero. Another factor that allows Labour to chug on unworried by criticism is that Wales has no media to talk of, virtually nothing that is not owned or controlled from outside of Wales. What masquerades as our ‘national newspaper’ exists to promote Cardiff, to donate page after page to the Welsh Rugby Union and, despite having a readership plummeting towards man and dog proportions, is kept financially afloat by official announcements, legal notices and advertisements paid for by – the ‘Welsh’ Labour Government. And yet, despite having no real opposition, and with no media to hold it to account, Labour is still losing its grip on Wales. Perhaps it’s an example of the old adage ‘You can’t fool all of the people all of the time’; but whatever the reason, Labour gained just a third of the vote in last month’s Assembly elections. Wales in 2016 lives under a corrupt political system that generates little wealth and is over-reliant on hand-outs; but these hand-outs, rather than being used for the purposes the money was given – education and training, building of infrastructure, encouragement of twenty-first-century businesses – are instead used to build up a network beholden to those doling out the money. Which results in Wales today having more in common with the developing world than with Western Europe. In a couple of weeks we’ll be voting on whether to stay in the EU, maybe we should be voting on whether or not to join the African Union. THE SUBSTANCE OF THE MATTER Pembrokeshire Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord (P072) with the ‘Welsh’ Government and also registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as an Industrial & Provident Society (23308R). Since 2008 Pembrokeshire Housing has received around £28m in Social Housing Grant from the ‘Welsh’ Government, and there are other funding streams. The issues arise when we consider Pembrokeshire Housing’s subsidiary, Mill Bay Homes, and to appreciate my concerns we need to go back a bit. In 1998 Pembrokeshire Housing formed a subsidiary called Pembrokeshire Housing Two Thousand Ltd, the sort of name popular at the time as we prepared for the Millennium. The genesis of Mill Bay Homes The panel below is taken from what I believe to be the last return made by PH2000 Ltd to the FCA before the name was changed in 2012 to Mill Bay Homes Ltd. You’ll see that despite being in existence for some twelve years PH2000 Ltd did nothing. The Return says that turnover for the year was just £810, which seems mainly attributable to interest on assets of £30,995. Though it does perhaps raise the question of how a company that had never traded came into possession of any assets. The nature of Mill Bay Homes So what is Mill Bay Homes, why was it set up and what does it do? Apparently it was set up to do exactly what PH2000 Ltd never got round to doing: “undertake trading activity outside the charitable objectives of parent association”. In that case, why change the name? The home page of the Mill Bay Homes website spells out quite clearly what it thinks it does, it seems to be all about that overworked word, ‘lifestyle’: Elsewhere the website tells us, under the ‘Purchasers’ tab, that Mill Bay Homes seeks ‘First Time Buyers’, ‘Moving Up Buyers’, ‘Retirement Buyers’ and ‘Investment Buyers’. So that’s downsizers and upsizers catered for. The first, and only, returns that I can find for Mill Bay Homes are those for 2012 / 2013, made to the Financial Conduct Authority. It will be seen that Mill Bay Homes has assets of over £300,000, of which £294,390 is “Work in progress”, presumably the development of 11 properties at Letterston, helped with a “Loan from parent company” of £245,000. This seems to be the only sizeable debt – but enough to build eleven new houses? ‘Welsh’ Government’ In the now removed posts I made the mistake of suggesting that Mill Bay Homes was not a Registered Social Landlord because I couldn’t find it on the ‘Welsh’ Government’s website where RSLs are listed. That was because the website did not include subsidiaries. I am happy to clear that up and direct you to the relevant page. This registration, and the very number, L124, were inherited from Pembrokeshire Housing 2000 Ltd, which some might argue legitimises Mill Bay Homes as a RSL, being nothing more than PH2000 Ltd after a name change. Whereas others might say, ‘Ah, but Pembrokeshire Housing Two Thousand Ltd never traded, consequently there was neither need nor opportunity to challenge its right to be a RSL’. Others, that is, not necessarily me. Because I’m sure that some people reading this article are wondering whether Mill Bay Homes – which to all intents and purposes is a private house builder – should be a Registered Social Landlord. A question motivated by nothing more than curiosity and a wish to see everything ship-shape. So let me suggest that the ‘Welsh’ Government clears this matter up. All it needs to say is: ‘We are perfectly happy for Mill Bay Homes to remain a Registered Social Landlord while selling four-bedroom, detached properties, and building other dwellings that target buy-to-let investors and retirees from England’. What could be easier than that, just to set the record straight? Financial Conduct Authority A similar problem presents itself with Mill Bay Homes status via-à-vis the Financial Conduct Authority, where – I am given understand – Mill Bay Homes is registered as an Industrial & Provident Society. And yet, things are not clear-cut. Mill Bay Homes insists it is registered with the FCA, and indeed, in the second batch of correspondence between us, Ms Singlehurst-Ward even supplied copies of what she said were letters accompanying those returns. Yet the FCA says Mill Bay Homes has filed nothing since 2013. The website says the same thing. I can’t help wondering if this conundrum might have something to do with the Co-operative and Community Benefits Societies Act 2014. This new legislation seems to suggests that Industrial and Provident Societies are now a thing of the past – replaced by ‘registered societies’ – though the label may be retained by an I&PS in existence when the Act came into force. Where I’m really confused – and here perhaps Ms Singlehurst-Ward or one of her colleagues can help – is by the information contained in the panel below. Under the new legislation is Mill Bay Homes is ‘”bona fide” co-operative’ or a ‘for the benefit of the community’ organisation? I’m genuinely confused, so I shall write to the FCA asking for clarification of Mill Bay Homes’ status. I’m sure officials at Mill Bay Homes have already written to the FCA, demanding an explanation as to why two years’ returns fail to show on the FCA website. My confusion is not helped by Ms Singlehurst-Ward being unable to provide any evidence of the FCA receiving those submissions beyond an unspecific automated response. And while the Mill Bay Homes return for y/e 31.03.2014 is in the name of Mill Bay Homes alone, for y/e 31.03.2015 the return was made for MBH by Pembrokeshire Housing. Is the difference in procedure between end of March 2014 and end of March 2015 somehow linked with the new legislation that came into force on August 1st 2014? Help to Buy – Wales In the posts now committed to the Outer Darkness I wrote of the Help to Buy – Wales scheme, and Mill Bay’s involvement. Specifically, I drew attention to the fact that one of the beneficiaries of HtB on the Pentlepoir development, Adam Karl Uka, is a close personal friend of Nick Garrod, Land and Construction Manager for Mill Bay Homes. Ms Singlehurst-Ward had this to say: “For the avoidance of doubt the connection between our client’s employee (Garrod) and Mr Uka could not have had any impact upon the latter’s application to the Help to Buy scheme because our client does not administer that funding”. So there you have it. Being buddies with the builder is unconnected with being allowed to buy the most desirable property on the development, a property offering access to Help to Buy, and one that, furthermore, was extensively modified to Uka’s personal specifications. UPDATE 21:26 (see image, click to enlarge) There were quite a number of other Help to Buy properties at the Pentlepoir development. Many more than at all Mill Bay Homes’ other developments combined. This talk of Pentlepoir brings us to an issue covered in one of my now lost posts that clearly annoyed Ms Singlehurst-Ward’s clients. I’m referring to my claim that Mill Bay Homes were, in the specific example I used, ‘Neighbours from Hell’. So let me explain why I used that emotive term. ‘Neighbours from Hell’ The property bought by Adam Karl Uka underwent considerable modifications, and these changes caused a lot of anguish and no little suffering to the family most directly affected. Before going into details of their plight let me clear up the issue of planning permission, for Ms Singlehurst-Ward seems to believe there was no deviation from the original planning permission. This document makes it clear there was deviation. The ‘Plot 10’ referred to in the document became 35 Coppins Park, Adam Karl Uka’s residence. What Ms Singlehurst-Ward actually said in relation to planning permission was, “All properties (at Pentlepoir) were constructed in accordance with the planning permission granted”. Maybe, but in the case of 35 Coppins Park, it was not in accordance with the original planning permission. As you can work out from the ‘Variation’ document, the new property became both higher, raised by at least a metre, thereby overlooking neighbouring properties, and it also moved closer to the property most directly affected. This resulted in work being carried out by Mill Bay’s contractors right up to the boundary of a neighbouring property, resulting in damage. Both proximity to the boundary and some of the damage caused are clearly visible in the photographs below. (Click to enlarge.) Other problems were subsidence and damage to a boundary fence. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the contractors showed they had a sense of humour (or something) with this almost unbelievable incident in which a digger bucket was deliberately swung towards two neighbours. Just watch this video. The neighbours could have been seriously injured or even killed by this idiotic stunt. Here’s a still showing how close the bucket came to the head of the woman. There is no question that for one family at least, Mill Bay Homes definitely proved to be the ‘Neighbour from Hell’. Read these neighbours’ chilling account of what they had to put up with here. It may be significant that for Phase 2 at Pentlepoir, which included Mr Uka’s house, and where neighbours experienced such problems, the contractors did not register with the Considerate Constructors Scheme, as they had for Phase 1. I wonder why? ‘SUBSIDIARIES’ The relationship between a ‘parent’ organisation such as Pembrokeshire Housing and a subsidiary like Mill Bay Homes is one I’ve encountered many times before in my delving into the Third Sector and other publicly-funded outfits. These subsidiaries are often known as ‘trading arms’. After many years investigating the use of public funding by all manner of imaginative organisations I still get a little frisson when I encounter the term. Here’s an example from early last year when someone drew my attention to Canoe Wales. My first post was White Water Up Shit Creek, followed by Canoe Wales 2, and finally, Canoe Wales 3: Paddling One’s Own Canoe. Not. It’s quite a complicated picture of an organisation receiving public funding but with money and tangible assets passing between it and subsidiaries, with subsidiaries folding and debts being written off. But the worry here, and this applies to other groups I’ve looked at, is that the funder – in this case, Sport Wales – seems only interested in the parent body because it is the one receiving the moolah. Nobody seems concerned about subsidiaries that may be indirect recipients of public funding. I am not for one minute suggesting that this is the sort of thing that happens between Pembrokeshire Housing and Mill Bay Homes, I merely use it as a warning of the kind of problems that can arise when a publicly-funded body sets up subsidiaries or ‘trading arms’. That said, there is one area where Pembrokeshire Housing and Mill Bay Homes could certainly learn from Canoe Wales. After publishing the first post I had a telephone call from a representative of the paddlers. A charming Caledonian gent named Mark Williamson. He even invited me over to their White Water Centre on Afon Tryweryn. I was tempted, but then I thought, ‘What if it’s a dastardly plot to drown old Jac!’ Because I’ve heard that there are one or two people out there who’d like to do that! (Difficult to believe, I know, but there you are.) The point is that Mr Williamson didn’t run to a £260 an hour solicitor, he fronted up like a man and said, ‘Let me put you straight on a few things’. Just think of all the misunderstandings that could be avoided, all the problems that could be resolved, and all the public money that could be saved, if more people adopted that approach. A PLAGUE OF LAWYERS For a sensitive soul such as I it was quite disconcerting to be on the receiving end of a sudden and unexpected assault from Hugh James, but I soon learnt that I wasn’t the only one getting attention. At around the same time I received my initial letter from Hugh James my server Systemau Cyfrifiadurol Cambria also received a threatening letter from Ms Singlehurst-Ward. It read ” . . . website hosted by you . . . defamatory . . . Jac utter bastard”. Almost certainly done in the hope that it would lead to the plug being pulled on my blog. Gwilym, of SCCambria, gave a robust response. But it didn’t end there! For on Friday June 3rd I learnt that the family in Pentlepoir that had suffered so much, they who had the digger bucket swung at them, had also received a letter from Ms Singlehurst-Ward of Hugh James. Her clients obviously knew who had been giving me information. (Which says a lot, if you think about it.) I loved the bit in the letter that read, “Whilst out clients have no desire to stifle free speech or indeed honest debate . . . “. Sorry, Tracey, love, but that’s exactly what your now embarrassed clients are trying to do. The aggrieved couple referred the threatening Hugh James letter to both their solicitor and Dyfed Powys Police. Then, to cap an extraordinary week, Gwilym received a second letter, from another solicitor, this time a Wayne Beynon of Capital Law in Cardiff. This letter had nothing to do with Pembrokeshire Housing or Mill Bay Homes. Beynon was acting on behalf of Leighton Andrews. You must remember him, he used to be the Assembly Member for Rhondda. He was upset about a comment to my post Assembly Elections 2016. This comment suggested a link between a jailed paedophile a failed PCC candidate and Andrews. The strange thing about this was that the complaint came down to a single comment made to this post by a third party. So why not write to me? I would have removed it, as I did when Gwilym told me about it. (Here’s my reply.) While writing this I’ve heard from Gwilym, telling me that he’s had a reply from Beynon. It says, “I have also been contacted by your client, Mr Jones, who has removed the unlawful statements from his website.” And there was me thinking that decisions on what was unlawful involved the police, judges, courts, juries. Perhaps we should do away with the rest of the apparatus and hand the legal system over to lawyers. What are we to make of the events of last week? If it had just been a letter to me then I would have assumed that I had pissed off Pembrokeshire Housing and / or Mill Bay Homes. But the letters to my server, and the people in Pentlepoir? And then the letter on behalf of Leighton Andrews? If I wanted to be generous, then I suppose I’d dismiss it all as coincidence. But on reflection I think it could be an attempt to a) deter anyone from associating themselves with this blog and, b) get this blog closed down. Which I find rather encouraging; for it suggests I might be doing something right! I do not know any of the leading players in Pembrokeshire Housing or Mill Bay Homes, so there can be no question of me being motivated by personal animus. I have had no dealings of any description with PH or MBH. I have never even lived in Pembrokeshire. And I stand to make no personal gain from my writings on PH and MBH. My motivation in my enquiries into PH and MBH – and countless other organisations I have investigated – has always been protection of the public interest and defence of the public purse; these ambitions being inseparable from the desire to see transparency in the operations of devolved government, local government and the Third Sector. I find myself writing this on the anniversary of the attack on the toll gate at Yr Efail Wen. A banner often carried by ‘Rebecca’s followers read ‘Cyfiawnder nid Cyfraith’ (Justice not Law). As appropriate now as it was back then, because not a lot seems to have changed in almost two hundred years. Wales is still a land with too much law and too little justice. And as ever, it’s those with deep pockets who can afford lawyers – but too often nowadays their pockets bulge with our money! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ END ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NEXT: The EU referendum, and why I’m voting Leave On 05/06/2016 04/08/2016 By JacIn Housing, Local Government, Social Housing, Third Sector, Welsh Government, Welsh Labour59 Comments After assorted threats from various sources – possibly a single source – to me and others associated with this blog, I plan to publish my definitive post on Pembrokeshire Housing and Mill Bay Homes within the next few days. If certain persons in the south west, or elsewhere, don’t like what I write, then they can run – again – to a £260-an-hour Cardiff lawyer, and pay her out of the public purse, or they can just go fuck themselves. Don’t bother me one way or the other. I’ve been reasonable, I have taken down everything that it was claimed offended these sensitive souls, but henceforth I shall stand by what I write. NOTHING will be taken down. I am calling your bluff, boys and girls. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BLOG WITH A SMALL DONATION (Type with the cursor on the right and the donation amount will move left replacing ‘0.00’.) OR A REGULAR PAYMENT, TO COVER RUNNING COSTS Option 1 : £2.00 monthly Option 2 : £5.00 monthly Option 3 : £10.00 monthly Option 4 : £20.00 monthly Option 5 : £30.00 monthly Option 6 : £50.00 monthly Tweets by @JacotheNorth Gwgl WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SCOTLAND? 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__label__cc	0.748554	0.251446	Tasmanian Theatre Company delivers a bundle of joy with e-baby Older and Wider Jane Cafarella Writer, editor, trainer, cartoonist and playwright Travelling light Posted in Uncategorized on May 24, 2012\| Leave a Comment » “Is that all you’re taking?” My friend Sultana said in astonishment when she looked at my wheeled backpack waiting by the door. Yes, one of the benefits of living in a country where there is no winter, means that you leave all your winter clothes back in your native land and travel light on home visits. The heaviest items in my backpack are my laptop and an extra pair of shoes. After two months of creating a new home in Singapore, I am going back to Melbourne to visit family and to attend to my show and Greta’s. I expect to be delighted to be back among family and friends, and shocked at the vastness of Australia and its more chaotic nature – at least compared to Singapore, where efficiency reigns. In fact, it is so efficient here that there are even instructions on how to have fun. At least that’s how it seemed when we visited the East Coast last weekend. I had been itching to see the ocean, to convince myself that I actually lived on an island and not in a shopping mall. Not knowing where to start, we took our Lonely Planet pocket guide and on its advice chose East Coast Park Lagoon Village, where we planned to sample some chili crab. It was early, so very quiet, as we wanted through the entrance, to the right of which was a large sign headed I’m ok, you’re ok, together Singapore’s okay. Featuring charming cartoon characters, the poster instructed us not to litter, to bag our rubbish, to avoid crowded places (like the Lagoon Village?) and see our family doctor if we were unwell, to wash hands with soap frequently, to keep places clean and free of pests, to use a serving spoon when sharing food, to keep public toilets clean and “to spit, cough and sneeze into tissue”. Later, another sign warned us to report any suspicious activities and yet another told us to “Be considerate. Stay on the right track” when walking along a shared bike/pedestrian path. Around the lagoon, two water skiers did leisurely circuits, hauled by an overhead wire that ensured their safety, as the pace never changed. Many large ships were visible from the beach, which featured a thin stretch of sand, some swimmers and some children playing in the sand. A fenced off area featured an impressive display of beautifully architectured sand castles. Further on, there was a skate park, strangely free of graffiti, and a place where you could hire charming tandem bike units, in the form of little red-and-white carts. The sky was blue, the trees were green, the sea was calm, the food was great and ridiculously cheap. A bit like St Kilda beach, but without the prostitutes and drug addicts. How will I feel when I step out of this picture postcard and back to reality, I wondered? But there’s one thing I know I won’t miss about Singapore – the music. “All I need is the air that I breathe and to love you! All I need is the air that I breeeeeeeethe!!!” That’s all I hear when I take taxis these days. Syrupy songs from the 70s and 80s are popular on radio stations favored by taxi drivers, especially this song. This is especially ironic here, where with a rising inflation rate of 5.4 per cent and incredible rents, you need a lot more than the air that you breathe to survive. Not only that, the air that you breathe is hot and humid. “It’s freezing here,” my friends warn when I tell them I’m coming back. But warm hearts and cool breezes are what I’m most looking forward to. Shameless advertising No.2 Cute, isn’t he But don’t be deceived! Things aren’t always what they seem. Find out why when Hartwell Players, Melbourne’s oldest community theatre group, presents Four Slices of Funcake, its 2012 One Act Play Festival, including Supernsout, by none other than Jane Cafarella. Supersnout is directed by Joanne Watt and features the talents of Andrew Jacobs, Xavier Lee, Jocelyn Cowley and Nina McLean. Come along for a great night of theatre and support local writers, actors and directors who are keeping the craft alive, affordable and accessible. For more information about the festival, check this link: http://hartwellplayers.org.au/Plays/OneActs2012 Photo by Nicole Kent: This is Bugsy, the Chihuahua we owned when we lived in Bangkok. Bugsy has been living the high life with Nicole in NYC, but is moving to Long Island this weekend. He’s come along way since we picked him up from Bangkok’s Chatachuk Market. These days, he even has his own Facebook page (Butters Kent). Stay tuned for more on the adventures of Bugsy later. Looking for something fun and exciting to do this weekend? Look no further. Trinity College Music Theatre Society presents The 25th Annual Spelling Bee at the Guild Theatre tonight, Friday and Saturday night. I’ll be there on Friday and Saturday. The Gala Night was a huge hit and the cast is now pumped for the weekend shows. Look out for Greta Williams as Marcy Park, the over-achieving perfectionist – proudly wearing her Box Hill High School uniform, which is still too big. Read the review here: http://union.unimelb.edu.au/theatre/review-the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee Herewith, below, the official blurb from Trinity: Guild Theatre, Union House, University of Melbourne T, R, I, N, I, T……. EE? Trinitee?…..Yeah you’d better work on that.Because the time has come. After months, for some even years, of trying to write our names in mirror writing, get our pen licenses and thus become top dog of the library… it is time for Trinity College Music Theatre Society to present… If you know how to spell words like “cat”, “tree”, and “antidisestablishmentarianism”… If you play Words With Friends more often than you speak to your parents (or Scramble with Friends, or Hanging with Friends – not Draw Something though sheesh)… If you can sing ABC better than the Jackson Five, and if you can dance the YMCA… Sound familiar? Then you will love The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Wed 23rd May: 7.30pm – COLLEGE GALA NIGHT Thurs 24th May: 7.30pm Fri 25th May: 12.30pm Fri 25th May: 7.30pm Sat 26th May: 7.30pm Touristing at 3pm Posted in Singapore, Uncategorized, tagged Little India, motherhood, Punjabi suits, Singapore, tourists on May 18, 2012\| 2 Comments » Around 3pm, I start to get edgy. I should be getting home. Even though I know there is no reason to get home, I feel edgy. I blame 27 years of mothering. As a mother, you need to start getting home around 3pm to make sure you are there when the kids get home from school, or to pick them up and take them to the dentist, or to a singing lesson, or a piano lesson, or rehearsal, or to a play-date. But now the kids have grown up and at 3pm they are probably at work, or at uni, or still in bed recovering from that 3am party and hangover. I have been absolved, yet still, like a well-trained rat, I keep returning to that damned wheel. At 5pm I start to feel like I should be making dinner – even when I know Rob is not going to be home until 8pm and we will probably have dinner in town. At the supermarket, I feel the need to buy several hundred dollars worth of groceries, including biscuits and treats for lunch boxes, even though I know there is no lunch box and that if I buy any treats, the only person I will be treating is myself. Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad I’m not cutting lunches anymore, or doing the after-school run. I’m glad my kids have grown up and are enjoying their lives. I just wish I could de-program myself and enjoy mine. That’s why I decide that the best antidote to being an auto-mum is to go touristing, starting at 3pm in Little India Touristing alone is a guilty pleasure. There are no compromises. You don’t have to reach consensus on where and when to go, or where and when to eat; and there is no one to tell you not to buy that gorgeous piece of jewelry as a Mother’s Day present to yourself. You can do what you bloody-well like. Finally. (Just don’t tell Rob about the jewelry). On this particular day, doing what I liked meant eating my way from Buffalo St to Mustafa and back. For the uninitiated, Mustafa is a huge 24-hour department store which has everything you Mustafa and more. It was here in Little India that I discovered that I am probably a reincarnation of a northern Indian. Why else would I love Punjabi suits, jewelry and samosas so much? “That’s so sweet,” my Indian friend Sultana says when I tell her that I bought a Punjabi suit (for 35!). “You could pass for Northern Indian,” she adds. But it’s not just their beauty that has endeared me to Punjabi suits. Punjabi suits not only cover a multitude of sins, they turn them into virtues. You can eat as many samosas as you like, and still fit into a Punjabi suit (albeit extra large), as even the most generous of figures look slender and elegant in the long-line tunic, light billowy pants, and matching scarf. And like saris, Punjabi suits come in the most decadent colors and patterns. This is a nice change, as in Melbourne the preferred color for most women’s apparel is black – not because they are widows but because, like most Western women, we Melbournians are always trying to diminish ourselves. Indian women, it seems, feel no such compulsion. They think nothing of going food shopping wearing a Punjabi suit that is encrusted with fake diamonds or trailing metres of hot pink silk draped elegantly around their neck, and which wafts gently behind them as they walk. How do they do it? I tried it and the scarf got caught in my crotch and strangled me. I nearly choked on my samosa. In Australia, summer means wearing fewer clothes, not more; so the idea of a tunic, pants and a scarf in 32 degree heat, may seem incongruous. But Punjabi suits are amazingly cool as they don’t cling like t-shirts and jeans. However, so far I am not game to wear mine anywhere other than Little India, at a Bollywood party, or around the house – not just because I haven’t mastered the art of the scarf yet, but because I feel like I am wearing a costume rather than clothes. I guess that’s why my Punjabi suit is pale green and cream. It’s discreet. And it goes fabulously with that new piece of jewelry. My aspiration! My reality! (Although this is not me. It’s from Google images, and I apologise to whomever it is). Check this website to see more of what I aspire to! http://salwarkameezonline.com/punjabisalwarkameez-c-113.html?zenid=b4da6ce02fb86146db2bd8a6b2c11ea3 LOL! But only for locals Posted in Uncategorized, tagged expats, HuM Theatre, humor, immigrants, India, Singapore, The Kanjoos on May 18, 2012\| 2 Comments » The largely Indian audience was rocking with laughter, as Kanjooswamy, “a diehard skinflint”, ranted about how his children, the government and the world were out to rob him of his hard-earned wealth. Rob and I exchanged little half smiles as the jokes about local Indian culture, the Singapore establishment and inter-racial marriage flew around us. This is what it’s like to be an immigrant, I thought. You just don’t get the jokes – or at least not yet. The play was The Kanjoos, which means “the miser”, and was an Indian take on the Moliere play The Miser, performed by HuM Theatre at the Singapore Repertory Theatre last Saturday night. Subin Subaiah was perfect as the conniving and crafty kanjoos, as was Daisy Irani, as Jayalolita, “Singapore’s premiere matchmaker”. With their over-the-top antics and slapstick comedy, it was easy to see what was going on. It was just those little moments when they delivered a subtle one-liner and the audience erupted while Rob and I sat mutely, that made me realise that while shopping is culturally transferable, humour is not. Ironically, as Daisy Irani and producer, Sakina Dhilawala, said in the program notes, HuM is keen to explore integration issues through its plays. “The Kanjoos could quite easily have been a play enacted by homogenous cast but we deliberately decided otherwise. That is because we wanted to re-inforce the socially appealing idea of inter-racial romance and to emphasise that prejudice is often not religious or racial but economic in nature,” they wrote. HuM’s two previous productions also explored the integration challenges facing society. However, I’m not sure that any of these plays included the integration challenges facing expats. This was no fault of The Kanjoos, which was perfectly pitched and delivered with some Indian spice, giving contemporary and local relevance to the age-old moral that greed is not good. I don’t expect local culture to accommodate visitors like us, who historically have imposed our culture on Singapore and the rest of the world with blatant disregard for local sensibilities. It just makes me more aware of what it must be like for immigrants generally, and perhaps more understanding of the City of Whittlesea’s request back in 2004 that a local theatre company my daughter was involved with drop its production of The Sound of Music for something more cultural relevant, considering that 36 per cent of Whittlesea’s population came from non-English speaking backgrounds. At the time, we music theatre junkies scoffed mightily at this suggestion. The Sound of Music has always been one of my favourite things, but now I understand how for immigrants, understanding local cultural and humor is yet another one of the many mountains they have to learn to climb in order to feel at home. The Kanjoos, cast photo from the program. Photography by Wong Xin Yi, Alistair Chew and Sujoy Sen. A Mother’s Day gift Here’s a gift for all those who are without their mothers today, for one reason or another, and for those mothers who are without their children today, for one reason or another. My own children are in Australia while I am in Singapore, so while we have spoken on the phone, we cannot be together today. My mother died on July 22 last year, so this is my first Mother’s Day without her. But before you get too sentimental, I’d better warn you. I hate Mother’s Day – and here’s why: What I don’t want for Mother’s Day By JANE CAFARELLA I have a confession to make. There have been occasions, in the 17 years in which I have been a mother, where I have forgotten to give my children money for the mother’s day stall – deliberately. The truth is I didn’t really need another recycled coffee jar filled with bath salts, or a homemade key ring, penholder, or serviette ring In fact these things, so laboriously made by other mothers, are more about pleasing the rest of the family and raising funds for the local school than about pleasing mothers. And while I’m at it, here are a few other things I don’t want for Mother’s Day: anything electrical, especially anything for the kitchen. Come to think of it, nothing for the bedroom either – unless it’s another DVD player. Don’t give me a cookbook either – give me a cook and make him tall dark and handsome. Come to think of it don’t give me a book at all, unless you give me time to read it. And don’t bother giving me breakfast in bed unless you know what I like for breakfast. It is depressing to be handed a cup of tea by someone who doesn’t know whether you have sugar or not because they never make you one on the other 364 days of the year. And definitely no chrysanthemums, which must be the worst smelling and least attractive flower in the known universe. Lest you think me alone in this ingratitude, let me introduce you to a few of my ungrateful friends. My friend Karen, a primary teacher and mother of three, says Mother’s Day presents are among the worst she’s ever received and the worst of these usually came from the Mother’s Day stall. “You know the glass with the stupid hanky inside it?” she says. “ What do you do with that? And it’s usually got ‘Mum’ on the stupid glass. You can’t even give it away!” Then there’s my friend Lynne, who once received a stud-finder for Mother’s Day She was quite impressed until she found out it was one of those things that helps find the wooden beams behind the plaster in the walls. Her husband thought she might like to help him with the home repairs, but eventually she went off and found another sort of stud. The trouble with Mother’s Day is that it’s yet another day when mothers have to grin and bear it. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the endearing cards with drawings depicting me as a lop-sided spook. Or the oddly shaped parcels wrapped with more sticky tape than paper, containing objects d’art that have to be sent off to a laboratory to be identified. These labors of love are the upside of mother’s day. It’s not even the commercialism that bugs me. Every event associated with gift giving is abused commercially. What bugs me about Mother’s day is that the gifts are so cliched and stereotypical. Breakfast in bed, flowers, slippers, dressing gowns, nighties, kitchen gadgets, and a special dinner to give mum “a day off”. All these recognize us in our roles as mothers, but not as people. I know the whole point is to celebrate motherhood. But the whole point of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ, but it’s not compulsory to given everyone a nativity set and a bunch of Christmas lilies. Part of the problem is that the egocentricity of childhood means that it sometimes takes years for us to really get to know our mothers as people. Until then it’s difficult to think of anything really personal. Chief among the things I don’t want for Mothers’ Day, is an apple corer. And after 45 years, I now know that my mother probably didn’t want one either. But back in those days, I didn’t know what she really wanted, so I bought the thing that most impressed me in order to impress her. These days I know what she’d really like to do with an apple-corer. But perhaps even an apple corer is better than nothing? My friend Debra only gets presents sometimes. “My kids are too disorganised, “ she says. “Only one of them will have a present, so the other two will feel bad.” She doesn’t blame them, as she usually forgets herself. Luckily, her own mother understands perfectly – or so she says. She also says things like: “I thought I might have seen you on Mother’s Day?” My friend Carolyn, legal service director and mother of two, avoids both the guilt and the presents by ignoring Mother’s Day all together. Her own mother hated the obligatory Mother’s Day family gathering, and made it very clear she wasn’t interested in Mother’s Day. She said people who made a big fuss over their mothers on Mother’s day were often those who felt guilty or who did not have a good relationship over the rest of the year. That’s what I tell my mother when I forget, too. But having established what we don’t want – what do we want? So, I ask my friend Karen. “If I had to put in an order, I’d like to be thin,” she replies. That’s a tall order, but Karen assures me that her GP is looking into it on her behalf. Apparently there’s this pill you can get that gives you the runs every time you eat fat. It combines therapy and exercise all in one. Her aim is to look like all those mothers in the Mother’s Day ads, serene, thin and not a day over 25, despite being surrounded by teenage children. Seriously though, for Mothers’ Day, Karen and I agree that we’d like to be left alone with a good book or video and a bottle of wine – or two. A good Mother’s Day is not about presents. A good Mother’s Day is a day to do what you want to do – not what you have to do. Because a day of doing what you have to do is just like every other day. *This story was broadcast on the ABC Radio National program Life Matters, some years ago. (Can’t find the date as Life Matters appears to have cleared out its archive.) Below: me, my daughter, Greta (then aged about 12) and my mother, Lorraine, (then about 76). Shakespeare, lah! Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Game of Thrones, Hansel Tan, Julie Wee, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, Wild Rice on May 10, 2012\| Leave a Comment » Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo? In Singapore – and his real name is Hansel Tan. Yes, last week we went to see a local production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Ivan Heng for the local Wild Rice theatre company. Juliet’s real name is Julie Wee, also a local, although, from her list of credits she appears to have trained at Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts Drama School. The two star-crossed lovers acquitted themselves splendidly – their passion only marred by the titters of some of the audience members who should have been home watching Playschool. I especially enjoyed the balcony scene, which was whimsical and delightful. It was no surprise to read that this was Julie Wee’s favourite scene, too, according to the program notes. Juliet’s nurse was also a gem, played by Neo Swee Lin, who carried an orange candy-striped umbrella, as well as a fan, when she went to meet Romeo on Juliet’s behalf. And Benvolio and Mercurtio drank young coconut juice through straws as they whinged about Romeo having given them the slip at the Capulet party – giving the show a local flavour. These days, it seems, the population of fair Verona is mostly of Asian descent, but speaking in accents that would have made Henry Higgins proud, with narry a “lah” to be found. But there was nothing pompous or false about this interpretation, which was so authentic that at times I forgot they were using Shakespearian English. In the program, vocal coach Nora Samosir, writes: “To ‘suit the action to the word, the word to the action’, is not merely to gesture or move appropriately, but mind and body must work together to voice the word suitably.” In this regard, the actors were spot on. However, it was also delivered with a lot of authentic saliva, especially from the blokes. It seems Shakespearean tongue twisters give the saliva ducts a good work out, as from the prologue onwards came sprays of spit that seemed to increase as the show progressed, visible against the mostly black background and dark raked stage. I was glad I wasn’t in the front row. The sprays were accompanied by snores from the large woman sitting next to me, whose extraordinarily large head kept lolling forwards and sideways as she dreamed on, perhaps of Mercutio’s Queen Mab? When she did manage to open her eyes, she played with her phone, despite a request at the start of the show that all audience members refrain from doing so. Ahh, theatre audiences ain’t what they used to be. Back in Melbourne some years ago, I attended a memorable performance of Miss Siagon, made more memorable by the people behind us who discussed the footy all the way through and then had the temerity to tap me on the shoulder and ask me to sit back when I leaned forward in my seat for a better view. These days, it seems that theatres everywhere are full of people who have the money, but not the manners. It is shame that they don’t heed the prologue of Romeo and Juliet and “with patient ears attend”. However, there are those who attend with patient ears, but who still struggle to stay awake. Like Rob. “What do you think?” I asked, my cheeks feverish with excitement, as we emerged from Romeo and Juliet at at interval. “S’okay,” he replied, tucking into his second chocolate bar. I was surprised. After all, there was blood, and fighting and sex. The following night we ended up at Ion Orchard for Rob’s favorite food: Japanese. But there was no leisurely lingering afterwards. “I thought we were going to look at the shops after this,” I panted, waddling behind as he belted along Orchard Rd. “My show’s on at eight,” he replied. “What show?” I asked, now having lost all hope of stopping for ice cream. For the unitiated, Game of Thrones is also about feuding families and also includes a lot of blood, fighting and sex. And just like in Romeo and Juliet, most of the decisions are made by men, with women merely chattels and incubators. As one brawny and mean-looking brute says to his wife. “You were nothing until I squirted my son into you.” Call me old fashioned, but I like it better as poetry. E: jane.cafarella@gmail.com W: janecafarella.com.au A New Life Journal Accent Age e-baby in London Uked! the first play-along ukulele musical d-baby – a new play about donor conception – now online e-baby makes US debut Produce your own ukulele musical!	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1582
__label__wiki	0.682144	0.682144	This weekend on Carolina Journal Radio North Carolina has good reasons to celebrate as National School Choice Week approaches. Terry Stoops recaps recent school choice gains during the next edition of Carolina Journal Radio. Jay Schweikert of the libertarian Cato Institute explains why his group is endorsing North Carolina’s efforts to reform state… Julie Havlak reports for Carolina Journal Online that a legal setback isn’t stopping a legal challenge against North Carolina’s certificate-of-need restrictions. The Daily Journal explains how a recent N.C. Court of Appeals ruling helps boost the case for parental school choice. Districts lose 2,000 students, charters add 7,000 in 2019 The N.C. Department of Public Instruction released the average daily membership (ADM) figures for the second month of the 2019-20 school year. Compared to the second month of the 2018-19 school year, districts enrolled 1,972 fewer students this year. On the other hand, charter schools added 7,244 students. Wake County… Terry Stoops, December 11, 2019 Threat of closure leads to big turnaround for charter school WTVD reports the good news, Kestrel Heights Charter High School in Durham has gone from near closure to bright future. The school’s charter was set to expire in 2020, but now Kestrel Heights is one of only five charter schools in the state to be recommended for a 10-year renewal… Buncombe County residents want more charter schools The people have spoken! (Thanks to Andrea Dillon for bringing this to my attention.)… Terry Stoops, December 5, 2019 Unanimous Appeals Court rules state can’t sue former Kinston charter school over false enrollment claim A unanimous three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals has agreed that the state cannot sue a former Kinston charter school over false enrollment claims. The state still can pursue its suit against the school’s former CEO. At issue was the estimate that the former Kinston Charter Academy… Mitch Kokai, December 3, 2019 PISA results show little progress for U.S. schools The OECD administers the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests to 15-year-old students from around the world, and results from the 2018 tests were released today. The United States is stuck in a rut. Students in the United States performed above the OECD average in reading (505… Mecklenburg County voters recently rejected a sales-tax increase for “arts and parks.” Joseph Coletti places that vote in context of N.C. counties’ overall record on recent sales-tax votes for the next edition of Carolina Journal Radio. Jordan Roberts discusses his work with a group called RIP Medical…	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1591
__label__wiki	0.989978	0.989978	Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter 15th January 2020 Issue no. 490 Your industry news - first We strongly recommend viewing Locks and Security News full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version. New security boss for NZ Prime Minister John Key has announced Rebecca Kitteridge as the new Director of Security of New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). Ms Kitteridge will replace Dr Warren Tucker who is retiring next year. Ms Kitteridge is the current Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council at the Department of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. She has served under four Prime Ministers and four Governor-Generals while at the department. Mr Key said Ms Kitteridge would bring strong leadership and excellent relationship management skills to the position. "Ms Kitteridge's strong focus on improving systems and processes, while ensuring safeguards are in place, will also be an asset in the role," Mr Key said. Ms Kitteridge has previously spent four years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and four years as Crown Counsel. She is expected to start her new role in March next year. Ms Kitteridge wrote the report into the Government Communications Security Bureau which came in the wake of the Kim Dotcom scandal. © Locks and Security News 2020. Subscribe \| Unsubscribe \| Cookies \| Sitemap	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1592
__label__cc	0.599548	0.400452	Reviewing: "Fire And Ice: A Beaumont And Brady Novel" by J. A. Jance For J. P. Beaumont of the Washington State Attorney General’s Special Homicide Investigation Team, the latest body might be the break in the case they have needed. Up until now the charred remains of several young Hispanic women have been missing their teeth making identification impossible. The latest body found in the melting snow near Ellensburg matches the other cases except for the fact that this body has her teeth. The fact that she still has them gives J. P. Beaumont and the team a way of identifying her and working the case. Sheriff Joanna Brady of Cochise County, Arizona has a puzzling case of her own at a local all terrain vehicle campground. The caretaker is dead in what at first appears to have been an accident, but was actually murder. With his dog as the only witness and nearly worthless surveillance equipment, the case isn’t going to go any where fast. That is until J. P. Beaumont comes back to Cochise County pursing leads in his case, the DEA gets involved, and human nature in the form of vengeance rears its ugly head, among other things. Shifting in viewpoint between J. P. Beaumont, Joanna Brady, and others, the novel works its way to a satisfying conclusion. While that works, what doesn’t work so well for the reader is the fact that frequently the povs of Sheriff Brady and Investigator Beaumont are placed together in the same chapter with little used to mark the differences between them. Gone are the days found in the early Beaumont books of his very own distinctive style. As the read makes clear, these days the main style or voice is with the Brady character with Beaumont coming across more and more like Brady. Despite the quibble, overall the read is a good one. J. A. Jance seems to be following the herd of highly successful authors who have forced two of their signature characters together in the same novel. Ostensibly, it is a marketing ploy that is used to introduce readers to characters they nay not have read before. The results are often mixed from a reader perspective but in this case it seems to have worked fairly well. Fire And Ice: A Beaumont And Brady Novel J. A. Jance http://www.jajance.com/ William Morrow (Harper Collins Publishers) http://www.harpercollins.com/ ISBN#978-0-06-123922-9 Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System. Kevin R. Tipple © 2009 As seen in the new GILA QUEEN If you aren't reading the Gila Queen to stay up to date with the markets, you are making a big mistake. Kathy put out a call looking for somebody to take a free ad and I got very lucky. Below is the ad running in the new issue: Carpathian Shadows Volume 2 Deep in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, in Transylvania, lays a castle once home to a nobleman who warred with the church, bound his servants with a curse of silence, and ruled his lands with a grip of iron. Lord John Erdely has been dead for centuries and his castle is now a haven for tourists. Or so, at least, is the claim. Under the editorial direction of Lea Schizas, six authors tell what happens to these tourists. BooksforaBuck.com http://www.booksforabuck.com/sfpages/sf_08/carpathian_shadows2.html $3.99 and available in HTML, Adobe Acrobat PDF, Mobipocket, eReader, ePub, Sony Reader LRF, and Microsoft Reader (zipped) formats. It is also available through Amazon for the Kindle. Available at Amazon in paperback as well, it can also be purchased directly from Kevin R. Tipple in paperback form for the very low price of $10, which includes media rate shipping. Buyers can contact Kevin through his Web site: http://kevinrtipple.com/ . Now, how cool is that? Reviewing: "Treasure of Eden" by S. L. Linnea In late March, 1954, two cousins found a cave in the Judean desert, west of the Dead Sea. Bedouins, the teen boys, believed the cave to be full of treasure. The boys knew of a promise made by the sheikh that whoever brought back home treasures of antiquity would get to go with the sheikh on the next Hajj. The cave wasn’t full of treasure, but it did contain one small box that is priceless. The box and the situation of the discovery ultimately created a scenario where one cousin lived and one died. That box has given the survivor both power and heartbreak. Held by the cousin for years as he ascended to power, he finally sees no other option but to sell it in late January, 2007. Of course, in the age of the Internet, the only way to sell it is obviously to put it up for auction on eBay where it quickly comes to the attention of various parties around the globe. However, the cousin soon has a big problem as the item is no longer in his possession and losing it could have dire consequences. Among others, that box is vital to the operatives of Eden which includes United States Military Chaplin Jamie Richards. Back in Iraq and still working as an Army Chaplin, she has powerful friends and allies both in the real world and the hidden “Eden” world. She also has powerful enemies that also want the ancient box. An ancient box that may hold the actual written details of what Jesus said would be best in terms of society, markets and other issues. This final installment of the trilogy brings the series to a close and satisfactorily wraps up a number of over arching story threads. Once again there are an excessive number of characters as the authors emulate epic thriller novels while not grasping the concept that secondary characters must have an impact on the overall storyline to have a purpose other that padding word counts. There remains the annoying tendency to bury the small parts of good stuff in a noise of unnecessary fluff. The authors, Sharon Linnea and B. K. Sterer, who together are writing under the name of S. L. Linnea, still refuse to understand that that there is a fine line between providing a rich read and preaching to the readers whether it is religious theory, economic theory, or some other social point. When the tale stops dead for page after page to make some sort of societal point, the authors lose their audience. A book purported to be a thriller should never bore the reader and this one frequently does, despite the raves by some and the promotional copy hype. Still, for those fans of the series and there are many, this final installment will give them exactly what they want as the ongoing characters have not evolved at all over the several years of the series. Book three follows the same tried and true formula of the invincible Jamie Richards, compassionate, smart and so incredibly talented as she battles against forces of evil and misguided zealots to save the planet from the latest problem. The perfect comic book heroine, she can survive anything and find love along the way. For those new to the series, this might be the best book to read as it rehashes concisely the first two books and tells a story slightly better than them. Seasoned readers may wish to take a pass on this book as many of us have seen the same ideas done by many others in so many better ways. Treasure of Eden S. L. Linnea http://www.edenthrillers.com/ St. Martin’s Paperbacks http://us.macmillan.com/treasureofeden ISBN# 0-312-94216-8 Paperback ARC Review copy provided by publicist P. J. Nunn of BreakThrough Promotions in exchange for my objective review. Kevin R. Tipple (c) 2009 Posted by Kevin R. Tipple at 5:16 PM 4 comments: Links to this post Milton Burton's Latest Story If you haven’t read Milton Burton before you are really missing out. Not only has he written two excellent novels, “The Rogues' Game” and “The Sweet And The Dead,” he has written quite a few short stories. He has some of them up on his blog found at http://obscuredestinies.blogspot.com/ The latest one is more of a time traveling piece, but he has a number of Texas based mysteries on there. Take a look and if you like them, I am pretty sure you will like the novels as well. I highly recommend them. Reviewing: "The Dark Horse: A Walt Longmire Mystery" by Craig Johnson Having won the 2009 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for the preceding novel in the series, “Another Man’s moccasins,” Craig Johnson makes the fifth installment another interesting read. Wade Basard, a wealthy rancher in Campbell County, Wyoming approximately ten days ago as the novel opens. Mid October finds Mary Basard being brought to Sheriff Longmire for holding until her murder trial back in Gillette in Campbell County in three weeks. Holding prisoners for overcrowd jails is a way for Sheriff Longmire to help his budget in Absaroka County and to use the often vacant space. In this case, it also gives him something to do since his daughter Cady went back to Philadelphia just after Labor Day. Already feeling depressed over that, the with drawn Mary Basard brings out the father in him. Accused of shooting her husband six times in the head as he lay on the bed and then setting the house on fire , she has confessed and refuses to say much or eat. But, Walt Longmire thinks she is covering for the real killer and before long goes undercover in Campbell County to find out what actually happened. This novel is told through twin storylines. One storyline concerns the present day undercover investigation. The second storyline features events of ten days earlier and up until the current storyline. Both storylines are present in each chapter and separated by time and date stamps to clarify what is happening when. Both storylines are present from the beginning of the book until the flashback storyline is dropped for the last sixty pages. The result of that creates a somewhat chaotic read as the novel jerks back and forth in time upsetting the flow of the story. Despite that issue which will vary in severity depending on reader preference, the latest novel features another entertaining read. This is somewhat of a crossroads novel for Sheriff Longmire whose daughter Cady is about to possibly embark on a major life change , his interest in deputy Vic remains, and he faces reelection against strong opposition from Da Kyle Straub and his slogan “ a man to make a difference.” If you haven’t read Craig Johnson’s stuff before, start in the beginning with “The Cold Dish.” Sure, you can start with “The Dark Horse” but the characters in his books evolve over the course of several novels. They come to life , grow and change, which along with good stories, humor, and plenty of action , make this series not only award winning but worth reading. The Dark Horse: A Walt Longmire Mystery http://www.craigallenjohnson.com/ Viking (Penguin Group USA, Inc.) http://www.vpbookclub.com/ Book provided by the author in exchange for my objective review. Posted by Kevin R. Tipple at 11:18 AM No comments: Links to this post Reviewing: "Blood Lines: A Novel" by Kathryn Casey It has been nearly a year since the events depicted in “Singularity” and only now is Lieutenant Sarah Armstrong somewhat ready to return to work as a criminal profiler for the legendary law enforcement organization Texas Rangers. Her time at the ranch outside of Houston, Texas with her Mom, her daughter Maggie and the horses has helped her a lot and she is ready to work again if Mom and Maggie are okay with it. She certainly is needed at work. Not only is there a case of a suicide that is just too perfect, teenage pop star Cassidy Collins is coming to Texas to do some shows. Coming with her and very much unwanted is the stalker who is terrorizing her and threatening to kill her. Known as “Argus” he seems to always know what she is doing on stage and off and has inserted himself into her life at every turn. He seems determined to end the harassment by killing her and appears unstoppable as he has, among other things, taken over her communications systems at concerts. Fortunately for Cassidy, Sarah is back on the job and has help from FBI agent David Garrity. A former romantic love interest, he provides a compelling back story as does life on the ranch in another storyline with a medical crisis for one of their beloved horses. “Blood Lines: A Mystery” is a much stronger second novel than the first book. Author Kathryn Casey made family and characters alive in the first novel and builds on those in this second book. In this series, people change and grow over time unlike the characters in some other series. In that way, the novel mirrors real life and the continuing characters easily come alive for the reader. Believability regarding Sarah being a Texas Ranger was an issue with the first book which failed to deliver real behind the scenes details or sense that Sarah was an actual Texas Ranger. Billed as a “police procedural” by some reviewers, it really wasn’t and it never rang authentic in that area. While the Texas Rangers and law enforcement in general remains a key theme in the book, which some reviewers are also insisting it is a police procedural when it clearly isn’t, that area is secondary to the relationships between characters and understanding why folks act the way they do. Character development and interaction is clearly the author’s forte and when she focuses on that the novel rolls forward at a steady enjoyable pace. Despite being predictable in a couple of spots for seasoned mystery readers, overall, the read is a good book with two compelling mystery cases that provide plenty of action, investigation and drama. While it can be read as a stand alone, reading the first novel will allow readers to experience both the growth of the characters as well as the fiction skills of the author. Blood Lines: A Mystery Kathryn Casey Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Publishing Group) http://www.minotaurbooks.com/ ISBN# 0-312-37951-X Material provided by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library system. I also recieved the first novel through the library system. Reviewing: "Below Zero: A Joe Pickett Novel" by C. J. Box April Alive? It can’t be possible that their foster daughter, April, who died in the botched raid of the soverign cult as described in “Winter Kill”, could be alive. It’s been six years and the family of Game Warden Joe Pickett, his wife Marybeth, daughters Lucy and Sheridan has moved on though a lot of trouble and turmoil after burying her charred beyond recognition body. Joe saw her in a window of a trailer seconds before it was engulfed in flames and he knows she couldn’t have possibly gotten out alive. They buried her and tried to move on, but her death and Joe’s guilt over failing to save her has lingered on. Marybeth and the kids eventually moved from the game warden’s house when Joe was replaced as the Game Warden and moved into the town of Saddle String. Joe has worked a lot of stuff as a sort of trouble shooter for the governor of Wyoming. He is living most days far apart from his family in a sort of political exile in extreme southern Wyoming in the Bays District, Known as the “Warden Graveyard” and other colorful terms. Somebody called their old house looking for Sherry and claiming to be April. The people there gave out Sherry’s cell phone number and soon the texts start arriving. Whoever is sending the texts knows things that only April could possibly know. Whoever is sending the messages is also in grave danger and could be a hostage for a dying Chicago Mobster and his crazed environmentalist son, Robert. Even if it isn’t April, the text sender needs help and Joe Pickett isn’t going to let the FBI screw up a rescue again. The latest in the series is another good read though author C. J. Box is once again using the extreme elements of the environmental movement to provide social commentary. As he has done in the last several novels, the work he does a as Game warned and what made the series o good in the beginning, takes a back seat to author lectures on the dangers of environmental extremism through villains that are environmental fanatics. In this case the mobster son, Robert, who is deranged in many ways and not just because of his environmental beliefs, wants his father to offset his “carbon footprint” to the point where Dad never existed. To do so requires money and lots of it and while they seek his fortune hidden on a ranch somewhere in Wyoming, they take the time to permantely remove others along the way that they deem are excessive in terms of consumption and carbon output. Clearly, the author advocates more of a balanced land use policy that reflects the needs of nature as well as mankind. That is all well and good. But, to consistently portray only the extreme fanatics of the environmental movement in the novels and to constantly preach against them in the guise of story telling, does get a bit old. While the mystery of whether or not April is alive is a good one, some of the surrounding pieces of that mystery have a bit to be desired. Below Zero: A Joe Pickett Novel http://www.cjbox.net/ G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Group USA) http://www.penguin.com/ Material provided by the god folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System. Reviewing: "Defending Violet" by Jennifer Louise Jefferson Ginger Rae Reddy practices law in the city of Port Grace, located somewhere along the northeastern seaboard hard against the Atlantic. A city that, like herself, has seen tough times and still sees them and yet survives despite all odds. Ginger Rae is practicing Family Law these days which is primarily about the final collapse of a family during divorce proceedings. She also takes the occasional misdemeanor case such as a marijuana charge or underage drinking. A baby in the hospital in a coma implies a major criminal case and one that Ginger Rae should avoid for her own mental health. But, the baby mother’s is Violet and a former client. Ginger Rae got a restraining order several months ago against AJ, Violet’s boyfriend, the baby’s father, and a married man with a history of violence. Violet should have let the order do its work, forgot about AJ, and tried to change her life for her own sake and the baby, Teddy. However, as Ginger Rae knows, the cycle of domestic violence is hard to break. Violet loves AJ, is convinced he loves her and their baby, and that if she just makes him happy everything will be fine. Things are far from fine. The baby, Teddy, is in the hospital in a coma probably induced by being violently shaken. Violet is in jail, charged with the crime, and the only suspect as far as the police and the D.A.’s office is concerned. Ginger Rae believes the teenage mother is not responsible and sets out to prove it. Billed as a “legal thriller” in the jacket copy, “Defending Violet” is more of a psychological one. The law is a constant theme but personal relationships are the prominent hard hitting theme and take precedence over everything else. Not just the relationship between Ginger Rea and Violet, but Ginger Rae and her family and Ginger Rae and her assistant, Marco. Nothing is easy for Ginger Rae with others and her own self destructive streak runs wide and deep. Others make allowances for that, but, there are limits and she constantly tests them. Written from the perspective of time after the events in the book have run their course, the novel is constantly looking back at how relationships evolve and change and what outside forces can do to them. Featuring fully formed realistic characters that are flawed, in some cases very seriously, the novel winds through the legal cases in criminal and family court with Violet. Along the way with some social commentary, is a tale of repercussions, consequences, and ultimately acceptance and survival. While this isn’t light escapist reading by any means, it is a very good book and this is one author worth keeping an eye on. Defending Violet Jennifer Louise Jefferson http://www.jenniferjefferson.net/html/defending_violet.html Five Star Mysteries Series http://www.gale.cengage.com/fivestar/ ISBN# 1-59414-536-9 Review copy provided by publicist PJ Nunn, owner of “Breakthrough Promotions” in exchange for my objective review. Reviewing: "Fire And Ice: A Beaumont And Brady Nov... Reviewing: "The Dark Horse: A Walt Longmire Myster... Reviewing: "Blood Lines: A Novel" by Kathryn Casey... Reviewing: "Below Zero: A Joe Pickett Novel" by C.... Reviewing: "Defending Violet" by Jennifer Louise J...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1593
__label__cc	0.741831	0.258169	General contact: support@lawon.co.uk Press contact: press@lawon.co.uk Resolving a Deposit Dispute as a Tenant Ismaeel Waseem December 20, 2017 As a tenant, the law already falls in your favour when it comes to tenancy deposit disputes. If your Landlord wishes to make deductions from your deposit, it is their responsibility to prove that you broke the tenancy agreement. That said, many tenants end up losing money because they don’t know how best to resolve the dispute and they don’t know when to seek legal advice. Use these top tips to keep the dispute process stress-free and get your money back as quickly as possible. Take an Inventory The best way to resolve a dispute is to prevent it in the first place. Planning ahead and keeping an up to date record of the condition of the property and any of the Landlord’s furniture when moving in and moving out can help avoid disputes. A thorough, properly completed inventory provides a piece of evidence which will be incredibly valuable if a dispute goes to arbitration or court. A good inventory will be checked and signed by both landlord and tenant, and it is especially convincing when supported by photo or video evidence. It is also advised that you arrange to attend a ‘check out’ inspection when moving out, so that you and your landlord can agree on the condition of the property. Keep a Record of Communication and Documents Remember when you moved in you signed a big stack of paperwork? It’s likely that you will need all of those documents if there is a dispute, so keep them safe. If a dispute goes to court or mediation, it will also be helpful to have a record of any emails or letters sent between both parties. An adjudicator might view a case more favourably if there has been a reasonable attempt to resolve the dispute privately. Sometimes a record of communication also provides evidence that your landlord has failed to meet their responsibilities, so it could support your claim to have emails saved. Use Adjudication Services through Your Deposit Protection Scheme All money taken as a deposit for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy in England and Wales which started after 6th April 2007 must be held in a deposit protection scheme. These schemes aim to minimise the amount of cases which go to court, and make sure you get your money back when you move out of the property. There are three government approved schemes – The Deposit Protection Service, My Deposits and The Tenancy Deposit Scheme – and they each offer a dispute resolution facility. Mediation through these services is free of charge, and enables disputes to be resolved faster, saving time, money and stress. It is not compulsory to use the arbitration services provided by these schemes, but it is often the best way to resolve a dispute. Be Honest About The Condition of the Property At the end of the day, it’s important to be honest and realistic. ‘Fair wear and tear’ might be applicable in some cases, but if you know that the damage is your fault, it’s better to be honest about it. Continuing to dispute charges for which you are responsible will extend the process of claiming your money back. In some cases, you may be able to reach a compromise without taking legal action by accepting some of the deductions. If the tenancy agreement obliged you to clean the property before moving out, and you didn’t clean it, it would be better to just accept the charge and move on. Get the latest legal news & tips I agree to receiving marketing information from Lawon Renting property can be a stressful experience, especially when it comes to getting your deposit back. Going to court to resolve such disputes should always be treated as a last resort, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t seek legal advice. A specialist solicitor will be able to advise you on the next steps for your case and answer any questions you have about getting your deposit back. Use LawOn to regain control over your life with on-demand legal advice. What does the Autumn Budget Mean for First Time Buyers? Start Getting the Legal Help You Deserve LawOn will simplify the whole process of accessing legal advice. Sign up to keep in the loop and be notified when it is available. The smart way to lawyer up is nearly here. support@lawon.co.uk press@lawon.co.uk © LawOn 2017 LawOn Limited, 1st Floor, 184 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 8LQ After you hit the button you will receive an email from us, confirming sign-up. Be sure to add us to your VIP email list. As soon as LawOn launches we'll send you a personal reminder. It's so great you want join us Sign up for early access As you would expect from a team of lawyers, your data is safe with us. We respect your privacy and will not share your email or personal details with anyone. Your details have been received and we shall contact you shortly. Your friends at LawOn Share LawOn with your colleagues! Stay up to date with LawOn through Facebook and Twitter. You are on the list! Good choice. Get used to feeling smug, because legal expertise is now officially at your disposal. Share LawOn with your friends! Tell your friends by all means - but only the ones you won't be suing.. You have sent the message We’ll be with you as soon as possible	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1598
__label__wiki	0.795821	0.795821	Quiz: Only a Hogwarts Student Can Ace This "Harry Potter" Brainteaser Quiz: HowStuffWorks Image: Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films and 1492 Pictures This seven-book fantasy series captivated millions of readers with its thrilling tale of a boy wizard fighting an evil dark lord. Yes, it's "Harry Potter!" Over ten years, J. K. Rowling published seven books detailing the adolescence of the title character, a boy who discovers at age 11 that he's a wizard. Since then, the series has inspired a hit movie franchise, a spin-off franchise and a magical theme park. Oh, and it inspired countless kids to read when many would otherwise be playing video games or texting. Yes, it's that magical! Pottermania is a unique fandom. Many of the readers were children when the first book came out, and they "aged" along with Harry as each subsequent book was released. Thus, they feel as if they grew up with Harry and his friends during their seven years at Hogwarts and the wizarding world. Understandably, many fans were emotional at the release of "Deathly Hallows," the final book. No one knew whether Harry would even survive the series, or if defeating Voldemort would require his sacrifice. To untangle these brainteasers, you'll need the courage of Gryffindor, the patience of Hufflepuff, the intelligence of Ravenclaw and the ambition of Slytherin. Are you ready? Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films and 1492 Pictures If you miss the Hogwarts Express, you'll have to travel far. But don't, as Harry and Ron did, steal this flying car! In their second year, Harry and Ron miss the train that takes them to Hogwarts. Not thinking clearly (because they're 12), they decide to take the Weasleys' flying Ford Anglia! Yeah, that goes well ... After baby Harry survived Voldemort's Killing Curse, he became known as what in the Wizarding World? The Boy Who Lived Undesirable Number 1 Potty Wee Potter Lily Potter's sacrifice saves Harry from death; Voldemort's Killing Curse rebounds and nearly destroys him, but Harry survives with only a lightning-bolt scar on his head. Hence, his moniker. If you're ever stranded, there's no need to make a fuss. You can always count on this wizard who works on the Knight Bus. Stanley Shunpike Stanley Shunpike is a young wizard who works on the Knight Bus, a magic bus for stranded witches and wizards. He picks up Harry from Privet Drive and tells him about Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban. Harry and his friends go to the Quidditch World Cup to see Ireland compete against which country? Bulgaria and Ireland compete against each other in the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. Although Bulgaria's Seeker, Viktor Krum, catches the Snitch to end the game, Ireland wins with more points. He's Harry's godfather, a man accused of a terrible crime. The truth of his innocence comes out after he's served his time. Who is he? James and Lily Potter choose James' best friend, Sirius, to be Harry's godfather when he's a baby. Years later, Harry reunites with Sirius and learns that his godfather isn't a murderer who betrayed his parents. Ask any witch or wizard what the oldest pub in London is, and they'll give you this correct answer. The Leaky Cauldron Three Broomsticks Inn Located on Charing Cross Road, the Leaky Cauldron is London's oldest pub — it just happens to be a wizarding pub. Wizards and witches use the Leaky Cauldron to enter Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. This alchemist created the Philosopher's Stone, which was quite a chore. With the Elixir of Life, he had a long life and was friends with Dumbledore. Who is he? Garrick Ollivander Nicholas Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone, a magical device that produces an elixir of immortality. As such, Flamel, who was born in 1327, lived to a ripe age of 665 before the stone was destroyed! To enter the Gryffindor Tower, students need to provide a password to which portrait? Sir Cadogan The Fat Lady Ariana Dumbledore Phineas Nigellus Black As every Hogwarts student knows, portraits can move and talk. The portrait of the Fat Lady hangs over the entrance to the Gryffindor living quarters, and students must provide the password to enter. Detention with Hagrid is unique for sure, as unique as this snowy white creature. The trio must search the forest for it, with a horn as one of its features. What is it? A unicorn A centaur A vampire An elf As Harry learns in his first year, it's unwise to drink a unicorn's blood because it curses the drinker to a half life. Harry sees a mysterious figure doing just that and later learns it's Voldemort. Which of these is not one of Albus Dumbledore's middle names? Wulfric The Hogwarts headmaster's full name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore ⁠— quite a mouthful for any wizard! He was named after his father, Percival Dumbledore, who died in Azkaban Prison. With his three best chums, James Potter's life was never the same. Because of his stag Animagus, the Marauders gave him this nickname. Padfoot Prongs James Potter and his three friends ⁠— Remus, Sirius and Peter ⁠— called themselves the Marauders at school. Because he could transform into a stag, James earned the nickname Prongs. Hermione founds S.P.E.W. to protest the treatment of which magical creatures? Nargles Phoenixes In her fourth year, Hermione Granger starts the Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare, or S.P.E.W., to fight the injustices faced by house-elves. Unfortunately, she has few followers. Though wizard-born, magical powers they lack. They can't help it, though, so give them some slack! Squibs Animagi No-Majs Though they're born to magic parents, Squibs have no magical abilities. Most Squibs, like Argus Filch, are dismayed by their lack of powers and feel ostracized by the magical community. This residence owned by the Blacks becomes the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Can you name it? 12 Grimmauld Place 4 Privet Drive Godric's Hollow Though still in hiding after escaping Azkaban, Sirius Black offers the Order of the Phoenix the use of his family home, 12 Grimmauld Place. The house is enchanted so enemies can't find it. When Voldemort strikes Harry with the Killing Curse, the teen temporarily enters a Limbo state, which resembles which location? The Forbidden Forest A Quidditch field Zonko's Joke Shop King's Cross Station In the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter temporarily enters Limbo, where he talks with the late Dumbledore. Harry chooses not to "cross over" and returns to the living, now able to destroy Voldemort. Which wizarding village does Harry desperately want to visit in his third year? Hogsmeade Little Hangleton Ottery St. Catchpole Hogsmeade is an all-wizarding village near Hogwarts School. Students are allowed to visit, as long as they have their guardians' permission. Since Harry doesn't, he sneaks in using the Marauder's Map. Hogwarts students who get boo-boos shouldn't curse. They can always visit this competent nurse. Madam Pince Poppy Pomfrey serves as the school nurse at Hogwarts, taking care of students with all sorts of magical maladies. For example, when Harry loses his arm bones in a spell mishap, she regrows them with Skele-Gro. Because of a prophecy, Voldemort believes only Harry can defeat him. But the prophecy can also refer to which other student? Sybill Trelawney's prophecy can refer to either Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom, as they're both born within hours of each other to Voldemort's enemies. However, Voldemort chooses to attack Harry. Hagrid was playing cards at a pub, drinking beer by the flagon, when he won, to his delight, an egg containing this dragon. Buckbeak Hagrid acquires a dragon egg over a game of cards, even though it's illegal for him to own one. He names the newly hatched dragon Norbert and only reluctantly agrees to give it to Charlie Weasley. Hogwarts has four founders. What's the first name of the Ravenclaw founder? Rowena Ravenclaw founded Hogwarts School and selected students for the Ravenclaw House based on their smarts and wisdom. She had a falling out with her daughter, Helena, after Helena stole her diadem. Can you name the ghost of Slytherin House? Professor Binns The Bloody Baron still haunts Hogwarts, centuries after he murdered Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter. Filled with remorse over his actions, he then killed himself. Helena is also a ghost, the Grey Lady. How is Nymphadora Tonks related to Draco Malfoy? She's his aunt. She's his sister. She's his cousin. They're not related. Nymphadora Tonks has a witch mother, Andromeda Black, and Muggle father, Ted Tonks. Andromeda was removed from the Black family tree for marrying a Muggle, but Tonks and Draco are indeed cousins. He was a Death Eater who turned against his evil lord. He tried to destroy a Horcrux, but death was his reward. Who is he? Regulus Black, Sirius' brother, joined the Death Eaters at 16 but soon regretted this choice. When he realized Voldemort was making Horcruxes, he switched out Slytherin's locket with a fake. One of the Hogwarts professors hides the fact that he's a werewolf. Who is he? Remus Lupin, a former Hogwarts student himself, returns to the school as a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in Harry's third year. However, after his secret werewolf status comes out, he resigns. Watch out, Dementors! Hermione's Patronus takes the form of which animal? Witches and wizards use the Patronus Charm to protect themselves from Dementors. Each person's Patronus takes a specific form, and Hermione's happens to take the shape of an otter. Harry helps the Weasley kids remove what creatures from their garden? Doxies As Harry learns from his visit with the Weasleys, wizarding homes must frequently "de-gnome" their gardens. They grab the gnomes, swing them in circles and release them into the air. If you're short on Galleons, Sickles and Knuts, we must be frank: Get yourself quickly to this wizarding bank! Flourish & Blotts Gringotts Gringotts Wizarding Bank is an imposing building in the Wizarding World where witches and wizards conduct their financial business. It's heavily guarded by spells and operated by goblins. Ron and Hermione have so many spats, it's hard to keep a tally. But one is caused by this pet cat that Hermione buys at Diagon Alley. Crookshanks Scabbers Hermione buys a pet cat named Crookshanks in her third year, which immediately creates tension between her and Ron. He fears that Crookshanks is out to get his pet rat, Scabbers. Well, that's true ... When the Dursleys take Dudley to the zoo for his 11th birthday, Dudley takes along which friend? Piers Polkiss Piers Polkiss is one of Dudley's best friends and part of his gang of bullies. Piers goes along with the Dursleys to the zoo, where he sees Harry talking to a snake just before the glass disappears. Which of the following is not one of Voldemort's Horcruxes? Nagini the snake Tom Riddle's diary Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem The Philosopher's Stone In an effort to make himself immortal, Voldemort divided his soul up into multiple Horcruxes. Harry and his friends had to destroy these Horcruxes before Voldemort could be killed. When a person looks into the Mirror of Erised, what do they see? Their deepest desire Their earliest memory Their soul The Mirror of Erised is a magic mirror that shows the viewer what they most desire. "Erised" is actually "desire" spelled backward. For example, Harry, an orphan, sees his family in the mirror. How is Harry related to the Dursleys? His father is Vernon's brother. His mother is Petunia's sister. He is Vernon's half-brother. He is not related to them. Harry's mother, Lily Potter, was Petunia's younger sister. Petunia was supremely jealous when Lily discovered she had magical powers, which is one reason why she always treated Harry poorly. Which of Harry's friends dies in the escape from Malfoy Manor? Griphook The Death Eaters capture Harry and his friends and take them to Malfoy Manor to turn over to Voldemort. Dobby Apparates into the dungeon to save them, but he is killed in the process. At the Battle of Hogwarts, this Slytherin wants to give Harry to Voldemort. Luckily for him, his friends rise to his support. Who is the Slytherin? Voldemort promises to leave Hogwarts unharmed if Harry Potter surrenders. When Pansy yells that they should turn Harry over, all the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws rise to defend him. When Hermione tries to transform into Millicent Bustrode, she becomes what instead? A mouse The trio collects hairs from Crabbe, Goyle and Bulstrode to transform themselves using Polyjuice Potion. However, Hermione unwittingly grabs cat hair from Millicent's robe, and that's what she turns into ... Are You More Harry Potter or Percy Jackson? Answer These "Harry Potter" Trivia Questions And We'll Give You An O.W.L. Grade Can We Guess Your Job Based on Your Harry Potter Preferences? Quiz: You're Not a True Potterhead If You Fail This Hogwarts Quiz Can You Pass This Harry Potter Spelling Test?	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1601
__label__wiki	0.519985	0.519985	Film and Video Production: Career Diploma Summary Film and Video Arts Art and Design Diplomas Students who earn a Film and Video Production Diploma will have the skills to produce material for film and video. Here are a few careers a person can enter with this degree: film director, television director, movie producer, film editor and tape editor. Some of the classes involved in earning this degree are as follows: film history, film theory, television history and theory, media law and film direction. For further information about this degree please read on. Why Earn a Degree in Film and Video Production? For those interested in entering the field of Film and Video Production, earning a diploma can train them to hit the ground running and perhaps earn higher salaries than those in this field without degrees. The field of Film and Video Production requires very specialized and technical knowledge to direct actors, edit film and assemble a film or video for use in various forms of media. This degree allows the student to enter a number of career fields including the advertising arena. Film and video is utilized in advertising to create commercials as well as promotional films and videos. Film and Video Production Occupational Outlook Learning how to process film and operate film equipment can prepare the student to enter a number of exciting careers. Film and video specialists are needed in a variety of areas. Here is a list of potential careers a graduate with a Film and Video Production Diploma may consider: film director, video director, television producer, film editor, film lab technician and video editor. Job growth in the field of video and the production of motion pictures is anticipated to be around 17% for the industry as a whole from 2004 to 2014 (BLS). Film and Video Production Salary Information The website Salary.com, www.salary.com, indicates that film and video directors can earn between $17,529 and $40,229 per year as a base salary. Film and videotape editors can earn between $$22,412 and $39,766 per year. Those who process the film in film laboratories can earn between $15,295 and $34,359 per year. Degree Specifics Coursework for a Film and Video Production Diploma Program The classes a student must complete to earn this diploma will teach the student how to use film and video equipment. The classes a student must pass in order to earn this diploma are: Film and Video Directing Working with Actors Digital Image Manipulation Film and Video Equipment Skills Learned for a Film and Video Production Diploma Program Students who graduate with this diploma will have the skills needed to work with film and video for a variety of purposes. These skills are as follows: Film and Video Development Directing Skills Film and Video Editing Film and Video Processing Film and Video Equipment Handling Computer Animation. Film & Video Production: Bachelor, Associate & Online Degree Info What kind of jobs can you get with an associate or a bachelor's degree in film and video production? Find out about degree requirements, online... Online Graphic Design Courses and Tutorials Offered Free by Top Universities and Educational Websites Online graphic design courses and tutorials will teach students how to succeed in the industry. Learn about using texts and colors, how to... Film Production Coordinator Careers: Salary Info & Job Description Video Production Bachelor's Degree Free Online Film and Television History Courses Film & Television Degrees: Master's, PhD & Online Course Info Becoming a Film Actor: Careers, Salary Info & Job Description Master of Science - Film Production MS - Entertainment Business (Campus) M.S. - Entertainment Business BS - Film (Campus) B.S. - Show Production B.S. - Digital Cinematography BS - Audio Production 2. Winthrop University Master of Arts in Arts Administration MFA in Film & Television (online) HS Diploma Select One... Below 8th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade HS Diploma / GED or Higher Choose your subject: Select a General Subject Agricultural Sciences Architectural Design Art and Design Biology and Biomedical Sciences Business Admin Communications, Broadcasting, and Journalism Computer Sciences and Programming Culinary Arts and Cosmetology Distribution, Transportation, and Materials Moving Engineering Law Professions Liberal Arts, General Studies, and Humanities Mechanic and Repair Technology Medical Professions Physical Science Psychology Teaching and Administration Select a Specific Subject Applied Arts and Design Dance Music Arts Studio Arts and Fine Art Theatre and Drama Video, Film, and Photography Select a Very Specific Subject Film Production and Cinematography Film Studies Photography Choose your degree level: Select a Degree Level Undergraduate Associate's Bachelor's Graduate First-Professional Degree Master's Doctorate Certificate - Post-Degree Certificate - First-Professional Certificate - Postbaccalaureate Certificate - Post-Master's Certificate Certifications and Certificates Coursework Diplomas High School Diploma Choose your location: Show me all schools Near my home Online schools only I want to choose a state Film Studies Degrees: Bachelor's, Associate & Online Class Info Becoming a Film Producer: Job Description & Salary Information Film , Television, and Theatre Acting: Diploma Summary 37 Exciting and Educational Video Sites Becoming a Film Director: Careers, Salary Info & Job Description Certified Cardiographic Technician Careers: Job Description & Salary Psychology Assistant Careers: Job Description & Salary Info Poetry Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's & Online Course Info Corporate Communications Degrees: Bachelor's, Associate & Online Training Info Mechanical Systems Technology: Diploma, Associate & Online Degree Info Child Development Degrees: Associate, Bachelor & Online Class Info Becoming an Aircraft Mechanic: Salary Info & Job Description Prosthetic Technician Careers: Salary Info & Job Description Rehabilitation Specialist Careers: Job Description & Salary Info Becoming a Marine Engineer: Salary Information & Job Description	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1604
__label__wiki	0.579742	0.579742	Leeds TV Doctor and GP reflects on people’s barriers to being physically active in Leeds A Leeds GP is urging more doctors to take the time to talk to their patients about the benefits of physical activity. The call came when the city’s Get Set Leeds initiative visited a medical practice in Burmantofts to find out how to get Leeds moving more. According to Sport England, one in four people would be more physically active if a GP or nurse advised them to move more. However, almost three-quarters of GPs say they do not raise the issue of physical activity with patients because of lack of time, confidence, or knowledge. Earlier this month, Dr Helen Lawal, a GP and TV-doctor in Leeds, talked to people at the Shakespeare Medical Practice, Burmantofts, about what might get in their way of being physically active and what changes in Leeds would get them to move more. As part of the Get Set Leeds (GSL) initiative, Dr Helen helped the GSL team talk to people aged five to 85 from various ethnic backgrounds and speaking a wide range of languages. They identified four main barriers to being physically active in Leeds: family and work responsibilities, the impact of health conditions, not knowing where to find information, and lack of communication from GP practitioners and health professionals. Dr Lawal reflected on the main themes that came out of the discussion with the patients and identified solutions. These include fitting the physical activity in their everyday routine, building things up gradually, using the Get Set Leeds and Active Leeds website to learn more about physical activity, and encouraging GPs to sign up to the Active Practice Charter to talk to patients after their consultation about getting active. To find out more about what Dr Helen Lawal said about the Get Set Leeds themes, watch this video: Dr Helen Lawal is a GP in Leeds, and is the Lifestyle lead for One Medical Group, which manages several NHS practices in the city, including Shakespeare Medical Practice. She is also a TV doctor who co-presented several Channel 4 series, including How To Stay Well, Food Unwrapped and How to Lose Weight Well. Helen was also the in-house medical expert on BBC 2’s quiz series, Britain’s Best Junior Doctor. Get Set Leeds is an initiative that encourages people in Leeds to chat about what being active means to them and what might get them moving more. Visit www.getsetleeds.co.uk to find out more information. To learn more about Active Practice Charter and how to get involved, visit www.dotdigital-pages.com. Active LeedsActive Practice CharterBurmantoftsGet Set LeedsHelen LawalLeedsLeeds City CouncilLeeds NewsLeeds StarNHSOne Medical GroupShakespeare Medical PracticeSport England Leeds City Council and Leeds United team up to encourage support for campaigns to tackle domestic abuse	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1605
__label__wiki	0.912787	0.912787	Preserved dinosaur eggs have been found in China. Picture: East China News Service Perfectly preserved dinosaur eggs found by Jay Akbar 29th Dec 2017 7:58 AM CONSTRUCTION workers in China have unearthed several dinosaur eggs believed to be 130 million-years-old. They were preparing to build a school in Jiangxi province when they discovered 20 black shells underneath the soil, reports The Sun. Experts claim they go back to the cretaceous period which dates between 145 million and 66 million years ago. Photos of the remarkable find appear to show the 2mm thick eggs to be in tact though further tests are needed. Construction was halted while scientists recovered the eggs to test their veracity. It comes just weeks after palaeontologists found a 100 million-year-old "Dracula" tick which could contain the DNA of extinct dinosaurs. The tick was gripping on to a dinosaur feather after 99 million years in a piece of fossilised tree resin from Myanmar. Another fragment contained a tick bloated with what is believed to be dinosaur blood, swelling its size eight times. But sadly, there is no chance of this particular blood-filled tick giving us any walking dinosaurs. The scientists behind the new discovery stress that all attempts to remove DNA from such ancient amber specimens have failed due to deterioration of the complex molecule over time. Dr Ricardo Perez-de-la-Fuente, a member of the international team from Oxford University, said: "The fossil record tells us that feathers like the one we have studied were already present on a wide range of theropod dinosaurs." In November, scientists found the remains of a dinosaur the size of a small plain in the Gobi Desert. The dinosaur had enormous 36ft long wings and would be one of the largest winged reptiles ever known to live on Earth. The giant lived 70 million years ago in a warm climate that was desert-like but not quite as dry as today. This story first appeared on The Sun. Fossickers strike gold in Central Queensland Museum appeals to Springfield developers to find fossils Pompeii victim’s devastating end uncovered archeology china dinosaur editors picks preservation	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1619
__label__wiki	0.810272	0.810272	Kings Cross Demolition © Licensed to London News Pictures. 25 December 2012, London, UK. The 1970's built concourse on the south side of King's Cross Station is being demolished, today 25th December 2012, to make way for a new public space to be known as King's Cross Square. The section of canopy that extended to the kerb-line of Euston Road could best be removed when there were no rail passengers about. J Murphy & Sons Ltd as contractors to Network Rail decided to utilise Christmas Day when both King's Cross and St Pancras mainline stations and the London Underground station were closed to carry out this work. It was also a day on which TfL would permit the closure of two lanes of Euston Road. AR Demolition Ltd was the specialist subcontractor used by Murphy. Photo credit : Patrick Shaw/LNP LNP_kingscross_Mpix_009.JPG demolition rail british ugly facade architecture	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1620
__label__wiki	0.968238	0.968238	All LAUSD Schools Reopen After Email Threat Filed Under:Bomb Threat, Crisis Counselors, Electronic Threat, FBI, LAPD, LAUSD Schools, School Closures LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — All Los Angeles Unified School District students returned to school Wednesday after an email threat that shut down the entire system. Crisis counselors were on hand to help students feel safe and visible security will be in place among all campuses. Teachers were also provided with lesson plans to help comfort students who may be nervous or anxious. Authorities are now saying the email threat was not credible. School district officials announced the system-wide closure of more than 1,000 campuses around 5 a.m. on Tuesday. All buses were told to return to the bus yard for the remainder of the day. City officials checked and cleared each school to determine there was no present threat. A preliminary investigation revealed the school district received an email threatening to use explosive devices and firearms late Sunday evening. According to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, the email was delivered from Frankfurt, Germany. However, the origin of the document is believed to have been sent through a router in the U.S. The author of the email — who claimed to be a Muslim, former LAUSD student who teamed up with a Jihadist cell — used a device to mask the location of where the email originated. (credit: CBS News) The email read in part: “We have bombs hidden in backpacks and in lockers at several schools and they are strategically placed to crumble the foundations of the very buildings that monger so much hate.” Federal officials are now working to locate the person responsible for making the threat in order to determine the motive behind the incident. Authorities are also investigating whether that person acted alone. City officials later learned that New York received a similar threat, which was dismissed as a hoax. NYPD Commissioner Bratton responded to the incident by suggesting L.A. school officials overreacted to the email. This subsequently prompted discussion about the two cities responses. However, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Beck responded to Bratton stating they respected the superintendent’s decision, saying limited information was available Tuesday morning. The closure would typically cost LAUSD around $29 million. However, the state superintendent told the Los Angeles Times that he is certain the district will not be docked any fines.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1622
__label__wiki	0.964417	0.964417	Megan Worry reflects on historic career at Loyola Psychology senior Megan Worry (23) found success on the defensive end of the court in her final two years at Loyola. The senior earned her name in the record books after a historic career. Sidney Ovrom Jillian Oddo Gallery\|4 Photos Psychology senior Megan Worry (23) shoots a shot at the Holy Name of Jesus parking lot. Worry received an All-American honorable mention in her final year. Photo credit: Sidney Ovrom After four years of swats and boards, one star baller is saying goodbye to the Wolf Pack with her name in the record books. In her final season in maroon and gold, psychology senior Megan Worry proved to be a defensive leader for the women’s basketball team, leading each stop, press and coverage throughout the season. “Coming in freshman year, I knew I would have to play a big part for the team, but I never expected myself to make the impact I did this year,” Worry said. Worry hangs up her sneakers as Loyola’s all-time leader in blocks with 134 rejections. Her 68 blocks this year was nearly double the amount totaled her junior year. Despite her talent on the defensive side, being a part of history was never on her mind. “If you asked me my freshman year if I would be in the record books here at Loyola my answer would be no,” Worry said. It was not always easy playing on such a high level. Worry said she struggled with the game her freshman year, but Head Coach Kellie Kennedy helped boost her confidence. “I have developed my defensive game in many ways. I have become stronger and faster. Therefore, allowing me to move my feet quicker and stay in front of people,” Worry said. Despite her accolades, Worry was not always a strong defensive player. She was a guard for about a year with the Wolf Pack, but she moved to stretch forward for the past three seasons. “My play style has changed from when I was in high school to now. I have to be a consistent rebounder. I have learned to take the ball to the hole more instead of just being an outside shooter,” Worry said. Rebounding is something the Texas native does well. The senior was second in career rebounds among active players last year and was still at the top for her final season. She is also 7th in Loyola history for career rebounds. “My game has visibly changed so much since I first started here. Coming in, I knew that I had many things to work on, but looking back I have improved on areas that I didn’t even know I needed,” said Worry. Worry has improved her game from freshman year and her stats show it. “I try and lead my team by example. Since I am a senior I do believe that some of the younger ones look up to me and see what I do with myself and how I handle situations,” Worry said. During her early years, she looked up to Caroline Gonzalez, A’17, who was a stretch forward before her. Worry said Gonzalez was a good rebounder and could shoot the ball well, which were both aspects she wanted in her own skill set. “I knew it would be some big shoes to fill but I wanted to take on the challenge, which in my opinion I think I did well,” Worry said about taking Gonzalez’s position. Out of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Worry is ninth in defensive rebounds per game and 11th in total rebounds through 33 games this season. Her efforts also won her an All-American honorable mention. “It is such a crazy thing that I have accomplished so much at my time here and I couldn’t thank my teammates and my coaching staff enough for the opportunities they gave me all throughout the year,” Worry said. “It has been a blessing playing here and I would not have wanted to share all of our accomplishments over these last fours years with any other senior class.” Jillian Oddo, Wolf Pack Wrap-Up Producer Jillian is a sophomore and is entering her second year with The Maroon as the Executive Producer. She hopes to showcase the full Loyola experience through... Sidney Ovrom, Staff Photographer Sidney is a sophomore and this is her first year working at The Maroon. She is majoring in digital filmmaking with a minor in business marketing. She hopes... Basketball player feels at home on small campus Basketball seniors reflect on their careers at Loyola Loyola men’s basketball opens the season with high expectations Loyola alumna dribbles from the court to the football field Four basketball players earn LSWA honors Ethan Turner wins second consecutive Scholar-Athlete of the Year award Loyola ends tournament run after historic season Ben Fields sends the Wolf Pack to the second round Loyola stunned in opening round of national tournament	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1625
__label__cc	0.53261	0.46739	Niue is a sparsely populated Polynesian coral Island (259 km2, 60m) economically closely associated to New Zealand. Fruit fly activities are carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Quarantine surveillance is in place and large scale protein bait spraying programme to control fruit flies at the village level has been initiated and is ongoing. An Emergency Response Plan for exotic fruit flies has been formulated. For more information, please contact: Mr New Aue Testment, Head of Agriculture and Plant Protection Service PO Box 74, Alofi, Niue Tel: (683) 4032 Fax: (683) 4079 You can also consult the Niue government website: http://www.gov.nu/ FRUIT FLY SPECIES: There are four species: B. passiflorae, B. kirki, Pacific fruit fly (B. xanthodes) and the non-economic B. obscura. All species except for B. xanthodes are attracted to Cue-lure. All species are very common over the whole island, especially between August and March. QUARANTINE SURVEILLANCE. 1. Modified the initial fauna surveys into an early warning system as part of the Niue's overall quarantine surveillance system. Trapping focused on high-risk locations, such as tourist resorts, urban areas, educational institutions for overseas students, markets, farming areas, diplomatic missions and ports of entry.2. GPS points (GeoCode) for all trap sites were plotted and would be transferred to a map. Host Status and Export Markets: 3. The Bilateral Quarantine Agreement (BQA) between Niue and New Zealand which became effective in 1992 was reviewed by SPC and NZ MAF in August 2005 which included confirmation by NZ MAF on the present list of approved personal and commercial export commodities and their Import requirements into NZ. STATUS OF QUARANTINE SURVEILLANCE (as of October 2007: There are 12 trapping sites, each with one Cue-lure and one methyl eugenol trap. Regularly sampled fruits for research and quarantine surveillance are avocado, banana, mango, Syzygium apples, chillies, passionfruit, capsicum, zucchini, pineapple, Syzygium malaccense (kafika), and papaya.. There are fruit fly posters and quarantine bins at the airport. The 10 trap sites were re-established in May after Cyclone Heta and 12 new established in 2012. To date, no new fruit fly species is recorded on Niue. Fakanaiki, C. 1998. Emergency response plan for Niue. Draft. 8pp. Heimoana, V., Tunupopo, F., Toleafoa, E., Fakanaiki, C. 1997. Fruit fly fauna of Tonga, Western Samoa, American Samoa and Niue. pp. 57-59 in: Allwood, A.J., Drew, R.A.I. 1997. Fruit fly management in the Pacific. ACIAR Proceedings No 76. 267pp. Download Pest Advisory Leaflet on Fruit flies in Niue in English or in French (951 Kb)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1626
__label__cc	0.711402	0.288598	Students enjoy annual Water Day School NewsBy Barbara Whellams May 31, 2012 Don’t tell these F.K. Sweet Elementary kindergartners that they aren’t at the beach. They probably wouldn’t believe you because so much fun was had by all at the school’s annual Water Day recently. Fom left, Kierstyn Zinter, Brayden Adams, Antianna Mills, Alexia Moxley, and Keilah Magloire are taking a break from the water to enjoy building… Allapattah student receives national recognition in Junior American Citizens contest School NewsBy CASANDRA FLORES May 31, 2012 Jaime Hillaire, a seventh grade student at Allapattah Flats K8, received state, regional, and national recognition from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for his entry in the Junior American Citizens contest. That’s quite an accomplishment for which he should be proud. Allapattah sends out a big congratulations to Jaime! Students shine in Sunshine Bowl competition Twelve students at F.K. Sweet Elementary recently participated in the annual Sunshine Bowl. Four teams competed by answering questions about the 2011-2012 Sunshine Books. Pictured, from left, are team members Chelsea Decambre, Morgan Busby, Arielle Neptune, Caleb Cobb, Emily Dibernardo, Willie Whitehead, Amelia Nelson, Christian Yoder, Halle Daube, Callie Zheng, Emily Jones and James Coriolon. Readers celebrated at F. K. Sweet Some 38 students at F.K. Sweet Elementary read at least 15 Florida Sunshine Books and were treated to a “luau-themed” celebration of their success in the Media Center. Pictured are Lauren Nipper, left, and Kyla Pata enjoying the recognition. Dan McCarty School team wins Project Citizen state title School NewsBy May 31, 2012 The state finals, held May 24 in West Palm Beach, were the culmination of the nearly year-long effort by the class to identify and problem-solve a community public policy issue. The class Project Citizen project, “Vote to Make Fort Pierce Better: Voting Counts,” hopes to increase voter registration and voter participation in local, state, and… Windmill Point Odyssey of the Mind team places ninth in world finals The Windmill Point Elementary School Odyssey of the Mind team recently competed at the World finals event at Iowa State University. It was a creative extravaganza where more than 800 teams from all around the world shared their ideas and work. The Windmill Point teacm competed against 51 others from around the world, and placed… Star Bright therapy dogs help students improve reading skills School NewsBy Roberta Farrell May 30, 2012 Alex Cardenal from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition, along with his classmates, hugs one of the dogs from the Star Bright Therapy reading program. To the left of Alex is one of the volunteers from the program, behind him is behavior technician Neil Siriani, and to his right is teacher Tammy Miller. Volunteers come… Sunshine State Readers celebrate at Palm Pointe Students at Palm Pointe Eduactional Research School @ Tradition celebrate at a pizza and ice cream social after reading all 15 of the Sunshine State Reader’s Books. Pictured, back row from left, Christopher Decambre, Erika Goldberg, Shelby Arbacheski and Serena Williams. Front row, from left, David Ferguson, Judith Darville and Melanie Persad. Northport family enjoys district young author showcase School NewsBy LYNNE Gruszka May 30, 2012 Northport K-8 student Finnegan Carey reaped the rewards of using the writing process effectively, adhering to the school rubric, correctly using dynamic illustrations and producing a relevant and substantial piece of writing. Finn and his parents, Jennifer and Nick Carey, pictured above, celebrated at the school district’s Young Author Showcase recently along with fellow Northport students… Eighth grade students at Palm Pointe launch rockets Eighth grade students from Palm Pointe Educational Research School @ Tradition, pictured from left, John Rimes, Michael Williams and Michael Lyons prepare to launch their rockets that they made as projects for Thomas Carr’s science class. This project incorporated both math skills and science. The students had fun learning how to make the rockets and then watch as… 23456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250251252253254255256257258259260261262263264265266267268269270271272273274275276277278279280281282283284285286287288289290291292293294295296297298299300301302303304305306307308309310311312313314315316317318319320321322323324325326327328329330331332333334335336337338339340341342343344345346347348349350351352353354355356357358359360361362363364365366367368369370371372373374375376377378379380381382383384385386387388389390391392393394395396397398399400401402403404405406407408409410411412413414415416417418419420421422423424425426427428429430431432433434435436437438439440441442443444445446	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1628
__label__cc	0.738314	0.261686	Roasted Cabbage with Smoked Salmon August 1, 2017 Recipes “Someone ran through and stole whatever was ripe,” the man, a fellow gardener, said. He’d approached to chat with my daughter and me as we tended to our community garden one evening, warning us to phone officials if we saw anyone suspicious, but not to approach them. The thefts had happened over the weekend, clearing out the harvests in some plots, he said. Our bed appeared fine — the five remaining cabbages were still there and all the tomatoes and peppers were accounted for. Looking around at the lovingly tended gardens around us, I was sad for anyone who came expecting to pluck peas or beans or whatever else off their plants and found them barren instead. In my heart, I hope whoever stole the veggies was someone who needed the food — someone in a desperate situation. Then, at least it’s being used for good. The alternative — someone stealing for sport — just disgusts me. It was the same week that BDN Homestead reporter Abigail Curtis told me about thefts from farm stand honor boxes. Farmers have used this system for eons — sometimes it’s eggs in a cooler by the roadside with a box for the fee. Sometimes it’s a farm stand with a box. It depends on the honor system — you pay for what you take. I remember one time in Cape Cod, buying cranberries from a roadside table and taking care to leave the correct amount for the two big bags I wanted in the box. I counted my dollars twice to be sure. Someone had grown those cranberries, harvested them and bagged them. They deserved to be paid properly for their work. When Abigail later wrote the story, I was sad to read that in at least one case, the thief was a valued customer. What kind of a world do we live in these days? More and more it seems to be a world where trust falters. It’s also increasingly a world where folks can’t seem to see beyond their life experience to see how their actions impact others. Can we not count on the honesty and integrity of others anymore? The ends don’t always justify the means. Sometimes the means hurt others. Perhaps, this being my first time growing in a community garden, I am naive to things that have been ongoing for years. Perhaps this world — the one where the honor system fails — has been the one I’ve been living in all along, and I just didn’t realize it. I don’t know. When my daughter and I returned to the garden to harvest a cabbage for dinner — the one that I brushed with lemon juice and olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper before roasting — I noticed our tomato crop. There are dozens of little, firm fleshed cherry tomatoes waiting to ripen. I hope they have the chance to, and that we have the chance to enjoy them. At this point, I wonder if we will. In the meantime though, it was nice to enjoy the cabbage we grew as wedges brushed with a pleasant citrus-y tartness. Paired with salty, fresh, locally cured smoked salmon, it’s delightful. And it’s even more special because my kids and I created the meal together — from planting to plate. Author: Sarah Walker Caron 1 head cabbage, core removed 4 oz smoked salmon Cut the cabbage into 8 wedges. Place on a greased baking sheet. Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil. Brush over the tops of the cabbage wedges. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes. Flip the cabbage wedges and brush with remaining lemon juice mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and divide onto 4 plates. Top with smoked salmon, divided evenly among the plates. Enjoy. ← Easy Strawberry Sweet Rolls with Lemon Glaze Zucchini Muffins →	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1631
__label__cc	0.727076	0.272924	Climate row: the many names they call Greta Thunberg by Barista Uno \| Jan 9, 2020 \| Environment, Society and Culture Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg was Time’s 2019 Person of the Year. Given the amount of bashing the 17-year-old has had to put up with from adults, she deserves another title: Punching Bag of the Year. Greta has been called more names than Donald J. Trump, Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un combined — or Hitler and Stalin, for that matter. An article in The American Conservative magazine has tried to justify the attacks on Greta with a bit of sophistry. It argues: “Greta cannot be simultaneously old enough to voice her views on one of today’s most important issues and be too young to be criticized for the things she says.” The author, one Bill Wirtz, is implying that all criticism is valid. Hasn’t he heard of ad hominem, a form of argument in which one personally attacks another instead of focusing on the issue? This type of logical fallacy threatens to dominate the entire climate change debate. Just consider the numerous labels pinned on Greta by those who, paradoxically, accuse her of being too emotional and too immature to understand what’s going on in the world. Sadly, the insults have come, not only from internet trolls and self-declared pundits, but from the conservative media and some world leaders. “silly hysterical girl” “sick girl” “just someone’s puppet” “scowling teenager” “a heroine whose virtue is anger” “mentally ill puppet” “a well trained and handled puppet” “a pawn in an elite globalist agenda she doesn’t understand” “Brat Out of Hell” “Stupid little kant” “a big joke” “a little teenage girl with mental illness” “a teen being manipulated by her parents” “a little girl with a big ego” “an evil conceited child” “a useful fool” “a mouthpiece for her activist parents” “a deluded teenager” “a Preventing Solutions Fraud” “a paid shill out there to wreck the world” “stupid idiot” “weird Swede with a bad temper” “child communist” “mentally ill Swedish child” “a political pawn being used by the left” “little climate-brainwashed pit bull” “a pawn and a fraud” “a tool of the hoaxers” One need not be a believer in man-induced climate change to see that such attacks are puerile and tasteless. Perhaps the most vicious are those that mock Greta for her Asperger’s syndrome. To Greta’s credit, she is candid about it and even declares it in her Twitter profile. She has handled the tsunami of personal attacks against her with unusual courage, maturity and class. Adults have a lot to learn from this girl. Appreciating miniature marine art in motley objects by Barista Uno \| Jan 7, 2020 \| Marine Art Barista Uno Generally speaking, people tend be more impressed by things that are large than by similar things of smaller scale. Thus, a mansion is likely to draw more attention and plaudits than a bungalow; a limousine more than a compact car; and a cruise ship more than a catamaran. Yet, size does not — or should not — matter when it comes to art. One only needs to look more closely to appreciate the beauty embodied in the smallest of objects. Miniature Ship, 1700–1800 Height: 2 1/8 in. (5.5 cm); made of ivory Maker/artist: unidentified Photo and text courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum Miniature Inro with Design of Firewood-laden Boats on Waves, 19th century Height: 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm); width: 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); gold maki-e with mother-of-pearl inlay on black lacquer; netsuke of hardwood with cloisonne Made by Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807–1891), copied from a design by Hon’ami K?etsu (Japanese, 1558–1637) Photo and text courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art View of a Harbor, ca. 1750 Diameter 3 1/8 in. (80 mm); verre fixé French Painter (ca. 1750) Engraved Scaraboid with Protesilaos on the Prow of a Ship, 400–350 B.C. 2.2 × 1.5 × 0.7 cm (7/8 × 9/16 × 1/4 in.); cornelian Photo and text courtesy of The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California Pendant in the form of a siren, European, probably ca. 1860 Height: 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm); baroque pearl with enameled gold mounts set with rubies Snuffbox with six maritime scenes, 1770–71 1-1/4 x 3-1/16 x 1-7/8 in. (3.2 x 7.8 x 4.8 cm); gold and paper Maker: Dominique-François Poitreau (apprenticed 1741, master 1757, retired 1781) Miniature by a French painter, after a painting by Joseph Vernet (French, 1714–1789) Endings & beginnings: 10 terrific quotes to greet 2020 by Barista Uno \| Jan 2, 2020 \| Quotable Quotes, Society and Culture The photo (shown above) of the old New York waterfront by American photographer and writer Consuelo Kanaga (1894-1978) may well symbolise the new year: a river to be traversed, a bridge to be crossed. There’s no guarantee that all will be well. We just have to take in the good together with the bad and never lose courage and hope. To all the readers of Marine Café Blog, a peaceful New Year. May the following quotes provide you with some inspiration as you navigate through the waters of 2020. Let us not burthen our remembrance with A heaviness that’s gone. — William Shakespeare, The Tempest What one needs to do at every moment of one’s life is to put an end to the old world and to begin a new world. — Nikolai Berdyaev, The Beginning and the End Not so bad this ending because one is getting used to endings: life like Morse, a series of dots and dashes, never forming a paragraph. — Graham Greene, England Made Me The past is never dead. It’s not even past. — William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun Not every end is a goal. The end of a melody is not its goal; but nonetheless, if the melody had not reached its end it would not have reached its goal either. A parable. — Friedrich Nietzche, The Wanderer and His Shadow and Beginnings Shall the day of parting be the day of gathering? And shall it be said that my eve was in truth my dawn? — Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet If you are asked to achieve an ending somehow, this also means that you are receiving an order to begin anew; a new beginning is always possible – who should refuse it? — Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters on Life The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn. — H.G. Wells, The Discovery of the Future The only joy in the world is to begin. It is good to be alive because living is beginning, always, every moment. When this sensation is lacking—as when one is in prison, or ill, or stupid, or when living has become a habit—one might as well be dead. — Cesare Pavese, This Business of Living Veil after veil of thin dusky gauze is lifted, and by degrees the forms and colours of things are restored to them, and we watch the dawn remaking the world in its antique pattern. — Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray ~ Barista Uno Did you like this article? If so, do share it on social media so your friends may enjoy it as well. 2019: Marine Café Blog’s fierce takes on seafarer issues by Barista Uno \| Dec 31, 2019 \| Media, Communications and Language, Seafarers' Rights and Welfare In 2019 the shipping industry almost went crazy over wellness training and the issue of seafarer mental health. The noise from the charities was so loud that it seemed like depression at sea was some kind of an epidemic worse than the Ebola plague. It did not help that the conformist maritime press amplified their frantic messages and slogans. Marine Café Blog refused to be suck in by all that frenzy. Here are some of the things I wrote: In the final analysis, it is the general environment in which seafarers are treated like commodities that lies at the heart of the mental health issue on board ships. If you can’t reduce human suffering, why add an ounce to it even if it be in the name of compassion? ‘Wellness training for seafarers: paving a new road to hell’ Depression is a problem that is much more complex than the maritime charities would have us believe. The general environment in which seafarers operate may well be a major contributing factor, but it is not all. Depression could be due to the individual’s mental or emotional make-up. Some are simply not cut out for a job at sea and the loneliness and isolation it entais. ‘Depression at sea: going to the root of the problem’ Marine Café Blog spotlighted other issues that had received little, if any, attention from the maritime press. Amongst them: the training overload on seafarers and the IMO making big money from the STCW convention. But one particular issue filled me with so much anguish and anger that I simply had to write about it at great personal risk. This is the decades-old practice by manning agents in Manila of stealing from the dollar remittances of seafarers through the use of a lower conversion rate. An excerpt from the blog’s exposé: “It’s a small service fee,” the president of one crewing firm once told me. I was astonished by the cavalier remark. Banks already charge for every dollar remitted. Why should manning agents impose a “fee” when they are not licensed as bankers or even as money changers? It’s a lucrative business and downright dishonest. ‘Crewing agents as money changers’ Such candid writing has not endeared me and Marine Café Blog to the manning community in Manila or to some maritime charities and unions that harbour the idea that they are sacred cows. But this seems a small price to pay for being honest and independent. Kissing ass carries a much higher price: the loss of one’s pride and soul. Six modest maritime wishes for the New Year by Barista Uno \| Dec 27, 2019 \| Announcements and Events, Society and Culture The German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe famously wrote: “Who is the wisest man? He who neither knows or wishes for anything else than what happens.” Maybe so, but what is a new year or life itself without wishes? As the old year winds down and a new one looms on the horizon, I thought I would share my personal maritime wishes. A peaceful New Year to all you readers of Marine Café Blog. A more critical maritime press With a few exceptions, the maritime press has become one big echo chamber for corporations and PR firms. Just look at the way it unquestioningly gobbles up press releases and repeats the slogans and catchphrases of the maritime establishment. Surely, readers deserve better. A stop to the wellness training nonsense The idea that wellness training can alleviate or prevent depression is patently stupid. Yet, the shipping industry is full of talk on the subject. One maritime charity is even calling for the training to be made mandatory for seafarers. It is a self-serving proposition that not even the unions are questioning. Concrete steps to address the maritime training overload It is disingenuous for the international shipping community to talk about seafarers’ rights when nothing is being done to lighten the burden of training on seafarers. Why do seasoned ship captains have to undergo further training to have their certificates revalidated? Do knowledge and experience have an expiry date? Time for a drastic review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Punitive action against erring shipowners Captains are usually left holding the bag whenever there is a ship collision or pollution at sea. There should be greater accountability for shipowners who indirectly cause such accidents through their failure to properly maintain their vessels and ensure that their crews are well-trained (and, yes, well-paid). Proper vetting of manning agencies by their foreign principals Shipowners can help reduce the exploitation of seafarers by making sure that their manning agents adhere strictly to ethical standards. In Manila, millions of dollars are being stolen annually by dishonest crewing firms from the dollar remittances of Filipino seafarers. Yet, foreign principals don’t bother to look into this decades-old scam. Corporate promotion of marine art Companies proudly hang their ISO and ISM certificates on their office walls. Why not also display some marine paintings or seashells? They help create a more congenial atmosphere in the office and will suggest to visitors that the company cares about art and culture, not just money.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1637
__label__cc	0.542185	0.457815	Categoria: Roteiros For this one I went from concept, to scriptwriting, to editing assistance. As one of the Netflix Brasil community managers, I knew back on 2016 there wasn’t one thing the fans would beg fot more than season 5 of Pretty Little Liars. So I starterd to think how sad it would be from then on,… As usually, Netflix Brasil talks about its users’ behaviors, and when it comes to cheating (even if it’s just about watching a show ahead of your beloved one), there’s no greatest name in Brazil to speak it up: João Kleber. I wrote this script in collaboration with Mutato team. This was doc series aired in GNT, a Brazilian TV Channel. I wrote the locution texts for all the 10 episodes.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1638
__label__wiki	0.528801	0.528801	The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the MAAS website contains a range of material which may be culturally sensitive including records of people who may have passed away. Sydney Observatory & Sciences Inside the Collection ReCell spray-on skin kit: from pure ugliness comes a thing of healing beauty By The Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences By Damian McDonald Share: Email this ReCell spray-on skin kit Feri walked into the packed nightclub. Drunk foreigners yelled and danced, as Western music pummelled the humid air. He headed toward the back of the nightclub and pulled a chord inside his jacket which detonated explosives strapped to his torso. His head tore instantly away from his neck, and nine people around him were torn apart. Those not killed from the blast were suddenly in a world of flame and fragment, and a suffocating need to get away if they could. Arnasan pulled the Mitsubishi L300 van up across the road just prior to the blast. As the first survivors began to spill onto the street he pulled on the handbrake which detonated two filing cabinets packed with explosives in the back of the van, smeared with faeces to quicken any survivors’ infection, sending metal, brick, wood, flesh and bone through the area and setting the buildings ablaze. Most who survived the blasts were burned, having to crawl over burning debris and corpses to get out of the blazes. The bombings took place in Bali, and if any grace could be bestowed upon this, the nearest specialist burns unit was at Royal Perth Hospital, where Dr Fiona Wood was the head of the Burns Unit. Since the early 1990s Dr Wood had been developing burns injury management and skin graft methods, and because of the urgent nature of burn injuries, had begun to research more expedient methods of applying skin to sections of burned-away tissue. The injuries flown into Perth from Bali ranged from two to ninety-three percent burns, and Dr Wood and her team had to employ every strategy available to them to save life, limb and torso. The burns unit treated twenty-eight victims in the days and weeks after the bombings, some of whom could not survive their injuries. Dr Wood was already renowned in her field, but the media surrounding the Bali bombings put her name and her work into the public consciousness. Support for furthering her research and development came not just from Australia, but also the US Military, who funded an expedient result for a highly portable system for treating severe burns in the field. The Western Australian company Avita Medical, who partnered with Dr Wood, recently launched the ReCell spray-on skin kit, making it available to all civilian medical practitioners. Although there has recently been some controversy over the leadership of the company, there is no question about the validity of the product’s abilities. This amazingly simple to use kit enables practitioners to harvest skin cell samples from the patient, usually a sample no bigger than a postage stamp, process it in the kit, and literally spray the processed skin cell solution onto the wound. This method works for second degree burns where the subcutaneous tissue has not been burned away. Third degree burns still require a full skin graft. Where the skin sample can be taken from an area very close to the wound, the cells regrow leaving much less noticeable scaring. The skin cells also attach and grow without rejection. The ReCell kit enables practitioners to make the skin sample taken regenerate an injured area eighty times larger than the sample. This was the stuff of science fiction not so long ago. The kit is actually an elegant and nonthreatening piece of medical technology, surely reducing the enormous stress of having burn injuries treated. The Powerhouse Museum has an extensive historical health and medicine collection, and the ReCell spray-on skin kit will remain a significant part of this collection for generations. Written by Damien McDonald Bali Bombings Dr Fiona Wood Object of the week ReCell People and practice Research at MAAS MAAS Blogs MAAS Magazine D*Hub From the moon to Camp Quality: Norman Hetherington’s puppets Penicillin mould from Howard Florey's laboratory Midwifery training simulator	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1645
__label__cc	0.656301	0.343699	View source for Privacy Policy ← Privacy Policy Your username or IP address has been blocked. The block was made by ‪Void‬. The reason given is Web host or proxy. Contact cvt miraheze.org if affected.. __NOTOC__ {{TNT\|Global policy}} <languages/> <translate> <!--T:1--> Miraheze is committed to preserving your privacy and being transparent about how we use information collected through Miraheze.org (the "Website") and any other applications, functionality, or services offered by Miraheze (collectively with the Website, the "Services"). This Privacy Policy describes how Miraheze uses, collects, and shares information collected through the Services. By using the Services, you agree to and accept the practices described in this Privacy Policy. <!--T:2--> We may modify this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post changes on this page so be sure to check back regularly. 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__label__wiki	0.584684	0.584684	Metrolink riders boarding or detraining at the Burbank Airport-South, Burbank-Downtown and El Monte stations can now use the Via on-demand shared ride hailing service for free to complete their trip. Today, Metrolink announced it will operate its Sunday schedule on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 so travelers can visit relatives or see attractions throughout Southern California. The $10 Holiday ticket is available allowing for unlimited rides throughout the system for the day. The Metrolink Board of Directors has directed staff to initiate a public outreach process to update its Title VI policies, along with the agency’s Public Participation and Limited English Proficiency Access plans. Metrolink seeks to create opportunities for inclusion and engagement with the community by inviting the public to review and provide feedback on the policies and revisions. Today, Metrolink announced its Guest Train Conductor Program with retired Angels World Series hero Tim Salmon leading a lineup of elected officials, community leaders and local celebrities. Guest train conductors provide recorded messages to greet Metrolink riders and give important information about the rail system and local stops. Metrolink's statement regarding quarantine order at CAL State LA. Traffic-weary commuters in six Southern California counties were offered free rides on Metrolink all day today to celebrate Earth Day with extra personnel assigned to stations to accommodate higher than normal crowds. Effective Monday, April 8, Metrolink will introduce a new schedule, which will include a new San Bernardino Line Friday late-night roundtrip for people who want stress-free transportation to enjoy the nightlife of downtown Los Angeles. Metrolink today announced it will offer special Angels Express train service to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim home games to help fans avoid traffic congestion and parking hassles. Today, the Metrolink Board of Directors voted to offer free train rides in support of Earth Day on Monday, April 22, 2019 to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and minimize their environmental footprint by producing cleaner air and less traffic through public transportation. Metrolink will once again make a special pit stop on the back straight-away of the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 race on Sunday, March 17.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1655
__label__wiki	0.931739	0.931739	How this epic 4,845-inch 'Star Wars' infographic found its Force Its creator has won the fandom. We can all go home now. Image: swanh.net By Gillian Edevane 2016-05-25 23:51:52 UTC Exactly 39 years ago Wednesday, a movie called Star Wars opened in a mere 32 theaters across the U.S. It soon became kind of a big deal. But who has the time to rewatch it? Even one of its stars, Mark Hamill, admits he hasn't seen the two-hour original movie in nearly 20 years. Lucky for those of us who need a refresher — or haven't seen it at all — graphic artist and illustrator Martin Panchaud has created an epic infographic that tells the entire story of the original movie, later renamed Episode IV: A New Hope. SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars' vs. 'The Force Awakens': The ultimate comparison The graphic, which can be seen here, includes every line of dialogue, every position every character is standing in, detailed schematics of the franchise's iconic ships, and about 4,845 inches of scrollable information. It's essentially one really, really long page. And as of Wednesday, it had been shared on social media nearly 40,000 times. Panchaud, who lives in Zurich, created the infographic in Adobe Illustrator CC in 2016. He said he was inspired by storytelling methods that were popular long before 1977. "This long ribbon reminds (me) of the ancient Chinese script rolls that had to be rolling in and rolled out simultaneously in order to be read," Panchaud wrote on his site. "I like this stretch between ages, cultures and technologies. "However, [the] internet likes short stories and summaries ... with my work I aimed to create a contrast to that." Before beginning his massive Star Wars project, Panchaud experiments with other visual storytelling modes, including using computer code to explore sound: Since his Star Wars project went viral, Panchaud has been flooded with messages on Facebook and Twitter about his work. Luke Skywalker himself tweeted his praise: This is absolutely STUNNING! 1st time I've"watched" #StarWars since the '97 #SpecialEdition & well worth it! #GR8Job https://t.co/mOmXHF5C3G — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 24, 2016 As did Understanding Comics author Scott McCloud, an expert in just this sort of visual explainer, who apparently was also flooded with messages from people talking about the site. Tweeted about it yesterday, but to be clear... YES, Everyone in the World, I HAVE seen this & also think it's cool:https://t.co/XppAN9Oa7Z — Scᴏᴛᴛ MᴄCʟᴏᴜᴅ (@scottmccloud) May 25, 2016 Panchaud was seemingly chuffed to bits at the response to his project. Mashable has reached out to him for comment, but his inbox seems to be overflowing at the moment. You can check out his site here. May the force be with you. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. Topics: Entertainment, Movies, mark hamill, Star Wars, swanh.net	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1666
__label__wiki	0.819874	0.819874	'Game of Thrones' fan has the perfect theory about Ser Davos' role in Season 7 Just look at Ser Davos, chilling there on the floor. Isn't he the best? Image: hbo By Sam Haysom 2017-08-03 15:22:00 UTC Warning: Contains more Game of Thrones Season 7 spoilers than you can shake an onion at. It's becoming more and more clear that Ser Davos is one of the best characters in Game of Thrones. No, really. He's reliable, he's honest, and — as we saw in that brilliant Jon-meets-Dany scene from episode 3 — he's got some previously undiscovered comedy value. I'm not saying he's the greatest character of all, but he's got to be close to top 5 by now at least. SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' fan has an epic theory about Daenerys and Azor Ahai Anyway, the big question on the lips of every dedicated Ser Davos fan is this: what role is the wily old Onion Knight going to play in the last two Seasons? He can fight, he's a good adviser, and he's an expert smuggler, so he's pretty much a triple threat. The possibilities are endless. So many possibilities. Well, one Reddit user thinks they know exactly what Ser Davos' next move could be. Here's a theory about the Onion Knight and the Unsullied which was shared in the r/gameofthrones subreddit on Wednesday: [MAIN SPOILERS] Theory about Ser Davos and the Unsullied from gameofthrones It makes sense, right? Grey Worm and Co. are about to be under siege, and if there's one person who's perfect to sneak through Euron's pesky navy and save the day, it's big Ser D. People on Reddit were all for it. Comment from discussion Jayzerus's comment from discussion "[MAIN SPOILERS] Theory about Ser Davos and the Unsullied". Comment from discussion elmaethorstars's comment from discussion "[MAIN SPOILERS] Theory about Ser Davos and the Unsullied". All being well, The Onion Knight 2: Return of Ser D will soon be coming to a screen near you very soon. WATCH: A frame-by-frame look at the detailed symmetry that shapes death in 'Game of Thrones' Topics: Entertainment, Game of Thrones, game of thrones season 7, liam-cunningham, ser-davos, UK	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1667
__label__wiki	0.728553	0.728553	Everyday Money College Planner Best Colleges Money 50: The Best Mutual Funds Ultimate Retirement Guide Own an Index Fund? You're Making a Big Bet on Tech Tech stocks have had a great decade. As a result, they're a much bigger par... Tech stocks have had a great decade. As a result, they're a much bigger part of your portfolio. These 6 Stocks Beat Amazon Over the Past 10 Years — But You've Probably Never Heard of Them Amazon is a darling of the financial press, and deservedly so. It’s emerged... Amazon is a darling of the financial press, and deservedly so. It’s emerged from what people once knew as that website that sells books to become the retail centerpiece in many of our lives (which... The Top-Performing Stock of the 2010s Transformed Entertainment — And Returned Nearly 4,000% The stock was worth less than $10 at the dawn of the 2010s. The Best Stocks for 2020, According to 3 Investing Pros Who Outsmarted the Market It's not easy to find value in a market that's near record highs. Here's wh... It's not easy to find value in a market that's near record highs. Here's where stock market pros are looking. What Charles Schwab's Purchase of Rival TD Ameritrade Means for Their Customers Expect more freebies, a bigger branch network, and an upsell. This Mutual Fund Survived the 1929 Stock Market Crash. Here's How Its Managers Invest This 90-year-old fund is one of just a small handful that managed to naviga... This 90-year-old fund is one of just a small handful that managed to navigate the Great Depression -- and everything since. Another New Study Confirms It: Actively Managed Funds Almost Never Beat the Market Fund giant Vanguard wants to beat the market too. And it's struggling just ... Fund giant Vanguard wants to beat the market too. And it's struggling just like everyone else Sign up to receive the latest updates and smartest advice from the editors of MONEY Money 101 Best Auto Insurance Best All-Inclusive Resorts © Copyright 2020 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy (Your California Privacy Rights). MONEY is an independent, advertiser-supported website. MONEY may receive compensation for some links to products and services throughout this website. Opinions expressed on this site are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. MONEY has partnered with CardRatings.com and ConsumersAdvocate.org, among other companies, for our coverage of credit card products. MONEY, CardRatings.com, and ConsumersAdvocate.org may receive a commission from card issuers. Quotes delayed at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Interactive Data. ETF and Mutual Fund data provided by Morningstar, Inc. Dow Jones Terms & Conditions. S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. \| Data Policy \| EU Data Subject Requests	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1676
__label__cc	0.702989	0.297011	In which I wonder if I’m in the right cinema, or: stuff I have to wade through to see Ocean’s 8 I’ve basically got my arrival coordinated now so I don’t have to see any of these, but the only jarring note the first time I saw Ocean’s 8 was all of these trailers for films that left me feeling increasingly alienated as a cinema-goer. It did put me in mind of Into the Storm in that sense — because that was also a film where all the trailers they showed ahead of it were things I’d never see voluntarily in a million years. These aren’t quite that bad. Or. Hmmm. [I apologize in advance if I’m dissing your favorite, long-anticipated film. There are films I look forward to seeing. They’re just not being advertised before Ocean’s 8.] Mamma Mia 2 I’ve seen this trailer something like five times now and I still can’t figure out what the movie is about. Something to do with a hush-hush pregnancy and dancing. Abba songs, which I suppose are fine, but a whole movie? I guess you had to see the first one. Does Meryl Streep really have to be in every single film? Small plus point: Cher, of whom I don’t see enough. Verdict: Skip unless I’m really desperate. Which, admittedly, I might be. Mission Impossible: Fallout Tom Cruise stars in a series of equipment crashes in picturesque European locations. He also jumps out a window. But he can’t actually move any part of his face so it’s difficult to experience any thrill about any of it. There also seems to be some kind of religious fanatic. Huh. Plus point: Angela Bassett, but it looks like a very small role. Verdict: Not unless forced to at gunpoint, and even then you’d have to staple my eyelids open. This is potentially the one I’m most likely to see, and it has interesting titles, I’ll admit. However, I don’t get why a story that plays in Connecticut is backgrounded with the French song. Could be suspenseful and interesting, but the exploding car is a bad omen. Verdict: Maybe, if I have time to kill on cheap day. A drug cartel kills Jennifer Garner’s family so she goes under cover and kills the drug cartel. Nothing at all about this appeals, starting with the gooey beginning, continuing with the weird executions on a Ferris Wheel, and ending with a weird cell phone conversation at a gravestone. This looks like violent kitsch from beginning to end, verging on xenophobia, and I’m trying to figure out if this is someone’s sad attempt at female empowerment, or it’s just guys who like to fantasize about a shoot’em up with Garner, whose guns both literal and figurative definitely impress. Verdict: You could not pay me to see this film. I really do not know what to say about this. A weird hotel, a topless man dancing in a wheat field, a guy in a mask, a woman singing “this old heart of mine” … none of it fits together. Huge negative: Jeff Bridges, who has done nothing that convinced me since 1989, i.e., for more or less my entire adult life. Verdict: “Bad Time” seems to be an appropriate title. People will pay money for this? Really? Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga playing some sort of weird codependency games at country music concerts. Am I really supposed to believe Gaga doesn’t think she’s attractive? Am I really supposed to believe that Cooper believes that she doesn’t think she’s attractive? Yeah, didn’t think so. Verdict: Totally superfluous. The 1954 and 1976 versions of this film fully meet my needs (Judy Garland in the better film and Barbra Streisand as my preferred vocalist). Are you planning to see any of these? Can you explain the appeal? ~ by Servetus on July 8, 2018. Tags: film, me, Oceans 8 60 Responses to “In which I wonder if I’m in the right cinema, or: stuff I have to wade through to see Ocean’s 8” I’ve seen a few of these multiple times as well. If I never see the Mission Impossible trailer again, it’ll still be too soon. As for the Mamma Mia 2 trailer, it took me a couple views to realize it’s two timelines. The daughter from the first movie is now pregnant and for some reason, her mom’s not around? or she’s scared to tell her about it? so she goes to the friends who tell her about her mom being her age. That’s why there are two blonde women in the trailer. And then somehow Cher is in it, but I still don’t know where Meryl Streep is…At least that’s what I’ve gathered from my multiple viewings of the trailer. It’s a bit confusing which for a musical sequel means it’s probably trying too hard. I didn’t care for the first one, so I don’t plan on seeing this one. missfoodietwoshoes said this on July 8, 2018 at 5:47 am \| Reply That IS really confusing. Thanks for the clarification. I might go see “Bad Times at the El Royale” if only to drool over Chris Hemsworth’s bod. He’s ripped!! And Elsa Pataky is a lucky woman! Lady Grayse said this on July 8, 2018 at 6:20 am \| Reply He’s not really my taste but I can see the potential attraction. Hemsworth is eye candy mostly, that’s all. 😀 Lady Grayse said this on July 8, 2018 at 2:26 pm \| Reply I would recommend Mamma Mia 2 above the other choices. Mamma Mia I thought was sweet, funny and a good summertime escape primarily for the ABBA songs and the supporting cast of Firth, Walters, Baranski, et al I thought they were funny and sweet. Meryl is well Meryl and Amanda Siegfried was ok I didn’t think she was a strong singer but she is cute and blends in well w the cast. There’s another movie I plan to see called Siberia w Keanu Reeves supposed to come out next Friday July 13 sort of a love/suspense thriller set in yes Siberia. Hope you enjoy the peace and quiet whatever you end up viewing. Michele Marsh said this on July 8, 2018 at 12:48 pm \| Reply Looks like that is not yet scheduled to be shown here. I think I’m mourning that I missed two films I really wanted to see because they were here for one week, the week dad’s stroke occurred (First Reformed, and The Seagull). I have a mental list of actors who I absolutely refuse to watch, due to their personal beliefs and\or actions. Tom cruise is at the top of that list, so no mission impossible for me Cindy said this on July 8, 2018 at 12:58 pm \| Reply squirrel.0072 said this on July 8, 2018 at 1:12 pm \| Reply LOL, for sure. Although I will read extensive articles about his bizarreness in Vanity Fair. Apparently he’s estranged his kids from Nicole Kidman, which is the height of evil IMO. Yeah I think he’s just not a great actor. His MI movies are all the same and his best role to date as an actor actor was Born on the 4th of July. Other than that it’s MI or now this Jack Reacher or Preacher or something like that. I found it interesting his The Mummy movie from last summer (at least in the States) bombed. First Reformed might be on Pay per View now (in the States). Michele Marsh said this on July 8, 2018 at 3:33 pm \| Reply I’m sure I’ll see it eventually. I am one of those people who prefer the big screen unfortunately. But it’s probably very good on a small screen, too. don’t even get me started on Mel Gibson On duty, I have time to write. I am lucky not to be under a very hot weather, listening roars or smelling gazoline of old vintage races cars. I am taking time to read Angela Bourke book while coll air conditionning is working. Thanks for your wide movies choice! Before a blockbuster like “Oceans’ 8” or an arthouse film, the advertising are definetly not of the same taste. Filmgoers are contrasted with extremely different personnalities. “Mary Poppins Returns” directed by Rob Marshall with Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth could be a good december movie… https://www.senscritique.com/liste/Les_Blockbusters_de_2018/1823141 La chanteuse du film “A Simple Favor” s’appelle Béatrice Martin: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C5%93ur_de_pirate Elle est d’origine Québécoise, mais fait une belle carrière en France. Voici la chanson du film: Cœur De Pirate – Crier Tout Bas (live session) – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfbtlsQVbx0 Mary Poppins Returns — yet again, a film with Meryl Streep (and Colin Firth). What movie is she not in? 🙂 Thanks for the info on the “A Simple Favor” song. I don’t object to chansons (on the contrary), just wondering why it’s relevant here. I don’t know too. I do love colin firth I don’t go to the cinema much anymore. At the most about three times a year, often less. When we went to O8, my husband and I were rolling our eyes over the trailers. I don’t remember what they were, but they involved lots of things exploding and crashing and so forth. Who goes to these movies? No thanks. As an aside, I have liked Béatrice Martin for a long time now, it’s interesting that her song is featured in that film. I like a lot of Québecois pop music, but didn’t think it was very popular outside the Francophone world. Babette said this on July 8, 2018 at 7:05 pm \| Reply I will have to check Martin out. I wonder about the state of the world, too, if this is what is getting made. I think in the end it doesn’t even require actors. It can all be done by stunt men. Servetus said this on July 9, 2018 at 3:05 am \| Reply i like Tom Cruise. I think his mission possible movies are good(action, comedy, but my favorite with him is the movie Legend and it has Tim Curry as the devil. I don’t like Bradley cooper. I don’t know what it is about him, but he just gets on my nerves. Servetus, I think a movie you might like is Winchester(Helen Mirren). bloodangel said this on July 8, 2018 at 10:22 pm \| Reply Thanks for the tip! I hope that your theater gets rebuilt in time for you to see MI! I think I’ll watch Mamma Mia 2 (liked the first one) and A Star is born (Bradley Cooper can sing?) on DVD someday but there sure is no rush Herba said this on July 9, 2018 at 7:15 am \| Reply “there is no rush” is a good description. Servetus said this on July 12, 2018 at 12:33 pm \| Reply I don’t get to the cinema all that often, maybe three or four times a year if that, it has to be something I really want to see. Of the ones you’ve listed, Mama Mia 2 is the only trailer I’ve seen, both at the cinema and on television, and it’s the only movie I have on my to-watch list at the moment. I enjoyed the first one and have seen the stage show as well. I can go into the cinema knowing I won’t see things that will give me nightmares. I’d much rather toe tapping music, romance, a simple sweet storyline, and a cast that includes Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan (despite him murdering his songs in MM1!). Mezz said this on July 10, 2018 at 2:51 am \| Reply The stage show was fantastic and I totally agree with you that Pierce definitely butchered his songs but he and Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgaard were delightful and the whole cast seemed to have such a great time. Michele Marsh said this on July 10, 2018 at 11:39 am \| Reply Good point re: no nightmares and there seem to be fewer and fewer of those films. I’ve only seen the Mamma Mia and the Tom Cruise trailer over here, the other ones you mention won’t get here until later, I think. The Tom Cruise one I have zero interest in. The Mamma Mia one I do want to see. The first one was fun (I do know many people who hated it, but I really enjoyed it). I don’t think this second one is necessary at all, and I’m not so fond of Lily James (who plays the young Meryl Streep character in this) BUT – I really loved the three men in the first one: Colin Firth of course, but also Pierce Brosnan (even though his singing was a little iffy) and Stellan Skarsgard. So, I’m going to see this for them but especially for Colin! Esther said this on July 10, 2018 at 8:03 pm \| Reply When I saw Colin Firth on the screen, I thought — Esther will see that! Esther said this on July 13, 2018 at 11:31 am \| Reply I will probably see Mamma Mia 2, only because the group of women from work may go. I saw the Mamma Mia play in 2000 when it first toured. It is a really happy feel-good musical, even if all ABBA. I didn’t see the first movie, though, so I should watch it first. I’m actually looking forward to A Star Is Born. I loved the Streisand/Kristofferson movie, being a big fan of both singers. I have a soft spot for Bradley Cooper, mainly because of his excellent performance in Silver Linings Playbook. This will be Cooper’s directorial debut and he is also one of he producers. Apparently, Clint Eastwood had wanted to make the movie with Cooper at some point in the past and then moved on. I do believe that Lady Gaga’s character wouldn’t think she is attractive — she is unusual looking and I’ve never thought of her as particularly attractive. She is, however, a surprisingly good singer. Her rendition of The Hills Are Alive at the 2015 Oscars was really well done. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JxcFcKvjZCk SueBC said this on July 12, 2018 at 4:34 am \| Reply Yes I think Lady Gaga could pull off thinking she is not attractive. She apparently battled bulimia when she was a teenager and has body imaging issues. She has come a long way since her “Just Dance” meat wearing garb days. Both her Born This Way and Joanne albums are fantastic and really show her vocal range. I’m happy for Cooper that he is branching out into directing. I think he has sort of peaked as an actor and I agree Silver Linings Playbook was very good. He seems to thrive in David O Russell works as does Jennifer Lawrence. Some of his other movies (ie Hangover 2 and 3) were just turkeys in my opinion. I think the music in Star is Born remake of Cooper’s is country tinged which is not my cup of tea so I may wait to see what others comment or review and then maybe.. She already failed this test for me in the trailer — she looks attractive and her statement that she is not was not convincing. I admit that that I despise the trope of how men telling women they are attractive is supposed to “fix” them (I don’t like that in the original movies, either). I agree she’s a great singer, and I’m sorry for her troubles, of course, but I don’t need to see this story again. I’m not a huge fan of Gaga’s music, but she can sing. And I guess she can act too — she won a Golden Globe in 2016 for a TV role. As for Cooper, I did see the Hangover movies on the small screen, just coz he’s easy on the eyes, but they were pretty gross comedies. I saw American Sniper which got great reviews, but I wasn’t all that impressed. His roles seem to be all over the place. SueBC said this on July 12, 2018 at 6:21 pm \| Reply Well I really liked Born This Way because the theme of the album was love yourself and be proud of who you are as an individual. Also, she had a wide scope of songs-1 German one on there and a couple Italian and a little French so it had a great appeal to a wide ranging audience in my opinion. Joanne was dedicated to her late Aunt who died in 2016 of cancer and I think really was personally moving (she discussed her break up w Taylor Kinney) and where she was at in her life approaching 30. So artistically I thought these albums like Madonna’s Ray of Light in 1998 (about turning 40 among other things) were more honest and evocative than that Art Pop fiasco or even Fame Monster of 2009. Her Emmy was for The American Horror series which I don’t watch. Cooper-yeah I watched All About Steve last night (on HBO U.S.) which first go around I didn’t like too silly or something but on second viewing I thought it was quite sweet and he held his own in it, not playing a douche bag but a guy the object of Sandra Bullock’s character’s crush then obsession (sort of) but he says at the end of the movie “Mary, don’t ever change who you are” which I myself needed to hear that. I didn’t see American Sniper (another Eastwood directed movie) just not that into it I guess. I agree Cooper is all over the place which is why maybe if he moves into directing he will challenge himself more artistically or something like that.. Michele Marsh said this on July 12, 2018 at 6:42 pm \| Reply I only really know Lady Gaga’s radio hits, which are not really what I listen to. But you make those albums sound interesting. I’ll check them out on iTunes. Yeah I’ve never seen American Horror, but I read she won a Golden Globe. I think Cooper has talent but it all depends on the vehicle. I’m not trying to sound like her publicist here but those two albums in particular really resonated with me. One would think she had it all and on these albums she really discussed insecurity, body imaging issues (esp on Born This Way) and death. (“Joanne”). I cried the first time I played the Joanne CD in my car because it was so so honest. I don’t have Art Pop mainly bec the radio release “Applause” was boring and uninspiring. Artpop has a lot of rap music which I do not like. She said she really felt down in the dumps bec Art Pop commercially failed. Yes, bec it sounded like everything else out there in 2013! But Madonna’s whole Millennium career in music except 2000’s Music album has been dismal in my opinion. No originality and trying to look young and sound young when she’s not. Thanks. I’ll check them out. Sometimes music hits you that way. Servetus said this on July 15, 2018 at 3:35 am \| Reply That’s my experience of her, too, but I think she’s a great singer. he’s not the only actor we know with that problem. Somehow, though, I’m more forgiving of it with RA. My crush on Cooper was more short-lived. I didn’t like what I saw of him as a person, as much. He didn’t seem like someone I would want to spend time with. It’s so hard for me to compare, still. Like even with actors who consistently get better roles, I don’t crush on them. So who knows. But I agree that a “problematic” personal life is an obstacle. And honestly I’m happy we don’t read about Armitage all the time in the tabloids. I think I might be up for seeing “Mammia Mia 2” on stage, live, with a bunch of actors I don’t know. I enjoy the energy of live musicals. I have serious Meryl Streep fatigue. Clint Eastwood. Wow. Well, he’s on my “absolutely not for any reason ever” list, at the very latest since the “empty chair speech” at the 2012 RNC. I haven’t seen Silver Linings Playbook — seemed like it was not my type of film. Clint Eastwood is a bit of a red herring, I guess, since he’s not involved anymore. From what I’ve read, it might be a bit of a passion project for Cooper. I wonder if he’ll bring anything really new to the story. As for Silver Linings Playbook, while there is a romance, I see it as a film more about mental illness and family dynamics. Having spent time around people with bipolar disorder, I thought Cooper did a great job with the role. As for Streep, it does seem that she is everywhere. She is a good actress, but she is not my favourite to see on screen. I like Streep because she is extremely gifted-she can chameleon into a character with great ease (much as Richard does in my opinion) and I really liked her in Iron Lady. She does what she wants when she wants to which to me is the mark of a confident successful person esp a professional performer. She is going to be in Season 2 of Big Little Lies (HBO U.S.) which I am excited about. Her ability to endure over 4 decades of working steadily and consisting to keep her performances even when the material sucked at A level is truly remarkable. I really liked her in Hope Springs with Tommy Lee Jones. It’s about an older couple who have drifted far away from each other and she drags him to sex therapy to try to get the romance back. I enjoyed the movie, but it might appeal most to people who’ve been in long marriages. (Mine will be 30 years this fall.) She was good in that and I like Tommy Lee Jones as an actor esp The Fugitive-that drawl is so delightful “We have a fugitive on the run..” I also liked her in August Osage County w/Julia Roberts-Streep just blew everyone away in my opinion. Talk about watching a Master Class in acting. Cumberbatch was in that movie too. Oh yeah. August Osage County was really good. Julia Roberts was excellent too. I don’t remember Cumberbatch being in it, though I guess he was. He played the son of the neighbor who ended up being related to Julianne Nicholson’s character. Yeah I agree Julia Roberts was good also one of the few times I’ve liked her in a movie although I like her as a person very affable and down to earth 😀 Michele Marsh said this on July 13, 2018 at 2:06 am \| Reply I admire her career without necessarily admiring tons and tons of her work. I loved Kramer v. Kramer, for instance. But lately I think she has taken a lot of roles where she is essentially mimicking a known historical figure and I find that quite tiring to watch. Yeah I agree with you on Eastwood. I’ve never been a fan of his. My dad loved his Forgiven” -that Western that Gene Hackman won an Oscar for but I dislike Westerns even more than gory movies. I would recommend Silver Linings Playbook-it is set in Philly, DeNiro is great in it. I don’t think Cooper is a terrific actor but he has a good meaty role in it and he and Jennifer Lawrence (pre Hungry Games I think) have great chemistry. The writing is great and I like the interaction of the dad (DeNiro) and son (Cooper). I think the relationship dynamics at play might interest you. Maybe? Live musicals are great! You would probably love Mamma Mia live on stage. Michele Marsh said this on July 12, 2018 at 12:48 pm \| Reply I just have learned over the years that there are films I am probably not going to like and SLP ticks the central “avoid at all costs” box of “romance.” I don’t like Westerns either, although I feel like Eastwood’s work has kind of moved away from that. I think the last things of his I saw were Invictus and Gran Torino and I don’t have a real clear memory of either. I haven’t seen most of the things he’s famous for, admittedly. Servetus said this on July 12, 2018 at 1:05 pm \| Reply Ahh, those are two more than I have seen. I saw Trouble with The Curve bec I like baseball and I like Amy Adams. He was ok in that movie and did not direct it. My sis saw the Paris train movie he directed from earlier this year and liked it , said it was “riveting.” Hmm maybe as a last resort, bored out of my mind night movie. I have political issues with that kind of thing. Yes, celebrate heroism and character, by all means. I am a huge fan of those things and I tend to agree that we are not teaching our children well enough to be moral citizens in situations where it counts. But films like that push this whole idea we have in the U.S. that the individual is the solution to every problem. To me, what stops terrorists isn’t well-trained individuals who happen to be in the right place at the right time, but rather an international politics that disencentivizes this behavior, and which makes it attractive for people to live non-destructive lives. You’ll never get that from Eastwood; he’s a libertarian. Those sound like a couple of good ideas for future posts. Anything political or involving films or both seem to generate a lot of wonderful responses in my opinion. I dunno, I try not to let politics overwhelm this blog (believe me, I have a lot to say). But the main issue at present is just energy and time. You have such engaging wide ranging geographical commenters that are so well read and intelligent that any political, socio-economic topics/posts would have intriguing replies in my opinion. […] Still a “no.” Do they think they can wear us down? […] Two movies I saw and more “I am not in the demographic” previews \| Me + Richard Armitage said this on September 2, 2018 at 3:57 am \| Reply […] No the first time and no the second time and still no. […] Leave a Reply to Michele Marsh Cancel reply	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1682
__label__cc	0.686001	0.313999	Dreams About Tarantula – Interpretation and Meaning The meaning of the spider in dreams is linked to the emotions that the dreamer feels towards him: fear, repulsion and a tendency to grasp its aggressive and predatory habits will make it a negative symbol, while curiosity, admiration or simple neutrality towards it they will result in positive meanings, linked to renewal and the ability to reconstruct the Ego. So the symbol of the spider in dreams can change radically by changing the perspective from which it is observed and putting aside the prejudices about its appearance. The spider lives in the shelter of the web, it is a predatory animal that patiently awaits its prey, wraps it in its deadly cocoon, kills and paralyzes, injects poison, has a way of moving on the eight legs that men feel “alien” and the female of some species devours the male after mating. Tarantula Symbolism in Cultures The spider is an ancient symbol of creation, creativity and hard work. In ancient Indian tradition they allegorically called it Brahma – the creator of all things – the spider that weaves the web of the world. On one side, the spider as defender of the people, a marvelous savior, protector of the hearth. On the other hand it is associated with cruelty, greed, betrayal. The positive value of spiders was reflected in the myths about spiders, which had taught people the craft and art of weaving. The motif of spider webs, which represent a principle of safeguarding, is widely diffused, they take the hero to a dangerous place, help him to climb to the sky, and then they bring him down safely. The spider has been widely used in white and black magic. The amulets and the pendants with the symbols of the spider make the owner interfere in the life of dark forces. Nowadays, the spider is an unequivocal symbol of phobias, however, thanks to its ability to weave a web, it represents the complexity of life and destiny. Since the spider web starts from the center and widens out of the spider’s mouth, in some cultures it is considered a symbol of the sun and the creation of life. Because of the complexity of the web, and its similarities with a maze of Celts, the web represents the obstacles that must be overcome by man. In ancient Egypt and ancient Greece the spider web also symbolized destiny, in Hinduism – the cosmic order, the spider was considered as the center or by the ancient Maya – the illusion of weaving, in Oceania, and in certain tribes America, the spider was revered as the creator of the Universe, the Australian aborigines worshiped the spider as big as a solar hero, and in some African and North American tribes it was believed that the spider was a deceiver. In Christianity, the web is the symbolic expression of the fragility and transience of human life, and the sticky web represents the devil’s trap for those who lose control and identify the spider with Satan and evil. The spider’s twist in the web, when it destroys the impotent victim, identifies with the terrible Great Mother, who creates and destroys. In Christianity, the spider represents the miser who sucks his prey drop by drop. The Japanese believe that female spiders represent the trap for travelers, the evil spider is a dangerous werewolf. Despite all the unflattering qualities attributed to the spider, killing him is believed to bring bad luck. Only the ancient Romans worshiped the spider as a talisman of luck and prosperity. Dreams about Tarantula – Meaning In dreams spiders are the dreamlike representation of problems or fears hidden in real life, or so it is very often. With the black widow there is always the possibility of finding oneself in reality in a relationship in which one feels suffocated by the partner. Who has never experienced such a sensation in a relationship at least once? What does it mean to dream of a spider? Our dream interpretation brings us back to what Jung wrote: “The spider, like all cold-blooded animals, […] has the function, in dream symbolism, […] of expressing, most of the time, the contents incapable of becoming conscious […] “. Therefore, it is very probable that the problem that the spider can represent in dreams is very often difficult to identify, it is almost impossible to feel its presence in reality; but this persists creating stress without even knowing it, without practically noticing it. And with this I repeat what I mentioned above with Jung. I can immediately anticipate that if the spider did not make disgust in the dream you do, you can interpret it as a positive symbol, as it would represent the industriousness, ingenuity, skill and patience of which you yourself you are the holders. Dreams about Tarantula – Symbolism Dreaming of a black or gray tarantula – is the most classic color that can be found in the dream life of both women and men. It is often a sign of unclearness of things or a transformation. Dreaming of dead tarantulas or crushing a tarantula – can be the sign of a release from some problems. Dreaming of tarantulas and cobwebs – can symbolize being trapped in a network of relationships or maybe feeling involved in something that we would like to get out of. Dreaming of white tarantulas – is almost a contradiction, but its origin should be evaluated. However it is possible to argue the meaning that this insect assumes. Dreaming of large, almost giant tarantulas – is a sign that the obsession, the problem, the torment, the suffocation, the pressure felt psychically and physically are always greater. Dreaming tarantulas in the bed – is certainly not a good sign, at least intimately speaking I would begin to ask myself, to question myself about possible problems that may perhaps have been born with our partner and also wrapped with ourselves. Dreaming of red tarantulas – could be associated with someone for whom you have a passionate feeling but who is currently suffocating you or causing problems that are probably devious. Dreaming about a tarantula that threatens us – being attacked by a tarantula can be a sign of a suffocating unconscious that does not allow one to become an adult. Dreaming of so many tarantulas – is a sign of a reinforcement of the meaning (as for other insects or animals in general) of any analysis of psychological suffocation probably due to external pressures like spouses, relatives, friends or acquaintances (also applies to employers) . A difficult problem to face that does not allow the evolution and resolution. Dreaming of poisonous tarantulas – this is a very common dream. It is clear that there is something that just poisons your life. Look for the problem or the person creating this torment and solve it. Dreaming of hairy tarantulas – certainly arouses much disgust; however it is certainly considered to be a primitive and instinctive component of our unconscious that manifests itself during sleep. To dream of a tarantula that bites – means that there is something that torments you and that never as in the past is more dangerous than usual. Dreaming of a biting tarantula – is a bit like a scorpion. Sure it was just a tarantula? Maybe you associate the two animals together. See the interpretation of both. It could also be equivalent to dreaming of being bitten by a tarantula. Dreaming of a tarantula hanging down from the ceiling – it symbolizes silent and imminent threats or outstanding issues. Dreaming of a tarantula with eggs, or giving birth to so many tarantulas – this suggests a profitable moment both at work and in the family, a bit of luck sometimes even for us. Dreaming of a tarantula that speaks – this figure represents a direct line with our unconscious, better to listen to what it has to tell us. Dreaming of a tarantula on a tarantula’s web that weaves the canvas – this figure represents the working nature and the patience it takes to do its job at its best, also represents creativity. Dreaming tarantula that eats the fly – the tarantula preys on the insects that end up in its web like a partner can resort to tricks to know the truth, be careful. Dreaming of the tarantula web without tarantula – here we move on to a possible mother-child relationship where the absent mother remains aloof but still present in the life of the child during important decisions. Dreaming of breaking a web – we are free! We had the courage to face a bond that failed. The spider in dreams is associated with feelings of anguish or concern, conflicts in which one feels suffocated, which make one feel trapped, that frighten. This interpretation, which appears somewhat simplistic, but which is confirmed by the analysis of so many dreams, is linked to what the dreamer feels towards the spider. If spiders in dreams (and in reality) do not cause repulsion or fear, but are observed with curiosity and interest, they can be considered the expression of creative qualities, a symbol of patience and ability to build and reconstruct and a positive sublimation of psychic energies. The spider has a creative ability that is expressed in the daily weaving of its canvas, in the perfection, accuracy and patience with which it dedicates itself to this work and this makes it a symbol of a vital energy linked to creation and renewal. The spider’s web is a model of perfection and can be considered a sort of mandala that represents the completeness of being in the completeness of the universe, while the silvery and resistant thread that the spider secretes is, in this symbolic perspective, the most powerful link with the higher self, with divinity and spirit. 2255 Angel Number – Meaning and Symbolism Husband With Another Woman – Dream Meaning	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1683
__label__wiki	0.755664	0.755664	Military Schools in Kansas that are College Preparatory \| militaryschoolusa.com – schools for troubled teens and schools for troubled teens. CLICK FOR IMMEDIATE PLACEMENT HELP FREE HELP State All States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Texas Vermont Virginia Wisconsin School Type All College Preparatory College-Level Military Schools Junior High Military Schools Military High Schools Military Prep Schools Military Schools for Boys Military Schools for Girls Private Public (local) Please select State or Type No results found...please widen your search. TROUBLED TEEN? Get Free Enrollment Help Right Now! Call Toll-Free: 866-738-2784 Military Schools in Kansas - College Preparatory (1 Military School Found) St. John’s Military School Grades: 6-12 \| Address: 110 W Otis Ave, Salina, KS 67401 St. John’s Military School is a boarding military educational institution in Kansas. With the help of the President, Andrew England, as well as the Commandant of Cadets and the Academic Dean, the students are trained to enhance both their academic and leadership knowledge. Given the fact that this is a private military school, the students […] Military Academies in Kansas - College Preparatory Academics - Most students who enroll in a military boarding school do so because of the promise of better education, which can lead to more success in college and in life. More than 90% of military boarding school students find their schools academically challenging, and military boarding school students spend more than twice as many hours (17 to 18) a week on homework than their peers in public schools. Around the Clock Learning - Thanks to the unique and encouraging campus environment military boarding schools provide, students are tremendously active outside the classroom. Across the board, military boarding school students participate in more extracurricular activities than other students, whether it's exercise or sports (12+ hours vs. 9 hours per week), creative endeavors like music and communications (6 hours vs. 4 to 5 hours), or student government and club activities (35% vs. 27%). Learning to Lead - A distinctive characteristic of military boarding schools is the importance of character development. The environment—in which teachers live among their students, and students live away from home—lends itself to the cultivation of self-discipline and independent thought. More than three quarters of military boarding school students say they have earned leadership opportunities, a far higher percentage than reported by public and private day school students. Military boarding students also have regular interaction with teachers and advisors outside of the classroom setting. College Preparation - Military boarding school environments—through the balance of greater mentor guidance and greater personal responsibility and emphasis on leadership—deliver students with an unequaled level of preparation. 87 % of graduates agree, while nearly 80% added that they were equally prepared for the non-academic aspects of college life, including increased independence, social life, self-confidence, and time management. Greater Accomplishment - Military boarding school graduates are more often professionally accomplished and philanthropically active adults. By mid-career, more military boarding school graduates achieve top management positions than their peers. 60% of military boarding school alumni give to social service organizations, compared with 46% of graduates of other schools. Random Partial Listing: Chicago, IL \|CMA Wentworth Military Academy Lexington, MO \|WMA Lexington, VA \|VMI Throggs Neck, NY \|SMC Howe Military School Howe, IN \|HMS Bataan Military Academy Albuquerque, NM \|BAA Culver Military Academy Culver, IN \|CMA Salina, KS \|SJMS Selected by Our Editors: Valley Forge Military Academy and College St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy Massanutten Military Academy Fork Union Military Academy Marine Military Academy Camden Military Academy Oak Ridge Military Academy The Benefits of Enrolling Your Child in a Military Boarding School Military Schools Help Boys With ADHD What Are The Advantages of Choosing A Military School? Five Ways That Boys Learn Best ABOUT MILITARY SCHOOL USA This directory is designed to help families understand the ins and outs of military school education. It is a new day for military schools — they are not for troubled kids, but instead they are for those who wish to get ahead in life and career. This directory of military schools and military academies will help you explore the available options and select the best military school. Copyright © 2020 Exceed Marketing Solutions, LLC. All Rights Reserved \| About \| Advertise \| Disclaimer \| Privacy \| Sitemap Should you need help finding affordable Christian boarding schools, therapeutic boarding schools, and schools for troubled teens please let us know. Military schools offer structure, mentorship and a safe environment that limits distractions and temptations that can detract from academic and personal progress. Still, military schools are not always the right choice for every young person. While military schools offer structure, and academic and athletic discipline in a controlled environment, military schools are not intended to act as a rehabilitation program. Military schools want students who wish to prepare themselves for a future in a collegiate, military, or professional setting.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1687
__label__wiki	0.83373	0.83373	Dance, dance, dance! (To new Scrimshaw and Heavy Hand videos) Matt Wild Fear, Jon Bon Jovi, and the worst Q&A ever Milwaukee Record Recommended: January 13-19 Milwaukee Record Staff Milwaukee Record Halftime Show advances to NFC Championship with Nasty Boys Tyler Maas Practice space makes perfect space for Flat Teeth’s “Side Attack” video Milwaukee Record Recommended: January 6-12 Milwaukee Music Roundup: December 2019 MKE SEX: If the apartment walls are a-rockin'... Lucky Tomaszek 9 Milwaukee events celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Viking Cruises to bring ‘Speed 2: Cruise Control’ to Milwaukee in 2022 Begun, the Ravine Road Petition War has 50 pictures of Tuesday’s Trump protest, plus 1 picture of the Bistro Burgers we got at Swingin’ Door Exchange after the protest How to navigate the mass hysteria of today’s Trump rally, Trump protest, and Bucks game Obama in the rain, and 7 other notable presidential visits to Milwaukee 1840 Brewing Company to open this weekend 315 Friday fish frys and counting: Hacienda Beer Co. (Milwaukee) Caleb Westphal Culver’s and 14 other Wisconsin-based chains deserving of a Doughboys visit You have 1 day to bid on stuff from Bayshore’s closed food court (including the Rocky Rococo signs) Buckle up (and sign a waiver) for Lakefront Brewery’s hot wing challenge Caribbean restaurant planned for former Cocina, Chez Jacques space in Walker’s Point 314 Friday fish frys and counting: TJ’s Roundabout (Muskego) Steve Breese is bridging Milwaukee’s comedic gap Take a look inside Ampersand Theater’s new performance space before Friday’s opening Doughboys announce chain restaurant for Milwaukee show Doughboys announce guest for next week’s Turner Hall live show Take a look inside The Laughing Tap, a Walker’s Point comedy club that opens Friday How long can you watch Saturday Night Live’s “Wisconsin Women” sketch before turning it off? The Laughing Tap comedy club is asking for donations, announces opening weekend Let's take a moment to recognize that the guy who voiced Howard the Duck is from Milwaukee 5 reasons to watch ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’ with us January 22 Here’s UWM Union Cinema’s winter 2020 lineup Milwaukee skyline prominently, strangely featured on Netflix reality show ‘The Circle’ We’re screening ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’ at Avalon Theater in January Celebrate the life of David Bowie with January 10 screenings of ‘Labyrinth’ and ‘Cat People’ at Avalon Theater and Times Cinema Milwaukee made an appearance on last night’s episode of ‘Supergirl’ Watch the new Coakley Brothers water tower sculpture light up for the first time 20 Years Later: Lion’s Tooth co-owner Cris Siqueira in conversation with Peter Bagge Cris Siqueira Want to paint a mural on the 2nd Street skywalk of The Avenue? Apply now! Milwaukee Fringe Festival announces 2020 festival and submission dates Behold Nomad World Pub’s new large-scale, interactive, Pandora-equipped mural 20 Years Later: Lion’s Tooth co-owner Cris Siqueira in conversation with Dame Darcy Here’s the schedule for the 2019 Milwaukee Krampusnacht, coming to the Bavarian Bierhaus December 5 George Webb will hand out free burgers October 18 to celebrate Brewers' 12-game winning streak Is Baby Yoda a Packers fan? Walt Disney’s CEO, a bunch of unlicensed shirts seem to think so Midseason Report: The Milwaukee Bucks are on pace for a historically good year Dan Shafer The differences and difficulties of being a Packers fan living in Scotland Erik Niewiarowski It’s been exactly a year since Giannis smoked James Harden in the head with a pass How Green Bay head coaches have fared in their post-Packers NFL coaching career 4 things we know about Disney’s Giannis movie, despite the very nature of existence being unknowable Yo-Dot and milo weigh in on the state of Milwaukee hip-hop in Episode 17 of On The Record My First Band: Shane Parsons (DZ Deathrays) My First Band: Abby Jeanne My First Band: Looking back at 2019 My First Band: Marielle Allschwang (Collections Of Colonies Of Bees, Group Of The Altos) My First Band: Joe Wong (The Trap Set, Russian Doll, Master Of None) My First Band: Christopher Porterfield (Field Report, DeYamond Edison) Lion’s Tooth debuts alt-comics subscription service, looks ahead to brick-and-mortar future Milwaukee has a long and storied history with alternative comic books. Local artists like Jim Mitchell and Denis Kitchen were influential figures in the underground comix boom of the 1960s and ’70s. Events like Milwaukee Zine Fest keep the flame alive today. But even in a city blessed with numerous comic book shops and independent bookstores, there’s no place that deals exclusively in alternative comics and graphic novels. Happily, that’s about to change. Enter Lion’s Tooth, a new subscription service debuting right this very second, and a brick-and-mortar store debuting soon. The brainchild of Shelly McClone-Carriere and Cris Siqueira, Lion’s Tooth aims to spread the good word of alt-comics and graphic novels (think artists like Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, and Robert Crumb) to adults and young adults alike. For both McClone-Carriere and Siqueira, it’s a mission to be taken very seriously. “The graphic novels we’re talking about, we consider them high literature,” Siqueira says. “That ties into our name. It doesn’t have to be a rose to be a flower. It can be a dandelion.” Siqueira cultivated a love for alternative comics in the 1990s and early 2000s while working as a comics publisher and translator in her native Brazil. In 1997, she interviewed dozens of prominent cartoonists; more than 20 years later, she’s interviewing them again. McClone-Carriere, meanwhile, is a co-founder of the Riverwest Co-op and currently works at Highland Community School. Their combined experience and shared ethos make them uniquely suited to their new venture. “We both have a DIY mentality,” Siqueira says. “We were both punk rockers. I was in the riot girl movement in Brazil. So we want to do something that refers to that, something that refers to that kind of ethic. “We both want to start something for the next phase of our lives. We want to be our own bosses,” she adds. To that end, McClone-Carriere and Siqueira envision Lion’s Tooth as a bookstore crossed with a cafe crossed with a wine bar crossed with a community center. (Siqueira: “I think Milwaukee has the best bars in the country. It has wonderful restaurants. And we have wonderful bookstores. But we don’t really have a bookstore with food and alcohol, with everything together.”) Though many of the titles carried at the shop will be aimed at teen and young adult readers, the overall experience will be suited for the entire family. “It will be a space where adults can interact with their children,” says McClone-Carriere, who has three children between the ages of 12 and 15. “You can go there, your kids can be in a workshop, and you can be in a workshop with them. Or you can be getting some coffee, tea, or wine while they’re browsing titles on the shelves.” “The graphic novels and art we think are authentic are not something…they’re not mainstream,” Siqueira says. “This is the community we cater to. We would like the young adult titles to be the gateway.” Lion’s Tooth plans to open its physical location in 2020. In the meantime, there’s the just-launched subscription service. Not only does it serve as a crowdfunding effort to raise money for the brick-and-mortar store, it features work from national and local artists. Each monthly care package comes bundled with a new-release book (titles by Richard Sala and Adrian Tomine are among the first offerings), a zine from a local artist (Luke Chappelle is on board for the debut January package), a mini zine contextualizing the featured book, and other swag and goodies. “We’re being very careful about choosing these books. They need to be the best books of the month,” Siqueira says. “We’re also evangelistic. We want people to know who these artists are.” Multiple subscription options are available in both the Kids and Adults tracks, including graphic novels, non-fiction, and even music-related books curated by Milwaukee Record. Pre-shipping prices range from $60 for a three-month kids subscription to $300 for a 12-month adult subscription. “We want to the subscription service to reproduce at home the experience you will eventually have at our physical space,” Siqueira says. “A magical package of surprises. You’re going to get something and it’s going to open your mind a little bit more.” Lion’s Tooth made its pop-up debut at the recent Beet Street Harvest Festival, but more events are on the way. McClone-Carriere and Siqueira will set up similar pop-ups at Hover Craft on December 1, and the Brew City Crafters Market on December 14. A full Lion’s Tooth release party is scheduled for November 23 at Sugar Maple, complete with music from Scrimshaw and Negative/Positive. All of this will lead up to an eventual physical location. It’s an ambitious plan that, when realized, will give Milwaukee a truly unique space that celebrates the art and possibilities of physical media. “We want the experience to be like when we were young, going to a record store, flipping through records and trying to find that thing that inspires you, that makes you think,” McClone-Carriere says. “I remember my first Fugazi record and being like, ‘Whoa, this blows me away! They’re talking about all these ideas I never heard of before!'” “It should be a magical place,” Siqueira adds. “Even if you’ve never thought about graphic novels before, you can go there for a beer. And I know you’re going to look at something and you’re going to say, ‘What is that?'” Subscribe to Lion’s Tooth now. The first package is set for January 2020. FeatureLion's Tooth Co-Founder and Editor Matt Wild weighs between 140 and 145 pounds. He lives on Milwaukee's east side. Record Recommended Events Crafty Cow2675 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. mon20jan5:00 pmRecord RecommendedMidwest Pastry Stout Challenge5:00 pm Crafty Cow High Dive701 E. Center St. mon20jan8:00 pmRecord RecommendedNick Lang's B-day: Derek Pritzl And The Gamble + Joseph Huber8:00 pm High Dive Avalon Atmospheric Theater2473 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. wed22jan7:00 pmRecord RecommendedMilwaukee Record Presents: 'Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story'7:00 pm Avalon Atmospheric Theater Bremen Cafe901 E. Clarke St. wed22jan9:00 pmRecord RecommendedRiversedge + Momotaros, Holy Shit!9:00 pm Bremen Cafe © 2020 MKE REC LLC. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1688
__label__wiki	0.992038	0.992038	Get to know Okzharp & Manthe Ribane, the cosmic, politicised r’n’b duo The Hyperdub mainstay and South African multimedia queen make music with a futurist rhythmic framework Words: Joe Muggs \| Photography: Sarah Ginn Okzharp & Manthe Ribane’s album ‘Closer Apart’ was made for situations where club pumpers aren’t enough. Last summer, Gervase Gordon (aka Okzharp) and Manthe Ribane were asked to play an auditorium show by the swanky Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris. “We played our two EPs,” says Ribane, “but they’re all bangers! They’re great for clubs or big festivals, but it made me realise I wanted to be able to play anywhere – galleries, theatres, anywhere – and that’s where these songs began.” The result is a record of dreamy, futuristic r’n’b fusions, still immense in scale, yet intimate, too, with the soft certainty of Ribane’s poetic invocations front and centre. Amazingly, given her assured voice, Ribane had never made music before she teamed up with Gordon – formerly of Hyperdub stalwarts LV – in 2015. She was already a rising star in her native South Africa, though, a stylist, designer and dancer with her own studio who’d toured with Die Antwoord and Spoek Mathambo. Gordon is also SA-born, and while he’s lived in London for many years he’s made regular trips back since his career began just over a decade ago: indeed, one of LV’s breakthrough tracks was 2010’s UK funky-inflected ‘Boomslang’ with Durban-born MC Okmalumkoolkat, now a big star at home. “It’s great to see him play to thousands of people,” says Gordon; “and hilarious to think we made ‘Boomslang’ entirely in my kitchen!” Gordon met Ribane via an extended family of artists that included Okmalumkoolkat and filmmaker Chris Saunders, and though their tastes were very different (“I think it was really only Sun Ra, Björk, Erykah Badu and house music that we converged on,” says Gordon), they found common ground very quickly. “We’re inspired by our life stories and what we went through,” says Ribane; “how we can even take our wounds as a positive revelation to speak about. It’s about strength, and imagining a new world and new possibilities.” This isn’t an over-serious project, though. Everything the duo do is shot through with wry humour, and if they’re ambitious about the cultural spaces they reach, they’re still rooted in dance rhythms. Last year, they played alongside Chicago’s Teklife DJs in London. “It was Manthe’s first exposure to footwork,” remembers Gordon. “She had a dance battle with Sirr TMO, one of the best dancers out of Chicago, with her doing mega-speed Pantsula moves!” Ribane says, “I want people to listen to our music in all contexts. I hope it can work anywhere, including big festivals. And that means we’ll always need bangers!” Joe Muggs ‘Closer Apart’ is out on Hyperdub now Joe Muggs is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Mixmag, follow him on Twitter Okzharp & Manthe Ribane Gervase Gordon get tio know	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1690
__label__cc	0.712798	0.287202	Why did Groundhog Day take place on Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day is of course an ingenious premise: a jerk is stuck in a time loop forced to relive the same day over and over and over until he becomes a kind, generous man and finally understands love. It's a moral tale that will almost certainly stand the test of time. It's a story that could have been set in any place or time. But there's also the added element that the story takes place during America's most unappreciated and hokey holiday in the boonies of Pennsylvania. Why did the screenwriters or producers decide to set the film on Groundhog Day, in Punxsutawney? When in the movie-making process did they make that decision, or was it a "Groundhog Day movie" from inception? analysis groundhog-day TenthJustice Well, if it had been set on Independence Day, the movie would have been called Independence Day. ;-) – matt_black Feb 4 '17 at 11:07 @matt_black - well, besides, if they had set it on Independence Day, then Phil would have to relive the aliens blowing up Punxsutawney every day. – Omegacron Feb 5 '17 at 6:02 BTW, for some reason, I only now realized this question was asked a day after Groundhog Day. – Walt Feb 5 '17 at 6:24 Apparently, it was mostly arbitrary. From a TCM article about the film: Some viewers may be surprised to learn that there was no major reason why Groundhog Day was the holiday chosen for the film's backdrop. In an online interview with [the film's] writer [Danny] Rubin, he explains: "There were many reasons that Groundhog Day was a good arbitrary choice. It was a good choice because it's in the dead of winter. That made good sense for the story since the main character was stuck in his darkest day. It made sense that the character would come from out of town, and that the character was predicting the weather.... It's also an 'unexploited' movie holiday. The reason it became Groundhog Day was that I got the idea right around that time, and I happened to be one of the few people outside Pennsylvania that knew about it." Rubin further elaborated in this Telegraph article that he just picked it out of a calendar: When I sat down to begin writing this screenplay the first thing I knew I had to figure out was which day was repeating. To begin, I simply opened the calendar and the first holiday I came across was Groundhog Day, February 2. Yes, it was that simple. In America people are vaguely aware of a holiday called “Groundhog Day”, and that somewhere there is a large rodent whose emergence from his burrow tells spectators whether or not spring is going to come early. But because of a writing job I had done years before for a Pennsylvania phone company I was one of the few people outside of that state who knew that the groundhog festival took place in a small town called Punxsutawney. By choosing Punxsutawney I had a small, claustrophobic place for my character to get stuck. I also had a reason for my character, a weatherman, to go to the town: to cover the groundhog festival. I even had a name for my character: Phil, which I had borrowed from the famous groundhog. WaltWalt (I recommend the entire article in that second link, BTW. Rubin explains in detail how he came to write the film and includes some interesting tidbits.) – Walt Feb 3 '17 at 22:59 TIL Groundhog Day: The Musical exists... – Jason C Feb 5 '17 at 2:00 I find it odd that there are mentions in both the question AND answer about Groundhog Day being an obscure holiday outside of Pennsylvania. I grew up in Texas, where the idea of "winter" is a joke, and yet we STILL know about Groundhog Day. – Omegacron Feb 5 '17 at 6:05 @Omegacron What are the odds you know about the Holiday BECAUSE of the movie? – Vincent Vancalbergh Feb 5 '17 at 8:05 @VincentVancalbergh - nope, known about it since I was a kid back in the 70's. In either Kindergarten or 1st grade, the teacher had us make groundhogs out of construction paper. One of those early memories that stick with you. – Omegacron Feb 6 '17 at 18:34 Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged analysis groundhog-day . What caused and ended the time loop in Groundhog Day? Is Independence Day a comedy spoof? Was it actually an average day? For how long is Phil stuck in the Groundhog Day's loop? Why did Teddy ask to change the place where the picture was about to be taken? Why didn't the scientists in Stranger Things recognise this place? When does the day reset in Groundhog day? In Groundhog Day, why don't they have hot water?	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1693
__label__cc	0.517361	0.482639	The Literary Center Home / Products tagged “Romer” A Woman’s Guide to Self-Nurturing: How to Build Self-Esteem by Being Nice to Yourself (paperback) Creative Aging: A Baby Boomer’s Guide to Successful Living Divorced: Survival Techniques for Singles over Forty Helping the Disabled Veteran: How to Assist Your Disabled Veteran’s Adjustment to Civilian Life Life after Losing a Child Passing On: How to Prepare Ourselves for the Afterlife Recovering from Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Stalking The Widower’s Guide to a New Life Widow: A Survival Guide for the First Year Widow: How to Survive (and Thrive!) in Your 2d, 3d, and 4th Years © 2017 MSI Press, LLC. All rights reserved. We ship only to the USA from our webstore. Please contact us at orders@msipress.com for bulk sales and foreign orders. All discounted sales are final. Dismiss	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1694
__label__wiki	0.518811	0.518811	Marine Transportation System MTS Matters Posts Tagged ‘Norfolk’ change, congestion, Federal Maritime Commission, freight, LA/Long Beach, Marine Terminals, Norfolk, NY/NJ, Ports, TIGER grants, trucking A Perspective on Port Dominoes In Competition, Efficiency, Intermodal, Ports on October 3, 2014 at 12:52 am A few days ago over 100 people packed a room at high up in Baltimore’s World Trade Center for a day-long forum on “port congestion” convened by the Federal Maritime Commission. It was the second of four planned public meetings–the first was in Los Angeles and the next two will occur in New Orleans and Charleston. The window views from the meeting venues will not be the only differences in what is observed at the four sessions but there are bound to be things in common, too. The subject of congestion means different things depending on where you are. The severity of the problem also depends on when the post-Panamax ships will arrive in greater numbers to the Gulf and on the East Coast. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach qualify as Congestion Central if only as a matter of volume and a PierPass system that is working only too well. Some of what they are experiencing could be visited upon the Port of New York/New Jersey in less two years’ time when the Panama Canal gives way to the big ships and if certain problems are not fixed by that time. But that does not mean New York Harbor isn’t experiencing head-throbbing congestion today. Name the problem or snafu and the bistate port has experienced it like punches to the gut. So much so that it did not take much convincing to get terminals, truckers, shippers, labor, carriers and others in the room and agree to hold hands and embark on a waterfront version of a 12-step program. Norfolk may have 50-feet of water to suit, first, colliers and now big box ships but it also is scrambling to have infrastructure and systems ready in a couple years. Truck and terminal-related problems prompted Norfolk’s own come-to-jesus/how-can-we-fix-this? process. Like other ports the problem is more on land than in the water. The concern isn’t about ships scraping bottom but about terminals getting stuck without a chassis or with too many ships and too little in the way of equipment, labor, trucks or gates. It helps that the Vice President brought a $15 million TIGER grant to Norfolk last week to help pay for improvements to gates and last-mile infrastructure over the next few years. In the South Atlantic the stories and problems will sound a bit different, as they will in the Gulf. Ports there undoubtedly will paint favorable comparisons to their troubled brethren to the north in a sort of Alfred E. Newman way–“What, me congested?”–and not without reason. But there the trucking and chassis management problems may be only in early stages of development and more of the big ships (and perhaps big-ship-challenges) may be in their future. In fact they are counting on it. A perspective on the problems facing terminals recently appeared in the Journal of Commerce. The opinion piece by John Crowley, Executive Director of the National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE, a client) was cited at the FMC forum by Bill Shea, CEO of Direct ChassisLink (DCLI) in its enumeration of congestion-inducing factors that are in play to one extent or another at U.S. container ports. Crowley pointed to 12 factors including the bunching of ship arrivals, larger ships and cargo discharges, local traffic congestion, terminal capacity and gate hours, truck driver decisions, labor shortages, and even severe weather such as has been seen in the Gulf and more recently from Superstorm Sandy. Most of those were mentioned by speakers at the Baltimore session this week. Crowley’s piece speaks to the fact that the symptoms of what is being called port congestion are seen throughout much of the intermodal supply chain, which is to say, not just right there at the marine terminal. “The intermodal freight system…consists of market-based industry segments. There are pressures aimed at making each segment more operationally efficient and increasingly productive. It’s a system of nonstop competition, hypersensitive economics and narrow margins. We see it in the increasing size of container ships, the investments made in marine terminal technology and capacity,” etc. “The market determines demands on price and service levels from the modal carriers which, in turn is felt throughout the supply chain and by all modal carriers. Situated in the midst of those demands are marine terminals that strive for each modal operation – marine, rail and truck – to be roughly in sync.” John Crowley “encourages all industry sectors to collaborate, as much as practicable and permissible under law, to arrive at solutions that will serve their mutual interests… Our operators rely on each mode to similarly commit. Solutions may not come as easily and swiftly as we all would like, but they will have to come about through adaptation in the marketplace by the principal actors in the intermodal freight system…” He calls for government policies that foster market solutions where possible. “We welcome positive and appropriate federal involvement that contributes to solutions but will resist unproductive, regulatory intrusions into terminal operations and where even well-intended government involvement will only frustrate the development of market solutions.” Find the full piece here. Those views were also heard by the folks in the crowded 21st floor meeting room in Baltimore. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s Rick Larrabee described one of the guiding principals in the formation of the Port Performance Task Force 10 months ago. The port’s stakeholders had to be willing to “look inside” for answers as much to look to others in the port to fix the problems. Few of those problems stand alone. A line of dominoes is not the perfect metaphor but it will do. The trucker’s dilemma, for example, is one that is felt and affected by other actors in the supply chain. The companies and drivers have something to contribute but without changes in other sectors the drayage problems will become more severe; the congestion will worsen. Dire predictions underscored the calls for solutions. Collective efforts formed to tackle problems in the ports of San Pedro Bay, New York Harbor and Hampton Roads and as a result there is reason for optimism. But as several people told the FMC commissioners this week, we will have a rough year or two, starting this winter, until those solutions are implemented by the principal actors in the port marketplace. Meanwhile, the FMC will hold its forums. The commissioners and staff are taking notes and those will emerge in some form of a report. It is good for the government to be alert to what is going on at the nation’s gateways and the problems of the freight logistics system. That agency may even decide to take some action to the extent its limited jurisdiction allows. But it is up to the chassis, terminal, truck, ship, rail and distribution center operators and the beneficial cargo owners ultimately to figure out how to make things work better. Pbea A Transparent FMC Strategy A Thirty-Year Project: Fixing Civil Works A Working Relationship (and Work in Progress) Kindest and Other Trump Cuts A Budget Like None Other? Making a Last, Lasting Maritime Policy Impression Competing Agencies, Maybe. Not Ideas Meeting of Agendas at the Metrics Meeting Holy Grail, PortMan! DPW Redux? Still a Compelling Alternative Rx: Port Decongestant Measuring Port Performance Word Searching the State of the Union 9/11 airports Alternative Fuels AMH appropriations asia barge Budget Process California cargo security CBP change Channels civil works climate change CMTS Coast Guard congestion Congress Corps of Engineers DHS Dredging emissions energy Environment EPA Federal Maritime Commission freight goods movement Harbor Maintenance Tax Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund high speed rail Home Depot Homeland Security ILWU IMO innovation intermodal Jones Act LaHood LNG MAP-21 MARAD marine highways Marine Terminals maritime Maritime Administration MTS MTSNAC NOAA NY/NJ Oakland Obama opinion port congestion Ports Port Security Grants President Obama rail regulation SAFETEA-LU Senate shippers stakeholders supply chain surface transportation taxes TIGER TIGER grants trucking TSA USACE USDOT vessels WRDA Bernie Wagenblast's Transportation Communications Newsletter Dennis Bryant's Maritime Blog TRANSpolicy Blog U.S. Maritime Safety Network MTS Links America's Marine Highways program Committee on the Marine Transportation System Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council Maritime Administration MTS Page Another good one, no doubt! twitter.com/Charlie_Sheldo…...... 3 days ago Monday #Maritune: Before The Mast and Riversong sing Across the Western Ocean. “There's Liverpool Pat with his tarp… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…...... 6 days ago 3/3 ...and enabling future predictability of resources, the Corps could implement a more strategic plan to maintain… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…...... 1 week ago 2/3 "I applaud the bold steps that the committee has taken toward unlocking available resources to address the sign… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…...... 1 week ago 1/3 At #WRDA2020 hearing today, LtGen Semonite, Chief @USACEHQ, said "I applaud" the good committee work on behalf… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…...... 1 week ago	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1697
__label__cc	0.58579	0.41421	Preparing for Extreme Heterogeneity in High Performance Computing Jeffrey S. Vetter Distinguished R&D Staff Member. Leader, Future Technologies Group Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Tennessee, USA While computing technologies have remained relatively stable for nearly two decades, new architectural features, such as heterogeneous cores, deep memory hierarchies, non-volatile memory (NVM), and near-memory processing, have emerged as possible solutions to address the concerns of energy-efficiency and cost. However, we expect this ‘golden age’ of architectural change to lead to extreme heterogeneity and it will have a major impact on software systems and applications. Software will need to be redesigned to exploit these new capabilities and provide some level of performance portability across these diverse architectures. In this talk, I will sample these emerging technologies, discuss their architectural and software implications, and describe several new approaches (e.g., domain specific languages, intelligent runtime systems) to address these challenges. An AI-Guided Multiscale Modelling of Platelet Dynamics on Parallel Processors Yuefan Deng Professor of Applied Mathematics Associate Director, Institute for Engineering-Driven Medicine Stony Brook University, New York, USA We present the general methodologies of cell modelling by coupling in vitro experiments, multiscale modelling, and artificial intelligence, while demonstrating their power in fast and accurate modelling of platelet aggregations. Platelet aggregations stimulate blood clotting that causes heart attacks and strokes, resulting in 20 million deaths worldwide each year. To reduce such deaths, we must discover new drugs. To discover new drugs, we must understand platelets’ dynamics that, with modelling, involves setting up the basic space and time discretisation in huge ranges of 5-6 orders of magnitudes, resulting from the relevant fundamental interactions at atomic, molecular, cell, and fluid scales. To achieve the desired accuracy at the minimal computational costs, we must select the correct physiological parameters in the force fields as well as the spatial and temporal discretisation, by machine learning. PNNL’s Data-Model Convergence Initiative – 2020 Update James A. Ang, Ph.D. Chief Scientist for Computing, Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, USA Date: TBC PNNL’s Data-Model Convergence (DMC) Initiative was launched in January 2019. The DMC Initiative is pursing integration of high performance computing (HPC) modelling and simulation, data/graph analytics, and domain-aware machine learning computing paradigms on multiple levels. This five-year initiative is creating the next generation of scientific computing capability through a software and hardware co-design effort at the levels of: 1) heterogeneous workloads, 2) integrated system software stack, and 3) conceptual designs for heterogeneous system-on-chip processors. This 2020 update will provide an overview of our portfolio of DMC projects in Application Domains, Data Sciences, Software Stack and Hardware Architectures. Computing workflows that use this converged DMC software and hardware architecture support laboratory objectives in accelerating scientific discovery, and real-time control of the power grid. Literate Pair Programming: iimacs.org Hippie Hacker (Chris McClimans) – CEO ii, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Creating and maintaining a culture of collaboration requires tooling to capture`the way we work’ in addition to `the work itself’. By combining pairing and literate programming templates we can capture, modify, and improve the way we work together. Literate programming (Knuth 1984), interweaves essay style writing with blocks of code. Basically treating programs as literature. Pair programming encourages cross-discipline thinking. It accelerates onboarding and process improvement particularly when pairing sessions / workflows can be templated. Literate Pair Programming (LPP) is similar to interweaving Google docs and Jupyter notebooks and allows evolution of the ‘way we work’ in addition to providing meaningful output from each session. iimacs.org is the ii approach (ii.coop) to LPP based on emacs + org-mode that can be run via the command line within a Kubernetes cluster. In this walkthrough / demo, audience participation is expected as we mob/pair our way though a few workflows for some realtime cloud-native collaboration together. • Launching a iimacs pairing session in Kubernetes • Sharing mob/pair session with the audience (web/ssh) • Organizing our workflow • Capturing the output of our code • Exporting our work to various formats • Exporting our work directly over terminal / web • Example Templated Workflows • Working in multiple languages at once • Creating Kubernetes Conformance Tests The Pegasus Workflow Management System: Current Applications and Future Directions Ewa Deelman, Research Director, Science Automation Technologies Division University of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA The Pegasus Workflow Management System is designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of scientific applications. It automates the execution of complex and large-scale workflow task graphs operating on large amounts of data. Since 2001 Pegasus has been working with a number of applications such as LIGO, the gravitational-wave physics experiment, to enable them to accomplish their scientific goals. In 2016, Pegasus was used by LIGO to analyze their experimental data, confirming the first ever direct detection of a gravitational wave. Pegasus also delivers robust automation capabilities to researchers at the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) studying seismic phenomena, to astronomers seeking to understand the structure of the universe, to material scientists developing new drug delivery methods, and to students seeking to understand human population migration. An example of societal impact is SCEC’s use of Pegasus to generate the world’s first physics-based probabilistic seismic hazard map that provides insight into why earthquakes in the Los Angeles basin can be so destructive. This information can inform civil engineering practices in the area. This talk focuses on the current Pegasus capabilities and describes new research directions that will inform future Pegasus development. All Tomorrow’s Memories (with apologies to Lou Reed) Bruce Jacob – Keystone Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA Memory and communication are the primary reasons that our time-to-solution is no better than it currently is … the memory system is slow; the communication overhead is high; and yet a significant amount of research is still focused on increasing processor performance, rather than decreasing (the cost of) data movement. I will discuss recent & near-term memory-system technologies including high-bandwidth DRAMs and nonvolatile main memories, as well as the impact of tomorrow’s memory technologies on tomorrow’s applications and operating systems. Modern multicore and manycore designs exacerbate the problem, but two solutions are on the horizon. Speed Up Your Parallel Application Without Doing Much Ruud van der Pas – Netherlands Surprisingly, many developers ignore the low hanging fruit when it comes to performance tuning. Admittedly the word “low” is relative to how tall you are, but as we will demonstrate in this talk, a combination of the right tools and basic insights can deliver significant performance improvements. We will illustrate this using a graph analysis application. Why aren’t we there yet? The journey to Exascale COTS computing Duncan Hall – IMD Strategy and Planning Manager Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Wellington, New Zealand The Green500 list, published biannually alongside the Top500 list, ranks the energy efficiency of the top 500 or so supercomputers (whose data is made public) by FLOPS per Watt. I continue to analyse Green500 data to forecast likely trajectories towards Exascale (~10^18 FLOPS) Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) computing. Building an open, safe, accessible AI & HPC ecosystem Andrew Richards – CEO and co-founder Codeplay Ltd, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The world of AI & HPC is dominated by closed, proprietary software models. To get high performance today, systems need accelerators that have high levels of parallelism, but use closed programming models like CUDA. How do we open this up? How do we make these models safe enough to drive a car? How do we get an industry to work together with industry standards? Andrew and Codeplay have been working on these challenges for years. This talk will show the huge progress made today (SYCL, SPIR-V, oneAPI) and where we’re going next. Addressing Challenges in Data movement and Communication Samantika Sury – Principal Engineer Intel Corp., Westford, Massachusetts, USA While the last decade of computer architecture has established many novel compute solutions we find that application performance is often dominated by data movement. The convergence of HPC, AI and analytics and emergence of edge computing has furthered the trend of applications needing to access large amounts of memory fast and efficiently and with low energy. In this talk we demonstrate the performance and power impact of data movement on key parallel applications and explore architectural solutions like tightly coupled heterogeneity, moving compute to data and adaptive hardware to address the performance challenges due to data movement. Towards Dynamic Resource Management in Next Generation HPC Environments Balazs Gerofi – Research Scientist System Software Research Team, RIKEN Center for Computational Science (RIKEN-CCS) – Tokyo, Japan Workload diversity in high-performance computing (HPC) environments has experienced an explosion in recent years. The increasing prevalence of Big Data processing, in-situ analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) workloads, as well as multi-component workflows is pushing the limits of supercomputing systems that have been primarily designed to serve parallel simulations. In addition, with the growing complexity of the hardware there is also a growing interest for multi-tenancy and for a more dynamic, cloud-like execution environment. All these trends bring together a large variety of runtime components that do not cooperate well with each other, which in turn can lead to suboptimal performance. This talk will enumerate a number of representative workloads that stress the limitations of the traditional HPC center. We then highlight some of the underlying forces which shape requirements of next generation systems and propose a cross-stack coordination layer that aims to resolve these conflicts. Finally, through some of our previous efforts in this space we demonstrate the benefits of the overall approach. Featured image – Stephan Friedl – Cisco – USA. Multicore World 2012 Photo Credit: Open Parallel Ltd Click on Names for Bio and Slides (available after the talk) PNNL’s Data-Model Convergence Initiative James A. Ang – Chief Scientist for Computing, Physical & Computational Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, USA The Data-Model Convergence (DMC) Initiative is an opportunity for PNNL to integrate high performance computing (HPC) modelling and simulation, data/graph analytics, and domain-aware machine learning computing paradigms. The DMC Initiative is a five-year effort to create the next generation of scientific computing capability through a focused, integrated software and hardware co-design effort. Our goal is to take the current approach for independent computing paradigms and integrate them into one converged computing capability. Computing workflows that use this converged DMC architecture will support laboratory objectives in scientific discovery, and real-time control of the power grid. Cosmic Rays and Computers: The Sky is Falling Sean Blanchard, Linux and HPC expert, Systems Engineer Ultrascale Systems Research Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico, USA As HPC systems grow larger and larger each year new scaling challenges become evident that have not been problematic in the past. What once were rare one in a million events have become common everyday occurrences in data centers that contain tens to hundreds of thousands of computers. I will speak on one of these rare events, how the death of giant stars millions of years ago can crash your computers today. I will also discuss current efforts to understand the rates of these events compared to other similar events and how these problems can be mitigated in the future. Simulating Data Center Networks Ariel Hendel, Infrastructure Technologist Pallavi Shurpali, Infrastructure Engineer Facebook, Inc. Menlo Park, California, USA The massive scale of Compute and Storage capacity designed and deployed by Mega Data Center operators has naturally attracted much attention. In terms of efficiency improvements in all its engineering aspects, be it power distribution, cooling, optimal compute building blocks, selective use of DRAM, flash, and spinning media for different storage tiers, and the network that binds all parts together. At such scale efficiency matters a lot. Unlike other technology innovations, operators view these efficiency gains as benefitting the industry in general and have collaborated to share them across the entire ecosystem and supply chain for example within the Open Compute Project (OCP). Ultimately the services hosted in Data Centers, owned by the Operator or not, come from semiconductors in the form of Processors, Memory subsystems, Non-Volatile Memories, I/O interfaces, and network switches. The innovation in such semiconductors has been the fuel behind the increase in Data Center Capacity applied to growing services. We postulate that the efficiency gains, applied so far to system level aspects, may be getting into diminishing returns. However, semiconductor innovation has been limited to process transitions per Moore’s law, more than architectural innovation. Arguably architectural and certainly algorithmic innovation for compute and storage endpoints can be pursued at small scale, and then be deployed at scale. This is much harder to do for networking. We combine the above observations, with some recent network simulation work we performed to suggest a path forward. The development of a multi-party network simulation framework that can model a Data Center network and its endpoints at Data Center scale, and to apply such a framework to drive semiconductor level innovation either at the component level, or even at the functional block level. In our talk we present the driving forces behind the idea, some partial work done that leads us to our larger vision, and the role we see for technologists and academia joining and driving this vision forward. Accelerating The Data Center Karen Schramm, VP Technology Broadcom, Inc., San Jose, California, USA Processing demands in Data Centers continue to grow, while Moore’s Law is slowing. Operators are looking to get more out of their Xeon servers and looking to alternative compute platforms. This will be a discussion on accelerating processing in the Data Center, focusing on offload technology and dis-aggregation. Hardware offload has long been leveraged to free up CPU cycles, from relatively simple assist such as network checksum offloads through very specialized, complex offloads such as compression or a full network transport layer (e.g. TCP, RDMA). Dis-aggregation is used to improve Data Center efficiency, enabling better utilization of resources. Modern solutions combine the performance improvement and efficiency of hardware offload with the flexibility required to meet the fast pace of innovation. These solutions are being deployed today. Data will be shared from deployments for network vSwitch offload as well as dis-aggregation of storage and Xeon processors. Flexible and Scalable Domain Specific Architectures Gavin Stark, Chief Scientist Nic Viljoen, Associate Director, Software Engineering Netronome, Inc. Santa Clara, California, USA – Cape Town, South Africa In this talk we will first introduce the concept of a domain specific architecture (DSA) using the Netronome Flow Processor (NFP) as an example, we will cover the motivation, design and implementation. Thereafter we will explore how this architecture’s flexibility has been leveraged in the past to handle unique platforms such as the Facebook Yosemite v2 Platform. Finally approaches for designing flexible chipsets in the future will be explored, including the value of system wide computational modelling. Help, I Lost My Memory! What Now? Ruud van der Pas, Distinguished Engineer in the Oracle Linux and Virtualization organization Oracle, Inc. Amsterdam, Netherlands It is well-known that the memory access time is a common bottleneck in applications, but often that is also where the discussion ends. That is where this talk starts. We will explore what happens under the hood when memory is accessed, and where things may go wrong from a performance perspective. This naturally leads to an exploration of Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) systems and behaviour. This talk concludes with various examples illustrating how bad it can get, and what can be done to crank up the performance. As we’ll show, there are often ways to at least make things better and such solutions are generic, not specific to a particular system architecture. That means they are longer lasting and survive system upgrades. Perfect Math Libraries Without Sacrificing Speed: The Minefield Method John Gustafson, Professor National University of Singapore and ASTAR, Singapore Port any program using floating-point arithmetic from one platform to another, and you are likely to get different results. The most common reason is an issue that has been known for centuries: Elementary functions such as cosine, logarithm, exponential, etc. are excruciatingly difficult to round for certain input arguments, so the designers of math libraries ask us to accept a few errors in the last bit. The problem is that those errors are inconsistent from one library to another. While methods of assuring correct rounding for every value are known, they slow the function evaluations down by a huge factor. A recent breakthrough technique, the “Minefield Method,” demonstrates a new way to achieve perfect rounding with low-order approximations, eliminating the historical tradeoff between speed and correctness; you can have both. The Draft Posit Standard therefore requires all standard functions be correctly rounded for all input arguments so that posit calculations, unlike those using IEEE 754 Standard floats, can at last produce bitwise-identical results across platforms. Writing Big Data Pipelines: the Apache Beam Project Neal Glew – Software Engineer Google, Inc. Sunnyvale, California, USA. Apache Beam is an open-source project for writing big-data pipelines (from TBs to PBs+). Its heart is a programming model that unifies both batch and stream processing, allowing the programmer to separate the what, where, when, and how of processing. What actual processing is performed on the data. Where in event time is that processing done – how are event times windowed. When in processing time to materialise results. How are updates of results (due e.g. to late data) combined. Beam also provides several language-specific SDKs that instantiate the model for particular languages. Currently Java and Python are available and Go is under development. Beam also provides a portability framework that allows pipelines to be run on a variety of execution technologies. Beam itself provides a reference runner. There are also efforts to develop runners based on Apache Flink and Apache Spark. Google provides a commercial managed runner on its Google Cloud. Beam builds on the work of Map Reduce, Hadoop, Flume, Spark, and Flink. In this talk I will give an overview of the Beam programming model and briefly describe the portability framework. Big Data System Environments: What are they perceived to do and what do they do? Professor Geoffrey C. Fox, Director, Digital Science Center. Associate Dean for Research at IU School of Informatics and Computing Professor of Informatics, Computing and Physics Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA We consider Big Data Systems such as Hadoop, Spark and TensorFlow and identify what they do well (which is a lot) and where they have omissions. We consider a programming model where “every call” is wrapped by a learning framework that configures execution (auto-tuning) and learns results. We describe our big data framework Twister2 and explain where it can offer improved capabilities over current systems. What’s Next After Six Years of New Zealand’s Participation in the SKA design A/Prof Andrew Ensor, Director of the HPC Lab at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Director, New Zealand SKA Alliance (NZA) AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is both the world’s largest mega-Science and its largest big data computing project. With long-term and ambitious scientific goals, and a growing number of member countries, it might be surprising to see that New Zealand, as a founding member, still leads key parts of the computing work. The team recently completed six year’s design work for the SKA correlator, improvements on detecting and timing pulsars, supercomputing pipelines for generating images, and scalable middleware for operating a 260 PetaFLOP computer system. This talk will provide an update on the project’s status as phase one design wraps up, outline its computing and political challenges, and discuss some of its spillovers and next steps. Are cloud and HPC mutually compatible? Bruno Lago, Managing Director Catalyst Cloud, Wellington, New Zealand OpenStack and Kubernetes have introduced an open standard API for developers and researchers to interact with IT infrastructure. This standard is proving beneficial to foster collaboration between organisations worldwide and to improve the reproducibility of research experiments. Teams that have been operating HPC and supercomputing clusters often struggle to understand how they could benefit from these cloud-native technologies while maximising the performance and benefits they get from their HPC clusters. In this presentation, Bruno will highlight how HPC and cloud-native technologies can be brought together to deliver the best of both worlds. Some of the topics covered in the presentation include: Bare-metal hosts managed by OpenStack * Hypervisor optimisations for near bare-metal performance * Optimisation of cloud storage for HPC * Exposing GPUs and FPGAs to guests * Network latency, MPI, RDMA in cloud computing Learning Systems for Science Prof Ian Foster Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago, USA. New learning technologies seem likely to transform much of science, as they are already doing for many areas of industry and society. We can expect these technologies to be used, for example, to obtain new insights from massive scientific data and to automate research processes. However, success in such endeavors will require new learning systems: scientific computing platforms, methods, and software that enable the large-scale application of learning technologies. These systems will need to enable learning from extremely large quantities of data; the management of large and complex data, models, and workflows; and the delivery of learning capabilities to many thousands of scientists. In this talk, I review these challenges and opportunities and describe systems that my colleagues and I are developing to enable the application of learning throughout the research process, from data acquisition to analysis. Post-K: A Game Changing Supercomputer for Convergence of HPC and Big Data / AI Satoshi Matsuoka Director Riken-CCS / Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology. Tokyo, Japan With rapid rise and increase of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (BD/AI) as a new breed of high-performance workloads on supercomputers, we need to accommodate them at scale, and thus the need for R&D for HW and SW Infrastructures where traditional simulation-based HPC and BD/AI would converge, in a BYTES-oriented fashion. The TSUBAME3 supercomputer at Tokyo Institute of Technology which has become online in August 2017, embodies various BYTES-oriented features to allow for such convergence to happen at scale, including significant scalable horizontal bandwidth as well as support for deep memory hierarchy and capacity, along with high flops in low precision arithmetic for deep learning. TSUBAME3’s technologies have been commoditized to construct one of the world’s largest BD/AI focused open and public computing infrastructure called ABCI (AI-Based Bridging Infrastructure), hosted by AIST-AIRC (AI Research Center), the largest public funded AI research center in Japan. Although not a supercomputer for HPC, its Linpack ranking is No.1 in Japan and No.5 in the world, as well as embodying 550 AI-Petaflops for AI, as well as being extremely energy efficient with novel warm water cooling pod design. Finally, Post-K is the flagship next generation national supercomputer being developed in collaboration by Riken and Fujitsu. Post-K will have hyperscale class resources in one exascale machine, with well more than 100,000 nodes of server-class A64FX many-core Arm CPUs, realized through extensive co-design process involving the entire Japanese HPC community. Post-K is slated to perform 100 times faster on some key applications c.f. its predecessor, the K-Computer, but also will likely to be the premier big data and AI/Machine Learning infrastructure. Currently, we are conducting research to scale deep learning to more than 100,000 nodes on Post-K, where we would obtain near top GPU-class performance on each node. Day 3 – THURSDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2019 The Reinvention of Edge-to-Cloud Computing Pete Beckman, Co-Director, Northwestern-Argonne Institute for Science and Engineering. Chicago, USA Lead, Argo project for extreme-scale operating systems and run-time software. Founder and leader of the Waggle project for smart sensors and edge computing. Speed and scale define supercomputing. By some metrics, our supercomputers are the fastest, most capable systems on the planet. However over the last twenty years, the HPC community has lost sight of the edge — where the data is collected and initially processed. Instead of leading the race for new architectures, methods, and edge-to-cloud software stacks, we have focused on the performance of a handful of hero computations in the machine room. An improved architecture would focus on edge-to-cloud infrastructures, computing models, and networking. From a sensor in a farmer’s field to the supercomputer, we must reinvent end-to-end data movement and computation. A new kind of edge-to-cloud infrastructure is needed. Title: TBC Vic Crone – CEO Callaghan Innovation Exploring Emerging Memory Technologies in Extreme Scale High Performance Computing Jeffrey S. Vetter, Distinguished R&D Staff Member, founding group leader of the Future Technologies Group in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division, and the founding director of the Experimental Computing Laboratory (ExCL) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Concerns about energy-efficiency and cost are forcing our community to reexamine system architectures, and, specifically, the memory and storage hierarchy. While memory and storage technologies have remained relatively stable for nearly two decades, new architectural features, such as deep memory hierarchies, non-volatile memory (NVM), and near-memory processing, have emerged as possible solutions. However, these architectural changes will have a major impact on HPC software systems and applications. To be effective, software and applications will need to be redesigned to exploit these new capabilities. In this talk, I will sample these emerging memory technologies, discuss their architectural and software implications, and describe several new approaches to programming these systems. One system is Papyrus (Parallel Aggregate Persistent -yru- Storage); it is a programming system that aggregates NVM from across the system for use as application data structures, such as vectors and key-value stores, while providing performance portability across emerging NVM hierarchies. Authenticated, Partial Data Structures for Blockchain Scalability, Sustainability and Security Mark Moir, Architect Oracle Labs, USA – New Zealand Using our Haskell Authenticated Modular Maps (HAMM) framework, we can specify various implementations of authenticated modular maps that enable verifying and using _partial_ map (key-value store) data structures. I will present an overview of HAMM and results we have achieved with it. I will also discuss our motivation for building HAMM, which is to enable blockchain participants to quickly receive and verify part of a map representing a blockchain “world state”. This is important for addressing several practical concerns related to Blockchain Scalability, Sustainability and Security. Security Versus Performance Hugo Vincent, Principal Research Engineer. Head, Security Group Arm Research, Cambridge, UK For many in the security, computer architecture, and operating systems communities, 2018 was a tumultuous year thanks to the constant stream of new micro-architectural side channel attacks such as Spectre and Meltdown. Due to the emergence of these new attacks, and due to wider industry trends, developers are increasingly facing difficult tradeoffs between security and performance – tradeoffs that could previously be delegated to security specialists. This talk will present recent security trends in computer architecture and operating systems and their implications, share insights into the performance costs of mitigations, and conclude by looking forward to how the hardware/software contract may change over the coming years to enable developers to better balance their performance and security goals. A 36 Years Perspective of HPC’s 100 Billion Performance Improvement and Some Thoughts on What Comes Next Mark Seager, Intel Fellow, Fellow in Residence for Intel China, Director of HPC Strategy, CTO for the Technical Computing Ecosystem. Intel, Inc. San Francisco, California, USA We will provide a historical perspective on the advances in HPC hardware and software over the last 36 years: 1’s MegaFLOP/s to 100’s of PetaFLOP/s and proprietary or homegrown software stacks to open source almost everything. We will also discuss applications that were enabled as a result in this 100 billion fold increase in computational capability. We will also discuss how this has fundamentally changed scientific discovery twice and enabled a vast number of industry advances, society changes, improvement of human condition. Looking forward we will discuss the HPC+AI+HPDA converged workflows and how this is informing both computational scientific discovery and the broader coupling with and informing experimental and theoretical aspects of the scientific method. The converged workflows are also being driven by the virtuous cycle dynamic between converged workflow advances and the digital economy transformation. This converged workflow and the arrival of diverse computing architectures is profoundly challenging both system architecture and applications development practices. Many industry participants are indicating that the rate of Moore’s law improvement is slowing down and will come to an inevitable near term end. We will discuss several reasons why this alarm is not well founded, and is eerily similar to the inaccurate near term “peak oil” production predictions over the last 20+ years. Multicore World 2017 -Some speakers and participants: Pete Beckman, Victoria Maclennan, Dave Jaggar, Michael Kelly, Nathan DeBardeleben, John Gustafson, Andreas Wicenec, JC Guzman, Balasz Gerofi, Satoshi Matsuoka, Guy Kloss, Tony Hey, Paul McKenney, Piers Harding, Michelle Simmons, Duncan Hall and others Check Multicore World 2018 abstracts here	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1699
__label__wiki	0.867239	0.867239	The Chaucer Review "By Extorcions I Lyve": Chaucer's Friar's Tale and Corrupt Officials Brantley L. Bryant Penn State University Press 10.1353/cr.2007.0025 Purchase/rental options available: Buy Article for $19.00 (USD) Rent from DeepDyve In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content: “By Extorcions I Lyve”:Chaucer’s Friar’s Tale and Corrupt Officials Chaucer's Friar's Tale tells us more about the poet's own experience as a bureaucrat than its origin as a sermon exemplum and its grotesquely satirical aspects might suggest. The tale engages with a fourteenth-century discussion of the psychology and accountability of the intermediary officials who administrated royal, ecclesiastical, and manorial systems of justice and finance. The tale's lengthy initial description of the archdiaconal court is informed by this contemporary preoccupation, exploring the connections between the summoner and the institution he serves. The subsequent depiction of shoptalk between the tale's protagonist and his demonic interlocutor ventriloquizes an interpretation of corruption present in contemporary discourse, which excuses officials by attributing their extortionate behavior to the systems they serve—an interpretation that the tale calls into question. The tale's examination of the work of officials, an addition original to Chaucer's treatment, likely owes much to the poet's own experience of the pressures of officialdom and his sensitivity to the way that officials were accused or excused in political discussion. The exploration of officials in the tale is especially notable since it disrupts the flow of an otherwise well-aimed verbal assault. The Friar makes it clear that he will use his entry in the tale-telling contest to expose the Summoner's villainy, continuing a malicious exchange between the two that began in their asides to the Wife of Bath's Prologue and will culminate in the spectacularly scatological climax of the Summoner's Tale.1 His choice of tale is well suited to this purpose; drawn from sermon exempla, the Friar's story tells of a despicably corrupt summoner whose unrepentant greed earns him the punishments of hell.2 But the tale does not move particularly swiftly towards the summoner's comeuppance. The story begins with a lengthy description of its protagonist's role in the archdeacon's court, placing his crimes in a larger context of institutional corruption. The tale then narrates a long conversation between the summoner and the demonic bailiff that reveals the pressures and obligations of their offices. This lengthy "institutional prelude" takes up almost [End Page 180] two-thirds of the tale's length to detail the summoner's position and character before the exemplary narrative kicks into gear.3 H. Marshall Leicester has claimed that this "unusual" emphasis on the "initial stages" of the story allows the Friar to showcase his intellectual and social superiority to his opponent, but by examining the tale in the light of contemporary debates about officials, we can more fully round out our understanding of its curious bureaucratic digressions. Both the ecclesiastical post of summoner and the middling positions Chaucer filled were seen together, along with other more prominent offices such as sheriff and escheator, as especially prone to corruption. Thomas Hahn and Richard W. Kaeuper have definitively treated the Friar's Tale's connections to criticism of ecclesiastical summoners, the agents of the archdiaconal court who administrated its discipline of day-to-day morality.4 Hahn and Kaeuper note that the activities of the summoner in the tale closely match contemporary complaints about the rapacity of church courts, but they conclude their contextualization by noting that the Friar's Tale should also be understood within "an even broader context of contemporary criticism."5 The "broader context," to which Hahn and Kaeuper point, is the intense interest in official corruption of all kinds during this period, an interest that has left its traces in numerous satirical poems, parliamentary petitions, and legal enactments.6 This discourse regularly targets a particular set of "problem officials": among them royal administrators such as sheriffs, escheators, and coroners, but also the low-level ecclesiastical officers in charge of the day-to-day observation of lay morals, especially the archdeacon's court and its summoners. Certainly, some criticisms of high-level ecclesiastics or religious orders are framed within specifically bounded genres that have little to do with the concern over corrupt officials in general—the satirical description of orders of monks dedicated to unrestrained gluttony comes to mind. But summoners and other low... You are not currently authenticated. If you would like to authenticate using a different subscribed institution that supports Shibboleth authentication or have your own login and password to Project MUSE Authenticate OR Login Buy Digital Article for $19.00 (USD) Buy Complete Digital Issue for $25.00 (USD)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1703
__label__cc	0.550911	0.449089	Awards by MoneyTransferComparison Below you can find a list of all the awards that are issued annually by MoneyTransferComparison.com. We cover a wide span of topics that appeal to our target audience – expatriation, small businesses, finance and technology. These are not “official” awards by any means. We do not have a fixed committee that gathers to choose the participants and select a winner. We do research each topic extensively and we are feeling very confident with our choices, but it’s important that the choices represent the personal opinions of the writers and editors of MoneyTrasnferComparison.com. MoneyTransferComparion’s Most Recent Awards Click on logo to go view our selections and the winners for each category We want to expand our MoneyTransferComparison Awards section and need your help! These awards have been tremendous for both us, and our winners. One participant (and winner) of our Small Business Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017, an esteemed businesswoman named Susan Solovic has said that “It’s always a great honor to have someone take special note of the work I do to help small businesses, especially from a company that’s also concerned about small businesses and the consumer, like MoneyTransferComparison.com” in SXSW 2015, Austin, Texas. Our winners appreciate our selection and some of the world’s most important websites link back to our various award pages. Another example would be Marty Zwilling of StartupProfessionals who has won countless awards and still chose to feature MoneyTransferComparison’s awards on this page. These awards let us voice our opinion and show appreciation for those who really deserve it (in our opinion, that is). That’s why we want to further expand that feature of MoneyTransferComparison.com and need your help – which additional fields require our research? Where do you want to see us go to next? Please add your suggestions below or send them via our about us contact form. If we like your suggestion we would be happy to compensate you. Seriously. Don’t forget to visit our money transfer awards as well! Why Do We Bother Creating Such Awards? People who come to MoneyTransferComparison are here with a purpose. This is not your normal magazine / website that people visit to read about a variety of topics. No, we are focused on international money transfers and this is where our expertise is at. With that being said, we cannot ignore the fact that our audience is thirsty for information in a a number of topics which can be very perplexing. The people who need to conduct international money transfers are either expat, immigrants, small business owners or investors. Being a leading website on this topic, we feel that giving them good references to trust (i.e. “recommended blogs”) serves them well.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1708
__label__cc	0.659781	0.340219	Forum SettingsEpisode Information Yuugiri's dialect - found! Anime Series Discussion Title Discussion RecentWatchedIgnoredSearch Forum usualuniqueness I've been wondering about the dialect/way of speech that Yuugiri has, and trying to find what it actually is. I know that it is old Japanese but trying to find any information about it is difficult. I remember that in Show by Rock!! Darydayuu has a similar dialect. Does anyone have any information about this dialect/way of speech? I'm very interested in Japanese language and culture and I'd love to learn about it more. Modified by usualuniqueness, Oct 18, 2018 5:06 AM shimada_m I don't think she has spoken once, beside singing and playing shamisen when those duo doing rap scene shimada_m said: In the end of episode 1 when all of them were waking up, she asks "Whats all the commotion?" and the way she says it doesn't sound like the japanese that is used nowadays. It isn't a lot, I know, but still made me wonder about this dialect that I have heard in other series as well. EratiK usualuniqueness said: Do you have the timecode? EratiK said: In episode 1, around 21:25. It is very short, but you can hear the distinct way she says the line. So she says "nan'ya sawagashi de arisu na" ya is a Kansai-ben particle, and de arisu is the contracted form of de arimasu, formal language so yeah since she wears a kimono that means Kansai too, so maybe old imperial court like you say, I'm not that familiar with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_Japanese_language Thank you so much, this was exactly what I was looking for! this page might even be more relevant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Middle_Japanese	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1718
__label__cc	0.709303	0.290697	MyBeliefs.co.uk Dheen Shocking changes at Zaytuna College, California USA August 6, 2012 Sheikh Nazim 75 Comments Shocking changes in attitude at Zaytuna College Not so long ago, back in the late 90’s, around 1998/99, i remember zaytuna college, the foremost Islāmic establishment in America to preach & teach traditional Islam, looking like this: where there used overwhelming spiritual benefits pouring out of the highly charged and inspiring Islāmic environment built within the confines of zaytuna’s classes. They used to lay special emphasis on the Islāmic mannerism’s and code of ethics. Segregation was at the top most priority. (As you can translate from the above picture). The whole atmosphere was a good reflection of the contents being taught. Generally, the whole setting, lighting and the general ethos of people was an integral part which helped to deliver zaytuna’s promises. That being, teaching traditional Islam to its western audience. It was a place to escape from the fast paced, dog chase of the western life. With everyone being constantly busy and having no time to reflect, relax and re-connect with their lord. From the picture alone one can gather numerous understandings. The place was full of serenity, with students and teachers alike dressed in sunnah, the thowbs, beards and hats, it helped a person get into the Islāmic mind frame, to learn true love and to be truly loved by the teaching of Islam and the sunnah. The environment helped a person be taken back and transported to the times of classical Islam. To the times where Islāmic lifestyle was at its highest. It gave a taste of what it must have felt like, to learn the Islāmic sciences from people like Imam abu Hanifah, and to learn the sciences of medicine from people like Imam ghazali. One even felt you were in a truly Islāmic environment where the mannerism’s being taught were implemented and clearly viable on the students and teachers alike. The environment was a spiritual backbone which catapulted the success of the early zaytuna days. It further helped a person escape into an surreal Islāmic world where the whole environment was different to the norm of the day. Unfortunately, as with everything in life, the highly inspiring Islāmic environment which was once so prevalent in zaytuna college’s classes seems to be deteriorating very rapidly! and i lay the emphasis on the word ‘rapidly’. This is what it has become now: The presence of a physical barrier has been completely removed and thrown right back into the garden shed! The post 9/11 era has really battered the idea of ‘traditional and classical’ Islam being taught in the western world. I remember zaytuna being at the forefront in teaching traditional Islam which our greatest generation of the past, used to practice and teach. Now the idea of traditional Islam has been replaced with an idea of ‘liberal Islam’, an Islam which shows to its non-Muslim onlookers ‘look we too can do things like you. We do not need to have classes which segregate the men and women. Or, have to avoid dressing in ‘normal’ western attire of skin-tight jeans and shirts. We too have classes where the men and women sit side by side and interact with each other, often times sharing jokes and having a good college life’. As sad as it is, zaytuna college looks more like a typical western college/university. It simply has a Muslim name or a tagline to it. Other than that, there is hardly anything Islāmic about it. Its classes, the students, the teachers in many aspects, and the whole approach at zaytuna now, is western. In every sense of the word! Don’t give me excuses why they have become like this. ‘Its out of their control, they have no choice but to be like this. It’s no longer a ‘Islāmic’, school but a ‘liberal arts college’. Even if that’s the case, and they have changed their outlook from classical Islam, to modern, toned-down version of Islam. It is still in the control of the board of directors (one of them being Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, the founder and patron of zaytuna college) to enforce the lost Islāmic environment they had, in the classes. As the whole campus of zaytuna college belongs to the muslim community. So, they have the right to present and teach in classes the way they see fit. Whatever happened to the freedom of religion and the freedom of rights America champions itself with everywhere? Lastly, with the media downplaying the madrasah systems in the Muslim world to being ‘terrorists training camps’ and ‘places where extreme teachings are taught’. These leading western Islāmic institutions, like zaytuna, are quickly distancing themselves from appearing to ‘look’ like these much hated ‘madrasahs’ of the Islāmic world. Where there are only boys or men in one room and there is no sight of a woman amongst them. Zaytuna college distancing themselves into this; a ‘new’ and modern, ‘liberal arts’ Muslim school. Where there are both Muslim men and women learning side by side: The greatest fear of humans has always been the fear of the unknown. This is what is eating up these leading Islamic institutions in the west. Fear that they ‘might’, just ‘might’, get called a ‘madrasah’, the feared ‘training camps for extremists’ in the western world. The Phases of a Convert Muslim Dangers of American Islam/Muslim’ism’ Neo-Sufi Conservatism california USAhamza yusuf zaid shakir lost islamic sunnah purification of the heart zaytuna college Previous PostHistorical Orgins of the Birthday CelebrationNext PostDisturbing remarks of Shaykh Nazim Al Haqqani 75 thoughts on “Shocking changes at Zaytuna College, California USA” Shihab says: That is just like any other college and school , no way near traditional madrasa except they teach the subject Abdur Rahman ibn Faiz says: Very, very sad. May Allah guide us. abdullatif says: INNALILLAHIWAINNAIALAHIRAAJIOOON:((( Muhammad M. says: So these are the future ulama and muftis that Hamza Yusuf is producing to guide the Muslims of America? MyBeliefs.co.uk says: The terribly alarming thing is, these are the very people who are supposed to lead others once they qualify towards ‘traditional Islam’. If their teachers are so relaxed on exercising shariyah rules. – On segregation and modest dressing, then what would these ‘future’ ulema would do. They would go one step further. Maybe even introducing unislamic ethics/practices in their classes and lessons. Making many of the haram, halal. Noori says: It has become knowledge for the sake of knowledge, more like the secular schools or it’s going to that level Mufti Sadiqur Rahman says: Allahumma ahfazna fainnaka kairul hafizeen Farzeen says: Assalaamu’alaykum wa rahmatullah Is ghiba part of this “straight up, telling like it is” approach to blogging? I appreciate that you have insights into how things might be changing and I think it’s important for teachers and students of knowledge to consider these things. I, however, can’t take you entirely seriously when your words are also giving people reason to suspect the worst of fellow Muslims. You come off as completely condescending and judgmental. While you have every right to express an opinion, let Allah be the one to judge and quit planting false ideas with things like “maybe they’ll go to the point of considering halal haram.” That’s Shaytan’s job, and he does a fine job of it by himself. For believers, such comments are out of line.. along with comments like, “what’s next, music classes?” What benefit did that serve? Part of the sunnah is to address others with good words. If you really care for the state of the ummah and the change in Islamic schools in the west, then speak TO not AGAINST your brothers and sisters. Don’t backbite (and yes, what you’ve done on this blog is backbiting, don’t kid yourself thinking otherwise). Criticism is fine, but if it’s not done constructively it will be destructive. This “us against them” attitude will not serve our ummah. In fact, it’s not a wonder that the Muslim world is in the situation we see now given that we are neglecting to work with each other and instead opt to work against each other. If you have criticisms, fair game. Share them with those who can address them and make changes. If you’re not brave enough (or simply not prepared) to do that, then save yourself from falling into haram i.e. bad mouthing and judging, and instead go and do the work of educating Western Muslims as you feel it should be done. “If you’re gonna knock it, then be ready to rebuild it.” I read your post with interest hoping for your constructive feedback.. it never came. I do hope that you hope to have a part two where you can OFFER something to the ummah instead of trying to annihilate what you believe to already be a broken leg. May Allah guide us all, ameen! Thank you for your opinion on this matter. Regarding the issue of a quote ‘what next, music?’ was not something I wrote. Someone must have used this username as a means to vent their own anger. I will when given the chance remove this comment and make amends. Secondly, inshAllah I will be doing a part two in due course. This was an initial post to being attention to the matter. I have in previous attempts tried to directly witer contact the relavent people concerned but I was completely blanked and blocked from many of the usual routes to contact. Seeing no way through this, it was the only option I had at my disposal. @Farzeen Walaykum salam. First of all, let it be noted that there are many different kinds of backbiting (gheeba). In some cases, gheeba is certainly permissible – for example, when speaking about a marriage or business reference. Warning others of this kind of danger (as shown above) is certainly one of the conditions in which backbiting is allowed, especially when the offending party acts openly and without scruple, and ignores all calls to dialogue and reformation. I myself graduated from Berkeley (when Zaytuna College was starting up and moving to Berkeley), used to go to the Lighthouse Mosque, was roommates with brothers working/volunteering for Zaytuna, and am known by some of the shuyookh there. I have incredible respect for the shuyookh such as Imam Zaid and Sh Abdullah Ali, and loved the feeling of serenity when spending time with Imam Zaid. I do believe there can be much potential benefit from Zaytuna and Zaytuna College insha’Allah. At the same time, if we would like to get our actions accepted by Allah (`azza wa jall), we (as one of the pious predecessors said) must ensure that they are in accordance with the Sunnah and Shari’ah. After all, who are we trying to please? Our actions must have so much ikhlaas that they are done solely with the intention of pleasing Allah (SWT), and no one else. A Hadith Qudsi relates that Allah (SWT) is so independent of His creation, that any action which is done for His sake and for the sake of anyone else, is rejected. If we desire to please Allah (SWT) alone, then it follows that the action should be done the way Allah (SWT) desires – that is, following the Sunnah and Shariah. How can we expect Allah (SWT) to accept our actions if they are done in a way that He has clearly forbidden? When Habib Umar (may Allah protect him) visited the US not long ago, his parting advice was to make sure our actions have ikhlaas – that is, ensure that they are done solely with the intention of pleasing Allah (SWT). If you’ve ever been to Hadramout (in Yemen), you’ll know that they have a strong emphasis on separation of genders – and this solely for the purity of the hearts. Allah (SWT), in the Qur’an, tells the wives of the Prophet (S) to “speak to them (non-related males) from behind a curtain” – why? “That is purer for your hearts and for theirs.” Which women could have purer hearts than the wives of the Prophet (S), and which men could have purer hearts than the Sahaba (RA)? Do we believe that our hearts are purer than theirs? That is why the commentators of this verse have noted that, while it is addressed to the wives of the Prophet (S), it, in fact, applies to all Muslims. We only need to look inside our hearts and look at what our hearts are telling us. I have been in some mixed classes (i.e. neither barrier nor separation of genders) of Zaytuna before, and honestly, although there was good “information” to be gained, Wallahi my heart was not at rest. On the other hand, one only needs to go to a gathering in which people are following the Sunnah, inwardly and outwardly, and in which one’s glance is free from the poisonous arrow of Shaytan, to feel that his/her heart is being filled with Noor. There are such gatherings in the Bay Area. Anyone who peers into his/her own heart can see the difference. You yourself can feel your internal state. Don’t lie to yourself – accept what your heart reveals to you, though your nafs may not like it. My humble plea is for the shuyookh of Zaytuna to go back to the ways of their own teachers, true masters of sulook and spirituality – the shuyookh of Yemen and Mauritania, of the Haba’ib and of the ulemaa of Mauritania. We are but students – they are the teachers. Let’s not fool ourselves by calling ourselves Shuyookh in light of them. Let us take their advice and consultation, and act in a pure way which truly shows the noor of Islam. Assalaamu’alaykum wa rahmatullah brother Ahmed Thank you for your response. I suppose we’ll have to agree to disagree in how these criticisms against Zaytuna College is presented. I do not know the stories of those who have attempted to engage in dialogue around this situation nor what occurred, but in my heart of hearts this method is unproductive and treading a fine line between khayr and shar.. wa Allahu ‘alem. I read half of your comment before I needed to attend to other things, and I thought about it before returning to read the rest. You asked if we believe our hearts purer than theirs.. who made such a claim? None. I understand your sentiments entirely as I wouldn’t be at ease sitting next to brothers, but I don’t believe it warrants enveloping judgment on the teachers and that one can thus suggest it’s foolish to call these teachers shuyukh/scholars. You must remember that situations and circumstances change approaches that people might take.. As I see it now, while having not spoken to anyone whose opinion I trust on the matter yet, I’m considering the changes you see a beginning approach. For better or worse, lifestyles such as those in Yemen and Mauritania and the like cannot be introduced to mainstream American Muslims immediately – or perhaps ever. The students sit in mix-gendered classrooms for hours with teachers in university, and while I’m not saying that it’s the best approach in an Islamic class, I’m saying that a lot of those students are more comfortable in such a setting and opening the door to them allows them a chance to seek that knowledge. I’m glad you brought up the content of the lessons because a continued discussion about the outward alone is in vain. This situation, as I see it now, is analogous to meeting a believer who is a good person, calls to good, but perhaps he’s blemished.. maybe he even imposed this blemish on himself like a tattoo. The reason I say this is that some part of practice in the shariah is upon the student too and I think it unfair to put sole responsibility on organizers. There is again a lot of room for discussion about why things are the way they are there, but I don’t accept that these “changes” remove these shuyukh of their positions of respected scholars in the West nor does it discredit the worth of the school and what it aims to teach. Having a discussion where there is no room for excuses or “I see this and think this, but submit to there being some hole in my thinking” (i.e. giving some benefit of the doubt) calls others to engage in gheeba. My heart of hearts, since you asked me to go to that, tells me that what meets the eye is uncomfortable, but it’s not the full story, and judgment is not for me to pass .. I will not allow myself to do so. So I cannot agree with your assessments and judgments. With regards to Habib Umar.. Allahu yahfazuhu.. do you know how things started at Dar Al Mustafa? The young men in Tarim at the time didn’t come knocking on his door, he went to them. And in doing so, he invited them to attend lessons after spending time with them while they played soccer. And during the first few meetings, he left them as they engaged in behaviour that is blameworthy.. then they learned to appreciate his non-judgmental ways and they studied with him. They are our shuyukh today. Sometimes teachers have to “drop” to the level of others before others can understand what’s going on and step up to the plate of the ideal sunnah behaviour. Don’t be deceived about women in Yemen. Tarim is an exception, but the rest of Yemen is not “beautiful cloaks of black all following the sunnah.” There is more to it than meets the eye. It’s not our place to point fingers. If there is some benefit for some Muslim American students to gain from Zaytuna, then there is khayr in it. If it doesn’t suit you, then go elsewhere and guard your tongue or wagging fingers. I think if you made mention of this to Habib Umar in the way it’s done here, he might still advise us to have ikhlaas. Wa Allahu ‘alem. Your remarks of “…For better or worse, lifestyles such as those in Yemen and Mauritania and the like cannot be introduced to mainstream American Muslims immediately – or perhaps ever”. Typifies the reasons why I had to write this piece. This sort of new-age/neo Sufi ideology is almost redefining Islam. People who have an approach of ‘live and let be’ is alien to our pious predessosers, the saliheen and the awliyah! I find it strange how prior to 9/11 Zaytuna and other institutions, managed to successfully hold classes with 100% segregation with physical barriers in place. (As the first picture speaks for it self) and it was not an issue at all. No one then, saw that “lifestyles such as those in Yemen and Mauritania and the like cannot be introduced to mainstream American Muslims immediately – or perhaps ever”. Amazingly after the 9/11 era we seem to be up in arms as it were. That we need to take down the barriers, take down the established frameworks of interaction and introduce ‘new’ ideas, completely strange to the sunnah, just to appease the non-Muslim on looker. Were the people who converted or lived in the west prior to 9/11, not from the west or ‘mainstream america?’. Were they aliens who came from some other planet? It is silly to suggest this, ‘lifestyles such as those in Yemen and Mauritania and the like cannot be introduced to mainstream American Muslims…’ As I mentioned already, the 9/11 episode has really battered the idea of the once-held-in-high-regard, ‘classical Islam’. People are afraid to be seen, heard and even thought of being a Muslim. Most institutions, especially in the west, like Zaytuna are introducing frankly speaking, childish excuses to compromise the very fabric of Islamic fundamentals. segregation and modest dress code are just the tip of the iceberg. It is as if they are afraid to be classed as being the dreaded ‘madrasahs’ of the middle eastern Muslim world. As I mentioned before. You see, once you let down one barrier to sin and lust. Rest of the barriers then start to fall one after the other. The ‘multiplier effect’. Many people say, segregation is not such an issue to worry about, or hardly ‘shocking’. Well, if one has a low sense of shame and modesty there is nothing that a person will see as ‘shocking’. During the hight of the Muslim influence in the world around the mid 18th to 19th centuries. When muslims were the leading lights in science, literature, art, poetry etc. People from the west would go and learn from leading institutions of learning. In bagdad, chiro, morocco etc. There was no special place allocated to these people from the ‘west’ that they will find it hard to fit into the Islamic styled classes, which had full segregation etc. No! That was not the case. In fact many western academics who learned at the hands of the Muslims were so influenced that when they came back to teach in places like Oxford and harvard. They had full beards, turbans and used to wear thowbs. Just like the muslims. To the extent many people would ask them have you accepted Islam? Just by seeing the drastic change in them. This the impact of doing dawah with actions. There is no point in simply doing dawah with words. How can we show the non Muslims, how the pious predecessors lived without having the infrastructures in place? For example, a person can never know how a mango tastes without being given the chance to taste it. No matter how much you explain it’s qualities or the taste. He or she will NEVER know how a mango tastes without being placed in the situation. – giving him a mango. Assalaamu’alaykum You’re right..mashaAllah. I was venturing a guess as perhaps that this is the beginning route for those who wouldn’t even enter an Islamic class only because of the separation and thus classes that allow for it give them an opportunity to at least learn and then take it from there. But I really don’t know. Lifestyles of segregation in Morocco and Yemen and even Syria (at least 12 years ago) are also harder to come by.. less so in Yemen because their culture is separation, but from it, subhanAllah, you’d be shocked at how people find ways to engage the opposite gender, both men and women. Where there is action without understanding, there are a lot of opportunities for sin. Wa Allahu ‘alem. I appreciate your effort in explaining the angle you’re coming from. It really is more fruitful. May Allah guide us to that which is pleasing for Him and to work together to strive in such endeavours, ameen. BarakAllahu fikum. There will always be avenues for sin. What matters is the number of avenues we close, which leads that way. Barriers and such generally prevent fitna from occurring. Making it harder to “come by” to commit sin. For instance: An open door of a house will always be more inviting for a burglar to steal. Than a house with a closed door. Zaytuna Staff says: Ameen. Sunni_Revival says: Ameen.. to what exactly? Siraj ahmed says: Well said farzeen. The contributor seems to be in denial that the world is changing and it is up to us Muslims to accommodate that change within the true spirit of Islam. If zaytouna don’t want to have their classrooms as they may be in Pakistan or Arabia or Indonesia, then so be it. Hamza yousef is an American Muslim and is free to excercise his cultural leanings and diversity within the Islamic spirit. It is still Islamic. Islams strength comes from its diversity. Our unity comes from a belief in Allah. On another note ( but sort of not) My wife is a convert to Islam and is sick of all the Pakistani food wheeled out at every function we attend. Next, the contributor will be telling her that that’s how it is in the east and that she shouldn’t ask for a light chicken soup ( her pallet is different) as this is not eastern and away from Islam… She is English and Western after all. This is the level that this guys objections are at. Islam is for east and west and the Quran is for all peoples and all times. Shamsul Abbasi says: Typical lukewarm and sloppy words bro. I get what you saying just not a strong enough argument. Yes the world is changing this calls for us to be more closer to the sunnah and the blessed ways of the best companions. Islamically, it is not ‘ghiba’ if you are complaining about injustice or warning muslims of zulm. Please do not speak on topics you have half-knowledge of. Mansurah Maddison-ketterige says: Classical response of the munafiq! Hafiz Kamal says: Sorry sister Farzeen it was me writing about “what next music classes ” I take that back and also I mistakenly wrote on the NAME part the web address of this blog instead of my name . May Allah unite our hearts for the love of the beloved Nabi s.a.w Your website is \”mybeliefs.co.uk\” How do you know so much about Zaytuna? Are you a student there? Isnt your website showing you are from UK? How can you write about US? Please dont mind me asking. In our world, we have something called ‘planes’. Using these vehicles of transportation we can travel from country to country. So, several years back a number of the brothers, (prior 9/11) around 98/99 (like i mentioned in the article). Had the chance to go to Zaytuna from UK and learn at the blessed shuyukhs there. Secondly, for your information to write about a country or an institution anywhere. There are several ways a person can do this; 1) Traveling there. 2) Research. 3) First hand accounts of people who went/go to these countries/institutions. muhammod says: ‘planes’ comment is an insult. Are we losing traditional islam now? Isnt insults like this from the west? Did lay people in the classical days expressed their views about organisations like this? I wonder if my comments are a insult? Salams, Thank you Sr. Farzeen for your comments. I couldn’t agree more. To the blogger, I really think it is people like yourself that are part of the reason why Muslims are in the condition we are in today- disunited and under attack. These Shuyukh have sacrificed their time, health, wealth, family life so so much to build this colle, and I believe they have really done it for the sake of Allah and instead of receiving love and support and even constructive criticisms from fellow Muslims they receive blogs filled with sarcasm and bitterness criticizing their hard work?! I agree with Sr. Farzeen. If you have some constructive criticism, please share it. Call the school, write them a letter, maybe even ask questions trying to understand why things appear to look so “liberal”. There is nothing wrong with that. But bashing them online and getting other people worked up against the effort of some of the greatest and most sincere ulama of the West, that is a shame. May Allah (swt) help you and guide you and show you how to push forward His message and the message of our beloved (saw) in a beautiful way, not by what you just did above. I really don’t understand when we are going to start putting each other down and will instead help build one another be successful and improve as an ummah. This not only makes me angry it makes me really really sad for the state of the Muslims. Masalam. umm dujaanah says: you can think of a million excuses – some totally invalid others ludicrous – but nothing can beat what those pictures say. hamza yusuf has continuously proven himself to be a good house slave, wish him the best of luck with that in the Akhirah. The fact that he’s studied does not mean we cannot question him, it just means more sinful than those pour souls in the pic who are deluded into thinking they are gaining islamic knowledge, when simply, they are sinning. Shafi Khaled says: SubhanAllah – a house slave! The Rasul (sm) said that some people when they came to “debate”, they actually were looking to insult. Name calling is not allowed in Islamic tradition for sure. Umu Abdurrahman says: Subhanallah. I say again Subhanallah. You need to do a lot of istigfar you know sis. You already judged when you yourself will be judged. no one knows his or her end, not even you! Pingback: Announcement Shocking changes at Zaytuna College, California USA Mohsin@hotmail.com says: How do you recognize a scholar? He doesn’t just turn up out the blue. He is known to his people, I have also seen pictures of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf with Shaykh Dabbagh. Check the link below and find out how to seek out true scholars. We’re is the link brother Here are the qualities of a good shaykh: 1. He possesses necessary religious knowledge. 2. His beliefs, habits and practices are in accordance with the Sharī‘ah. 3. He does not harbour greed for worldly wealth. 4. He has himself spent time learning from a good shaykh. 5. The scholars and good mashā’ikh of his time hold a good opinion about him. 6. His admirers are mostly from among the people who have good understanding of the religion. 7. Most of his followers follow the Sharī‘ah and are not seekers after this world. 8. He sincerely tries to educate and morally train his followers. If he sees anything wrong in them, he corrects it. 9. In his company, one can feel a decrease in the love of the world and an increase in the love for Allāh ta‘ālā. 10. He himself regularly performs dhikr and spiritual exercises. In searching for a shaykh, do not look for his ability to perform miracles (karāmāt) or to foretell the future. A very good shaykh may not be able to show any miracles. On the other hand, a person showing supernatural feats does not have to be a pious person, or even a Muslim. The prominent Shaykh Bayazid Bustami says: ‘Do not be deceived if you see a performer of supernatural feats flying in the air. Measure him on the standards of the Sharī‘ah.’ after having all these qualities, the shaykh or person must know the A-Z of path to Allah and how to guide and take people there. The person may be pious or wali himself however, he is not qualify or doesn’t have the ability to guide people. “everyone can eat but not all people can cook” thecivilmuslim says: So the sign of a good school is one in which you dont see any sight of a woman? This is a judgmental article, may Allah forgive you. Ah yes, indeed it’s the lack of barrier, thobe, and turban that has led to our demise! Not the judgmental attitudes that run people from the mosque, nor the women’s unequal access to scholars and speakers, nor the rampant abuses that we minimize/hide under the rug. Talk about self-Orientalization: Iif you need the token symbols of Islam around you to be in an “islamic state of mind” then you have completely missed the boat. Riaaz says: It seems your knowledge in Islaam is seriously deficient. And remain in your homes,and do not make your selves a display like the women of former times ! i.e Jahilliyah (ignorance) Qur’aan. There is no such thing as female emergence from the home to attend mixed classes at the hands of deviate scholars… Good u raised this issue. However your article mentions 2 things that has been lost and only 2? That doesn’t mean they lost traditional islam yet? shab says: if this is the level of Islam in practice being shown by thepeople who are meant to be bastions of thedeen then what hope .Shame.These people seem to be a sign of the coming of the prophetic hadith (nearest meaning) There will come a time when the muslims will follow the christians and jews to such an extent that even if they were to enter a lizard hole they would follow behind I AGREE WITH YOU ! adis says: Adis Duderija the author fails to see that there changes might be internal and reflect an evolution in the thinking on behalf of its directors. for me these are welcome changes which are more in the spirit of what i consider to be the normative Qur’an and Sunna teachings. also we must problematise the Islamic vs western dichotomy the author is using here. Does anyone know their Islamic history? “truly Islāmic environment” was when men and women were NOT segregated! Where men and women interacted, where women served side by side with men! Yes, Islam IS liberal. You are kidding, right? I guess women did not participate in sustaining the early Muslim community? What did Khadijah do? How about Aishah? How about proving your point with facts instead of some male chauvinistic view point. You have completely missed the point of the discussions here. – Signing from a completely different hymn sheet to everyone else. I wonder if you even read what i wrote or just simply jumped to the comments sections. ill advise you to start from the top and work your way down. – The logical way of joining a discussion on the net. Aisha R.A. totally forbade female unnecessary female emergence from the home for even mandatory prayers. Go back into Islamic history and do your research THE QUR’AN IS A PATRIARCHAL BOOK AND THE RELIGION OF ISLAAM IS A PATRIARCHAL RELIGION. DO YOUR RESEARCH THEN COME AND EXPRES YOUR STUPID VIEWS. I did read what you wrote. You are aghast at the evolution of the de-segregating process (thus your heading “Shocking Changes…”). You attribute that to trying to ‘fit in’ with Western values. Sorry. We were there 1400 years ago. I am claiming Islam as enlightened, where men and women sitting and working together was the norm back then. The way men and women in Muslim communities are forced into segregated spaces today is NOT Islam. Most kids in US have been learning in an integrated classroom since their childhood. The problem is not that people are scared of being labeled. The problem is that most Muslim people in the US are no longer inspired by institutions that are “traditional.” Syed Hasibur Rahman says: Assalam-o-Alaikum Author, This post reeks of sermonizing, self-righteousness and holier-than-thou attitude directed against an organization and its people who have dedicated their lives, despite all hardships, for the cause of Islam. Do you think the shuyukhs who teach at Zaytuna are not God fearing? If something about them is surprising to you, should not you first ask them, express your concern and wait for their reply? You are passing your judgement on them even without giving them a change for explanation. If their reply and justification does not convince you and you have equally valid and strong arguments to back your view, then you have every right to express your opinion whithin the manners of sunnah. >> You wrote in one of comments: “…I have in previous attempts tried to directly witer contact the relavent people concerned but I was completely blanked and blocked from many of the usual routes to contact. Seeing no way through this, it was the only option I had at my disposal.” =>> Did you tried to message them on their facebook page? They are as reponsive. Or may be you can fly to Zaytuna sometime? After all you are an alumni and its your alma mater. And what could be better than an in-person discussion? And you said you wanted to bring this to attention. Attention of whom? People who cannot do anything about it and can only discuss online the way millions of Muslims do world wide every day and nothing changes on the ground about the pathetic state of affairs of Muslims around the world. >> You wrote: “… now the idea of traditional Islam has been replaced with an idea of ‘liberal Islam’, an Islam which shows to its non-Muslim onlookers ‘look we too can do things like you. We do not need to have classes which segregate the men and women. Or, have to avoid dressing in ‘normal’ western attire of skin-tight jeans and shirts. We too have classes where the men and women sit side by side and interact with each other, often times sharing jokes and having a good college life.” =>> How did you know they are following liberal Islam? I have never heard them using the term ‘Liberal Islam’. And how did you know this is their definition of liberal Islam? Actually this is your definition of liberal Islam through which you judging them. >> You wrote: “…As sad as it is, zaytuna college looks more like a typical western college/university. It simply has a Muslim name or a tagline to it. Other than that, there is hardly anything Islāmic about it. Its classes, the students, the teachers in many aspects, and the whole approach at zaytuna now, is western. In every sense of the word!” =>> Now this is what is called ‘Hasty Generalization’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasty_generalization). Based on just few pictures, you gave the verdict. And what is the problem with ‘western’? West is not all bad. It has many good things to offer the world. No body is saying to copy-cat them but if there something good that does not go againt Quran and sunnah , what is the problem in adopting it. And about “…there is hardly anything Islāmic about it”, besides the couple of points you raised (and we are yet to hear from Zaytuna what they have to say about it), what else do you not find Islamic? >> You wrote: “The greatest fear of humans has always been the fear of the unknown. This is what is eating up these leading Islamic institutions in the west. Fear that they ‘might’, just ‘might’, get called a ‘madrash’, the feared ‘training camps for extremists’ in the western world.” ==> Again a case of hasty generalization. How did you know that they have these ‘fears’? Have you done a study or survey on these Islamic institutions or talked with staffs? I am not sure if you have studied about sociology and how does social changes come into being. Society does not change overnight and it takes generation for people to adopt to a new mind set and culture and code of living (you may quote few exceptions to these but exceptions don’t make rule). Only a gradual change is deep and permanently enters the heart. The Quran came down over a span of 23 years. The complete sharia came over period of 23 years. For e.g. prohibition of alcohol came in three stages and similarly with many other things. Many of earlier rulings were abrogated and replaced by new rulings. The theme of the meccan period of life of Prophet (pbuh) was about individual correctness, morality and spirituality and that of medinian period was of muslims as a community and flag bearer of kalima of Allah. If Allah would have willed, He could have send Quran and the full sharia in one go and would have made prophet(pbuh) change the tribal Arabia into the likes of sahabas (r.a) overnight. But He did not did so. Ever wondered why? Is there some wisdom behind it that Allah is teaching us? In the treaty of hudaibiyyah, Prophet(pbuh) did many compromises and agreed even to change his addressing from ‘prophet of Allah’ to ‘son of abdullah’. Why? Is there some widom in this that Allah is teaching us through sunnah of his beloved prophet(pbuh)? I am sorry and apologize if I sounded rude. I do not intent it. I was in my office and happend to come on to your post during my lunch time. And after reading it, I was very sad and could not stop myself from commenting. The same way you could not help but to comment on this blog ,i too cannot sit back and let you propound your modernistic beliefs to ignorant and unwary Muslims deviating them further into the lizards hole. The person who started this blog is a 100% correct in all he said. A picture SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS (even though taking it was Haraam) In Islam there is no way males and females can mix together in any situation ALLAHS Curse descends down upon the gathering where these men and males and females mix so freely Allah says so emphatically in the Qur’aan And remain (Resolutely/Glued) in your homes, and do not make a display of yourself like the women of Jahilliyah (Ignorance) ! 1)What is best for Women ? Answering this question Faatimah R.A said neither should they look at males nor allow males to look at them ! (The so called scholars of zaytuna could adhere to this advicee of Faatimah with which the Prophet S.A.W said i happiness ”Faatimah is part of me”) 2)Many will be the women who wore clothing in the world, but will be naked in the Akhirah (that is because of the evil styles of their worldly garments).” 3)Never will prosper a nation who hand over their affairs to a woman 4)When a woman applies perfume (or adorns herself with garments of pride,show and fashion) then passes by a gathering of men (i.e in public) she is like an ADULTERESS ! Islaam does not say a Women cannot be educated ! There are rules and regulations to follow in order for these women to receive the necessary knowledge needed to get through this temporary life. You and many others on this blog speak and think from warped mind. A mind that is infatuated with The love and awe of a satanic cult. The satanic cult of western and eastern liberalism. It iss better you repent now and revert back to the original Orthodox and fundamental Islaam, than to carry on with this nonsensical modernistic/satanic attitude which will result in your life wallowing away only to result in the Angel of death ripping your soul very harshly from your body ! WASALAAM In Islaam we don’t need to adapt to a western/modernist/deviated mindset. The only mindset we have to adopt in Islaam is the mindset of the Sahabaah whose lives and example are still gleaming at us after 14 hundred yrs ! Today your talking about a different mindset, tomorrow you will talk baout a different Shariah ! what ! do you reject part of the book and accept part of it ! Al Quraan ! Your statements are very unthought of and leading you down the slippery slope of Irtidaad (Kufr) Munib Altaf says: Bravo. Well said brother. These people need to be grabbed by their shoulders and shuck violently. So they wake up from their misguided ways. for the people of those times Islam was sent in stages. for us it has been sent fully/completed ! We are expected to follow the shariah or if we cant fully then at least try to.. What we should not do is try to justify something that the prophet and the Sahaabah made HARAAM into HALAAL. That is termed Istikhfaaf AND ISTIKHFAAF LEADS YOU TO KUFR ! THE BROTHER JUDGED THEM BY WHAT HE SAW. THE PICS SPOKE A THOUSAND WORDS AND HE SOUNDED THE ALARM ND MAY ALLAH REWARD HIM FOR THAT ! If there was no proof (pic) then we can claim ”do not judge them” The pics are a gleaming shiny example of liberal deviates leading future liberal deviates. This post is a major joke. How dare you pass judgement on people who have more taqwa in their finger nail than you have in your entire body? You and your ilk are the terrorists blowing up fellow Muslims. Please go apply your neanderthal version of reality in Saudi Arabia and let the rest of us live in peace and civility. Thank you and good night. Read this https://mybeliefs.co.uk/2012/09/06/progressive-muslims-a-new-fitna-on-our-shores/ and next time be more considerate and mature in your approach to dealing with other Muslims. by saying the following ”Please go apply your neanderthal version of reality in Saudi Arabia and let the rest of us live in peace and civility. Thank you and good night” You are implying that the Holy Prophet S.A.W. was a ”neanderthal” the companions were all ”neanderthasl” You are such a stupid idiot. You just lost your Imaan ! If your married your Nikaah is now broken and you are living in Sin ! IT’S THE NEANDERTHAL VERSION OF ISLAAM THAT WAS COMPLETED 14 CENTURIES AGO ! IT WAS THE NEANDERTHAL VERSION OF ISLAAM THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED FROM THE TIME OF THE SALAF E SALIHEEN ! IT IS THE NEANDERTHAL VERSION OF ISLAM THAT WILL GAIN YOU SALVATION ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. THE SUNNAH IS THE NEANDERTHAL METHOD WHICH WILL GAIN YOU ALLHS LOVE THE NEANDERTHAL BOOK (QUR’AAN) IS THE ONLY BOK THAT WILL PROTECT YOU.. WHAT UTTER STUPIDITY YOU PEOPLE BLURT OUT..! MAY ALLAH GUIDE THE UMMAH FROM FURTHER DEVIATION ! Believer says: Zaytuna college is an islamic college open to those who are muslim as well as non-muslim. The way it’s structured is necessary for a situation like that. The purpose to zaytuna college is not to embrace a certain form of Islam but simply to embrace islam and not only to muslim but non-muslims as well. If we want to embrace islam to non-muslim we must first show them our similarities to make them more open to our religion and not strictly show them the “classical islamic ways” that you talk about that would just close them off to our religion. Jazakallah Khair. Bubu says: some of these comments are just lol… Such Aashiq’s and Lovers of the Sunnah. The Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam never changed the Methodology of Dawah to Non Muslims… so why do we feel we should…? Forget your own aqal, your own intellect, and use the Intellect of RasulAllah SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam, and that intellect was his Blessed Sunnah, which were the Greatest gifts he had given to his Ummati, SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam. Author has been left speechless by Syed Hasibur Rahman I have not been made ‘speechless’ as you say. The reason I did not bother to reply to hasib is, he (like others) are continuously regurgitating the same arguement and points. Which I have on almost countless occasions given a rebuttal. To be frank and straight to the point, I have no time to play a tag game which children play in school yards. I have made my points clear. People should read these. Despite them being there, they ‘still’ express the same arguments and sentiments. I am a person who prefers not to reinvent the wheel! I took care of Habib and his false views ! Really? says: “During the hight of the Muslim influence in the world around the mid 18th to 19th centuries. When muslims were the leading lights in science, literature, art, poetry etc. People from the west would go and learn from leading institutions of learning. In bagdad, chiro, morocco etc.” You are joking right? Who were the leading lights? Please name them. Who were the westerners who went to these so called places of learning? The universities of Europe outstripped any progress that Islamic institutions ever made during the middle ages after religious conservatism, which you applaud took over. The Muslim world didn’t even have a printing press until the 18th century. Illiteracy was rife and still is in the Muslim world. We are talking about backward nations here, who still practice slavery due to so called religious reasons. Hardly progressive. If Muslim nations were the leading lights of learning, why have they regressed so far? It is completely illogical and you are talking fairy stories here. During the Ottoman Empire – the guilds of writers had denounced the printing press as “the Devil’s Invention”, and were responsible for a 53-year lag between its invention by Johannes Gutenberg in Europe in c. 1440 and its introduction to the Ottoman society with the first Gutenberg press in Istanbul that was established by the Sephardic Jews of Spain in 1493 (who had migrated to the Ottoman Empire a year earlier, escaping from the Spanish Inquisition of 1492.) However, the printing press was used only by the non-Muslims in the Ottoman Empire until the 18th century. In 1726, Ibrahim Muteferrika convinced the Grand Vizier Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha, the Grand Mufti, and the clergy on the efficiency of the printing press, and later submitted a request to Sultan Ahmed III, who granted Muteferrika the permission to publish non-religious books (despite opposition from some calligraphers and religious leaders.) Muteferrika’s press published its first book in 1729, and, by 1743, issued 17 works in 23 volumes (each having between 500 and 1,000 copies.) Not much considering the volume of work now circulating throughout the Western world. How many books are published in the Middle East each year apart from the Koran? BTW, the Europeans invented modern paper, along with the fountain pen and the pencil which has been adopted worldwide. Contact with the Muslim world during the period mentioned was connected to trade, not to learning. No European would willingly try to become a visitor to any of the Muslim lands due to safety reasons and the subsequent Barbary war, fought over the white slave trade that had been in practice since the middle ages. Escapees describe a cruel and backward society, not your imaginary utopia. Places of learning can only flourish in an open atmosphere and this began during the Renaissance period in Europe with the exchange of ideas – mostly through publication of books via the printing press which was unheard of in the Muslim world. The institute you are criticizing is doing just this – providing an atmosphere where ideas can flourish. And in case you missed it, the Renaissance was able to progress due to the Reformation of religion and the ideas of personal and religious freedom that began to manifest in the Europe. This is impossible under the type of Islam you promote. Otherwise, why are the places where your type of Islam is practiced so backward in literacy, science and the arts? For heaven’s sake, you even have people on here opposed to music! LOL at your cultural advancement. You would plunge people back into the Dark Ages with your mindset. Aisha Peterson says: You must be retarded! ”Places of learning can only flourish in an open atmosphere and this began during the Renaissance period in Europe with the exchange of ideas” Your kidding us all with this type of garbage right..lol It clearly shows that you lack knowledge in Islaam !!!!!!! Go back to the time of the ilustrious companions of the Holy Prophet S.A.W and the first 3 golden ages of Islaam (described by the beloved master himself S.A.W.) you will see places of learning that flourished and ideas the wonderful ideas that were exchanged. It seems that you also like many deviates on this blog speak from a mind that prefers the ways and methods of education of the Kuffar over the wonderful ways,methods and education of scholars that formulated laws of the Shariah in the first three centuries of Islaam. There is a Hadith to the nearest meaning: There will come a time when the Masaajids will be full of people praying (if your a women then because your not allowed in the Mosque-at home-) not one person will be a Mumin ! People like you on this blog have helped materialize this very conspicuous sign of Qiyaamah ! May ALLAH guide us all from deviation ! HAFIZ Mumin says: Check here: (your limited knowledge of islamic contributions to the western world left me no room but to reply) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_contributions_to_Medieval_Europe http://www.medievalhistory.net/scientia.htm http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_the_contributions_made_by_Muslim_scholars_in_science_geography_mathematics_medicine_art_and_literature http://www.1001inventions.com/ The internet is full with information as the ones presented above. These few links are just the taste of the actual food of muslim contribution available to read on the net. do a simple google search and you’ll see the results. Check again. There is a vast difference between the time of the Middle Ages and the 18th century. Try about 500 years. But so what anyway? Your society did not prove to be fertile soil for it to grow and develop as in the West, where science and logic did away with the absurdities of religion. Again. How many books apart form the Koran are published in the Middle East using “the Devil’s Invention”? Pingback: ‘Progressive muslims’; A New Fitna on our shores « Brazilian Caraval says: People create Barriers, not God………… Get over yourself…….. This is a great move for this University to end gender segregation…. And for those that do not like it, well don’t go there… As far as the traditional Medressa’s are concerned. I have been to many and i have observed as a child and now as an Adult the amount of BS things that happen. For instance; child abuse and inappropriate touching by the molana. This is the 21 century if you hate the west so much then go back,.,…… I agree with you when you say bad things happen. But you must have heard of the saying (to the nearest extent) ”The majority is not evil, only the very minority is”. well the same goes for the evil things that happen in the traditional madrasaahs you hate so much ! Allah is the God that made Islaam a Patriarchal Religion and created barriers in the Qur’aan between males and females ! if you actually took the time and studied the Qur’aan/Islaam with a proper Maulana you would have been educated in that aspect ! You must have been the problem and the magnet for evil because i have also been to many traditional places of learning/Madrasahs and not ever seen any evil perpetrated on my watch,. and btw, How can you brand the traditional Makaatib and Madaaris all evil when a small minority of deviates in all of these places you attended were involved in HARAAM EVIL ! Whether you like it or not.it was from these Places of learning that Islaam flourished around the world and it will be from these institutions of learning that Islams greatest scholars will be born until the day of Qiyaamah ! People with your mindset have come and gone with their stupid hybrid views. they have never been successful enough to lead the masses in Islaam the way the products of the institutions you hate so much have ! Rashed says: Gender segregation IS ACTUALLY UNISLAMIC. It’s cultural that got mixed up with Religion. End of story, Show me one verse in the Quran that says gender segregation should be applied at schools and public places?? Gender Seperation is as ISLAAMIC as black is black and white is white.. It seems your knowledge in Islam is very weak.. There are only four ways/principles to establish proofs in Islaam. 1)The Qur’aan 2)Sunnah 3)Ijma (Consensus) 4)Qiyaas (Analogical reasoning of the Fuqaha-professional jurisits. Without these four principles there is no way to understand the laws of Islaam. You cannot dig directly into the Qur’aan or evn Hadith for answers. You must look at hadiths proofs and the Noble Sunnah (way) of the prophet S.A.W. and his companions to establish what the Qur’aan says. for example (and he answer to your stupid comment) ALLAH COMMANDS WOMEN IN THE QUR’AAN TO REMAIN (GLUED) IN THE HOME, AND DO NOT MAKE A DISPLAY OF YOUR SELVES LIKE THE WOMEN OF JAHILLIYAH (IGNORANCE) HIjaab means concealment-total concelament. (Hadith) A women is an object of concealment, when she emerges (unnecessarily) from the home shaytaan waits in ambush for her ! Sunnah of the Prophet and his companions was total segregation IJMA/QIYAAS of The jusrists (of all four schools of thought viz,Hanafi,Shafi,Maliki,Hambali) are unanimous of the opinion that Women are an object of concealment therefore their (unnecessary) emergence (because it warrants fitnaah) is not allowed AT ALL. = Segregation ! (i can quote more but i have no time to argue with uninformed deviates like you.) Pingback: Fruits of Secularism in Americans puppet so called traditionalist like of Hamza Yusuf and Co. EbuSinan says: Consulting an qualified Expert, The Mufti of Egypt Shaykh Ali Gomaa (may Allah preserve him): Is it permissible for a female to teach males the science of Qur`anic recitations and its related topics such as the [variant]recitations, Qur`anic orthography and classical religious books since there are no males specialized in this science in our area? There is no legal objection to men teaching women or vice-versa. Muslims have always maintained that the mere presence of women in the same place as men is not prohibited in itself. The prohibition only concerns the manner of mixing when it contradicts the guidelines of Islamic law such as men and women exposing those parts of their bodies which must remain covered, males and females gathering for an unlawful purpose or an unlawful seclusion between the sexes [being alone together in a place where no one could have access to them] or touching. Evidence from the sunna Sahl ibn Sa’d al Sa’idy, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Abu Usayd invited the Prophet [pbuh] and his Companions to his wedding feast and his wife, Um Usayd, served them food and drink herself” [Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Al Bukhari placed this hadith in a chapter which he entitled On [the permissibility] of a woman serving [food and drink to] men at her own wedding. Al Qurtuby stated in his exegesis of Qur’an: “Our scholars said: The report demonstrates the permissibility of the bride serving [food and drink to] her husband and his friends at her wedding.” Ibn Batal said in his explanation of Bukhari’s collection of authentic hadith: “Separating between men and women [when they are in the same place and in direct interactions] is not obligatory for Muslim women in general but was specific to the wives of the Prophet; Allah says: And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. [Qur’an 33: 53] Ibn Hajar, the scholar of hadith, said in his book Fath al Bari: “The hadith demonstrates the permissibility of a woman serving [food and drink to] her husband and his guests. There is no doubt that this permissibility is valid only when the legal guidelines (lack of temptation and a woman covering what must be concealed) are met.” The two foremost scholars in hadith, al-Bukhari and Muslim, mention a report about Abu Talha al-Ansari and his guest: Abu Talha and his wife invited a guest into their home. As they did not have enough food to go around, they pretended to eat, and spent the night hungry. In the scholar Ibn abu Dunya’s version, Anas narrated that Abu Talha told his wife: ‘Crumble the bread and put it in butter, and tell the servant to blow out the lamp.’ Then they pretended to share the food with their guest.” It is apparent from this report that they were all eating from the same dish. The Prophet [pbuh] told Abu Talha:”Allah is pleased with what you did tonight.” The following verse was sent addressing this event: They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. [Qur’an 59: 9] Abu Juhaifa, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The Prophet [pbuh] established a bond of brotherhood between Salman and abu al Dard’a. Salman visited Abu al Dard’a and found his wife, Um al Dard’a disheveled. “What’s wrong?” he asked her. She replied: “Your brother, Abu al Dard’a, has no worldly desires…” Commenting on this hadith, Ibn Hajar said: “This hadith includes some benefits … the permissibility of talking to non-mahram women and asking about that which concerns their life.” Women teaching men The Prophet’s [pbuh] wives used to teach Islamic law and spread religion. This was mentioned in the books of Sunna as well as the fact that later generations of women delivered religious knowledge and men reported hadiths from them. In his book, Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani mentioned 1543 women from among female scholars, hadith narrators, and literary figures. Muslim women participated with men in public life while observing Islamic decorum. Some females from among the Companions of the Prophet [pbuh] were even in charge of looking after the morality of the city. Nur Ferdus says: Jazzallaah hu khair brother for giving this valuable piece of answer. However, I have to say you have got the wrong end of the stick here. No one is discussing the validity of men teaching women or vise versa. For it was the mothers of the believers, (the ummul munimeen) who would teach from behind a veil. What seems to be the problem with the people on this blog and elsewhere is the way in which men and women are now freely interacting with each other. More than just out of need or necessity. Teaching and learning the sacred sciences of Islam, the way in which many non-muslim institutions of learning do. Where men & women sit side by side and learn knowledge. The sunnan way of applying and doing things, for example women teaching men behind a veil and vise versa. Have been left behind and a foreign approach has been adopted. Pingback: Exposing and shaming the notion of "American Islam" - the greatest threat to Islam in the US today - Page 3 Your thoughts on this article are welcome. Cancel reply Andrew Webber on a different take on the #harms… Whoknows on a different take on the #harms… A Brother on “Imam” Asim Hussai… shadid on ‘The Law of Attraction… Sheikh Nazim on Imam #shafi was a #trend sette… Archives Select Month November 2019 June 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 May 2018 January 2018 October 2017 September 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 April 2010 Tackling modernists propaganda against traditional Islam Extracts from Al Ibriz Notes: From the discourses of Shaykh Ahmad Dabbagh THE BIGGEST BIDDAH IN #SAUDI ARABIA a different take on the #harms of pornography 12 ways in which Allah gives guidance & How to understand Destiny (Qadar) Imam #shafi was a #trend setter “Imam” Asim Hussain’s #Metoo moment REview of ‘Bilal: A New Breed of Hero’ RARE FOOTAGE OF THE INSIDE OF THE RAWAH IN #MADINAH AL MUNAWARAH Follow MyBeliefs.co.uk on WordPress.com Socal Media	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1720
__label__wiki	0.794988	0.794988	New Lease Music Where Independent and unsigned artists get heard! New Lease Music Promotions Tag: Tobi Sunmola New Track: City of Dreams – Tobi Sunmola Having brought the heat with previous singles ‘Simba’ and ‘Wild Wild East’ Mancunian wordsmith TOBI SUNMOLA released the title track off his forthcoming EP ‘City Of Dreams’ Inspired by the film ‘Inception’, ‘City Of Dreams’ is a display of Tobi’s admiration and pride for his adopted city following the tragic events earlier in the year. Although the emotional track was written before the 02 bombing, Sunmola maintains that the meaning behind the lyrics only made sense after, as he yearns, “don’t believe what you read in the news baby, the city’s alive”. Growing up in Nigeria, Tobi recalls saving up lunch money daily to skip school and head to the studio with his rap crew Dope Kommunity. Moving to Manchester aged 16 the young poet instantly immersed himself in the UK hip hop scene recording in local youth club studios. Showing signs of a promising career early on, the aspiring talent has been advocated by the likes of and BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. Captivating, and honest, Sunmola is able to connect with his audience through an inspired sincerity rarely seen amongst rappers so young…here’s your chance to check out his work; listen to ‘City of Dreams.’ November 6, 2017 November 6, 2017 by Tracey Dawkins Categories: New ReleasesTags: Africa, Afropunk, BBC Radio One, BBC1Xtra, City of Dreams, complex, DJ Booth, Highsnobiety, Manchester, Mass Appeal, new releases 2017, Nigeria, politically fuelled songs, The Line Of Best Fit, Tobi Sunmola, UK, UK talent Leave a comment Song of the Day: Wild Wild West – Tobi Sunmola Tipped as Mobo’s ‘One to Watch’ TOBI SUNMOLA returns to centre stage with the second release ‘Wild Wild East’, from his forthcoming EP. The self-produced single showcases this newcomer’s versatility and ability to combine clever wordplay and infectious flows, with politically driven lyricism. At times the track is reminiscent of the Joey Bada$$ album ‘All Amerikkkan Bada$$’ with the young MC drawing inspiration from his African roots and struggles that he has continued to wrestle with during life in East Manchester. A play, on the widely known phrase – ‘Wild Wild West’ – Tobi states that, “I used this reference to explain the big bad world I have to deal with, the negativity, deceit, envy and hardship, and how I try to keep my energy high through it all, in the hope of making it back home.” Growing up in Nigeria, Tobi recalls that “becoming an artiste wasn’t a visible reality. I made music because I really wanted to”. His determination to succeed as a musician against the odds saw Sunmola saving up lunch money daily to skip school and head to the studio with his rap crew Dope Kommunity. Moving to Manchester aged 16 the young poet instantly immersed himself in the grime and UK hip hop scene, and his dedication has seen him achieve great things at the early stages of his career. Alongside winning Adidas’ ‘Take the Stage’ competition, he performed Radio 1 Big Weekend Exeter and has been acclaimed by the likes of Complex, The Line Of Best Fit, Afropunk, DJ Booth and BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. Progressive and perceptive, ‘Wild Wild East’ is a further testament to TOBI SUNMOLA’s out-of-the-box approach as he continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting talents coming out of Manchester’s burgeoning underground music scene. October 13, 2017 October 12, 2017 by Tracey Dawkins Categories: Songs of the DayTags: 1Xtra, Adidas’ ‘Take the Stage’ competition, Africa, Afropunk, All Amerikkkan Bada$$ (album), complex, DJ Booth and BBC Radio 1, hip-hop, Joey Bada$$, Manchester, Nigeria, Radio 1 Big Weekend Exeter, songs about life, songs about racism, songs about survival, Songs of the Day, The Line Of Best Fit, the MOBO Awards, Tobi Sunmola, UK, UK talent, Wild Wild West (single) Leave a comment Song of the Day: Simba – Tobi Sunmola Following the gripping visuals to ‘Never Forget We’re Here/Tales From The East IV’, TOBI SUNMOLA returns with ‘Simba’ – the debut release taken off his forthcoming EP. ‘Simba’ is a gritty and emotional testimony of both heartache and promise providing a compelling insight into the ethnological struggles of being an artist in today’s industry. Tobi explains: “It talks about who I am as a person, the colour of my skin and how that may either hinder my growth to where I aspire to be.” Throughout the racial upheavals experienced, Nigerian-born Sunmola remains positive and resiliently confides in his unshakeable pursuit of greatness as he sings “through the pain, in the rain, in the night, any day…I’ll preach”. The instrumentation compliments this sentiment where melancholy chords are backboned by a bouncy hip hop beat that underlines his infectious flow and hook patterns. Authentic and unfiltered ‘Simba’ is an intriguing take on modern hip-hop that draws upon the influence of TOBI SUNMOLA’s rich African heritage. The Manchester-based artist has achieved an admirable amount, since his humble beginnings in the studio of his local youth club. Co-producing ‘Simba’ with local rapper Two4Kay – who has previously featured on Link UP TV and The 405 – this new release is the product of a long-standing relationship that blossomed within the tight-knit Manchester music scene which forged early on in their careers. Named as Mobo’s ‘One to Watch’, this emerging talent has since been championed by Huw Stephens, DJ Booth and Mistajam whilst Complex, Afropunk and Flavour Magazine have been writing about his ‘stunning versatility’ online. Combined with an array of adept live performances, including BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Exeter last year – the wondrously creative, ‘Simba’ is a perceptive and accomplished piece of work, that will cement Sunmola’s place as one of the UK’s most exciting, rising hip hop artists this year. September 14, 2017 September 13, 2017 by Tracey Dawkins Categories: Songs of the DayTags: Africa, alternative music, complex, DJ Booth, hip-hop, Huw Stephens, Link Up TV, Manchester, Nigeria, Simba (single), songs about race, songs about survival, songs about the music industry, Songs of the Day, Tobi Sunmola, UK, UK talent Leave a comment Deanna Devore Releases a Mouth-Watering Neo Soul Track, ‘Lately’ Song of the Day: Goldress – YellowStraps (ft. YVNK) EP Review: Naija-Ghana Tape Vol. 1 – DJ Boat x Kobi Jonz Ricardo Williams Delivers Single, ‘All I Need’, Featuring Yummy Bingham Slum Village’s T3 Announces New Solo Album With Delicious Vinyl, Taps Illa J And Frank Nitt For Lead Single ‘Relax’ Jacob Seeger /… on Jacob Seeger Releases Music Vi… Passport Overused on A1 Drops Video for Intro Track… Derrick Davidson on Kyra Mastro’s Brand New… Tracey Dawkins on Kyra Mastro’s Brand New… featured on Score Big’s & Musicaroo’s Top Music Blogs list! Let’s hook up!	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1726
__label__wiki	0.609637	0.609637	115 , Jan Feb 2019 Back to NLR 115, Jan Feb 2019 Mark Burton & Peter Somerville Degrowth: A Defence Degrowth, or a ‘green new deal’? Robert Pollin’s contribution to the recent debate on environmental strategy in these pages counterposes the two paths that currently dominate radical discussion of this issue. That they do not exhaust it is clear from the other contributors: Herman Daly, the Grand Old Man of ecological economics, reiterates his call for a ‘steady state’ economy in his interview with Benjamin Kunkel. Troy Vettese, drawing on the example of the seventeenth century’s Little Ice Age, argues for a ‘natural geo-engineering project’ to lower global temperatures through reforestation, and against mooted artificial geo-engineering solutions, which propose to manipulate the Earth’s cloud cover, alter the chemical composition of the oceans or release a ‘solar shield’ of sunlight-reflecting sulphate particles into the upper atmosphere. At the same time, Mike Davis’s discussion of the painstaking archival research by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie into the evidence for the Little Ice Age in France illuminates the limits of our knowledge of climate history. What follows will focus on Pollin’s trenchant criticisms of degrowth and the version of ‘green growth’ he offers as an alternative.footnote1 Pollin’s starting point is the urgent need for emissions reduction to stabilize global temperatures, as set out by the International Panel on Climate Change. Other environmental issues—biodiversity, clean air and water, liveable cities—as well as political questions—social and international equality, for example—are subordinated to the imperative of moderating climate change. ‘There are no certainties about what will transpire if we allow the average global temperature to continue rising. But as a basis for action, we only need to understand that there is a non-trivial possibility that the continuation of life on Earth as we know it is at stake.’footnote2 His programme calls for an extra 1.5–2 per cent of global gdp to be invested annually in a fast-growing programme of clean, non-nuclear, renewable-energy provision, while fossil-fuel industries will be shrunk by 35 per cent over the next twenty years, an annual 2.2 per cent. Taking aim at proponents of degrowth, he argues: It is in fact absolutely imperative that some categories of economic activity should now grow massively—those associated with the production and distribution of clean energy. Concurrently, the global fossil-fuel industry needs to contract massively—that is, to ‘de-grow’ relentlessly over the next forty or fifty years until it has virtually shut down.footnote3 This scenario is based on the ‘absolute decoupling’ of economic growth from fossil-fuel consumption—the former can expand while the latter contracts. Pollin claims this will drive down CO2 emissions ‘by 40 per cent within twenty years, while also supporting rising living standards and expanding job opportunities’. He provides costings for the social support and retraining of fossil-fuel workers: for the us as a whole this amounts to $600 million a year, or 0.2 per cent of the Federal budget. There are no costings for compensating the giant oil, gas and coal corporations; instead, Pollin notes in passing that these behemoths ‘will have to be defeated’. Although he concedes the moral case for rich countries to reduce their per capita emissions to the level of poorer ones, he considers it politically unrealistic for the us to do so. Under his programme, us emissions will fall from 16.5 to 5.8 tons per capita after twenty years, but they would still be three times the world average and three times higher than China’s per capita emissions, which would fall to 2.3 tons. To compensate, Pollin hopes the us will provide poorer countries with financial help for the transition. Taking issue with Kunkel’s opening flourish, that ‘fidelity to gdp growth amounts to the religion of the modern world’, Pollin counters that, under financialized neoliberalism, the real religion is not growth but maximizing profits ‘in order to deliver maximum incomes and wealth for the rich’. While agreeing with the degrowth movement that much global-capitalist production is wasteful and that gdp is a flawed metric, he argues that degrowthers have not produced a viable set of policies to cut greenhouse-gas emissions enough to stabilize global temperatures. Most damningly, it would seem, Pollin charges that degrowth would create soaring levels of poverty and unemployment, while failing to arrest climate change. According to his calculations, a 10 per cent contraction of the global economy, following a degrowth agenda, would create a world-historic slump, with global unemployment rocketing and declining living standards for poor and working-class people, but would still miss ipcc targets. Subscribe for instant access to all articles since 1960 Buy the print issue (with instant online access) for £8 Buy this article for £3 Shouldn't I have access to this article via my library? Didier Fassin & Anne-Claire Defossez, ‘An Improbable Movement?’ Lola Seaton, ‘Green Questions’ Herman Daly & Benjamin Kunkel, ‘Ecologies of Scale’ Troy Vettese, ‘To Freeze the Thames’ Robert Pollin, ‘De-Growth vs a Green New Deal’ Mike Davis, ‘Who Will Build the Ark?’ © New Left Review Ltd 2020 6 Meard Street, London W1F 0EG United Kingdom	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1727
__label__wiki	0.869397	0.869397	How Investigators Used Invisible Ink to Unmask the Largest-Ever Native American Art Fraud Conspiracy The case could be a watershed moment in a long-overdue crackdown on fake Native American art. Sarah Cascone, March 15, 2018 A piece of jewelry advertised on the Facebook page for Al Zuni Global Jewelry Wholesale, which stands accused of manufacturing counterfeit Native American goods in the Philippines to import and illegally sell in the US. Photo courtesy of Al Zuni Global Jewelry Wholesale. Law enforcement is finally cracking down on the scourge of counterfeit Native American jewelry, which has run rampant in the Southwest for decades. A watershed moment is set to arrive on March 27, with the sentencing of Albuquerque jewelry dealer Nael Ali, who has pleaded guilty to fraudulently selling “Native American” jewelry made in the Philippines. “Our arts and crafts give us a really concrete way to stay connected to our culture and our history,” Navajo jeweler Liz Wallace told National Geographic. “All this fake stuff feels like a very deep personal attack.” Counterfeits also threaten Native craftspeople’s livelihoods with cheap, sweatshop goods that price out handmade originals. It’s an illegal industry that has gone largely unchecked—until now. Ali and his middleman, Mohammad Manasra, were the first jewelry dealers ever to be charged with violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which since 1935 had made it a federal crime to misrepresent artwork as being Native American-made. First-time violators can face fines of up to $250,000 and five years in jail. At sentencing, Ali could be the first person sent to prison under the law. A New Mexico store dedicated to Native American crafts and jewelry, run members of the region’s large Palestinian community. Photo courtesy of Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images. Ali’s arrest was part of Operation Al Zuni, an Office of Law Enforcement for the Southwest Region of the US Fish and Wildlife Service investigation. Begun in 2012, it targeted Al Zuni Global Jewelry, which bills itself as the “largest wholesaler of Indian jewelry.” Now, investigators have identified two companies—both of which Ali identified as his suppliers—as operating what amounts to the largest-ever Native American art fraud conspiracy in history. Both organizations are run by Palestinian families and import counterfeit Native American goods manufactured in factories in the Philippines. The two networks are the Sterling Coalition, run, like Al Zuni, by members of the Khalaf family, and the Aysheh brothers. The Khalafs, led by Nashat Khalaf and his brothers, have been in the business of Native American artwork since 1972, their success leading many other Palestinians to join the market. According to Nat Geo, a Department of the Interior investigator was informed of Al Zuni’s activities as early as 1994, but law enforcement didn’t raid New Mexico jewelry stores until 2015. A photo on the Facebook page for Al Zuni Global Jewelry Wholesale, which stands accused of manufacturing counterfeit Native American goods in the Philippines to import and illegally sell in the US. Photo courtesy of Al Zuni Global Jewelry Wholesale. In 2012, Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Russell Stanford intercepted a shipment from the Khalafs’ overseas factories and marked the jewelry with invisible ink, only to send the package on its way. Stanford later went undercover at Nael Ali’s Albuquerque store, where his purchases, viewed under ultraviolet light, revealed the secret markings. That breakthrough led, eventually, to the raid and Ali’s landmark guilty plea. Four of the Aysheh brothers were charged last February, with a trial scheduled for October. Investigators have accused the Khalafs in affidavits filed in connection with search warrant applications, but have yet to file charges against members of the family. Investigators estimate that one of their companies, Sterling Islands, imported $11.8 million in contraband jewelry in the five years leading up to the raids. Both families deny selling fraudulent goods. South Dakota Collector Claims Dealer Sold Him $421,000 in Fake Native American Art By Eileen Kinsella , Dec 10, 2015 Opinion: Hopi and Navajo Masks Auction Precedent in France Is Dangerous By Pierre Ciric , Jul 25, 2014 US Efforts Fail to Halt French Auction of Hopi Artifacts By Hendrik Hansson , Jun 30, 2014 Belgian Police Raid People’s Homes as an Investigation Into Russian Avant-Garde Forgeries Widens By , Mar 20, 2018 After 5Pointz, Can Artists and Developers Ever Work Together Again? Experts Lay Out the Way Forward By , Mar 7, 2018	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1728
__label__wiki	0.636016	0.636016	Twenty CA Seniors will go on to collegiate athletic careers at Division I and Division III schools. A banner year for Colorado Academy student-athletes Communications April 26, 2019 AthleticsOn CAmpus Newsletter698 views With the Class of 2019, Colorado Academy celebrated a banner year for student-athletes. Typically, about 10 percent of students in the CA Senior class commit to post-high school sports. In 2019, 20 percent of our graduating students will go on to play a wide variety of sports at the Division I and Division III levels. On April 11, at the CA Campus Center, Director of Athletics Bill Hall honored the Division III athletes and thanked the coaches, teachers, advisors, and parents who have helped them achieve success. He pointed out that all of these student-athletes have performed at a high level in many areas. They are multi-sport athletes who play instruments, sing in the choir, perform well academically, serve as student leaders, volunteer in the community, speak multiple languages, and perform on stage. Sachin Mehta will fence sabre at Johns Hopkins University. Hall recognized each individual student who will go on to play a Division III collegiate sport. Mac Behrhorst will play lacrosse at Hamilton College. Jackson Briggs will play soccer at Denison University. Carter Coatsworth will play lacrosse at Connecticut College. Dee Dennis will play basketball at Colorado College. Ari Fierer will play baseball at Swarthmore College. Ben Freeman will swim for Swarthmore College. Aly Gallagher will swim for Claremont McKenna College. Richter Jordaan will play tennis at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lucy Myers will play volleyball at McDaniel College. Charlie Parham will play soccer for Macalester College. Cleo Smith will play lacrosse for Sewanee: The University of the South. Hall also acknowledged students who signed letters earlier in the school year to compete at the Division I level: Mari Annest will play soccer for Northwestern University. Conner Brook will play lacrosse for Colgate University. Michael Colpack, Jr. will play lacrosse for Marquette University. Catie Groves will play soccer for the University of Richmond. Caroline Jordaan will play golf at the University of Denver. Sloane Murphy will play lacrosse at the University of Southern California. Graham Osman will play baseball at Arizona State University. Monika Williams will run track at Howard University. Congratulations to all these outstanding young scholars and athletes! On CAmpus May 2019 Previous ArticleHow CA students are helping Karen refugees Next ArticleApplause for two great Colorado Academy shows	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1729
__label__cc	0.642596	0.357404	ADR NEWS disputesefiling.com The One Platform Regulatory Statements What happens when mediation becomes mandatory? August 2, 2019 ADR, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution Mandatory Mediation This question should matter to members of CIArb because it seems increasingly likely that in the coming months mediation will become mandatory in one way or another in two jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. These are opportunities for CIArb to contribute to the development of the practice of mediation and increase the opportunities for its members to grow their livelihood. For so long the idea of mandatory mediation has caused controversy and consternation in equal measure. What is changing? The prevailing wisdom now acknowledges the Courts are expensive, slow, under-funded and under-resourced with too few Judges and too little IT. Today’s citizen with a low-value, straightforward dispute needs a way of resolving the dispute which suits him or her and their lifestyle. That means: quick, fair, affordable and online. The reactions to mandating mediation might well include exasperation. Frustration that for 25 years mediation has been promoted and encouraged by a plethora of means including public information programmes, pre-action protocols and more but the legal profession (the gateway to mediation) has still not enthusiastically embraced the panacea that mediation can be for the many ills afflicting the civil courts. In July 2019 HMCTS announced that by the end of this year they will start an opt-out mediation pilot for claims worth less than £300 within Civil Money Claims Online, offering claimants and defendants the opportunity to resolve their case out of court. I admit claims of less than £300 are not enticing as a business opportunity but no-one should doubt this is the end of opt-out mediations in civil justice. In fact this is a signal of more “opt-outs” to come throughout civil justice. The use of the phrase “opt-out” is an emollient for those who oppose mandatory mediation. What other developments wait in the wings ready to come front of stage and into our working lives? The new portal being built by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau for the Ministry of Justice will also have a mediation element, obviously. It remains to be seen who will be the mediation provider in that project. Remaining in England and Wales, action on the recommendations of the Civil Justice Council’s ADR Working Group (which reported in November 2018) is eagerly anticipated. Especially recommendation 20(a): “9.20. The terms of claim documents, Court forms, pre‐action protocols and guidance documents already contain significant prompts towards ADR but should be reviewed to ensure that: there is effectively a presumption that ADR will be attempted in any case which is not otherwise settled;” An opt-out by another name. In Scotland the move to a form of mandatory mediation is underway with a consultation paper issued by Margaret Mitchell, MSP with the support of the Scottish Parliament’s Non-Government Bills Unit (NGBU). The consultation paper can be found via this link: https://www.parliament.scot/S5MembersBills/Mediation_consultation_document.pdf The core propositions of Ms Mitchell’s consultation are to: establish a new process of court-initiated mediation for relevant civil cases (cases which are excluded from the process will be set out in the Bill). When a civil case first comes before a court, the court will issue the parties with a questionnaire to help assess suitability for mediation and appoint a duty mediator who will be required to meet with the parties (in a Mediation Information Session) to discuss further and to decide whether the parties wish to proceed with mediation; and, support this innovation with modern technology. The consultation raises important issues for the mediation community and is open until 20 August 2019 after which the responses (which can be submitted online or by email or post) will be considered. The aim is to enact legislation before the end of the current Scottish Parliamentary session in March 2021. The question arises about the practical steps required to make such innovations happen. Recent experience from another jurisdiction holds valuable lessons. In Turkey mediation was encouraged on a voluntary basis from June 2013. It was found that 90% of all civil disputes were employment related and this led, in October 2017, to the enactment of a law requiring mediation to be undertaken before any employment claim was commenced in the Courts. The rationale was to provide a quick and cost-effective way of resolving disputes which was a means of overcoming the shortage of Judges, this shortage is the same issue we in the UK face. However in Turkey their shortage arises for a different reason – many judges were imprisoned following the failed coup in 2016. The journey to mandatory mediation has been tracked in a 2 year study undertaken by the Council of Europe. The final report from that study was published in December 2017. The study is highly relevant for anyone contemplating the introduction of a scheme of mandatory or implied-compulsory mediation in the UK and can be found via this link: https://rm.coe.int/mediation/168075fa4d. What other lessons have been learned? Mediation cannot be used in all cases. Exceptions are disputes of a public rights nature including: divorce, child custody and real property issues; No pilot was undertaken, instead online discussion fora were created whose members included representatives from Government, mediation schemes and mediation parties involved. These discussion groups have worked well enabling immediate feedback, supervision and rapid adoption and communication of better practice. This speed of monitoring was crucial as the Government intends to roll-out mandatory mediation to commercial and consumer disputes. An enhanced public and professional information project which included meetings, seminars and panels to explain the benefits of mediation together with TV advertising and the inclusion of mediation as a story-line in prime-time TV series. Costs sanctions were introduced into the Turkish system which meant that if a party did not participate meaningfully in the mediation process yet succeeded at the trial the non-participating party could not recover any costs, despite winning. As one might expect the number of mediations is now significantly greater post January 2018 than during the voluntary phase. The Turkish Ministry of Justice therefore developed an online Platform as the only sensible way to manage the numbers. The author was fortunate to recently gain insights about the progress of this mandatory mediation scheme from a Turkish lawyer, Dogan Baydar, MCIArb, who explained the process is known as the Prerequisite Mediation Law (akin perhaps to Margaret Mitchell’s proposed approach). Dogan said he found the online platform something that will play an increasingly important role. I am grateful to Dogan for sharing his experiences with me. Finally there was a critical shortage of appropriately qualified mediators. In this connection perhaps CIArb can play a leading role by making the Institute’s market leading experience of training mediators available to those considering mandatory mediation in England, Wales and Scotland. In this short piece I have tried to give a flavour of things to come and what needs to be done. DEF NEWSROOM How much does an arbitration weigh? The concerns expressed ab... Confidentiality: the contractual duties of mediators, arbitrators and the effect of the GDPR In arbitral proceedings u... The Bonfire of the (LegalTech) Ironies In 2018 the Law Gazette (... Alternative Dispute Resolution – the time has come ADR which was for so long... Lomax and the irresistible rise of ADR A guest post by Tony Guis... Dispute Resolution Cloud platform DisputesEfiling.com is a trading name of DisputeseFiling.com LIMITED. A company with Registered number 9405308 and registered office: 2 St.Margaret's Road SE4 1YU © Copyright 2019. DisputesEfiling.com This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Please choose adjacent: Accept Reject Read More	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1730
__label__wiki	0.571859	0.571859	Novo researchers tracking red tide survivors By Jim DeLa This year’s red tide blooms along the Gulf Coast killed millions of fish and other creatures, including manatees, sea turtles and dolphins. But where did the creatures that survived go to escape the toxic soup that fouled their habitat? New College researchers recently received a $17,000 grant from the Mote Scientific Foundation to try to find some answers. Professor Jayne Gardiner and New College thesis student Lukas Heath ’18 tag a juvenile great hammerhead shark in Palma Sola Bay in July. Assistant Professor of Biology and director of the New College’s Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center, Jayne Gardiner, has been conducting fish surveys in local waters for three years. Gardiner and her students are part of a research experiment called the Sarasota Bay Coast Acoustic Network, or SCAN. Researchers tag sharks and fish, including the endangered small-tooth sawfish, with devices that send signals recorded by strategically placed listening stations anchored in the water as the fish swim near them. Gardiner’s team has been specifically tracking 50 sharks of various species, including black tips, hammerheads and bull sharks. Mauryn Brownback, a thesis student, is participating in the project. Her focus is on doing fish surveys by fishing one day a month, using gillnets and longlines, to study the diversity of species. “Before we started conducting surveys, there had not been any recorded research of what species were in the river, so we initially did not know what we would find, since any data provided new information about the area,” she said. Any bull sharks caught are measured, tagged and released. In April, Brownback said, numbers started to fall. In June, they managed to catch and release one juvenile bull shark. In July, as the red tide bloom increased in size and intensity, the trend continued. “We stopped seeing black tips,” Gardiner recalled. As the summer wore on, they saw even more devastation — thousands of stingray carcasses, and dead bull sharks. The live populations fled the area. “They got out of Dodge before the [toxic] levels got bad.” Exactly where the sharks and rays went was a mystery. But Gardiner had a theory. Just north of Sarasota Bay, Terra Ceia Bay and the Manatee River could be natural refuges from the toxic bloom because of their lower salinity. “The Manatee River is salty but not enough for red tide,” Gardiner said. Gardiner had listening stations in Terra Ceia, but there were none in the Manatee River. Could the fish be migrating far upstream into the Manatee River? Gardiner and her SCAN colleague, Tonya Wiley, a consultant based in Manatee County, proposed adding an electronic listening “gate” at the mouth of the river and putting additional devices upstream in various locations. The Mote Scientific Foundation responded with a grant. The nine new Manatee River listening stations were installed by early November, and four additional sharks have been tagged with transmitters, Brownback said. The team pulls the listening stations from the sea bed on a regular basis, download any data collected and change batteries. No data has yet been collected from the new stations, Brownback said. Her thesis work, which also measures salinity and oxygen levels in various locations, could identify criteria necessary for an area to be considered a shark nursery habitat. “This research provides a baseline for that and could definitely be expanded upon with future fish surveys and theses of New College students.” Meanwhile the SCAN research continues. “No one has even done this in the Manatee River before,” Gardiner said. “We’d like to be doing more between April and October … We’re hoping to secure more funds for year-round work.” — Jim DeLa is Digital Communication Coordinator in the Office of Communications and Marketing. Seeking truth and passing it on, a Selby and New College collaboration Seeking truth, and passing it on, is one of the quintessentially human activities that makes us more fully human. President's Message >>	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1733
__label__wiki	0.98857	0.98857	Human stories UN Art and Gifts UN Affairs Law and Crime Prevention The Lid is On UN Gender Focus UN and Africa Podcast Classics Selected Speeches Press Encounters Official Travels UN Video Audio Hub Ten years after Hariri assassination, Ban reasserts UN support for Lebanon Special Tribunal for Lebanon. On the tenth anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 21 others who lost their lives on that day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon renewed his condolences to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack and pledged the Organization's commitment to the country and its people. “A decade on, the message remains that impunity will not be tolerated,” said Mr. Ban in a statement issued by his spokesperson earlier today, which underscored the Organization's commitment to supporting the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, with the continued support and cooperation of the Lebanese Government. The statement went on to reiterate the long standing commitment of the UN to the people of Lebanon on this occasion. “As Lebanon faces renewed challenges, the United Nations continues to work with the Government…alongside all Lebanese partners, to support the country in its efforts to strengthen stability and security, in line with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.” The Hague-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which officially began its work in 2009, is mandated to hold trials for those accused of carrying out the 14 February 2005 bombing near the St. George Hotel in downtown Beirut that killed 23 people, including Mr. Hariri, and injured many others. The blast was so powerful that it left a crater at least 10-metres wide and two metres deep on the street, according to the Tribunal. Following a series of other killings and bombings in Lebanon, the Lebanese Government requested that the UN create a tribunal of "international character." The UN Security Council acknowledged the request on 15 December 2005 in its resolution 1644. The UN and the Lebanese Government signed an agreement for the Special Tribunal on 23 January 2007 and the court opened on 1 March 2009 in Leidchendam, near The Hague, the Netherlands. The also court has offices in Beirut and operates as an independent judicial organization, not a UN court. ♦ Receive daily updates directly in your inbox - Subscribe here to a topic. ♦ Download the UN News app for your iOS or Android devices. Secretary-General extends mandate of UN-backed Lebanon tribunal for three more years Lebanon’s President says country is working towards stability, but weighed down by ‘neighborhood crises’ UN envoy in Lebanon calls for end to Israeli violations of Blue Line News Tracker: Past Stories on This Issue INTERVIEW: all parties want calm across Israeli-Lebanese border, says former UN envoy While there are still outstanding issues and underlying tensions, all parties want to maintain calm across the so-called ‘Blue Line’ that separates Israel and Lebanon, according to a former United Nations official tasked with monitoring the issue. Navigate the News Information for Broadcasters UN System Links UN Journal Meetings Coverage SG Twitter Spokesperson's Office Latest Statements Briefing Highlights Briefing Transcripts Notes to Correspondents UN News App Contact UN News	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1735
__label__wiki	0.817589	0.817589	The new Cosmic Crisp apple hits stores, after years of development By Enrique Perez de la Rosa • Dec 25, 2019 loe_191129_b2_cosmic_crisp.mp3 A new variety of apple, the Cosmic Crisp, has hit grocery stores around the country after more than 20 years of development by the Washington State University Tree Fruit Research Commission. The Cosmic Crisp is a cross-breed of the popular Honeycrisp and the Enterprise. Its breeders hope it can combine the most desired apple qualities: great taste, easy growing and harvesting and a long shelf life. Related: Will Iowa farmers benefit from Trump's newest deals with China? Cosmic Crisp growers are taking special care to ensure that the first crop hits the shelves as a winner that matches the hype. “This certainly, I think, has an opportunity to have some broad-based appeal and everybody's pretty excited about it,” said Aaron Clark, vice president of Price Cold Storage in Yakima, Washington, and a fourth-generation grower. “I am, too, but we'll see.” Price Cold Storage has planted about 80 acres of Cosmic Crisp in their orchards, compared to the 2,000 acres of other tree fruit they harvest. While that may not sound like much, Clark says it’s a lot for a new apple, considering it takes upwards of $35,000 per acre to buy and plant new trees. “It's like any new thing. ... It doesn't mean that you can just plug some piece of wood in the ground that grows by itself. You still have to manage it horticulturally.” Ines Hanrahan, executive director, Tree Fruit Research Commission The Washington State University Tree Fruit Research Commission has been breeding Cosmic Crisp since 1997. Ines Hanrahan, the commission’s executive director, said that compared to its genetic parent, Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp is just as sweet and easier to grow. But growing new apples is not so simple. “It's like any new thing. You have to learn how to handle it,” Hanrahan said. “It doesn't mean that you can just plug some piece of wood in the ground that grows by itself. You still have to manage it horticulturally.” That's why the research commission spent weeks teaching growers how Cosmic Crisp matures on the tree. If you take a bite out of a Cosmic before harvest, it tastes and looks like it's right for picking. But Cosmic Crisp matures slowly, which means growers have to rely on an iodine solution to see how much of the starch stored in the apple through photosynthesis has been converted into sugar. When they spray the solution on the apples, the sugars turn dark. Too much sugar, or not enough, means the apples might not store as well as they should. And Cosmic Crisp can run into more serious challenges if not managed well from the start. According to WSU researcher Bernardita Sallato, the variety is vigorous, meaning it can grow quickly in most soil. But that also means it can grow too quickly. If not fertilized properly, mismanaged trees can develop something called “blind wood,” a condition in which some branches do not develop buds or spores — and consequently, no fruit. Sallato said most growers have avoided blind wood because its cause and remedy are well known. Older apples like Granny Smith and Fujis also suffer from it. Other issues are harder to manage, however, because they're not as well understood by science. Take “green spot,” a cosmetic defect that doesn't change the taste of Cosmic Crisp, but could make it harder to sell. Sallato said it is probably just like “bitter pit” in Honeycrisp, caused by a calcium deficiency, but she's not yet sure. She and other WSU researchers are looking into its causes. Related: Low coffee prices are starving farmers. Can a cartel fix it? Aaron Clark, of Price Cold Storage, said he hasn't seen any of these issues, but experience has taught him that challenges are a natural part of taking an apple from the lab to the orchard. “There's a big difference between test blocks and places that WSU would do and commercial farming,” Clark said. “It's a lot of trial and error. It's just planting it and seeing where it goes.” This report from Enrique Perez de la Rosa aired on Living on Earth from PRX, courtesy of Northwest Public Broadcasting. From Living on Earth ©2017 World Media Foundation	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1736
__label__wiki	0.933679	0.933679	Gov. Rauner: Speaker Madigan Holding Higher Education Hostage Paris Schutz \| February 29, 2016 7:01 pm A strong accusation from Gov. Bruce Rauner, who says that House Speaker Michael Madigan is strong-arming Illinois colleges and universities to reject any funding proposal that doesn't come from the speaker himself. It's the latest salvo in an eight-month budget stalemate that's leaving Illinois colleges and universities without any state money. There are two avenues to fund many of the state’s colleges. One is a $721 million bill that would fund Monetary Assistance Program (MAP) grants for students and fund community colleges. It was was sponsored by Speaker Madigan and Democrats but vetoed by the governor because he says it would blow a bigger hole in the budget. Instead, Rauner’s getting behind a few proposals that he says would fund those and state universities through cuts to things like pensions and workers' comp, and the creation of other efficiencies. But Rauner says Speaker Madigan is blocking these proposals, and he says the speaker has strong-armed several state colleges, demanding that they stay silent on these proposals until after the March 15 primary. “I haven’t verified this directly, but I have good sources,” Rauner said. “What Speaker Madigan has done is gone to the various universities and said, ‘If you step out and support anything that the governor is proposing, I will cut you out of the final budget solution.’ That’s what I’ve been told. Speaker Madigan is managing this process for political gain in the primary election, not to help our students. It is outrageous.” The colleges almost universally denied these kinds of conversations taking place, beginning with Northeastern Illinois University: Meanwhile, Western Illinois said they would not get in the middle of a political fight: And Chicago State University, which faces imminent closure because of no state funds, said: Also, the governor says Senate president John Cullerton personally told him that he’d been in the speaker’s shadows for years and wasn’t going to come out now. Cullerton said he wouldn’t dignify the governor’s claim with a response. A spokesman for Madigan called Rauner’s accusations ludicrous, noting that the governor appoints the university boards. Madigan says they will instead try to override the governor’s veto of their MAP grant funding bills either Tuesday or Wednesday. Follow Paris Schutz on Twitter: @paschutz State Lawmakers on CPS, MAP Grants and Budget Woes at Universities Feb. 25: The state’s unprecedented political stalemate over the budget is increasingly sucking public education into financial uncertainty. State lawmakers discuss the fight over public education and Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget ultimatum. Gov. Rauner Threatens to Choke CPS Borrowing Feb. 22: Gov. Bruce Rauner makes another move to take over Chicago Public Schools. This one, he says, could happen without legislative approval. Chicago State University President on School’s Financial Crisis Feb. 16: Amid the budget stalemate, many public universities have been operating without funding from the state. Chicago State University has gone most of the fiscal year without a third of its budget. CSU President Thomas Calhoun Jr. tells us what's at stake. Governor Rauner house speaker madigan mike madigan illinois springfield news education funding illinois illinois state schools budget	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1737
__label__wiki	0.887762	0.887762	Nederlandse Amateur Vereniging voor Raket-Onderzoek Dutch amateur association for rocket research NAVRO launch days CanSat launch days Fly to the Sky launch days Other launch days NAVRO's media presence Model rocketry High Power Rocketry Amateur rocketry NAVRO rockets Altical Motor research Kalinidex motor tests Kalinitrox motor tests Other motor tests TNO classification NAVRO motors NAVRO history All amateur rockets built by the NAVRO as a club project and some private projects have received a designation beginning with "N". This page describes all the rockets, which received this designation. By clicking on the image next to the description of the rocket you will be taken to the picture page of that rocket. After the first club projects N1 and N2, the next type of rockets were of the Midget B design with the Kalinitrox K600 motor. The Midget C was an improved version using a more powerful Kalinitrox K1800/K2000 motor. The second series were the Hercules'. The Hercules A1 is redesigned and improved version of the original Hercules A. It was easier to build, but most of all was reduced a quarter in weight. The next series of NAVRO rockets is the Titan. This type of rocket has a diamete of 135 mm. Significantly lager than the 90 mm of the Hercules. Purpose of the Titan project is perfecting the NDU parachuting system (nose-down nose-up also see N23) and eventualy reach an altitude of 7000 m with a Kalinidex motor with 15.000 Ns. Most NAVRO amateur rockets are launched at our own NAVRO Lanceerdagen (NAVRO Launch Days) at ASK 't Harde, but in the earlier nineties we also launched at several French launch campaigns. N1 "Pluvius Tubus" Name: N1 "Pluvius Tubus" Type: N1 Motor: Bambi Launch: Mourmelon, 28 August 1990 The N1 is the first amateur rocket built by the NAVRO. "Pluvius Tubus" is latin for "Rain-pipe". It was launched at the National French Launching Campaign. After 0.7 seconds the French Bambi motor that was used, destroyed the rocket. This was a great disappointment, but it was one of the reasons to develop our own rocket motors. The French government provided rockets motors to amateurs free of charge under supervision of the CNES (the French NASA), to stop amateurs making their own rocket motors. Unfortunately these are developed from military rocket motors and are smokeless. As user you don't have any control on the quality of the motor. N2 "Vindicta Pluvii Tubi" Name: N2 "Vindicta Pluvii Tubi" Motor: Isard The N2 was very similar to the N1 and even reused surviving parts of the N1. Unlike the N1, the N2 flew successful. Not only it landed almost unscratched, the NAVRO also won the Prix Joseph Mercier, a safety award. "Vindicta Pluvii Tubi" means quite appropriately "Revenge of the Rain-pipe". Name: N3 Type: Midget A Motor: K600 Launch: NLC2, ASK 't Harde, 26 September 1992 The N3 was the first rocket to fly with our own K600 Kalinitrox composite rocket motor. It was a small rocket, built just to test the motor in flight. The flight was a success, as far as we could know at the time. The N3 had no recovery transmitter and it wasn't found that day. This flight was also the first flight of a composite rocket motor developed in The Netherlands. A year later at our next launch the military presented us the rocket they had found when they cleared the shooting range. We were very pleased with the return of the N3 and since it is proudly on display. Type: Midget B Launch: NLD1, ASK 't Harde, 6 August 1993 After success of the N3 and its K600 motor, the N4 was a more advanced rocket and was the prototype of the Midget B/C rockets. It had a recovery transmitter and a timer for the parachute, but no further electronics. A new feature for us was that the parachute was behind an hatch. Such a hatch opens when the rocket parachutes, instead of a detachable nose cone. The flight was a success. N5 "Partiarius" Name: N5 "Partiarius" Launch: WWLC 1993, Bourges, 29 August The N5 was the private project of Vincent Kouer with some assistance of other NAVRO members. He had obtained an aluminium tube, which had to fly. The tube was said to be a part of a Fokker 100's fuel pipe (The Fokker 100 is a 100 man passenger aircraft that was built by Fokker Aircraft, which is now bankrupt...). The N5 was designed for the K600 motor. The flight was a success, except for the recovery transmitter, which did not function. The N5 was found anyway. The N5 reached a maximum speed of 221m/s and an altitude of 1800 metres. Launch: NLD2, ASK 't Harde, 27 May 1994 The N6 was built to test if the recovery transmitter would survive a crash. Kees Jan Groenendijk put much effort in building the rocket. The rocket had no parachute. As you might have guessed, the transmitter did not survive the crash. The N6 was never found and is now entertaining worms. The N7 was a rocket made by three youth members of the NAVRO. The purpose of this project was to introduce amateur rocketry to NAVRO youth members, who had been building model rockets for some years. The rocket was built with assistance of experienced members. The launch was a success and the rocket was recovered almost intact. Even the parachute hatch was found. Launch: WWLC 1993, Bourges, 29 August 1993 The N8 was our first rocket, which had an onboard computer. This computer was based on the 80C552 processor and was designed by one of our members. It could measure acceleration, rotation, onboard temperature and could trigger the separation of the parachute hatch. A month earlier the N8 had flown as the N4 and was repaired and rebuild for the Bourges launch. The main difference was that the N8 was longer to accommodate more electronics. The flight was a success and the N8 rotated around its vertical axis once each 8 seconds. The N9 was our first rocket with a two-stage parachute system and its main purpose was to test it. After reaching the top of the flight a (small) drogue chute was deployed, and only at a few hundred metres high the (big) main chute was deployed. This way the rocket lands closer to the launching site. The flight was a success. Name: N10 Type: Midget C Motor: K1800 Launch: NLD3, ASK 't Harde, 19 August 1994 The N10 was the first flight of the K1800 motor, later upgraded to the K2000 motor. The rocket itself was the modified N9, which was launched three months earlier. The flight was successful. During the winter of 1994/1995 the K1800 was upgraded to the K2000, giving the N11 more thrust than the N10 of a year earlier. The N11 main purposes however, were its experiments. Using an improved version of the N8's electronics, the measured values were: atmospheric pressure, rotation, acceleration, temperature on top of the nose cone, as well as the temperature of the rockets surrounding air and a Doppler-measurement. A barometric altimeter was also present. All data was recorded to be downloaded into the computer when the rocket was recovered. However, the rocket did not parachute and has not been found to this day. The probable cause was pyro-technical. Since then our rockets have had multiple pyro-technical systems. Type: Hercules A The N12 was the prototype of the Hercules rocket. Apart from being prototype, the N12 was supposed to fly with two camera's, one facing down and one facing up. The images were transmitted live to our command centre and recorded. The camera's could not transmit simultaneously, so a switch ensured the most interesting moments were transmitted. However the electronic switch did not work, so the N12 flew using only its downward looking camera. The electronics were similar to the electronics of the N8. Parachuting wasn't perfect again, because the N12 landed on its drogue chute due to a miscalculation. Fortunately all internal parts, like camera's and electronics were intact. The N13 was like the N5 a private project of Vincent Kouer, who was fascinated by speed and the availability of a more powerful motor now had to build a rocket which could break the sound barrier. The N13 was essentially a motor with on top of it a small compartment with simple electronics and a parachute. The N13's speed was measured with a Doppler measurement. It broke the sound barrier and parachuted correctly, but the rocket was not recovered that day. However, in 2003 it was found. The N14 has flown before as the N7, but had been enlarged and given a new paint job. It was supposed to fly some electronic projects, but they were never finished. After the N14 was launched it never parachuted, so somewhere in the clouds their still must be flying a black rocket. If you see it please report it to the NAVRO. Launch: NLD6, ASK 't Harde, 23 April 1996 The N15 was a copy of the N12. The small differences were the single downwards faced camera and the sound recording and atmospheric pressure measurement experiments. The most important difference was, that all data was transmitted to ground control. The resulting values were close to what was calculated. The N15 was featured on national television on the "Klokhuis" show. Again we had troubles parachuting, but it wasn't our fault. The cable of the main parachute broke, because it wasn't nylon. The nylon was bought at a DIY store as nylon. When we informed the DIY store, they sued their supplier. Type: Hercules A1 The N16 was built as a redesigned and improved Hercules A1. The N16 was launched successful and parachuted as planned. Name: N17, Tintin rocket Type: Tintin rocket Motor: 1 AeroTech I284-W 2 AeroTech H180-W This Tintin rocket was built by Chiel Klein. The N17 is an exception in the N-series, as it is in fact an High Power Rocket, which normally do not get a N-registration, but this one was very special and the first HPR rocket launched at a NLD. The rocket was completely built from scratch and 1290mm (ca. 4 feet) in length! It had a great flight, which you could follow all the way. In some documents the rocket was also allocated the N18 number, to add to the confusion (see below). N18 (1997) Name: N18 (1997) The N18 (1997) was the refurbished N16. Again we were victim of Murphy's Laws as we had another parachute failure. This time the drogue chute didn't pull out the main parachute. Later the N18 (1997) was dug out and nothing more than small fragments of plastic and metal were found. All the electronics boards were wiped clean. This rocket is called N18 (1997) on the website, to distinguish it from the more successful similar named N18 of 1999. After the year of cancelled NLD's we finally were to launch again in 1999. During that year we forgot we already had allocated the N18 number, so the new rocket was also called N18. On the website this N18 is called just N18. The new N18 was again equipped with a camera, this time facing upwards to shoot images of the deployment of the parachutes. Unfortunately the antenna was badly targeted, so we had some interference in the images, but most of the parachute deployments could be seen. It happens fast, only in a few frames! This time the parachuting was done correctly, much to our relieve. The altimeter was the commercial IA-X96 Cambridge Accelerometer of Emmanuel Avionics. Launch: NLD10, ASK 't Harde, 13 August 1999 The N19 was the refurbished N18 without the camera. Again the IA-X96 Cambridge Accelerometer was used. The flight was successful, but landed in a tree. Launch: NLD11, ASK 't Harde, 7 April 2000 The faulty IA-X96 Cambridge Accelerometer was replaced by the R-DAS flight computer of AED Electronics, which is based on the same plans as the N8's electronics, but is further developed and more advanced. The N20's flight was a success, but the N20 pointed to the wind far more than expected. Also the K2000 rocket motor seemed not to have the thrust is was thought to have. It landed virtually unscratched. The N20 had flown earlier as the N18 and N19. Launch: NLD12, ASK 't Harde, 20 October 2000 The N21 is the same rocket as the N20, and thus as the N18 and N19. The flight was successful. The purpose of this flight was to measure the thrust of our K2000 rocket motor in flight. According to the R-DAS it reached an altitude of 1500 metre (5000 feet). Motor: AeroTech K550-W The proven airframe, which started life as the N22, would fly again. This time for his last flight (so we thought). The rocket had a different motor, an AeroTech K550-W, which has the same performance as the proposed K2000 replacement. Also the R-DAS was expanded with a GPS module. The rocket had a good flight, this time leaving the tower with enough surplus speed. It reached an altitude of 1600 metres. Launch: NLD16, ASK 't Harde, 6 September 2002 The N23 used the well tested old airframe, which was original the N18. It was its sixth flight, this time with an AeroTech K550-W. The R-DAS was again supplemented with the GPS module and the NAVRO radio beacon. New this flight was a new NDU parachute configuration (nose-down nose-up). The N23 was to descend nose down on the drogue chute and then using a pyrotechnic charge the rocket would tumble and descend tail down on the main chute. This elaborated system worked perfectly in flight and the N23 made a flawless flight. Motor: AeroTech K1100-T The N24 is essentially the N23 with a new paint job. Its seventh flight was the last flight of the rocket that was first launched as the N18. The electronics included R-DAS with GPS and the NAVRO radio beacon. An other experiment is the NUND parachute system (see N23). The rocket had a nice lift off, but but crashed as it went ballistic. The reason was that the safety plug was forgotten and thus the parachuting system didn't operate. The remains were crushed very badly. The N25 project started life with an eight years old K600 motor we had in storage and wanted to use in a rocket. We also had the reasonable complete 1993 vintage N8 hanging on our ceiling. So those two were matched. On the rocket we replaced the parachute hatch, the parachute hatch release mechanism, the electronics, the lower body tube and the fins. Both the parachute hatch and two of the fins were reclaimed from old N8 parts. The electronics compromised a transmitter and an R-DAS. Like the N8, we also measured rotation. The launch and flight of the N25 were perfect and it went up in a straight line. It landed almost unscratched. It reached an altitude of 1260m and it rotated around its axis once every 1.8 seconds. Type: Titan A Motor: 70 mm Kalinidex motor from Mark Uitendaal Launch: Cansat launchday, ASK 't Harde, 7 june 2013 This rocket with number N26 is the first Titan and was launched 7 June 2013. For the propulsion we used the 70 mm Kalinidex motor from Mark Uitendaal. With this 2400 Ns motor the rocket reached an altitude of 1200 m and parachuted partially successful with the NDU system. The main we used, a 15 years old parachute with a diameter of 1,80 m, was not up to the opening forces witch partly tore the parachute. For the flight electronics we used the RDAS. Type: Titan B Launch: NLD39, ASK 't Harde, 20 september 2013 This Titan rocket was launched on September 20, 2013. Revised electronics and RDAS of the N26 where used. The differens was that this time we used the 80 mm Kalinidex motor (4500 Ns) from Mark. In addittion, the rocket is now provided with two cameras. One camera (camera A) produces images in the direction of the nose cone and the other (camera B) produced images downwards to th fins. The NDU parachute system used an slower opening ballute as main parachute. The rocket reach an altitude of 2500 m and parachited now successful. Camera A produced stunning images including the parachtuting. Unfortunately data from Camera B could not be read. Type: Titan C Motor: NAVRO Kalinidex K90.6.5700 Launch: NLD42, ASK 't Harde, 1 May 2015 This Titan rocket was launched on 1 May 2015. For the flight the Titan C was used which was used as the N27. The difference with the N27 was that now a K90.6 type engine was used with a total impulse of 5700 Ns. This K90.6.5700 was the result of the engine test KSB2014-T003 / 004 witch where held in 2014. The rocket reached an altitude of 2500 m and parachuted successful. This time two small video cameras were mounted on the rocket, one facing up and the other down. Unfortunately, the camera looking up didn't make recordings, the other cameras made beautiful recordings of the flight. Launch: NLD44, ASK 't Harde, 20 may 2016 The N29 was launched on May 20, 2016. For this flight the Titan-C was used witch was already used as N27. The electronics frame for this flight was extended with a sensor package. The aim was to test different sensors for use in the new NAVRO flight computer. The rocket flew again with K90.6.5700 rocket engine. Now, however, it was decided not to recover the hatch. This time both cameras recorded beautiful images of, among others, the parachuting of the rocket. The rocket reached an altitude of 2800 m (according to then new sensors, RDAS > 2500m). Parachuting unfortunately was only partly successful and the rocket landed hanging on the drogue ballutte. By this relatively hard landing, the nose cone and parachute section of the rocket were destroyed. The recordings of the parachuting camera where carefully studied. Also there where different theories developed that might explain why the main ballutte remained unopened. A satisfactory explanation was not found. Type: Hercules B The N30 was a Hercules B type rocket where the engine has the same diameter as the rocket. Therefore the lower part of the rocket is completely motor and the fins are clamed on the motor. The purpose of this launch was to test te NUND parachuting system at higher speeds. Because of this we used a small drougue shute. Unfortunatelely the drougue chute was to small and therfore the rocket did not turn before the deployment of the main parachute. As a result, the main parachute has not been pulled out of the parachute compartment. The N30 has therefore suffered great damage during the landing. Launch: NLD46, ASK 't Harde, 19 April 2017 After the launch of the N30, it was decided to recreate the same rocket. Of course the parachuting system was adjusted. The N31 was again launched with a self-made Kalinidex K90.4.3800 motor. The launch went beautifully, but after the rocket disappeared in the clouds, no one has seen it anymore. We assume that the rocket has crashed. Unfortunately, nothing has been recovered so we have no idea what went wrong.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1740
__label__wiki	0.770676	0.770676	HomeHealthLos Angeles: Skid Row Declared a ‘Typhus Zone’ But Politicians Are Slow to Implement Clean Up Los Angeles: Skid Row Declared a ‘Typhus Zone’ But Politicians Are Slow to Implement Clean Up October 22, 2018 Daily Wire Health 0 Downtown Los Angeles, Youtube Skid row spans 50 square blocks in downtown Los Angeles, which has become a breeding ground for rats, contributing to Los Angeles County’s typhus outbreak which began this summer. The disease is spread by fleas, which are carried by rats, feral cats, opossums and pets. Typhus infections can cause high fever, headache, chills, and in rare or untreated cases, meningitis and death. While it cannot be passed person to person, typhus usually reaches humans by flea bites or infected flea feces. Investigative reporter, Joel Grover, reported that Mayor Eric Garcetti pledged $300,000 in funding to pick up trash and sanitize affected areas, including parts of Skid Row, but the plan has not been implemented – the city is not even power-washing or sanitizing this extended area where cases of typhus were found. The city’s efforts are limited by a lawsuit that was filed by homeless people that prevents the removal of people from sidewalks between 9 pm and 6 am and removal of some personal belongings. A city plan to clean a section of downtown Los Angeles designated the “Typhus Zone” that was supposed to begin earlier this week has been delayed as more clusters of the disease are expected to appear throughout the region. “They haven’t even started sanitizing and removing the trash and rats from this enlarged area,” NBC 4 investigative reporter Joel Grover revealed on Wednesday. “They don’t even have a schedule together yet.” Grover shared the information on KFI-AM 640’s Bill Handel Show where he described City Hall’s response to the growing number of typhus infections as “so slow and so bureaucratic.” “They don’t have their act together,” he claimed. Two weeks ago, health officials warned of a typhus outbreak downtown and Mayor Eric Garcetti vowed to devise a plan for containment. Typhus is transmitted by infected fleas which are often carried by rodents and feral cats. While it cannot be passed person to person, typhus usually reaches humans by flea bites or infected flea feces. In an investigation broadcast last Wednesday, Grover reported that the city had ignored “mountains of trash crawling with rats” that could have caused the disease to spread. Mountains of trash and rats like a Third World country. But we found it in downtown LA. And the filth is causing a typhus epidemic,that’s infected downtown workers. Mayor now vows to clean it up fast, in the wake of @NBCLA I-Team report. I’ll be watching.https://t.co/gpIwhqpOhx — Joel Grover (@JoelNBCLA) October 10, 2018 “The problem is there’s so much garbage and stuff piling up around downtown that we have a huge rat population,” Grover said to Handel. “Those fleas get on people’s dogs. I see all of these people walking their dogs through downtown and think, ‘that person is potentially at risk.’” According to the Los Angeles Times, cleaning efforts targeting the typhus zone were supposed to have started on Monday. Garcetti had pledged $300,000 to pick up trash and sanitize that area, which includes parts of the Skid Row neighborhood, known for its high concentration of homeless people. Grover told Handel that he met with city sanitation officials last week who outlined a plan to remove rats, stray animals, and rotting garbage from the designated zone. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/typhus-zone-rats-trash-infest-los-angeles-skid-row-fueling-n919856 https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-17/la-competes-californias-most-disgusting-city-typhus-zone-underscores-skid-row San Francisco Launches App to Clean Up “BioH... Seattle Can’t Clean Human Feces Off Sidewalks Beca... Los Angeles: 9 People Charged in Election Fraud Sc... Immigrant from Dominican Republic Confessed to Blu... Visit our Classified ads. Check out our Classified ads at the bottom of this page. Recent stories & commentary Climate-Kids’ “Trump Is Endangering Our Future” Case Crushed By 9th Circuit Court January 19, 2020 ZeroHedge 0 The Oregon-based youth advocacy group, Our Children’s Trust, filed the lawsuit in 2015 seeking an injunction ordering the government to implement a plan to phase out fossil fuel emissions and draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide emission. Florida Sheriff: “I Will Not Enforce Assault Weapons Ban, Neither Will Most Sheriffs” January 19, 2020 Gateway Pundit 0 Florida state lawmakers have proposed a gun control ban on assault weapons, which are defined as “semiautomatic rifles and shotguns capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition at once, either in fixed or detachable magazine, or any other ammunition feeding device.” Chaos in Puerto Rico as Mob Finds Unused Disaster Supplies Sitting in Warehouse Since Hurricane Maria Struck in 2017 January 19, 2020 NY Post 0 The governor of Puerto Rico fired the island’s emergency manager, Carlos Acevedo, hours after a warehouse filled with supplies believed to be from when Hurricane Maria struck the island in September 2017. 260 Million Christians Experience ‘High Levels of Persecution’ January 17, 2020 Breitbart 0 Every day, eight Christians are killed for their faith and 23 Christians are raped or sexually harassed. General Flynn Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea as His Lawyer Accuses Prosecutor of Suborning Perjury January 17, 2020 Fox News 0 Flynn’s attorney, Powell, says the prosecutor committed subornation of perjury, which is the crime of persuading a person to lie under oath. She says the Mueller investigation team prosecuted Flynn to support obstruction charges against President Trump. West Virginia Invites 2nd-Amendment Sanctuary Counties from Neighboring Virginia to Secede And Join Their State January 17, 2020 Information Liberation 1 In order to join West Virginia, the consent of Virginia’s Legislature and of a majority of the qualified voters is needed. West Virginia promised that if Virginia joins them, their firearms rights shall be protected to the fullest extent possible under their Federal and State Constitution. 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[The real deniers in the climate-change controversy are those who deny that global warming is a politically motivated myth.] Trump Claimed Iran Was Plotting Attacks On 4 US Embassies, But Defense Secretary Mark Esper Says He ‘Didn’t See’ Specific Evidence that Iran Planned to Strike January 15, 2020 CBS and Information Liberation 1 In addition, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo struggled to explain the threat to the US when he said, “There is no doubt that there were a series of imminent attacks that were being by plotted by Soleimani. We don’t know precisely when and we don’t know precisely where — but it was real.” Former Federal Agent Blows the Whistle on Alleged Illegal Spy Ring Led by Rod Rosenstein Against Investigative Journalist and Other US Citizens January 15, 2020 Sharyl Attkisson 2 Sharyl Attkisson filed a lawsuit against Rod Rosenstein for conducting illegal surveillance from 2011 to 2014 under a government operation. A forensic expert said that remote spies had access to Attkisson’s computer, files, photographs, internet activities, and could listen to her audio through Skype. Project Veritas: Bernie Sanders Field Organizer, Kyle Jurek, Plans for ‘Re-Education’ Gulags to Help ‘Nazified’ Trump Supporters If Sanders Wins January 15, 2020 Project Veritas 0 Kyle Jurek, Sanders’ field organizer, is also against liberals who are not hard leftists and said that liberals will be shot against the wall first, and that liberals at MSNBC should be lit on fire. For classified advertising rates and terms, click here. The appearance of ads on this site does not signify endorsement by the publisher. We do not attempt to verify the accuracy of statements made therein or vouch for the integrity of advertisers. However, we will investigate complaints from readers and remove any message we find to be misleading or that promotes anything fraudulent, illegal, or unethical. Texas Democratic Party Under Investigation After Sending Voting Applications to Non-Citizens Six Billionaires Have Been Kidnapped in Africa So Far this Year New York City, Under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Leadership, Is Secretly Sending Its Homeless Population to Other States October 30, 2019 Fox News 1 New York City is secretly shipping homeless people to other states across the country, with enough taxpayer money to pay rent for a full year. The receiving cities lack funding for the added expense of the new homeless people and spill-over issues. San Francisco Launches App to Clean Up “BioHazards” on Subway June 11, 2018 GEG 0 San Francisco has the most expensive housing in America, which has led to a rise in the homeless population who are living in the streets, creating a problem with human waste on the streets. The city is offering a new app to report feces and needles left behind by drug addicts on the floors inside the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station instead of creating a solution to the homeless problem. Crime in Los Angeles, Including Violent Attacks By Homeless People, Rose by More than 50% in One Year November 13, 2019 NBC Los Angeles 1 Attacks by homeless people are on the rise. There were 6,528 arrests in 2017 in Los Angeles. In 2018, arrests for criminal activity rose to 9,846, an increase of more than 50%. Some of the attackers have been issued tickets for battery instead of being arrested.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1742
__label__cc	0.690106	0.309894	Plumbeous Ibis Black-faced Ibis Buff-necked Ibis Theristicus caudatus Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae © Luke Seitz Macaulay Library ML44739891 The Buff-necked Ibis is one of the most widespread species of ibis in South America. It occurs in a wide variety of open habitats such as savanna, ranchland and open forest, but is notable for often being found far from water. It is one of the most distinctive large waders in South America having a bright buffy head and neck, grey back, white primaries and secondaries and black underparts. It is polytypic, with a northern paler subspecies and a southern subspecies that together with the Black-faced Ibis of the Andes form a superspecies. This superspecies has the greatest nest site diversity of any member of its family (Threskiornithidae) with solitary nests to large colonies, placed in a variety of locations such as tree stumps in swampy areas, reed mats, rocky outcrops, cliffs, gullies, or trees in patches of woodland. Help complete this species There are many ways to contribute—we need species information, photographs, audio, video, translations, maps, distribution data, and bird sightings. There's a role for everyone! Natxo Areta Formosa, Argentina © Natxo Areta Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus), In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/bunibi1	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1746
__label__cc	0.682666	0.317334	Three years after Pulse, Community’s Response of Care and Compassion Remains Strong On the morning of June 12, 2016, many Central Floridians woke up to the news of the attack on Pulse Nightclub near downtown Orlando... Orange County Honors Two-Year Remembrance of the Pulse Tragedy Orange County Regional History Center Opens New Pulse Exhibit and Aids Other Communities in Tragedy The Orange County Regional History Center, honored nationally for its curation efforts in response to the Pulse nightclub tragedy, is presenting... History Center To Commemorate Pulse Tragedy With Special Memorial Exhibit The Orange County Regional History Center will present a new exhibit to mark the two-year commemoration of the mass shooting that... Orange County Extends the Gift of Love and Kindness to the Las Vegas Community Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) gathered to honor the lives lost during the Route 91... Orange County Celebrates Come Out with Pride Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined the community for the 2017 Orlando Come Out with Pride Parade and Rally, which celebrated Orlando’s LGBTQ community,... Inaugural Town Hall Forum for onePULSE Foundation Brings Community Together Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined the community for the onePULSE Foundation’s first Town Hall Forum on Oct. 9 at the Orlando Repertory Theatre.... Orange County Regional History Center Recognized for Pulse Efforts with Two Awards The Orange County Regional History Center was awarded with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) 2017 Award of Merit and the... Mayor Teresa Jacobs Speaks on Pulse Tragedy and Receives Award at Florida Association of Counties Conference Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined county leaders from around the state at the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Annual Conference and Educational Exposition...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1750
__label__cc	0.711709	0.288291	PBS.org hacked… LulzSec targets Sesame Street? 30 May 2011 12 Data loss, Privacy, Vulnerability Previous: Privacy and security in the cloud – is there any? Next: A 419 scam via snail mail Update: LulzSec has made a post to pastebin.com stating they did not use SQL injection to compromise the PBS website. They claim they used a zero day exploit in Movable Type 4 and were able to compromise Linux servers running outdated kernels. They were able to further penetrate the systems by compromising administrative user accounts that used the same passwords on multiple systems within PBS. In the latest politically motivated attack related to the Wikileaks saga, a group that calls themselves LulzSec has hacked the Public Broadcast Service (PBS). PBS is the American public television network most famous for the creation of Sesame Street. In addition to dumping numerous SQL databases through a SQL injection attack, LulzSec injected a new page into PBS’s website as seen above. Their motive? Mayhem. They took offense to the portrayal of Bradley Manning in a segment on PBS’s Frontline news magazine program and decided to attack the broadcaster. LulzSec posted usernames and hashed passwords for the database administrators and users. Worse, they also posted the logins of all PBS local affiliates, including their plain text passwords. While PBS is the victim here, the passwords disclosed for most affiliates are embarrassingly predictable. There was absolutely no skill involved in this attack, as it used freely available tools to exploit the databases. The attackers represent nothing more than what many historically thought of as hackers: people creating chaos with no other purpose than gaining fame, irrespective of the damage caused. The attack is nearly identical to the recent attack against SonyMusic.co.jp. LulzSec used the same tool to attack the Sony website, although far less sensitive information was disclosed in the Sony attack. Several other databases were disclosed, some including plain text passwords, others using hashes. It is unfortunate that PBS was vulnerable to this kind of attack and even worse that so many passwords were stored in clear text. Revealing this information is criminal and there are certainly more respectable ways of disclosing flaws than exposing so many users’ passwords. The media may have the perception that the real risk from hackers is related to cyberwar and uber-secret defense contractors, but the reality is that we all have a role to play in securing ourselves, our partners and our customers. It appears the fallout from Wikileaks’ disclosure of diplomatic cables has not yet reached its climax, and anyone and everyone may be targeted by the vigilante justice dished out by their fans. Whether you are related to political causes or not, an easy way to ensure you aren’t the next victim is to make sure that you protect the information you are entrusted with. Data stored insecurely is a bomb waiting to detonate. Security must be a proactive attitude because reacting is simply too dangerous. 12 comments on “PBS.org hacked… LulzSec targets Sesame Street?” NotFakeGreggHoush says: The hackers used a cryptic phrase in the fake Tupac story they posted on PBS. The phrase read, "yank up as a vital obituary" and the hackers tweeted that they meant this phrase as a puzzle for the world. The phrase is an anagram for the names of four well-known hacker members of Anonymous: Topiary, Kayla, AVunit, and Sabu. Is this a red herring or a true calling card? Only time will tell. mugabo says: I am in favour of establishing minimum security requirements for all owners of connected devises with scaling punitive consequences. Dave Nelson says: Cyber warriors should be treated as cyber war criminals. Attacking a prestigious news and documentary outlet for speaking the truth is shameful. It's time that we go after the hackers. You can’t go after them. They’re too good at covering their tracks and leave no paper trail. Matt Harrigan says: Suggesting that someone has no skills because they use open source security tools makes it seem like you might not understand much about what you're writing about. No… it suggest that they're a pathetic little script kiddie living in mommy's basement, contributing nothing to society and ONLY having enough skills to copy attack vectors using canned software. Sad. Really, really sad! MAphisto says: No single individual is really in danger here, hackers like this arent targeting single people but groups who have spoken against Wikileaks, so therefor, the average consumer really has nothing to fear, so dont buy into the media's take on "everyone is at risk" its stupid and unwarrented. :)----- says: Atleast they hack the right sites, greedy corporation bastards deserve this. They don't care about us, just their money and monopol. Ellie K says: But that’s the problem here! PBS.org is The Public Broadcasting Network. They are non-profit. Their shows taught my little brother to read when no one else wanted to take the time to help him. PBS did and still does so much to make people’s lives better. I thought it was sad that the affiliates’ userid’s and passwords were posted too. It increases the exposure to parties only very peripherally (or not at all) associated with PBS decision-making regarding WikiLeaks. But it will make these affiliates more fearful, hesitant to continue support/ participation in a socially beneficial entity like PBS,org. Or that’s what I am afraid of. It will hurt our children, all of us. How do I get a bigger copy of that AYB screenshot, I want it for a my desktop 🙂 @Ro_oTkat says: I have been reading the blog for some time and I usually agree largely with what is said but….Why would anybody write a 0-day exploit, or spend weeks planning an attack when they can use a simple public exploit? No matter how Inferior you make the attacker sound, they still managed to compromise the target. 0v3rcl0ck says: I think the point has already been lost. You defend the media, known for censoring things and keeping things back (though often not of their own accord) though hacking and then revealing private, restricted data seems to contradict it's self. And using open tools to hack? I think they're trying to make another point: if you can use something freely available to achieve something that used to require specialized programs and operating system environments, maybe those that are supposed to look after the security aren't quite as skilled or smart as they need to be? The hacking you see in movies: someone infiltrates the building to directly connect to a server or terminal to be able to get the data? Turns out it's much easier than that! Seems they all believed they were secure, wanted to make a big statement about how hard it is and how much trouble you'll be in… Then suddenly, freely available, public tools are used that someone relatively new to it could easily get a script to do the hack for them… Can you really put the blame soley on those that use the tools? Isn't it actually the other parties faults for making it so easy in the first place? You have to be pretty sharp to spot security flaws and exploits. I almost can't believe how 'easy' it was! Don't forget that technology is actually quite neutral. It's use ultimately depends on how 'good' or 'eeeeevil' the end result is, or how it's perceived. I'm sure explosives are used for good, not just to cause chaos. Or it's for 'research' which really means "a damn good excuse for blowing something up and use an expensive slow motion capture camera or three". I must admit, it is awesome to watch. 🙂 Homeless hacker arrested by FBI in LulzSec/Anonymous investigation LulzSec hacking suspect ‘Topiary’ arrested in the Shetland Islands LulzSec? Hackers? Here’s a real challenge…	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1755
__label__wiki	0.972781	0.972781	Cult Horror Game Devotion Will Not Be Re-Released After Joke About Chinese President When a joke costs a studio its game. byMatt Kim Posted July 15, 2019, 9:28 p.m. Taiwanese game developer Red Candle Games has issued a new statement on the status of its horror game, Devotion, which was pulled from Steam in February over a Winnie the -Pooh joke. And it appears the developers will not be re-releasing the game. In its new statement, Red Candle confirmed it will not be putting Devotion back up for sale, following controversy about an included joke that referenced Chinese president Xi Jinping and Pooh together. “For the past four months, the art asset incident related to ‘Devotion’ has caused immeasurable harm to Red Candle Games and our partner. We would like to offer our most sincere apology to all impacted teams and personnel,” the Red Candle Games team writes in a public Twitter statement. Greetings, we are Red Candle Games from Taiwan. To all of our players, industry and media friends, we would like to provide an update on ‘Devotion’. pic.twitter.com/wfGTUbHtHx — redcandlegames (@redcandlegames) July 15, 2019 And although Red Candle says it’s still in “business mediations” the Red Candle co-founders, “have reached a unanimous decision to not re-release ‘Devotion’ in the near term, including but not limited to obtaining profit from sales, revision, IP authorization, etc. to prevent unnecessary misconception.” The tweet from Red Candle Games is the first public statement in four months since Devotion was pulled from Steam. At the time of the initial controversy Red Candle Games told players the team was in the process of negotiating Devotion’s return to Steam. But the developers stayed mostly silent after the controversy first broke. Red Candle Games also pulled all of its Devotion trailers from its YouTube channel. There were also reports from Iain Garner, a Taiwan-based games publisher, that Devotion’s Chinese publishing partner, Indievent, lost its business license since the Devotion controversy. But it’s unclear if that incident is related to Red Candle’s game being pulled from Steam. Unfortunately, anyone looking to play Devotion again soon may have to wait awhile, if not indefinitely. Why Red Candle Games Pulled the Critically Acclaimed Horror Game Devotion from Steam Red Candle Games rose to prominence after the release of its 2017 horror game Detention. Detention takes place in the 1960s during the White Terror period, where political dissidents in Taiwan were suppressed. Critics praised Detention’s scares and originality, and IGN named it one of the best horror games of 2017. Detention was also adapted into a live-action horror movie set to be released later this year. Red Candle Games followed up Detention two years later with Devotion, which the studio released on Steam back in February 2019. Reviewers again praised Red Candle’s second game, including IGN Japan which scored it a 9.8 out of 10. But a week later Devotion was pulled from Steam following a review bombing campaign led by Chinese citizens. The review bombing resulted from the inclusion of an art asset with a reference likening Chinese President Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh in the launch version of Devotion. The reference to Pooh was found in a poster inside the game, which when interacted with, would flash the words ‘Xi Jinping the Winnie the Pooh moron’ in Chinese. The reference would not be easily recognizable to anyone who can’t read Chinese, so the controversy was almost exclusive to Chinese-speaking territories. When it was discovered, however, the subsequent backlash from players caused a chain of events that led to Devotion getting pulled from Steam less than a week after its release. Much ado about Pooh Winnie the Pooh has become something of a taboo subject on the Chinese internet. Since Xi became the leader of China in 2012, internet users would use images of the cartoon bear as a way to lightly joke about the president. Pooh was used as a physical comparison to Xi, but the meme became mainstream and subsequently censored on Chinese internet services, including social media platforms like Weibo. The censorship of Pooh in China has been so widespread that the country denied the release of the Disney live-action film Christopher Robin. And in video games, Chinese game websites went so far as to censor Pooh out of images for Kingdom Hearts 3. As far as the Chinese internet goes, Winnie the Pooh is a serious red flag. The Internet’s Response to Red Candle’s Apology There’s been an outpour of support for Red Candle Games since its new statement went live earlier today — especially since many see the apology as unnecessary. Prominent video game developers have come out to defend Red Candle Games and to protest its continued absence from Steam. “This is hard to read. What happened wasn’t fair to the studio and many completely innocent people suffer because of it,” one game developer on Twitter wrote in response to Red Candle’s tweet. This is hard to read. What happened wasn't fair to the studio and many completely innocent people suffer because of it. — Blazej Krakowiak (@Lexmechanic) July 15, 2019 “Reminder to the gamers who promise to “rise up”: this is what actual censorship looks like,” Ubisoft Monetreal programming team lead Gavin Young wrote. Reminder to the gamers who promise to "rise up": this is what actual censorship looks like. I know you love your anime tiddies, but maybe get outraged about something worthwhile for once? https://t.co/4y5pKy6pBa — Gavin Young (@GavinDYoung) July 15, 2019 “[S]olidarity and solidarity and solidarity with [Red Candle Games]. [R]eading this twists my stomach up. [M]y thoughts are with them,” Friends at the Table podcast host Jack de Quidt wrote. solidarity and solidarity and solidarity with red candle games. reading this twists my stomach up. my thoughts are with them https://t.co/Fl3f4XF5GO — Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal) July 15, 2019 “As regretful as the incident was, we have to bear its full consequence,” Red Candle Games writes. In the meantime, the developer asks commenters to not harass any of its publishing partners and reiterated that the studio bears the full responsibility for the controversy. However, this is the latest incident to show how a seemingly innocuous internet meme in China can have dramatic consequences. The historic tensions between Taiwan and China no doubt also intensified the gravity of this controversy. We reached out to Red Candle Games asking for further details about its ongoing business mediations and whether the studio has seen the outpouring of support from developers and fans. Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter. Publisher: Viz Mortal Kombat Animated Movie in the Works With Joel McHale, Jennifer Carpenter Official Pokemon ASMR Now Exists With New Video UPDATE: Devil May Cry 3 on Switch Has Exclusive Style Change System	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1759
__label__cc	0.698453	0.301547	What is aquavit? Sometimes the label says “aquavit”, sometimes “akvavit”, sometimes “akvevitt”. What is the difference and most importantly, what is this Nordic spirit all about? O.P. Anderson Original Aquavit 70cl The most popular aquavit in Sweden. Aquavit is a strong spirit originating in the Nordic countries, at least 37.5% in the alcohol strength department, with a dominant taste of caraway, dill, or both. Whether you’ve heard of it, tasted it or had twelve shots of it last night, it is – in our humble opinion – an undervalued classic. In the cool North of Europe, a proud aquavit bottle is the maypole around which celebrations swing. Aquavit is also something of a symbol for Scandinavian cuisine. Depending on which of the Nordic countries it comes from, almost all of the home-cooked meals in that region are aligned in sisterly fashion with that country’s particular style and character of aquavit. From the 15th century, we’ve been steeping herbs and spices into our hard booze. Many options have been tried, many delicious combinations and innovations have been discovered, many toasts have been proposed. The seasoning of aquavit has developed into a fine art through respect for the raw material, scientific manufacturing, more meticulous seasoning and some creativity. Swedish aquavits If you are a newcomer to the world of aquavits, Swedish aquavits are a perfect option for first try. The Swedish aquavit style is based strongly on caraway but the spice distillates are usually matured in ordered to create a more soft and a more round taste. O.P. Anderson is the classic. Try also Skåne Akvavit. Danish aquavits The Danish version of aquavit might seem a little rough for the beginner. They are in general very spicy as the spice distillates nor the liquid are matured. Brøndums Original is a traditional Danish aquavit. The Danes are also fond of making spicing their own snaps with whatever ingredients they might find in the garden. Aquavits that have "klar" (clear) in their name, are suitable for this. They make a neutral base for different spices. Norwegian aquavit In Norway, aquavits are cask matured at least 6 months which bring a distinctive taste of cask maturation to it. The standard cask used in Norway is a sherry cask. The main spice is caraway. Brøndums Snaps 70 cl The classic Danish aquavit. Water of life in the rest of the world In Scandinavian countries, aquavit has a strong heritage. There are distinct rules what kind of snaps is aquavit and what is not. In the rest of the world, "aquavit" as a term is interpreted differently; if you meat people abroad, they might have refer to aquavit as a water of life – a term that originally in the history meant any kind of spiced spirit. Aquavit Marinated Salmon Salmon is a common treat in the Nordic countries. We marinated it with aquavit, which gives a nice, sweet flavour to it. Nordic food The history of aquavit For hundreds of years barrels of caraway-spiced aquavit from the north have travelled the seas around the world. The weirdest Nordic habits To fully immerse yourself in the Nordic spirit, you'll need to understand why our front doors might slam in your face and why it might seem as though the whole Sweden shuts down on a Friday night after 6pm. Here we offer a guide to the quirks and peculiarities of Nordic living.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1760
__label__cc	0.746162	0.253838	Now Gadgets Home Android Apps Top 7 Trending Android Games for this Month Top 7 Trending Android Games for this Month Rahul Solanki The android game industry improves each month, and you should be on the lookout for new market entries. The industry is growing and the android games are experiencing massive changes. Here are 7 of the top games for this month. If you are looking for remote management of servers, applications, and major network components, Katalyst Partners-Managed Service Provider is one of the best in the business. For cloud related business software such as SharePoint, Office365, try Apps4Rent . 1. Combat Squad This is a new online FPS type of game that invokes multi online players. You can decide to play one player against another or five against five. The graphics of the game are purely fiction and you have control the dimensions of the game. If you are an FPS fan, you should enjoy this great android game. You can get the game for free on Google Play. There is massive fun in playing the Combat Squad. Visit Google Play and make the download to enjoy the beautiful game. 2. Pianista The concept of this game is a little different from the other Android games. Pianista is a high energy game. The rhythm of the game is dictated by the music produced when playing. You will enjoy a range of classical music and songs as you play. The game invokes a 50-stage playing approach and you are required to work extra hard to make through the stages. The game can be downloaded for free on Google Play and you should check it out. There is serious fun in playing Pianista as the concept of the game is both exciting and motivational. 3. Framed 2 From the original master game Framed, here comes the new edition. This puzzle game is good for fun and learning. Every segment of the game is displayed in a number of panels. Your aim while playing is to organize the panels in order to achieve a different satisfactory outcome of the game experience. You will also find a line of different players to compete against. The game is an excellent one to look out for. You can download it on Google Play at a cost of $4.99. 4. Tales of the Rays This new mobile game application is good for adventure and fun. The gaming allows you to explore dungeons as you collect loots. You are expected to collect characters amounting to points while playing. The game is good for both kids and adults. You can enjoy it for free on Google Play. The advantage of the android game is the ability to set the trend and pace of the adventure that you are participating. You should look out for the Tales of the Rays as there is so much to experience in playing. 5. Adventure Time Run This particular Android game is an exploration game that involves an infinite runner. As a gamer, you are required to put together a bunch of key characters and run with the collection across the different levels of the game. The mechanics of the game are bound to vary with the change in the level you are playing. The advantage of this adventure is the freedom to unify the characters as you compete to beat the online leader. You can download the game app for free on Google Play and enjoy the fun time while playing. You will feel as part of the adventure as the fun is beyond imagination. 6. Kraken Land If you are a fan of runner games, this is the game for you. Kraken Land features 3D graphics to help you play easily. You are expected to run across different bunch levels as you conquer obstacles along the way. There is so much fun in playing this game. You can get Kraken Land for free on Google Play. If you love adventure, you should consider trying Kraken Land as it is worth the effort. 7. Voletarium Voletarium also falls under the adventure category. The game is more of a story as is depicts an event that involves two characters who are extremely interested in learning about their ancestry. They build flying gadgets in an attempt to find their ancestors. You can get the game at a price of $5.99 on Google Play. How To Install WordPress On Android On Bit Web Server [How To] Installing Desktop Gadgets for Windows 10 10 Best Launcher For Android Top 10 Open World Games for Android 2017 All the above 7 games can be downloaded on Google Play. They are all for fun and adventure. You should look out for any of the 7 games online and experience the greatest fun that Android has to offer. There is much to experience and you should not let the chance go. Previous articleHow To Choose The Best VPN For Streaming Purposes Next article31 Quotes About Launching a Startup – by Wrike project management software https://nowgadgets.com Rahul is a gadget lover and love to write about gadgets, mobile apps, and latest phone reviews. He owns several blogs Now Gadgets. He also likes to write on how to make money, gadgets, Bollywood review and much more... Using Apps to Transfer Money Abroad Zoetropic: Photo In Motion, Cinemagraph App For Android Hoverwatch: Ensure Your Child’s Safety with This Mobile Spy App Best SMS Tracker App BonkLive Best Free Broadcasting App For Android Sticker Market: Emoji keyboard Best Free Keyboard for Android Premium Android Apps Rahul Solanki - Jun 18, 2018 Nowadays, there is a proclivity to use smartphones for transferring money abroad. Thanks to intuitive money transfer apps, it is entirely possible to sidestep... 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__label__wiki	0.650613	0.650613	Call us : 91-11-438-94100 AGCA Pilot Phase Scaling-up High Focus – NE High Focus – Non NE Non High Focus – Large Non High Focus – Small & UT November 3, 2016 AGCA Meeting Minutesadmincah Minutes of the 16th Meeting of the Advisory Group on Community Action – The National Rural Health Mission Population Foundation of India, December 15, 2009 Advisory Group Members present Dr H Sudarshan – Chair Dr Thelma Narayan Dr Abhijit Das Dr Narendra Gupta Shri Alok Mukopadhyay Dr Shanti Ghosh Ms Indu Capoor Dr Vijay Aruldas Dr Abhay Shukla Shri Gopi Gopalakrishnan Dr Sharad Iyengar Shri A R Nanda Representative from GOI Dr Tarun Seem, Director, NRHM Other invitees Dr Almas Ali, PFI Mr S Ramaseshan, PFI Ms Sona Sharma, PFI Ms Jolly Jose AGCA Members who could not attend the meeting and were given leave of absence Dr Dilip Mavalankar Sh. Harsh Mander Ms Mirai Chatterjee Dr R S Arole Dr M Prakasamma Prof Ranjit Roy Chaudhury Dr Saraswati Swain Mr. A R Nanda welcomed the members and other invitees to the 16th AGCA meeting. He shared that this is an important meeting as the AGCA has been asked to develop a framework for increasing involvement of Civil Society Organizations in NRHM. He conveyed that this time four members had requested leave of absence due to their prior commitments and some of the members would be joining in the meeting for some time. He requested Dr H Sudarshan to Chair the meeting. Agenda Item No. 1: Confirmation and Action Taken on the minutes of the 15th AGCA Meeting held on September 18, 2009 The minutes of the 15th AGCA meeting were confirmed. Action Points from the 15th AGCA Meeting Ms Sona Sharma, Joint Director (A&C), PFI briefed the following actionable points and its action taken from the 15th AGCA meeting: Actionable Points Action Taken 1. One person from CHSJ and a senior person (from accounts) from PFI should visit the states to sort out problems if any and get the final UCs and other documents. Mr CSN Murthy, Finance Officer had visited Chhattisgarh on December 7-8, 2009 and M P on December 9-10, 2009 to sort out the problems in connection with final UCs and other documents. Ms Sunita Singh, CHSJ also visited Chhattisgarh. 2. The AGCA recommendations on Community Monitoring would be edited by Dr Abhijit Das and circulated among members for their concurrence. A note was circulated to the members by email and the copy of the same is enclosed for discussion at the 16th AGCA meeting. 3. A letter to be sent by Mr A R Nanda to the AGCA members who have not attended the last three meetings. It was found that Dr R S Arole once chaired the meeting and Mr Harsh Mander attended none of the meetings – action to be taken. 4. The issue of maternal health can be taken up in the 16th AGCA meeting for further discussion. Since other issues have to be taken up in this meeting, it has been postponed to the next meeting. 5. Dr Vijay Aruldas requested time in the next AGCA meeting to present experiences from the four-state project on NRHM strengthening. Dr Vijay Aruldas’ presentation has been included in the agenda Status on Community Monitoring (First Phase) Mr S Ramaseshan, S&T, PFI shared that as per the decisions of the 15th AGCA meeting held on September 18, 2009, Mr CSN Murthy, Finance Officer, PFI had visited Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and sorted out the problems in connection with the submission of audited Utilization Certificate. He said that since then audited Utilization Certificate has been received from Chhattisgarh and as far as MPVS is concerned, as the auditors were out of town when Mr. Murthy visited, the audited UC from MPVS is yet to be received. He said that the audited UC from Maharashtra has also been received for a part portion and the balance is expected to be received from them shortly. The tables showing the status of NRHM as on 14.12.2009 (finance and others) are attached as Annexure I. Then the issue regarding uploading of the state specific information in the Community Monitoring website was discussed. Mr Seshan mentioned that at the meeting held at the office of Dr Tarun Seem it was decided that – The contract for maintenance of the website was extended for some more time so that rest of the information can be uploaded in the website using the services of CHSJ. Ms Sunita Singh was deputed to Assam and Chhattisgarh to assist the states in uploading the data in the website. To reimburse the travel expenses in connection with the state visits and the expenses related to the maintenance of the website from out of the project funds. Since there is a compatibility problem with regard to the transfer of the website to the NRHM website, the same will remain in the website maintained by CHSJ/PFI and a link will be provided at NRHM website for all future references. PFI and CHSJ had agreed to render their honorary services for some more time in completing the above tasks and submit the final audited UC to GoI. Further, Mr Seshan informed that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) audit was conducted during November 17-30, 2009 in PFI and it was the first time that a CAG audit was carried out at PFI. He also informed that there were no major adverse observations received from the audit and it was successfully completed. Agenda Item No. 2: De-briefing on meeting with Mr P K Pradhan, Mission Director (NRHM) on November 3, 2009 at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi A small group of AGCA members including Dr Narendra Gupta, Ms Indu Capoor, Dr Thelma Narayan, Dr Saraswati Swain and Dr Abhay Shukla met with Mr. P K Pradhan to brief him on the first phase of community monitoring implemented in nine states. The group strongly recommended that the community monitoring and action needs to be included in the State PIPs in order to take the process forward. The Mission Director suggested that AGCA could assist in (i) scrutinizing specifically whether the aspect of community monitoring and action is included or not in the state PIPs, and (ii) propose a specific road map for community action, including provisions to be made in the state PIPs. Dr Abhijit Das mentioned that a note on ‘Strengthening Community Action in NRHM: Recommendations for Action within State PIP’ was circulated by email on November 30, 2009 and feedback on the same was awaited. Mr Nanda mentioned that all the states have to complete their PIP (2010-11) preparation and submit to GoI by the end of December 2009 and the discussion will start by 2nd part of January or early February 2010. Some states the civil society groups have taken an initiative to get involved in the PIP development. For example in UP, the development partners formed small groups to work out recommendations on different issues based on experiences in the field. As a secretariat, PFI is also trying to include CM activities in the Bihar state PIP. Feedback on Community Action from the states/CRM by AGCA Members In Chhattisgarh, the efforts were made to take the CM programme forward and even in the inclusion of state PIP. However, the NGO response is very poor there. Dr Narendra Gupta shared that in Rajasthan there was no problem: it has been included in the PIP, the funds are available for the process and received ‘go ahead’ sign from the Ministry. It was decided to upscale the CM activities in the existing districts with the involvement of more PHCs, more villages and more CHCs. Ms Indu Capoor mentioned that when we think of pure form of CM and how it was done, it is very difficult to replicate within the government system. Gujarat VHSC module was developed and CHETNA has done the ToT for all the districts. In Tamil Nadu, a series of meetings was held on CM at the state level and found that there is a resistance to using the word ‘community monitoring’, so it should be community empowerment, planning and monitoring. The state has planned to intensify the efforts in the same districts by including more villages. In Karnataka, the programme is going ahead. World Bank has accepted the proposal and called for expression of interest in selecting the nodal agencies for technical assistance to scale up the programme to the entire state. In Maharashtra, the state selected 8 district level NGOs in 8 new districts through an elaborate systematic process. A newspaper advertisement with clear criteria and experience was given in all the eight districts for inviting expression of interest. 200 applications were received from 8 districts and 5-6 NGOs were shortlisted in each district based on the criteria. A Joint Appraisal Team was appointed and they visited each district and interviewed each shortlisted NGO. As ASHA is completely cut off from the CM programme, the attempt this year would be to link with ASHA and VHSC in the scaling up programme. In the existing five districts in Maharashtra, the programme has been intensified. There are three models. Some NGOs have taken new blocks, some have taken new PHCs within the existing blocks and some have taken new villages within the existing PHCs and thus, covering the entire PHCs. It was suggested that a note on the process adopted in Maharashtra could be circulated as a model to others. Dr Alok Mukhopadhyay briefed about the Mid Term Appraisal of the 11th five year Plan by the Planning Commission. The process is completed now. From every state of India, the beneficiaries (NRHM, minorities, women and child health programme) were called for the meeting. Rs 1200 crores have been earmarked for the minorities and there are 130 programmes. The Mid Term Appraisal showed that most people know only four programmes. It was suggested that as community monitoring is inevitable in all social sector programmes, the mechanisms adopted in community monitoring and other related programmes like ICDS should come into the knowledge of the people at the grass roots. Dr Sudarshan reiterated the need for ‘triangulation’ stating that it is only with triangulation that the community monitoring data gets authenticity and gets incorporated in the District level Planning. CM Progress and Planning in other States by Dr Tarun Seem The following points were discussed: The PIP process is on not over. Maharasthra is getting 2.5 crore in the current year. Some states have not included CM in the PIP. Somebody from the group needs to take ownership of the states as the process is little more professional. The PIPs are being prepared using the district plans and the district plans are prepared in a decentralized manner. A small group consisting people from NHSRC, NIHFW are guiding the plan process. AGCA though not currently involved could be included in the planning process in the next year. The Secretary, Ms Sujatha Rao has very comprehensive views on NGO engagement in NRHM, which need to be discussed. NGO involvement for the next phase in the state PIP, after the community monitoring phase I over, the Government of India is going to support only for 6 states in the country, as it is a very complex, and the people in the state are not there to handhold. The amount of work done in the states of Assam, Jharkhand, MP, Orissa and Maharashtra, is commendable. There are states, which have not included community monitoring at all such as Uttarakhand, Punjab and Gujarat whereas UP has committed an amount of Rs 20 lakhs. Gujarat has not committed a lot of money but, it seems to have lot of activities there. All the documentation related to the PIP preparation is on the website of the Ministry. It is in public domain. The reports such as DLHS, CRM, JRM, Community Monitoring and Planning Commission evaluation report are used for the process. A central support to the community monitoring initiative is not going to work in Phase II because the first has not given a comfortable completion as far as the audit is concerned and the money was a complex issue. The state will directly put into the state PIP and the money will be issued by the government to the state government/SHRCs directly, except some small amount of money such as travel etc to PFI as the AGCA Secretariat. Some illuminations will be done even in those lines. Triangulation is very important, it is there in JRM and RCH commitment and possible to do it in some of the states as model. In most of the states plans are maturing. More and more funds are going to be untied funds such as RKS. More money is going for travel and capacity building. Therefore, CM or CA should be keeping an eye on that. The Secretary, Ms Sujatha Rao desires that the issue on NGO involvement in CM programme should be broadened. All types of participation – RKS, mentoring group, CRM, TB, Malaria, Leprosy etc. needs to be there. Everybody is engaging NGOs in a fragmented manner. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive policy for a meaningful engagement with the civil society. GIA committee needs to be constituted at the central and state levels whereas the AGCA may need to contest for a space there, may be voting rights will be there. Otherwise every state will design their own model and some of the progressive states like Gujarat and Maharashtra will score up and Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand will fail again in the process. Otherwise, again the work will be concentrated on the BIMARU states and other high focused states will get all the attention. CRM results will be shared with the rest of the country and the reviewers. Based on the reports, 1/3 of the districts are doing miserably like other social sector programmes. There is a scope to activate the community monitoring programme through a selected group not only at the state level but at the central level also, those districts where nothing happening. Funding issue – crores of money has been funding to NGOs through agencies but, in some states nothing has happened. There is a possibility of synergy. One link worker can also do community monitoring role, if they are being paid. Agenda Item No. 3: Discussion on Overaching Framework for NGO Engagement under NRHM Based on the email received by Dr Tarun Seem regarding NGO engagement under NRHM, an AGCA sub- group consisting Dr Abhijit Das, Dr Thelma Narayan, Dr Abhay Shukla, Dr Almas Ali and Ms Sona Sharma, prepared a draft power-point presentation on ‘Framework for Involvement of Civil Society Organizations in NRHM’ on the previous day of the AGCA meeting i.e. on December 14, 2009 and circulated to the members for their feedback. On December 15, 2009, on behalf of the team, Dr Abhijit Das made a presentation on ‘Framework for Involvement of Civil Society Organizations in NRHM’ at the AGCA meeting. The suggested comments, especially made on the goals, definitions of CSOs, principles and values, role of CSOs, structure etc, with the mutual agreement of the AGCA members were incorporated in the presentation. The revised version is attached as Annexure II. Dr Tarun Seem mentioned that the NRHM framework envisages Grant in Aid for NGOs (upto 5% of NGO NRHM budget) and the GIA committee is to be set up by the State Health Mission at the state level. The Secretary has very wide view on NGO engagement almost parallel to the health system. As the government is sending so much of money to the state governments which will ensure compliance, the GoI should be able to monitor the outcomes using non-governmental protocols and agencies. That is the level of involvement the Secretary is looking for. Decisions have to be taken by MOHFW regarding the best way for involving the NGOs more effectively in the work of the Ministry. This is the work of the Ministry: MNGO, AGCA, AMG, RKSs, VHSC, CM, ASHA and other trainings, NDC programmes etc. The Secretary, MoHFW has made the following suggestions for the effective involvement of NGOs in the programme: Acknowledge role of NGOs in monitoring, capacity building, service provisioning Establish SHSRC with assistance of NHSRC, AGCA, States Governments Establish key NGO(s) in each state to work in tandem with SHSRC on various themes Establish GIA committee at the state level with a GoI nominee NGO engagements of all programme constituents of NRHM should be built into the state PIP with the engagement of NHSRC and the contribution of various NGOs States be granted flexibility to continue or modify the MNGO scheme NHSRC to set up a small cell with advisory body like AGCA to mentor NGO engagements under NRHM and corresponding GIA committee at the central govt. level. Dr Seem said that there are two aspects in the suggestions: (i) to be associated with NHSRC and SHSRC for the activities and (ii) the actual service delivery for funding for GIA as a separate agency. Discussion by the AGCA members on the above recommendations: Members suggested that the SHSRC concept is an excellent idea, some states are doing well and in some it has not yet been taken up. Wherever the SHSRC has not been established, it needs to be established with the assistance of NHSRC, AGCA and state governments, as it protects the states from corruption and enables the states to ensure proper utilization of NRHM state funds. This is health system oriented. Will it also deal with the health determinants? NHSRC is to set up a small cell with an advisory body like AGCA to mentor NGO engagements under NRHM. Then what is the role of AGCA? Is that a separate body? Responding to the above, Dr Seem mentioned that SHSRC is outside the health mission group, MSG and other structures. They anyways take care of the determinants. SHSRC by implication will only actualize what the state health mission plans. The existing system continues. NHSRC and AGCA are already there except GIA that has to be established at the central government level. So many committees are already set up like State mentoring Committee (SMC), Asha Mentoring Group in some states, which are functioning well in some of the states. These should not be dissolved with the advent of SHSRC. An observatory should be set up at every level, so that the processes at the ground level can also be captured. It was suggested that in the post lunch session the remaining draft documents such as TORs for national AGCA, State AGCA and GIA Committee to be discussed and prepared. The rest of the AGCA agenda was postponed for discussion in the next meeting. The afternoon session was chaired by Dr Sharad Iyengar . TORs for National and State AGCA and Grant in Aid Committee, the actual relationship between the AGCA and NRHM and the GIA guideline were discussed. Based on the discussions, the draft TORs for National and state AGCA, SHSRC – Structure and mentoring, and Grant in Aid Committee – Considerations, were prepared, which are attached as Annexure III. It was also suggested that draft guidelines for GIA committee to be edited first by Dr Narendra Gupta and circulated to the sub-group for their feedback. Once these documents are finalized, then a meeting with the Secretary (MoHFW) is to be fixed. The date for the next meeting was fixed for Monday the 15th March, 2010 at PFI. Copyright © Community Action for Health Designed and Developed by Population Foundation of India	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1767
__label__wiki	0.713994	0.713994	Jump to main content or search this site. NYU Langone Jump to main content. Search this site, or jump to top of the page. Healio Family Medicine: Las Vegas Shooting & the Mental Health ‘Ripple Effect’ The recent mass shooting in Las Vegas left almost 60 dead and more than 500 injured. But that wasn’t the full extent of injuries. Mental health experts warn that many more may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after witnessing the shooting or even watching the wall-to-wall media coverage from this and other recent tragedies. “Anyone who witnessed firsthand the shooting in Las Vegas or were directly impacted by the recent, natural disasters—and survived—should be screened for traumatic stress, anxiety or other related mental health issues,” Charles R. Marmar, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health and a mental health trauma expert, tells Healio Family Medicine. “Most people have the resilience to recover, but some do not. If their issues are not addressed immediately, they could fall into a prolonged downward spiral that will lead to full-blown PTSD.” Dr. Marmar says after two to four weeks following these events, those most at risk for PTSD will continue to suffer from sleeplessness, daytime edginess, difficulty managing normal activities, and persistent bad thoughts, memories, and dreams. But normalcy can be restored, he adds, through numerous interventions such as cognitive processing therapy. Read more from Healio Family Medicine (subscription required). Charles R. Marmar, MD Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Adults Need help finding a doctor? Search all doctors or call 844-698-7243. Testing Novel Therapeutic Agents for Alcohol Use Disorder, PTSD & Other Hard-to-Treat Conditions New studies investigate the efficacy of psilocybin, cannabidiol, MDMA, and topiramate. Research, Innovation, Digital Health Using Artificial Intelligence to Identify Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Two new studies find markers for PTSD in the voices and bloodstreams of veterans with the condition. We can help you find a doctor. Call 646-929-7800 or Leaders in Medicine Complex Cases MyChart Patient Login Current site Current page	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1772
__label__cc	0.718561	0.281439	Office of the Arizona Governor Strategic Planning & Budgeting Dropdown: OSPB Home Governor's Home Executive BudgetDropdown: Executive Budget Executive Budget Information by Year Agency Software & Training Resources Arizona Budget Reform Strategic PlanningDropdown: Strategic Planning 5-Year Plan by Agency State Programs List Revenue & Expenditure ReportsDropdown: Revenue & Expenditure Reports FY18 Revenue Report Appropriation Tracking Cash Balance Report About OSPBDropdown: About OSPB Agency Assignment Staff Over the Years Office of Strategic Planning & Budgeting Budget reform requirements intend to make government more understandable to the public, improve productivity and customer service, and strengthen accountability for results. Implementation of these requirements, first enacted in 1993, is now well underway. The process is evolutionary and challenges both agency managers and policy makers. These reform efforts help create better alignment of the State's planning, quality, budgeting, management, and accounting systems. Laws 1993, Chapter 252 (H.B. 2332) established budget reforms. Budget reforms included: bifurcated budgeting with definition of the major budget units, established administrative costs, required three-year strategic plans from the budget units, amended appropriations reporting, and established the Program Area Review (PAR) process with a specific listing of programs for PAR review. Laws 1995, Chapter 283 (H.B. 2444) amended the PAR process by updating the list of PAR programs, added the requirement for three-year strategic plans for each program and subprogram in the list of programs, and included performance measures in both the budget unit (agency) and program plans. Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind was added to the listing of major budget units. Laws 1996, Chapter 342 & 13 (H.B. 2440) established the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA) and requires budget units to develop, implement and maintain a coordinated statewide plan for information technology. GITA coordinates these plans. Laws 1997, Chapter 210, (H.B. 2082) converted all budget units into a biennial cycle anticipating that the major emphasis of the first regular session of each Legislature would be budgetary review and approval, while program evaluations and PARs would be conducted during the second regular session. These laws also further amended the PAR process by specifying the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) shall select programs for SPAR review and that budget units may be required to develop joint assessments. These laws further established program budgeting with the deadline of fiscal year 2006 for completion of a phased in approach for all budget units. Laws 1999, Chapter 148, (S.B. 1365) replaced the PAR process with a Strategic Planning Area Review (SPAR) process that culminates in the decision to retain, eliminate, or modify a program area based on findings contained in an agency-authored self assessment and information from the plans. Most recently, Laws 2002, Chapter 210, (S.B. 1436) has further changed the planning process slightly by distinguishing between long-range planning (strategic) and short-range planning (operational) tied to budget cycles and performance measures. Some of the highlights of this law are: Identifies seventeen agencies as an "annual budget unit" which would require that the identified agencies annually submit a budget. The identified agencies are specifically listed in the statute and are among the largest general fund agencies. Agencies not defined as an "annual budget unit" would continue to submit budgets biennially. Provides the Governor discretion to require biennial budget units to submit budget estimates more often than every two years. Streamlines the appropriation limit reporting requirements by requiring that the OSPB and JLBC Staff determine and report to the Governor and Legislature an estimate of appropriations by February 15 of each year and include information from the preceding fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and for the ensuing fiscal year. Requires that "annual budget units" develop a five-year strategic plan for the entire budget unit and be updated annually as necessary. Requires that the plan include strategic issues, a mission statement, description, goals, strategies and resource assumptions. Requires that the resource assumptions include the number of full-time equivalent positions and budgetary data, including all funding sources categorized by general fund, other appropriated funds, non-appropriated funds, and federal funds. Requires that the five-year plans be posted on the agency's website and submitted to OSPB and JLBC Staff by January 1 of each year and requires that the House and Senate appropriations committee shall annually review the strategic plans. Modifies the Master List of State Government Program publication requirements for the budget unit (also known as agency level plan - note that program and subprogram planning requirements are unchanged). Agencies will be required to submit a mission statement, description, and strategic issues (previously they were not statutorily required to submit strategic issues and they were required to submit goals and measures which will no longer be required at the agency level). Requires that OSPB publish a federal funds report annually, which converts a biennial process to an annual process. Converts the capital outlay appropriations process from a biennial to an annual process. Provides that the application of the new provisions is effective for fiscal year 2004. OSPB publishes the Master List of State Government Programs and Five-year Strategic Plans of State Agencies annually. 1700 W. Washington St., 6th Floor Office Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm Mon -Fri © azgovernor.gov \| Privacy & Policy ARIZONA GOVERNOR Doug Ducey 1700 West Washington Street Phoenix, Arizona 85007 \| Phoenix: 602.542.4331 \| Tucson: 520.628.6580	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1776
__label__wiki	0.975906	0.975906	All posts tagged "lgbt story" #KaraniwangLGBT5 years ago Once there was a golden showgirl Meet Gloria Manila, a 68-year-old drag artist. Though he is no longer a regular at any comedy bar,he says: "Isa talaga akong showgirl (I am a... Editor's Picks5 years ago Act, speak up – Geena Rocero As she now helps in the fight for equal rights of LGBTQ people, transgender model Geena Rocero stresses the need for visibility. “Knowing about your rights... Once there was a proud gay father Meet Emerson Soriano, a gay activist who is married to a heterosexual woman, with whom he has three children. Since being outed to them in an... State of the Nation: The Grievances of PLHIVs President Noynoy Aquino is about to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), expected to be peppered again with lofty words to assuage his... State of the Nation: The Plight of the Golden Gays As President Noynoy Aquino is about to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), expected to be peppered again with lofty words to assuage... FEATURES6 years ago Once there was a young activist Meet Clyde Pumihic, a 23-year-old gay activist from the Cordillera regions, who believes that members of the LGBTQ community should come out and never be afraid.... Introducing… Lady Gagita Lady Gagita made a name by impersonating - who else? - Lady Gaga. But with thousands of followers now, he said that more than the fame,... NEWSMAKERS6 years ago ‘Out and Proud’ documentary to examine LGBTQI issues As the community celebrates Pride Month this June, GMA-7, in its effort to show its support to the LGBTQI comunity, will be airing a documentary called... Once there was a beauty queen trainer Meet Tigerlily Garcia Temporosa, a veteran of beauty pageants, who now prefers to train gay and transgender beauty pageant aspirants. "Because if you help, when time...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1777
__label__cc	0.54469	0.45531	About Oath Keepers Oath Keepers Bylaws Welcome N/A Purchases & Billing Notifications 1,611 Profile Visibility Current Raffle Defend the 2nd Amendment in VA Rifle Raffle! $25 per ticket. Purchase Your Tickets* JADE HELM 2015: Questions And Reflections Part Three: MindWar Elias Alias Academy-Hidden-History, Academy-MindWar, Academy-Readers-Regiment, All, Featured, Oath Keepers JADE HELM 2015, MindWar Parts <one> and <two> touched upon these basics: 1) The fact that JADE HELM 2015 is an Unconventional Warfare exercise; 2) The fact that UW includes PSYOP and Civil Affairs activity; 3) The fact that Civil Affairs involves cultural anthropology and social study; 4) The Army’s Unconventional Warfare listing of “INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER”; 5) The Globalists’ view of the “Impact of Global Political Awakening” (by we the little people); 6) The economic effects of the military-industrial complex activity on the U.S. economy; 7) The fact of complicity between the UN’s NGO operations such as Agenda-21 and government’s perceived need to control its population while Agenda-21 initiation is in process; 8) Asymetric Warfare and its relation to Unconventional, Special, and Irregular Warfare; 9) The creation of perpetual war by creating new enemies one after another; 10) The military’s interface/merger with local police through DHS’ Fusion Centers; 11) Social planners’ concerns and confronting problems which would occur if permanent peace were to break out; 12) DHS profiling of American citizens, with help from SPLC; 13) Government-sponsored false flag events, such as were proposed in the Northwoods Document of 1962 at the Pentagon; 14) Mapping the Human Terrain and “Mastering The Human Domain”; 15) Training scenarios targeting the Tea Party and/or Constitutionalist citizens. In this installment we will look further into PSYOP and introduce a perspective called “MindWar”. Please recall my opening comments at the start of Part One — this is a letter from your editor, and is not to be taken as an official Oath Keepers assessment of JADE HELM 2015, nor a “call to action”. This is not a policy statement. This is simply a series designed to provide Oath Keepers members and friends with historic context, with some random but important oddities from America’s hidden history. I salute every member and friend who is willing to read long articles in this series. I hope every reader will feel the time taken was worth doing. Elias Alias, editor JADE HELM 2015: Questions And Reflections: Part Three: MindWar From PSYOP To MindWar About the above insignia representing the 7th Psy-Op Group, from PsyWarrior.com: http://www.psywarrior.com/7thpog.html Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in width overall consisting of and radiating from central base a white enameled torch with seven tongues of red enameled flame between a gold quill on the left and a gold Samurai sword, point down, on the right surmounting a black enameled Torii Gate on a green enameled background, all above a gray enameled scroll bearing the inscription “Support By Truth” in gold letters. Symbolism: The torch, a symbol of enlightenment, with seven tongues of flame alludes to the 7th Psychological Operations Group and their basic mission. The torii refers to Okinawa, where the organization was originally activated and the present headquarters of the organization is located. The quill and sword representing the correlation between psychological operations and military achievement; the quill representing the power of ideas; the sword, in addition to representing military aspects of force, alludes to the fact that psychological operations are also a form of warfare. The sword, being a Katana, alludes to the fact that the operations of the Psychological Operations Group are centered in the Asian Theater. The colors black, gray and white refer to the color symbolism of black, gray and white propaganda. The green background or backing is the color used for Psychological Operations organizations. Background: The distinctive unit insignia was authorized on 15 Apr 1969. Be Not Deceived. MindWar is as old as the human race. Unfortunately, our military has in recent times discovered it as a “concept”, and MindWar is now subtly becoming an aspect of military “doctrine”. The U.S. Army will deny that, because there is no command within the entire Army embracing MindWar. Yet, as this article will show below, MindWar does exist, and does not exist — both — at one and the same time. In 1980 a fluffy little document was circulated around various Army offices and commands. Drawn up by the 7th Psychological Operations Group, the now-infamous document was entitled “From PSYOP To MindWar: The Psychology of Victory”. One of the authors of the paper was proud enough of his work to expound upon MindWar in a book published in 2013 with the one-word title, MindWar. Here’s a pic. That picture of the book is a study in understatement. You may buy the book at Amazon dot com. I bought the book, just to make sure that it is real, that a book entitled MindWar actually exists, and to see for myself that it was written by the man who guided the 1980 document to completion. And so I’ve proven to my own satisfaction that Michael Aquino was the primary author of “From PSYOP To MindWar” in 1980, and that he did indeed, in 2013, thirty-three years later, write a book expounding on the philosophy of MindWar. I hate that he made a buck on me, but I’ll get more than that buck’s net value back many times over by using both the paper and the book he wrote to show the characteristics of a misadventure in which the military has taken upon itself to target the mind of mankind. The old admonition holds true for all of us today — “Know Thy Enemy“. So I bought the book. I must confess that this subject is too vast and extensive to fit neatly into one article, or even one book. As I asked readers to be patient in my first installment of this series, I must repeat that request here as well. Some of the things I’ll note in this intsallment may not at first glance appear to be relevant. There are, however, subtle connections to our analysis of the importance and impact of the military exercise known as JADE HELM 2015. To give one an example, let’s start with this stunning performance. Pay close attention to the ending, because at the end of this we see a transcendent conceptualization which is an important meme for any mind reading here. Enjoy: [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-9VZZWtMfQ”] Just as perspective is a primal prerequisite for perception, let us move toward a proper perspective from which to see MindWar by first mixing a bit of psychology into our study. Humor me please. Before we dive into this remarkable subject, let’s all just take three deep breaths, sitting up straight to the full and breathing deeply in through the nostrils; then exhaling out through the mouth, as exegetes of Kundalini Yoga might practice, but do it slowly, with deliberation and determination, that we may calm our own minds for a strengthening moment. We embrace our confidence in the rightness of all cherished goodness here in this crazy world. We are preparing ourselves to objectively look at some grave things, to face them squarely, to see past our conditioned perception, our habitual way of seeing life, and to come to know truly the nature of accumulated and centralized power — What that kind of power might look like when unleashed upon any citizenry — Even what the buildup to that kind of power might look like, how it would be constructed. How, after all, does any NATIONAL POWER achieve total power over its tax base? Let us center ourselves by focusing on the inherent goodness which indwells our individual human hearts. Three deep breaths, and then a smile, yes? Now, as Cyrellys puts it, let us “remember who we are”. And to set the perfect mood, let us now absorb a paragraph from one of America’s greatest 19th Century authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson: “I read the other day some verses written by an eminent painter which were original and not conventional. The soul always hears an admonition in such lines, let the subject be what it may. The sentiment they instil is of more value than any thought they may contain. To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, – that is genius. Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense; for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost,– and our first thought is rendered back to us by the trumpets of the Last Judgment. Familiar as the voice of the mind is to each, the highest merit we ascribe to Moses, Plato, and Milton is, that they set at naught books and traditions, and spoke not what men but what they thought. A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. Great works of art have no more affecting lesson for us than this. They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side. Else, to-morrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another.” –– Emerson, from his essay on Self-Reliance. Emerson mentioned “…the voice of the mind…”. Self-knowledge begins with self-awareness of that “voice”, and awareness is itself a property of mentality, a process of the subjective mind. Like everything else in Psyche, awareness is invisible. Yet we all speak of awareness at times but seldom think about it. In other words, one seldom “thinks about thinking”, preferring to simply do one’s thinking without having to to be aware of it. We humans generally rely upon habitual thought processes, and perhaps a large percentage of modern populations prefer television and/or other forms of entertainment over contemplative exercises in our own private mentality. We seldom ponder questions about the mind, consciousness, perception, knowledge, memory, emotions, or awareness. For example, philosophy has long sought answers for the question: Am I my thought, or am I the observer of my thought, or am I both or even more? If I can know something, and know that I know it, which is “me” — the known or the knower of the known? What is a thought? How is a thought different from an emotion? What is memory, where is it stored, how is it recalled from past experience or past knowledge into the present, what part of psyche recalls it, and how does that process actually work? Such are questions which I shall not attempt to answer in this series of articles on JADE HELM 2015, but which are indicators of something very important. I have to bring such things up, because this installment on JADE HELM 2015 is about MindWar. All such questions imply the existence of the “mind”, and the mind is now being targeted by forces representing a desire to control the content and functionality of every mind on earth. To Emerson’s sagely advice about fidelity to one’s own mind, we here in modern America now must also add a general defense in our presumed right to own one’s own mind. To my view on that, I note that to ignore the significance of government’s openly-confessed intent to dominate everyone’s perception is but a personalized testament of any soul’s spiritual status, and the plight of another in his “Pilgrim’s Progress” is not pertinent to my own plight in life. Ye be Ye, and I’ll be me, and, all willing, we’ll both be free. But those who are interested in rising above the herd mentality of the habitual and rote conscious levels of the group mind, those who have a hope of enhancing spiritual qualities in one’s existence as a human being with a vibrant, living, and active mind, may step outside the social norm and realize that our dear government, including our tax-funded military, is now out to govern very private and personal attributes of our minds. I have mirrored the paper from which the book named MindWar arose. Readers will find it <here> Now let’s look into MindWar and see how it fits with this psycho-circus called JADE HELM 2015. Let’s first note something which MindWar is not. To the best of my knowledge MindWar is not a division, not a unit, or a Command. No battalion or other such sub-group under the 7th Psy-Op Group’s command is assigned to develop or promote or execute MindWar, nor is it even an operational program of the U.S. Army. MindWar, in that sense, is not even a reality. Instead, MindWar is more like an appending imagination. It is much like a mental template with which to overlay the perceptions of Psychological Soldiers, to whom I often refer as “PsyWarriors”. But MindWar is something, because a PSYOP group wrote a paper about it and much later a book was published about it. In the world of ideation, the proto-concept of a thematic war on the mind of mankind has been created in an Army document. But can MindWar be “just an idea”, or can it be something more? I believe I’ve figured it out. I now see MindWar as an “attitude”, a perception, and a dynamic perspective all rolled into one mind-set. It is a gargantuan idea with a quantum appetite. It is like an auto-transcendent metaphor. It is a psychegenic bit of mental flotsam which was injected into the military mindset of the U.S. Army, and has most likely spread across the full spectrum of the American military community. Like a psycho-virus it has spread into the U.S. military’s Unconventional Warfare surge toward NATIONAL POWER. It is the sort of development which can happen when a trusting nation tells its Department of Defense to make sure America is well defended, but then leaves the mechanism of war-making up to tight-mouthed brass who are helping an arms industry find markets and uses for their product. Generals at the Pentagon have a very narrow focus — they simply focus on how to best expand and improve and develop military capability. Of late, their enthusiasm to do just that appears to be quite remarkable. Because of that, corporate “interests” are very friendly with Pentagon Brass. Thanks to massive corporate and governmental corruption, and massive media-borne psychological subterfuge, Defense development has taken a life of its own, and has grown so complex and multi-faceted that its original mission has long been forgotten, has been replaced with this incessant, insane drive for NATIONAL POWER world-wide. That of course plays right into the hands of the Technocrats of the one-world government idiocy, a fact which the good Generals apparently have overlooked (or perhaps, for some, deliberately ignored) in their zeal. Are the Joint Chiefs and upper echelons of Pentagonal prowess unwitting pawns — surrogates — for a more subtle but more hideous agenda being played out by the power-elite of the NWO? Generals like tanks and battlefield equipment, planes and ships, and all the peripherals which are produced by the military-industrial manufacturing base. Do the bankers who finance the businesses which manufacture those toys for the military have a say in Federal budgets for “Defense”? Are those bankers and their corporate pals on Wall Street active on the NYSE? The Federal Reserve? The multitudinous fields of scientific inquiry, research, and development? Are they also active in the halls of Congress? Do every one of them have an “interest” in war, even if it is only a war targeting individuals instead of nation-states, such as the current insane so-called “War on Terrorism”? That is a good question. [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LSIwvE0Nvo”] UW, IW and MW Unconventional Warfare and Irregular Warfare include and employ Psychological Operations. The legions of ISIS beheaders camped just across our Southern border are about to swarm all over America. In fact, the FBI now states that ISIS has terror cells in every State in the Union. We must be deathly afraid; we must fear ISIS Jihad; we must beg for our government to save us, even if it must also bring in foreign troops to ensure our safety. We must never believe that the too-big-to-jail banks at the Federal Reserve would ever knowingly implode the Federal Reserve system and throw this nation into chaos — only Terrorism could do that, so we must now become willing to give up our Constitution and its Bill of Rights to allow government to secure us. Police-state measures, military rule, state-of-emergency measures, rations, curfews, travel permits, relocations, indefinite detentions, and any other extreme measure must be allowed and even applauded. That is the essence of the message our government and its lap-sitting media would share with the American people. It’s a matter of perception, a state of mind, and each of us is now being targeted where it counts — in our own minds. That Corbett Report video above pretty well says it all while showing how ISIS was created and why. As we learned in part one of this series, the so-called “War on Terror” is a government creation and a massive deception. As such, it is a universally-applied PSYOP on behalf of governments everywhere and the corporate giants which own them, and the banks to which the multi-national corporations must dutifully bow. Psychological Operations would target the “mind”, of course. So let’s talk about the mind first thing up. There are two types of minds, two distinctly identifiable sorts of “mind”. There is your mind, which is the “individual mind“. Each of us, except perhaps the fools who work inside the Beltway, has one of those. Then there is the collective of everyone’s minds all rolled up into one, which is the “group mind“, or the “collective consciousness” of the human race, with a geo-specific magnetism proximal to each individual, subjectively. So we want to ask, what is the mind? https://diplopi.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/does-consciousness-arise-from-quantum-processes-in-the-brain/ What is “Mind”? No matter. What is “Matter”? Never mind. Like a gelatinous amorphous interminable blob of pulsating undulating vibratory mood-bearing electrically-charged omni-directional free-floating metamorphing mass of unconscious orb-yielding invisible electro-magnetic consciousness, the individual mind and the public mind may each be symbolized as a cohesive field of mental activity. We may call it the Psyche, the personal psyche, or the collective psyche, as recognized by PsyWarriors involved in planning “Psychological Operations”. Psyche is readily metaphorized by an oceanic sea, in which an infinite variety of teeming fish and sea-life forms swim about. But in the Sea of Mind such creatures are metaphysical. They are not physical. They exist in our minds as thoughts, fears, emotions, attractions, ideas, memories, inspirations, motives, intuitions, dreams, wishes, associative connections, suggestions, hopes, and all that comes with Love and Love’s thought system. That which swims about in universal Psyche is as widely ranging in its forms as all which swim glide float and live in the multiplicity of the sea’s infinite possibilities of the modalities of the expression and manifestation of The Being in varied forms ranging from the microscopic organism to the whale. The mind is the meta world, and it parallels precisely the physical manifestation of creation. So in considering what MindWar might possibly be, we first must realize that every human being possessed of a mind is a potential target of whichever POWER might initiate MindWar. It’s generally seen to be a bore or a waste of time for most people to “think about thinking” while getting through our routine days and nights. Our ability to think as individuals is itself under attack, as we shall see. We seldom think about what a thought is in actuality. But when one does think about it, one may notice that, like a physical life, a thought has a beginning, an arcing or over-arching field of extension across a span of its existence in the mind, and it has an effect somewhere, sometime, whether noticeable or not. One may notice that one’s thoughts are all formed from the memory banks in which one stores personal knowledge and all other experientially-gained understanding, everything one has learned. One “learns” the meanings of words as one learns to talk, and those learned understandings become part of one’s knowledge, the “known”, which becomes part of one’s personal past and is stored in one’s “memory”. Yet how many of us occasionally ponder just what that means? Which part of the self calls forth memory data from the subconscious memory banks in order to formulate and express an idea or describe a perception? Why is any of this important? It is important because one may only know oneself through one’s mind. A man may think only with the mind. His thoughts are invented there, stored there, and either lead to direct action or are forgotten and buried in distant crimson corridors of all he has forgotten. We each have a conscious “mind”, and all of our minds together create what Carl Jung dubbed to be the “collective consciousness” of the human race – well over [seven] billion individual minds registering the impulses and vibration-waves of”delta, theta, alpha, or beta wave patterns”, which are frequencies of vibration science now knows the brain emits – and all of those minds together constitute the collective mind of mankind. Specific to America, there are over three hundred million individual minds with each being a singular element in the sum total of all American minds. That collective of American minds constitutes what I refer to as the “public mind”. Edward Bernays and his pals of the day back in the 1920s referred to it as the “Group Mind”. Alex Jones of InfoWars dot com was the first source I found for Edward Bernays’ book, “Propaganda”, which was published in 1928. I will share a couple of passages from that book — Propaganda by Edward Bernays; copyright 1928 by Edward Bernays; (Edward Bernays: 1891-1995); Copyright renewed 2005 by Anne Bernays; published by Ig Publishing, 178 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205; igpublishing@earthlink.net ; www.igpub.com ; ISBN: 0-9703125-9-8. Available at Amazon dot com <here> ; From page 36: “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society.” The systemic study of mass psychology revealed to students the potentialities of invisible government of society by manipulation of the motives which actuate man in the group. Trotter and Le Bon, who approached the subject in a scientific manner, and Graham Wallas, Walter Lippmann, and others who continued with searching studies of the group mind, established that the group has mental characteristics distinct from those of the individual, and is motivated by impulses and emotions which cannot be explained on the basis of what we know of individual psychology. So the question naturally arose: If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, is it not possible to control and regiment the masses according to our will without their knowing about it? We can know this about those who manipulate “the unseen mechanism of society” (the group mind) — that sort of person gravitates to Wall Street or Washington D.C. or other concentrations of power where their treachery has financial power or governmental power over other people. Some do it for profit, others do it for power. Neither of them could do it to the individual mind, to your mind or to my mind, but they have known for a Century that they can do it to the mass mind, and the individual minds which comprise that group mind can be intimidated from objecting, and in most cases individual minds seldom are aware that they are being manipulated. As Bernays confessed above, when it is done correctly the individual mind does not even know that it has been manipulated. Each of us has a mind, is a mind with physical extensions which we affectionately call “bodies”. While the body is confined in its three-dimensional Newtonian universe, the mind is not. The body is physical, the mind is meta-physical. Your body is supposed to be your body, not anyone else’s. Your mind is supposed to be your mind, and not anyone else’s. Our Constitution was written in such a way as to protect each citizen’s right to own his body and to own his mind. America’s founders felt that “Nature or Nature’s God” provided each man or woman born on earth with certain “unalienable rights” which are not subject to any man-made “authority”. They wrote the Constitution specifically to protect those unalienable rights for each individual man or woman in the united States of America. That is where matters stood when our dearly-beloved government was created and commissioned to serve We The People. Now, concerning JADE HELM 2015, it appears that our government has other notions. Of course the government’s intent to better serve We The People has morphed into a governmental attitude characterized by an incessant compulsion to protect us from ourselves, even if it has to impose a police state’s iron net of control over our entire population. The excuse for that is of course the constant barrage of news clips announcing that there is a terrorist behind every barn, bush, and building all over America. While there were no terrorists outside a hand-full of surrogates being farmed psychologically by FBI surveillance just ten years ago, suddenly an entire generation of “home-grown terrorists” are everywhere to be found, menacing every community in America, camped on our border(s) and preparing to deliver the knock-out punch with a massive terrorist event which only government can prevent. And to prevent just that the forces of NATIONAL POWER will have to set the Constitution and our Bill of Rights aside by intruding militarily into our very communities, towns, cities and States. The intent of NATIONAL POWER is so alarming that even this Left Gate Keeper is horrified, even by a Democrat President: [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkSkQgnEV-Q”] This has progressed and developed as a trend in government in ways which are not new, but are a bit more blatantly obvious than in previous years. The concentration, empowerment, and growth of NATIONAL POWER has progressed to the point that to carry it any further our dear government must take off its mask, remove its benevolent glove and reveal its iron fist. That is where the militarization of our local police comes into play, as well as domestic military “assistance”. Part of how we have reached this point has to do with the public mind’s acceptance in our communities of a totally bogus and completely unlawful so-called “War on Drugs”. Government has used the war on drugs to create countless more enforcement jobs and assert an authoritarian power over our communities and homes. There are about seventy thousand SWAT raids in America each year, and most of those are targeting drug-related violations of statutes and codes. Let’s watch what John Whitehead has to say about that. [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGWLkg-tB5U”] See his article at The Daily Bell: http://www.thedailybell.com/editorials/36264/John-Whitehead-Turning-America-into-a-Battlefield-A-Blueprint-for-Locking-Down-the-Nation/ With the so-called “War on Drugs” the government tested the American people and found that they would permit the Federal government to own their bodies, providing that the government put forth through the press and media a propaganda program which would be preached as if from pulpits based on moral indignation over one’s neighbor smoking a joint. In fact, after the government had failed at that game once before, by being forced to repeal “Prohibition” of the 1920s, Gov-worshippers were surprised to learn in the 1960s and ever since that the good tax-paying American citizens would even pay for the expansion of governmental power to control, regulate, and, in reality, to “own” our bodies. (Note: if any power can tell one what one may or may not put into one’s body, that power is asserting ownership over one’s body. There is no way to argue around that fact.) Ron Paul went into this phenomenon in his book, The Revolution. Government launched a massive PSYOP on the “American group mind”, and Christianity took the bait, never noticing the hook which would lead to current attacks on Christianity coming through the very government they had supported in its zealous efforts to own citizens’ bodies. Remember this? [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-NX2tsJUaM”] That is as good an example of government-sponsored propaganda as we’ll likely ever see. Wise citizens should always remember that the power over one’s neighbor which one supports is also a power over oneself. Anyone who can’t clearly see that today’s General government in WDC is trying to squash Christianity should pay more attention. So the people proved that they would pay for the so-called War on Drugs, and the government was happy for that because it allowed government to create all sorts of jobs — Drug War enforcement jobs, so that now, with many decades having passed, every County in America may have a multi-jurisdictional para-militarized task force connected with the DEA which is operating under the Department of Justice (DOJ) which is now under the authority (spoken or unspoken) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or at least is in bed with it. That is one part of the infrastructure behind the mission of JADE HELM 2015, which is itself merely an extension of the greater MindWar. Aquino’s paper’s title starts with the word “From”. “From” PSYOP to MindWar. That was to indicate a transition into something much bigger than merely dropping leaflets from airplanes or broadcasting clandestine radio messages to a targeted people. There is this from the document back in 1980: Psychotronic research is in its infancy, but the U.S. Army already possesses an operational weapons systems designed to do what LTC Alexander would like ESP to do – except that this weapons system uses existing communications media. It seeks to map the minds of neutral and enemy individuals and then to change them in accordance with U.S. national interests. It does this on a wide scale, embracing military units, regions, nations, and blocs. In its present form it is called Psychological Operations (PSYOP). [Emphasis Elias Alias, editor] Aquino was thinking big — big enough to see a possibility of changing minds on a world-wide scale. And remember — that was written in 1980, which was to the best of my knowledge well before the Army got into “Mapping the Human Terrain”. Today the Army of course is also interested in mapping the human brain. The brain, after all, appears to be the seat of the mind, its focal center being the brain’s electro-magnetic force-field around which the personality hovers. As a cute little side note to illustrate my statement that the Army wants to map the human brain, let’s notice something DARPA posted a few years ago: Prototype DARPA Helmets DARPA HELMETS http://science.dodlive.mil/2010/09/01/remote-control-of-brain-activity-using-ultrasound/ “…a novel technology which implements transcranial pulsed ultrasound to remotely and directly stimulate brain circuits without requiring surgery. Further, we have shown this ultrasonic neuromodulation approach confers a spatial resolution approximately five times greater than TMS and can exert its effects upon subcortical brain circuits deep within the brain…. “Through a recent grant made by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award Program, our research will begin undergoing the next phases of research and development aimed towards engineering future applications using this neurotechnology for our country’s warfighters. Here, we will continue exploring the influence of ultrasound on brain function and begin using transducer phased arrays to examine the influence of focused ultrasound on intact brain circuits. We will also be investigating the use of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) for use in brain stimulation. Finally, to improve upon spatial resolution, we will examine the use of acoustic metamaterials and hyperlenses to study how subdiffraction limited ultrasound influences brain wave activity patterns. “How can this technology be used to provide our nation’s Warfighters with strategic advantages? We have developed working and conceptual prototypes in which ballistic helmets can be fitted with ultrasound transducers and microcontroller devices to illustrate potential applications as shown below. We look forward to developing a close working relationship with DARPA and other Department of Defense and U.S. Intelligence Communities to bring some of these applications to fruition over the coming years depending on the most pressing needs of our country’s defense industries.” They are saying that the future military helmet may be fitted with micro-wave command capabilities which would beam signals into the brain of the soldier. Push a button to relax after combat, or push another button to heighten the output of one’s Adrenal gland prior to going on patrol, right? Just another step along science’s complicit march toward fully robotized soldiers — and — just another step closer to the seat of the Soul of mankind. Tax dollars are funding this insanity on behalf of “defense industries”. The fact that DARPA actually will publish this sort of thing is itself indicative of the greater MindWar which is underwriting JADE HELM 2015. We are to accept this, because of course government is only “here to help”. Where that sort of science may lead is something we don’t even want to think about, I can assure anyone. In the hands of a government hell-bent on “peace keeping” here on American soil, the possibilities are horrifying, especially when one considers that the military is now interfaced with civilian law enforcement under the awning called DHS. Any Empire worth its salt must interface its military with its domestic police, as we all know and history shows. DARPA helped set up the ad hoc relationship between the Pentagon and the Department of Justice (DOJ) even before there was a DHS, by merging our military with the DOJ. That’s right – DARPA geniuses confessed the following way back in 1997, four years before 9/11/2001…. This is a National Institute of Justice report from 1997, well before Cohen’s Grave New World speech in 1999: http://www.ncjrs.gov/txtfiles/164268.txt In 1994 the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) entered into a cooperative agreement to develop technologies of value to both. This agreement, codified in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and signed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General, formalized and focused a longstanding ad hoc relationship. To manage this technology development program and to direct its day-to-day activities, the MOU established a Joint Program Steering Group (JPSG) that would represent both departments and be staffed with members from several agencies… Part I: The Partnership Between Law Enforcement and the Military The boundaries separating the functions of the law enforcement and military communities are clearly defined in law. The military’s function is to provide for the national defense, while Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies maintain domestic tranquillity. [Sic] Although performing different functions, law enforcement and the military perform many of the same tasks. Both law enforcement and the military operate their own judicial, police, and prison systems. Within the limits set by law, civil law enforcement and the military communities work cooperatively…. Often law enforcement and the military may also participate in the same missions. Such interagency efforts include waging the war against drugs, countering terrorism and espionage, and providing disaster relief… The potential benefits of a joint development program became clear to officials in DOD and DOJ, as well as to Congress, in 1993. The overlap of technology needs had been noted by a senior working group (SWG) convened by DARPA in 1993 to assist in formulating a program to develop technologies to enhance the effectiveness of U.S. forces engaged in Operations Other Than War (OOTW). These kinds of operations involve providing humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, countering the flow of drugs into the United States, and countering terrorism. This initiative was prompted by events in Somalia and elsewhere. The SWG and DARPA noted many common technology needs between civilian law enforcement operations and OOTW. [emphasis EA] Congress and senior officials in both DOJ and DOD moved DARPA and NIJ toward establishing a formal partnership agreement. In June 1993, the Attorney General sent a letter to DOD and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) suggesting collaboration on technology development. In July 1993, Congress initiated language directing the establishment of an interagency working group, which included DOJ and DOD, to look to the development of dual-use technologies. This was prompted by the recognition of the effect of defense downsizing on the industrial base and the effort to reduce Federal expenditures and by apparent interest within the administration to “reinvent government” by eliminating unnecessary redundancies. In hearings before the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology that year, the DOD Director of Defense Research and Engineering endorsed establishing joint technology development with DOJ… Memorandum of Understanding. The clear benefits of this partnership led to the execution of an MOU between DOJ and DOD on April 20, 1994. Highlighting the importance attached to this MOU was its execution by the Attorney General and the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the presence of the Vice President, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy at the signing ceremony. This MOU set in motion the development and enactment of the technology program described in Part II of this report. [Interjection by Elias – Please note that an unlawful merging of the Justice Department and the U.S. Military was enacted at this juncture and was officially presided over by the Vice President as well as representatives of the Treasury Department and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. All were busy little boys under a Democratic administration; all preparing the way for the idiocy of the Republican Bush-43 administration. Also note that this sub-authority grouping of government officials did not include the U.S. Congress. Was a law passed in Congress to permit this? Was any Constitutional authority cited? Was the public mind advised of this before the fact? Did any case regarding this merging of two diametrically opposed bodies, one civil and the other military, DOJ and DOD, ever arise before the Supreme Court, which would undoubtedly have condemned this mischief? I think not. They just did it in the same off-hand way that NORTHCOM recently merged the U.S. Northern Command with the Canadian military. See: http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-deployment-of-us-troops-inside-canada/8323 Further, I would like to note that when I found this document some years ago it marked the first time I heard about “OOTW”. I must ask the reader — Where in the name of Hell did our military come up with the idea of doing anything other than war? Recall, in part one of this series on JADE HELM 2015 we noted that at the end of the Cold War (1989-1991) there was once again no “enemy“. I’ll ask the question: Was this diversion of the duties of our military into “peace-keeping”, “civil assistance”, “drug interdiction”, and the upcoming, planned, “war on terror” an initial step toward conditioning the military and the American people for “Operations Other Than War” as a proper and fitting use of what the Founders dubbed “a standing army”? The wisdom of our Founders shines through now, after all, yes? Give a standing army a little bit of power and it may go berserk. Add a pinch of fiat-printed money and and stir in some black budget funding for some basic government-sponsored black-ops, for seasoning, and we get a stew nobody really wants to swallow, but it’s being stuffed down our throats anyway by the might of a centralized insane government that values its own corrupted existence and NATIONAL POWER more than the glory, dignity, and moral justness embedded in its own founding legal documents.] – Continuing with the DARPA report: The MOU calls for the establishment of an extendable 5-year program in which a JPSG, jointly staffed by DOD and DOJ representatives, manages daily operations and a high-level interagency Senior Review Group sets policy. Members of the JPSG have been drawn from DARPA, NIJ, the FBI, the Bureau of Prisons, and the U.S. Army. The JPSG works at any point along the research, development, and acquisition (RDA) spectrum so that it can support demonstrations of existing technology as well as development of totally new and unique technologies. – End quote from 1997 NCJRS report. Read the whole thing at above link. – When the report mentions that JPSG works at any point along the research, development, and acquisition spectrum, it created the capability of the military and civil law enforcement communities to interchange equipment, technology, science, and logistics, which explains how it came to be that SWAT teams now dash about sporting amazing militarized toys such as MRAPs and Sound Weapons etc. While viewing this older piece in which Luke Rudkowski shines, remember that what the police were “protecting” by shutting down the protesters was a meeting of the G-20, which announced at the end of their meeting that the U.S. Dollar would have to become just one of several currencies in a “basket” of currencies, and no longer be the world’s reserve currency — a globalist dream which is a nightmare for American sovereignty. While those subversive “dignitaries” were doing their dirty work the police were trampling the citizens’ rights to peacefully assemble and redress grievances: [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwjAjcQnqM”] Recall, this kind of militarization of our police would officially begin in 1994, simply because a group of ‘visionaries’ decided to bypass Congress and the American people to build an infrastructure which would be occupied readily under COG (Continuity of Government) or COOP (Continuity of Operations) under what General Tommy Franks dubbed “a military form of government”. [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug0IL7k3elQ”] Those who have awakened and swam out of the eddies and pools of group-mind public deception gain the pain of clarity and with it comes the primal shriek of an attendant conscience. And perhaps that is part of what it’s all about, this thing called “MindWar”. A question carrying plenty of gravity would ask how America devolved into the situation in which we now have tangible evidence of police militarization, “inter-agency” training scenarios, Fusion Centers which are info-flow hubs sending signal Intel up-stream to DHS and downstream from DHS, liaison personnel interfacing military relationships with local law enforcement, a military domestic command on U.S. soil (NORTHCOM – Colorado), and all the other blessings of concentrated NATIONAL POWER, including some official perception necessitating the practicing by our military of Unconventional Warfare PSYOPs to “Master the Human Domain” on U.S. soil. But I digress… or do I? I know that many readers here have already seen this video, but let’s offer it here for those who are not yet familiar with the author of the book on MindWar, Dr. Michael Aquino, now retired from the U.S. Army. This is the guy who worked in the 7th Psychological Operations Group in the Army, and dreamed up future developments for morphing basic PSYOP into MindWar. [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B55-Ep6BHp0″] Taking A Peek At MindWar Yes, it is two words run together, each capitalized only in its first letter, no space between. When we speak the term “MindWar”, we’re using a word created by two men, one of whom is retired US Army Colonel Michael Aquino. (The other was Major Richard Sutter.) Here is the explanation for the origin of the word by the author of the book pictured above, Michael Aquino. In a footnote on page 26 of his 2013 book entitled “MindWar”, Aquino says that he and Sutter had seen the movie Star Wars in 1977 and “…we imagined a play on its name as a futuristic replacement for the bland Army term “Psychological Operations”. So Aquino and Sutter imagined the name MindWar as a catalyst to super-charging basic Army PSYOP just a few years after the American military got its butt handed to it by the communist forces of Viet Nam, China, and the USSR in April 1975. Aquino overlooked the fact that Ho Chi Minh fought against the Japanese for us in Viet Nam during WWII and that we broke our word to him in 1945. He also overlooked the fact that our involvement in Viet Nam was not a declared war and was therefore an illegal international war crime, which had much to do with the public perception. Also not noted by Aquino is the fact that after the French were kicked out of Viet Nam in 1954 our illustrious CIA flew into Laos and built a 30,000 + man clandestine army (just as they would later do in Afghanistan across the 1980s) and used that guerrilla army to invade China and North Viet Nam until 1964, approximately nine years, prior to President Johnson sending in uniformed ground troops in 1965. But Aquino feels that the Vietnamese PSYOP defeated the American PSYOP, and he further notes that the U.S. Army’s PSYOP failed to interdict communist PSYOP here in America. He is saying that if only the American propaganda machinery had done a better job of pumping up public support for the war in Viet Nam the outcome would have been different. He puts it this way in page 3 of the document — “Better hardware is nice, but by itself it will change nothing if we do not win the war for the mind.” So in part, Aquino’s paper was a sign that the Army was looking back to lessons which should be learned from Viet Nam, and his take is that it was to some degree or another a PSYOP failure, or, rather, a failure of military leadership to properly employ PSYOP, which in hindsight appears to Aquino necessitates an all-out dedication to total MindWar. To see it that way he relies on military logic untethered to societal or cultural values. But the military-scientific vision which underwrites his theory fails to take into account that the “mind” is first subject to the soul which animates it, and that deception cannot permanently insure the propaganda’s success when the whole war on which that propaganda is based is a lie, an orchestrated and media-rendered deception of the world’s collective consciousness, with emphasis on the American collective consciousness. Did I say “deception”? That the Viet Nam war was based on a deception? When the Army went into Southeast Asia to drive out the Japanese in World War II our military Intelligence (the OSS) sought Ho Chi Minh and established a working relationship with him and his guerrilla underground army. There were chummy meetings on everything from strategy to logistics, with a bit of U.S. material assistance thrown into the agreement to boot. Here is a fairly good article (with much less “white-wash” or “spin” than most) about how our OSS related with Ho Chi Minh and General Giap. The author teaches at the U.S. Naval Academy. Students of “hidden history” will want to collect the article at this url: http://www.historynet.com/ho-chi-minh-and-the-oss.htm Photo courtesy HistoryNet.com: OSS Deer Team members pose with Viet Minh leaders Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap during training at Tan Trao in August 1945. Deer Team members standing, l to r, are Rene Defourneaux, (Ho), Allison Thomas, (Giap), Henry Prunier and Paul Hoagland, far right. Kneeling, left, are Lawrence Vogt and Aaron Squires. (Rene Defourneaux) Throughout most of World War II, the United States was finding and supporting allies in China and other Southeast Asian regions, including French Indochina, to pose a threat to the Japanese military wherever possible. With the liberation of France in 1944, the U.S. government turned to its primary coordinator of intelligence during the war: the OSS, created in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.OSS to Ho: Work With Us Against the Japanese. At the time, the OSS was operating a base in China’s wartime capital, Chungking. With the growing military complications in Indochina, Brig. Gen. William Donovan, the director of the OSS, instructed his staff to use “anyone who will work with us against the Japanese, but do not become involved in French-Indochinese politics.” The Viet Minh, a liberation movement that had emerged under Ho Chi Minh in the early 1940s, was seeking not only Vietnam’s independence from France, but also freedom from the Japanese occupation. In mid-1944 the OSS approached Ho to help organize an intelligence network in Indochina to help fight the Japanese and to help rescue downed American pilots. By then, “Ho had been cooperating with the Americans in propaganda activities,” wrote Captain Archimedes Patti, head of the OSS base in Kunming, China, and later Hanoi.The American association with Ho had actually begun in December 1942 when representatives of the Viet Minh approached the U.S. Embassy in China for help in securing the release of “an Annamite named Ho Chih-chi (?) [sic]” from a Nationalist Chinese prison, where he was being held for having invalid documents. In September 1943, when Ho was finally released, he returned to Vietnam to organize Vietnamese seeking independence. An October 1943 OSS memo proposed that the United States “use the Annamites…to immobilize large numbers of Japanese troops by conducting systematic guerrilla warfare in the difficult jungle country.” The missive went on to suggest the OSS’s most effective propaganda line was to “convince the Annamites that this war, if won by the Allies, will gain their independence.” What you just read is a part of our history which was not shared with U.S. troops twenty years later while training to invade Viet Nam in the mid-1960s. I joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1965 and was never told about Ho Chi Minh having worked with U.S. forces against the Japanese in WWII. Why was that part of our history not revealed to the American people? Because, I surmise, it would contradict the purpose of 1960s U.S. propaganda programs which were employed to enlist public support for sending our ground troops into Viet Nam. And it would undermine confidence in our Intelligence community if the public were to understand that we had lied to an ally, deceived him, and deceived the American people. A bit more from that article, to gain more perspective on Dr. Aquino’s theory regarding MindWar — Deer Team Begins Training the Viet Minh Captain Patti’s OSS group, the Deer Team, was established on May 16 and made its way from the United States to the OSS station in Kunming, where it waited two months for permission to enter French Indochina…. The members of the Deer Team had to wait a couple of weeks for supply drops in early August before they could start small-arms and weapons training for the guerrilla forces. Once the arms arrived, the Americans showed the Viet Minh (most were recently civilians) how to fire the American M-1 rifle and M-1 carbine, and how to use mortars, grenades, bazookas and machine guns. For training, they used U.S. Army field manuals, and focused on guerrilla warfare. As a Viet Nam Veteran I look back on the fact that Americans helped Ho Chi Minh build his guerrilla army which would later kill 58,000 U.S. servicemen and women. How did that come to be? The key to understanding it is quoted above — “…the OSS’s most effective propaganda line was to ‘convince the Annamites that this war, if won by the Allies, will gain their independence’.” Our government lied to Ho Chi Minh and led him to believe that if he helped U.S. forces kick the Japanese out of Indo-China then Viet Nam could achieve its own sovereignty, out from under French rule. When, in 1945 after the close of WWII, Ho Chi Minh appealed to the American President for Vietnamese sovereignty, our President ignored him. In the years that followed, Ho Chi Minh continued to write letters of a diplomatic nature to President Harry Truman, asking for U.S. aid, but the letters were never answered. Ho didn’t break with the United States until the Americans gradually became involved with the French in working against the Vietnamese in the 1950s. That was when Ho Chi Minh turned to Russia and China to help fund his growing guerrilla army against the French occupation. From 1945 to 1954, a period of nine years, the Viet Minh fought the French in Viet Nam and finally defeated them at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 when General Giap arrayed several full Divisions of Russian- and Chinese-supplied North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops against a force of 13,000 French Foreign Legionaires there. While the author of that article omits some minor facts which we’ll not go into in this article due to the need for brevity, I would like to offer some further conditions which Dr. Aquino does not mention in his From PSYOP To MindWar document. After the French defeat and withdrawal from Viet Nam in ’54 our inexperienced CIA went into Laos and Cambodia, next door to Viet Nam, and built a 30,000-man clandestine army which would conduct military raids into China and North Viet Nam for the next nine years, until 1964 when the Gulf of Tonkin incident, now known to be a “false-flag pretext”, gave President Johnson his excuse to send in the Marines and begin a ten-year fiasco of immoral and criminal field-testing of tactics and products for the military-industrial complex. The American people had no way to know about that large clandestine army or its illegal raids into China and North Viet Nam until Victor Marchetti and John D. Marks published in 1974 their bombshell book, The CIA And The Cult Of Intelligence. So here and now we are looking at MindWar and we see that the document itself suggests that deception is a tool to be used. Further, we now can see that the American people were deceived in order to gain enough public support for invading Viet Nam with uniformed military troops. As I said above, the entire Viet Nam war was based on a deception, and trusting Americans in mass believed the government’s story. Those who saw through the ruse were tormented, beaten with police night-sticks, and some even shot to death. Remember the Kent State murders by soldiers? Any who opposed the Viet Nam war were demonized, ostracized, and even persecuted for objecting to the mass murder this government wreaked upon a tiny tropical Southeast Asian country which wanted its national sovereignty. I am an honorably-discharged U.S. Marine and Veteran of that insanity, and I have to live with perpetual guilt for what I helped a criminal government do to the American people and the Vietnamese people. I use the word guilt because the war was a massive psychological operation based on a fabulous lie about fighting communism over there so we wouldn’t have to fight communism over here on our own doorsteps. Remember that one? Aquino’s logic falls short — PSYOP can only win the “battle for the mind” when PSYOP holds the moral high ground, which we never did in Viet Nam. It is an old Intelligence concept our OSS inherited from British Intelligence during WWII which says that “the end justifies the means”. That delusion permeates the fifth floor at Langley to this very day, which is why CIA was running guns into Syria through Turkey from Benghazi. Aquino also says: “That main effort cannot begin at the company or division level; it must originate at the national level. It must strengthen our national will to victory.” With that statement the document turns the will and might of military PSYOP onto the American public itself. The MindWar soldiers will understand why they must convince the American people that America will “win”, and a drive must be created in the mainstream media to influence the group mind that it wants victory, that it “wills” victory. This the Army even now seeks to execute as a part of PSYOP. As all who take time to read the MindWar document from 1980 will see, PsyWarriors working at CNN and FOX NEWS and all the other networks as well as at newspapers and other media/press vehicles, the American people are now a target of PSYOP. The group-mind meme is that America is the dominant force on the planet and will win every war she fights. On page 7 we read: To this end MindWar must be strategic in emphasis, with tactical applications playing a reinforcing, supplementary role. In its strategic context, MindWar must reach out to friends, enemies, and neutrals alike across the globe – neither through primitive “battlefield” leaflets and loudspeakers of PSYOP nor through the weak, imprecise, and narrow effort of psychotronics – but through the media possessed by the United States which have the capabilities to reach virtually all people on the face of the Earth. These media are, of course, the electronic media – television and radio. State of the art developments in satellite communication, video recording techniques, and laser and optical transmission of broadcasts make possible a penetration of the minds of the world such as would have been inconceivable just a few years ago… MindWar must target all participants if it is to be effective. It must not only weaken the enemy; it must strengthen the United States. It strengthens the United States by denying enemy propaganda access to our people… [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1p-E2xmpjA”] Under existing United States law, PSYOP units may not target American citizens.12 That prohibition is based upon the presumption that “propaganda” is necessarily a lie or at least a misleading half-truth, and that the government has no right to lie to the people… How’s that for a fluffy little pronouncement designed to reinforce the greater lie? He continues… The theory behind “brainwashing” was that physical torture and deprivation would weaken the mind’s resistance to suggestion, and this was true to a point. But in the long run brainwashing does not work, because intelligent minds later realize their suggestibility under such conditions and therefore discount impressions and options inculcated accordingly. For the mind to believe in its own decisions, it must feel that it made those decisions without coercion. Coercive measures used by the operative, consequently, must not be detectable by ordinary means… In other words, MindWar cannot afford to permit the public to become aware that the people are being targeted with pro-policy messages. That is one dandy statement, and I can’t thank Aquino enough for letting that cat out of the bag. But by page 10 the document closes on a very remarkable note, with interesting footnotes. Here is a paragraph, which I’ll follow with the footnotes below it on page 10. Existing PSYOP identifies purely-sociological factors which suggest appropriate idioms for messages. Doctrine in this area is highly developed, and the task is basically one of assembling and maintaining individuals and teams with enough expertise and experience to apply the doctrine effectively. This, however, is only the sociological dimension of target receptiveness measures. There are some purely natural conditions under which minds may become more or less receptive to ideas, and MindWar should take full advantage of such phenomena as atmospheric electromagnetic activity19 , air ionization20 , and extremely low frequency waves21 . Now for footnotes 19, 20, and 21: 19 Atmospheric electromagnetic (EM) activity: The Human body communicates internally by EM and electrochemical impulses. The EM field displayed in Kirlian photographs, the effectiveness of acupuncture, and the body’s physical responses to various types of EM radiation (X-rays, infrared radiation, visible light spectra, etc.) are all examples of human sensitivity to EM forces and fields. Atmospheric EM activity is regularly altered by such phenomena as sunspot eruptions and gravitational stresses which distort the Earth’s magnetic field. Under varying external EM conditions, humans are more or less disposed to the consideration of new ideas. MindWar should be timed accordingly. Per Dr. L.J. Ravitz: Electromagnetic field constructs add fuel to the assumption unifying living matter harmoniously with the operations of nature, the expression of an electromagnetic field no less than non-living systems; and that as points on spectrums, these two entities may at last take their positions in the organization of the universe in a way both explicable and rational … A tenable theory has been provided for emergence of the nervous system, developing not from functional demands, but instead deriving as a result of dynamic forces imposed on cell groups by the total field pattern. Living matter on [sic] has a definition of state based on relativity field physics, through which it has been possible to detect a measurable property of total state functions. (Ravitz, State- Function, Including Hypnotic States” in Journal of American Society of Psychosomatic Dentistry and Medicine, Vol. 17, No. 4, 1970.) 20 Ionization of the air: An abundance of negative condensation nuclei (“air ions”) in ingested air enhances alertness and exhilaration, while an excess of positive ions enhances drowsiness and depression. Calculation of the ionic balance of a target audience’s atmospheric environment will be correspondingly useful. Again this is a naturally-occurring condition – caused by such varying agents as solar ultraviolet light, lightning, and rapidly-moving water – rather than one which most [sic] be artificially created. (Detonation of nuclear weapons, however, will alter atmospheric ionization levels.) Cf. Soyke, Fred and Edmonds, Alan, The Ion Effect. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1977. And now my favorite — 21 Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) waves: ELF waves up to 100 Hz are once more naturally occurring, but they can also be produced artificially (such as for the Navy’s Project Sanguine for submarine communication). ELF-waves are not normally noticed by the unaided senses, yet their resonant effect upon the human body has been connected to both physiological disorders and emotional distortion. Infrasound vibration (up to 20 Hz) can subliminally influence brain activity to align itself to delta, theta, alpha, or beta wave patterns, inclining an audience toward everything from alertness to passivity. Infrasound could be used tactically, as ELF-waves endure for great distances; and it could be used in conjunction with media broadcasts as well. See Playfair, Guy L. and Hill, Scott, The Cycles of Heaven. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1978, pages 130-140. So the science of ELF waves was known to the military as far back as 1980, and an officer in the 7th PSYOP Group let the cat out of the bag by including Playfair’s and Hill’s notation as a footnote at bottom of page 10 in his article. Do you have a television set in your home? A smartphone? A computer? Is there a “smart meter” on your property? Ever hear of electro-magnetic pollution? How is your mind these days? How is the massive American collective consciousness these days? What condition is our condition in, eh? Has our government, in its zeal to perfectly “secure” us all, decided to implement electro-magnetic influence on top of subliminal suggestion on top of overt advertising on top of outright propaganda on top of a pile of deceptions stacked up now for a full Century of governmental lying? What else can explain how our military can stand in public meetings and announce that it needs to practice Unconventional Warfare’s Irregular Warfare tactics of “mapping the human terrrain” on its way to “Mastering The Human Domain”? The whole shebang is pure nonsense, insanity, perversity-on-parade, and a clear and present danger to every living American. [ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RXpAwbxgVU&feature=youtu.be”] Aquino and the Army’s PSYOP geniuses did not invent MindWar. Aquino just named it. Since then it has progressed in stages such as the military’s adoption of cultural Anthropology and other social sciences and even since at least as far back as 1962 the adoption of covert black-ops under the umbrella of PSYOP. However, a strong poet has penned some approximation of the state of the souls of the respective technocrats, statists, collectivists and their one-world government plans. This is what Brzezinski and his pals, the Bush family, the Clinton family, and too many other nefarious miscreants to name here, have to look forward to in their last lament — The soul has to stay where it is, Even though restless, hearing raindrops at the pane, The sighing of autumn leaves thrashed by the wind, Longing to be free, outside, but it must stay Posing in this place. It must move As little as possible. This is what the portrait says. But there is in that gaze a combination Of tenderness, amusement and regret, so powerful In its restraint that one cannot look for long. The secret is too plain. The pity of it smarts, Makes hot tears spurt: that the soul is not a soul, Has no secret, is small, and it fits Its hollow perfectly: its room, our moment of attention. — From the poem “Self Portrait In A Convex Mirror” by John Ashbery. The bigger secret behind MindWar is that MindWar has existed since the dawn of time, but never in earth’s history has any concentrated mass of power, such as the American Empire, had the means to so totally manipulate our perception, our consciousness, even our will power to resolve to own ourselves, to own our own minds. Self ownership is primary for all that is good about human life. Its opposite is slavery, in which some power or someone outside oneself owns one’s body, mind, and life — which is of course almost tantamount to owning one’s soul. By the time our scientists are seeking to use micro-wave signals from microwave transponders mounted inside military helmets to control brain functions in our soldiers, we perhaps should take that at face value and ask the hard questions. Has America given up her soul to to the forces of darkness, traded her birthright for a Statism which displaces God with Gov? Dr. Aquino, like Zbigniew Brzezinski and David Rockefeller, most certainly have chosen a dark path, replacing their respective souls for the vanity of attempting to control all other souls. The mind is the seat of the soul, and the archetypal drives embraced by perverted egos manifest and reveal the will of all such men as sadly lacking in a real capacity to embrace properly the cognizance of Natural Creation, the principles behind the laws of Nature, the potential for true joy in life. All of that is sacrificed on the altar of darkness and is administered by nothing more than an unchecked ego. Intelligence is no safeguard against misinterpretation, as Brzezinski proves. He has a brilliant mind, but allowed it to be corrupted by fantasies shared by the international bankers and their flunkies over at the CFR and Trilateral Commission. We are all born here to die here. The state of one’s soul at the moment of death could be a very important matter, something worth thinking about as one makes one’s choices in life. But be of good cheer. We who are awake on levels above the group mind can see all this and know it for what it is. Those who would control us and own us do not have a clue about the state of their respective souls. I began this installment of my JADE HELM 2015 series with some inspiring words by Emerson. You and I and our good neighbor can claim our heritage as moral Americans, and no matter what the forces of government would do we shall still be the masters of our own human souls, for we do not make bargains with the devil. We choose good over evil, Love over Fear. We are Americans, after all. We have our culture. And we have Emerson: Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark. Thank you for reading. In the next installment we’ll look into Main Core and some of the technology which can channel ELF waves and other invisible barbs to an unwitting national collective consciousness in the ongoing march of MindWar. Main Core shall, of course, lead us into Quantum Computing, where we will finally see how all the dots connect to produce the staggering portrait of what is really behind JADE HELM 2015 — Our government’s abuse of the word “Emergency”, COG, and Quantum Computers. Part One: https://oathkeepers.org/jade-helm-2015-questions-and-reflections/ Part Two: https://oathkeepers.org/jade-helm-2015-questions-and-reflections-part-two/ Part Three: https://oathkeepers.org/jade-helm-2015-questions-and-reflections-part-three-mindwar/ Part Four: https://oathkeepers.org/jade-helm-2015-questions-and-reflections-part-four-main-core/ Help us defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic! Donate here to support our mission and sustain our volunteers. Or join Oath Keepers here. You do NOT have to be prior service to join! All patriots are welcome. We are all in this together. We need your support and your help. God bless. And please "like" us on social media, so we can better keep you informed: Have you enjoyed the post ? Editor in Chief for Oath Keepers; Unemployed poet; Lover of Nature and Nature's beauty. Slave to all cats. Reading interests include study of hidden history, classical literature. Concerned Constitutional American. Honorably discharged USMC Viet Nam Veteran. Founder, TheMentalMilitia.Net The Story of Michael GilesEdwin Vieira: The Armed Forces And The Militia Frederick P Blume Jr says: Consciousness – is the “container of knowledge”. Knowledge is structured IN consciousness. Knowledge is therefore different in different STATES of consciousness. “There is valid knowledge, invalid knowledge, imagination, sleep and memory.” – Pajanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Humans typically (according to the “science” of psychology) use about 7% – 9% of their mental potential. By yogic standards this may actually be only 3% – 4%. Now if you ACCEPT that level of access to your mental potential and you do NOTHING to change it or, worse, you do things to narrow this access even further, you should NOT wonder why you live on the “Planet of the Apes”. Nor should you complain because you ARE the problem. Right Action Right action is the spontaneous, natural result of right consciousness. Right consciousness is not achieved through thought. Therefore, right consciousness is not achieved through reading. Right consciousness is a state of mental and physical (neurophysiological) balance that demonstrates a state of optimal function – which can be determined via direct measurement. Outward, measurable indications of this state of neurophysiological integration and balance are: Lack of disease, both somatic and mental which is the result of a fully functioning immune system and mental state that protects the individual from the deleterious effects of stress while the individual remains fully “in touch” with the forces (natural laws) at work in the world. Normal and “above” normal (super normal) intelligence and creativity. Depth AND breadth of both general awareness and concrete knowledge of discreet “disciplines” as well as a trans-disciplinary approach to comprehension/action of abstract underlying principles that are in common ACROSS discreet disciplines (i.e. natural law). SOCIOLOGICAL High sense of morality – action in accord with natural law that allows the individual to spontaneously avoid behavior that leads to a breakdown in immunity, an increase in disease and mental deterioration – i.e. a disconnect from natural law that leads to individual and social harm/dis-ease. High inter and intra-hemispheric brainwave coherence in alpha (restful) and beta (alertness) frequencies – that indicates “whole brain” functioning from a state of “restful alertness” where the individual acts from an unperturbed paradoxical state of heightened alertness and calm. Actions taken from this state are tightly focused but also supported by a broad awareness of the largest possible set of variables so that the actor doesn’t experience the consequences of attempted violations of natural law. The individual spontaneously avoids taking actions which fail to take into account variables that run contrary to life-supporting natural laws. Therefore, you should observe that such individuals, acting from this state are highly moral in action as well as in thought. The “dataset” of such and individual engaged in any particular action is purged of contradictory elements that indicate a lesser understanding of the problem domain/solution domain. They are less susceptible to external ideological influences which run counter to natural law. They are more successful at problem solving with solutions that do NOT create more problems themselves. Instead, they exhibit an ability to learn quickly and thoroughly, comprehending details and how those details fit into an overall paradigm. Physiological measurements. Skin resistance, metabolic rate as a function of oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output (has nothing to do with so-called “greenhouse” gases…), blood lactate levels, repiratory rate, resting heart rate, lack of heart disease, atherosclerosis, lessened risk and incidence of cancer, etc. – available through published studies. Again, this state is not brought about through concentration or contemplation (thought – or reading the thoughts of others…), although a specific TYPE and technique of using thought is the mechanism that allows the neurophysiology to settle into that natural state of restful alertness where the awareness is unbounded (i.e. NOT focused on the objects of the senses). This specific TYPE of thought is meaningless (carrying no associations) and using this TYPE of thought with a specific technique – allows the individual’s attention to disconnect from the objects of the senses – even the abstract representations of these objects in consciousness (i.e. images, memories, thoughts) such that the neurophysiology attains a state of deep rest, deeper than that of sleep while the mind simultaneously becomes more alert than when in a state of wakefulness where the individual is engaged in activity. (Activity can be on the level of thought (like reading) or on the level of physical activity.) This state of “restful alertness” allows the neurophysiology to normalize via this deep rest, a condition which allows the system to self-repair, to eliminate accumulated stresses and strains, to heal. While using this specific TYPE and technique of thought, the individual eventually TRANSCENDS thought itself and comes to a state or pure, unbounded awareness, awareness not “bound” to any particular object of the senses. This is a state of meditation, wherein the individual establishes a fourth, major state of consciousness distinct from waking, dreaming or sleeping. Over time, this state can be made to permanently co-exist WITH waking, dreaming and sleeping and such a state is considered to be a fifth major state of consciousness that is distinct in terms of it’s neurophysiological parameters, its effects for the individual and its effects in society. Achieving this state predictably has positive effects for the individual in terms of health and happiness because it enables spontaneous “right action”, or actions done in harmony with natural law. Likewise, it has social implications that are a natural extension of the individual being independent, self-sufficient and prosperous. Scripture describes this state and confirms the indications that reveal such a state but does not itself CREATE this state. God has given this gift to every man and woman who is capable of thinking a thought. This simple, natural procedure of meditation – when done correctly – is done EFFORTLESSLY because it is a mechanism built into each man and woman. It is a process of “letting go” or of “surrender” to that unbounded awareness that physicists have observed to be a source of pure potential, pure intelligence, pure knowledge (in terms of natural law wherein there are no conflicts – it is only our mis-apprehension of natural law that WE introduce mistaken ideas/thoughts whick lead us into situations contrary to natural law) and as such is the home of all knowledge, the home of all the laws of nature. It is that state of seeing the “image” of that supreme intelligence that resides within each of us (because we have been created in the IMAGE of that supreme intelligence that rules over the entire manifest and un-manifest creation) it is a process of letting go of the finite, limited and “less cosmic” individual consciousness so that it takes on more and more of the attributes of the unbounded, limitless pure consciousness/intelligence that rules over creation through natural law. So, an individual cannot create a state of right mindfulness through the reading of scripture. The reverse is true, however. A person can fully COMPREHEND and appreciate the principles captured in scripture – FROM A STATE OF RIGHT MINDFULNESS. Scripture may REVEAL wrong-mindfulness, but cannot create the state of right mindfulness needed to correct it. That is a function of a state of mind/body integration/optimization that God intended for us to have – which is why he gave us a way to achieve and maintain that state. Scripture takes a secondary position to the practice of this process which directly effects the individual’s neurophysiology so that they can live in this state rather than merely read about it. Now, in the light of psy-ops, one who is fully “realized” is immune to psychological operations. Their minds exhibit a biological type of “Meissner Effect” which is observed when you place a magnet over a supercooled, superconducting material – which CANNOT BE PENETRATED by a magnetic field. The magnet “floats” over the superconductor because it is “standing” on magnetic lines of force which cannot enter into the superconductor. Likewise, a fully realized individual – is impervious to outside influences, outside ideas, ideological warfare – when their brain function is optimized to the point where there is complete inter and intra-hemispheric coherence – which is revealed by EEG traces which show a combination of alpha rythms with beta spindles or “spikes” in phase and above a certain threshold amplitude. Remember that any internal process/procedure you use that entails FORCE – entails using force against yourself. In any event, your state of mind directly bears on your quality of life – and the ability of an enemy exploiter to use you or those around you. Meditate, expand the structure of Knowledge and then reinforce your knowledge base from there. “Your mind powers will not work on me, boy.” – Jabba the Hutt Dapper Dan says: “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.” – Karl Rove “Coercive measures used by the operative, consequently, must not be detectable by ordinary means. There is no need to resort to mind-weakening drugs such as those explored by the CIA; in fact the exposure of a single such method would do unacceptable damage to MindWar’s reputation for truth.“ I believe that this is exactly why those that profess to stand and believe in the US Constitution as the supreme LAW of THIS land will not use it against those domestic enemies and traitors. All kinds of reasons come up why this cannot be used lawfully in our courts since it IS the law that ALL judges must follow and take/KEEP the Oath to do so. But there is also the Grand Jury, it is also not used to investigate or prosecute and it IS again constitutionally assigned as a tool of the people, NOT under the authority in any way of the three branches within the state or federal governments. The Militia is also the peoples tool, NOT under the authority of the state or federal government EXCEPT in the instances the US and state Constitutions require them, and for the duties those who serve within our governments are REQUIRED to PROVIDE to the Militias. Example: Article 1, Section 8, Clause 16: “To provide for organizing, ARMING, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress”. Clause 16 requires that the STATES are given the duty of training the Militia to the discipline prescribed by Congress (for the US Military when they are called into action). But it does not say that is the only way the people can be trained as it is the peoples tool. It also requires the Congress to the duty of “ARMING” the Militias with Military arms as would be necessary for the defense of our nation from attack, and while the “regulars” were taken mostly from the already trained Militias as the temporarily needed Military was created. Yet our framers and forefathers did not believe that we the people as the Militia would always be able to count on those who serve within our governments to do the duties as assigned to the branch they are under. That is why George Washington, once a General and then the First US President himself said that we must not count on those who serve within our governments. George Washington: “A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” James Madison: “The ultimate authority resides in the people, and that if the federal government got too powerful and overstepped its authority, then the people would develop plans of resistance and resort to arms.” Thomas Jefferson: “[A] strict observance of the written law is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to the written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the ends to the means.” John Adams, A Defense of the Constitutions of the United States 475: “… The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.” Thomas Jefferson: “The most effectual means of preventing [the perversion of power into tyranny are] to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts which history exhibits, that possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes.” Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Nicholas: “Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” James Madison: “Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.” Thomas Jefferson: “Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense.” WE the people can call our own Grand Jury, assign people to investigate, and prosecute. And we should. The argument against doing so is that they are too corrupt to let this happen. Who said “let it happen”? We must do it, and remove any corrupt, no matter what position they occupy, starting with judges wihtin the courts who are ONLY there with any LAWFUL authority as long as they do the duty assigned to them in a CONSTITUTIONAL manner, and keep the Oath. If they do not we must charge and remove them, using the supreme LAW OF THIS LAND no matter what the domestic enemies and traitors say to the contrary. “so we must now become willing to give up our Constitution and its Bill of Rights to allow government to secure us.” Never will we allow this treason here. NEVER. But it is time that those that openly declare their treason by their actual actions, by signing over authority to foreign entities or nations, by etc, etc, etc must be cahrged adn our US Constitution supported by us in a LAWFUL manner that does not negate defense if needed if the traitors to the American people fight as some criminals do. “… suddenly an entire generation of “home-grown terrorists” are everywhere to be found, menacing every community in America, camped on our border(s) and preparing to deliver the knock-out punch with a massive terrorist event which only government can prevent.” Let me rephrase this part of that sentence to… “… suddenly an entire generation of “home-grown terrorists” are everywhere to be found, menacing every community in America, camped on our border(s) and preparing to deliver the knock-out punch with a massive terrorist event which only those who serve wtihin our own government can create.” More realistic isn’t it? Remember that Terrorism is defined as 28 C.F.R. Section 0.85 Terrorism – “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”. Treason definition can be found here http://www.shastadefense.com/Dare-Call-It-Treason-21.pdf “The concentration, empowerment, and growth of NATIONAL POWER has progressed to the point that to carry it any further our dear government must take off its mask, remove its benevolent glove and reveal its iron fist. That is where the militarization of our local police comes into play, as well as domestic military “assistance”. “ Actually it is not the growth of National power that is the problem. It is that “We the people” keep ignoring treason, and much like those that serve within our government, do not use, follow, or support/defend the US Constitution as we ARE REQUIRED to do. “… John Whitehead has to say about that.” I agree with what he said except that America is NOT a demcoracy,she has never been on, nor will she ever be one. America is a ( /frustrated yell) CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC where the people in government are put into place to do things that are actually put into WRITING – and it is the ONLY areas assigned to the branch they occupy a position within to have any lawful authority that is assigned to the BRANCH. Anything else is either/or treason an outright attack on USA by domestic enemies of the USA backed up by those idiots in uniform (military and LE) – who just follow orders” and “just do their job” when they are REQUIRED in order to meet the requirements of the position they occupy to BE a Constitutionalist and support and defend it before anything else. (Okay, will continue this later gtg) Thanks Elias for doing this, it is much needed!!! TimeLess says: Most peoples’ minds today are saturated, which strengthens their inability to free themselves from oppression. The “controllers” when necessary only have to do a little tweaking through the MSM to keep the masses under control. It’s become so easy all they have to do is say Jade Helm 15 is only an exercise and everything else is a conspiracy theory, and the majority of people will gobble that up and go back to sleep. They did it with building 7 on 911, it was only office fires that brought down that 47 story steel framed building…. No one is being sprayed, it’s only contrails, some are longer than others depending on the humidity. And on and on their mind tweaking goes through the MSM, etc. Mind saturation of information, chemicals, GMO, etc has most of us docile. Think about it. There’s evidence beyond evidence that Obama is a usurper whose mission is to destroy America and yet he is allowed to continue in office. Almost 7 years now. Through Christ there is hope though: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) redbeardjohn says: The pys-ops and the delusionary mindset is so strong, most don’t know right from wrong. I want to encourage you all in that the darker it gets, the smallest light seems bright. Get prepared. Know your neighbors. Be brave. Be strong. Be true. total bs , ive trained from texas to utah to cali and to say this is anything other a large scale trainin exercise is just bs. Elias Alias says: Well my goodness! I can tell by your email address that you are one serious-minded dude. For readers who can’t see your email address I’ll reprint it here: nunya@suckit.fucku What can that tell us about your judgment, your consciousness, your general mindset, your status as a spiritual being, your capacity for sentient cognizance, eh? In my opinion, your email address is not only bogus but is also offensive and indicates your inability to be honest. Would you like to send me your real email address, or are you afraid to do that? Fearful? Distrustful? Overly cautious, lest your identity be forwarded to your CO? Your mind appears to be full of fear’s thought system, marked by a staunch denial and bullheaded adherence to your programming and conditioning. You’ll shoot at Americans in a heartbeat because you see them as “bs”, right? You’ll follow whatever order comes down the chain of command, right? Because you’re on the side of “the good guys”, right? Well, here’s a comment for you, Bubba — I’ve provided you with ARSOF’s own announcement saying that JADE HELM 2015 is an UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE exercise. I never said it was anything more than an exercise. What I’m talking about is what kind of exercise it is. Are you willing to deny that JH15 is an Unconventional Warfare exercise? I’ve provided you with the US Army’s 2008 manual on Unconventional Warfare which states flat-out that PSYOP is a part of Unconventional Warfare. I’ve explained in detail that PSYOP targets the mind. I’ve given you the whole document from the 7th Psychological Operations Group called “From PSYOP To MindWar” and shown in that document’s own wording that the people of the USA are included in the theater of MindWar, being targeted by military usage of the mass media for propaganda purposes. Yet you somehow managed to ignore all of that and now accuse me of spouting “bs” as if I’ve said one word about JADE HELM 2015 being something other than an Unconventional Warfare training exercise. Unlike many other “voices” on the Internet, I’ve never claimed that JH15 was anything other than an exercise. I do not hold any frenzied fear that it will “go live”, but I am keenly aware that “exercises” have generally accompanied peak false-flag events which have been used in MindWar to convince the American people that there is a terrorist behind every bush and outbuilding across America and that they must therefore submit to a total-control government-provided “security system” such as the coming martial law, which General Franks himself characterized as “a military form of government”. One last question for you — all that “training” which is to be done under the name of JADE HELM 2015 — where is that training going to be sometime in the future deployed, eh? Are our soldiers now war-gaming to conquer the European Union? Where is the “enemy”? Who is it? Can you think up one? Dude, the only “enemy” our government has in its sights right now is We The People who believe in the Constitution, unalienable rights, freedom, personal responsibility, and the right to own our lives individually out from under the “security” provided by a berserk government which has never been sued for failure to protect anybody. The mindset under which you labor has been designed, orchestrated, choreographed, implanted, inserted, and reinforced with programming, training, and repetitive conditioning by a mechanism which commands your every action. You will some day grow out of that, perhaps, and when you do, you’ll hopefully not have the guilt on your shoulders for having done the wrong thing for what you had been trained to believe was the right thing. You will some day come to understand the wisdom carried in this line from a dead Viet Nam Veteran named Steve Mason — “Old soldiers with bad gums find out too late whom they really served.” But for now, please try to remember that there are some orders one should never obey, cannot obey without violating one’s Oath. If your Oath doesn’t mean anything to you, then you’ve got no soul and have violated your own lost honor by swearing to something you’ve no intention of honoring. So just do this for me — Remember when nut-cuttin’ time comes ’round — Do not fire on the American people. Dude, you need to get a grip, and as soon as you do, you’re invited to come back here and answer my questions. If you can’t do that, you lose. 😉 Now run along and behave yourself. Elias Alias, editor — and — honorably-discharged U.S. Marine and Viet Nam Veteran who has most likely seen more combat than you’ll ever see in any modern deployment for which you’ve “trained”. Geofizz says: Absolutely gobsmackingly brilliant article! For a good read on the type of technology actively being used upon American citizens as part of this MindWar, check out the recent book Chameleo by Robert Guffey (http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/chameleo/). Also check out the concept of “gang stalking.” In line with Elias’s insights here, might I also suggest the series of books by Seth and Jane Roberts regarding human consciousness. These provide further extensive explanations as to the reality that underlies our physical existence. Here is a quote from Seth explaining how our identity is inviolate, including when it comes to psyops: “Each identity possesses an integrity that will not allow any affiliation of which it does not approve. Using an analogy, psychological antibodies are far more potent than physical ones. The self or identity quite literally closes its boundaries to any forces that do not follow its own purposes and intents. There are no exceptions This integrity allows the identity always to maintain its own patterns or mark, permitting within its peripheries only those affiliations that serve its unique purposes. In those terms, the self or identity cannot be defiled. Here I would like to add a brief side note having to do with cases of apparent “brainwashing,” in times of war, for example. You form your own reality. Those captured in such encounters, therefore, are captured because they are already operating in a system of beliefs that does suit their greater purposes. This subject is highly complicated. Perhaps someday we can pursue it. But in any case, the so-called brainwashing suits the purposes of those so treated. This does not mean that no sympathy should be granted them. A really close examination of their conscious beliefs and purposes, however, would show an acquiescence and acceptance of such experience, and a need for it to occur.” SunnyRunner360 says: Finally, someone who seems to “get it.” In reading about the history of Edward Bernays, I could not help but begin to question how much of our existence has been a construct of those that wish to manipulate and control the masses. Prior to WWII, Bernays understood the art of propaganda as he wrote in his book “Propaganda,” but rather than seeing the potential abuse of what Bernays wrote about, people instead see him merely as the father of public relations. It is entirely frightening seeing how much influence the methodology Bernays developed had on the American people prior to WWII and knowing that Goebbels prized Bernays’ “Propaganda” as a resource in his exploitation of the German people must make one realize how much our minds are being manipulated. It is unfortunate that more people cannot see that the construct of our reality has been contrived for if they did we could overcome the triggers that have been created to divide us and rather come together in pursuit of overcoming our common enemy. I, for one, have come to question the motives behind everything our politicians and media place in front of us. Honor your oath, join us! 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__label__cc	0.735145	0.264855	Fulton County siblings ordered to reimburse BWC $6K+ March 31, 2017 / BWC Social Media Team / Leave a comment Pair took late father’s monthly cash benefits A judge has ordered a Fulton County sister and brother to reimburse $6,657 to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for taking their father’s BWC benefits in the immediate months following his death in 2014. Cecilia Williams, 36, of Fayette, pleaded guilty Dec. 20 in the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas to a fifth-degree felony count of workers’ compensation fraud. She was sentenced Feb. 27 to two years of community control and a suspended jail term of seven months. She also must take a theft education course. Her brother, James Miller, 35, of Wauseon, was sentenced March 17 to a suspended sentence of six months in jail and a $100 fine after pleading guilty to attempted workers compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor. Both have already paid restitution to BWC. BWC’s Special Investigations Department learned in 2014 that Williams’ and Miller’s father had passed away on March 15 that year, but no one had reported his death or returned his BWC cash benefits to the agency. Agents later discovered that a total of $6,657 had been withdrawn from ATMs between the dates of March 27, 2014, and July 17, 2014. Williams admitted to agents that she withdrew the funds using her deceased father’s debit card for personal monetary gain and then provided half of the money to her brother. To report suspected workers’ compensation fraud, call 1-800-644-6292 or visit bwc.ohio.gov. Gamble on work comp fraud comes up lemons March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 / BWC Social Media Team / Leave a comment A Toledo woman who managed a gambling storefront that was raided by state agents in 2014 pleaded guilty March 21 to workers’ compensation fraud for working there while collecting injured worker benefits from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). Jennifer E. Garner, 57, pleaded guilty to the first-degree misdemeanor in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. A judge ordered Garner to pay BWC $7,645 in restitution and sentenced her to five years of community control and a suspended jail term of four months. Garner paid $1,000 prior to her guilty plea. “Trying to cheat BWC is never a safe bet,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. “Our Special Investigations Department is dedicated to rooting out fraud and bringing criminals to justice.” Acting on a tip, BWC investigators found Garner managing and working at the Surf’s Up Cyberlounge in Oregon, Ohio, through most of 2014 while she collected benefits from BWC for a job injury that purportedly left her permanently and totally disabled. On Dec. 18, 2014, agents with the Attorney General’s Office, Ohio Casino Control Commission and Oregon Police Department executed a search warrant at Surf’s Up and five other similar storefronts in northwest Ohio on suspicion of operating as illegal casinos. Gaming machines were removed from each of the six locations, but no arrests were made. Prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue the case against Surf’s Up. Ottawa County Safety Council members share their OSC17 experience March 28, 2017 / BWC Social Media Team / 1 Comment By Michelle Francisco, BWC Safety Council Program Manager Two-hundred and forty miles total. Four hours roundtrip. Ottawa County Ohio employers didn’t let that keep them from capitalizing on the nation’s largest regional occupational safety and health conference. Several employers from Ohio’s north shore descended on Columbus a few weeks ago to find valuable information and resources at BWC’s Ohio Safety Conference & Expo 2017 (OSC17). It’s no surprise that so many of these employers are also members of the Ottawa County Safety Council. That’s because Jessica Kowalski, manager of the safety council, keeps her membership engaged and focused on workplace safety. Jessica works tirelessly to promote BWC programs and services through social media and more traditional means of communication, and we appreciate her partnering with us. After OSC17, she surveyed members of the Ottawa County Safety Council to get feedback on their experience at this year’s event. Below are some of their thoughts. Dave Barth of Bay Point Resort & Marina attended several sessions on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s new reporting guidelines and found sessions to enhance his understanding of job assessments and their benefits. In the Expo Marketplace, he met several vendors he intends to contact about future business. Julia Catlett of Magruder Hospital applauded BWC for providing classes that are educational from a variety of different perspectives, ranging from safety officers to human resources. She appreciates that sessions provide credit toward her certifications and give her useful information to implement in everyday processes. Michelle Ish, Ottawa County HR Director, attended her 13th safety congress this year. She appreciates seeing other industry professionals and knows many are repeat attendees, adding, “It’s nice to network on such a large scale!” Evan Viery of Signature Label found OSC17 to be an excellent summarization of where safety has gone in recent years and where it intends to go. He also felt it was a great opportunity to meet people from other companies and to see what fellow Ohio companies are doing to keep an edge. “Every time I attend I am more pleased with OSC,” he says. Tim Gerkensmeyer of Martin Industries tries to attend the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo as much as he can. He said he enjoys catching up with people who he doesn’t see often, adding that he met several new people from his own county. Adam Holmes of The Ashley Group praised the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Medical & Health Symposium. He attended the symposium for the first time, saying it covered topics related to almost every industry, and it promoted open conversation and sharing of ideas among professionals from several different backgrounds. He says, “The chance to hear first-hand from a variety of employer organizations regarding the challenges they face helps me improve as a consultant to my clients. “That in itself is invaluable and reason alone to make the trip again next year!” No matter the distance to Columbus, employers from all over the state have many reasons to attend the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo. Make your plans to attend in 2018, March 7-9, in Columbus. Try as he might, tree trimmer can’t cheat BWC and get away with it Akron man earns second conviction for fraudulent activity An Akron tree trimmer with a history of cheating the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) owes more than $17,000 in restitution to the state agency following his guilty plea last month in a Summit County courtroom. Matthew Mueller, 46, of Mueller Tree & Landscape, pleaded guilty Feb. 16 in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a fourth degree felony. The conviction, Mueller’s second on similar charges since 2005, followed a BWC investigation that found Mueller under-reported his payroll to lower his BWC premiums by thousands of dollars. “It’s unfortunate that one criminal conviction isn’t enough for some people to learn a lesson,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. “The funds we recover from Mr. Mueller will go to their proper place — taking care of injured workers and creating safe workplaces across this state.” A judge sentenced Mueller to 24 months of community control and ordered him to pay $17,366 in restitution to BWC. Mueller also must bring his business into compliance with Ohio workers’ compensation law. The employer fraud unit of BWC’s Special Investigations Department got a tip in 2012 that Mueller was intentionally under-reporting his payroll. BWC found he was misclassifying employees as subcontractors and advised him how to correctly report his payroll. Three years later, however, BWC found Mueller misclassifying his employees and again under-reporting his payroll, this time by nearly $40,000 for the first half of 2015 alone. Mueller’s earlier troubles with BWC resulted in a guilty plea in August 2005 to forgery, tampering with records and failure to pay workers’ compensation coverage. He was sentenced to eight months incarceration, suspended, and two years of probation. Take a STAND-Down to prevent falls in Ohio’s workplaces Construction, by its nature, is a dangerous industry. With much of the work happening from elevation, fall hazards are a major concern and fall protection is a must to prevent injuries and deaths. In 2015, falls accounted for 350 of the 937 construction fatalities in the United States.* The previous year in Ohio, there were 993 falls from elevation, with 324 of these falls happening in construction. Falls don’t need to be from great heights to have serious consequences; even short falls from elevation can cause serious injuries. However, proper training and awareness can help prevent injuries and fatal accidents. Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) looks to raise fall hazard awareness across the country with its National Fall Prevention Stand-Down. This year’s stand-down is happening May 8-12. At this point, you might be wondering, “What exactly is a stand-down?” A safety stand-down is a voluntary event for employers to speak directly to their workers about workplace safety. Companies can conduct a stand-down event in several ways, including: Short toolbox talks; Distributing handouts; Screening safety videos; Training and demonstrations; Meetings and presentations; Equipment inspections/audits. We strongly urge Ohio employers – especially those in the construction industry – to have a stand-down to discuss fall hazards and fall protection sometime between May 8 and May 12. We can help you plan your stand-down activity. Call 1-800-644-6292 for assistance. The BWC Library also offers an extensive collection of audiovisual materials related to fall hazards and fall prevention. Let’s take a STAND-Down to prevent falls! OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls webpage. CPWR’s Stop Construction Falls webpage *Bureau of Labor Statistics Provider perspective: Ohio Workers’ Compensation Medical & Health Symposium in photos March 17, 2017 March 22, 2017 / BWC Social Media Team / 1 Comment We did not think it was possible – the second year was better than the first for the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Medical & Health Symposium. We increased participation with a capacity crowd of more than 400+ health-care providers. We appreciate everyone who joined us for our two-day event held last week in conjunction with the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo at the Hyatt Columbus. You share our joint passion for the comprehensive care of Ohio’s injured workers. A special thanks to the symposium’s exceptional speakers, exhibitors and participants as well as our Medical & Health Division for leading this unique, multi-disciplinary event at no cost to participants. For ongoing learning, Ohio’s providers took advantage of continuing education opportunities designed for chiropractors, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, pharmacists, physicians, psychologists, rehabilitation counselors and case managers. What was new this year? In 2017 our annual symposium featured an exhibit area with 13 exhibitors who help care for Ohio’s injured workers. The exhibitors ranged from prosthetic suppliers and health-care associations to inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities. In addition, we added continuing education for occupational and physical therapists, pharmacists and psychologists. We continue to include state, national and international experts for our symposium sessions detailing best practices in caring for Ohio’s injured workers. And, we are overwhelmed by the positive comments we are receiving from symposium participants. Now as we look forward to 2018, experience the symposium by reviewing highlights from 2017. #BWCmhs exhibitors ready to see providers at med & health symposium! Between sessions exhibitors visited with #BWCmhs providers. An association exhibitor was available to answer questions about a safe medicine and responsible treatment program for providers’ patients. Dr. Matthew Levy (center), orthopedic surgeon at Cleveland’s St. Vincent Charity Hospital answers questions after presenting Periarticular Injuries of the Lower Extremity. Providers waiting in line to ask Dr. Atchison questions after the first session. He is a medical director for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago who presented on managing pain and return to work early. Dr. Ali Rezai, Director of the Neurological Institute at OSU Wexner Medical Center (center) talking with attendees after his session on Neuromodulation Advances for the Management of Chronic Disease. Dr. William Marras, Director of OSU Spine Research Institute (left) pictured below with BWC’s Dr. Stephen Woods. Dr. Marras presented study results on the clinical lumbar motion monitor. Dr. Nicholas U. Ahn, orthopaedic surgeon, University Hospitals of Cleveland, reviewed a recent discography study in the last session. He presented another study that examines workers’ comp patients with nonorganic pain. Attendees on break between sessions. Kevin T. Glennon, vice president of clinical services for One Call Care Management in Jacksonville, Florida. Glennon spoke about the work comp challenges of the aging workforce. Read a detailed blog about his presentation here. Dr. Susan K. Blank, co-founder and chief medical officer for The Atlanta Healing Center, an outpatient treatment recovery program. Dr. Blank spoke about addiction and misuse of controlled substances. Read more in our blog Wired for addiction. Dr. Richard W. Rosenquist, M.D., chair of the pain management department at the Cleveland Clinic, addressing the transition from acute to chronic pain. BWC’s Dr. Brian Wilson, DC, introduces Dr. Robin A. Hunter, DC., who presented on approaches to non-opioid treatment options. Phil LeFevre, senior vice president of business development for the Work Loss Data Institute LLC in Austin, Texas greets a seminar participant. He presented on using the Official Disability Guidelines for evidence-based care management. Gerald Steiman, M.D., a practicing physician at Steiman Neurology Group in Columbus.He delivered a presentation on concussions. Attendees also heard from Dr. Michael Coupland, a registered psychologist who spoke about pain in his presentation, The Psycho Neurobiology of Pain: Up Pain, Down Pain, Good Brain, Bad Brain. Check out the BWC Blog here for a review of his presentation. Burglar adds workers’ comp fraud to rap sheet A Cincinnati man serving time in an Indiana prison for burglary got a short break from prison March 9, but only to plead guilty to workers’ compensation fraud in an Ohio courtroom. John Dillard Lewis, 47, pleaded guilty to the fifth-degree felony in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, where a judge sentenced him to nine months incarceration, to be served concurrent with his Indiana case. Lewis’s 2015 indictment followed an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation that found Lewis had been working for a Wendy’s restaurant while collecting $32,532 in BWC benefits from June 17, 2013 to Aug. 12, 2014. Lewis was injured on the job in 2011 while working in a factory. BWC’s Special Investigations Department learned he was working while receiving BWC benefits from a database cross match with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. He was indicted in Ohio in 2015 but failed to show for court. Investigators later learned he was in the Indiana prison. Lewis is serving a nearly six-year sentence in the Branchville Correctional Prison in Indiana for a fourth-degree burglary conviction in Ohio County, Indiana. He was sentenced there last year. In other recent BWC fraud cases: Patrick Fachman of Columbus pleaded guilty Tuesday to a first-degree count of workers’ compensation fraud for filing two false workers’ comp claims against an employer he no longer worked for. A judge sentenced Fachman to one day of jail time, credited him with one day served, and waived fines and court costs. The owner of a Columbus asphalt company pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor count of workers’ compensation fraud Feb. 27 after investigators found he had falsified a BWC certificate of coverage to secure a job contract. A judge fined Anthony Evans of A1 Asphalt & Co. $100 and ordered him to pay $134 in court fees. Frank Massingill of Burton, Ohio, was found guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor charge of failure to comply with the law on Jan. 23 for not carrying proper BWC coverage for his business. BWC’s employer fraud team agents tried to work with Massingill to bring him into compliance, but he wouldn’t cooperate. A judge sentenced Massingill to one year of probation and ordered him to pay fees owed to BWC. Massingill also must comply with workers’ compensation rules and regulations, obey all laws and not permanently leave the state without the court’s permission.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1782
__label__cc	0.605173	0.394827	Women In Marketing You Need To Know Women In Marketing!!! 3 women I believe that are killing it in within the industry of marketing, branding and communications strategy. Personally, these are women I look up to and connect with. As we develop in our career it is important to have role models to look up to and attain inspiration from, to draw from and push you to keep going when the end goal seems so far away. In this industry where I believe females get looked past on unless we are in your face and are demanding the room. I think recognition is needed because these ladies are pathing the way for us. 3 #WomenInMarkerting Stephanie Horton A personal favourite of mine! Stephanie is really a lady of her word as my mentor she has been instrumental in guiding me within my career personally. You never who you will meet on your flight. Yes, that’s where I first met Stephanie, on route to Miami for Art Basel walking through 1st class boarding I went over and said hi. When I got back to London I emailed her as soon as I landed and that was the beginning of it all. Always be ready because you never know who will meet in your life journey. Stephanie Horton is a 20-year veteran of luxury fashion and marketing communications and an expert in global strategy! Stephanie has developed and executed creative marketing solutions for both domestic and international brands. Stephanie joined Farfetch from Shopbop in 2013, where she served as Head of Global Communications, oversaw the US and global communications strategy of the brand. Prior to Shopbop, Ms. Horton was Executive Director of Creative Services at Vogue and Director of Marketing at the New York Times. Now moving into her next venture, she’s an amazing example of a black girl magic that has put a stamp of excellence with everything she has achieved. #MarketingGirlBoss. Bozoma July 11, 2016: Apple Music’s Marketing Executive Bozoma Saint John poses for a portrait at Apple Music Headquarters in Culver City, California. A woman with purpose, power but most importantly passion. I do not know Bozoma personally but I feel like I know her. Her rise to her current role, as Chief Brand Officer at Uber, is a testimony to hard work, perseverance, and focus. Take a snippet at her resume and why she is a #MarketingGirlBoss. Bozoma diligently commenced her senior career at Pepsi at Chief Marketing Officer. Leading music festival-based marketing as head of the Music and Entertainment Marketing the division itself came from her suggestion that the company sponsor music festivals and award shows. What a mogul! She remained with the company for almost a decade before joining Beats Music in 2014, when Jimmy Iovine of Beats personally recruited Bozoma based on her experience in music marketing. From Pepsi Bozoma made her way to Apple and became the head of global consumer marketing for iTunes and Apple Music, captivating “passion” and persona from local and online audiences. Which is why you can see why Uber is in need of some Bozoma magic. This is such a great example of sustaining longevity in a career and the benefits of what you sow in the early years of your career. I am personally not against jumping around different jobs while you find your feet but there is nothing more telling and rewarding than gaining sufficient time and experience. Amber Pepper Amber Pepper is someone I came across on Linkedin. As a budding marketer and comms geek, I was desperately was looking for women pioneering within the fashion and lifestyle industry, working for global brands within marketing. I came across Amber and emailed her straight away to introduce myself because that is what I personally do. I instantly was amazed felt connected to her journey as I hope to achieve such a career timeline. Have you seen a lot more of Coach campaigns, recently? Well, Amber is a huge contribution to why we have. She is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Coach. Amber Pepper foresees overall marketing and public relations strategy of Coach’s business in Europe, as well as overseeing Coach’s European communications, digital and celebrity agencies. Previously, Amber was the managing director of Brower Lewis PRCo, at Farfetch as the Chief Marketing Officer and was Head of Marketing and Communications at Harrods. This motivates me to keep working hard. Most importantly it’s not who you work for, it’s the work that you do that propels you to success! businesscareerconsumerfashionlifestyleLuxurywomen in marketing The Girl Power Pink That Is Taking Over Social Media! Imagine a brand is your BFF and designs products especially for you – Welcome to BFF Marketing! Want To Get Into Digital Fashion Marketing – Meet Tasha Antwi	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1787
__label__wiki	0.530139	0.530139	Pagara eyes ring return in February Sunstar 7 January 2020 FOLLOWING a long hiatus, Jason Pagara is finally closing in on his ring return on Feb. 29, 2020. Vargas, a former opponent of Manny Pacquiao , is scheduled to face Mikey Garcia on Feb. 29, 2020 at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Pagara has been training in Las Vegas, cutting down in weight for a fight at either welterweight or light middleweight. According to Pagara, he might be tapped by Vargas as one of his sparring partners in his last stretch of training for Garcia. Pagara, 41-3-1 with 26 knockouts, was once one of the most promising boxers from the Philippines, and at one time, even caught the eye of Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum. Somehow, Pagara didn’t quite live up to his hype and had problems with his weight. He had an awful campaign in 2017, settling to a split draw with unheralded James Oyango and lost to Hiroki Okada via a sixth round stoppage. (EKA) Pagara spars with Vargas Rosario stops Williams to win super welterweight titles Nadal begins Australian Open campaign against Dellien Tsitsipas blasts past Italy's Caruso in Australian Open first round Tennis: Tsitsipas calls for 'a little more respect' after rowdy first round Entrepreneurs: Benchmark’s Nick Keller on using sport’s power to heal society	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1807
__label__cc	0.729553	0.270447	The story behind the story of my new #PLoSOne paper on "Stalking the fourth domain of life" #metagenomics #fb This is a post about a paper that has been a long long time coming. Today, a paper of mine is being published in PLoS One. The paper is titled “Stalking the Fourth Domain in Metagenomic Data: Searching for, Discovering, and Interpreting Novel, Deep Branches in Marker Gene Phylogenetic Trees” and is available at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018011. (or if that link does not work you can get a copy here). This paper represents something I started a long time ago and I am going to try to describe the story behind the paper here. I note – we are not doing a press release for the paper, for a few reasons. But one of them is that, well, I am starting to hate press releases. So I guess this is kind of my press release. But this will be a bit longer than most press releases. I note – my key fear here is that somehow in my communications with the press or in our text in the paper or in this post I will overstate our findings. Here is the punchline – we found some very phylogenetically novel forms of phylogenetic marker genes in metagenomic data. We do not have a conclusive explanation for the origin of these sequences. They may be from novel viruses. The They may be ancient paralogs of the marker genes. Or they may be from a new branch of cellular organisms in the tree of life, distinct from bacteria, archaea or eukaryotes. I think most likely they are from novel viruses. But we just don’t know. UPDATE: Am posting some links here to news stories/blogs about our paper Glimpses of the Fourth Domain? by Carl Zimmer at his always stellar “The Loom” Biology’s ‘dark matter’ hints at fourth domain of life by Colin Barras at the New Scientist 21st century science publishing will be multilevel and multimedia by PZ Myers German Radio Story Chinese news report PLoS One Blog Pick of the Month for March 2011 by Brian Mossop Brazilian news story from @info There might be at least one other, previously hidden, domain of life by Francis Martin Pronađen potpuno novi “domen” života Craig Venter’s study of marine DNA finds new branches on the tree … Telegraph article #1 Scientist finds a whole new ‘domain’ of life – Telegraph article #2 Scientist stumbles on new class of living things – Zee News A new domain of life: Plenty more bugs in the sea from The Economist DNA Analysis Hints At a Fourth Domain of Life – Slashdot Check out the video story from Newsy.Com First – a summary of what we did. In the paper, we searched through metagenomic data (sequences from environmental samples) for phylogenetically novel sequences for three standard phylogenetic marker genes (ss-rRNA, recA, rpoB). We focused on sequences from the Venter Global Ocean Sampling data set because, well, we started this analysis many years ago when that was the best data set available (more on this below). What we were looking for were evolutionary lineages of these genes that were separate from the branches that corresponded to the three known “Domains” of life (bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes). To search for such novel lineages in the metagenomic data, we built evolutionary trees using these genes where we included sequences from known organisms (and viruses) as well as sequences from metagenomic data. We then looked through the trees for groups that were both phylogenetically novel and included only environmental data (i.e., they were new compared to known organisms or viruses). This method did not work very well for rRNA sequences (largely because making high quality alignments of short phylogenetically novel rRNA sequences was difficult – more on this below). But with RecA and RpoB homologs we were able to generate what we believe to be robust phylogenetic trees. And in these trees we found evidence for phylogenetically very novel sequences in environmental data. Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree of the RecA superfamily. Figure 3. Phylogenetic tree of the RpoB superfamily We then propose and discuss four potential mechanisms that could lead to the existence of such evolutionarily novel sequences. The two we consider most likely are the following The sequences could be from novel viruses The sequences could be from a fourth major branch on the tree of life Unfortunately, we do not actually know what is the source of these sequences. So we cannot determine which of the theories is correct. Obviously if there is a novel lineages of cellular organisms out there, well, that would be cool. But we have no evidence right now if that is what is going on. Personally, I think it is most likely that these novel sequences are from weird viruses. But as far as we can tell, they truly could be from a fourth major branch of cellular organisms and thus even though we did not have the story completely pinned down, we decided to finally write up the paper to get other people to think about this issue. Below I give all sorts of other details about the project in the following areas The history of the project More detail on what is in the paper Follow up analysis and rapid posting with google Know Data deposition in Dryad Who was involved UPDATE: Funding for this work Well, this is one of those projects for which the history is hard to explain. We started this work in 2004 when I was helping Venter and colleagues analyze the Sargasso Sea metagenome data. I was working at TIGR in 2003, which are the time was a sister institute to some of the institutes affiliated with the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) (it was a complicated time). Craig had led a project to do a massive amount of shotgun sequencing of DNA isolated from the Sargasso Sea, which had been the site of many previous studies of uncultured microbes. And Craig, as well as some of the people working with him including John Heidelberg who was at TIGR, had asked me to help in analysis of the data. So I eventually went to a meeting about the project and got involved. It was quite exciting and I put a lot of effort into helping analyze the data. As part of my work on the project, I and Martin Wu and Dongying Wu did a variety of phylogenetic studies of genes and gene families. One of these, was a phylogenetic analysis of proteorhodopsin homologs showing massively more diversity in the Sargasso data than in the PCR experiments done by Delong and Beja and others. Figure 7 from Venter et al. 2004. We also did the first “phylotyping” in metagenomic data using genes other than rRNA. We built trees of bacterial ss-rRNAs, RecAs, RpoBs, HSP70s, EF-Tus and EF-Gs and then assigned each sequence to a phylum from the trees. In this analysis we found a variety of interesting things. One thing I did not include in the Sargasso paper was an analysis I did of RecA homologs where I tried to include ALL RecA-like genes from bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes and viruses. The trees I made were a bit unusual but I was not sure that the alignments I had made were robust or that I had found all the RecA-like genes of interest so I did not even show this to Craig et al. at the time. UPDATE: I note – our work on this project was supported by a grant from the NSF Assembling the Tree of Life program that was awarded to me and Naomi Ward and Karen Nelson. Those funds supported the development of many of the informatics tools we used in this analysis and Martin and Dongying were both working on that project. After the Sargasso paper was published in 2004 though, I continued to fester about the RecA trees. And I wondered – if instead of trying to classify bacterial sequences into phyla, what if I tried to look for RecAs, rRNAs and other genes that were completely new branches in the tree of life? I got the chance to start to play with this concept again when Venter and crew asked me to help analyze the data coming out of the Global Ocean Sampling project. Again, this project was very exciting and interesting. As part of the project, I helped Shibu Yooseph and others look into whether the GOS data revealed any completely new types of functionally interesting genes, much like I had shown for proteorhodopsin in the Sargasso data. Figure 7 from Yooseph et al. 2007 . Phylogenies Illustrating the Diversity Added by GOS Data to Known Families That We Examined And again my mind started wandering towards the question of “OK – so – if there are all these very unusual and novel functionally interesting genes, what about looking for unusual and very novel phylogenetic marker genes”? So finally, I got back to work on the issue. And so I built a better RecA tree by first pulling out all possible homologs of RecA and RecA like proteins from the GOS data and then building an alignment and a tree. And there they were. Some very f*%&$ novel RecAs – distinct from any previously known RecA like proteins as far as I could tell. And so with help from Dongying and the JCVI crew, we started building a story about novel RecAs. And then we looked at RpoBs. And found novel ones too. And in mid 2006 while Shibu and Doug worked on their papers that were to be submitted to PLoS Biology and I worked on a review paper too, I told Emma Hill (who has since changed her name to Emma Ganley due to some sort of wedding thing) at PLoS Biology about the an analysis that was consistent with the existence of a fourth domain of life. No overstating our findings really – just that we found very novel phylogenetic marker genes. And that I was working on a paper on it. But alas I never got it done, though I was happy to have convinced Venter to send the GOS papers to PLoS Biology and I think the papers that came out were good. Among the papers were my review (Environmental Shotgun Sequencing: Its Potential and Challenges for Studying the Hidden World of Microbes, Doug Rusch’s diversity paper The Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling Expedition: Northwest Atlantic through Eastern Tropical Pacific and Shibu’s protein family paper The Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling Expedition: Expanding the Universe of Protein Families as well as many others as part of the Ocean Metagenomics Collection at PLoS. And in the midst of all of this, we had our first child and we wanted to move back to Northern California to be closer to family (my wife’s family is all in the Bay Area and my sister and brother Michael were in N. Cal too). So I applied for jobs and eventually took at job at UC Davis and we moved to Davis. Needless to say, all of that put a bit of a crimp in my work productivity. And once I was up and running at Davis, it just took a long time to get back to the searching for novel deep branches in the tree of life. But finally, we did it (with periodic prodding from Craig Venter). And we put together a paper and got it submitted to PLoS One in October. The reviews were very positive and enormously helpful. And we finally got a revision in January and it was officially accepted in February 2011. Only some seven years after my first work on the project. Whew. More detail of what is in the paper Well, I am going to be posting here some additional detail on what is in the paper. Why we punted on analysis of very novel rRNAs. The problem with rRNA is that the sequences that come from environmental samples are not complete (i.e. they only correspond to portions of the rRNA genes). Unfortunately, this makes a key step in phylogenetic analysis difficult – the alignment of sequences. We actually found about 200 rRNA sequences that seemed unusual in a phylogenetic sense. However, we were not convinced that the alignments of these fragments to other rRNAs was robust. This is because the alignment of rRNAs is best done making use of the base pairing secondary structure of the molecule and not the base sequence (i.e., primary structure). With only rRNA fragments, we could not use the secondary structure to do the alignments because you need to whole molecule to determine the best folding. Combined with the fact that we were searching for very distantly related ribosomal RNAs which would be hard to align even if we had the whole molecule, we were stuck for a bit. It seemed impossible to look for really novel organisms. So that is when we turned to other genes. The key for this is that there are protein coding genes that are universal and that for known organisms show similar patterns to rRNA in trees. In fact, in 1995 I wrote a paper showing that trees of RecA were very similar to trees of rRNA. RpoB is also considered a very robust phylogenetic marker. For organisms that we have in the lab (i.e., cultured) – many people use these other genes for phylogenetic analysis. rRNA has been very important in part because of the ease with which one can PCR amplify it from environmental samples and the fact that it is very hard to PCR amplify protein coding genes from the environment. Metagenomics changes this. With random sequencing, you get data from all genes. This means we can pick and choose genes to analyze for phylogenetic analysis and do not have to rely on rRNA. So we went after RecA first, because it has been shown to be a good phylogenetic marker for studies of the tree of life. And we found some very novel branches in the RecA tree. And after analyzing these and convincing ourselves that they were indeed phylogenetically very novel we went after RpoB. And also found very novel branches. So the phylogenetic analysis I think is very robust. RecA and RpoB as phylogenetic markers Many genes have been used as alternatives to rRNA genes to build “Trees of Life” including all organisms. Each has their own flavors of advantages and drawbacks. Two commonly used ones are the RecA and RpoB superfamilies. The many possible explanations for finding novel forms of phylogenetic marker genes The phylogenetically novel phylogenetic marker genes we found could have many explanations including that they could be ancient paralogs of these genes (but not found in any genomes we have available), they could be from viruses, or they could be from a novel branch on the tree of life. Or our trees could be bad. We think the latter is somewhat unlikely as our analysis has many lines of support. For example our RecA trees are very similar to those from a comprehensive study from M. Nei’s lab except they did not include the metagenomic data. But I guess it is still a possibility that our trees are biased in some way (e.g., by long branch attraction or bad alignments) Follow up analysis and rapid posting via Google Knol Amazingly and a bit sadly, I think we rushed the paper out. We left out one thing partly by accident – we had done an analysis of the locations from which these novel RecA and RpoB sequences had come. And somehow, in our final push to get the paper out, we left this out. I will be posting this information as soon as possible here and on the PLoS One site. In addition, after submitting the revision of our paper, we realized that we might be able to do a deeper analysis on one aspect of the work – how RpoB homologs from unusual DNA viruses compared to our novel sequences. We had included some RpoBs from DNA viruses in our analyses but not all that were available. So Dongying Wu did a very rapid additional analysis, adding some additional RpoB homologs to our alignment and making a tree of them. We then wrote a Google Knol about this new tree and submitted the Knol to PLoS Currents “Tree of Life” where it is currently in review. We are publishing the preprint of this Knol to make it available to all even while it is in review. Figure 2 from Wu and Eisen submitted. There is a move afoot to make sure all data/tools associated with publications are readily available. We used publicly available sequence data and as much as possible publicly available tools for our work . We are trying to release as much as possible to allow people to re-analyze our work and to do any of the work themselves. We have therefore made use of the Dryad Data deposition service to post some of this material (see http://datadryad.org/handle/10255/dryad.8385). Dongying Wu a brilliant “Project Scientist” in my lab led the project (Project Scientist is one of the UC positions that is like what others call “Senior Scientist”). Dongying is simply one of the best bioinformaticians/computational biologists I have ever met. He was first author on many key papers from my lab including the Genomic Encyclopedia paper that came out last year and the glassy winged sharpshooter symbionts paper that came out a few years ago. Dongying worked in my group at TIGR and moved with me to UC Davis and currently splits his time between UC Davis and the DOE Joint Genome Institute. Martin Wu. Martin is an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia. Prior to that he was a Project Scientist in my lab at Davis and a post-doc in my lab at TIGR. He is also a phenomenal bioinformatician / computational biologist. He developed the AMPHORA software in my lab and also led many genome projects (back when sequencing a genome was hard …) including that of the first Wolbachia genome and that of a very unusual bug Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans. Martin helped with some of the genome analyses as part of this work. Aaron Halpern, Doug Rusch and Shibu Yooseph are all bioinformaticians from the J. Craig Venter Institute (Aaron is no longer there). All three helped with different aspects of dealing with and analyzing the GOS data and all three have been remarkably patient as this work dragged on and on. Marv Frazier from the JCVI was helpful in the initial set up and conceptualization of the project. J. Craig Venter is, well, Craig Venter, and he was involved in multiple aspects of the project including thinking about how and where to look for unusual sequences and interpreting some of the results. Most of my labs early work on this project was supported by a grant we had from the Assembling the Tree of Life program at the National Science Foundation (grant 0228651 to me and Naomi Ward). In that project we were working on sequencing and analyzing genomes from phyla of bacteria for which genomes were not available at the time. As part of this work we were designing methods to build phylogenetic trees from metagenomic data because we thought that our new genomes would be very useful in helping analyze metagenomic reads and figure out from which phyla they came. Later work on the project was supported by a grant to me, Jessica Green and Katie Pollard from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (grant 1660). Some questions that might be asked and some answers (based in part on questions I have gotten from reporters). Note if you have other questions please post them here or on the PLOS One site for the paper. Why no press release? Well, in part, because I sent information too late (shocking I know) to the Davis Press Office. But also because they have gotten suddenly busy with some Japan earthquake related actions. But also because, well, I really hate a lot of press releases. And finally, my brother had dinner with Carl Zimmer recently and apparently they discussed the possibility of having no press releases associated with papers. So here goes …. Really – what took so long? I would like to say the US Government made us hold back on publishing this until they could look into whether Venter collected ocean data from Roswell, NM or not. But really, the story above is true. We just did not get it done earlier. Why do you not know the source of the DNA (i.e., cells, viruses, etc)? This is why there was a six year wait between discovery and writing this up. We kept thinking we would be able to find the organisms but since I moved from TIGR and started a new job, we just never got around to getting to the source. We therefore decided to open this up to others who will hunt for the source by writing up the paper. Why did you not rename the Unknown 2 group in the RecA tree? We should have renamed our group “Thaumarchaeota” or something like that. When we did the initial analysis our group was novel. And then a few years ago a few groups obtained data from what is thought to be the third major lineage of Archaea – referred to by some as Thaumarchaeota. This is to go with the Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20598889 for example. One of the clades in the RecA tree (XRCC2) seems out of place phylogenetically. I can see how that is confusing. The XRCC2 clade is very weird and hard to figure out. It is not the “normal” eukaryotic genes – those are the Rad51/DMC1 genes. One complication with the RecA family is that there have been duplication events to go with the species evolution. And thus eukaryotes have Rad51, DMC1, Rad51B, Rad51C, Rad57, XRCC3 and XRCC2. We tried to figure out where the XRCC2 group should go but it just was hard to place. The statistical support for its position (we used a method called bootstrapping) is low (note the lack of a number on the node where the branch leading to XRCC2 connects to the base of the tree). Most likely that group should be placed with some of the other eukaryotic groups. However, it seems likely that there was a duplication in the lineage leading up to the ancestor of eukaryotes and archaea (some studies have indicated they share a common ancestor to the exclusion of bacteria). Such a duplication would explain why basically all archaea have a RadA and and RadB and all / most eukaryotes have multiple paralogs as well. The Unknown 1 group in the RpoB RecA tree seems to group with phage. What can you say about that? We think unknown 1 is potentially of viral origin but still cannot tell. The fact that is clusters with RecA superfamily members from phage suggests this but it is distant enough from known phage for us to not be confident in any predicted origin. As for derivative forms vs. independent branch – this is one of the big questions about viruses these days. Many viruses encode homologs of “housekeeping” genes found across bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. And in many cases the viral versions of these genes appear to phylogenetically very novel. This is why the people studying mimivirus (which we refer to) suggest some viruses may in fact represent a fourth branch on the tree of life. It is possible that some viruses are in fact reduced forms of what were once cellular organisms – akin to parasitic intracellular species of bacteria possibly. Why are these phylogenetically novel sequences so low in abundance? This is a key question. I think it would be easy to come up with a theory for these being rare or these being common. They might be rare if their niche is very limited today. Or they might be rare because they could not be very competitive with other organisms. Or they could be rare because they require some unusual interactions with other taxa. In addition, we have only looked carefully at ocean water samples. If these are common somewhere else (e.g., hotsprings, deep subsurface, etc) we would not yet have figured that out. We are looking at additional metagenomic data right now to see fi we can find any locations where relatives of these genes are more common Some related papers by others worth looking at Can identification of a fourth domain of life be made from sequence data alone, and could it be done on Mars? Mimivirus: the emerging paradox of quasi-autonomous viruses. New evolutionary frontiers from unusual virus genomes Phylogenetic and phyletic studies of informational genes in genomes highlight existence of a 4 domain of life including giant viruses. Giant viruses, giant chimeras: the multiple evolutionary histories of Mimivirus genes. Some related papers by me possibly worth looking at The Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling expedition: northwest Atlantic through eastern tropical Pacific. The Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling expedition: expanding the universe of protein families. Environmental genome shotgun sequencing of the Sargasso Sea. Unsuspected diversity among marine aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs. Environmental shotgun sequencing: its potential and challenges for studying the hidden world of microbes. A phylogeny-driven genomic encyclopaedia of Bacteria and Archaea. A simple, fast, and accurate method of phylogenomic inference. An automated phylogenetic tree-based small subunit rRNA taxonomy and alignment pipeline (STAP). PhylOTU: a high-throughput procedure quantifies microbial community diversity and resolves novel taxa from metagenomic data. Introducing W.A.T.E.R.S.: a workflow for the alignment, taxonomy, and ecology of ribosomal sequences. Some related blog posts I have written over the years Here’s hoping molecular classification/systematics of cultured & uncultured microbes wins #NobelPrize in medicine Calling all phylogeneticists – we need your help with metagenomic data Scientist Reveals Secret of the Ocean: It’s Him http://friendfeed.com/treeoflife/5535e8ed/story-behind-of-my-new-plosone-paper-on-stalking?embed=1 Dongying Wu, Martin Wu, Aaron Halpern, Douglas B. Rusch, Shibu Yooseph, Marvin Frazier,, & J. Craig Venter, Jonathan A. Eisen (2011). Stalking the Fourth Domain in Metagenomic Data: Searching for, Discovering, and Interpreting Novel, Deep Branches in Marker Gene Phylogenetic Trees PLoS One, 6 (3) : 10.1371/journal.pone.0018011 Author Jonathan EisenPosted on March 18, 2011 February 3, 2019 Categories Lab PublicationsTags Evolution, metagenomics, Misc., reca, rRNA, story behind the paper 17 thoughts on “The story behind the story of my new #PLoSOne paper on "Stalking the fourth domain of life" #metagenomics #fb” Zen says: Though I say it as someone who does them myself… I just love backstory posts like these. Gem says: You mention phylotyping with Hsp70, EF-Tu and EF-G… I just wondered why you didn't include any of these proteins as markers in the paper. Since they're not commonly found in viral genomes, they'd be particularly interesting for searching for a fourth domain of life. Gem — we were not thinking about mimi virus and other viruses when we started so we just picked genes that were good markers. In retrospect we should have done ribosomal proteins … We are working on these now It's a shame that RNA analysis is problematical – I've wondered for years if we've only been assuming that none of the hypothetical ancient RNA World is active in modern oceans. When you prepare samples, how much separation is done? If molecules are “extravehicular,” not contained in entities like viruses or cells, would they wind up in the analysis sample? Interesting point. I too have been wondering about finding relics of the RNA world. #1 problem – almost all the work on metagenomics focuses on DNA analysis not RNA analysis. Some of the people working on RNA viruses or transcriptomics have looked at RNA but it is rare. #2 problem – as you hint at. Most of the work involves some type of filtration/enrichment/etc to try and get cells … this is why frequently viruses do not end up being sampled well. Attached viruses and other entities do happen. And also some are intracellular. So they can be captured but probably not ideally. However I note – our issue was with analysis of ribosomal RNA not RNA in general … and it was a subtle point with making alignments. I think looking at RNA from samples would be very interesting especially if you focused on non cellular entities. Russell Neches says: I think it's kind of funny that your blog-post/press-release is about 4316 words, and the paper is about 6173 words. must expand press release / blog post … must expand … I had been wondering what happened to this paper – glad to see it out there and generating lots of interest. when I swore it was almost done Emma, it really was … kind of pathetic it took so long but such is life tideliar says: Thanks so much for this! It's fascinating work in and of itself, and then with all this backstory it brings the science to life. TerryG says: Terrific work – meaningful insights take years to understand. Kudos for doing so much work to dig deeply into the data BEFORE publishing. I wonder whether my alternative account of the origin of life, summarized in 'Protons, Life and evolution' at http://www.scienceuncoiled.co.uk sheds light on your findings? Guus says: “…The Unknown 1 group in the RpoB tree seems to group with phage. What can you say about that? We think unknown 1 is potentially of viral origin…” Jonathan, you mean “The Unknown 1 group in the RecA tree” right? Thanks Guus — you are correct … Pascal Hingamp says: I'm trying to see if I can find some more environmental relatives of these “unknowns”, and I'm of course running into the same issues you did with the GOS dataset: too many darn sequences to infer an alignment, let alone a tree… So I thought I might as well try your exact protocol, thanks to this rare posting of both data and scripts on Dryad. However there's a small inconsistency between the lek README.txt and the actual script (the README says the clean_link.pl -c argument is a cutoff value, whilst the code visibly expects a file of ID mappings). I can add the thresholding to the script, but I thought I might check first that there isn't a more recent version of these scripts somewhere first? I just love the “It has not escaped our notice” 😉 Dongying says: Hi, Pascal Hingamp, The Lek package from Dryad need to be corrected and updated. Please download Lek package from: http://bobcat.genomecenter.ucdavis.edu/GOSrecA_DATA Dongying Wu Claudiu says: Great paper! You might want to take a look to this paper (http://precedings.nature.com/documents/3886/version/1), which might be relevant to your work. In particular I want to bring your attention Fig 4 on TOLs based on the current views on the origin and evolution of viruses. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts. 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__label__cc	0.619243	0.380757	I made my way into Brockton Bay, the Boardwalk. Five more steps carried me into New Delhi. Only a minute later, I was walking through Brockton Bay again, downtown this time. Los Angeles. Bucharest. Brockton Bay again. Madison, Wisconsin. Cauldron’s Headquarters. Ruins. Places built up by man, painstaking, sometimes over centuries. Layer upon layer of human experience, history, and art, represented in stone and wood and glass. Every single building had been put together with the idea of meeting some specific goal, a specific individual’s tastes, filling a purpose as an institution, or being built to cater to society’s tastes as a whole. Virtually every building had been a familiar place to someone, a home, a place of business. Roads had once been a part of people’s daily routines, bridges a convenience that was appreciated, if rarely acknowledged. Shattered, eroded, dashed aside. Roads were now uneven slabs, rising and falling, while buildings had folded or leaned over, spilling out their innards. Those same innards hinted at just how much value we’d put into this world we’d built around ourselves. I realized I’d stopped walking, struck by what I was looking at. There was a tightness in my chest, and I struggled to put my finger on what to call it. It was a sweet feeling, but not a pleasant one. Not nostalgia, but it called to a certain kind of familiarity. Home, I thought. This is home. Not so much a place I could return to for a hug, to kick my shoes off and let down my guard, not a place where I would sleep and wake up feeling warm. Yet it was a place which was central to me, a place I was rooted in, and vice versa. I’d defined myself in places like these. The height of my growth, my strongest moments, they’d taken place in open graveyards and the aftermath of tragedies. Not my best moments, not the noblest, but the moments where I’d had the greatest impacts and had made the choices that shaped who I was. I started walking again. I wasn’t actually traveling to Brockton Bay, to Bucharest or Los Angeles. I could have, but I wasn’t. It was only that the ruins here were so easy to relate to those places, to this home. The memories of the locations were bleeding into my awareness, making it feel almost real. I wanted to tell myself it was the clairvoyant in my range, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to. I wanted to say it was the distraction of having to devote a small share of my attention to ensuring that Doormaker kept opening portals when the clairvoyant recognized someone asking for one. With a note of desperation, I told myself it was because I was still trying to keep tabs on my power, gauge my level of control, and manage my body. If I couldn’t get a better grip on my own movements, maybe I could get control over my swarm. Over the people I was controlling. But I didn’t really believe it. I was slipping. My bugs spilled out over the ruins. My range was shorter, but I could use the relay bugs I had on hand. Slipping, the thought came back to me. Losing my mind, losing grip on things. The Faerie Queen had told me I needed to anchor myself. Except I’d been doing that for a long time. It was how I functioned. Compartmentalizing, identifying a priority, devoting myself to it. Surviving the bullying, the mission to turn in the Undersiders, the mission to save Dinah, to turn the city around, to save the world. I’d had tunnel vision at the best of times, and I’d had both successes and failures. I functioned best when I had a mission, something beyond the one singular goal before me. Yes, stopping Scion was key, but- I shook my head. I’d stopped walking again. Had to focus. I’d use smaller anchors here, smaller things to tie myself down to reality, focusing on my surroundings. If and when the time came, I would abandon them, cast them away in order of size and priority. In a way, it would let me gauge how badly I was slipping. An exercise of Doormaker’s power let me experiment with the portals. They couldn’t move or drift, excepting the way they were anchored to the rotation of the planet as a whole. Instead, I opened and closed new portals, timing it so the opening of one was a fraction of a second before the prior one closed. I surrounded myself with them, a shifting, shuttering array of portals. I was put in mind of the moment I donned my costume, of being Skitter the Warlord, with her half-cape, half-shawl. There had been a kind of power to the gesture, to draping myself in the cloth and assuming the title and the role. As I made my way through New York, I found myself altering the portals, reconfiguring them. I’d drape myself in them like I did in a costume. They formed a loose three-quarter circle around me, Doormaker and the clairvoyant, at first, a cylinder with an opening in front of me. When I turned my head, they reconfigured, the portals in my way disappearing, replaced by others. To streamline the portal creation, I layered them. Two half-circles, overlapping. And then, because it was the most compact way to fit the portals together, because I needed to make a signature, to make this mine and to make it me, I made them hexagons. A honeycomb interlocking of small, one-foot-diameter doorways, opening up to random points throughout the city, extending my range further than even my bugs could manage. Each one showed a different image when looked through, a wall, a section of overcast sky, a bit of pavement. It didn’t stand out, serving more as a kind of camouflage. As I experimented, finding the places to set the portals, my awareness of the city expanded in turn. I sensed some of Teacher’s squads. Groups of men and women, always with at least one person who was more fit than the rest, all dressed in white, or at least in white shirts with jeans. Most had backpacks, and all had weapons. They patrolled, scouting the area, talking amongst each other in low voices. Always talking about business. I found Teacher. He had a project in the works, and his ‘students’ were busy scavenging. A different sort of control than I had, with my bugs or the people in my sway. More human, maybe. A society, rather than an army of troops gathered in formations. The vast majority were active, each with a job to do, a task. Men carried metal and electronics and either broke down materials or shaped them. Women, just a little weaker in terms of physical strength, carried things like wire and baskets of clothing they had looted from stores. Children handled the finer work, etching designs into metal and stitching. I could almost respect it. Except his motives were clearly selfish. “Better to be fast than perfect,” he was saying. He paused to touch one of his subjects for a few seconds. The girl stood there, eyes closed, while Teacher resumed talking, “Follow the blue prints, or use the hub stations to get a clear mental picture.” There were nods from the group around him. Hub stations. Not everyone was active. There were clusters of two or three individuals that were each together, but I was pretty sure they weren’t what he was referring to. There were also some individuals that seemed to be operating as rally points for the others, arranged in a loose ring around their work in progress. I watched one individual bring a car door to the rally point, touch the man in the center, and then make their way over to teacher. He murmured, “Metal and fiberglass design.” Teacher touched him for four seconds, and then the man with the door made his way to a table, dropping a backpack and collecting a small crowbar. As he started working, another man at the table stretched, grabbed a backpack, then joined one of the scavenging groups. It was like a barn raising, but they were working purely in steel and electronics. Individuals that were tired switched to a different job, and everyone worked tirelessly. They were building a Dragon-craft from scratch. Not only a Dragon-craft. “Eight costumes,” Teacher said. He approached a table, lifting one costume off the surface to investigate. “Not so flashy. We want to fly under the radar. Make it substandard, if anything. C-list material.” There were nods all around. Teacher walked over to another table, lined with tinker weaponry and other tools. His students were loyal, but they weren’t puppets, like mine were. Their movements were natural. The overall system, though, wasn’t natural at all. I was put in mind of Regent’s games. There was the base of operations, the cluster of villagers managing the city, and there were the more independent squads of people, deployed to the world beyond the base camp, patrolling for enemies, ready at a moment’s notice to be gathered together in a massed attack. No doubt they were organized by ability. Teacher could grant thinker and tinker powers. If I assumed at least one tinker per group, with the tinkers carrying some ranged weapon or defense, and if the athletic members of the roaming squads were the soldiers, gifted with some knowledge that would give them a small edge in a fight, there were still two or three members in a given group I couldn’t identify. I wasn’t even finished the thought when one of them perked up, startled. She shouted, “Scatter!” Her group moved in different directions. Trouble? I was the trouble. It’s a fucking precog. I opened portals, catching her three teammates, one by one. It took two tries to catch her. She was a fast runner, and she saw where I was putting down my portal before I’d even started, turning a hundred and eighty degrees around and scrambling in the opposite direction. They were eerily calm, all things considered, much like Doormaker and the clairvoyant. It made things easier for me. But I knew that ‘easy’ wouldn’t last. Teacher achieved control over people by giving them parahuman abilities. The organization was important, and everything was key. I’d moved too fast, and now Teacher’s human systems were starting to kick into effect. Men and women in an isolated cluster dropped to their knees. “Amber district, team B-six,” one of the students in the group reported. His voice was as clear as a bell in the near-silence of Teacher’s base of operations. There were only the sounds of tools and the steady percussion of hammers striking metal, all in unison. “What’s the problem?” Teacher asked. “Out of action.” “Change focus. All observation teams, identify our target,” Teacher said. Heads in every second group around the base turned. They looked my way, as if they could see the full five or six city blocks and see me standing in the middle of the road. One crossed to another group, touching a young man. “Weaver,” the young man said, in turn. It’s like a computer. Every person carries out a specific operation, and they’re gathered in clusters with people who can communicate those ideas to others in efficient ways. “Tinker group H,” Teacher said. “Defensive measures, modify them for micro-scale drones. Forcefields, area attacks. Group N, to me. We’ll need more tinkers on this problem. We’ll also need to this area. Groups F and J, I’ll recalibrate, put you on more general anti-clairvoyance duty. She’s- You’re looking in, aren’t you, Weaver?” I reached out to place a portal in Teacher’s camp, right behind him. I hit a barrier, a dead zone I couldn’t affect. Some tinker device was blocking my clairvoyant, which was blocking Doormaker in turn. My relay bugs didn’t work either. They only worked on bugs. I began laying down portals around the perimeter, instead, finding the exact point I could affect. The portals right next to me were turned around, so none faced me directly. It wouldn’t do if he had students open fire and shoot through the portal to hit me point blank. “This is new,” Teacher said. “Have I done something to earn your attention? Crossed a line, somehow, maybe I inadvertently borrowed someone you care about? I assure you, I’m very benign. The vast majority of my students here volunteered their services. I told them I could use them to help stop Scion and save the world, and they agreed. A number of others took the deal with the oath that I could borrow them for a year, and I’d supply them powers with no strings attached for the extent of their lives, no mental bondage at all.” I frowned, shifting my weight from foot to foot, trying to ensure I didn’t lose touch with my body. If I had to move, I wanted to be able to move fast. One of the groups was close enough to the perimeter of Teacher’s base to fall in range of my portal. I seized them, then took a second to analyze their capabilities. Hyper-acute senses, enhanced aim, the ability to see through walls and a danger sense. I thought of Tattletale, boasting to Coil in the moments before I’d pulled the trigger. Not, I reminded myself, that I’m pulling any triggers here. But I needed to disturb things, shake up Teacher’s elegantly balanced operation. They looked at one another, and I gauged the equipment they held. The one with enhanced aim was the ‘soldier’ of the group, armed with an ordinary gun and a bandolier of grenades. I controlled his movements, directing him to grab a grenade from the bandolier. He handed it over to the one with enhanced senses. The one with the grenade raised his hand, hollering, leaning back, ready to throw- My danger-detector reacted, and I had Doormaker create a portal, moving the grenade out of the line of fire. A fat blob of crackling energy soared through the vacated space. “You’re full of surprises today,” Teacher said. “I’m going to assume this is actually you, Weaver, and that you’re not an Ingenue thrall or something similar. I want you to know I’m not your enemy. I was there for that whole business against the Elite, pitting Endbringers on them, I understand why you did it. You have your mission, a noble task, and you see it as a universal task. One everyone should inspire towards. Peace and prosperity in your territory, because peace and prosperity are good things, am I right? Please feel free to comment, strike up a conversation here.” He gestured, and his crowd of students collectively backed away from the squad of students I’d taken over at one corner of his setup. They faced down the others, their heads and shoulders visible above a section of wall that had fallen to the road hours ago. I watched his group move, and tried Doormaker’s power again. The borders were at the same points. “No? Okay. You’ll have to trust me when I say I’m working towards the same end mission you are. I want to stop Scion. But I’m not a warrior, and I’d be offering more trouble than help if I was on the battlefield. My students are fine when I’m giving the orders, but they’re prone to undecision at key junctions. I know where I need to be, I’ll be there shortly, and I’ll be of far more use to our side then.” If the group had moved and the borders were at the same point, then it wasn’t a person generating the effect. I used my bugs and Doormaker’s power to get a sense of where the perimeter of this clairvoyance-blocking power was. It was just a little irregularly shaped, but I could factor buildings and intervening obstacles into the area. If there was a generated signal, it didn’t extend as far with solid objects in the way. “For the books, I was inviting you to ask where it is I was planning on going. You seem more keen on silence.” My squad turned a gun on the very center point, opening fire with a trio of bullets. A box, a tinker-made device, exploded in sparks, popping into the air and bouncing off of the pavement. I tested the clairvoyant’s power. It worked. I placed portals with care. Not to ensnare Teacher’s students, but to cut them off. Portals between them, above and behind them, in front. Assuming twelve to thirteen feet of range, I could space them out and cover a wide area. When I started tagging the groups, I worked from the outside in. His precogs weren’t amazing, with only a few seconds of awareness before their power gave them a heads up, but the trap was already in place. I left Teacher for last. No students at his disposal. I made a portal, and then stepped through. My soldiers aimed guns at him, while others stood stock still. Teacher said something in a language I didn’t understand. I shook my head. I didn’t have a better way of showing my lack of understanding. “No?” he asked, smiling a little. I shook my head once more. “A shame, that,” he said. He sounded genuinely bothered. My bugs flowed over him and through his pockets. I didn’t have silk, so I used thread from one of the workbenches, encircling the gun beneath his unfashionable corduroy jacket. It wasn’t a fast process, but Teacher saw what I was doing and helped it along, raising his hands to his head, simultaneously lifting his jacket up and away from the weapon. I passed the thread to one of my new underlings, and they pulled the gun free. My new minions began examining the gathered components and gear. I looked through their eyes, taking it all in. “I’m not unfamiliar with robbery,” Teacher said. “Parcel and part of this whole enterprise. But this isn’t you, I don’t think. For one thing, I’m working towards stopping Scion, in a roundabout way. Or mollifying the damage he does, if stopping him isn’t likely. It seems things have turned around, then, if you’re closer to being the Elite you were so recently condemning, and I’m someone working towards a fix.” I gave him a hard look. He shrugged, his hands still on his head, then said something in another language, smiling a little. A code word? A trap or trigger for some tinker device hereabouts? Except nothing had happened. “Well then,” he said. “Scratch that.” He tried something and it didn’t work? My swarm shifted their stances, approaching a little closer, guns raised. “Definitely scratch that,” he said. “Well then, I won’t ask for your forgiveness, but I can still be blunt. You seem different, and not so much for the better.” My attention was on the tables. Weapons, tinker gear… I started browsing through it myself, joining the minions who weren’t actively keeping Teacher at gunpoint. “Can I ask why? Or is that too personal? I understand second triggers can be mortifying.” I turned around to face him. I put my hand flat against my mouth. “Mute. I see. And you came to me for help with that? Do you want to be able to communicate again?” “Then you’re looking to refine this ability of yours. I can do that. Give capes control over abilities that feel a little lacking in areas.” Again, I shook my head. “What did you come for, then?” I didn’t respond, my attention on the group. I found what I was looking for. Boxes, small, with a single, broad button along one side. Like detonators. There was nothing to them but a single LED, green, and a few ports where they could be plugged into certain ports or outlets. I gathered them, tucking them into spare pouches. “I don’t suppose you could sock one for me?” I shook my head. I gathered all of them. Then I began gathering the guns. “This is inconvenient, for the books.” You don’t need these against Scion. “Again, my power is available, if you should need it. Anything that helps against our reciprocal enemy, you understand.” He had an annoying habit of picking difficult-sounding words and using them instead of simpler options. Like someone trying to sound smarter than they were. I approached Teacher. I saw him startle a little at the sudden movement. He had nowhere to run, and he knew it. He looked around, and he could see his own students caught in my snare. I saw the surrender in his body language, an instant before he fell inside my power’s range. Memories hit me. Announcing myself as Weaver in front of the PRT building. Taking on the role in New Delhi, coordinating two teams. I could sense his power, and I could sense his general awareness of the people he’d affected. There was no constant connection between him and them, nothing like I had over my bugs or my subjects. I moved another over to him, and I used his power on them. There was a connection then. It only took a little bit of time, and focus on Teacher’s part. I could sense both the power taking hold, and the frailty, the weak point that manifested at the same time. There was a duality. I let go of the subject, and I could feel that frail point linger, decaying by the smallest fraction with every passing moment. That was what Teacher sensed, an awareness of both the power and the degree of influence he had over the subject. No, I thought. Not an option. I withdrew my phone, unlocked it, and found the page I needed. I threw it to Teacher. Rather than try to catch it with his clumsier movements, I had him grab the bottom of his sweater and lift it up, forming a net. It landed in the ‘net’, and Teacher collected it. I backed away, releasing him. Teacher staggered a little, then muttered what must have been a swear word in that other language. “Karma, I suppose,” he said, panting a little. “A… little nerve wracking there. I can’t help but notice you didn’t pursue with yourself, while you had me in command.” There would be no way to use the power without leaving myself open to Teacher’s influence. No, I wouldn’t be able to get myself a voice this way. Not if it affected my ability to make decisions. Not if it left a lingering window open. These people who’d taken his promise of a lifetime of power, no strings attached, had been misled. “Nothing, then?” he asked. “A disappointment.” I wasn’t that disappointed. I had what I needed. A speed bump for Scion, weapons, a little more information on how my power worked, and… I pointed at the phone I’d given him. He glanced down. “The C.I.U.,” Teacher said. I responded with a short nod, then held up one of the devices I’d collected. I was picking and choosing the members of Teacher’s collection I could use, arming them with tinker weaponry and gathering them near me. I didn’t enclose them in my little cloak of portals. “Ah… you guessed?” “Understand, it wasn’t spiteful on my part,” Teacher said. He lapsed into the other language for one moment, “…I gave them the switch in the hopes it would stop the incursions and curb honestly. They were supposed to lock themselves away, but they held on to it, apparently intending to use it if anyone retaliated. An ingress, a portcullis, if you will. A way to raise the drawbridge and prevent passage into their castle.” At my order, some of his students gestured with their guns, prompting him. He seemed to take the threat in stride. “The one with a white button.” I glanced at the ones in my possession. I found it in a belt pouch and repositioned it. “Skeleton key, Weaver. I could make you force me to give up any of this detail, but I won’t. I want to get back to work, so I can help.” He was giving me a funny look, trying to drive home his point. But this was a roundabout plan, some kind of infiltration, and he was clearly working against our side. I wasn’t sure I bought it. I gestured to the phone. He moved to throw it back, and I raised a hand. I pointed to my left. He wasn’t stupid. He got my meaning, then used the phone to find the page I was referring to. “I assume you’re not looking to find me, which leaves only the Birdcage. No. I haven’t provided any devices to the Birdcage, or anyone alleged with it. But you’re going to find entering is difficult, regardless. There are security placements in measure.” I nodded. My soldiers got in place, rank and file around me, all armed. “If I grasp your intentions, Weaver, I can speculate you’ll be back for me later?” I didn’t respond. No need to telegraph my plans to Teacher. Still, the thinkers were figuring out what I was up to. I was running out of time. Which meant taking a leap of faith. Using the clairvoyant directly was a dangerous prospect. He could grant the power to see the entire world, multiple worlds, but breaking that contact was troubling, debilitating. I could see the toll it had already taken on Doormaker. But I couldn’t afford to hold back. I separated Doormaker from his partner. I could sense the effect, the sensory shift, the break in perspective, the mild nausea. But he was functionally blind and deaf, and there were only so many senses that he had which could suffer. I’d suffer far, far more. If I made contact with the clairvoyant and was forced to break it… that would be it. Chances were good I wouldn’t be able to carry on. Things would be over before I recovered. I took stock. I had a squadron, now. People who would have been slaves anyways. People with simple abilities that were easy to get a handle on and use. I had weapons, better than a typical gun. Hopefully we wouldn’t have to use them. I took hold of Doormaker’s hand, and I moved it to my belt, hooking his fingers through it. Then I used my hand to take hold of the clairvoyant’s. My awareness started to unfold. A slow, steady, gradual process. I was aware of vast tracts of land. I could see the damage done to Earth Bet. It disoriented me, to see how we were in Washington, not New York. Teacher had returned home. Why had I thought we were in New York? If I’d been distant from myself before, the enhanced vision made it that much worse. I could remember how I’d once been comforted by the fact that my power put the world in perspective, showing me just how small I was in the grand scheme of things. This wasn’t comforting at all. Not this. Not at this brutal scale. I could sense the entirety of the world, from atmosphere to ocean floor. I could, if I wanted to listen for it, hear the wind, the patter of rain, see the shimmers of heat on one side of the planet and the frost forming in caves on the other side of the planet, day and night at the same time. I can see how the Doctor got a little detached from things, if she used this power with any regularity. Teacher said something. I couldn’t make it out, because I wasn’t really listening. I could see the other worlds and tally up the damage. Not even a fifth of us were fighting, but those ten percent were giving it their all. Others had retreated, finding family or friends to take shelter with. I could count all of the individual collections of people. Using Doormaker, the Doctor had scattered mankind over every available earth. Collections of a few hundred to a few thousand. People used to civilized life were starting over from scratch. Makeshift shelters, fires, crafting tools. They were tired, frustrated, and above all else, they were scared. There was no news, no media, no way to follow the ongoing fight. When I stopped looking, they didn’t leave my attention. They carried on in my peripheral vision, as that field of vision continued to grow with every passing second. The only real limitation was a set of blind spots, identical to the one that had hovered over Teacher’s base of operations. I could work around that. There was also the fact that I could avoid looking for things, and keep them out of sight. I could avoid searching and seeking, avoid bringing something or someone into my field of vision. Another anchor, another thing to tie me to reality, tie me to Taylor. I could see one cabin, off in the distance in Earth Gimel. It would be three days of walking on foot to get there from the settlement. Grue’s cabin. I’m so weak, I thought. I didn’t want to look inside and see him with Cozen. I didn’t want to see them curled up in front of a fire, knowing the world could end at any moment, should Scion decide to shatter the landmass. Instead, I fixed that cabin’s location in mind, and I watched it from a distance. I found my house, or what little was left of it, in shattered Brockton Bay. I found people. I found Charlotte and Forrest. I found Sierra, being very authoritarian and intimidating as she ordered refugees around. She gave off an oddly familiar impression. I found Tattletale. She’d left her laptop aside and was helping with the wounded, talking with Rachel and Panacea in an intense, low voice. Imp was giving somebody CPR. Unlike the movies, most CPR attempts weren’t successful. Her patient was probably dead already, but she kept trying. Ages ago, Grue hadn’t been able to get her to take the first aid class. Parian and Foil were moving around the outskirts of the battlefield, riding a stuffed animal. Foil wasn’t shooting, and it wasn’t due to a lack of ammunition. All the people I cared about, the things I wanted to hold on to, no matter what. I found my mom’s grave. It was a part of the ruined landscape, and the earth had cracked open. I could see the insect life surrounding the site. Experimentally, I opened a portal. My relay bugs passed through, and I cleared up the area, bringing the bugs to me. Vanity, stupidity, but I felt a little better. The area was cleaner. Still in ruins, but cleaner. And my dad… I hesitated. I’ve lost so much, I thought. Forgive me, dad. I need to have the hope you’re still alive more than I need to know either way. Little anchors, more things to tie me down to reality. I double checked the others were in place. The least important of all, the mantle, the costume, for lack of a better word, with the honeycombed portals, it was secure. I had my goal, I had my mission. I was still me. I was managing. I turned my attention to Scion. Apparently Tattletale had been right. A bit of a fib on Cauldron’s part, that they couldn’t use the clairvoyant on him. They’d wanted to avoid Scion finding them, avoid having him find his way to their laboratories. When I looked, I saw him screaming. Even for someone who had only ever spoken twice, it was an eerie, unsettling sound. Raw, like he was being actively tortured, a sound of pain and anger distilled, given volume by his power. He wasn’t being tortured, though. He was winning, tearing into the crowd with more ferocity than before, that same crowd where the others, people I cared about, were- “Pose?” Teacher asked, interrupting my thoughts. I’d missed the beginning of what he’d said. I raised my head. It was more like I saw the movement of my head through a telescope than it was like owning the head itself. Right. I’d zoned out again. Taking in too much. Needed to move. I was omniscient. More accurately, I was as close to omniscient as I could hope to get. It came with an Achilles heel, but I’d make do. My phone had the last known location of the C.U.I. portal. I opened a door to it. I left Teacher behind. He didn’t warrant a goodbye. If there was such a thing as Karma, he’d get it soon enough. For now, I would put off getting revenge for what he’d done to Dragon. He’d be inconvenienced by the loss of his soldiers and disruption of his base of operations, but he’d recover. Twenty parahumans flanked me as I walked down the dirt road. I stopped when we’d come to the portal’s location. The C.U.I. had invaded, killing the refugees on the other side, then moved in. The clairvoyant, moving at my bidding, took hold of the device I’d fastened onto my belt. He hit the white button. Teacher had sealed himself off in one world, to build up his students and work with Dragon. He’d given that technology to the C.U.I., and they’d used it to secure their position. Now I was breaking in. The blind spot fractured, then dissolved. I could see the C.U.I.’s empire. Three hundred million people, many still migrating to places where they could settle, physically walking to separate themselves from others, so Scion couldn’t kill too many at once. I could see where Scion had attacked at one point, and they were still performing disaster relief. There was a member of the C.U.I. who was officially known as Ziggurat, though she was really ‘Tōng Líng Tǎ’ to her allies and countrymen. She’d used her power to erect stone walls and start the construction of a palace for the Imperial family. Three walls stretched between three impressive towers, with the palace at the center of the acres of empty space within. I could see the Yàngbǎn in full force. Three groups of sixty to one hundred and thirty capes, arranged on broad, square platforms of stone that had been raised off of the ground, each facing outward, their backs to the palace. Every one of them was in a matching outfit, their masks white, purple, and yellow, in turn. They were tending to wounds, and the gaps in their number suggested they’d taken heavy losses. Inside the place itself was a kaleidoscope. Each room was mirrored several times over, the occupants moving in unison. The main chambers had nine iterations, each with a copy of the imperial family, each with a fourth squad of Yàngbǎn ringing the group in concentric circles rather than in rows and columns. This squad wore masks like the others, multifaceted gemstones large enough to cover their faces, but the gems were a jade green. The bodyguards, thirty in all. The scariest capes in their group. A young man, fourteen, sat on the throne. On either side, their chairs just low enough to the ground that their heads were beneath the young man’s, were family members. Too young to be his mother and father. A very young child, a girl, sat on a mat at their feet. His sister. I’d seen pictures of the new emperor and his sister when their older brother had been killed along with the Simurgh’s attack on flight BA178. They were joined by others. Shén Yù the strategist was a surprisingly young man, wearing a black robe that was as straight and narrow as he was. He was focused on a small tablet computer. Beside him was Jiǎ, the imperial family’s tinker, and surely the individual who had set up the kaleidoscope effect, throwing off would-be assassins and intruders. Tōng Líng Tǎ was there as well, a very thin Chinese woman with a black robe and heavily painted face. Just below the dais were three more Yàngbǎn members. Null, One and Two. The key components in their power structure, the ones who divided the powers, controlled the squads and gave them the strength to be effective, respectively. If I acted, I’d be targeted. We’d taken out one of their armies, an infiltration and raiding party with the Simurgh’s attack, but there were four groups remaining. One of the other raiding parties was less biased towards infiltration and more towards movement. They were the cavalry, the blitzers, the ones capable of flight and teleportation. In the wake of the raids, the first strikes our side had deployed against them had been viciously counterattacked. Quite possibly Shén Yù’s work. Any attempt to attack was met by equal and opposite counterattack, targeting the leaders of the offensive party. Even with nigh-omniscience, even with my portals, I wasn’t sure I wanted to gamble on this. Overconfidence at this juncture would be ruinous. Better to sunder their confidence, than let my own be too high. They weren’t anticipating an attack. But two hundred parahumans and a set of elite capes focused on defense and counterattacks was ominous. I tensed, all at once. A stray attack on Scion’s part flew through the air. I closed Doormaker’s portals in the area, and it wiped out a building, along with six people. I raised the portal again, connecting Gimel to the makeshift hospital. Tattletale muttered something under her breath. Panacea said something I couldn’t make out. Two of my favorite people in the world, almost wiped out without a chance to even know it was coming. I looked at each of these things I treasured, the things I valued. My leveled ‘house’ in Brockton Bay, the graveyard, my ex-employees, my teammates… and I looked at Scion. There was no right answer. No perfect battle plan on this end. There was no time. I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to relax. Then I began opening portals across all of the different worlds I could reach. I began gathering bugs en masse. I’d heard once there were ten quintillion bugs in my world. Eighteen zeroes. I couldn’t control that many. Or, to be precise, I couldn’t afford the time to collect that many. Fourteen zeroes? If I had a dozen worlds, each with really good swamps and rainforests to tap into, my relay bugs to help extend my pitiful, three-hundred foot range? That was doable. Fuck it all. There was a time for strategy, and there was a time for the brute force approach. Hell, the brute force approach could be called a strategy unto itself. I’d find out about Shén Yù’s power the hard way. He could see attacks coming. Did it work when the attack came from every direction? I divided the bugs into tenths. Then I opened nine portals into the Yàngbǎn’s world. The tenth I opened into Earth Bet, above the portal I’d reopened. They did react. Shén Yù did manage a nigh-instantaneous counterattack. A hundred capes deployed to my general area, teleporting in, and then flying around with speeds that would have put them on par with cars on a highway. I watched from a distant location as my hand clenched, squeezing the clairvoyant’s. But I’d deployed a tenth of the bugs on my location. I was hidden within an impenetrable cloud of bugs. I raised Doormaker’s portals as shields around me. Some entered the cloud, and the response was swift and brutal. The bugs consumed them, and my minions with the tinker guns shot them. I moved to a different world, closing the door behind me, just to make their job a little harder. The other squadrons had their own means of defense. One had eighty or so people burning red hot, torching the bugs by heating up the air. I began using portals, and I captured the group. “If you little fucks had any sense, you’d know that getting the upper hand on me, just for a moment? It’s something you should be fucking terrified of.” Not my voice in my head. “Oh? The ineffectual little girl with the bug costume is awake.” Memories of confusion, a pain unlike any other. Of utter helplessness. What would my mom think to see me now? A thought from a different moment than the others. I used Doormaker’s portals to capture other groups, though they were more scattered. When I had the majority of them, I turned them against the palace. Ziggurat closed up every window and door. The ring of Yàngbǎn members was standing now, on alert. It hardly mattered. They’d amassed this much sheer power, they’d controlled the people through manipulation, and now they were seeing what happened when the people turned on them. I felt a kind of anger swelling in my breast, and I knew it wasn’t mine. But it was still a feeling I could ride. Something that could carry me forwards. Fuck them. Fuck them for not cooperating. Fuck it all, I shouldn’t have had to go this far. The attackers tore down one wall. I saw one of the six mirror images of the kaleidoscope interior fade away. The interior was heavily trapped, laced with poisons, rooms with only vacuum within and, ironically, poisonous bugs. Had someone tried teleporting in, chances were good they would have met a grisly end. I moved the attackers around the outside of the palace, rather than subject them to the traps. They attacked different walls. One wall was penetrated, and two more shares of the mirror image faded. There was another contingent of Yàngbǎn within one of the revealed partitions. Red masks, like the ones I’d seen in New Delhi. A small squad of throwaways. I controlled them too. It wasn’t long before the last mirror images fell. My portals ensnared the remaining Yàngbǎn in a few moments. The fighting stopped all at once. I added Zero, One and Two to my swarm. Alexandria, choking on bugs. They hated me for my arrogance. For what I was. I exhaled slowly. They were a little more aware than the others. Two’s power enhanced other powers. Refracted throughout the Yàngbǎn, it was what allowed them to have sixty powers at one fifth of the strength instead of sixty at one sixtieth. Her power worked on my own. I felt my control clarify. In front of me, One extended a hand, then carefully closed it. I moved it experimentally, testing the range of motion. Not as perfect as if it were my own hand, back when I had full control over it, but better. I wouldn’t be sharing this one. I couldn’t afford to. Shén Yù spoke. It didn’t sound Chinese, with the wrong cadence. It was a question, by the sound of it, accusatory. Maybe there was a power that would have made sense of it. It didn’t matter. There were five layers of overlapping hexagons, now. I had my army. But it wouldn’t be enough. On to the Birdcage, I thought. I opened portals for my swarm to pass through. I passed through, and I found myself in the midst of ruins. Ruins, like I’d been thinking about before I met Teacher. I used the clairvoyant’s power to search my surroundings. No. The structure was only partially intact, devastated by Scion’s fury, by shockwaves and literal waves. That it still stood was a testament to how solid it had once been. This isn’t the Birdcage. Gardener. My old jail. The disorientation rocked me. To get my bearings, I didn’t reach for more geographical reference points, but I reached for the little anchors I’d formed instead. I checked and double checked them until I could be sure I was stable. For the second time, I tried to make my way to the Birdcage. I stepped through the portal, moving myself to a peak above the Birdcage itself. Though I couldn’t really feel it, I was aware of how cool the air was, the fact that my body, so small on that vast mountain, was sweating pretty heavily. Being surrounded by thousands of billions of bugs had drained me more than I’d been aware. Another weakness, another point where I’d disconnected just a bit too much. Was my own body supposed to be an anchor? Was that something I should cling to, at the expense of other things? I made myself draw in a deep breath, until my chest hurt, and it still felt so paltry compared to the hundreds of people I controlled. The view, this majestic image of the landscape, of a sky that still harbored the clouds of dust and debris from Scion’s earlier attacks… it was but one piece of a scene viewed from a hundred different pairs of eyes. Virtually all of them had better vision than I did. I was adrift in an ocean of input, one body, harder to control than all of the others, so easy to forget about. I’d done it without thinking, bringing them with me. They stood on ledges and jutting rocks all over the peak, surrounding me. More than anything else, I could feel their fear. With so many of them, it was indistinct. I forced my own head to move, felt the crick in my neck, where I hadn’t really moved my head in a long time. The ones who were still in the Birdcage were the ones the cell block leaders had felt apprehensive about. Not necessarily stronger, but less predictable, less reliable. More of a danger than a help, if given free reign. As far as I could tell, it was the last large group of experienced capes I could collect. I opened a portal within the Birdcage, to capture my first prisoner. Containment foam rained down from the ceiling, sealing him in place. Dragon, I thought. I didn’t make another move. I waited. I’d expected this. It was why I’d come here in person. I could use the clairvoyant’s power and see a hangar in one mountain valley opening up. It took only a minute. A small armored suit arrived, a fast-moving model rather than a heavy combat model, much like the one she’d used to counteract our first attack on the Brockton Bay PRT headquarters. It perched on a rock in front of me. Dragon’s weapons were primed and ready to fire, the threat implict. When she spoke, her voice as clear as a bell in the clear mountain air. It was the same language Shén Yù had spoken to me. The same incomprehensible language Teacher had lapsed into. When I met Dragon’s eyes with my own, my head shook with the shock I felt. I might have collapsed, numb, if I hadn’t been holding on to the clairvoyant, with Doormaker gripping my belt. It was the anger that kept me going. I’d felt a glimmer of it when attacking the palace. I’d felt it when dealing with capes and civilians every damn step of the way. The only thing I wanted was for everyone to do what they were supposed to do. To be good and to be fair, feed the hungry, give shelter, to fix the things that were broken and to fucking band together against the real monsters. Save the world. For the world to make some damn sense. I found myself chuckling a little, and it was just as displaced and not-quite right as any of my individual movements. Off kilter, more like I was doing a bad job of acting than real laughter. I couldn’t stop it, even as I tried to pull myself together. I turned my face towards the sky, my eyes streaming. Her voice continued, insistent, the gentleness giving way to concern. Hardly the last injustice I’d have to face down in the coming hours, but it was a front runner for the biggest. The most decent damn person I’d ever met, and she wasn’t even human. She was the only person who was definitely still alive who’d helped me without an iota of selfishness. I couldn’t negotiate my way out of this. Even with the rapport we’d established, I couldn’t trust her to give me the benefit of a doubt. As much as I didn’t want to, I knew that the only way forward would be to destroy her. This entry was posted in 30.03 and tagged Bitch, Doormaker, Dragon, Imp, Panacea, Tattletale, Taylor, Teacher, Trickster, Ziggurat by wildbow. Bookmark the permalink. Finished this one early, but I was pretty tired when I wrote it. Mixed feelings, in the end, but I hope readers enjoy. I suspect typo thread is going to be something, though. Here’s your semi-regular reminder to vote on Topwebfiction. Thanks for reading, guys! Gonna go walk the dogs, and then note recent donators, some of whom were very generous. Your support has meant the world to me. Vaughn on October 19, 2013 at 04:26 said: I enjoyed it. Taylor’s slow decent into monstrosity is pleasing to me. Clarvel on October 19, 2013 at 06:17 said: This isn’t a slow decent at all, man. More like a hypersonic comet of a descent. the13thversifier on October 20, 2013 at 23:10 said: it’s one kind of roller coaster, but the railways doesn’t loop upward, but spiraling downward, hitting endless bottom… imagine that This is the typo thread. Please put any instances of typographical errors (misspellings, grammatical errors, or just awkward usage) in here! Ainix on October 19, 2013 at 00:25 said: >“The C.I.U.,” Teacher said. Should be C.U.I. Written as intended. Thanks!!! Appreciate the immediate clues like that. James on October 19, 2013 at 00:46 said: I think I’m being dense, but… what’s that a clue for? Taylor’s ability to understand and even think in English is falling apart. Because she didn’t have enough problems already. scherzo on April 4, 2019 at 10:39 said: holy FUCK you GENIUS i didn’t notice these while reading at all, (though i was caught a bit off guard by the use of “sock,” which is a pretty cool effect now that i have the context to appreciate it) going back is a mindfuck, this is amazing i love it oliverwashere on October 19, 2013 at 00:55 said: >> One everyone should inspire towards. I feel “aspire” would fit the context better. At one point, the C.U.I is referred to as the C.I.U. I can’t recall where. Dang. Beaten to the punch. Ronin on October 19, 2013 at 00:46 said: “There are security placements in measure.” Should be “security measures in place” right? taliesinskye on October 19, 2013 at 05:09 said: Ahh, Teacher and his wordplay. More like “Taylor and her inability to understand English anymore”. Yeah, but it’s funny because there’s a (possibly accidental) double wordplay meaning. ‘in measure’ literally means a limited number, but used with irony can mean the exact opposite, a whole lot. That combined with the subversion of the expected cliched phrase ‘there are security measures in place’ makes it very clever, if it was intentional. Amusing, but uh… “save” instead? Woah, that was fast. Damn. Well… at least she can still think clearly? That’s a plus… OH CRAP. TAYLOR’S LOSING HER ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. I GET IT NOW. Ah, that makes all the hassle worth it, haha. I have to say that was brilliant use of a writer’s tools, wildbow. PapaGoose on October 21, 2013 at 10:12 said: Seconded. Color me impressed. Amusingly, the first time I read this through, I only caught one or two of the ‘glitches’, and made the assumption that it was a typo.. it took the second readthrough and lots of comments to piece the writing together and fully make sense of it. .. and still probably missed quite a bit. You utterly magnificent bastard. I read your book! No really I’m reading wildbow’s book. And it’s great. wildbow wrote a book? OOH I get it. Ohhh. Wow. I was thinking that Wildbow decided to try out the whole write drunk thing while reading it. Now I feel kind of dumb. Asmora on October 19, 2013 at 01:02 said: Huh. I guess “work in project” was written as intended, too? Daaamn. How about “We’ll also need to this area.”? Missing word there of what Teacher’s saying. A lapse in Taylor’s parsing? “It disoriented me, to see how we were in Washington, not New York. Teacher had returned home. Why had I thought we were in Washington?” Does she mean New York the second time she says Washington? Do you mean for her to say so? Very confusing, trying to edit something that’s meant to be wrong in places. Syroc on October 19, 2013 at 01:03 said: Uhm, not sure this counts, as apparently Taylor is losing her shit, but I think “undecision” is a typo of “indecision”. I think we can assume that any ‘typo’ within quotes, where the ‘typo’ is also a word, is a symptom of Taylor’s failing brainpan. Okay, this one for sure. “matching outfit. their masks white, purple, and yellow, in turn.” The period should be a comma. I hope. If her dysphasia is affecting her punctuation, too, I’m shot. “Quite possibly Shén yù’s work.” Ms. Shén deserves a capital there. Genuine catches. Yes. Fixed both, thank you. “stop the incursions and curb honestly” A little strange, this one. Seems like a word and comma is missing after “curb”. On second thought, probably “just” Taylor’s internal errors. Typo “prone to undecision” should be indecision “Shen yu’s did manage a nigh instantaneous counterattack” Shen yu did manage? Mathematicae on October 19, 2013 at 15:19 said: “then make their way over to teacher” I suppose Teacher would merit a capitalization. “make their way over to teacher” -needs to be titlecase. Grokh on October 20, 2013 at 13:44 said: “Dragon’s weapons were primed and ready to fire, the threat implict.” should be ‘implicit’ Or maybe ‘explicit’, depending on how obvious the priming is. “bridges a convenience that was appreciated” – awkward, I feel unsure about this one, “bridges” comes off as a verb. samdel on December 13, 2013 at 16:44 said: I haven’t provided any devices to the Birdcage, or anyone alleged with it. Probably aligned instead of alleged. rwcampbell on December 14, 2013 at 00:32 said: I expect that’s intentional. Did you read through the rest of the typo thread? Ben on April 21, 2014 at 17:18 said: “My students are fine when I’m giving the orders, but they’re prone to undecision at key junctions.” undecision->indecision Or perhaps, written as intended? I wasn’t even finished the thought –> hadn’t finished We’ll also need to this area. –> need to what? Clear, clean, evacuate? Virtually all of them had better vision than I did. –> not too sure, but might have to be ‘i had’ an iota –> I really don’t know whether this should or shouldn’t be ‘a’ iota, but I’m gonna post it here anyway :p -security measures in place? makes it sound like there’s a lot of low walls and cover. Even if intentional, it’s awkward, but I suspect it just slipped through storryeater on May 9, 2015 at 18:19 said: Dude,read the typo threat,its because Taylor’s ability to comprehend english is reduced,its supposed to be ankward. Umbreon717 on September 24, 2017 at 08:03 said: Implict should be implicit, but it might just be Taylor. Like a tidal wave. Graham Percival on October 19, 2013 at 00:23 said: Those last three paragraphs had me crying manly tears. Kessler on October 19, 2013 at 05:46 said: The Dragon never, ever, ever, gets a break. I really hope that killing Dragon doesn’t actually mean killing all of her. Agreed. The four characters I wanted to see through this series and get a happily ever after were Foil, Parian, Defiant, and Dragon. skywiseskychan on October 19, 2013 at 11:34 said: For me the four I would want to see happy are Dinah, Sarah, Taylor and Dragon. Kinda mad at Dinah, since she sort of set Taylor up for this. Who’s Sarah? Lisa’s real name. Since she’s gone by Lisa for pretty much the entire story I don’t really understand why some readers refer to her as Sarah. Same reason people still say “Skitter” or “Armsmaster” I would presume. “You are who you are, man!” snickers Or maybe it just comes to mind easier. Like Krouse instead of Trickster, for me. Not to mention, Alec’s real name as well. Which is one of the handful of Wormfacts that I forgot. Boohiss. But you see nobody calls Alec Jean-Paul. And Colin has been consistently referred to as Defiant by the readers for quite some time. As for Krouse it’s shorter than Trickster ( for similar reasons I say Sophia instead of Shadow Stalker) and in the Travelers’ arc he was called that more than his Cape-name. Oi, it was a probably. And I’ve noticed a few “Armsmasters” here and there. But I shall use Jean-Paul now, simply to insure that I prove my own point. You are WELCOME. I have created a MONSTER! But I probably deserved that 🙂 . My top four are Taylor, Dragon, Panacea, and um…Oh, I know, Grue. Interesting that Taylor didn’t make that list. My top four would probably be Taylor (though that’s seeming decreasingly likely), Chevalier (dude’s a genuine hero in a world where that word means so little), Dragon (‘cos… Dragon) and Bitch (‘cos Bitch 🙂 ). That’s if I’m limited to four. Otherwise Parian and Foil would be on there too, as would Riley, amongst others… Damn that was awesome, leaves me a little confused on where precisely Contessa’s interlude is supposed to fit but is probably only because I blew through this. And poor Taylor, Dragon being in your way is really difficult… I’m thinking -after- Taylor went to Teacher. Since perhaps she was caught on camera there? Also, the costume wasn’t finished here but he was wearing a costume when meeting Contessa. ACH on October 19, 2013 at 00:51 said: He said “Pose” while Taylor was using the Clairvoyant. He probably took her picture there and then, so this chapter took a place before he meets Contessa. narcoduck on October 21, 2013 at 20:16 said: A more powerful picture is if Teacher was looking through Dragon’s eyes and took a picture of Taylor there, looking skywards, tears streaming, laughing madly. And with one arm. well all the guests have arrived at the party and now dragon the prom king and weaver the prom queen will begin their deadly dance ! chungsim on October 19, 2013 at 00:24 said: I’m reminded of Brandon Sanderson playing around with Gateways in A Memory of Light. Fun stuff all around. Ah! I thought the same, reading this one. Delightful! It doesn’t surprise me, really, to see such clever applications of rather well established fantasy/magical/superhero tropes, especially with Wildbow’s current track record of cleverness. 🙂 Freak King on October 19, 2013 at 00:24 said: Hmm…Weaver + Regent = Reaver. rndmize on October 19, 2013 at 00:24 said: I AM ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL – Taylor Well she did just Effect a Mass…. That would be affect. pidgey on October 19, 2013 at 00:48 said: Effect can be a verb, as in “effecting a change in society”. If the Mass exists because she effected it, then that’s correct. If on the other hand, the Mass was merely changed in some way, then it would have been affected. Context isn’t clear, so there’s little reason to correct him, especially considering that it would ruin the joke. I had to mean it as a verb to get the intended effect. (Pun not intended this time) It works in this case too, what with Taylor’s sudden English failures. i didnt think of that one. Nicely done ps. just realised that commander Shepard would buy Wildbow’s book… think she’d go for the ‘Collector’s’ edtion’? them damn puns, +1, LOLed it will definitely ring a bell to our dearly beloved and deceased (in some ending) Commander Shepard ” she looked at the mess, destruction all round, after surviving everything that had been thrown at her it was damned unfair to be facing this situation with an AI. she looked up, and thought ‘well at least i know what Ms Hebert felt like…’ I don’t understand, how could Taylor understand what Teacher was saying if she can’t understand English? What language -was- he speaking? She’s slipping right. That moment there is where she lost the last bit of her ability to understand language (or at least that was my reading of it) The more people she controls the more she has to rely on her shard, and her shard doesn’t know English or any language really. Talking and reading are far harder than listening, so she lost those first. This makes me wonder if Taylor would have been able to read the computer in Dragon’s craft if she hadn’t been controlling people at the time. mauke on October 19, 2013 at 00:59 said: I think the degeneration is gradual and permanent. The number of person she controls only accelerates the degradation. We really have no reason to believe the loss of her language faculties is permanent. We do know that Taylor is under the control of her own power. We know that the shard itself is handling the actual control, and the interpretation of information from those under Taylor’s control. We know that shards do “scans” for relevant information when their host triggers, and Taylor’s current power wasn’t the result of a trigger, and thus the shard is missing a good chunk of information it would normally have gained to help facilitate the use of the power. And we know that shards do learn from their host’s experiences. So we have a shard doing most of the actual work, with Taylor offering direction more than anything else, and that shard doesn’t know dingus about human language, because it’s never needed to. All that said it is possible that this degradation IS on Taylor’s side of the equation, but I’m thinking that Taylor’s belief that this is a permanent change to herself is a key component of shaping Taylor’s mental state such that she’s able to cross the lines she has to cross in order to beat Zion, and conversely those changes not actually being permanent gives the author more “room” for good storytelling. From reading and piecing it together, my theory is that the degradation is ‘permanent’. At least in the ‘current’ state of affairs. There’s always the wildcard element that wildbow brings to the table. Taylor has broken through the Passenger/brain barrier with Panacea’s help. Why where the restrictions/inhibitions to the shards made in the first place? To protect the host human, or to protect Zion’s worm-self. In Taylor’s case, her shard has always parsed massive amounts of information, interpreting and organizing the signals. Without the buffers in place the feedback mechanisms have intertwined with her own senses, scrambling them as the Administrative functions continue to grow. It seems like the passenger is rewiring her brain to continue fine-tuning control of this re-opened ability.. but, as was pointed out in earlier comments, without any of the scanning and integration that the trigger events bring. In all, now that I wrote that.. this seems like one long, drawn out trigger event. I wouldn’t call it a second, or even third event though.. this is more like a lateral trigger, parallel to the earlier ones, but with a different direction. Either way, speculation aside, I’m quite happy to watch the descent as Taylor becomes the Monster to fight the Monster. I really hope that you are right. So do I. Oh god so do I. I think she’s parsing a certain class of statements as incomprehensible, owing to brain damage. Possibly * “stuff the passenger wouldn’t understand,” * “tactically irrelevant stuff,” * “stuff she doesn’t want to hear,” * “stuff she isn’t concentrating hard enough on,” * “stuff that randomly happens to use part X of her brain” or * “more and more stuff as time goes by.” Towards the top of the list if it’s a side effect of what Panacea was trying to do, towards the bottom if it’s a side effect of Panacea’s edits being improperly finished. I like this hypothesis. My alternate hypothesis is that her ability to understand words was on the fritz during part of the Teacher conversation, and then finally cut out completely. Yours would be much neater, however. Maybe she’s losing the ability to understand English. You seemed to work it out above, but if you re-read it, Taylor’s ability to understand Teacher was degrading as she listened to him, hence the weird words. Huh, I just assumed that was Teaching being a stupid cock. Actually, I think that the big complicated words ARE Teacher being a stupid cock. It’s the foreign language that looked like some sort of secret password or pre-implanted trigger that was just Taylor losing it. Actually, if you look at Teacher’s dialogue there is some weird syntax going on. Like he’s in a poor translated Japanese NES game or something. Already answered in other comments, it is showing how Taylor failing understanding of English until it gets to the point she doesn’t even understand it anymore. TDB on April 14, 2014 at 02:35 said: Was it degrading gradually, or spotty until she plugged in the clairvoyant, then she tanked? I think she might recover a bit, if she ever let’s go. Taylor’s well-read and educated, and it’s an important part of her identity – her mom was an educator. Teacher is a pretentious cock, but I can’t see Taylor in her right mind thinking that high-school vocabulary is difficult-sounding. She’s losing her language processing, which is reflected in her inability to speak or read, misinterpreting some of the things she hears, considering vocabulary that should be easily within her grasp to be “difficult”, and occasional (by the end here, full) total failure to comprehend. fallintolife on October 19, 2013 at 00:26 said: Damn. Just… damn. I never thought it would come down to this. (Also, I’m commenting from an account I made to write a Worm-inspired superhero novel. It’s currently at two chapters, and updates Thursdays. Check it out! http://fromwhencecamethenamed.wordpress.com) I now have two weekly things to check on Thursdays. So, I presume Contessa’s advice was, “Lose, and she’ll leave you alone, after stealing twenty people. You can’t do better than that.” Taylor’s power is going supernova. This is fun. Please, please don’t kill Dragon. Teacher hasn’t met with Contessa yet. That would make sense. I just assumed that Contessa had told him something unhelpful, then decided to get out of the way before Taylor came. But Teacher was trying several things this chapter, none of which worked. If he had been talking with Contessa, he would have known they would fail. His costume also wasn’t finished, and he’s wearing it when he meets up with Contessa. I had really thought he was seeing her as she was operated on. Given the other timeline issues. Too bad she could not use Teacher without the downside. There is a way, she could commit to permanently holding him in thrall or kill him after using him, each approach having downsides. Thought of another way, she could render him mute. He seems to need to speak to be able to give commands, so a mute teacher could potentially help many people without making slaves. It’d be difficult to keep him from getting fixed though, so it’s a risky approach. nick012000 on October 19, 2013 at 05:50 said: Obviously what she should have done is gone back after she snagged the Yangban power-sharer and gotten the power-sharer to give her his power, so she could use it on herself. I’m not sure that Teacher can use his power on himself. Obviously, she could have Teacher create a Thinker with the appropriate power then tap into that … but there’s no knowing if the weakness would be transferred too, even if only temporarily. More importantly, the power share is reciprocal: Taylor would lose at least half her power (and give it to someone else!) if she used the power sharer. Oh hell. That last sentence. Yeah, I thought she could free Dragon. flame7926 on October 19, 2013 at 00:35 said: Taylor’s finally passed the point where she needs to die. Not until after she beats Scion, but after that, she won’t stop until she controls everyone, or threatens to. A clairvoyant semi-benevolent dictator who can destroy anyone and mind control anyone, no matter where you are. Who wants everyone to do good. Its not good if so many people are suffering. She hasn’t reached the point where her actions aren’t worth it yet, but I don’t see her turning back willingly. This is Taylor. She fully plans to kill herself after she’s beaten Zion, if she doesn’t die in the trying. And the Simurgh as good as told Lisa that Taylor will try it. Inverness on October 19, 2013 at 00:42 said: Ah, perhaps the Simurgh was reminding Tattletale of her brother so she would stop Taylor from killing herself? Not sure why the Simurgh would want that, but it’s something. The protagonist committing suicide to save the world from herself after the first half of the story was all about shaking her off suicidal thoughts would be a tad depressing even for Worm’s standards. I expect a heroic sacrifice. I expect Taylor is going to be the one getting saved in the end. Remember one of the things that hurt her the most about the bullying she received and the locker episode was that no one made a real attempt to protect her from it or save her from it. What better way to bring Taylor’s story to closure than give her the salvation that she so sorely lacked. I’ll take a membership in that club! It could be Greg for all I care, JUST SOMEONE HELP HER. Racheakt on October 19, 2013 at 15:13 said: Yes… I… Just yes. Have her locked, trapped in that locker again. In a locker that is her own body. Have someone free her. That would be perfect… Please. Perhaps a replay of the scene from Buffy where Xavier talks Willow down from destroying the world, with Lisa playing the role of Xavier. You mean Xander of course. Hah, yes, reading too much X-Men. Hm…I wonder if we could find replacements for all the X-Men using Worm characters. I’ll start with the ones that come to mind. Xavier: Tattletale Jean Gray/Pheonix: Skitter/Webber* Wolverine: Bitch Cyclops: Legend?? Colossus: Weld, duh Kitty Pride: Imp Nightcrawler: Hm…definitely a Case-53. Maybe that teleporting yellow guy? Storm: As the only Shaker yet, Grue. Magneto: Faultline? Mystique: ??? Juggernaut: Gregor? Toad: Uber I would say Bitch/Maggott is probably a better fit. Mystique is presumably Satyrical. Gavel is Juggernaut. Wolverine = Crawler. Emma Frost probably makes a better Tattletale than Xavier/Jean. Possibly, I don’t know/remember much about Maggott aside from “he looks weird” and “his power…it had something to do with his stomach, didn’t it?” Yup. Yup. Wolverine’s no Superman, but he’s not THAT dark. Or mutable. I barely remember who Emma Frost was. I thought she was that girl working for the Brotherhood who turned into diamond, but apparently I’m wrong. Wildbow has deliberately gone to the trouble of coming up with new and unique powers based on an original premise as to the origin of powers. Finding precise matches for most of his characters will be nigh-impossible. Emma Frost started off as the White Queen of the Hellfire club, came over to the good guys and did eventually develop a secondary mutation that let her turn into diamond (which I’d forgotten about. :/) but he was originally just a telepath. I just find her a better fit for Tattletale than Jean/Xavier because she’s less scrupulous. Telepath is not a perfect fit either, but I can’t think of any super-intuitives in comics. Pretty sure Wildbow invented it. Maggott controlled a pair of giant mutant slugs. And yup, they were actually an extension of his digestive system. Thinking about it more, a better match might be B’wana Beast. He also has the ability to turn animals into powerful mutants, but he does it by merging them together (ew!). It’s actually a very Wormesque power, now I think about it. xD Again, I can’t really think of any comics characters totally like Crawler. I can think of powerful regenerators like Wolverine, and reactive adaptors like Darwin but not any for whom the effect is cumulative (I suspect mostly because that’s insanely overpowered). Even Doomsday had to be (temporarily) killed in order to adapt, and his physical adaptations were never so outwardly extreme. As far as I’m concerned Wildbow really has taken the genre to new places. True on all counts. The Emma Frost thing makes sense, given what you’ve just told me about her. I think that in…odd cases like Crawler, when we try to match people to people we should focus on powers second and personality first (ie, similar personality and at least vaguely corresponding powers). Taylor won’t be able to understand Tt. though. Even IF she somehow doesn’t die, she totally surpassed the too scary to be allowed to live category. Even if she gave up the doormaker/clairvoyant, she just made too many enemies for her to just walk away. Though she might again be seen as sort of heroic by freeing the brainwashed slaves. I’m thinking the “easy way out” will be for her to somehow lose her powers and then retire to live the quiet life. Or at least, semi-quiet. Of course, when has wildbow given us that. Never. 😦 Wildbow retired Sundancer, and some of the other Travelers. Of course, with Scion’s multiversicular rampage, their retirement was certainly not permanent. Not sure how much of an easy out that would be, considering the mental trauma, burning of bridges and loss of mental faculties. She might end up mute, illiterate, and maybe even blind (again) while she goes on the run from “justice”-seeking superhero shitkickers. Kinda like the ending to Perdido Street Station, you won and are alive, but you’ve given up just about everything in the process. It’s not clear just how messed up Taylor is, all we’ve got is Taylor’s own impressions and she’s both biased, not in a good state of mind, and very likely not in possession of the full details of what is happening to her. But this is Taylor, if her friends and allies do attempt to save her from herself in the end, they are going to have a hell of a time of it. If she thinks she needs to die it’s going to be really damn hard to stop her from making that happen. Stop on October 19, 2013 at 02:44 said: A Pyrrhic Victory, thinking about it that seems to be a running theme. They win but the cost is dire and if they continue to win such victories there will be nothing left. Bitch to the rescue…. Tattletale says, “‘you can save her by holding on to her and not letting go until I tell you to, and it could be days, even weeks1 ” Will it help Taylor?” ask Bitch. ” Trust me.” says Tattletale. ” Have done for ages mouthy, so get on with it then shut up..” She is not any scarier than the faerie queen. And the faerie queen was locked in the bird cage. Willingly. Taylor lives after killing Dragon, Defiant will kill her. Glaistig also killed a ton of capes just to get their abilities. Taylor is just borrowing them, to save every human in the worlds. Well, every human left. What makes you think Taylor is jumping off the slippery slope? Her “swarm,” aside from the Doormaker and his partner, is composed of Teacher’s “students,” Yangban, and soon prisoners from the Birdcage. Those are all villainous groups, and all but…~20 out of ~[20+500+300]…call it 2% of the swarm is less than completely, what’s the word, cruel? And a solid 60% or more is among the worst criminals in the parahuman world. Moreover, she seems to be guilty about this whole process, and pretty clearly only did it because Scion needed to be defeated. Barring a significant change to Taylor’s morals from all this mind-screwing, a possible but essentially unsupported possibility, I can’t see her intentionally controlling much of anyone. How can you not see how her mind is completely disappearing? She isn’t remorseful or guilty, which isn’t necessarily a problem, but its how used to it she is getting, and how her passenger is taking more control. She said she was doing this because people were doing nothing, because they were letting other’s suffer and die. She’s forcing people to be altruistic and bend to her morals and I don’t see why she will stop. She’s only getting those people because they are the only groups left, she doesn’t seem to care about the people’s she hurts morals. I do agree with her, just because of what’s at stake, but I don’t think her passenger will let her transition back to peaceful, not-enforcing-will-on-everyone lifestyle. The way I’m seeing it, her mind is completely disappearing because of the number of people she is controlling. Once she gets rid of them, by ordering them out of her range, shutting off the portals, and whatnot, she’ll be back to being clumsy, effectively-mute, possibly-dyslexic Taylor. Seeing how both the Yangban and Teacher’s students are groups essentially made up of brainwashed people I’d hesitate to call them villainous. Teacher’s students, yes, but most if not all of them were willing to join him in exchange for powers, and the Yangban seemed to also primarily consist of people who would have been willing to join if they were given the choice, with folks like Cody and Lung* being a minority. Which, I should note, were also rather…what’s the word, “unheroic”? Or should I skip to “villainous” or “cruel”? I don’t think that those are flukes; it wouldn’t surprise me if the C.I.U. recruited a good number of parahuman criminals. It makes sense; turn them into functioning members of society, and who cares if they’re brainwashed? This is all just how I’m reading it; I suppose it’s possible that Teacher kidnapped most of his students or that the Yangban took hundreds of well-adjusted parahumans from their homes. I would be surprised if either was the case, however. We have seen the Yangban kidnap Indian capes in the fight against Behemoth, we know that Accord sold other people to them in addition to Cody, we know that Lung sure as hell didn’t want to join. There are probably others, Cody’s sweetheart comes to mind, too. The upper echelons of the Yangban (Null, One, Two, Ziggurat) and the CUI leaders are to blame, not the field soldiers. The same goes with Teacher and his students. Taylor justifying it with “oh well they would be slaves anyways, who cares if the slavemaster changes” is, frankly, sickening. I can understand that desperate times require desperate measures, that doesn’t mean I have to instantly condone her actions. After Contessa’s interlude we all laughed at how stupid Cauldron’s plan to defeat Scion was. Build an army, create weapons? Really? Now, admittedly, we don’t know what shape Taylor’s plan will take but right now it looks like she wants to kill Dragon, probably one of humanity’s best remaining defenses , to scrape the bottom of the Birdcage’s barrel and “recruit” some more soldiers in her “army”. Yes, there are some people who are 100% unwilling. However, it seems to me that they are in the minority…and when Taylor gets the Birdcaged capes, the Yangban will definitely be in the minority. (Also, as noted, many of the unwilling recruits seemed to be prisoners of various stripes.) Are you saying that Teacher kidnapped his Students? Because if they willingly agreed to take Teacher’s deal, they willingly agreed to help him. The slaves were perfectly willing to help Teacher’s plans. “One year of service in exchange for superpowers” was an example of a deal given. That sure sounds like anyone who would take it either supported Teacher’s plans or wanted the power enough that they didn’t care, making them callous or selfish. It seems more likely that she will merely temporarily disable Dragon. For instance, remember how destroying one of her suits forces her to waste several minutes rebooting and whatnot? That’s plenty of time to open the Birdcage. It’s ironic that Dragon was killed because people feared she’d become what Taylor is now. Scolopendra on October 19, 2013 at 00:37 said: Did… Taylor just curbstomp the Yangban by herself? Holy crap. No, Taylor just curbstomped the C.U.I. by herself. The Yangban are just a part of it. NOW YOU ARE THINKING WITH PORTALS! Damn, well I think we can officially call her S class or the fuck you power level. She is nightmare fuel incarnate for the hundreds of people under her control. So observations: 1. Teacher’s power is interesting in that he has to be near them, and physically speak the orders. Saint can’t go near him again without the possibility of becoming under his control. I would have dropped him off into the birdcage but whatever. We also got a bit more on what powers he can give and there does seem to be a limit to how many powers he can give a single person. But we didn’t see the evil Teletubby, Trickster, or Contessa. Where did they go? 2. The Yangban are not at all what I thought they were. A emperor actually ruling the country says that China must have gone through some really big changes in the wormverse, and their sheer numbers were impressive. I wonder what happened in the war between them and America. 3. So it seems the prediction made long ago by posters that Skitter would break open the birdcage to get a few prisoners out was correct. Except we didn’t think she would have a giant army of enslaved parahumans that she mentally controlled. We finally get to see more about the birdcage, and she might have to kill a copy of Dragon. 4. Some new awesome and nightmare fuel needs to be added. All Hail the Dark Queen! About the CIU. They are pretty much the Simurgh’s doing, someone important from China was at the site of the Simurgh’s first appearance. But I don’t remember what chapter it was when Taylor was reading the list of Endbringer attacks and the possible targets of those attacks to get you a direct quote. The death of the CUI (Chinese Union-Imperial) member was during the airplane flight, referenced, I believe, in the Drone arc. Shit I could swear she had messed with someone from pre CUI China during her first appearance as well. But word of god. If it makes you feel better, if the CUI appeared after 2001 or so, I’d be willing to bet that Simurgh affected its formation indirectly. The fear that the world had about the Simurgh controlling people across the world… Taylor just toped the worst case scenario. Nobody will rest easy knowing that the W(ildbow)-class threat is out there somewhere. I still find Simurgh more threatening. She influences those that hear her song and can see the future. She made Enchilada and caused Taylor to become this if what they say about her is true. Even if Simurgh was destroyed what she did before that would bring untold misery as anything she influenced is her fault and she did it knowing what would result. I still don’t know if she’s good or evil as she probably knew about the end of the world. As we’ve seen a villain/monster can help people. When someone is truly powerful they cannot be measured with good or evil as no matter what they do the ants beneath their feet will be crushed. (I guess we’ll see weather or not Simurgh is ((benevolent or malicious) or just a force beyond reason with neither sympathy) or distaste or maybe we won’t). I don’t feel like phrasing that better. When did Simurgh make an enchilada? And yeah, Simurgh is scarier. Doesn’t make Taylor less scary, though. One part anorexic/bulimic girl, one part dimensional trip, one part desperate and manipulative asshole, and one part formula extracted from a dead godlings flesh and mix well. One half part formula, very important distinction! I knew what you meant, but…Enchilada? Looks like the work of a mobile phone autocorrect to me. It has me curious though as to exactly what the powers of a cape called Enchilada would be… That makes more sense than my previous “some weird fan nickname” theory. (It makes exactly as much sense as naming the Simurgh, the Smurf.) Probably brain damage, since that’s the only way you’d think it was a good name. cate87 on October 20, 2013 at 00:01 said: I agree. I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Patrick Rothfuss, but the Simurgh reminds me strongly of the Cthaeth in his Kingkiller Chronicles. Bahumat on October 21, 2013 at 13:40 said: Given that it’s pretty clear that the Endbringers were created by Scion in the first place, and thus have something of a constructed subset of his powers… … the fact that Scion was screaming in that last battle pastiche there is EXTRA terrifying. Because now all i can imagine it being is an amped-up version of the Simurgh’s song. I don’t think that the revelation would have been quite so devastating to Eidolon if that were the case, and it doesn’t mesh with his reaction when the most powerful man in the world was talking about the Endbringers. Why would Scion have created these monsters just to challenge Eidolon? Why would that revelation destroy the old mage instead of intensifying his rage at the golden man? It’s much more likely that Eidolon created them. Not consciously, but either a subconscious use of his power or a side effect when he first drank Cauldron’s potion. Which means that they’re the indirect product of the other Entity, through two layers of human meddling, and thus not part of Zion’s domain. And you have to remember that the other entity was in charge of the manipulation, the psychology, the foresight, all the thinking duties, while He was the Warrior archetype, acting in the now and not bothering with or understanding long games and manipulations. The Simurgh is about as far from Zion as you can get. I think that the scream is more likely to be the result of his newly discovered/developed emotions than any sort of mind-altering effect. Other than the obvious fear and panic he was already inflicting. I think that from Contessa’s interlude we can reach some conclusions. Eden would have been in charge of Endbringer creation, making more of them but weaker ( the superweapons of the alternate future) to create conflict between parahuman factions and, thus, making the shards grow and mature. Eidolon got whatever shard Eden used to create the Endbringers but due to his issues he creates, unbeknownst to him, much more powerful versions so he can have someone to fight and prove his worth. Smurf is still scarier. With Taylor you know you’re under her control or not, no mindfuckery. I can see it coming, Taylor’s ironic fate will be that of someone who doesn’t want to betray her friends above all else ends up doing so at the worst possible time in the worst possible circumstances possible anyway. jurily on October 19, 2013 at 13:08 said: Don’t worry, it’s not like she was exposed to the Simurgh for too long or made a major life altering decision while it was singing in the background… Flex on October 21, 2013 at 11:10 said: Hah! Touche That craft approaching Taylor, that’s just one of Dragon’s suits, right? Taylor won’t really be killing Dragon, will she? I think Taylor realizes that she cannot take anybody from the Birdcage until Dragon is offline. The Dragon craft is irrelevant. I don’t think whatever she does will result in Dragon being destroyed forever. I mean, it could, but if it comes to that, Dragon has backups, right? she has to wait for 15 minutes and she loses some of her recent memories if she reboots form the back up. Which could mean losing the changes Taecher put in her code. Just like Defiant feared that a rebooted Dragon would lose the changes he made. Hmmm. liza on October 19, 2013 at 08:51 said: Good point. I wonder if Teacher did something to the backups, though – otherwise, I would expect Dragon to have tried this the moment she was released. OlyBrainstorm on October 19, 2013 at 12:52 said: Actually, in the chapter where Teacher returned Dragon, he specifically mentioned making changes to her back ups. to avoid her losing the chains he bound her in. So unfortunately, that’s out. and the last few times she rebooted, she barely came back online due to how messed up her code was getting. every time she gets killed, dragon is currently getting less and less likely to come back I… I hope so. But Dragon HAS to defend the place with all that she’s got, and that really means Taylor can only go forward by incapacitating Dragon. HungryJoe on October 19, 2013 at 08:00 said: Then again, Dragon has to obey whoever is in charge, right? Unless Defiant has gotten rid of that limitation at some point. Well, right now Taylor is Queen of the damn multiverse. 1). Yeah, that was one of the first limitations to go. I believe after she was forced to reveal taylor’s secret identity. 2). Dragon had to obey someone LEGALLY appointed/elected. Law of the jungle has nothing to do with this. Dragon also said ‘if it was skitter asking, i’d say no’ how Skitterlike is Taylor like now do you think from Dragon’s POV? This isn’t Skitter. This isn’t Weaver. I’m not sure this is Taylor. If anything, this is The Queen Administrator. Dragon and Tattletale both really want to believe it’s Taylor though. So if I’m understanding Taylor’s plan correctly she’s gathering up a bunch of parahumans and is planning on throwing them at Scion. Or something. Also did she call Pancea one of her two favorite people? Did Amy do more to taylor than just unhinge her passanger? i think Taylor understands Amy a hellvua lot an sees one helluva parallel especially in their suffering. Iirc she tried longer than TT to bring Amy though in the S9 arc and Amy iirc acknowledges that Philippe Saner on October 19, 2013 at 02:38 said: I think the two favourite people were Tattletale and Rachel. The wording makes it sound like it’s Tattletale and Panacea, but Rachel is there too and it makes more sense for it to be her. My guess is that she’ll need the army to rapidly destroy Scion’s body mass. Vwyx on October 19, 2013 at 00:50 said: This was so sad it inspired me to actually write a happy fanfic that I’ve had in my head for a while. I’ve never written a fanfic before. Do it! You have my support. And my sword! Woot! Good luck. Thanks! It’s here if you guys want to read it: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9776237/1/Tales-from-the-Time-Skip Jesus Christ that was beautiful. That was…unusual. Oh god. Dying. Send help. 😀 They should’ve earned the title ‘dynamic misfits’ Sun Dog on October 21, 2013 at 12:28 said: Worm meets Avenue Q. Now I’m picturing everyone competing to sing a song about how much their lives suck. That… is certainly a thing that happened. Tragically, it will never have not happened. Mr.Kitty on October 20, 2013 at 11:58 said: And my Bow. appaluds And my Harpsichord! applause Nice work. I can hear the melancholy fight music starting to play. 😦 Poor Dragon, poor Taylor, that it should come to this. I’ve got my fingers crossed that someone can disable Dragon before she’s forced to attack Taylor. I really don’t want Taylor to have to kill her, even if it’s not the real her. Not that I’ve got any doubt that Taylor could do it, hell I doubt she’d even break a sweat. If only she could simply cut Dragon off from being able to activate the birdcage defenses. Alternately, trashing all of her local hardware wouldn’t kill her. Then again maybe Teacher’s removal of Dragons limits extends to the birdcage and Dragon doesn’t actually HAVE to fight at all. Melancholy? Nah, not metal enough. I would argue that metal doesn’t set the right tone for this fight. Golem vs. Jack Slash, sure. Undersiders vs. Dragon suits, sure. Everyone vs. Echidna, sure. A badass fight scene against antagonists who clearly deserve it. Not this, where neither party has any choice but to face off against the other. But…if you listen to this,it sounds like melacnholic metal….fitting,I think. There’s several others I could pick from the same series. But I think this one fits best. Very nice recommendation. endgame on October 19, 2013 at 13:44 said: If we’re throwing out music, here’s one I think fits for Taylor herself right now: Sounds more like Noelle (about Echidna) to me. I can see the argument for fitting Taylor, though. massivereader on October 26, 2013 at 13:27 said: Nah, this girl really catches Taylor: Thanks. I have one for the Simurgh as well. It fits. And the music sounds…eerie, like something the Simurgh’s music might actually sound like. I’m of the firm opinion that if you can’t find Hymnos to portray it… then it is, in fact, too boring to deserve music. I brought this one up last time. I don’t know, maybe it’s just one I like a lot right now. But there are some parallels that I think makes it work, especially for this idea. Though you may also consider the one right after it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJvq7z39YEw Awwww… didn’t give the beatdown to Teacher? Well atleast you left him sitting around in a ruined city alone like a fucking idiot. Now we know why he’s so peeved in Contessa’s interlude, assuming that was in the future. Well, here’s hoping either Dragon or Taylor smarts themselves a third option. Though I’m not really worried that she has a real chance of destroying Dragon considering that she’s in cloud storage at this point. Now is about the time for Rachel to swoop in and do something… I dunno, something that doesn’t involve the use of the English language. Good point. Rachael doesn’t communicate that much with words anyway and I think she’s become able to ‘read’ Taylor. Endoperez on October 19, 2013 at 04:33 said: Rachel communicates by touching. No one can get close enough to do that, any more. Of all the times she’s needed a hug…. I think that Grue could negate and copy enough ofTaylor’s power to be in control of himself if Taylor doesn’t try to control him. Too bad he’s in a cabin with his wife. I wonder if Teacher was actually trying to use a contingency plan or negotiate with Taylor. We know she was having trouble understanding him. >Now is about the time for Rachel to swoop in and do something… I dunno, something that doesn’t involve the use of the English language.< Throw puppies at Taylor until she is all better. Then they throw Puppies at Scion until he stops his tantrum, and realizes how aweful his kind are to others. Puppies are not the solution to every problem! I suppose that’s true. But who has Kittens? Parian could fake some/ What I’m enjoying most about this Taylor Decay is that it illustrates /exactly/ why the limits/Manton effect were placed on the shards. Taylor’s power on it’s own: usurps her ability to control her body normally, denies her the ability to speak, shuts down further forms of communication and understanding attempts at communication the more she uses it (i.e. more people under her sway, less she comprehends)- this all is pretty ingenious. It also caused a throwback Fridge Horror (there’s another term, I forgot it) moment, recalling when Bonesaw was threatening to unleash the full capabilities of Taylor and Brian’s powers, respectively. Those limits are there for a reason. Excellent observation there. You know, I hadn’t thought of that. Even if Taylor knocks Dragon offline for awhile, there’s still the backup right? It won’t be a perma-death? I guess what freaked out Contessa was seeing Taylor surrounded by a shroud of portals. It’d be weird enough that it’d take an extra second to process and fit in one picture. It might not have sunk in for Taylor that Dragon exists across an entire information network, because her head is screwed up and she never had time to think about it. So she might assume when she trashes Dragon’s realdoll body that she’s killed her. Which… won’t be good for the old psyche. E.R. on October 19, 2013 at 03:52 said: I think your drastically underestimating Taylor’s current power. She’s basically omniscient and can alpha strike everywhere with overwhelming force. Dragon has cloud storage and Taylor has an icbm pointed at each and every single server. If she wants to take Dragon down permanently, I’m fairly certain she can. The real question is if she can get away with just forcing a reboot or if someone can figure out another solution. She has doormaker, it should be trivial to cut Dragon off from being able to issue commands. Yeah I think so too, she can probably just shift all of Dragons broadcasting/computing into a parallel world. Please Taylor don’t kill the closest thing you have to a mother. i keep saying, how screwed up Dragon’;s code is right now, every time she’s forced to reload she has a VERY real chance of simply not reinitialized. if you guys think back, that was one of the things Defiant was getting worried about after he first started loosening her shackles. something getting broken to tehy point where it wouldn’t kill her whilst she was running, but would prevent her from starting up again. like a program with a loop accidentally put into the start up section. itws fine while its running, but it gets stuck and never successfully starts if you kill it and try to start it uip again, and thats not even takeing the very real possibility of talor intentionalyl or unintentionally KILLING her for real. she’s got a lot of extra bats in the belfry right now, after all. curls up in a small ball and sniffles Secret addition to the last line! “…with shonen-ai.” http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_471.php Psh. Some of us have standards, PG. See, I’ve got mine right here! It has tassels on and everything! It’s not even sad. It’s more melancholy than anything else I’m feeling. This is tragic. Just…plain…tragic. It was a brilliant stroke to make Taylor lose all ability to understand and communicate, because I can’t think of anything much worse than that right now. This is unbelievably amazing, what she’s doing right now, but the sacrifices..there are no words. So wildbow, that was just genius. Other than the whole nigh-omnipotence thing, the thing I think is best about the ark is that. It’s Not a “good” thing, but such a good idea Like how by halfway through the chapter, she’s referring to the people as her swarm. The curbstomp, the massing of the army, it’s all just unbelievable to read about. Definitely my favorite chapter in the last few arks. Haven’t mentioned it yet…but I actually believe danny is still alive. Chances aren’t great, but the guy is tough. I think he made it. At most, he’s injured. Hopefully. Not even going to say anything about dragon. What can be said? So time to re-read this playing Everything You Ever, like I said last chapter. Definitely feels like it fits the chapter. And meanwhile, chances of a happy ending, or even a moderately good one, are rapidly declining. Infor was wrong, Emma Barnes only presumed dead an actually saved Danny and is holed up giving him medical care redeeming herself…. Yeah… and Casey Hudson and Mac Walters write good endings…. Boosh. While that is WILDLY unlikely, it does raise an interesting possibility. Dannie’s presumed death has been mentioned repeatedly, but proof has always been explicitly avoided. Wouldn’t it be possible for him to have had a trigger event that saved him but for some reason (lost his memory, thinks she’s dead, preocupied, mental damage from trigger) he hasn’t sought out Taylor yet? I’d say “She’s a former supervillain busy trying to save the world” would be reason enough. SadCat on October 19, 2013 at 01:12 said: Go around not forward. Find the other path. Think out side of the box it is what you do best. Wait, wait. At the end there, that was her aphasia catching up right? She confused destroy with help and Allie, right? RIGHT? So, the more people she can controls the less she can understand and communicate. When she got Teacher’s students, she started to hear pieces of English in another language and scramble some words in her thought process (really liked that one). By the time she got the Yangban she lost it all. Another punch in the gut, after the reading thing. I’m guessing that Teacher meets Contessa after this chapter. He’s still making costumes, mysterious Viking guy is nowhere to be seen and, you know, I think we would have noticed if Contessa was doing something. Explains why Teacher was so scared, too. And of course he’s one of those guys that want to look smarter by using big words ( and usually fail). China returned to be an empire ( it’s even in the name!) but the Yangban is obviously collectivistic. Scion and parahumans really did fuck up the balance of power. Taylor becomes scarier and scarier. Next stop: the Birdcage (and Dragon 😦 ). Just curious, anyone on here who got their friends to try reading Worm, how did you pull it off? I extol everything about the story that’s wonderful: Writing style, creativity, fight scenes, character development….but the second they hear how long it is, they can’t shut me up fast enough. So, any advice on getting around Archive Panic while recommending Worm? I don’t know — my current plan is to make a metaphor to a TV series. Yes, there’s a lot of episodes, but storylines start and end all the time and it’s easy to start up again where you stopped last time. Hey, comparing Worm to a TV series is MY thing (I think. Isn’t it?). And on the subject of that, it’s approaching the end of its sixth and final season, so you (referring to the newcomers being convinced) might have to hurry to catch up before the finale. Don’t tell them how long it is. If they insist, tell them long enough that they’ll be excited about having more to read for a good while. Stereo on October 19, 2013 at 02:49 said: If they don’t want to read it after getting past the fight with Bakuda, fair enough, I think. The early chapters are, relatively speaking, short anyway. I recruited some readers by making a thread on the DFRPG forums where I wrote up Worm characters. I wasn’t actually trying to recruit anyone, but people got intrigued by the stats and then read enough of Worm to get hooked. So I suggest you just give people the link and a reason to click on it. Let them get interested on their own. 1.) Put your foot in the door, ask something small of them that involves reading maybe the first chapter. 2.) Surround them with it until they give in, do it till the point where it might be annoying(they might not like you afterwards but that’s fixable). 3.) Connect reading Worm to something they like(very hard to do if you don’t know them well). 4.) There are a lot of fish in the sea, one will bite. Put it out in front of as large an audience as you can (doesn’t mean anything if you have specific targets but it might get you a friend that you can talk about worm with). 5.) Offer to do something in exchange (not as desperate as you can get but close). 6.) Agitate or torture them until they read it (doesn’t put them in a good mood). 7.) Hold screen in front of target and don’t give them an option or read it to them (I think this is as desperate as you can get). I don’t recommend doing these unless you feel like manipulating people. These are methods that can work but things don’t always go as planned so be prepared for consequences. Don’t mention how long it is. Or just say that there’s enough to keep them entertained quite a while. CptDefault on October 19, 2013 at 08:13 said: Just keep recommending it. Tell people who are slightly interested about a few interesting characters. I’ve probably recommended it to a few dozen friends, but most of them never got around to it. Bring it up every now and then, post it on social media once or twice, and see what happens. The one friend I have recommended it to that is (I believe) up to date saw me recommending it to another friend after I’d mentioned it to her quite a few times previously. 🙂 Thanks! Really good advice. I’ll try it out. in order I placed a link upon my facebook profile. A while alter, I edited the link which I had placed thereupon, removing those facets of the link which could be referred to as spoilers. i hope the ghost of accord is happy with the terminolgy I enscribed above. But I seriously doubt the picky bugger would of liked this sentence. (sic) Progressive aphasia. Taylor just can’t catch a break, can she? I like that this chapter ended with Taylor’s inhuman laughter. It’s like: what, you thought bug girl sounded like a supervillain? Check this. peter o on October 20, 2013 at 03:52 said: I’m not sure her confused brain isn’t calling sobbing laughing . She has tears streaming down her face, and the actions are jerky. What, you want all of Taylor’s power to be in Teacher’s hands, along with Dragon? I think that’s more of a “Too bad Taylor can’t get her speech back”. Keno Black on October 20, 2013 at 22:24 said: “We are the Hive. All of your abilities and capabilities were born to service. Us.“ This chapter’s end is definitely among the top 10 “Fuuuuck” moments. Guess the following took more time than I realized: Until she reached the top, and found only the view in front of her. No doorway. Not so lucky. It was almost an hour before the portal opened again. She made her way into the facility. Lights out. I was thinking that Contessa was following Taylor out and that there was only an hour gap in there. Which would have put the Teacher meeting well before today’s encounter. propa03 on October 19, 2013 at 18:17 said: Different dimension, different flows of time, maybe? Huge special thank yous go out to Xavier, Edvin and Nazar for the generous donations. Thank you to Tomasz, Matthew W, Hollis (Again! Thank you you beautiful person), Joseph (See what I said to Hollis), Gregory, Kelly and Martin for their donations as well. I’m flabbergasted (a word we need to use more often, I feel) and blown away, and it’s very much appreciated. God damn, I hope I can pull this ending off. Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll leave every still-breathing human miserable and the whole audience stunned and horrified. Just don’t pull a Sorpranos on us. Looking forward to it, whatever way you make it go. I’m not so sure I can say I’m looking forward to it, but I do expect it to be the right ending. I suspect I’ll be turning on the old waterworks before it’s done, and I don’t expect I’ll consider this a happy ending. Frankly, at this point, I only wonder if Taylor will be remembered as a hero who sacrificed her humanity to save humanity or just as a monster who did one good thing in the end. The aftermaths will probably touch on that but it would be interesting to see what the sequel will say. “Yeah, uh, that Taylor, she…sure was…a parahuman.” I can’t see a way to make anything close to a happy ending work from the very premises here – the whole bakuda>leviathan>S9 chain set the tone clearly away from that. Bittersweet is the best we can expect, and it’s unwise to bet on it. ;p the moment i set my eyes on the background theme (which is all dark) and the title-Worm (which convey the image of parasitic entity). I almost told myself, hell, let’s get mind-fucked, again… JN on October 20, 2013 at 21:31 said: Just pretend it’s a butterfly’s wing, and you’ll do fine. Oh i wished it, long long time ago, before i met Buffalo Bill Aranfan on October 19, 2013 at 02:06 said: If only Jack Slash was still around to hijack, might help her communication problems. That is a thought. Though GU’s comment makes me think Taylor can hijack shards independent of the humans they are attached to. Would be near if she could separate the shard from him and use it, leaving him stuck in his time loop. Loki-L on October 19, 2013 at 02:20 said: Interesting Tylor is increasingly losing herself in her power and losing her ability to communicate. There have been several observations by her that this type of loss is a common theme for parahumans. She took her powers to the extreme and ended up with the common side-effect also ramped up to the extreme. Storywise this failure to communicate will mean that she basically has to go at it alone. She can’t cooperate with anyone at this point. Her previous ability to look at other people’s powers and use them in new and better ways comes into play here full time. Tylor took the powers the brainsurgery gave her and went full munchkin with them. The question is if the power she is amassing will be enough to stand up to scion in the end. On a different note I noticed that Panacea now seems to count as one of her most favourite people. Did Amy make Taylor love her while messing with her brain out of habit? I also have some speculation: Originally when Bonesaw and later imp made the remarks that set Taylor of they both talked about detaching her powers from her physical body and living on after that body died. How relevant is her originally body at this point? Is she just controlling it like she does everyone else and not realizing it? Does she even need that body anymore at this point? Rachel and Tattletale were both there. Yep. !! Yay. So it was them. Wageslave on October 19, 2013 at 02:26 said: There is another consideration, of course. If Taylor collects up enough PokeShards (Gotta catch ’em all what’s left!) then she might out-shard Zion’s current meat-bod. And even if she can’t communicate effectively, and is a boiling furnace of rage, that might just be enough to show Z what he’s being like. And of course, the desperation level that he’s inadvertently triggered this event from. I’m guessing Null and One are the powers the Scholar entity used to divest itself of shards and reassemble its shards at the beginning and end of each cycle. Perhaps they could make someone into a new entity. That would imply that Null and One are Cauldron capes. Due to various reasons, including how they constantly snubbed Cauldron’s little meetings, I find that unlikely. Not necessarily, they could have been made like Contessa was, when the impact happened. Contessa was in Italy when Eden fell on top of her. Unless Null’s and One’s families were vacationing in Italy at the time, it’s not very likely. Contessa was from another world similar to medieval Italy, not actually from Italy. Eden’s fall opened dimensional portals and the pieces fell at random. As taliesinkeye pointed out Vikare, the man on the cruise dying of cancer, had an Eden shard, though strangely Scion had to activate it first. What was One’s power, anyways? Null, One and Two[…]the ones who divided the powers, controlled the squads and gave them the strength to be effective, respectively But what does “controlling the squads” actually mean? It is a bit vague. Yes it is, I agree. Especially when it’s all but established that no real telepathy exists in the Wormverse. Regent-esque power? Personally I’d go for something like the Clairvoyant’s power. Checking what the grunts are doing while he hangs around the Imperial palace. It’s been mentioned that the Yangban tend to have brainwashed members. Still vague, but I would say that’s One’s area of expertise. It crossed my mind but don’t the Yangban use old traditional mundane brainwashing? What’s the point of sticking people in isolation and stop them from speaking English or speaking out of turn by depriving them of food, company or the sympathy of their peers if they can use a brainwashing cape? Possibly one of those social-sense powers? Knowing the best way to get the results you want out of a group? Isn’t One one of the actual networked Yangban? What if she gets close enough in the final battle to rip away control of Zion’s shards? Truthseeker on October 19, 2013 at 02:52 said: Taylor’s apotheosis is terrifying, even without being inside her head to see how much she’s losing along the way. Especially so, with that. Killing Dragon is as simple as killing Teacher, now. The path of least resistance. Or it is if you don’t know that Contessa is likely with him, anyway. And that, of course, is the path of greatest drama, so. I have hope. Can an ending really be a happy one with humanity smashed and scattered across multiple realities? I don’t see how, but I have always reveled in the way Worm obscures the path ahead. So, at one of the darkest moments now, I have hope, I have faith, and I have trust that whatever happens, it will certainly fit. mindrot on October 19, 2013 at 03:25 said: It’s kind of funny, if you think about it. Teacher bound Dragon’s life to him specifically to keep himself alive, and now he might get killed specifically to get Dragon out of the way. He probably figured it out the moment he found out Taylor was going to Birdcage. If Taylor knew Dragon would try to stop her, it’s unlikely that Teacher missed that. And so, he ran to the Cauldron headquarters, looking for someone or something who could possibly protect him from the person who curbstomped him and the CUI in a single chapter. Taylor cannot catch a break. Damn. Just… And I’d really like to know what Dragon is saying, maybe have an interlude with outside perspective on Taylor. Taylor brought it all on herself. For all the right reasons. Megahuge super thank you to Matthew S, again, for the very, very generous donation. As much as it pains me to do so, this is the point where I’ve got to cut off the bonus material. Too many epilogue chapters and it starts becoming a whole new story. I’m expecting this arc to run to 6-8 chapters, followed by the epilogue arc of however many bonus chapters remain after we run out of Thursdays. Though I can’t promise anything as a donation incentive until the next project gets underway, I can say that money donated goes a long way towards a possible sequel, and even though it’s less concrete, every donation does bring me one step closer to being able to write for a living, which is really an unbelievable dream. I really have no words. Your collective support has meant the world to me, and in equal measure… how to even phrase it? I’m thrilled that I can make people happy doing something that makes me so happy, and being within arm’s reach of being able to pay rent while doing so is amazing. And I’m saying all that as the sort of cynical grouch who would normally roll his eyes at that kind of talk. Hey man, thanks for writing it. I found Worm maybe a month ago, spent two weeks doing nothing but catching up and then got inspired to write myself. I previously had an idea for a superhero/villain story and Worm gave me the push I needed I guess. I did adapt it for Wormverse, but I don’t feel fan fiction is a bad place to write. Unless you’re seriously offended by it. Given you have a fan fiction section on your site I figured it would probably be alright. So thanks for that too. This your first time commenting while caught up? I commented on 29.8 about two days after it was posted if I remember right. Although, I didn’t use my WordPress account then. That was when I finished catching up. You know Gecko takes that as a “yes”, right? langer101 on October 19, 2013 at 08:29 said: You know, I think speak for the majority of us when I say we don’t mind paying even if there’s no bonus chapters. You’ve given us a Robert Jordan-esque serial to read. Personally I keep donating simply because you’ve entertained me for over a year. And yes, I’ll buy the book in whatever form it takes. ….It is we who thank YOU Wildbow suddenly wonders if Wildbow saw Robert Jordan as a man rival years back and had secretly commissioned Krustacean to sketch the wanted poster. Then woke up next mroning to find out Poor mr jordan had already died and therefore respectfully scrapped that plan. Will you keep updating on Thursdays, or will it return to a Tues/Sat update schedule? I mean this week and for the rest of Worm. I wonder if Taylor can actually map out the blind spots. I originally thought this might have been a way for Contessa to find Zion (as a location): Step 1: Path: get an effective way of enumerating locations in all parallel worlds. Number locations, starting at N=1. Step 2: Path: What to do to destroy location N. If you get instructions: Go back to step 2, and replace place N by place N+1. Else: Go to step 3. Step 3: Send out Cauldron to place N to see whether there’s any trace of Zion in this particular blind spot. If there is: Kill it with fire, ice, nukes, anti-matter, black holes, and everything else you can throw at it. Else: Go to step 2, with place N replaced by N+1. Maybe replace step 2 with: What to do to destroy places 2^N to 2^{N+1}, to quicken the search. With Taylor sort of omni-present, she has a good chance of managing this as well. If there is only a small number of blind spots, sending bugs to check them out might be an option. From Zion’s interlude, there were more parallel worlds for the Worm’s homeworld than there were atoms in a single universe (and eventually the Worms outgrew even that). It becomes impractical due to matters of scale, if you can even enumerate parallel worlds like that – and remember you’d pick up every shard as well (as they’re on their own parallel world clusters, drawing energy) and you’d still need a way to access worlds you can’t ‘see’. Yeah…but this is mathematically problematic. There are two possible cases: 1) the number of distinct Earths out there grows continuously as decision points are passed (i.e. one universe splits into two when someone chooses between a chocolate or vanilla ice cream cone), or 2) the number of distinct earth out there grows at a smaller rate than that (or even not at all, and the number is stable, if huge). Now, in the former case, it would be legitimately impossible to narrow down the search because every attempt to narrow it down would increase the scope of the search by (at least) an equal amount. But we know that this is impossible, for the purposes of the Entity’s choosing a hiding place, at least, because the Worms overtook all the possible dimensions on their home world. That means that it is possible to hit decision points that don’t expand the number of worlds the Entity has access to, and if that’s true, then any power, from Accord’s to Contessa’s to Dinah’s, which can partition possibilities and examine them, should be capable of narrowing the search. And once the search is narrowed once, it can only get easier from there. Mathematicians actually have terms for the difference between these different kinds of infinity. You have things that are countably infinite (Case 2), and things which are uncountably infinite (Case 1). If we have a way of identifying the existence and position of any object, and if we can define those positions in any way we choose such that any of them can be described as “adjacent” to others of them, then it’s a trivial matter to narrow down the search to a single possibility, given enough iteration. Eduardo Perini Muniz on October 20, 2013 at 09:07 said: You may locate Scion`s dimension. Going there? There is only one open gate that I can see, the one leading from the projection to the main body. And Scion blocked all powers that could create another gate. I wonder. What range does Doormaker have, and can Taylor’s power jailbreak his ability to allow her to access where Scion’s body is? Teleport to Scion’s body, open a big portal into the middle of the sun over the top of Scion’s body.. Poof. End of problem, and only one dimension’s Earth is gone. Done with enough care and preparation, She might even be able to get out alive. Heh, I was thinking exactly this the other night. One gravitational singularity + 1 Scion = no more scion? Too bad Glaistig Uaine wasn’t there, Clockblocker would have wanted to hear Taylor’s villain laugh. Glad to see the Yangban finally ready to take the field for Team Humanity. Pity it took brute force mind control to make it happen, but I guess that’s their thing. They’ve picked up a whole lot of capes and it’d be a small miracle if even half were there by choice. But hey, if there’s any survivors Taylor could actually free them from the loop and return them to their teams to deprogram. Just the sort of thing to smooth over those pesky aggravated assault with a parahuman power charges. All those quotes ringing through Taylors mind make me wonder just how many of them are Simurgh-inflicted, and just wtf she’s trying to inflict. Like.. does she want Dragon killed? The fifty-odd birdcage prisoners can’t be worth fighting over when Taylor already has a three figure cape swarm. Or does Taylor plan to do something more fucked up with her swarm than just feed them into a Scion-grinder, something Dragon or Glaistig Uaine could thwart? Pretty sure the quotes are coming from Taylor’s passenger, trying to communicate with Taylor by replaying memories (much as it tries to interpret and pass along others’ emotions). Unfortunately this is also how the Simurgh exercises control. Yeah, I get the feeling there’s a tug of war going on between the Simurgh and Taylor’s shards. Thre were over 600 prisoners in the Birdcage as of Lung, Bakuda, and Canary. Add those added in the more-than-two-years since, subtract casualties from infighting and those that were worth retrieving…it’s in the hundreds, at least. So Taylor separated Doormaker and the clairvoyant, inserting herself instead – but even before that she was devoting a part of herself to ordering Doormaker to order a portal whenever the clairvoyant detected one being asked for. And she’s now developed aphasia. And Contessa’s power told her “Doormaker was alive but he wasn’t here, meaning she was limited to any doors he’d left open.” Oops what? I don’t understand. Are you saying Taylor made a tactical mistake by splitting them up? Because she can make Doormaker open up doors just as easily as before, as long as she maintains her own link to the clairvoyant. And if her link is broken, then she’s screwed anyway, so who cares? She can make Doormaker open portals, but now she (possibly) can’t recognize when one’s being asked for. It’s possible the clairvoyant can still pass along signals, but Contessa’s Q&A thing implies that Doormaker isn’t making new portals on request. There’s another disturbing thought, here. Saint was willing to go to extremes to prevent Dragon from potentially inducing a ‘singularity’ event. Now Taylor has essentially performed the same task AND she’s about to confront Dragon. If she grabs Dragon (but does not eliminate her) then she could expand her network by several orders of magnitude… Could that be an inadvertent ‘end event’ for the Zion cycle? And if it is, what does Zion do? Does he allow a ‘flawed product’ to bypass him? Does he try to stop the ‘flowering’? Dragon isn’t alive. It seems unlikely that Taylor would be able to control her. depends on your definition of alive. she’s alive enough to have a trigger under stress and attract a shard. i mean, technically, all we are are sacks of chemicals She also was using biological computers for a while. If she’s still using the same tech, she might have a human enough brain for it to count. Dragon was sentient enough to snag a shard. However, she is still on the reverse side of the Manton effect from bugs, humans, and those plants Faultline couldn’t cut no matter how hard she tried. (Well, maybe the wetware in that suit could be controlled…that would be interesting. Would Dragon’s main hardware reboot?) good point. and depends on how many of her shackles are left, and how stable her code is. for all we know, Teacher coudl of intentionally destabelised her code enough so she’d run FINE one more time, but if she had to restore from backup again, she wouldnt start, and a threat to him would be removed WITHOUT it looking like he killed her I doubt it. Teacher wouldn’t intentionally disable Dragon like that, when it would cost him an extremely (if indirectly) useful resource AND make sure that Defiant would literally not rest until Teacher was dead. hey, this is the guy woh’s happily7 screwing himself over in the long term (as in fucking over the defence of humanity) in order to get short term power. he’s stupid enough to think thats smart. whati mean there is a big difference between intellegance and being able ot USE said intellegence in a non-stupid way, and Teacher isnt showing much of teh latter She has a shard. Taylor is actually administering the shards. No she isn’t. She’s controlling insects. She controlled the dragon’s Teeth who do not have a shard but are organic/biological. She could NOT control Dragon who has a shard but is not organical/biological (it’s really difficult to find a good term for Dragon. Etc. She controls flesh and blood things, not shards. Immediate reaction to end of chapter: DON’T YOU DARE HAVE TAYLOR PERMAKILL DRAGON! I have actually been dreading the new chapters, seeing what Taylor will loose of herself next. And now the very real possiblity that she will have to kill Dragon (And the destroy makes me think this one will be for keeps), and I love Dragon. But Dragon couldn’t back down if she wanted because of her restrictions. It really is a masterful piece of tragedy. I’m really afraid that next chapter will leave me bawling my eyes out. Yes, I a grown man am not afraid to admit that. We’ve seen Dragon come back two times… She’ll come back again, right? Please? Somebody had better go sit on Krustacean just in case. Romeo and Juliet? Pfffffft. Forget whiny Ophelia, forget Brutus and his tiny betrayal, and damn Prospero and his totally mundane sidekicks. Worm is where all the tragedy is at! With that out of the way, if Taylor kills Dragon I will proceed to go to nearest store, buy a giant teddy bear and hug it until it dies. Taylor if you are going to kill Dragon then at least go and kill Teacher and the likes. I don’t think I ever felt this aprehensive of learning what happens next, and yet I can’t wait! If you check on Dragon after the next update, you’ll find her quite a grave person. If only she killed Teacher first, thus preventing Dragon from taking any aggressive action against anyone, so Dragon couldn’t stop her from opening the Birdcage. KGB on October 19, 2013 at 08:02 said: Bakuda’s words fit Taylor far too good. However letting teacher go was completely stupid. Teacher enhances others, she could have had her whole army enhanced with teacher’s power. Especially if she shared teachers power with her whole army using Null. Even if she didn’t use it on herself, she’d have upgraded her whole army immensely. If there’s a multi-tier emotional component here, then this may be Taylor going “Don’t want you to even be considered as part of this thing I’m doing. Better than punishing you, or coercing you to do what I want you to do with fear you’re going to destabilize what I’m working on, I’m simply NOT going to use your OS for my budding network. I’ve got Linux going, you’re a Mac, Zion’s a PC, so too much headache, thanks.” Maybe Taylor is thinking longterm. In the eventuality of Scion’s defeat an entire army (and not any army but the Yangban) under Teacher’s control isn’t exactly a great idea. She’s trying to accomplish her goals with minimum horror. Making everyone involved Teacher’s mindslave increases the horror substantially, and he’s noted as granting weak powers anyway. She could yet do it if she’s desperate enough, I suppose. Considering the billions of bugs she used, I figured she was going for efficiency, not minimizing horror. She consumed people with her swarm. She doesn’t care about fatalities, as long as she has enough to kill scion. That’s why I figured she’d integrate Teacher, and probably kill him after they’ve won. senevri on October 19, 2013 at 08:24 said: Killing dragon would be such a kick-the-dog thing to do, Taylor couldn’t be allowed to live afterwards. Destroying one of the suits, on the other hand…. Losing the ability to communicate is terrifying. BadCommunicationKills indeed. Oh, yes killing Dragon is the act where Taylor crosses the moral event horizon no matter the reason, no matter how many people she saves, Taylor’s soul is damned. If it’s just a suit, or a reset her from backups, it’s not as bad. But that might not disable the security on the Birdcage. Sigh, I’ve said before that it seems like Wildbow loves to torture Dragon and her fans. For the first time in a while I am NOT looking forward to Tuesday morning. The motive would be the same as when she shot Aster. Not seeing much of a mercy-kill situation here… The Fate of the World is in the balance. Also, Bad Communication Kills is so much insult to injury, considering the way Taylor wanted none of that when her doppelganger confessed to killing Coil. Aster was a mercy killing that might have saved the world, except she had nothing to do with the end of the world after all. Killing Dragon because she’s in the way might give Taylor a resource that she can use to save the world. It still would be a betrayel, and as Taylor stated, killing the best person she knows. And if you are going to accept that all the morally dubious actions and awful things Taylor does are okay because it might save more people, than you have to accept the same for Cauldron, and hell even DoucheTagg. Aster’s Mercy Kill was more to stop Aster from being time-looped and what not, IIRC. And yeah, what Taylor’s doing sucks. However: 1. Tagg was definitely causing more harm than good. 2. Cauldron, in the end, did almost no good because their plan pretty much failed. If it wasn’t for non-Cauldron folks, we would be just as dead. If Taylor does more good than harm, she is definitely above both Tagg and Cauldron. The issue for me is that she is falling into the same sort of thinking, of doing whatever it takes to protect people. I can understand it, but I can’t feel it’s a good thing. It’s part of the tragedy. The only way for Taylor to save humanity to become a monster. Even if it works, it’s still terrible. “To what profit is it for a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul in doing so”? In this case it’s more like she’s sacrificing her soul to save the world. It is both one of the most heroic and horrifying things I have ever read. Damn your good Wildbow. The ends justifying the means, again. It’s been part of Taylor’s character from the start, hasn’t it? From terrifying the bank-robbery hostages to now apparently destroying Dragon, all for a greater cause. And we accepted that. Because if the ends don’t justify the means, then what justifies anything? The ends do not justify the means nor the means justify the end. There are things that are right, there are things that are wrong and there are things that are /necessary/. You will always be judged for why you did things right or wrong but what matters when doing things that are necessary is that you own up to it and try your best. That is the difference between Cauldron and Taylor(and no Tagg isn’t close to either, to say so is an insult to both), Taylor always took the consequences to her actions personally while Cauldron might or might not have accepted the consequences after defeating Scion but never took them personally. Taylor is trying her best. And taking the consequences of one’s actions upon oneself personally? Do I understand this correctly? Is this about punishment? Because punishing yourself for doing your best seems a rather useless gesture to me… Cauldron could have used more volunteers and fewer dying people, if letting people you can save just die seems the right thing to you. But either way, it seems to me they were trying to do their best, too. And if you’re going to say the ends don’t justify the means, then argue the point. That was… incredibly sad an dehumanizing. The inability to understand language was so subtle I did not even catch it at first. The inability to understand the world in human terms… And to tie it up the fact that her primary driving force is now -only- order and a functioning society. She has always been irked by the lack of good cooperation, not it seems the only reason why the admin shard is not taking up shop totally in her head is that it needs an actual administrator to tell it which way to go. Her plan too is… eh, if I were an administration shard, what would be my plan? To gather other shards to administer of course. Oh, wait, that’s exactly what Taylor is doing. How coincidental. At least Glaistig Uane has the balance limitations… it is telling when the self proclaimed fairy queen is less bonkers than you. So, Bonkers!Taylor, after you try to kill the only motherly figure you had in your cape life, what’s next? Go hijack Aisha so you can remove the blind spots? Get Dinah so you can use her at full power? It’s not that you will be personally bothered when her headaches get so bad she will get mad from pain, right? Or you could get Lisa, I’m sure she would be happy helping you with your self-destruction. Eh, let’s look into the bright side: Taylor is still physically capable of crying. Yeah, there is a horrifying thought. That Taylor might loose enough of her humanity that she decides to properly organize them… By taking control of everyone herself. After all with her in control their won’t be any war or people being selfish, or bullying… Lets hope she doesn’t jump off that slippery slope. Here’s hoping that Taylor can get herself back under control when this is all over. Possibly with help from Tattletale, the Simurgh, etc. Now that I think about it…Tattletale (or at least Contessa) could probably invoke certain emotions in themselves to trigger just the right memories in Taylor to help bring her back… Also I’m not so sure I’d trust the Smurf with Taylor’s brain. It can’t possibly be any worse than…actually, I guess it could. Poor Taylor. Poor Dragon. So doomed. 😦 Another testament to Wildbow’s brilliance (if you were just ass-pulling this, it’s cool, I gotchu bro) is the portal system. Contessas Interlude saw Mantellum’s power being incapable of breaching the portals, wrongly psuedo-establishing it as a barrier between powers. But way back during the Cauldron Summits (what I call the meetings everyone had to stop the Endbringers) we witnessed Taylor’s bug control still remaining intact as she explored a doorway made to collect her. Tl;dr: for any potential trolls who call bs, Taylor being able to extend her abilities through the portal system has already been established by canon, and thus, Wildbow saves his ass preemptively. I do enjoy hindsight. Not only what you said (which was already said in previous chapters btw 😛 ) but there’s also Contessa clearly commenting she was lucky that Mantellum’s power didn’t work through powers, implying that others do. Has there been somebody who complained about this? through PORTALS, not powers, obviously. Damn, must’ve missed it. Oh well. Nah, no complaints yet, but you know how trolls are. They think they see an inconsistancy without having proper reading comprehension to back it up, and then set about declaiming the entire story based on one thing. So it was a preemptive “shut the hell up”. 😀 Hao Tian on October 19, 2013 at 11:42 said: I wonder if the difference is caused by Taylor’s power originating from a legitimate trigger, and Mantellum’s originating from Cauldron… Unlikely. Cauldron abilities, especially those of case 53s, tend to be LESS restricted, not more, due to the lack of Balance formula (i.e. entities pre-nerfing abilities so they don’t get too out of hand). Incidentally, I don’t think this is great writing. Yes, it’s internally consistent on the nitpickiest level, but it’s still jarring to have a major plot development in one chapter depend on an ability not working across portal thresholds, and then two chapters later another major plot development depend on the exact opposite. Self-consistency isn’t the only marker of quality writing. I mean, Contessa’s whole ability is based on making convenient coincidences happen. It’s disappointing that in her time of extremity, where her power stops working, she’s saved by a convenient coincidence. The fact that Taylor’s power works fine in the same situation only highlights how lame Mantellum turned out to be as a foil for Contessa. I like what another poster speculated: since Mantellum’s power has a dome effect, it went over the portal and encased it completely in his area. After all, Mantellum was right there, according to the others, and we know he’s the apex of the area effect. Oh and Mantellum’s power is canonically a crappy one. He had to get a thinker upgrade, I bet Teacher, to make it functional. It’s more likely to just be quirks of the shards, like how Parian’s telekinesis is limited to small objects and fabrics, or how Clockblocker’s power affects the Siberian. Okay, yes, Taylor Vs. Dragon is terribly sad. But, um… “When I looked, I saw [Scion] screaming. Are we gonna address this? Does this not weird anybody out? As he becomes more and more human he realises that while killing everyone is personally satisfying it still won’t bring Eden back so he rants to the heavens even while he continues in this carnage? Or something like that. He’s not killing everyone because he enjoys it (Though he enjoys it more than helping people). He’s doing it because he’s hurt and lashing out, and trying to fill the void. But the void will never be filled and when he realizes this he will start to destroy planets. If only he hadn’t destroyed all the ice cream factories. Am now picturing Scion with a tub of icecream and a box of tissues, watching a chick flick. Resentfully. Taylor is closer to a shard now, thinking more like an entity, so I’m thinking she has a better feel on Scion than anyone else. She is actively aware of his suffering in a way most may not be. Yeah, that weirded me out too. If he hadn’t been killing all those people I’d almost feel sorry for him. Poor, omnipotent, omnimpotent Scion. I wonder if he’s actually screaming aloud or if she’s increasingly picking up communication from him even as she loses English. (“Oh! Taylor! You’re back! Marvelous!” “You’ve stopped screaming.” “That wasn’t me screaming. That’s just what I sound like when I’m cut up into millions of pieces while still alive as part of my natural mating cycle with a dead god. Between you and me, I’m actually feeling pretty good today.”) Good call. This moderately horrified me. It’s such a scary thought. Though I kind of expected him to become aware of Taylor once she became ‘aware’ of him. Do you think he couldn’t notice her become aware or he’s just preoccupied? Powered up version of the Simurgh song. Calling it now. kalaong on October 19, 2013 at 11:47 said: I was just wondering if anyone here has ever referenced JMS Spider-Man. You believe you stand upon solid ground, that the earth is firm beneath your feet. The ground moves beneath you, it swarms and flexes and flows, like water through sand, like muscle beneath tissue. In constant motion. Put your hand to the ground and feel the heartbeat of the earth. Hear the whisper of builders and shapers. Eaters and destroyers. And hunters. The spider hunts because that is its nature. And because it knows the secret. That the blood of its prey is the milk of the world. And it is sweet. That is the answer to the question you ask in the middle of the night, in the darkness of your heart where you think no one can see, or hear. The one, singular question that is the core of your being. And that question is… There were so many others on that day, in that room together, there… …with the spider. The hunter. Wounded. Irradiated. Dying. Angry. Why you? Given the power, what would they have done with it? T hey would have sought renown, perhaps. Sought riches. They were soft, especially the one who thought themselves so hard. They would have crumbled under the weight of the gift. They would not have known what to do with it. Because they were not hunters. Because you were a hunter without teeth. You were chosen for your rage. You were chosen for every casual wound you suffered. Chosen for every time you were tripped, trampled, struck, beaten and humiliated before others. Chosen for the fury you were forced to hold in check, for the words you could not speak. Chosen for the blind rage that gripped your heart like a vice at every fist and foot and rock that hit and kicked and cut you. And for the greatest rage of all, the one you reserve for yourself, for unable to fight back, because there were always more of them, and they were always bigger and they were always stronger. But what if that changed? Who could be a better hunter then one who had been prey? Someone who would be driven to fight back against the dark forces sent by the world, who would never stop, even though they were bigger and more and perhaps even stronger than he was. Because once having been prey, he would never allow himself to become such again. Would never surrender. Would take death before submission. Why you? Because of all those who were there that day, there was only one hunter. And as the science you worship tells you … Like attracts like, and the presence of the observer affects the observed, and at the end of the mathematical day, there are no accidents, no coincidences. There is only… …Professional courtesy. Sorry, Dragon. “Omae wa mou shindeiru.” When you cross the river, tell the ferryman that Scion is right behind you. Whoa. That was intense. And beautiful. Wow. I’ve got mixed feelings about some of the stuff JMS did on Spider-Man (Not One Last Day, that wasn’t his idea), and I ain’t too crazy about the mystical stuff, but JMS sure did a beaut with that. I shall crush Otto Octavius in Peter Parker’s body if I ever get the chance. I will figure out what “rue” means and then he will do it to the day he ever somehow beat Peter Parker by proving he was morally superior! Face it the Superior Spider-Man is the modern equivalent of the the Clone Saga. It would have been fine as a one or two issue story, but it’s going to last way too long. Dan Slott likes to defend it with the fact it’s selling so well. The Clone Saga sold pretty well too. Until it didn’t and almost killed Spider-Man. And lets face it, any kids that want to read about Spider-Man after the next movie comes out aren’t going to be as interested in jumping in at the middle of a multi-year Spider-Man story that isn’t even about Spider-Man. This. When I first heard about the Idea, I thought it was going to last a few issues before everything returned to the Staus Quo but apparently Marvel and Dc do that only with GOOD new ideas. As you said they’re milking it for all it’s worth. Seriously between this and One More Day, is there a reason for Marvel’s recent hate for Spider-Man? Isn’t he supposedly their flagship character? They’re trying to outcrap sony’s films? and Time paradoxes? the cunnign blighters. you see once the readers go arggggh stop this already they’ll pull a time bomb and it will counter act one More day and Spidey will be back to where he should have been and still married and long term fans will sigh with relief. then they won’t push too much cos Carlie Cooper’s gone and the fans know marvel, so they take good news and scram. This is the song of the outcast, the bullied, the strangers even among their friends. Perhaps this is why some of us are so successful in our jobs. Taliesin on October 19, 2013 at 12:08 said: Goddamnit, how much good karma does Taylor have to build up before she can catch a break? Her past life was Eden. + one internet for this one. She keeps building up bad karma for doing the wrong things, meaning that to accomplish her good intentions she has to do worse and worse deeds. It’s a viscous cycle. nods sagely* …Before anyone corrects me, I know that vicious isn’t spelled like that. A sticky situation. Dear lord, Taylor is going beyond broken. The pieces she breaks into are breaking into more pieces, and those pieces are threatening to break into still more pieces. I expect by the end of this she’ll be little more than a collection of fine dust, assuming there’s anything left to hold that dust together at all. And what’s even worse: While Zion is becoming more human, Taylor is losing her humanity. In the end the bigger monster will win, but the question remains as to which one that is. And somehow, the survival of the human race depends on it. Wildbow, you are an amazing author. Please be sure to publish this when it’s done. And if you have it bound as a single volume I could probably use it as furniture between reading sessions. 😛 A while ago there was a line I heard in something. “The greatest heroes are those that sacrifice the most.” That was just referreing to someone who sacrificed his life. If Taylor gives up her life, that will be the least of her sacrifices. She’s giving up her humanity, her individuality, and her soul. Oh hell. I was thinking what more could Taylor lose like her voice, ablility to read, and understand the spoken word… And then it hit me. How much longer before she can’t recongnize individuals? Worst case scenario Taylor could go through/add to the swarm/kill someone she really didn’t want to like her friends, or even Danny if he’s still alive… And never even realize it. I…I can’t deny that this makes a lot of sense. Fuck. I don’t even like Taylor all that much and that kind of ending makes me more than a bit nauseous on her behalf. Fuck. That would probably be the saddest possible ending for her. Caladium on October 19, 2013 at 13:06 said: No no no no no no no no no… That’s about all I can think right now. This is heartbreaking. Wildbow, you’re a genius. Especially at writing tear jerkers. Worm: where you hope that the mind slaving monster succeeds in its plans. Worm: where the all powerful AI gives hugs. Worm: Where where the all powerful AI pulling a skynet would be a good thing. Worm: Where the alternate reality of no war, few civilian deaths, and peace is the BAD one. I really liked an idea that was preposed by letseveryonemorality- that parrallels be drawn between the locker and her state after defeating Zion. That she be locked in her own body. Unable to see, feel, hear, or even think properly. Can you imagine the terror a state like that would be? What it would feel like? And then, have someone come and save her. Break the motif in her mind, of being trapped with no-one comeing to her rescue. Have someone come and unlock it and save her, heal her mind and body and give her a chance. That image… That is compelling. I… I want to see that. I could see it… The Yangban power-augmentor, plus Ingenue’s power (boosting control), both boosting Panacea. It can still be done. Not to mention Contessa. Sure- Yangban power-sharer+Contessta+Panacea Except Contessta is kind of an idiot. I seriously hate this particular claim, regarding Contessa. She is not stupid nor is she immature. She does not lack creativity and she isn’t wrong for using her power the way she has. It has been shown quite a few times that passengers alter the host in order to make them more likely to cause conflict. Whether that’s through a physical, mental, or some other change depends. Given the fact that even when she had /just/ triggered, she found herself paralyzed with indecision whenever she wasn’t relying on her power, I find it incredibly disconcerting that nobody else seems to get that /that/ is her alteration. She is (unless WoG deems fit to correct me, I’m 98.99% positive that I’m correct) practically forced to rely on her ability otherwise she is incapable of doing anything. The few times she has hit a “dead end” with her power, she freezes up, until she finds a way to “turn it back on” otherwise she finds herself unable to move. Instead of it being a quirk of her doing nothing but following what her passenger tells her to, it seems more like it’s a compulsion, given that (again) immediately after she gained the ability, this indecision-freeze happened then as well. And we saw the difference between Fortuna and Contessa in the way they /handled/ this indecision-freeze. Fortuna frantically scrapes around for some way to make her power work again while Contessa just keeps her brain going, prodding her power so that something will stick. And given the rapid way she functioned, I feel she managed quite well, considering. tl;dr – Contessa isn’t stupid. Contessa isn’t any worse than any other cape that has no choice over what happens to their mind when they trigger. I would like to direct you to Rachel, Labyrinth, Burnscar, Tattletale, Nilbog (arguably), any Tinker by definition, Noelle, Sophia, Taylor, Accord, Number Man. I could go on. These are all cases that range from “obviously” to “huh, makes sense” on the “passenger fucked with the way I normally operate” scale. So I would like to ask that people quit bagging on her because of how her power works. She didn’t choose that any more than anyone else did. You pretty much just said “Contessa isn’t stupid and immature, it’s just that she has a power that makes her stupid and immature”. Soooooo… she’s stupid and immature, then? Allan on November 8, 2019 at 16:33 said: That is like mocking a person with disabilities for not walking with her own legs. Well, according to your logic, Lisa was stupid for not saving her brother from suicide. This was a really good chapter. It’s pretty satisfying to see just how powerful Taylor really is. She’s controlling what, trillions of bugs now? That alone should be enough to eat Scion’s real body pretty quickly, but a few hundred parahumans doesn’t hurt either. I know this is a really serious chapter, and it definitely hits the reader pretty good in a few spots, but I thought it was pretty cool when she just minced some parahumans with her bugs in a few seconds like it was nothing. It’s about time! The only thing I’m surprised about is that she isn’t using the portals directly against Scion. What I mean is, there is a fight against him right now. He shouldn’t be able to throw a punch or shoot a beam without hitting himself in the back of the head. Likewise for all the other capes there. They should be able to shoot or punch the empty air in front of them and hit Scion through the split second portal that emerges. But maybe that would attract Scion’s attention. Skitter doesn’t know it, but Scion can be chased (when Eidolon did it), so presumably she could flee him as well with those portals. Anyways, loved the chapter. I would consider making it a bit more obvious she was losing her understanding over English earlier in the chapter though. I’m not sure how you would do that though since she can’t speak it already. Perhaps show the beginning of Teacher’s sentence that turns into English partway through? I didn’t know what was happening until it was explicitly spelled out for me. Something similar happens with stroke victims. I had a relative who had suffered a nearly-fatal one, and she would fixate on the oddest words while trying to communicate. After a good while, one could kind of pick up on what the intent was, but without the ability to communicate in one direction, it could easily be that subtle and that jarring. She’s probably not using portals directly against Scion because things only tend to work a few times against Scion before he either tunes his attacks around them or kills the parahuman in question or both. Even if he can’t directly counter the portals (which I wouldn’t count on) he might extend what he uses to block the clairvoyant’s sight from his home reality. It’s been said, but the idea that Doorman’s power is the one power Scion cannot adapt to, and that he wouldn’t just go after and kill Doorman, the omniscient, and/or Taylor is just ludicrous. So far, we have never seen him attacking a universe he was not in at the time. His chase with Eidolon had both of them blinking between dimensions because they had to be in the same world to fight each other. He can modulate his attacks to pass through any force field, any space or time distortion, etc. but he has not yet opened, closed, or otherwise affected portals. It’s also worth noting that every portal so far has been either Cauldron’s work and thus using shards from the other entity, or the result of complex interactions between three different high level powers. And a portal shield is fundamentally different from any other kind of defense, not blocking the attack or even bending it but rather causing opening a path to elsewhere in front of it. So it’s far from a sure thing, but it’s likely, more likely than any other scheme, that Doormaster power is the best defense against Zion. Under normal circumstances he’d be too slow to manage it and the attack would slip through in his reaction time, but Taylor’s Thinker powers bypass that with respect to her swarm; we’ve frequently seen her react faster than she should be able to when something if perceived by her bugs instead of her own eyes, and closing the portal to Tattletale between when Zion fired and when it passed through proves that it holds true for her human swarm as well. And if all else fails, using a portal to be elsewhere when the attack lands where you were should be just as effective if somewhat less efficient. 1. I thought the interaction was just Labyrinth and Scrub; am I forgetting someone? 2. Legend can fire bendy lasers. Why can’t Scion, or why can’t he just use an AoE attack that sprays between or around portals? 3. If Taylor is in a different world, Scion can just…go to that world. No, she stays in the same world as Scion, but behind a dome of layered portals. Any attack aimed at her, regardless of the path it takes, goes… elsewhere, whether the upper atmosphere, the other side of the planet, or an alternate universe. He can’t fire a beam that ignores portals any more than he can fire a beam that goes between universes without passing through a portal (probably-maybe). He can’t directly turn the portals off (probably-maybe) because Doormaster is a Cauldron cape, made from the remains of the other Entity rather than being a power Zion gave to humanity after altering. If he aims at her through other portals, she uses Swarm-reflexes to close the portal before the attack goes through (like with the beam that was about to hit Tattletale). Meanwhile she can synchronize her attackers and the portals to open a door, fire at Zion through it, then close it again before he retaliates… hundreds of times a second with different powers every time. The hole in this plan is those tinker devises that Teacher used to wall off his little world; if Zion changed his tactics enough to deign to use human technology instead of his own power he could shut down the whole portal system. Two considerations. 1. The portals will have gaps between them. There is no such thing as portal-spackle. 2. The portals have another end, and there is no indication that they have a “front” or a “back” of any sort. Three layers of portals covers all the seams. You position one set of portals behind the gaps in the first layer and there are only points where the lines intersect. The third layer is positioned behind those points and you’re untouchable. And yes, he could fire through the other end of the portals, but she can close them between when he fires and when the attack passes through, like she did when he was about to hit Tattletale in the hospital. Her Swarm-reflexes and multitasking thinker powers make Doormaster’s power almost omnipotent. Again, Legend’s lasers can fire around corners; why can’t Scion’s? And that’s assuming he doesn’t use something like a golden dissolvey mist that flows around the portals. And she only has to screw up once…and if Scion is willing to try hard enough, screwing up will be easy. Wait, how does Taylor have a three-hundred-foot range to be bolstered with relay bugs? That’s her range over insects, having been much reduced by Panacea’s modifications. Her range over humans is much smaller (sixteen feet). I didn’t spot that either. I thought all of her range was reduced. But sixteen feet that can reach through portals, which can be opened anywhere in the multiverse instantaneously, is a long way. If for example she were to open pinprick portals from just outside her skin to a grid covering the planet at 16ft intervals, it would cover everything. Hey guys, I found a silver lining! Now Scion can’t mindfuck her the way he did Eidolon! There is always a bright side to things. Taylor’s too screwed up to notice, anyways. It’s reaching a bit far for a good side. “I lost both of my legs to that mine, but now I don’t need to worry about stubbing my toes anymore!” Someone who’s already “mindfucked” and ready to kill themselves is unlikely to become more ready to kill themselves. Again, that’s reaching a bit for a silver lining. r00ney19191 on October 19, 2013 at 23:13 said: As much as I love Taylor, and respect her for all her sacrifices, I simply can not understand her logic here. How, with the Doormaker and the Clairvoyant (who still does not have a name?) can she simply not snatch every prisoner out of the Birdcage before Dragon can stop her? Or, failing that, can her army of parahumans not break through any traps, and keep Dragon’s forces busy, long enough for all to escape? Why must Taylor interact with Dragon at all, if she doesn’t want to? Sylvari on October 20, 2013 at 00:04 said: If I’m not mistaken, she can’t actually get anyone out without Dragon immediately sealing them in containment foam so that they’re unusable. So, while she can get them all out of there, she wouldn’t actually be able to use them. One wonders how Marquis and friends were able to make all of those exclusive Cauldron meetings after Behemoth died, over the past two years, if this is true. The Birdcage was made to make it impossible to break into, or out of. Getting capes out the first time only worked because the PRT authorized it and and Dragon agreed. Nothing like that is the case. And, as indicated by the containment-foam’d criminal, there are ways to stop prisoners from being freed… Hell, containment foam them as soon as the portal opens seems like it would have been the measure they put in to counter Cauldron portaling out whoever the hell they wanted. “And now we’re here for our special documentary of Halloween madness, ‘Supervillains versus Monsters’ and our supervillain this year is a fellow known as Psycho Gecko. Some of you may know him from his work in Memphis, Kingscrow, Empyreal City, and Paradise City, but not all of you know that he’s a philanthropist. That’s right, this year he’s donating his pay from this event, and the pledges people send in, to the American Society for the Protection of Acid-Spitting, People-Eating Giant Irradiated Mutant Rat Monsters with Herpes, or the ASPASPEGIMRMH. Say that five times fast. Mr. Gecko, what do you think, you think you can survive Night 1: Wolfwood Forest?” “Oh yeah, I got this. Big nest of them, whoopdy do, not the first time I’ve beaten up a dog. Hey, is Sarah McLachlan going to be in this? I can beat her up too. Just text in and pledge $5 or more and you can see me slap Sarah once in the face with a Yorkie.” “What did I tell you folks, he really is a charity worker. Now, let’s begin.” “You got it.” Airhorn! “What the hell was that? You’re going to bring them right to us.” “That is a combination airhorn/dog whistle, and yes, I am going to bring them right to us.” “Jesus, man, you’re going to get us all killed!” “Relax. At most I’m only going to get you guys killed. It’s a steep price to pay, but I just care about those irradiated giant rats way too much, you know what I mean?” “What are you putting on?” “Cowsuit. I’ve been kidnapping cows over the course of a year, dumping them in a pit in the basement, making them rub lotion on, and then making an authentic cow suit. When I play, I play to win.” “I think I’m going to be sick. That smells like rotting ass that’s been eaten by a wombat and crapped back out.” Crank, crank, engine roars to life “A chainsaw. You brought a chainsaw? These are werewolves!” “I know, that’s why it’s silver. Always have the right tool for the job, people. Next step, run around madly, cackling, slicing up anything in my path. Oh, better arm this thing.” “What are you doing, this was about surviving the night, not killing everything! What’s that thing, why is it beeping?” “You ever seen the movie Predator?” commercial break “This presentation of ‘Supervillains versus Monsters’ is brought to you by Gekko Brand Raptor Repellant. Gekko: Keeping our cities raptor free for over 20 months.” septimusmagistos on October 20, 2013 at 03:01 said: Am I supposed to feel sorry for Taylor here? Because with that latest thought of hers I’m hoping the damage will get progressively worse. “Taylor has been horribly damaged as she tries to do the right thing. Now she thinks that she needs to kill Dragon. I hope she gets even more damaged! Then maybe she’ll mistake Dinah for Scion!” So close to Tuesday. aaaaaaargh waiting is the worsttttttt Valin K Syrcen on October 20, 2013 at 11:08 said: Fuck me, you’re good! Question unrelated to the chapter but I can’t find the info I’m looking for anywhere despite my searches but I have to ask for conformation. Does Alexandria’s nigh-invulnerability work through having a time-locked body or something like that? Yes. It’s mentioned in the aftermath interlude ( the one post-Behemoth’s death)by Pretender. I just had a thought. There are a lot of refugees out there. A lot, trillions. And feeding and clothing these people and getting the infrastructure is going to be difficult, to say the least. But.. there are untold worlds out there. So many, and many of the already have infrastructure in place. And sure, some worlds will reject refugees; but then there are many, many worlds to choose from, and some of them will be willing to take on some refugees, at least a small amount. Sprinkle the survivors into the multiverse. That would be a job for the Doormaker and the clairvoyant, I think. I think you’re off by at least a couple orders of magnitude, especially as Scion has been attacking those worlds. Also, they only have access to sufficiently different worlds – very few abilities have access to those which are just a coin flip’s difference away. In any case, wasn’t this one of the things they specifically did do — and if there’s a perfectly happy world there, how would you justify opening a portal there, and potentially pointing it out to Scion, if he hadn’t already noticed it? Obviously I meant after Scion was neutralised. > I think you’re off by at least a couple orders of magnitude, especially as Scion has been attacking those worlds. I really don’t know which particular orders of magnitude you’re talking about here. Number of refugees? Number of worlds? Number of habitable worlds? Number of habitable worlds that would be willing to take in refugees? I also wasn’t suggesting that you’d necessarily need to do this with mirroring worlds. Refugees moving to Mithran Liverpool are still better off than in the wilderness. Though a couple of thousand years of divergence is pretty steep… A hundred or so still means a very similar world to our own. Oh, I was referring to the number of refugees. Post-Scion your idea is probably viable — OTOH, parahumans + Dragon can set up new cities on their original world so fast, there might be little reason to do so. If parahumans with appropriate powers survive, and Dragon does. (Dragon should really consider setting up a server vault on the dark side of the moon, or Europa or some other place – the Worms don’t even target such dead worlds.) Now I wonder if she will find a way to assault Scion’s real body or if she is headed another direction. I was wondering if anybody else thought she was going to take the fight to Scion’s real body or if she is attempting to emulate “Eden” If she gets enough firepower together, she can simply attack his usual projection and win. Every time Zion gets hit with a power that can affect him, that removes a human’s volume from a thing the size of a space whale. Then he adapts to defend against that, maybe removes the attacker, and keeps going. It would take millions of hits, each enough to disintegrate a whole person, to take him down with conventional tactics. That’s impossible normally, because you’ll get a dozen or so in every confrontation that both can hurt him and will fight. Each takes their couple hundred pounds of flesh and then loses, and he just has enough hit points to stand there and take it while everybody else dies or loses morale. Sometimes a couple powerhouses will alternate hits and get more damage in before being stopped, but it’s nowhere near enough in the long term. But now? She has hundreds or thousands of effective capes, all synchronized and working in cycles to prevent him from ever being immune to the thing that’s hitting now. Doormaster, the Clairvoyant, and her preternatural swarm-reflexes and multitasking provide near-perfect defenses (she could shut down the portal to the hospital between when he fired and when his attack reached it) and none of the things he’s shown so far should be able to pass them since she isn’t blocking the attack but rather opening somewhere else to absorb it. It’s like the Yangban tactics, with synchronized troops, huge variety of powers, and high level synergy letting a squad of capes fight things way out of their weight class, but all turned up to eleven. The really tragic thing here is that her plan could totally work. It would just be at the cost of losing her self, destroying her friends, and enslaving all of humanity. Something has occurred to me. I believe I mentioned at one (or more) point(s) that Yangban translates into “Template,” “Prototype,” “Model,” or “Sample Plate”. Now that we know that the not-quite-50 guys sharing powers are only about a quarter of the Yangban, the Sample Plate interpretation seems…less likely. So, what are the Yangban a template/prototype/model for? Maybe the individual members are all xeroxes of the template that is the whole Yangban? Yeah, I know it’s a bit weak. I thought they were a model for how to deal with parahumans and use them effectively? I think it was mentioned somewhere in Cody’s interlude. Eh, don’t the Chinese try to tell the world that this is the best way to handle capes? The “model” of how to control them? So, Wildbow, was the s in s-class threat, termed by cauldron and the PRT, all this time meaning ‘Scion’ class?” It probably meant “special”, “super”, or “s*t this thing’s dangerous.” I always figured it was just a natural progression, like the performance ratings in video games; you go through grades (F, D, C, B, A), and then you discover that you need a level above A and tack on S ratings or start throwing plusses around. Class D is so incompetent and weak as to be ignorable, probably dealt with by noobs in the Wards or local PRT. C is the kind of minor threat than make up the day to day work of a hero. B is significant threats that take time and planning to deal with, like the various gangs and villains that Taylor started rooting out as a Ward but had been established in the area for years. A is a major threat, capable of winning against teams of veteran capes and presenting a lethal threat to all in the vicinity, like an individual member of the Nine, Lung and the ABB before Taylor showed, or most of the inhabitants of the Birdcage. Class S is the rating you make up when a threat appears that A just isn’t enough to describe, things that the whole Protectorate tries to avoid or limit the damage from rather than making a serious attempt to defeat them. Something outside usual scales of difficulty or threat because they simply win if you try to fight them fairly, like the Nine working together, Nilbog’s entire kingdom, or an Endbringer. Something with the massive scale or sheer power to be considered potentially apocalyptic. I’m a first time commenter and a long time reader. I can’t believe this is really ending soon. I really enjoyed seeing Taylor grow and change as a human being and become an adult. It was painful sometimes and she made a lot of stupid mistakes, but I really grew fond of her. That’s why it is so tragic seeing her lose her humanity like this. I sort of want all of this to be a dream, and have her back with the undersiders. I need more lisa/taylor/bitch interaction haha. Anyway I just want to say you are a great writer. You must have some sort of parahuman power to write fantastic stories at a ridiculous pace or something. Anyway, thanks for everything. I’m looking forward to any future projects you do next. Psycho Gecko on the Starboard Bow! illlogicmedia on October 21, 2013 at 14:41 said: KickAss: “This is my first time posting to this thread.” Big Daddy: “Excellent we will signal Psycho Gecko!” KickAss: “However will you reach him?” HitGirl: “We have a special signal in the shape of a giant cock.” Okay so can I list Taylor on the tropes page as currently the most powerful parahuman in the world? I mean Contessa could conceivably make a plan/predict where to hit her, the fairy queen might have the fire power to take her on, and Eidolon were he still alive would probably pull a power out of his ass to cancel the portals, BUT you can argue that she is stronger than all of them right now. I was thinking of changing the nobody to nightmare to reflect her S-class, nightmare fuel incarnate, state. The most powerful parahuman on which world? Earth Bet? Sure. The only other ones are in the Birdcage or hiding in a shelter somewhere. I guess I mean all parahumans everywhere. You know one of those who would win in a fight scenarios. But I added it to tropes page anyway. Thanks. One who might be more powerful is the Sleeper. Who woke, apparently, and moved into another dimension. No word since. Funny, one of the things I thought sleeper might do is something like what Taylor is doing now, only with more range, and less fine control. My headcanon is that he’s basically Dream of the Endless. Alternatively wildbow has decided to wage battle with Martin’s and/or Zelasny’s heirs’ lawyers and he’s just a guy who gains new superpowers everytime he wakes from a sleep-cycle 🙂 . Or maybe he’s a self-contained universe, and inside his own universe, in his dream, he is omnipotent and omniscient. If he sees you, he can drag you into his universe. So…he’s basically Dream of the Endless? 😛 . Don’t know what that is, guess I’ll look it up 😛 You don’t know Sandman? Possibly the greatest comic series ever written. Authored by a certain Neil Gaiman. You may have heard of him (I hope). I was going to link wikipedia’s page on Dream/Morpheus but it’s full of spoilers, so never mind. No clue who they were. I pretty much stopped reading comics in the late 1980’s, and most of what I was reading even then was Marvel. Wow. End of the eighties was when some of the most acclaimed comics ever came out ( Watchmen, sandman, The Dark Knight Returns, A Serious House on Serious Earth and other weird Morisson stuff like Animal Man and Doom Patrol (all DC by the way) ). You know before the Nineties sort of almost destroyed the industry. Was Cody still in the C.U.I.’s clutches? (Obvious translation: Does Taylor have him now?) I believe the last time we see him, he’s teleporting away with his crush. So he probably either got away or was killed trying. So is Weaver going to go collect Jack? She knows he can talk to Scion. I’m not sure we want to see what would happen to Weaver’s thoughts if Jack were to gain any influence there, though. With what Taylor’s been through? If Jack’s very lucky he’ll get to stay in his time bubble and only have to suffer eternal disembowelment. Letting Taylor get her hands on him would just be cruel. Taylor does not seem very interested in talking at this point…she’s getting dangerously close to a Dalek Exterminate setting. Especially considering that she is quickly losing track of simple English I doubt Jack would be useful at all. You know, when Panacea first gave her relay bugs that could breed, I thought to myself, mostly as a joke, that Taylor qualified for Class S threat now. Given enough time to breed, she could get a big enough population of them to cover the entire planet, barring places the climate couldn’t support them, and take control of virtually all of the bugs on earth. Given the persistent portals Faultline’s Crew left all over, she could spread her perception and control slowly over many earths, and become basically the goddess of a swarm filling the multiverse. It was funny to think about, if unlikely to happen and largely irrelevant in the face of the crisis at hand. It’s not funny anymore. 1) I was listening to Sandwitches while reading this (By Tyler the Creator and Hodgy Beats, if you were unaware) when the part that echoed you came on: “It was hilarious, but it ain’t fucking funny now” which basically sums up the progression of Taylor as a cape, as a whole. “Bug girl, hahaha” yeah, laugh it up, chuckles. Nice coincidence anywho. 2) I saw a few of your recent posts, and I’m quite pleased by the level of reading comprehension and thoughtfulness of them. Please do post more. 3) Is this your first time commenting? Not quite, but it is my first time on the latest chapter. I came over when Less Wrong recommended the fic in his author’s notes for Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, and I just finished working through the archives. All my other comments are thus horribly out of date and scattered across a dozen or so chapters. Yeah I had that same thought. I was very excited about the possibility of having Taylor upgraded to Swarm Planet. This turn of events is awesome in its own right. I do agree that it’s not funny in the slightest. I still hold out hope for her eventually coming back…somehow…and become the Swarm Goddess. She’s essentially a goddess anyway at the moment but it would be so cool to have her sit back drinking tea and sending a swarm to save a kitten from a tree or something across the planet. Dark as Silver on October 21, 2013 at 13:14 said: Can we rename taylor ‘conscript’ now? Or are there any better ideas? I’m amazed that nobody has said this yet… Has an army of drones. Has encased herself in a honycomb made of portals… She’s a Hive now. Tayler -> Skitter -> Weaver -> Hive Hmmmm…I kind of like that. Has an ominous sound to it I think. Crap…ghetto edit here: Taylor…my apologies…eek It’s usable. Quite a few actually. Trapdoor and Snare were initial. Then Web seems to have gained traction. Personally, to move away from the bug motif altogether, while having a similar yet eerie vibe as Skitter and Weaver, I’ve decided to go all in for the simply put, Administrator. I prefer Clotho. She’s not quite a god, yet, but she’s working on it. Perhaps not Clotho. Though she’s young, her goal here is more a fit for Atropos. So, I was thinking about it. Perhaps the loss of English wasn’t as fuzzy as we might think. Teacher likes to use big words. I bet he also likes using words that English stole at knifepoint from other languages in back alleys of Grammar City. If he was using non-English words that we, in real life, would recognize as not being English words, it’s very possible that Taylor’s comprehension of them would have been lost before her comprehension of her primary language. So she would get these blips in language every time Teacher used a latin phrase, or French, or Spanish, or whatever, but she would continue to understand the English parts. I suspect she lost English at the Yangban fight, but had lost all other languages that she knew little bits and pieces of in the Teacher part. i’m sorry, but Dragon is incomprehensible to her as well and dragon was also speaking English One interesting question is, can Contessa use her power to find ways to properly interact with Admin!Taylor like she did with Doctor Mother ? Aside from simple bodily harm, I mean. I’m certain Contessa CAN* manage to communicate with Taylor. Possible by becoming the world’s best Charades player, if nothing else. However She first has to decide to talk rather than run or fight. That was after she started controlling the Yangban though. Even when she left Teacher, she was still able to understand at least some English. Gazzien on October 21, 2013 at 17:59 said: Just trawled all of the way through this (took me a bit over a week, using about half of my free time outside of classes), and… wow. Thank you. This is wonderful. Keep on keeping on~ God on October 22, 2013 at 12:49 said: “Three hundred million people, many still migrating to places where they could settle, physically walking to separate themselves from others, so Scion couldn’t kill too many at once.” I’m surprised there are still that many alive. For all we know that includes refugees from earth Aleph and other populated ones. Also about 3.5 billion people live in rural environments that would take a while for even Scion to track down without simply demolishing the continent. Also its never made clear how many people that cauldron managed to evacuate. rmcd94 on December 7, 2013 at 22:54 said: I don’t get how her Field of View works, is it based on geography or can she just attach it to people? What? That’s like the epitome of naturalness! And at the very least way more natural than a hive queen who has complete and total control over every minion. Also, being so morally better than the CUI who as I last checked were doing a ton better than you were? Not cooperating? The CUI and Teacher were cooperating! And the Doctor let them get in that position even though the three of them are invaluable for creating huge armies, I’m sure she’s not an idiot so she did that on purpose. Panecea should use her ability on more people. Would they really waste Ziggarut’s ability on building a huge palace? And have all three of them beside the royal family? That’s like the epitome of dumb. Especially when it’s moments after they deliberately split up 300 million people. If CUI had recruited Teacher as one of the first three they would have been so OP. Power granting would complete the set and allow the 300 million citizens to be 300 million capes. S mockingbuddha1 on June 13, 2014 at 14:15 said: So, I have been loving this story! I can’t believe how long it is. Thank you Wildbow for hours of enjoyment. I was sent here on recommendation from Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. I am writing a pulp sci-fi novel myself and reading this gave me the idea to publish it as a serial on wordpress. Which I have started doing. I don’t know if it’s bad etiquette to put a link here, but I don’t have any other ideas for marketing, so… http://mockingbuddha1.wordpress.com/ It’s called Laser Boy and it’s about a gang of homeless kids on a space station. “My swarm shifted their stances, approaching a little closer, guns raised.”. Very nice bit of writing there, indirectly conveying a rather disturbing shift in Taylor’s mentality. So, thoughts: * Even forty years later it still might not be safe to use the expression “vast tracts of land”. 😛 * The Emperor is an idiot. If it hadn’t been Taylor who attacked it would’ve been Scion. And setting yourself up as the obvious leader in the obvious palace surrounded by the obvious army is a really bad approach to take with Scion. Find yourself a small shack somewhere. Maybe keep one or two loyal parahumans as guards (aka potential distractions for Scion while you run away). Do everything possible to NOT make yourself a honking huge fortified target that screams “obliterate me, I’m important!”. Taylor’s always had an uncomfortable awareness of vast tracts of land. She has a bit of a complex about her own limited real estate holdings. Averus on October 5, 2014 at 20:10 said: Thought it was the C.U.I.? Wildbow mentions above that it’s intentional. Meant to show how Taylor is losing her ability to understand English even in her thoughts. Well. Fuck. I think we just lost Taylor. Teacher didn’t get fucked up enough. I am rather curious now how he got to Cauldron right after this honestly. I can’t imagine Taylor letting Doormaker open him the door and he had no reason to go there and mention Taylor being a problem before her attack on him. God damn it Dragon. Okay so my fingers are crossed that at the very least Taylor is just going to stop at killing the one body and not go after any backups. That can be okay. Dragon will reload and all will be good. The Yang Ban, about damn time they were knocked down a bit too. The curbstomp was hilarious. It was also rather fun to see our Swarm Queen in action using billions upon billions of bugs. Not quite the Planet Swarm I was originally hoping for with the breeding relays but I’ll take what I can get since we do have a whole army of thralls with ever increasing numbers now instead. And to end this off: Fuck. Uhhhh. That’s REALLY not the only option, Taylor. Like, just off the top of my head, you could go grab Teacher and start carrying him around as a meatshield. (I had been wondering why she couldn’t speak or read but wasn’t having any trouble with understanding speech. Glad that wasn’t just an oversight.) srave on January 2, 2015 at 10:52 said: “Inside the place itself was a kaleidoscope.” Palace? Ok,so Taylor now has better control over her people.SO WHY NOT PANTOMIME?aside from the shard urging her to be aggressive,or her brain losing the ability to corelate any symbol with meanings…ok,she may have valid excuses,still,pantomime negotiation would be funny and hilarious. “speech”points to her throat “and comprehension”points to her ears “brain center gone caput”covers her mouth and ears “strategy brain center”points to her brain and pantomimes playing chess with one of her followers “still ok”smiles broadly and makes an o with her fingers “please”drops to her knees,in a begging position “let me”points to herself “kill”mock slashes her throat “that golden bastard”points to the sky. I think part of the problem is that the shard is pushing the aggression and the combat. It’s close to the drivers seat and pushing things along to the path of most conflict which is exactly what it’s hardwired to do. Plus Taylor has pretty much lost all capacity for human thought beyond planning how to continue her combat. She has her goal, she’s working towards that goal, she’s losing anchors and losing her ability to even really conceive of stopping to negotiate. She simply doesn’t have the capacity to think along the lines you suggest anymore. Even if she did I don’t know if there is enough time to do so. She’s getting worse fast and how long would it take to get people to agree to let her puppeteer them around? By the time she got consent it could be too late for her to keep things together enough to be effective. MisterTeatime on January 30, 2016 at 20:46 said: I guess this answers my big question about power classifications, in a roundabout way- where do purely sensory powers (without any enhanced interpretive abilities like Tattletale’s power to draw connections super-quickly between available data or that last guy’s ability to condense tons of data around him into “danger” or “not danger”) fall? If Teacher can grant them, I suppose they must be classed as thinker powers. prooggroo on February 21, 2018 at 13:26 said: Taylor’s metamorphosis sadden me. Well, to step up the metamorphosis from man vs society to a cosmos setting neatly is brownies for me. Thx again Wildbow Poetically Psychotic on April 14, 2018 at 23:41 said: Even on a reread, all of the hype. I know I said that her new power level wasn’t the god power I imagined but this is basically perfect god power shit yo Power stealing is like, so broken BUT DRAGON NOOOOOOOOO Again, a lot lost. Didn´t she use Clairvoyants power at the beginning? Why does she suddenly have to touch him? Why does she not take Yu Shue? What´s with Marquis and co? Is he with her? From the end of the last chapter it seemed that she got several from the hospice, but here it sounded as if she attacked teacher only with clairy + doory. heart on May 10, 2019 at 06:00 said: Now I hate Taylor’s passenger. The real Taylor would never seriously hurt Dragon. Leave a Reply to Alathon Cancel reply	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1810
__label__wiki	0.501254	0.501254	Economic Geography Take Home Exam Part I: Theory Transportation and Manufacturing The evolution in transportation has allowed manufacturing to be spread out, both here in the US and around the world. What are factors that determine the location of manufacturing plant? How are they affected by transportation? Be sure to discuss the role of various types of transportation within your discussion, as well as all the factors that determine location of manufacturing. First order only 00.00 Transportation has changed the world manufacturing and trade scenario entirely. Firms wanting to minimize their physical distribution costs, such as transportation, warehousing, packaging, inventory control and material handling, are being highly calculative in determining their processing unit (manufacturing unit) locations. With faster and advanced modes of transportation now providing superior transport options to buyers and sellers, location proximity of manufacturing plants to market places is no longer an obligation. The location of a manufacturing plant or a processing unit depends on two major factors, from transportation point of view: The cost of assembly – the cost involved in bringing the inputs together from different sources; The cost of Distribution – the cost of distributing the outputs or finished goods in the market. If the cost of assembly is greater than the cost of distribution, then it is prudent to locate the manufacturing plant close to the source. However, if the cost of distribution is greater than the cost of assembly, then it is wise to locate the manufacturing plant close to the markets. In addition to these factors, other factors to be considered while determining manufacturing plant locations are: The cost of raw material sourcing; The cost of land (for the processing unit); The cost of labor (minimum wages, industry pay average, competition); Future plans based on capital and technology; Taxes and tariffs; Community and Environmental Concerns The ultimate decision of finalizing the manufacturing plant location depends on all these factors and it would be wise to find out the location where tradeoffs between all types of costs bring down the net cost of production. As per the Median location principle, the main objective of finding a suitable manufacturing location is to bring down the delivery (transportation) cost. Also as per Weber’s theory, transportation cost contributes to a major chunk of the net capital to be involved in any manufacturing operation. To find a suitable transportation medium, one must consider the following: Distance to be travelled – for shorter distances (up to 300 miles), truck or road transport is economically most feasible transport mode. However for longer distances (300-2000 miles) railways provide a more viable transportation solution. For even larger distances (>2000 miles) transportation via water is most suitable. Services to be offered – if speed of delivery and convenience is to be offered in delivering products, then airways also become a mode of transportation. Thus relative flexibility in manufacturing unit locations depend heavily on combinations of all aforementioned factors and the intent of the manufacturer, as to how and when the manufactured product must reach the markets. Urban Sector: Define suburbanization. Discuss the evolution of cities from a central zone to the multiple nuclei of suburban centers. What role did transportation play in this evolution? What role did governments play in this evolution? What is the current trend? Explain. Suburbanization is the concept of the rise of numerous urban centers and economic hyper-activity spots in the suburbs of the large urban centers. It can also be described as the multiple nuclei of suburban centers. Conservatively, most cities developed in a concentric fashion with the Central Business District (CBD) remaining in the center, manufacturing and wholesaling operations forming the second zone and the peripheral zone being the residential area. However, with expansion in population size and mushrooming of business options and resources having just one CBD per urban city no longer remained economically prudent. Coupled with the problem of spatial constraint in fast expanding cities, central zone dependent cities started evolving into multi-nuclei suburbs. These suburbs held smaller but concentrated zones of economic activity away from CBD but connected to it via roads. With their own residential and wholesaling zones around these suburban economic centers, cities started evolving into multiple nuclei. Development of newer and faster modes of transportation has greatly supported this shift in city structures. While previously employees preferred staying in vicinity of their workplaces, with housing cost soaring in large urban centers and transportation cost and time coming down, city dwellers have started migrating to take residence farther from workplaces. Government involvement has also affected the evolution of cities in a number of ways – Agricultural land subsidies have increased the cost of residential options; Restricting land usage depending on environmental concerns has also led to dramatic fluctuations in land cost; Externalities in differential land developments having impact on surrounding areas, both negative and positive. Due to all these factors, the current trends have changed markedly in all multi nuclei cities. While before most city traffic was directed from suburbs towards CBD, it is now heavily directed from one suburb to another suburb. Companies seeking larger spaces for their operations are also increasingly shifting from CBDs to distant economic nuclei, attracting buyers and producers along with them.This evolution from central zone to multi nuclei of suburban centers can be depicted as below; Part II: Application (50 Points) Read the article “Compan(ies) Town” (located above or below). Then return here and answer the following questions (each is worth 10 points): Provide a half-page, summary of the article. The article describes the economic and environmental history of the town Sauget as well as illustrates its current unconventional situation. Known by the name of Monsanto, the town was basically incorporated to act as a sewer and dumping ground and had a notorious reputation for mal-odorous wind and land, ground water, river and food chain contamination with PCB (Poly Chlorinated Biphenyl). However, due to increasing pollution, the plant was shut down and the town later adopted the name of Sauget, after one of its founding families. Present day Sauget hosts a variety of unusual businesses like night clubs, strip clubs, lottery counters, trash transfer facilities and deodorizing cake manufacturers. The Sauget family is highly involved in the town life, with Mr. Sauget as the village president, and the family owning a number of houses and night clubs in the area. Sauget is increasingly becoming a community, beckoning all kind of businesses with open arms, providing them with economic opportunity without any judgement. There may not be a school or a Church or a supermarket, but with clean roads, lush parks, a police offices/fireman for every 15 people and a per capita income of $19,000; Sauget is a an unusual town with a thriving population and economy. What are the benefits to Sauget, IL of taking in companies that are turned away from other towns (Not In My Back Yards (NIMBYs))? What are the costs? While neighboring towns around Sauget, such as St. Louis, are passing up on NIMBY businesses given environmental and community concerns, Sauget has been and continues to be a safe haven for such industries which are not readily accepted elsewhere. The biggest benefit is the economic advantage which this openmindedness has afforded Sauget. The per capita income of Sauget is $19,000 and with other property and tax revenues surmounting up to $7 million every year. The town itself doesn’t look like its dilapidated neighbors with rundown buildings and boarded up factories; but possess beautiful residences, clean roads and numerous parks. Due to its unconventional industry mix (Lottery booth, Night clubs and Strip bars), Sauget also attracts a lot of business from neighboring towns. There is a policeman & a fireman for every 15 citizens and the town-folks also enjoy free sewer and free trash pickup services. Place an Order Support 24/7 However, the same NIMBYs cost Sauget on many other fronts. No new residential projects are ever taken up in the locale and anybody is hardly ever interested in moving to Sauget. There are no schools, Churches or supermarkets in the area and citizens have to visit neighboring areas for these services. The most excruciating cost, without doubt, is the environmental contamination caused over the years by many waste treatment companies in the area. Land, ground water, air and river pollution has spread rampantly in Sauget since its incorporation. Even though with stricter environmental laws and millions of dollars funneled into the town for rejuvenation, the town remains to be one of the most polluted sites in the country. Sauget citizens even bear the stigma of being an environment-polluter for personal wealth. Is the type of economic development seen in Sauget, IL desirable? Why or why not? Answer 3.The type of economic development seen in Sauget is a futuristic example of how towns, aiming to flourish despite failing economies, will plan a rise. The uptight behavior of some communities in not allowing certain ‘Not In My Back Yard’ industries to enter their neighborhood may be seen as a cautionary measure by some but it is in essence narrow mindedness that inhibits economic and cultural growth on many levels. Where Sauget has managed to build a wealthy society, courtesy welcoming all the unconventional businesses, the town has also gained a spirit of entrepreneurship and tolerance along the way. Although such incessant inclusion of waste treatment and chemical producing industries to the community has negatively affected the town’s ecology, it has also given the towns people awareness of their environment and the spirit to joke about it (the environmentalists take the so called ‘toxic tours’). The town is replete with beautiful parks, neat houses and clean roads. It attracts a lot of business from neighboring cities and it considers its industries a constituent of the town. Thus, it is prudent to say that the route of economic development that Sauget has taken is a desirable one. With time, if the positive attitude of the town people continues, then its environmental problems can be sorted out too and what will remain will be a prosperous community, tolerant of every occupation and lifestyle. Would the type of development pursued by Sauget, IL be possible in a town without the influence of such a prominent family? Who else could force such development? Answer 4. The influence of the Sauget family has been nothing short of phenomenal in the development of the town. With blatant pro-business leanings and an innate leadership quality, the Saugets have led the town in a determinedly upward way. Though coming from varied backgrounds such as farming, police force service and professional sports; the Saugets have represented the town as village presidents three times and have consciously nourished a town culture that views entrepreneurship in high esteem. The town offers infrastructure to support all kind of manufacturing and other NIMBYs and the community is very non-judgmental about honest businesses, whatever the type. Controlling several nightclubs, a minor league baseball team and around 20 homes in the town, the Sauget family plays a vital role in the town’s economic and social life. It is hard to imagine any organized government or non-government body giving such an unidirectional and dedicated push to the town’s economy like the Saugets have been giving for generations. What factors would attract a manufacturing plant to locate in Sauget, IL? Explain. Answer 5. Sauget, IL hosts complete infrastructure to support extensive manufacturing industrial development. Incorporated initially to be a sewer, the town has been developed with the sole intention of supporting manufacturing of waste treatment products and other chemicals vital to multiple industries. Although with environmental concerns running high, many older companies affecting the environment have been shut down, new businesses are welcome to boost future potential of manufacturing. The community is non-judgmental of unconventional businesses and the connectivity to neighboring markets, given a new trucking company building terminal in Sauget; the town is all but waving a green flag at manufacturers. Not only are there waste treatment plants in abundance around the area, an ethanol plant has also just broken ground in Sauget. The town treats their companies as their constituents and has repeatedly supported them in legal battles against activists and NGOs. With an open work environment, an infrastructure to support and secondary industries to facilitate manufacturing, manufacturers can be easily attracted to open a manufacturing plant in Sauget, IL. Oil in Saudi Arabia Economics Tools and Concept Paper Limits to Long-term Economic Growth Economic Crisis in Greece Absolute Advantage Theory	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1821
__label__wiki	0.525748	0.525748	The Sicilian Woman’s Daughter: a mystery about four generations of Mafia women News provided by Sparkling Books Limited on Wednesday 17th Oct 2018 “This is an addictive read from page one to last and thoroughly enjoyable!” About The Sicilian Woman’s Daughter: When the novel opens, Maria, the novel’s protagonist is living a charmed and comfortable life with her husband, banker Humphrey and children, in London. The daughter of Sicilian immigrants, Maria turned her back on her origins during her teens to fully embrace the English way of life. Despite her troubled and humble childhood, Maria, through her intelligence, beauty and sheer determination, triumphantly works her way up to join the upper middle-class of British society. But when a minor incident awakens feelings of revenge in her, Maria is forced to confront–and examine–her past. As she delves deeper into her mother’s family history, a murky past unravels–and Maria is swept up in a deadly and dangerous mire of vendetta. Will Maria’s carefully-constructed, seemingly-idyllic life unravel? Expect the unexpected in this outstanding new mystery…. The Sicilian Woman’s Daughter is a brilliantly-plotted, exceedingly well-told tale. Novelist Linda Lo Scuro delivers a confident and captivating tale brimming with tantalising twists, turns, and surprise, a to-die-for plot, and realistic, multi-dimensional characters. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, rich and riveting, The Sicilian Woman’s Daughter is destined to stay with readers long after the final page is turned. Print ISBN: 978-1-907230-69-1 £9.99, US$ 19.95, €16.95 E-book ISBN: 978-1-907230-70-7 £4.99, US$6.99, €5.99 Linda Lo Scuro lives in London. This is her first novel. Please see www.sparklingbooks.com for full reviews. “The charm of reading this book is that: always, and I mean always, the reader is satisfied with the result.” “Abused, scheming, vindictive, connected, murderous, victims and victors.” “It’s a must-read for mystery lovers.” “A cracking good read.” “An enthralling read on many levels.” “Wow - this is a great story!” “Female sophistication and guns, poison, and network connections do the trick.” About Sparkling Books Sparkling Books publishes titles written to a high quality in both fiction and non-fiction. The company also represents some independent authors for translation rights. More information at www.sparklingbooks.com Member of Independent Publishers Guild Sparkling Books Limited Amplevine House, Dukes Road, Southampton SO14 0ST, United Kingdom Registered at Cardiff no. 05955447 Press enquiries: admin (at) sparklingbooks.com Translation rights enquiries: rights (at) sparklingbooks.com Sales enquiries: sales (at) sparklingbooks.com Author: @LindaLoScuro Publisher: @SparklingBooks Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Sparkling Books Limited, on Wednesday 17 October, 2018. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/ Family Female Godfather Sicily Italy Culture Mystery Crime Book Fiction London Violence Murder Drugs Story Culture Clash Entertainment & Arts Lifestyle & Relationships Media & Marketing Women & Beauty admin@sparklingbooks.com http://www.sparklingbooks.com Anna Alessi, Publisher, anna@sparklingbooks.com Cover of "The Sicilian Woman's Daughter" https://www.sparklingbooks.com/the_sicilian_wom... Prologue to The Sicilian Woman's Daughter * For more information regarding media usage, ownership and rights please contact Sparkling Books Limited.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1824
__label__wiki	0.812729	0.812729	lifestyle health-fitness Health & Fit Health & FitDo You Need a Measles Booster? 02:55 02 may 2019 Source: consumerreports.org Do You Need a Measles Booster? 2019-05-02 2019-05-02 Do adults need the measles vaccine? How to know if you're protected There’s lots of talk about how to protect children from the highly contagious virus, but adults with measles are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized. More than 700 cases of measles have been reported in the U.S. Consumer Reports explains how to tell whether you 're protected against the virus or whether you need a measles booster shot. Please call Member Services at 1-800-333-0663. Do You Need a Measles Booster ? Experts are divided on the need for a measles booster shot by adults who are worried about their measles immunity. The high-risk groups of adults who should discuss measles vaccination with their doctor include international travelers, health care workers, and folks living in communities that are in © Provided by Consumers Union of United States, Inc. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. With 704 cases in 22 states reported so far in 2019, the U.S. is experiencing the worst outbreak of measles since the disease was eliminated in 2000. As the number of people with the disease grows, public health officials are encouraging anyone who is not vaccinated to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine—which is 97 percent effective at protecting against measles and is thought to provide lifelong immunity to the disease, says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious-disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. I’m an adult worried about measles. What do I need to know? In short, vaccines are the best way to prevent spreading the measles and even those who are not vaccinated as children are able to get the shots. There's also no need for follow up immunizations, as the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is good for life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. © Provided by USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.Measles is an extremely contagious illness caused by a virus that spreads through the air. It mainly infects children, causing a red spotted rash and fevers as high as 104 degrees, but it can also infect adults. With measles outbreaks continuing across the country, do you need a measles booster shot? Should You Get a Measles Booster Shot? Here's What Experts Say. Get answers to questions about protecting against measles , measles vaccine, how measles spreads, measles in the U.S., and virus classification. adult who will be in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission, including students at post-high school education institutions, healthcare However, the current version of the vaccine, which includes two shots, only became the standard in 1989. People born and vaccinated before then may have received a less effective shot. That doesn't mean everyone older than 30 should run out and get another dose, though, Schaffner told Consumer Reports. Here’s what you need to know about measles protection, and who should consider a booster. Are You Protected? Anyone born before 1957 is considered to be protected against measles, according to the Centers for Disease Control, because they were probably exposed to the virus when they were kids. People who were born after that year but received the measles vaccine before 1989 may be more vulnerable to the virus: They were given one shot, which is only 93 percent effective. (The two-shot series that has been used since 1989 is 97 percent effective.) Nearly 1,000 Madagascar children dead of measles since October - WHO At least 922 children and young adults have died of measles in Madagascar since October, despite a huge emergency vaccination program, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. The number of deaths is based on official numbers, but these are likely to be very incomplete, as is the current total of infections, at 66,000, Dr. Katrina Kretsinger of WHO's expanded program on immunization told a news briefing. require(["medianetNativeAdOnArticle"], function (medianetNativeAdOnArticle) { medianetNativeAdOnArticle. Measles outbreak: Do adults need another measles vaccine? Should you get a booster ? Updated Apr 24, 2019;Posted Apr 24, 2019. The CDC considers people who received two doses of the measles vaccine as children protected for life and they do not need a booster shot. The latest measles outbreak has raised new questions about whether some older adults -- those born before 1968 -- should be re-vaccinated. In addition, between 1963 and 1967, a version of the measles vaccine that used inactivated virus was available. That version was not effective, and the CDC recommends that people who had that type of vaccination get a shot of the current MMR vaccine. The takeaway? Anyone vaccinated before 1968 probably has inadequate protection against the measles, and people vaccinated before 1989 might not be fully protected, either. Most vaccinated adults, however, should be reassured that the data strongly support that they are protected, said Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, during a CDC call with the press earlier this week. Knowing your immunization status is a much more pressing concern for people who live in an area where measles is spreading, Schaffner says. Although there are hundreds of people with measles around the country, only nine places have ongoing outbreaks, meaning they have three or more cases of the disease, according to the CDC: Brooklyn and Queens, New York City; Rockland County, N.Y.; Butte County, LA County, and Sacramento County, Calif.; Oakland County, Mich.; Ocean County, N.J.; Baltimore County, Md.; and Atlanta, Ga. Measles epidemic in Madagascar kills more than 900, says WHO The World Health Organization says that an epidemic of measles in Madagascar has caused more than 900 deaths. According to WHO figures, there have been more than 68,000 cases of the disease in which 553 deaths were confirmed and another 373 suspected from measles since the outbreak began in September. Those most at risk are infants from nine to 11 months old. The epidemic is blamed on a low immunization rate for measles across the island nation over a period of many years, according to WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic. The vaccination rate is estimated to be less than 60 percent, according to figures from WHO and UNICEF figures, he said. Do you have the protection you need ? Before the 1990s, the measles vaccine was given as one shot, but the recommendation changed to two after an outbreak in Of course, getting a measles booster won't hurt—adding a second dose can increase its effectiveness to about 98%—and there are certain As measles cases continue to spread worldwide, health experts are urging Canadians to check their vaccination records to ensure they are Although measles is highly contagious, contractingthe virus can be prevented by the two-dose vaccine. But, in recent months, healthcare bodies including the “If you’re in a community where an outbreak is occurring, particularly if you’re part of the subgroup of the community that is a focus of the outbreak—for example, if you’re a member of the Orthodox Jewish community in New York, or have close friends who are—it becomes more of a pointed issue,” Schaffner says. People traveling internationally, university students, health care workers, and people who live in communities with measles cases should check their status and make sure they’re protected, Messonnier said. If you’re an adult living in a community experiencing an outbreak and received only one dose of the measles vaccine, received the unactivated virus, or you’re not sure of your vaccination status, you have a few options, Schaffner says. First, you can try to track down your childhood medical records, although that can often be difficult. “Unless you happen to be very fortunate, it’s usually a futile attempt,” he says. If you don’t have your medical records and aren’t sure what type of vaccine you received, or if you simply want to be sure you’re protected, you can get a blood test to check whether you have antibodies against measles in your bloodstream—which is a signal that you’re immune to the disease. New measles case confirmed in Seattle nurse KOMO-TV reported Monday that Seattle Children's Hospital officials say the nurse contracted the disease from a patient who was being treated for measles at the facility. There are certain things in life that we just don’t want to make a comeback. One of those is measles . Though the virus was considered eliminated in the United States in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's now back—big time. This year, it seems that every. This is who needs a measles booster — and what else you can do to avoid the super contagious disease. If you do start showing signs of measles (more on this below), contact your doctor. Although there isn’t any medication to get rid of the illness, they may be able to help with symptom You can ask your doctor whether he or she can draw blood for what's called a titer, make an appointment at a blood testing lab, or go to a walk-in clinic like the CVS Minute Clinic. Ask your insurer whether it covers titer tests before you go. Paying out of pocket, the list prices vary; Minute Clinics, for example, charge up to $129 for immunity testing. However, if you don’t want to spend the time and money for a blood test, it won’t hurt to just go and get a new MMR vaccine. “When in doubt, immunize,” Schaffner says. “If you happen to be protected, it won’t hurt. If you’re not already protected, you will become protected.” The CDC has not specifically recommended that people get re-vaccinated if they have not received two doses of the vaccine, notes Schaffner. At the moment, the decision is being made on a patient-by-patient basis. The agency emphasized this week that it is focusing outreach on people who are high-risk, such as health care workers and the unvaccinated, not the generation population. Most of the people getting measles now are unvaccinated, Messonnier said. If you’re unsure about your immunization status, says Schaffner, talk to your doctor about how to proceed. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Ohio reports case of measles amid its resurgence across US Health officials are reporting Ohio's first confirmed case of measles since 2017 amid a resurgence of the highly contagious disease around the U.S. The Ohio Department of Health says the case involves a young adult from Stark County who recently traveled to a state with confirmed measles cases. Cases nationwide have spiked to over 1,000 this year, the highest annual total since 1992. That includes some people who caught the virus while traveling internationally. Some triggered U.S. outbreaks, mostly among unvaccinated people. For most people, measles causes a fever, rash, runny nose and cough. You don’t need to do anything if you were born before 1957. Most people in that age range were infected with measles and are presumed to be immune. What should I do ? Call your doctor immediately. He or she can determine if you are immune to measles based on your age, vaccination Our measles outbreak has many adults asking if the vaccine they got as a child is enough. CBSN New York's Marc Liverman takes a closer look. Related Video: Measles Scare: Packed Theater Possibly Exposed; Cruise Ship Quarantined in Caribbean (Provided by NBC) Health officials confirm measles case in northern Michigan. Health officials in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula are urging people to watch for measles symptoms after a young woman who recently traveled to Ukraine was confirmed to have the highly contagious disease. Infectious Diseases A-Z: Decline in measles vaccine would triple cases Measles cases would triple if there were a 5 percent decline in measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage in the U.S., for children ages 2 to 11, ... Get Vaccinated and Prevent Measles Since measles is still common in many countries, unvaccinated travelers bring measles to the U.S. and it can spread. But you can protect yourself, your family, ... Do adults need the measles vaccine? How to know if you're... I’m an adult worried about measles. What do I need to... Nearly 1,000 Madagascar children dead of measles since October -... Measles epidemic in Madagascar kills more than 900, says... New measles case confirmed in Seattle... Ohio reports case of measles amid its resurgence across... New York continues to lead the nation in measles... Health officials confirm measles case in northern... Viking Cruises Launches New Expedition Trips to Antarctica, Great Lakes 'At 300 Pounds, I Couldn't Carry Groceries Up The Stairs. Then I Learned... Flu suspected in death of Texas teen, 16: ‘It happened so fast’ Disney Is Selling A Light-Up French Fry Bucket That Looks Just Like The... Samantha Brown, travel TV host, has tips for every vacation mishap 23 Things That Totally Horrify Flight Attendants This is the one thing you should always wear on a plane $1 homes in Italy still for sale -- here's a roundup Jails to palaces: 10 gorgeous properties that are now hotels These Pan-Fried Pork Chops Are Incredibly Tender Passenger Uses Airport Map Screen to Play Video Games Before Flight Amtrak is eyeing a new route in the Southern US Lucky Charms Has a New, Limited-Edition Marshmallow—If You Can Find It Why a ‘bland diet’ is your BFF during times of, ahem, gastric distress How to lower cholesterol with the right diet and exercise regimens Do You Need a Measles Booster ? - Consumer Reports Do Adults Need a Measles Booster Shot? Do You Need a Measles Booster Shot? Here's What Experts \| Time Questions About Measles \| CDC Do I need a measles booster ? - al.com Do you need a booster measles vaccine? - YouTube Do YOU Need a Measles Booster ? \| Parents Do you need a measles booster ? Probably, some \| CTV News Do Adults Need a Measles Booster ? Do Adults Need a Measles Booster ? – SheKnows Is the keto diet healthy? A cancer doctor explains why he's been on keto for 6 years What Menopause Does to Women’s Brains Teen in coma-like state after breast surgery went wrong Former 'Bachelorette' contestant reveals he has Guillain-Barré syndrome 'At 300 Pounds, I Couldn't Carry Groceries Up The Stairs. Then I Learned The 80-20 Rule And Lost... You look fine. Your doctor is stumped. But this disorder is leaving millions 'a hot mess' Whooping cough outbreak closes Texas school despite 100-percent vaccination rate: Officials 100 Foods to Kick Out of Your Pantry in 2020 Is the keto diet healthy? A cancer doctor explains why he's been on keto for 6... 'At 300 Pounds, I Couldn't Carry Groceries Up The Stairs. Then I Learned The... You look fine. Your doctor is stumped. But this disorder is leaving millions 'a... Whooping cough outbreak closes Texas school despite 100-percent vaccination rate:	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1825
__label__cc	0.530154	0.469846	Noobly Everything posted by Noobly Noobly replied to Spreadsheet Ranger's topic in General Chat https://www.makro.co.za/www.makro.co.za/CyberMonday27Nov17 Makro Cyber Monday 2017 Black Friday Friday 24 November 2017 Noobly replied to Outlook's topic in General Chat Here is Frontosa's price list for Black Friday 2017-11-24.zip These guys might have some Go Pro's for you https://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/black-friday-2017-specials Epson LX 1170 ii Windows 10 compatibility Noobly posted a topic in General Chat We run one of these Epson LX 1170 dot matrix printers to print invoices and stuff, had this machine for many years. Saturday night our windows 10 machine updated and after the update, the printer no longer seems to work. When we print the little "what's printing" icon comes up in the taskbar, but it shows there is nothing pending. It is almost as if windows does not communicate with the printer anymore. I suspect it is a drivers issue, as in the Epson LX 1170 II drivers are not compatible with windows 10. Do any of you perhaps run or use dot matrix printers on a windows 10 pc? Pembury Lifestyle Group (PEM) Noobly replied to SB45's topic in Investments This PEM stock is looking more and more attractive. RIP Malcolm Young The co-founder of Australian rock band ACDC, Malcolm Young has died at the age of 64. Today it is with deep heartfelt sadness that AC/DC has to announce the passing of Malcolm Young. Malcolm, along with Angus, was the founder and creator of AC/DC. With enormous dedication and commitment, he was the driving force behind the band. As a guitarist, songwriter, and visionary he was a perfectionist and a unique man. He always stuck to his guns and did and said exactly what he wanted. He took great pride in all that he endeavored. His loyalty to the fans was unsurpassed. Forum Updates and Forum Status Noobly replied to Platinum Wealth's topic in Site News & Feedback Looks very solid! Stock Watch Thread Noobly replied to Spreadsheet Ranger's topic in Investments Thanks, yea I know they own a bunch of properties in Namibia and I like property. Anyone have info on Trusco, is it worth getting into at the current levels? PPC a solid share to back? Noobly replied to YoungInvestor's topic in Investments I bought in at that same time Purply and the others did, I sold shortly afterwards - I thought the company was going to close. Anyone investing in Stadio? Noobly replied to LentilSoup's topic in Investments Nice one!! Who else is invested in Stadio? Wouldn't it be amazing if all Stadio shareholders registered here? @Admin @jonobruton I still feel you guys should link up with EasyEquities, their client base can benefit so much from this community and we can use more people in turn. JSE Resource Companies Kumba, but resources are a risky venture imo. I own Pembury thanks to you guys so let's hope it is good. 4sight holdings new JSE Listing 19 Oct How are you guys doing? Still climbing? My Pembury is going well. 12.4 million South African minors have had their information leaked Noobly replied to Platinum Wealth's topic in News and Current Affairs Who are these credit bureaus? This must get all the attention possible. Adapt IT I had them, sold it for an ETFs beginning of the year. I think MrDividend have some him or Groovy or Ranger, lost track which one. Very interesting, I'll keep an eye on this one. Stash (by Liberty) ... automatically invest your change Noobly replied to Bandit's topic in General Chat #BringBackMichealJordaan Fomo hitting me as well... I think I will buy R500's worth. ZarX Stock Exchange Noobly replied to Purply's topic in Investments Also interested in knowing what is up with ZARX What medical aid fund should I choose? Noobly replied to Spreadsheet Ranger's topic in General Finance Isn't Discovery like the most expensive medical guys around and offer virtually nothing in return unless you use their whole ecosystem? Investing for US dividend stocks in South Africa in the long term? Noobly replied to Arrie's topic in Investments I see EasyEquities now have US stocks on their site that we can buy, how does the tax work there? What is required from me if I buy the US stocks through their platform? Pick n Pay launches new website for easier online shopping Noobly posted a topic in News and Current Affairs Johannesburg - Retailer Pick n Pay has launched its new revamped website designed to work alongside its recently relaunched mobile app. The company said the new website is geared towards catering for the rapid growth and use of smartphones in South Africa. “Our aim with the new site was to combine that convenience with a simple and clean customer experience that works equally well on desktops and smart phones or tablets. Our customers are mobile, and our new shop gives them on-the-go accessibility,” said Mike Cotterell, general manager of Pick n Pay Online Shopping. Pick n Pay online shoppers can also create shopping lists and view their purchase history, easily adding previously-bought items to their trolley. “Our biggest considerations in building the new site have been convenience, cost and range,” said Georgina Muirhead, head of customer experience and Mobile. Shoppers also have the option to collect their groceries, free of charge, from selected Pick n Pay stores. Last month, the retailer announced that it had successfully trialed letting customers pay for groceries using the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The retailer, together with tech companies Electrum and Luno, piloted letting staff pay for groceries via Bitcoin at its head office in Cape Town. The pilot programme was limited to one store and is no longer active. Source: Fin24 Vodacom: Medication likely by drone in SA by 2025 Johannesburg - Local network operator, Vodacom[JSE:VOD] will be exploring new digital opportunities which include medication delivered to rural areas by drone and self-parking taxis. The new opportunities were announced amid the firm’s rebranding with a new logo and tagline: “The future is exciting, ready?” Vodacom’s chief of its Consumer Business Unit, Nyimpini Mabunda, made the announcements at a closed briefing on Thursday at Vodaworld in Midrand, Johannesburg. He said the company was shifting its business focus strategy from just being a telecommunications network to now also adapting to technological advances. “There are a lot of advances around the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that are not around yet, but when they happen, Vodacom will be there and it will be one of the first, if not the first, to bring these technologies to market,” Mabunda said. During the presentation, Mabunda said Vodafone is rebranding internationally and SA was chosen as one of five markets in the world to carry out a local execution. Mabunda said Vodacom had taken rebranding and international business strategies and adapted it to the local market as part of the company's vision for 2020. Self-driving vehicles Vodacom is exploring the possibility of connected vehicles such as taxis being able to park themselves - and is already partnering with German motor vehicle manufacturer BMW - and which will run off the network’s sim cards. “There is a huge opportunity within the driverless cars industry, but manufacturers also need to partner with the right network,” Mabunda said. Medication deliveries via drone The company also said that it is working to provide medical services to people remotely through wearable devices that could possibly diagnose a patient within a rural area, who previously had to travel long distances to receive medical attention or could not access such facilities. “We have been testing delivering medication via drone in very enclosed areas where drones are able to operate and we could see medication delivered by drones by 2025. We have to first look at legislation around operating drones,” Mabunda added. Data Vodacom is now serving 36 million customers and Mabunda said the company could soon see data usage make up 50% of the company’s revenue. On Wednesday the network provider announced that it will “significantly reduce” out-of-bundle prices for all customers from mid-October. For pre-paid and customers on top-up packages, the out-of-bundle rate will drop by as much as 50% once the new 99c per megabyte tariff comes into effect on October 15. "The out-of-bundle rate for post-paid customers was reduced from R1 per megabyte to 89c on October 1,” the company said in a statement. Source: Fin24 JSE powers to new record highs Cape Town - The JSE powered to fresh highs on Friday, closing off a strong week of consecutive daily gains, as the market responded to a weaker rand. At the close of trading, all the major indices were in the green, as the larger dual-listed shares benefited from the weaker rand which traded at R13.72 against the dollar. The All-share index gained 0.41% and closed at 57 231.87 while the blue-chip Top40 gained 0.44% and closed at 51 010.38. Industrials gained 0.54% followed by Financials 0.29%, Resources 0.25% and Gold miners 0.07%. Lonmin [JSE:LON] shot the lights out and climbed 16.90% to R15.15 following an announcement that the platinum miner expects higher full year sales than previously estimated. The share has fallen over 50% since January. The platinum producer has also announced that it had fulfilled the last requirement to buy out its partners, Anglo American, in its Pandora project. Nearly a year ago, Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS] had agreed to sell its 42.5% stake in Pandora for R400m cash and a share of profit for six years. Brent Crude prices fell to $55.40/bbl as Russia clarified that President Vladimir Putin had not, as suggested, proposed extending the production cut agreement although he thought it was a possibility. Saudi Arabia’s energy minister also sounded lukewarm about an extension until the end of 2018, saying he was “flexible” about it. Crude prices had risen dramatically of late following the spate of hurricanes affecting refineries and the incoming tropical storm Nate heading for the Gulf of Mexico ahead of a likely US landfall as a hurricane this coming weekend. Nearly 15% of oil production and 6.5% of natural gas output in the US Gulf had been shut as of late yesterday as operators evacuate offshore facilities in advance of the storm. Non-farm payroll data out of the US surprised to the downside, with employment falling for the first time in seven years amid hurricane destruction. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma triggered a record drop in employment, especially affecting the hospitality and leisure sectors Netflix soared to the top of the S&P 500 in, advancing 5.4% to a new all-time high after announcing an upcoming price bump for its U.S. streaming services. Analysts say Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) subscribers are not likely to cancel in droves as they have in response to some previous price increases because the service now offers more content and is cheaper than many new rivals. Source: News24	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1830
__label__wiki	0.753402	0.753402	Volume 125, Number 3 (2004), 415-465. Theta lifting of unitary lowest weight modules and their associated cycles Kyo Nishiyama and Chen-Bo Zhu More by Kyo Nishiyama More by Chen-Bo Zhu Full-text: Access denied (no subscription detected) We're sorry, but we are unable to provide you with the full text of this article because we are not able to identify you as a subscriber. If you have a personal subscription to this journal, then please login. If you are already logged in, then you may need to update your profile to register your subscription. Read more about accessing full-text We consider a reductive dual pair (G, G') in the stable range with G' the smaller member and of Hermitian symmetric type. We study the theta lifting of (holomorphic) nilpotent K'ℂ-orbits in relation to the theta lifting of unitary lowest weight representations of G'. We determine the associated cycles of all such representations. In particular, we prove that the multiplicity in the associated cycle is preserved under the theta lifting. We also develop a theory for the lifting of covariants arising from double fibrations by affine quotient maps. Duke Math. J., Volume 125, Number 3 (2004), 415-465. First available in Project Euclid: 18 November 2004 https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.dmj/1100793677 doi:10.1215/S0012-7094-04-12531-X Primary: 22E46: Semisimple Lie groups and their representations Secondary: 11F27: Theta series; Weil representation; theta correspondences Nishiyama, Kyo; Zhu, Chen-Bo. Theta lifting of unitary lowest weight modules and their associated cycles. Duke Math. J. 125 (2004), no. 3, 415--465. doi:10.1215/S0012-7094-04-12531-X. https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.dmj/1100793677 \lccJ. D. Adams, Discrete spectrum of the dual pair $(\emph{O}(p,q),Sp(2m))$, Invent. Math. 74 (1983), 449–475. ––––, “$L$-functoriality for dual pairs” in Orbites unipotentes et représentations, II, Astérisque 171–172, Soc. Math. France, Montrouge, 1989, 85–129. \lccA. Daszkiewicz, W. Kraśkiewicz, and T. Przebinda, Dual pairs and Kostant-Sekiguchi correspondence, II, preprint, 2003, http://crystal.ou.edu/$\tilde{\ }$tprzebin/dkp2.pdf \lccM. G. Davidson, T. J. Enright, and R. J. Stanke, Differential operators and highest weight representations, Mem. Amer. Math. Soc. 94 (1991), no. 455. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1090/memo/0455 \lccT. Enright, R. Howe, and N. Wallach, “A classification of unitary highest weight modules” in Representation Theory of Reductive Groups (Park City, Utah, 1982), Progr. Math. 40, Birkhäuser, Boston, 1983, 97–143. \lccT. J. Enright and R. Parthasarathy, “A proof of a conjecture of Kashiwara and Vergne” in Noncommutative Harmonic Analysis and Lie Groups (Marseille, 1980), Lecture Notes in Math. 880, Springer, Berlin, 1981, 74–90. \lccK. I. 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Soc. 2 (1989), 535–552. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1090/S0894-0347-1989-0985172-6 \lccR. Howe and C.-B. Zhu, Eigendistributions for orthogonal groups and representations of symplectic groups, J. Reine Angew. Math. 545 (2002), 121–166. \lccH. P. Jakobsen, Hermitian symmetric spaces and their unitary highest weight modules, J. Funct. Anal. 52 (1983), 385–412. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1016/0022-1236(83)90076-9 \lccM. Kashiwara and M. Vergne, On the Segal-Shale-Weil representations and harmonic polynomials, Invent. Math. 44 (1978), 1–47. \lccA. W. Knapp, Branching theorems for compact symmetric spaces, Represent. Theory 5 (2001), 404–436. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1090/S1088-4165-01-00139-X \lccB. Kostant, Lie group representations on polynomial rings, Amer. J. Math. 85 (1963), 327–404. \lccS. S. Kudla, “Seesaw dual reductive pairs” in Automorphic Forms of Several Variables, Progr. Math. 46, Birkhäuser, Boston, 1983, 244–268. \lccS. S. Kudla and S. Rallis, Degenerate principal series and invariant distributions, Israel J. Math. 69 (1990), 25–45. \lccS. T. Lee and C.-B. Zhu, Degenerate principal series and local theta correspondence, II, Israel J. Math. 100 (1997), 29–59. ––––, Degenerate principal series and local theta correspondence, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 350 (1998), 5017–5046. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1090/S0002-9947-98-02036-4 \lccJ.-S. Li, Singular unitary representations of classical groups, Invent. Math. 97 (1989), 237–255. ––––, Theta lifting for unitary representations with nonzero cohomology, Duke Math. J. 61 (1990), 913–937. Project Euclid: euclid.dmj/1077296999 ––––, “Theta series and construction of automorphic forms” in Representation Theory of Groups and Algebras, Contemp. Math. 145, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, 1993, 237–248. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1090/conm/145 \lccH. Y. Loke, Howe quotients of unitary characters and unitary lowest weight modules, preprint, 2001, http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/$\tilde{\ }$matlhy/loke.pdf \lccK. Nishiyama, Multiplicity-free actions and the geometry of nilpotent orbits, Math. Ann. 318 (2000), 777–793. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1007/s002080000141 ––––, “Theta lifting of two-step nilpotent orbits for the pair O$(p, q) \times$ Sp$(2n, \mathbb{R}) $” in Infinite Dimensional Harmonic Analysis (Kyoto, 1999), Gräbner, Altendorf, Germany, 2000, 278–289. \lccK. Nishiyama, H. Ochiai, and K. Taniguchi, “Bernstein degree and associated cycles of Harish-Chandra modules–-Hermitian symmetric case” in Nilpotent Orbits, Associated Cycles and Whittaker Models for Highest Weight Representations, Astérisque 273, Soc. Math. France, Montrouge, 2001, 13–80. \lccK. Nishiyama, H. Ochiai, K. Taniguchi, H. Yamashita, and S. Kato, Nilpotent Orbits, Associated Cycles and Whittaker Models for Highest Weight Representations, Astérisque 273, Soc. Math. France, Montrouge, 2001. \lccK. Nishiyama, H. Ochiai, and C.-B. Zhu, Theta lifting of nilpotent orbits for symmetric pairs, to appear in Trans. Amer. Math. Soc., http://www.math.kyoto-u.ac.jp/$\tilde{\ }$kyo/mypapere.html \lccK. Nishiyama and C.-B. Zhu, Theta lifting of holomorphic discrete series: The case of U$(n, n) \times$ U$(p, q)$, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 353 (2001), 3327–3345. \lccT. Ohta, Nilpotent orbits of $Z_4$-graded Lie algebra and geometry of the moment maps associated to the dual pair (U$(p,q)$, U$(r,s)$), to appear in Publ. Res. Inst. Math. Sci. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.2977/prims/1145475228 ––––, Nilpotent orbits of $Z_4$-graded Lie algebra and geometry of the moment maps associated to the dual pairs (O$(p,q), \Sp(2n, \mathbb{R})$) and (O$^*(2n), \Sp(p,q)$), preprint, 2001. \lccA. Paul and P. E. Trapa, One-dimensional representations of ${\mathrm{U}}(p,q)$ and the Howe correspondence, J. Funct. Anal. 195 (2002), 129–166. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1006/jfan.2002.3974 \lccT. Przebinda, Characters, dual pairs, and unipotent representations, J. Funct. Anal. 98 (1991), 59–96. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1016/0022-1236(91)90091-I ––––, Characters, dual pairs, and unitary representations, Duke Math. J. 69 (1993), 547–592. \lccS. Rallis and G. Schiffmann, Discrete spectrum of the Weil representation, Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 83 (1977), 267–270. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1090/S0002-9904-1977-14299-7 Project Euclid: euclid.bams/1183538686 \lccD. A. Vogan Jr., “Associated varieties and unipotent representations” in Harmonic Analysis on Reductive Groups (Brunswick, Maine, 1989), Progr. Math. 101, Birkhäuser, Boston, 1991, 315–388. ––––, “The method of coadjoint orbits for real reductive groups” in Representation Theory of Lie Groups (Park City, Utah), IAS/Park City Math. Ser. 8, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, 2000, 179–238. Digital Object Identifier: doi:10.1090/pcms/008 \lccN. R. Wallach, The analytic continuation of the discrete series, I, II, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 251 (1979), 1–17; 19–37. \lccH. Weyl, The Classical Groups: Their Invariants and Representations, Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, 1939. \lccH. Yamashita, “Cayley transform and generalized Whittaker models for irreducible highest weight modules” in Nilpotent Orbits, Associated Cycles and Whittaker Models for Highest Weight Representations, Astérisque 273, Soc. Math. France, Montrouge, 2001, 81–137. \lccC.-B. Zhu, Invariant distributions of classical groups, Duke Math. J. 65 (1992), 85–119. \lccC.-B. Zhu and J.-S. Huang, On certain small representations of indefinite orthogonal groups, Represent. Theory 1 (1997), 190–206. Local theta correspondence of depth zero representations and theta dichotomy PAN, Shu-Yen, Journal of the Mathematical Society of Japan, 2002 Classification of spherical nilpotent orbits for $U(p,p)$ Nishiyama, Kyo, Journal of Mathematics of Kyoto University, 2004 A BGG type resolution of holomorphic Verma modules Williams, Floyd, Illinois Journal of Mathematics, 1999 Isospectral commuting variety, the Harish-Chandra D-module, and principal nilpotent pairs Ginzburg, Victor, Duke Mathematical Journal, 2012 Regular functions on spherical nilpotent orbits in complex symmetric pairs: Classical non-Hermitian cases Bravi, Paolo, Chirivî, Rocco, and Gandini, Jacopo, Kyoto Journal of Mathematics, 2017 Depth preservation in local theta correspondence Pan, Shu-Yen, Duke Mathematical Journal, 2002 Stability of branching laws for spherical varieties and highest weight modules Kitagawa, Masatoshi, Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series A, Mathematical Sciences, 2013 On the Theta Lift for the Trivial Representation Tan, Eng-Chye, , 2000 Local theta lift for p-adic unitary dual pairs U(2)×U(1) and U(2)×U(3) Ikematsu, Yasuhiko, Kyoto Journal of Mathematics, 2019 On the Benson-Ratcliff invariant of coadjoint orbits on nilpotent Lie groups Baklouti, Ali and Tounsi, Khaled, Osaka Journal of Mathematics, 2007 euclid.dmj/1100793677	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1836
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__label__cc	0.677127	0.322873	Prophecy in the News: Facebook to Launch ‘GlobalCoin’ Cryptocurrency in 2020 By Prophecy in the News\|May 28th, 2019\|Tags: 2020, Bible Prophecy, Christian News, Coinbase, Cryptocurrency, Facebook, GlobalCoin, Mark Zuckerberg, New World Order, Prophecy News, Prophetic News\| Sort of reminds you of that… “New World Order.” - PITN Facebook has reportedly been in contact with both the Coinbase and Gemini cryptocurrency exchanges, looking to strike a deal with a third-party, regulated platform in which users could store and exchange the coin. Mark Zuckerberg’s social media giant Facebook reportedly plans to release its own [...] By J.R. Church\|March 13th, 2019\|Tags: New World Order\| It has been several years since the term “New World Order was widely used. It almost seems as if it faded from the world scene after George Bush (father) popularized the term in the 1990’s. His use of the term didn’t set too well with conservative voters. After a glorious victory over Iraq, he became a [...] New World Order Starts in Our Schools By Prophecy in the News\|January 16th, 2019\|Tags: Bible Prophecy, Christian News, Global Transformation, New World Order, Propaganda in Schools, Prophecy News, School Education\| Education is quickly becoming propaganda in our primary and secondary schools. Academics have hijacked our universities into conformance with the Marxist view that all events involve class struggle. Every issue is seen through the lens of victims versus oppressors, and social injustice is to blame for all that is wrong. This “weltanschauung” has become totalitarian groupthink [...] The UN Plans to Implant Everyone With a Biometric ID Tag by 2030 (VIDEO) By PITN\|December 26th, 2018\|Tags: Bible Prophecy, Biometric ID Tags, biometric identification tag, Christian News, Global Goals agenda, New World Order, Prophecy News, United Nations\| The United Nations wants everyone to have a biometric identification tag by 2030, which is part of their Global Goals agenda. The United Nations is already working hard toward the implementation of this goal –, particularly among refugee populations. The UN has partnered with Accenture to implement a biometric identification system that reports information “back to a central [...] George Soros: Trump Has Almost Destroyed the New World Order By Prophecy in the News\|October 5th, 2018\|Tags: Bible Prophecy, Christian News, George Soros, Liberal-Globalist world order, New World Order, Prophecy News\| George Soros says he is alarmed and frustrated at the speed in which President Trump is dismantling the New World Order. Speaking exclusively to the Washington Post, the billionaire globalist admits he regrets not foreseeing Trump’s meteoric rise to power. Fearful that Trump “is willing to destroy the world”, Soros has vowed to “redouble [his] efforts” in pouring millions of [...] George Soros Booted from Another Country: POLAND Deports Top Soros Organizer and Agitator Back to Ukraine By Prophecy in the News\|August 21st, 2018\|Tags: anti-Americanism, anti-Israel groups, Bible Prophecy, Christian News, George Soros, Hungary, Nazi Collaborator, New World Order, Poland, Prophecy News, Totalitarianism\| Poland strikes back — fresh on the heels of Hungary throwing Soros out of that country, too. The great defenders of individual freedom and liberty are coming from countries that have lived under the boot of totalitarianism and oppression They know what freedom is and they know what it is to lose it. Nazi collaborator and woman-beater George [...] Millionaires Group Seeking to Overhaul America’s Framework By Prophecy in the News\|August 10th, 2018\|Tags: America, Bible Prophecy, Christian News, Democracy Alliance, Democratic Party, George Soros, New World Order, Patriotic Millionaires, Pennsylvania's first congressional district, Progressive MIllionaires, Prophecy News, Scott Wallace\| PITN: What better way to usher in a "New World Order" by starting with a " New American Order" WASHINGTON FREE BEACON: A Democratic candidate running for Congress in a toss-up Pennsylvania district is a member of a deep-pocketed progressive millionaires group that wants to "fundamentally reset" America's ideology and economy by 2026, according to documents [...] Rise in Anti-Trump Idolatry Setting Stage for End-Of-Days Showdown Between Good and Evil By Prophecy in the News\|July 2nd, 2018\|Tags: Anti-Trump Idolatry, Biblical Prophecy, Christian News, End of Days, False gods, Good and Evil, Magic Resistance movement, New Age, New World Order, Prophecy News, Rabbi Daniel Asore, Satanism, Tarot Cards, Torah, Witchcraft\| Sales of tarot cards have risen sharply in the last year as self-proclaimed witches claim that divination and dark-magic are effective in opposing President Trump. One end-of-days expert cites this as an illogical yet divinely guided step in setting the stage for the Messianic showdown in which the two sides, Good and Evil, are clearly defined. [...] Europe, China, Japan and the New World Order By Prophecy in the News\|October 11th, 2017\|Tags: China, Christian News, Europe, Japan, New World Order, Prophecy News, United States\| Europe, China, Japan and the New World Order A stunning fulfillment of a specific Bible prophecy! We are witnessing a shift in the world order that happens only once in a generation. The global system of alliances is being shaken. Such turmoil usually indicates a massive shift in global power. These shifts often trigger major wars. [...] New World Order: Muslims to be majority in Europe within two generations By Prophecy in the News\|September 29th, 2017\|Tags: Christian News, Europe, Islam, Muslims, New World Order, Obama, Population, Prophecy News\| Within 40 years, given current demographic trends, the white population in France and the rest of old Europe will recede, creating a Muslim majority, a French researcher says. Charles Gave, an economist, fund manager and political commentator, published his conclusions this month on the web page of his think tank, Institute des Libertes. He writes of the “disappearance [...] The Mystery Of Paradise Brother Dan Goodwin tackles th... Problems In Prophecy! Brother Dan Goodwin is in the ...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1841
__label__wiki	0.502614	0.502614	XplorTechs \| Tech News Portal Pros and Cons of Python Programming Language by ProsCons Python language was founded in the year 1991 by the developer Guido Van Rossum. Python is a high-level, general purpose dynamic language which exists on the market for more than 30 years now. This language is easily available almost anywhere today: web and desktop apps, machine learning, network servers and many more. Also, bigger organizations and companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix, Dropbox, Mozilla or NASA because of its multiple programming paradigms use Python programming language. As Python is fastest growing programming language, we can expect Python to overtake the Java Programming language soon. Similar to other programming languages, the pros and cons of python programming language exists and we will discuss that in the subtopics below. Pros of Python Programming Language Integration Feature Python incorporates the Enterprise Application Integration to have an easy development of Web services with COM or COBRA components. Also, the Python programming language has powerful control capabilities for C, C++ or Java via Jython. Python also can run on all modern operating systems through same byte code to process XML and other markup languages. Developed Programmer’s Productivity Python has expanded support libraries which includes different areas. It furthermore cleans object-oriented designs that increase a programmer’s productivity while using the languages like Java, VB, Perl, C, C++ and C #. Expanded Support Libraries Python language has provision of large standard libraries including string operations, Internet, web service tools, operating system interfaces and protocols. To limit the length of code in Python, most of the highly used programming tasks are already scripted into it. This programming language has a great option for building scalable multi-protocol network application. It is possible because of its strong process integration features, unit testing framework and enhanced control capabilities. They all contribute towards the increased productivity and speed for most applications. Also Read: Pros and Cons of Perl Programming Language Cons of Python Programming Language Not adjustable to Other Languages Once the users start using the Python language, they become so accustomed to its features and its extensive libraries that they face many difficulties in working with the other languages or learning them. Gets Slow in Speed The Python language executes with the help of an interpreter instead of the compiler, because the step by step process of compilation and execution help it to work normally. Sometimes, it can be seen that it is fast for many web applications too. Weak in Mobile Computing Though, Python has shown its presence on many desktop and server platforms, but it still is a weak programming language for mobile computing. Run-time Errors The Python language is user typed so it has many design restrictions reported by some Python developers. When the applications are in a final run there are errors popping up so it most often requires more testing time. Hence, these are the few pros and cons of python programming language. Like many of other programming language, python too is open source and has a huge community of its own. People share there experience, knowledge and programming codes in such community. advantages and disadvantages of python programming language cons of programming language pros and cons of python programming language pros of python programming language python programming language pros and cons ProsCons We share Genuine Pros & Cons Information on several useful Topics. Share our post and support us. Ask your topics and we will work on that. Automobile and Aircraft Education & Lifestyle Food, Health, Cosmetic & Medicine Copyright © 2019. Created by Pros-Cons.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1842
__label__wiki	0.743483	0.743483	Guess Which Big Stars Will Be A No-Show At The 2017 Grammy Awards? Fans will surely be disappointed. Written By Kiyonna Anthony Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty The 2017 Grammy Awards are quickly approaching and music fans everywhere can’t wait to see if their favorite artists will take home a golden trophy. However, TMZ is reporting that some of the year’s biggest artists have opted out of attending the Grammys this year. Reportedly, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Drake and Justin Bieber plan to skip the big show for various reasons. Before dropping his highly anticipated album, Blond, last year, Frank opened up about why he didn’t bother turning it in for Grammy consideration, saying that he thinks the Grammys are a dinosaur that don’t represent young Black artists. Drake, who is one of the biggest artists of the moment, won’t be in attendance this year either. He’ll reportedly be on tour in Europe. Justin Bieber’s reason for boycotting the historic show is similar to Frank’s. He just doesn’t think the Grammys are relevant or representative, especially when it comes to young singers. As for Kanye, no real reason was given for the 21-time Grammy winner’s absence, but TMZ pointed out that he always loses when put up against a bigger White artist (i.e. Beck and Taylor Swift). Sources say that none of these artists’ decisions are set and stone – they could have a change of heart at any moment. But as for now, the Grammys are just a waste of time to them. Will you be watching on February 12th? Beyonce Leads 59th Annual Grammy Nominations 17 photos Launch gallery 1. Best Rap/Sung Performance9 Source: 1 of 17 2. Record of the Year 3. Best New Artist 4. Best Pop Solo Performance 5. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance 6. Best Pop Vocal Album 7. Best R&B Performance 10. Best Urban Contemporary Album Source: 10 of 17 12. Best R&B Song 14. Best R&B Album 16. Best Rap Song 17. Best Rap Album Continue reading Beyonce Leads 59th Annual Grammy Nominations Guess Which Big Stars Will Be A No-Show At The 2017 Grammy Awards? was originally published on globalgrind.com Drake , frank ocean , Grammys , Kanye West Watch BTS Get In The Christmas Spirit For… Lil Nas X Goes Futuristic For His “Panini”… Hot Girls Win The Summer In Megan Thee…	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1844
__label__cc	0.642198	0.357802	Creating lasting experiences through volunteering Meet our volunteer... Joseph Cheung [LONDON] Taking The Initiative – London volunteer Joseph Cheung about his work with the Aircraft Team. Could you please explain your role as a Volunteer at our London Museum? I am a member of the Aircraft Team. It is made up of volunteers and we can do a number of tasks. These can range from clean ing aircraft to more complex jobs. I have an aerospace background through my University studies. My long-term goal is to be a licensed aircraft engineer. Volunteering gives me the skills and experience to work on aircraft. What sort of things do you do with the exhibits? Recently I have worked on a project with the Halifax bomber. The basic work was to remove corrosion. During the aircraft’s recovery in the Seventies, a lot of anti corrosion material was put in it but this is not used today. We needed to remove these substances and replace them with modern ones. There has been a lot of discussion on the team about the best way to show the public what is being done to make the aircraft look better. What new skills have you learnt by volunteering at the RAF Museum? I have learnt skills in two areas. When I initially joined, I explained my career plans. I was fortunate that the Museum offered me the chance to participate in the National Aviation Skills Initiative. Pete Nash signed me up to it. A lot of techniques from the past link into the future, for example carbon fibre technologies link to techniques used in earlier types of aircraft engineering. Earlier engineers used things like laminated wood. Today, laminated composite materials work in the same way but use different bonding agents. I have learnt new skills in another way too. I worked on the restoration of a Trolley Accumulator. The project was more specifically a subject for the Vehicles Team but I am from the Aircraft Team. A lot of information was shared. I have learnt to communicate a lot better with other volunteers and how to manage a mini project. What are the best things about being a volunteer? There is a mixture of things. I like the exclusivity of the volunteer. You can gain insights into the work of Curators and other experts. You can only do that by gaining their trust as a volunteer. I also like the interesting challenges that I put myself in. I am becoming a lot more open and communicative with people. Also, it is very satisfying to help the public. I am also a volunteer on HMS Belfast. Are there any projects you would like to work on next? I am interested in the idea of managing a larger project after the Trolley Accumulator. I have an area in mind but I would need to discuss it first! PreviousMaria Katsiani [LONDON] NextFirst Ever Selfie and it was for #MuseumSelfie day 2016 ArchiveView other projects Maria Katsiani [LONDON] View Maria Katsiani [LONDON] View Joseph Cheung [LONDON] Cosford Experiences First Ever Selfie and it was for #MuseumSelfie day 2016 View First Ever Selfie and it was for #MuseumSelfie day 2016 London Experiences Meet our volunteer… Hear from our volunteers RAF Museum Facebook Catch up with the latest news about the Centenary Project https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/centenary-programme.aspx	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1847
__label__wiki	0.96712	0.96712	EP Streams Follow Rap Dose On Twitter Follow Rap Dose On Facebook Follow Rap Dose On Instagram Jennifer Lopez “Dinero” (DJ Khaled & Cardi B) (Official Music Video) by Steve May 24, 2018 12:55 am Updated May 25, 2018 1:01 am Watch “Dinero” By Jennifer Lopez Feat. DJ Khaled & Cardi B After dropping her new “Dinero” single last week featuring DJ Khaled and Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez releases the official music video for the record. Directed by Joseph Kahn. French Montana “Writing On The Wall” (Feat. Cardi B & Post Malone) French Montana collaborates with two of the biggest names in music right now on “Writing On The Wall”. The Cardi B and Post Malone… 4 months ago by PhillyCustoms DJ Khaled, Nipsey Hussle & John Legend “Higher” (Official Music Video) With the release of his latest LP Father Of Asahd, DJ Khaled drops the official music video for “Higher” featuring the late Nipsey Hussle… 8 months ago by Steve DJ Khaled “Father Of Asahd” (Album Stream) DJ Khaled drops his latest album Father Of Asahd. The project contains 34 features including JAY-Z, Beyonce, Nas, Cardi B, Travis Scott, Meek Mill,… DJ Khaled “Father Of Asahd” Album Cover & Tracklist DJ Khaled is set to drop his next album Father Of Asahd tonight at midnight and he has revealed the projects 34 features including… City Girls “Twerk” (Feat. Cardi B) (Official Music Video) QC rappers City Girls recruit Cardi B for an updated and NSFW version of their single “Twerk”. No more words needed, watch the music… 1 year ago by Steve Jennifer Lopez & Bad Bunny “Te Guste” (Official Music Video) Jennifer Lopez shows the masses she still has it with an extremely sexy visual for “Te Guste” featuring Bad Bunny. 1 year ago by PhillyCustoms Cardi B “Money” As promised, Cardi B delivers her new single “Money.” The track is the first offering from whatever Cardi B’s been cooking up, a rumored… DJ Snake delivers a fiery visual for his Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi B featured single “Taki Taki.” Peep the visual above and stay… DJ Snake delivers a new track that’s sure to do damage at radio titled “Taki Taki.” The song features Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi… Pardison Fontaine “Backin’ It Up” (Feat. Cardi B) (Official Music Video) Cardi B’s longtime ghostwriter Pardison Fontaine drops off his new single and visual for “Backin’ It Up.” Cardi B gives back to the rapper… Cardi B “Ring” (Feat. Kehlani) (Official Music Video) Continuing to promote her Invasion Of Privacy album, Queen Cardi B releases a video for “Ring” featuring Kehlani. Peep the visual above and stay… DJ Khaled “No Brainer” (Feat. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper & Quavo) (Official Music Video) DJ Khaled delivers a summer smash with “No Brainer.” The Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper and Quavo assisted single appears on the forthcoming album,… Lil Yachty “Who Want The Smoke?” (Feat. Cardi B & Offset) Lil Yachty recruits hip-hop power couple Cardi B and Offset on his new single “Who Want the Smoke?”. His next solo album is coming… 2 years ago by Steve 2018 BET Awards Performances & Winners Last night in Los Angeles, California (June 25, 2018), BET aired the 18th annual BET Awards. The show includes performances from Meek Mill, Nicki… 2 years ago by PhillyCustoms Rita Ora “Girls” (Feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX) (Official Music Video) Rita Ora drops the official visual for her “Girls” single featuring Cardi B, Bebe Rexha and Charli XCX. Directed by Helmi. Maroon 5 “Girls Like You” (Feat. Cardi B) (Official Music Video) Maroon 5 and Cardi B release their new music video for “Girls Like You”. Check out cameos from Tiffany Haddish, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J…. Future “Perkies” (Produced by Metro Boomin) Debonair Brown “Embrace It” (Official Music Video) A Boogie Wit da Hoodie “Reply” (Feat. Lil Uzi Vert) Future “Last Name” (Feat. Lil Durk) Lil Peep “Everybody’s Everything” (Album Stream) Tory Lanez “Chixtape 5” (Album Stream) Kenny Bear “Dirt On My Dick” Kanye West “Jesus Is King” (Album Stream) Kirill & Jaco “Hublot” (Official Music Video) Lil X “New Kid on the Block” (Album Stream) more of the latest © 2019 RapDose.com New Rap Songs, Music Videos, Hip Hop News and more! Created By PhillyCustoms	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1849
__label__wiki	0.700593	0.700593	Tag: hear SPZRKT announces release date for Share the World Austin Wakeman SPZRKT, a member of the STRT TRBL crew, has just announced via Instagram the title and date of release for a new single. SPZRKT, who has collaborated with the likes of Tedashii, Social Club, Thisl and more, is set to drop his new single entitled "Share the World" on ... B.H. – Walls Can’t Hear Me Be First To Hear Lecrae’s New Single Nuthin If you are in Atlanta or Jacksonville, FL then you get the first chance to hear Lecrae's first single "Nuthin" off his upcoming album Anomaly that drops this August. If you want to be one of the first to hear "Nuthin" then head over to Stonecrest Mall in Georgia or STRGHT & NRRW in Jacksonville, FL, ... Throwback Thursday: Pro – Mission To Mars The year is 2011, Pro, now known as Derek Minor, was set to release his third studio album entitled ‘Dying to Live’. To get the ball rolling, Pro released his first single for the project entitled ‘Mission to Mars’. In his first single, we see Pro stepping out of any box that he may have been in before and with ... Tedashii Ready To Release ‘Below Paradise’ & Tour With TobyMac, Skillet, and Lecrae ATLANTA, GA – Well-known, thoughtful lyricist and hip-hop artist Tedashii is set to release his new full-length album Below Paradise (Reach Records) on May 27. This highly anticipated project will be his first album in three years marking his career fourth studio release. The first single “Dark Days, Darker Nights” features Britt Nicole and was released ... Christon Gray Making of ‘School of Roses’ Part IV The 4th episode of the behind-the-scenes look at the making of Christon Gray's debut release with Collision Records, "School Of Roses." Set to release March 25th. Christon Gray wraps up the album and not only do we get to see the creative process but we also get to hear his heart ... Bizzle Same Love Response at SXSW Ever since releasing his response on the song ‘Same Love’, Bizzle has had a firestorm of responses. We ran into Bizzle at SXSW and got a chance to hear his heart on the matter, as well as seeing what else is going on with him and the God Over Money camp. Video: Vaughaligan Walwyn – They Don’t Hear Me Pre-Order the album on iTunes JT (of Still Trill Christians) to Release Album ‘Moment of Silence’ July 8 Following a successful run with Still Trill Christians, which includes national media features, 106 & Park appearance and commendations from President Barack Obama, Still Trill Christians very own JT is releasing his very own debut solo album entitled "Moment of Silence," set to released July 8th. Press’d – Heaven Hear Me	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1851
__label__cc	0.502113	0.497887	From the archive of struggle no.66 On This Deity: * 1ST JANUARY 1804THE BLACK JACOBINS AND THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION 1ST JANUARY 1994THE ZAPATISTA UPRISING 4TH JANUARY 1960THE DEATH OF ALBERT CAMUS 8TH JANUARY 1972THE DEATH OF KENNETH PATCHEN 11TH JANUARY 1943THE ASSASSINATION OF CARLO TRESCA From Bastard Archive, via Ent.: * Anarcho-Surrealist Insurrectionary Feminists, September 1973 from Melbourne/Australia from Bastard Archive, with the article Desire and Need by Murray Bookchin. * J.A. Andrews – A brief biography by Bob James. Published by Monty Miller Press. Originally published in 1985. John Arthur Andrews was an Australian anarchist and early member of the Melbourne Anarchist Club in the nineteenth century. This brief biography by Australian anarchist historian Bob James covers his emergence into the Australian labour and anarchist scene at the turn of the century. From archive.org via Ent. * Dittmar Dahlmann: Land und Freiheit. Machnovschina und Zapatizmo als Beispiele agrarrevolutioärer Bewegungen (1986) * Arthur E. Adams: The Great Ukrainian Jacquerie (1977) Article in the anthology The Ukraine, 1917-1921: A Study in Revolution, edited by Taras Hunczak, 1977 Image by Adam Crowe via Flickr From libcom via Ent.: – John Foster: Class Struggle and the industrial revolution: early industrial Capitalism in three English Towns – Robert Weldon Whalen: Like fire in broom straw: Southern Journalism and the Textile Strikes of 1929-1931 – Antonio Negri: Books for Burning: Between Civil War and Democracy in 1970s Italy – Lucien Van Der Walt/Michael Schmidt: Black Flame: The revolutionary class politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism – Benjamin Franks: Rebel Alliances: The means and ends of contemporary British anarchism – Errico Malatesta: At the Café: Conversations on anarchism From the Irish Anarchist History archive: * Anarchist Workers Alliance expose fascist meeting – April 1981 * Alexander Berkman -The Only Hope of Ireland (1916) From anarkismo: * Del desgaste del modelo neoliberal al ciclo de protestas. by Horacio Vergara Tello * Aniversario del golpe militar en Polonia (dic. de 1981) y del colapso de la URSS (dic. del… by Frank Mintz * “The Anarchist Movement In Egypt 1860–1940” by Anthony Gorman (2010) Emilienne Morin Las luchas revolucionarias de la región, a calzón quitado by Daniel Tirso Fiorotto Facón Grande: en la Patagonia cuentan proezas del legendario carrero entrerriano by Daniel Tirso Fiorotto From the Marxist Internet Archive: Added to the Raya Dunayevskaya Archive: State Capitalism and the Bureaucrats, 1960. This is what Criticism etc has to say about it: A January 1960 text by Raya Dunayevskaya—”State Capitalism and the Bureaucrats“—has just been released by the Marxists Internet Archive. This article originally appeared inThe Socialist Leader, the newspaper of the Independent Labour Party. Although long past its heyday of the 1920s and 1930s, the ILP maintained a newspaper until it re-merged into the Labour Party in 1975. Dunayevskaya had just visited Italy to attend an international conference of tendencies adhering to a state-capitalist (regarding the USSR) position, which was organized by Onorato Damen. The text of speeches she delivered to workers in Genoa and Milan on this occasion can be found in the microfilmed Raya Dunayevskaya Collection (see #9470 and #9474). Dunayevskaya also visited the UK on this trip, meeting with Peter Cadogan, who was instrumental in publishing her Nationalism, Communism, Marxist Humanism and the Afro-Asian Revolutions in Britain in 1960, and the Scottish Marxist-Humanist Harry McShane. The text is a stirring indictment of the theory and practice of what can be called the high era of automated production. This piece is notable for Dunayevskaya’s discussion of such figures as sociologist C. Wright Mills, the philosopher Hannah Arendt, and Norbert Weiner, the father of now largely forgotten school of cybernetics. Note that in this piece she cites her 1947 manuscript, Marxism and State Capitalism (see The Raya Dunayevskaya Collection, #472-#504). This was the text that was to be developed into Marxism and Freedom, published in 1958. Added to the French Boris Souvarine Archive: Après le Congrès de Tours et la scission salutaire [1920] Added to the Maurice Brinton Internet Archive: France: Reform or Revolution, Solidarity Leaflet (May 1968); France: The Theoretical Implications, Solidarity, V, 8 (March 1969); The Events in France, Solidarity, V, 9 (April 1969); A Question of Power, Solidarity Leaflet (July 1969) Added to the Chris Harman Archive: Response to Christopher Hitchens (1994) (Letter to the London Review of Books) Added to the new Arthur Rosenberg Archive: A History of the German Republic, 1936 * The Spanish Section greets the new year with the addition of a text to the Archivo Andreu Nin: El marxismo y los movimientos nacionalistas (1934) Added to the French Trotskyists under the Occupation History Archive: Bulletin interne of the Parti Communiste Internationaliste, 1944 From radicalarchive.org: Murray Bookchin: Anarchism vs anarcho-syndicalism (1992) on January 13, 2012 at 1:06 pm Comments (4) Tags: anarchism, anarchist history, John Arthur Andrews, Makhnovism, Maurice Brinton, Raya Dunayevskaya Books/Obituaries Stuart at New Appeal to Reason posts his books of 2011. Here are some of them. Note: the numbers are messed up here, but it seems too fiddly to change. Sorry. Read the original. John Nichols, The “S” Word: A Short History of an American Tradition…Socialism Nichols has written a persuasive case that socialism is as American as apple pie. From the forgotten radical economics of founding father Thomas Paine and the utopian socialists who founded the Republican Party to Victor Berger, the socialist Congressman from Milwaukee, who opposed WWI to Michael Harrington it is a great read. The subtitle is a little misleading. Nichols leaves out some important topics that even a short history should contain: the Populist movement of the 1890s and the most successful Socialist Party of the Debs era–the Oklahoma socialists, discussed brilliantly in Jim Bissett’s Agrarian Socialism in America: Marx, Jefferson, and Jesus in the Oklahoma Countryside, 1904-1920. Joe Burns, Reviving the Strike: How Working People Can Regain Power and Transform America Carl Finamore reviewed it on Talking Union a valuable contribution to resurrecting fundamental lessons from the neglected history of American labor. As the title suggests and as he emphasized to me, “the only way we can revive the labor movement is to revive a strike based on the traditional tactics of the labor movement.”But he doesn’t stop there. The author reviews for the reader the full range of tactics and strategy during the exciting, turbulent and often violent history of American labor.Refreshingly, he also provides critical assessments normally avoided by labor analysts of a whole series of union tactics that have grown enormously popular over the last several decades. Louisa Thomas Conscience Two Soldiers, Two Pacifists, One Family–a Test of Will and Faith in World War I Even though I’ve read two biographies of Norman Thomas, this book by Thomas’s great-granddaughter greatly added to my knowledge and appreciation of Thomas. Alan Riding’s review in the New York Times seems on the mark Louisa Thomas, who never knew her great-grandfather, might well have chosen to write his biography as a way of meeting him. Instead, in her first book, “Conscience: Two Soldiers, Two Pacifists, One Family — A Test of Will and Faith in World War I,” she has been far more daring. In fact, the lengthy subtitle is a bit misleading. Yes, Norman and his brother Evan were pacifists and their brothers Ralph and Arthur joined the Army. And yes, Evan was jailed as a conscientious objector and Ralph was wounded in the trenches. Yet the thrust of this enthralling book lies with its title: through the experience of her forebears, Thomas examines how conscience fares when society considers it subversive. At issue is not Norman Thomas’s socialism: it barely enters the picture because he joined the Socialist Party only a month before the end of the war. Instead, we are shown the “making” of a socialist, formed not by Marx but by the Bible. Also recommended is Mark Johnson’s review and interview of Louisa Thomas on the Fellowship of Reconciliation blog. Bruce Watson, Freedom Summer Raymond Arsenault, Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice Two outstanding books on critical episodes in the civil rights movement: the 1961 Freedom Rides to confront the segregation of interstate bus terminals and the 1964 Freedom Summer to register African Americans in Mississippi. Watson is the author of an excellent book on Sacco and Vanzetti (which I have read) and one on the 1912 Bread and Roses strike. Aresensault’s book is a long one, but there is an abridged version and a DVD of the PBS documentary based on it. 9. Philip Dray, There is Power in the Union I bought this at the bookstore at the 2011 Netroots nation and found that it lives up to its subtitle “Epic Story of Labor in America.” It is now out in paperback. There are other recent general histories of US labor (Mel Dubofsky’s Labor in America: A History and Nelson Lichtenstein’s 2003 State of the Union: A Century of American Labor, A.B. Chitty’s 2002 From the Folks Who Brought You the Weekend, and the 2007 two-volume Who Built America). They might be preferred by academics or labor studies professionals, but for the general reader, union activist, or occupier, There is Power in the Union is highly recommended. 10. Barbara Clark Smith The Freedoms We Lost:Consent and Resistance in Revolutionary America This is an eye-opening study of the real-life freedoms in revolutionary America. In a post on the History News Network, Smith brings out the huge differences between today’s Tea Party and the original. If you find that post intriguing, you might want to check out the book. And here are two obituaries of two we lost in 2011, from Criticism etc: Daniel Bell, 1919-2011 Now largely forgotten, Bell was once an influential intellectual and sociologist from the milieu of those who have come to be known as the New York Intellectuals. He editedThe New Leader, the organ of the right-wing of American social democracy, during World War II and went on to receive a PhD in sociology from Columbia University. He taught for many years at Harvard. Raya Dunayevskaya often cited his The End of Ideology (1960) as the quintessence of the false intellectual representation of the official capitalist society of the age of state capitalism, while the revolts of the time, among them Hungary and the colonial world, represented the negation of that falsification of reality. Bell contributed to the development of the school of thought of neoconservatism, so-called, (he helped launch the journal Public Interest with William Kristol), although he did not move as far to right as many of his cohort. Lana Peters (also known as Svetlana Alliluyeva), 1926-2011 An almost ghost-like figure from another time, Stalin’s daughter lived a peripatetic life after defecting from the USSR during the early years of the Brezhnev era. She authored several memoirs, including Twenty Letters to a Friend and Only One Year. Alliluyeva’s mother was Stalin’s second wife, Nadezhda Aliluyeva, who committed suicide in 1932. Svetlana Alliluyeva married a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright-Olgivanna Wright circle, William Peters, and had a daughter with him. Although Alliluyeva had harshly criticized the USSR after her emigration, she returned there briefly in the 1980s, but once again left it behind for England and the United States. She died in Wisconsin. The New York Times obituary features several photographs, including one of her as a child in her Young Pioneers uniform. on January 8, 2012 at 3:53 pm Comments (3) Tags: 2011, books, Daniel Bell, history, Lana Peters, Michael Harrington, Norman Thomas, socialism, Socialists, Svetlana Alliluyeva, Thomas Paine A few pints Drinking: The perfect pub. A tax on the drinking classes. Absent friend. Double Johnny Walker Blacks. Arguing: Morning Star’s “fellow feeling” with Cameron on EU. Richard Gott on the Falklands. Socialism and democracy. Michael Foot the extremist. Anarchism and syndicalism. on January 6, 2012 at 6:44 pm Leave a Comment Tags: alcohol, beer, Christopher Hitchens, Drinking, Falkland Islands, Michael Foot, Morning Star, pubs, Richard Gott, the drinking classes Cross-post: an extract from a longer piece at Bob From Brockley: On reading obituaries of Christopher Hitchens I’ve barely started going through the flood of obituaries and memories of Christopher Hitchens. I started writing my own, but it seems a little surplus to requirement. Kellie provides the definitive list of links (as well as Hitchens commenting on totalitarianism, in light of the departure of the North Korean dictator), and a good first point of call is Vanity Fair. Rosie sums up the rest: “The tributes are pouring in, the reminiscences, the summings ups, the paying off of old scores. The famous, the obscure, the mandarin and the meanest of spirits are all having their say. I’ve read a few of their pieces and liked David Frum’s best of all for its warmth and this final paragraph from Jacob Weisberg.” Terry Glavin’s, of course, is especially lovely, as is George Szirtes’. And, although it feels strange to say it, given how little regard I’ve had for Peter Hitchens up to now, his lovely brotherly obituary in the Mail is probably the single thing most worth reading. Francis Sedgemore comments on the throwaway nature of many of the obits, and in a highly recommended short post shows how journalism has changed for the worst since Hitchens entered the trade. Francis is right, and most of the ones I’ve read have irritated me more than anything else.[…] Drink-Soaked Popinjay I think this post at Harry’s Place best captures what Hitchens meant in the last decade or so to people like me, who groped for “an anti-Islamist, anti-Saddam, pro-democracy left” in the new world order opened up by 9/11, as we watched our former comrades on the left go deeper and deeper into the abyss of isolationist, anti-American, anti-democratic “anti-imperialism” and its alliance with various forms of right-wing politics, an alliance we could not have imagined a few years before. As the author says, Hitchens was an inspiration for the early noughties trans-Atlantic political blogging explosion (that I was one of the later, smaller tremors), due to the strange synchronicity between the availability of Web 2.0 as a platform and the locking out of morally decent people from the old platforms of the mainstream left. This point is made too when Francis describes Hitchens as a “fellow drink-soaked popinjay”, taking up as a badge of pride the wonderful term of abuse coined by the eloquent George Galloway, which of course was the name of the collective blog Francis was part of a few years back, which defined the range of anti-totalitarian radicalism so well. I’m not sure what the connection is between the drink-soaked thing and the anti-totalitarianism, but there is one: totalitarianism is based on the suppression or deferral of human desires and pleasures. Marx, a spendthrift, hard-drinking bon viveur beloved by small children, would have been unable to live under the regimes he gave his name to, while Chomsky’s priggish hatred of sport, music or anything fun illuminates why his brand of libertarianism is ultimately actually authoritarian. Hence the contempt from the puritans Ian Leslie calls “thin-lipped disapprovers”. Here’s Nick Cohen, who famously turned up splendidly drunk to denounce the right-wingers honoured with a prize named after George Orwell (a truly libertarian socialist, as well as a man who liked to smoke and drink), on the BBC’s mean-spirited obituary: [It was delivered by its media correspondent, Nick Higham, a ferrety cultural bureaucrat who has never written a sentence anyone has remembered. He assured the nation that Hitchens was an “alcoholic”. Hitchens could certainly knock it back. But [if] he were a true alcoholic he… would he have been loved, for addicts are too selfish to love. Something else the BBC broadcast inadvertently explained was why the world feels a more welcoming place for the tyrannical and the censorious without him. Francis Wheen makes a more important point: “Even when he reached for another late-night whisky, his perception remained unerringly sober.” And Michael Weiss: “Friendship was his only real ideology.” Former Trotskyist Bushite Leninists (not least those of bourgeois origin, i.e. most of them) would no doubt call the imperative to not speak ill of the dead a form of “bourgeois morality” to be dispensed with. Of course, they’re right, and Hitchens would agree with them: Kim Jong-il’s passing does not exempt him from derision and hatred, and nor would that of, say, Ahmadinejad or Kissinger (example: Hitchens the day after Jerry Falwell died). But I was irritated by the petty-ness of some of the vindictive lightweights coming out to kick Hitchens’ corpse and of some of the Leninist inquisitors coming out to confirm his ex-communication from the sect. The reliably appalling Guardian paleo-conservative Simon Jenkins come out with one of the standard lines: writes: “The identikit Trot of our early friendship had became a rabid Bushite defending the Iraq war”. It’s worth noting that his Trotskyism was of a very particular sort: he was inducted into the International Socialists (the forerunner of the current, dreadful SWP) by Peter Sedgwick, in its most heterodox, intellectually vibrant period, a time when its publications were open to several non-party members, and when it was as much in thrall to the anti-Leninist Rosa Luxemburg as it was to Trotsky. (Hitchens, in turn, helped induct Alex Callinicos into the party of which he is now a leading member and Callinicos has written a nice and surprisingly generous obit for the Socialist Worker.) The IS did an important job, in a period when the left dominated by the authoritarian Third Worldist fantasies epitomised by Tariq Ali’s IMG, of retrieving a libertarian, democratic tradition within Marxism, the tradition of William Morris, Hal Draper, Victor Serge, CLR James, Sylvia Pankhurst, Max Shachtman and George Orwell. Arguably, it is this anti-Stalinist left that has been the model for the anti-totalitarianism of the so-called decent left, especially its more left-wing varieties. HP retorts against Jenkins: “Although he was a Marxist to the end and certainly a Trotskyist for many years, I find it hard to imagine Hitchens as ‘identikit’ in any way. And, of course, he certainly never became a ‘rabid Bushite’. I’ll get to the Bushite bit later, but want to amplify the point about Marxism. Here’s Michael Weiss: “Well unto the toppling of Saddam, the only time I heard Hitch use the word “conservative” in a laudatory fashion was when it preceded the word “Marxist.””[…] The hatred of Hitchens from the Seymours is the hatred of the cult-member for the apostate. He betrayed the left, and it can’t forgive him. Most of them frame Hitchens’ right-ward turn as literally selling out, as exchanging correct thought for the yankee dollar. As David Aaronovitch puts it: Typical was this, written in May last year, from the high-table revolutionary Terry Eagleton in the New Statesman, claiming that “those who, like Christopher Hitchens, detest a cliché turn into one of the dreariest types of them all: the revolutionary hothead who learns how to stop worrying about imperialism and love… Paul Wolfowitz”. In other words, he was the lean young man corrupted by proximity to power and need for money, and turned into the fat shill of the people’s enemy.# Smarter critics understand Hitchens’ turn in the context of the religious structure of leftist thought. Andrew Coates’ review of the book explores the issue of Hitchens’ relationship with the faith of leftism, and faith is exactly the right term. Leftism is a religion, and Hitchens’ boring obsession with religions in general must be connected to his own relationship to the leftist faith. A more interesting analysis of his apostasy was written up by Guy Rundle in the Spiked Review of Books a year of two ago (h/t AC). Worth noting that Spiked’s origins are also in the IS of that era: its guru Frank Furedi left “in 1975 on issues that remain obscure to all concerned”. Like other escapees from the Tony Cliff cult, Furedi’s RCP also eventually became apostates for the left, right-wing libertarians who make Hitchens’ alleged Bushism look like orthodox Trotskyism. Rundle suggests that Hitchens took from the IS/SWP’s oppositionality, not a mode of doing politics, but a form of political moralising that rapidly becomes a tiresome and inecessant [sic] judgement on the taking and wielding of power itself. Thus in the early Oxford Union years we continually encounter revolutionaries, activists, writers and so on held to be bursting with brilliance, only to be tagged with the premonitory phrase about the thugs, monsters or moral failures they became. Overwhelmingly this is because they took the power they were campaigning for, and having done so, had to make some grisly choices. But for Hitchens, the result is an endlessly repeated political Fall, in which oppositionality becomes a series of impossible standards. Perhaps this says less about Hitchens than it does about Spiked’s cringeful adoration of power in the form of the Conservative party (for Rundle, Hitchens reached his “low point” when he slagged off Matthew Parrish for being… a Conservative!) and their pose of oppositionality to the “liberal elite”. But it rings true on one level. However, the notion that Hitchens abandoned the left is simplistic. First, it ignore the fact that in some ways he was always a dissident within the left. In Hitch-22, he describes the double life he led in his early IS days, when by night he dined, drank and fucked with the most decadent dredges of the ruling class in Oxford, and later his early (limited) enthusiasm for Margaret Thatcher. His support for Solidarity and other Eastern Bloc rebels was shared with the rest of the anti-Stalinist left (including, I think, the SWP). His support for Western intervention in the 1990s also presaged his post-9/11 position. As Aaronovitch puts it: Rwanda provided the embers, Bosnia the fire. Any internationalist, any progressive, any leftwinger would want to intervene to try to prevent such horrors – and not just because they were horrible either, but because they made the world worse for everyone. And the idea of Hitchens as turncoat also ignores the continuity in his leftism after 9/11. Not just the obvious points that he continued his crusade against Kissinger and Mother Teresa, against the moral majority dominant strand of American conservatism, and so on, and pretty sharp criticisms of Bush, as well as his attacks on his friend Martin Amis’ ignorant anti-communism in Koba the Dread and his championing of Trotsky on Radio 4. But more fundamentally that his opposition to Ba’athism and to Islamism was rooted in left-wing values not conservative ones. In short, the caricature of Hitchens is, again quoting Aaronovitch, “a self-comforting lozenge that the lazy intellectual Left sucks on to make its pain and doubts go away.” What the meme reveals is the extent to which the Iraq war, even more than Israel, has acted as a cultural code, a shibboleth, for the self-definition of a left that has lost its moral compass as it has abandoned its core constituency and core values. Aaronovitch again: “When the Iraq war finally began in the spring of 2003 after almost a year of argument, it became clear that many on the Left now regarded being against the war as the test of belief, as the essential membership card for comradeship.” Perhaps now, as the last American troops withdraw from Iraq, the left has the opportunity to let go of its obsession and move on. But probably not… on January 4, 2012 at 12:50 pm Comments (2) Tags: Christopher Hitchens Happy new year from Poumista This is a post to say thanks to all of you for reading and especially for commenting and linking. My top referrers, not counting google etc, in 2011 were: 1. Rooieravotr 2. Tendance Coatesy 3. Shiraz Socialist 4. Boffy 5. Bob From Brockley 6. Luxemburger Anarchist 7. ΟΥΤΕ ΘΕΟΣ – ΟΥΤΕ ΑΦΕΝΤΗΣ 8. Journeyman 9. Histomatist 10. David Osler 11. Inveresk Street 12. Entdinglichung 13. Lady Poverty 14. On A Raised Beach (much missed) 15. A Very Public Socioloigist Most popular posts were: Anarchism or your money back Amidah: Defiance Globalise the jasmine revolution: some notes from history and theory On this day, 1945: Eileen O’Shaughnessy died On this day: 22 June 1937 – Andres Nin murdered Jews versus Stalinists in the Spanish Civil War Christopher Hitchens and Robert Service talk Trotsky Shoot them like partridges Orwell turning in his grave? Music Monday 1: Carnation revolution From the archive of struggle: student activism in the 1930s Poumatica Most commented on posts: More catching up Anarchism versus Leninism Max Shachtman, Hal Draper and the anarchists My obsessions Uses and abuses: George Orwell and Norman Thomas War, and class war Democratic Green Stalinist? Most popular search terms: dirlewanger [I have no idea why!] carnation revolution eugene debs andres nin leon trotsky death trotsky dead spanish civil war posters mika etchebéhère spanish anarchists united farm workers logo robert service trotsky poum poster eileen o’shaughnessy manolis glezos Most prolific commenters: 1. Michael Ezra 2. Petey 3. Entdinglichung 4. Kellie Strom 5. Darren Today in 1939: Returning from Spain From Getty Images: Irish volunteers injured during the Spanish Civil War arrive back in Dublin. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) By: Keystone Collection: Hulton Archive on January 1, 2012 at 10:53 am Leave a Comment Tags: International Brigade, International Brigades	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1858
__label__cc	0.743605	0.256395	Coin removal problem I have a slight variation of the coin flipping problem. There is a line of $n$ coins on the table; some of them are heads up and the rest are tails up, in no particular order. The object of the puzzle is to remove all the coins by a sequence of moves. On each move, one can remove any head-up coin, after which its neighboring coin or coins, if any, must be turned over. Coins are considered “neighbors” if they are next to each other in the original line; if there is a gap between coins after some moves, the coins are no longer considered neighbors. Determine the property of the starting line that is necessary and sufficient for the puzzle to have a solution. For those lines that can be removed by the puzzle’s rules, design a method for doing so. mathematics logical-deduction coins JonathanJonathan The row of coins can be fully removed if it has the following property: It has an odd number of heads By induction. The property obviously correctly predicts solvability for a row of length 1, where "H" is solvable and "T" is not. Suppose the property correctly predicts solvability for the row lengths $1$ to $n$. Case 1: A row of $n+1$ coins with an odd number of heads. Do a move on the last heads coin, which is at location $m$. This leaves a row of coins to the left of length $m-1$, and a row to the right of length $n-m+1$. If the row to the right is non-empty, it will have one head (at location $m+1$ that you flipped) and the rest tails, so it is solvable by the induction hypothesis. The row to the left will also have an odd number of coins because before the flip it had en even number, so that is also solvable by the induction hypothesis. Therefore the original row of $n+1$ coins is solvable (and a good next move is the last heads of the row). Case 2: A row of $n+1$ coins with an even number of heads. Do a move on any heads coin, at location $m$. This leaves a row of coins to the left of length $m-1$, and a row to the right of length $n-m+1$. If either of the two rows is empty ($m=1$ or $m=n+1$), then we have a single row of $n$ coins that still has an even number of heads (one removed, and and coin flipped), so it is unsolvable by the induction hypothesis. If you really do have two rows now, then one of the rows will have an even number, the other will have an odd number of heads. You can think of the move as flipping three coins in a row (the middle of which was heads) and then removing the middle tails coin to split the row. Flipping the three coins changes the parity of the number of heads to odd, and splitting the row then means that exactly one of the resulting rows must be odd and one even. By the induction hypothesis, one of these rows is not solvable. The coins become unsolvable whichever move you make, so the original row was unsolvable. By induction, the property correctly predicts solvability for all values of $n$. Solving strategy: The proof shows that you can solve a row by always making your move on the last (or first) heads coin of the row. Note that making a move in the middle somewhere can sometimes lead to a dead end, where it splits the row into two that are both unsolvable (both have an even number of heads). The simplest example is of course a row of three heads (HHH) which would turn into two separate tails coins if your move was the middle one. Jaap ScherphuisJaap Scherphuis It looks like a line is solvable if and only if there is an odd number of heads in the line and the strategy to solve the puzzle is to make sure that whenever you take away a head, the remaining sub-lines each have an odd number of heads. I'm on mobile right now and can't type a rigorous mathematical proof; moreover, two other users seem to be doing this so I'm going to spend that time upvoting their answers instead :) GlorfindelGlorfindel Let $h$ be the number of heads-up coins. If $h=0$, We have no starting moves so no solution available. If $h=1$, The solution is trivial. Flip the one heads-up coin, after which we have on both sides either a smaller line with $h=1$, or no line at all if the heads-up coin was at either end to start with. There is no solution. There is no move which would bring the number of coins in the current continuous line from 2 to 1. If the heads-up coins are next to each other, flipping either one will leave a tails-up coin with no heads-up coins left. And if there is a gap, flipping either one will create a smaller continuous line with $h=2$ and a gap which is one smaller. Eventually you get to a position where the heads-up coins are next to each other. This is always solvable. If the three heads-up coins are next to each other, we can remove the left-most one, leaving the current line with $h=1$. On the left-hand side of the created gap we either have nothing (if the flipped coin was on the edge) or a separate line with $h=1$, so both sides are solvable. ...TTTTHHHTTTT... Flip the left-most one ...TTTH THTTTT... (both parts are solvable with $h=1$) For any odd $h$, We can always "move" the left-most heads-up coin right with the aforementioned process until we have two heads-up coins next to each other on the left side. When we flip those, we're left with $h_{new}=h-2$, eventually reaching 1. For any even $h$, I think these are always unsolvable. Let's say $h$ is even and take a look at an arbitrary heads-up coin H. If we look at the sub-lines on the right and left side of H. Since $h$is even, one of the sub-lines has to have an even number of heads-up coins and one of them an odd number. When we flip H, one of the coins in the odd sub-line is flipped, resulting in a sub-line with an even number of heads-up coins. This can be zero, but in this case there is always at least one tails-up coin remaining (the one we flipped on our last move). So there is no way to make both sub-lines solvable after the flip. jafejafe $\begingroup$ Can you please clarify the case for h=3. I'm not quite understanding it. Plus, i think there's a typo. $\endgroup$ – Jonathan Oct 22 '18 at 6:37 Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged mathematics logical-deduction coins or ask your own question. Coin Removal Variation Another probabilistic coin puzzle Minimum moves to have all coins face Heads up Entertaining the Clumsy Coin Flipper Flipping coin quadruples What is the value of this other coin flipping game? More coin flipping Interactive Coin Puzzle	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1869
__label__cc	0.731935	0.268065	U.S. Visas U.S. Immigration News Immigration Show » Venture Capitalist Sue Over Delay of International Entrepreneur Rule Latest U.S. Visa News Upload Your H1B Denials and RFEs and See if We Can Do Better January 15, 2020 Top 9 U.S. Immigration Trends to Watch in 2020 January 9, 2020 Pre-registration Process and Selection Order Reversal for H-1B Petitions January 3, 2020 Cutting Through the H-1B Bureaucratic Red Tape December 9, 2019 Navigating the PERM Labor Certification Process November 26, 2019 4 Simple Reasons for Choosing OnlineVisas for your H1B Needs November 11, 2019 H-1B Denials Hit All-Time High November 1, 2019 American Job Loss and H-1B Visas October 28, 2019 Get Your Immigration Strategy Session Your name and email is 100% secure and will only be shared with our Online Visas attorney partners Why You Can Trust OnlineVisas Expert visa strategy session with a qualified attorney. All our network partners are highly experienced immigration attorneys. Flat-fee pricing: No extras or hidden fees. Online Gateway app & daily email updates so you always have all the information you need. Venture Capitalist Sue Over Delay of International Entrepreneur Rule / USA / By Jon Velie The International Entrepreneur Rule is Obama-era legislation which allows international entrepreneurs to open U.S. companies if they obtain U.S. investment. The rule was signed by Former President Obama during his last days in office and was relatively uncontroversial due to required investment to participate in the program. To participate in the program, the foreign national must raise $250,000 from established American investors or $100,000 or more in grants from government entities. Qualified beneficiaries are allowed to stay for 2.5 years with a possible extension up to five years. The rule is a significant policy decision that allows foreign national entrepreneurs to bring their talent and skill to the U.S to create jobs and growth. The Department of Homeland Security delayed the International Entrepreneurial Rule in July until March 14, 2018. Now the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) has filed a law suit alleging DHS delayed the program illegally. At the time the rule was delayed, Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of NVCA, said, “Today’s announcement is extremely disappointing and represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the critical role immigrant entrepreneurs play in growing the next generation of American companies.” DHS did not ask for public comment on the delay and the NVCA claims this is a violation of federal law. Once a rule change is made in the federal ledger, the public has 45 days to comment. Rules are not subject to congressional approval. Kevin Holmes of the Founders Networks remarks that, “This rule is an excellent development and is much needed. Many entrepreneurs or potential entrepreneurs are not US citizens; the International Entrepreneur Rule simply creates more opportunity, more jobs, and more success.” The Founders Network partnered with the Obama Administration to promote entrepreneurs in America and around the world. The benefit of this rule is that it is not subject to caps or extraordinary ability like comparable green cards. It allows dynamic areas of the United States such as Silicon Valley to attract the best and brightest the world has to offer. Delaying the International Entrepreneur Rule is simply bad for the economy, bad for job creation, and stifling to I innovation. According to the NVCA immigrants founded one-third of venture backed companies that went public between 2006 and 2012. Regarding the DHS’ decision to delay the rule, NVCA President and CEO Bobby Franklin remarked, “A global race is underway to attract and retain talented entrepreneurs and we should be doing all we can to win.” On another occasion Franklin remarked that while other countries are taking great strides to attracted immigrant entrepreneurs. “the Trump administration is signaling its intent to do the exact opposite.” About the Author Jon Velie About the author: Jon Velie has practiced Immigration law since 1993. He is CEO of OnlineVisas.com., a revolutionary Immigration platform and global Immigration network. Jon is an Amazon number one best-selling author of H1B Visa: Application & Approval, is regularly covered by major media and has won a number of international awards. Jon can be contacted at jon@onlinevisas.com or 405-310-4333 office or 405-821-5959 mobile. H-1B Required Documents What President Trump’s Proposed Executive Order on Immigration Could Mean for America Obama’s International Entrepreneur Rule Provides Internationals a Startup Visa Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Visa Applications Online Visas is an ancillary law-related services company of the Velie Law Firm. Velie Law Firm, 401 W. Main Street, Suite 300, Norman, Oklahoma 73069 U.S.A. 1-405-310-4333, info@onlinevisas.com. What is H1B visa? How to get an H1B visa Popular Non-immigrant U.S. Visas L1 Visa O1 Visa P1 Visa Popular U.S. Green Cards EB1-1 © Copyright 2016-2018 by OnlineVisas, Inc.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1875
__label__cc	0.536961	0.463039	Are You an "Electronic Child Molester"?: 10 Dumb Quotes About Video Games From Pols And Pundits Nick Gillespie and Meredith Bragg \| 5.10.2014 5:00 PM "Are You an 'Electronic Child Molester?': 10 Dumb Quotes About Video Games From Pols And Pundits," produced by Nick Gillespie and Meredith Bragg. About 80 seconds. Original release date was Mary 7, 2014 and the original write-up is below: Plato famously banned poetry from his Republic. Well, he had nothing on today's politicians and pundits, who really, really, really hate video games. Here are 10 great quotes that bring the stupid like Grand Theft Auto brings the awesome. If you're a parent and you allow your son or daughter to watch this…you're a lousy parent."—MSNBC host Ed Schultz, talking about Grand Theft Auto V, September 13, 2013. "Grand Theft Auto…encourages [children] to have sex with prostitutes and then murder them."—Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), July 14, 2005. "Every school massacre can be traced to the young killers' addiction to violent video games."—conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, September 10, 2010. "These games teach a child to enjoy inflicting torture."—Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), December 9, 1993. "And let us say to the Nintendos and the other games, if you are going to be sick, we are going to find a way to protect this country from you."—former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, May 12, 1999. "These electronic child molesters have little sense of restraint or boundaries."—Ralph Nader, October 27, 1999. "[Some games] are more akin to hate speech than free speech."—Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), June 14, 2006. "Video game violence & glorification must be stopped—it is creating monsters!"—Donald Trump, December 17, 2012. "This is all about [gamers'] lust for violence and the industry's lust for money."—state Sen. Leland Yee (D-Calif.), January 26, 2013. "I think videos games is [sic] a bigger problems than guns because video games affect people."—Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), January 30, 2013. NEXT: The Atheist-Scientologist-Satanist Coalition Meredith Bragg is executive editor of Reason TV. http://chroniclesofharriet.fil…..roll-2.jpg “In an analysis written for the Jewish People Policy Institute, Dov Maimon and Nadia Ellis comment that “as long as Jewish [animal] slaughter and Jewish circumcision were carried out on a very small scale, they were not regarded as a public-policy issue worthy of attention and were tolerated under special arrangements. The scaling-up of these practices as a result of the growing Muslim presence in several European countries now seems to require official regulation.” A backlash against Muslims that affects core Jewish practices as well makes this perhaps the first time ever that the term “anti-Semitism” applies with tolerable accuracy…. “… In Catholic doctrine, baptism is the Christian equivalent of circumcision, the “circumcision of Christ.” Like circumcision, baptism can be administered to children as well as adults, a proposition affirmed by Origen, Cyprian, John Chrysostom, and Augustine, among others. One is forced to wonder whether the human rights community’s insistence on adult consent as a necessary source of authorization represents a secularized version of the Protestant rejection of infant baptism?and whether it is an accident that the epicenter of antipathy to infant circumcision is located in heavily Protestant northern Europe.” https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/mark-belonging In Catholic doctrine, baptism is the Christian equivalent of circumcision I thought that was the child molestation? One is forced to wonder whether the human rights community’s insistence on adult consent as a necessary source of authorization represents a secularized version of the Protestant rejection of infant baptism I don’t what the hell this means in Catholicese but I can tell you that my opposition to legalized child genital mutilation really has nothing to do with Protestantism. Agammamon I think you do understand what it means – it means that both baptism and circumcision are things that can only be fully participated in as an adult with full mental faculties. And someone is trying to muddy the waters by conflating the two religious rites. Both baptism and circumcision are believed necessary (by religious adherents) for the child to fully participate in and enjoy the benefits of their relationship with God. However, to those of us who are non-believers (in religion anyway) the two rites are vastly different in their practical effects. One (baptism) is considered harmless – no lasting physical changes and, technically, can be repudiated in later life. The other (circumcision) involves actually cutting the kid for (to our eyes) a purely cosmetic procedure that doesn’t have any actual benefit (unlike repairing a hairlip as a counter-example). As a recipient of a circumcision I can tell you that it has no lasting negative physical effects either. And if you’re going to get upset about this, how are you going to react when its possible to give your children 6 fingers? As a recipient of circumcision, you have no idea what it’s like be uncut and therefore have no idea. I’ll cross the six-fingered bridge when I get to it. mr simple Some are already born with extra digits and we cut those off. Is there any other purpose to that than cosmetic? I always wanted a third testicle. Almanian! George Washington had, like, 30 dicks… Dweebston +1 goddamn Well, your penis is 2 inches shorter, but other than that, no lasting harm. SusanM Regarding the earlier discussion, rather than trying to pick particular titles, what exactly makes a game “libertarian”? I’ve listened to Rush for about 30 years now and never got that they were libertarian/objectivist darlings and I expect the same may be true for games (except, of course, the Rainbow Six series). I don’t think it was a list of libertarian games as such several of those games have no particular libertarian bent – a game like Fable 3is of note only for its attempts at adding in ‘consequence’ for tour actions (which it fails at, miserably) – but of games that have ideas or mechanics of interest to libertarians. DE:HR – plays the augment/anti-augment issue like they’re making horseshoes. IOW with no finesse and a lot of hammering you with false choices. Oh and the obligatory evil corporations. FO3 – you’re mostly just a tool of the factions and you are railroaded through most of the story. Until the DLC came out you had* to kill yourself to resolve the central conflict, even when you had people right there who could have done so without anyone dying. Really, I think its more a list of ‘libertarian games’ compiled by someone who doesn’t play games and just read some marketing blurb about them. I think Suderman plays video games. He just wrote down a list of games he likes and called them libertarian. The key is that the list was “Video Games Every Libertarian Should Play”, not “Libertarian Video Games”. Well, okay, but why should libertarians play Bioshock, for example? It was a few hours of a clunky FPS parodying a cartoonish conception of objectivism. Why is it a “must play”? ‘Cuz it references Ayn Rand! Some people really enjoyed Bioshock. For instance, NutraSweet did. You should ask him. I found it to be pretty good, but without loot and randomized weapons I tend to lose interest. but without loot and randomized weapons I tend to lose interest. cuz Libertarianism is the war against the Mexican name for the devil. Try Path of Exile. It’s free on Steam, and is a much better followup to Diablo II than Diablo III was. Supposedly they’ve removed a lot of the annoying shit in Diablo III at this point (terrible drops to force you to buy stuff in the auction houses most prominently), but frankly, Path of Exile is actually really fun. Did I mention free? I looked at the video on Steam. That skill tree makes me want to strangle puppies. It seems complicated as shit at first but once you start learning it (and other aspects of the game that seem complicated) you start realizing that it gives you a ton of options. I felt the same way, but then came to really like it. I second this – POE is pretty awesome. The tree is annoying though – even when you wrap your head around it. I hate skill trees and would have preferred they just allow you to pick among the possibilities. Especially since that vast majority of the non-special skills are just stat buffs. Don’t make me waste a skillpoint on something I don’t need to get to something I do. I liked the FO3 style of skills: leveling gives you access to new perks, but you’re free to choose among them and none of them branch. More of a tradeoff, less grindy. Oh, and I nominate HL2 for libertarianish games. A chilling, Soviet-styled authoritarian regime, a nemesis espousing humanity’s best interests, glimpses of capricious abuses of power, and it’s only when the oppressed lay hands on the guns that they begin bearing back the tyranny. Acosmist By 1999, Nintendo was firmly “family friendly”. Newt, you derp. MythicalLibertarianWoman That one was my favorite. Nintendo is like the Disney of the gaming world. The stupidity of that comment causes near-painful cringing. Animal cruelty, head injuries from bumping into rock ceilings, and do I even need to mention the magic mushrooms? I like how he says the ‘Nitendos and other games’ – because he’s so clueless about the shit he wants to legislate on that he doesn’t know the difference between a game console and the games played on that platform. TheZeitgeist Princess Peach inspires such degenerate deviancy as depicted here: http://www.squidoo.com/princes…..uper-mario And objectifying women, unlike anything digital, is something where piggy-pig Newt is an actual expert. Nintendo is like the Disney of the gaming world. But it is… Rev Match Fuck them. I’m going back to playing Total War (with Darthmod). When I was young, video games and the assorted nincompoops who decried them were the reason I became skeptical of both liberals and conservatives. Grand Theft Auto…encourages [children] to have sex with prostitutes and then murder them.”?Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), July 14, 2005. Does this woman ever think before she opens her piehole? So, Hillary, what video game encourages narcissistic, sociopathic behavior? Correct answer: none. But it would be nice if we could ban people with that psychological profile from ever attaining office. Hilary was also a big supporter of the protection of marriage act. 2016 should be fun… and by fun I mean the deep dark depressing pit of watching self proclaimed liberals totally forget anything they believed that was good and support and vote for a full on fascist. California should be honored and grateful to have someone like Senator Yee protecting from violence and industry’s lust for money. Yeah, with Lee they only have to deal with the violence engendered by his lust for money. Totally different! Mary 7, 2014 The date of hit and run’s doom. “Every school massacre can be traced to the young killers’ addiction to violent video games.”?conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly Uh huh. In a just world, moronic pundits making moronic statements would lose their job for lying/being a retard. Of course, we have the exact opposite; the more bullshit they spew the more they get paid. It’s like she’s trying to out-Coulter Anne Coulter. C. Anacreon Coulter has often said she is a huge fan of Schlafly The consul general said he dispatched a staff member to Missoula. He thanked Bullock for the excellent cooperation the official received from “the competent Missoula authorities, in particular the police and the district attorney’s office.” “Allow me also to state clearly that the German government fully respects the people of Montana’s right to set its laws as the people of Montana see fit,” Rothen wrote. The official expressed confidence that the investigations would be conducted with the “utmost impartiality and that eventually justice will be done by not letting go unpunished the shooting of an unarmed juvenile through what appears to be the exercise of grossly disproportionate violence.” Fucking presumption of innocence- how does it work? At least he graciously permits us to write our own laws, despite their plain contravention of EU Human Rights doctrine. “He added that German penal law also applies to crimes committed against German nationals abroad.” Nice suggestion – I’d rather be convicted of homicide in Germany than in Montana. In Germany you get a light sentence and serve it in a, shall we say, comparatively friendlier setting that you would in Montana: “[L]ife in prison aims to inculcate fundamental skills that offenders will need in the community. For example, prisoners are allowed individual expression and a fair amount of control over their daily lives, including the opportunity to wear their own clothes and prepare their own meals; and, in order to instill selfworth, both work and education are required and remunerated. In addition, respect for prisoners’ privacy is practiced as a matter of human dignity. One American participant viewed this practice as a matter of common sense, commenting while visiting a German prison, “If you treat inmates like humans, they will act like humans.”” http://www.theatlanticcities.c…..dont/7553/ “The prison regulations clearly state that I am entitled to two servings of apple strudel…and this isn’t nearly enough beer! Get me more!” “Jawohl, mein herr, at once…” “And knock more loudly before coming into my cell! I almost didn’t have time to hide the crack I’m dealing!” “Very sorry, sir…” Some German prison cells: http://www.damncoolpictures.co…..cells.html They look like IKEA ads. Clearly low security. I see 972 improvised weapons in the last one. The singer, who sported a full beard, smouldered like a Bond Girl in a gold embellished fishtail gown. UK hopeful Molly Smitten-Downes came in seventeenth place You can’t fool me, Archduke. That’s from The Onion. It’s even more ridiculous when you see Poland’s entry. They should have won. I know I would vote for them. My Mother warned me about Polish girls. Now I know why. Goddamn motherfucking gifs substituting for video! Wurst is the best, lol illletmyselfout.com According to Ed Schultz I’m a horrible parent. According to Hillary Clinton my sons will grow up to be rapists. Good thing I have no respect for either of them or their idiotic opinions. LizzyMikezbuk my co-worker’s step-mother makes $63 /hour on the computer . She has been without a job for eight months but last month her payment was $19211 just working on the computer for a few hours. try this site…… http://www.Works23.us So your co-worker’s step-mother worked 305 hours last month? Sounds like a great job. Obviously LizzyMikezbuk means that last month the step-mother worked just a few hours on the computer at $63/hour. The remaining $19K was earned in just 10 hours having used the computer to set up appointments as a high-priced callgirl. MJGreen OT: If you’re not sick of Piketty talk, Bob Murphy has found another lie in Piketty’s ‘rigorous, data-driven’ book. As with minimum wage, Piketty conveniently gets basic historical facts wrong in a way that makes Democrats look good and Republicans bad. As Murphy says at the end of his post: “But hey, it’s all good. He gives us a scientific justification for taking property away from rich people. Why let the above quibbles get in the way of worldwide confiscation?” Look, I don’t mean to be a stickler, but the above tax “history” is totally wrong. Piketty, piketty, piketty. Are You an “Electronic Child Molester”? You know who’s a non-electronic child molester? Ar-SIGNAL LOST Brett L, I decided to give Rome 2 a second chance because of you. It turns out that it’s quite fun with the Divide et Impera mod. Why Creative Assembly decided to release a game that’s unplayable in its base state is beyond me. Because money (read: fuck you), that’s why. ‘Get it in the can, we’ll fix it in post’ is not just the mantra for movie production anymore. 0. “I hope you walk away with one thought today?that if you don’t do something about it, we will.” — Herb Kohl (D-WI) And they did. This is how government nudges people in the “right” direction. Most people don’t realize how the environment changed drastically after that threat which immediately resulted in the ESRB and implicit government regulations (which are much stricter than the MPAA system regarding sex) and the age-raising norms that followed. The government will secretly check up on you annually to make sure to make sure you’re doing the right thing too. It’s sort of like how they can nudge banks to close down porn biz accounts. Or of gun or cryptocurrency businesses. Or sports, or performance enhancers in sports. Just threatening to regulate is good enough to get people into “voluntary” compliance. A Senate or Congressional hearing will usually do the trick if 1:1 meetings don’t work. Sometimes sending letters to state legislators can be easier too. Due to the 2 link limit, here are the links regarding banks and guns: http://www.americanbanker.com/…..597-1.html And sports: https://reason.com/blog/2013/07…..nt_3900999 On the other hand it’s disheartening to see so many people easily cajoled into self-regulation, self-censorship, “voluntarily” asking permission and taking orders. I wish every one of the ten people quoted had been aboard MA370. squirrel accord jesse.in.mb There will be no peace with the squirrels! There will be onl OH GOD! THEY GOT JESSE! Lee Marshall, voice of Tony the Tiger, RIP End of an era. RIP Grand Moff Serious Man So what’s Brad Garrett up to these days? Where were you when history was made today? t took nearly the entire draft, but Michael Sam and the NFL finally made history. The St. Louis Rams used the 249th pick in the seventh round to select Sam, who has officially become the league’s first openly gay player. Being picked by St. Louis means Sam will stay in the state where he played college football as a standout at the University of Missouri. Sam, the 2013 defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference, came out as gay to his teammates before last season. He disclosed his sexual orientation in media interviews earlier this year. At the NFL scouting combine in February he drew the largest media contingent that anyone there could recall. Sure I wish the guy well and all, but it is kind of disgusting to see ESPN and the rest of the sports media salivate over this. Damn it, will you tell us the time? And the chance that he is the first gay pro-football player is… Yeah, that WAG section is full of dudes. Calidissident That makes Sam more important, not less. neoteny One gay Ram must be awfully lonely. “Disgusting” is a pretty strong word. The guy’s not Jackie Robinson and will (or is if you prefer) get more attention than merited, but I don’t see how somewhat excessive coverage is “disgusting.” I understand the “who cares?” reaction by many, but the fact is that if nobody cared, there would have been an openly gay NFL player before 2014. MSNBC’s Toure interviews son of Martin Luther King, expresses shock when he says blacks should engage in dialogue with Tea Party It’s like he wants to sit down with them at some kind of table of brotherhood, or some wussy crap like that… And no offense, it looks like it’s hardly the first table he’s sat down to. I can say this, since my handle is that of a good-natured larger guy, just like Double-Jr. Engage in dialog by any means necessary, of course. Martin Luther King jr is still alive?!?! Its a fucking miracle!!! Kidding aside Martin Luther King Sr was a republican and Martin Luther King Jr voted for Nixon. Should not be surprised if Martin Luther King Jr’s son is not as hateful of republican tea pirates as MSNBC is. Their astonishment comes from the fact that they consider the tea party to be nothing more than a latter-day Ku Klux Klan. Even MLK 3 in the video said that their “policies are only a mask” for what is implied as the true reason for their existence, which in their minds is hatred for a black man who dared to be the president. Sadly, the tea party, which was born as a tax-revolt idea, ended up with MSNBC types doing anything they could to discredit them, including such tricks as getting an agent provacateur to hold up a poster of Obama with a bone through his nose long enough to photograph, as the only such sign at a peaceful meeting of 10,000 (and the sign was immediately surrounded by attendees, taken down, and the individual asked to leave). The media then played that photo over and over again until they had made it a fait accompli that everyone in the tea party was a horrible racist, and then even had such stunts as the black politician claim he was called the N-word fourteen times as he walked past a demonstration — something that even in the age of smartphones no one ever could prove, even thought there was a $100K reward offered by Breitbart. All this was enough to make just about everyone in the Republicans disavow them. I was happy to see a voter revolt against taxes and spending initially,but it is impossible to support them now. In the Bay Area it is used as a way to automatically discredit any individual (“they’re like a teabagger.”) According to Wikipedia, King voted for Kennedy in 1960. First life with ‘alien’ DNA An engineered bacterium is able to copy DNA that contains unnatural genetic letters. For billions of years, the history of life has been written with just four letters ? A, T, C and G, the labels given to the DNA subunits contained in all organisms. That alphabet has just grown longer, researchers announce, with the creation of a living cell that has two ‘foreign’ DNA building blocks in its genome. Hailed as a breakthrough by other scientists, the work is a step towards the synthesis of cells able to churn out drugs and other useful molecules. It also raises the possibility that cells could one day be engineered without any of the four DNA bases used by all organisms on Earth. “What we have now is a living cell that literally stores increased genetic information,” says Floyd Romesberg, a chemical biologist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, who led the 15-year effort. Their research appears online today in Nature1. Malyshev sees the ability to control the uptake of foreign DNA bases as a safety measure that would prevent the survival of alien cells outside the lab, should they escape. But other researchers, including Benner, are trying to engineer cells that can make foreign bases from scratch, obviating the need for a feedstock. From “scratch”, or from people? PEOPLE?! According to every sci-fi movie i have ever seen involving the use of alien DNA this will not end well for the spunky lab assistant intern and the over confidant night guard. Ken Shultz Most of the scifi movies I see suck, but I rented The Machine from iTunes the other day, and it was a damn good flick. There weren’t any brand new concepts you’ve never thought about before, but it was the first time I saw a scifi flick in a long time and didn’t think it sucked. Industry Doesn’t ‘Have a Soul Anymore’ “There’s no boardrooms where people are asking, ‘Is ‘Grand Theft Auto’ good for people?’ They only ask, ‘Does it make money?'” Boardrooms chock full of electronic child molesters! Pretty sure the heads of Rockstar who made GTA just did lines of coke and screamed “Fuck America the Cunt” after each line. What’s happened the the Habs? Probly fell victim the the alien DNA. What do you guys think about Derek Carr? But I don’t think about him. Ok, fair enough. The guy makes all the throws, IMHO, but a lot of the time, he has a strange sort of side arm like mechanic… Oh, do you mean, do we think he’s gay? No, I mean do you think he throws the football sort of unorthodox like… I thought you couldn’t use your hands in football? Dude, that is ‘Futebal’ – Foo-chee-baw. Not football, you know, REAL football, American Style? Mmkay? So, is that the one with the ice and the skates or the bats and the gloves? “Grand Theft Auto…encourages [children] to have sex with prostitutes and then murder them.”?Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)” Hillary Clinton is the fucking Antichrist. Her main criticism of Bush the Lesser was that he wasn’t neocon enough for her tastes, and she comes to pretty much the same conclusions as all the bible thumpers out there when it comes to freedom of expression, etc.? She’s a culture warrior, a collectivist on economic issues, and a war hawk! And what makes matters worse is that she actually has some credibility with swing voters. All that blind support from the Progressives out there, too–who could be worse? Maybe Liz Warren, but she’d quickly become a laughing stock. Why don’t you love the White Sqauw? Hillary Clinton is the fucking Antichrist No, the Hildebeast is not the Antichirst. She’s simply the slimiest status quo NeoCon available. She’s anti-libertarian in every way I can think of. She ain’t got a bit of libertarian in her at all, anywhere. On the Nolan Chart, she’s stuffed down so far in the authoritarian corner, you can hardly see her beady little Antichrist eyes. For as much as she sucks, I think she’d be significantly better than what we’ve got now. I think Obama gets a free pass on stuff for being a minority and for comparisons to Bush, so maybe you’re right about that. Still, she’s more of a warmonger than Obama is. http://www.thenation.com/blog/…..y-clinton# One of the world’s most eminent climate scientists – for several decades a warmist – has defected to the climate sceptic camp. I suspect we’ll see more of this as the models come apart. Anyone wanting to maintain any semblance of credibility will need to distance themselves. Dances-with-Trolls Obviously the Kochs and their filthy money got to him. That’s the only possible answer here. Rats abandoning a sinking ship. I have a friend who works in the green-technology media who is a vigorous alarmist. I wonder what he’ll say this time. No doubt he’ll have a link to some website that already claims this guy was a fraud from the beginning and is just a shill for Chevron-Texaco. I’m actually even reluctant to send this on, his response will be so predictable (and he’ll once again imply that I am a stupid asshole for not believing ‘the science’ — interestingly enough, I’m the one with the science degrees, his are in English and law). interestingly enough, I’m the one with the science degrees, his are in English and law). The easiest ones to fool are those with no science background. Be interesting to see a breakdown of the backgrounds of the bleevers vs deniers. It’s a fashion statement for most of them more than anything. Their concern makes them science-literate, compassionate, and serious in contrast to this ignorant rednecks in flyover country that are brainwashed by Fox and the Koch brothers. Mothers who anonymously post messages about how much they hate their children Some of these are pretty depressing. But this one: I read my daughter’s tweets. She doesn’t know. She seems like a real asshole. is hilarious. Guess who wrote these: “Sometimes I wonder what happened to the son I abandoned. And I grieve at the murder of my late husband – they never caught the killer. But at least I have a new, much younger husband to console me in my sorrow!” “I think my son doesn’t like my new husband. I’m afraid it’s going to turn into a big drama.” “Just because my son is a big-shot Emperor and an aspiring musician doesn’t mean he can’t spend some time with his own mother. But I’m overjoyed – he just told me he was going to give me a big surprise – something I don’t expect. I hope it’s jewelry!” My mother? Oedipus’s Mom Hamlet’s Mom. Nero’s mom? cavalier973 OT: Is this animal cruelty? Cows are the dumbest creatures ever to inhabit the earth. We are doing them a favor by eating them. Sheep are dumber. Do sheep shit where they drink? They drown in stock ponds, they eat poisonous weeds, they strangle themselves on fences. Can we call it a draw? Anything that will drink where it shits has got to be in the top two. Well politician has to be number one. Okay, you got me there. Something is to to be said about an animal that has no closely related wild counter parts. Not even feral ones. In fact there is something to the theory that sheep are a product of Alien manipulation. How these animals ever existed before domestication seems impossible. There are several species of wild sheep, and they are quite hardy. I had a Dall sheep take a .30-06 through both lungs and then sprint up a rocky 65 degree hillside gaining nearly a thousand feet in elevation before finally dying. Are Dall sheep even sheep or just an animal in north America that looks kind of sheep like no more closer related to sheep then goats are? I don’t know how closely related Dall sheep are to the domestic breeds, but I do know that there are a couple domestic breeds that were created through interbreeding Ovis aries with wild mouflon or snow sheep (which is a close relative of the Dall sheep). The fact that domestic O. aries can interbreed with wild cousins and not goats tells me the relationship is pretty close. Horses are pretty dumb as well. You know who else thought he was doing a favor by killing unintelligent lifeforms? Terminex? Louis Pasteur? Morgentaler? Liquor? Well, it’s pretty clearly a good thing I was a “gamer” when “gaming” consisted of “Pong”. I only killed ants and moths. I played GTA once with my son. Damn near went on a shooting spree, but couldn’t find the keys to the gun cabinet on account of the acid trip. So…ban all the games. For the children… Reverendcaptain The problem I have with Reason’s particular brand of libertarianism is that everything has to be black and white. For instance, Reason apparently is incensed that people would suggest certain video games are bad for children because Reason is damned determined to protect the right to playing video games. The problem is, you can believe that some video games are not good for children but adults should not be restricted from accessing them. Of course people get up in arms about some slippery slope if you have restrictions but I grew up without access to a lot of things freely available to kids and it was ok. So yeah, if you let your little kid play Grand Theft Auto, I think you’re a pretty crappy parent. There’s a world of fucking difference between me not letting my daughter play GTA or God of War and the government wanting to outright van those games and blame them for all of societies woes. You might try to figure out what that difference is. Jesus Christ, reread my comment. I never said anything about banning games, in fact I said the opposite. What I said is that you can recognize the danger of letting children play certain inappropriate games while still being against any kind of censorship of games. Chill out. Your comments definitely seemed to support legal restriction on purchases by underage kids. That’s the extent of my comment on restrictions on video games. And your response is exactly my point. If somebody dares raise the point that giving kids free reign on any video games is a pretty shitty way to raise kids then some people, especially some on the H&R comments, are freaking out about some imaginary censorship. Believe it or not, it is possible to have a world where there exist reasonable restrictions on materials to children without banning anything. Well, given that this blog post is about agents of the state trying to ban the sale of [violent] video games, it’s pretty fair that people would be skeptical of your ‘yeah, but’ argument. Restrictions are still a type of ban. I remember hanging out at game stores before the ESRB. Now, they’re required to check IDs and are banned from selling to 16 year olds. “So yeah, if you teach your little kid to use the State’s force to punish people doing things that don’t harm anybody else but that he doesn’t like, I think you’re a pretty crappy parent.” “The problem is, you can believe that some video games are not good for children but adults should not be restricted from accessing them.” There is no other way to parse that in my mind than that children should be restricted from buying certain games. Which is in fact a type of ban. So, just to clarify, you believe that there should be no restrictions of any kind for any type of video game in any way? So if somebody releases a video game called “Rape and Murder Your Sister and Mother” with explicit depictions of rape and murder of mothers and children, hell let’s throw in babies, it should be freely available to anybody regardless of age? Your inability to distinguish between age restrictions and bans is exactly the kind of black and white view I’m bringing up here. I don’t know anybody, and I’m talking about people of every political stripe, who thinks it’s ok to give their children free access to every movie and video game that is out there. They restrict them because they know that it would be detrimental to their kids’ development. I don’t know if you aren’t exposed to families or are just this lone voice in the woods but I would love to hear you convince parents that their kids should be able to play Grand Theft. “If you’re a parent and you allow your son or daughter to watch this…you’re a lousy parent.”?MSNBC host Ed Schultz, talking about Grand Theft Auto V” Indeed, Reason ought to figure it out. Abu Waleed, Islamist personality in the UK, on how to treat infidels: “If a Muslim comes out on the day of ‘Eid and sees an infidel with nice clothes, the infidel has to take his clothes off and give them to the Muslim. When an infidel walks down the street, he has to wear a red belt around his neck, he has to have his forehead shaved, and he has to wear two shoes that are different from one another. He is not allowed to walk on the pavement. He has to walk in the middle of the road, and he has to ride on a mule. “This is only for adults, not for the children. You can see how Islam would make the child become a Muslim. The child growing up in a state of heresy would turn to Islam. Why? Because the child would be walking along with his dad, and would say: “Dad?” “Yes.” “Why have you got your forehead shaved?” “I don’t know, these Muslims make me do it.” “Why can’t you ride the animal like the Muslims, who ride like this? Why are you riding with both legs dangling on the side of the donkey?” “Why is it that every time a Muslim comes and asks you for your clothes, you give them?” “Why is it that every time he tells you to get down from the horse, you have to take it?” http://www.breitbart.com/Breit…..em-Convert Well I’m sure the Hate Speech Police are already on their way. Abe Lincoln had two mommies: http://www.history.com/news/th…..ed-lincoln Anybody seen The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones? Not bad (so far). Hot chicks with tattoos. A redhead. Cersei Lannister plays the main character’s mother. Ending marginal. My roommate watched it. I interpreted it as assault and rolled up a newspaper and batted her on the nose in retaliation. You and your roommate should just skip to getting married. The San Jacinto Battle Monument and Museum wants to get Santa Anna’s artificial leg from the Illinois State Military Museum. Their efforts include an abortive petition to the White House An Illinois soldier appropriated the leg during the Mexican war and later donated it to his state. Larry Spasic, president of the San Jacinto Museum, tries to butter up the Illinoisians: “For Illinois, he offered that he enjoys the Cubs and deep-dish pizza…” http://www.dallasnews.com/news…..nts-it.ece The same story as recounted by the Chicago Tribune: “”[The leg is] not going anywhere,” said curator Bill Lear. “It’s going to stay. “”This is a centerpiece of the museum and a very important artifact to tell the story of Illinois soldiers and the sacrifice that they have made in service of this country.”… “”We’ve lost soldiers in the Mexican war, as well,” Lear said, “and Illinois soldiers were the ones who came across this and captured it.”… “”We don’t give artifacts away,” Lear said. “Museums are in the public trust. Our soldiers, when they come back from war, they’ll give us things. If we just turn around and give those away the first time someone gets upset about it, we might as well just close our doors.”” http://articles.chicagotribune…..ldiers-leg Meanwhile, some folks want to raise money on Kickstarter to do a graphic novel starring Santa Anna’s flesh-and-bone leg, returned from the grave to save Mexico. http://www.toonzone.net/2014/0…..ckstarter/ That museum is on the grounds of Camp Lincoln (ILNG HQ) – you want that leg, come and get it! Night kids. Good news: South Africa’s Zuma claims he will implement pro-business reforms. Perhaps he senses what will happen if he doesn’t-it won’t end well for him. http://www.reuters.com/article…..UC20140510 Bad news: The ‘pro-markets’ BJP party of India apparently plans to ban beef export and cow slaughter on nakedly Hindu-theocratic grounds. http://ca.reuters.com/article/…..0620140511 RishJoMo Thats the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! http://www.YourAnon.tk	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1884
__label__wiki	0.878844	0.878844	Minnesota Reflections All Fields Title Creator Subject Search You searched for: Date Created 1979 Remove constraint Date Created: 1979 Title: A to Z Title: Z to A Creator: A to Z Creator: Z to A 1. Aerial Lift Bridge: View of city and Lake Superior, Duluth, Minnesota Gallagher, L. Perry, Jr., 1912-1988 Nearly a companion photo to 2161.6, this is an autumn day. View of Duluth from above Skyline Drive out to Lake Superior where laker and saltie vessels wait to come in to the harbor. There can be a pile up of vessels waiting for cargo that has not yet arrived for pick up. In this case, there was a grain millers' strike in progress. The strike, called by Local 118 of the American Federation of Grain Millers, lasted twelve weeks beginning on July 6. It began against two of the eight elevators in the Twin Ports, but by July 25 affected all elevators. It had nothing to do with the longshoremen. You can see the orange bottoms of some of the vessels. They are riding high on the water without the weight of their cargos. Once filled, the vessel's weight forces the orange portion to be underwater and not visible. You can also see the cranes on the decks of the vessels. The cranes are used to transport commodities onto the vessel. There is an ore boat and tug in the bay. The Arena Auditorium is just to the right of the Aerial bridge. The Arena is an oval shape. Opened in August 1966, the Arena Auditorium complex was altered later and finally renamed as the DECC, Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. The Normandy Inn hotel and restaurant building stands out with its red name on a white wall. The Normandy, on Superior Street between Second and Third Avenues West, opened in December 1977 . It becomes the Holiday Inn in the early 1980s, a part of the Labovitz and Goldfine properties. The Normandy stands on what was called the Lyric Block named for the grand Lyric theater that occupied 75 feet of frontage on Superior Street for decades. Duluth's first Skywalk segment connected the Normandy with the First American National Bank across Superior Street. The block with the Lyric theater was razed beginning in June of 1976 for new development. The distinctively shaped, round, Radisson Hotel is obscured by trees. You can just see the top of it. It is further west on Superior Street. The Radisson opened in May 1970. The NC sign is on top of the Alworth building. The Northern City National Bank's NC was there from 1957 to 1980 when the bank became First Bank Duluth. The smokestack at the left is part of the Duluth Steam Cooperative that supplies heat to many downtown buildings. University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections 2. Aerial Lift Bridge: View of Duluth and Lake Superior, Duluth, Minnesota View of Duluth from above Skyline Drive out to Lake Superior where laker and saltie vessels wait to come in to the harbor. There can be a pile up of vessels waiting for cargo that has not yet arrived for pick up. In this case, there was a grain millers' strike in progress. The strike, called by local 118 of the American Federation of Grain Millers lasted twelve weeks beginning July 6. You can see the orange bottoms of the vessels. They are riding high on the water without the weight of their cargos. Once filled, the vessel's weight forces the orange portion to be underwater and not visible. You can also see the cranes on the decks of the vessels. The cranes are used to transport commodities onto the vessel. Tourism is a major financial driver for Duluth. Visible are the Arena Auditorium just to the left of the Aerial bridge. The Arena is an oval shape. Opened in August 1966, the Arena Auditorium complex was altered late and finally renamed as the DECC, Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. The Northwest Passage enclosed walkway parallels the Canal Park area. The walkway stretches from a bank building on Superior Street to the Arena and was completed in 1976. The Normandy Inn hotel and restaurant building stands out. The tall Steam Plant smoke stack is behind it. The Normandy, on Superior Street between Second and Third Avenues West, opened in December 1977 . It becomes the Holiday Inn in the early 1980s, a part of the Labovitz and Goldfine properties. The Normandy stands on what was called the Lyric Block named for the grand Lyric theater that occupied 75 feet of frontage on Superior Street for decades. Duluth's first Skywalk segment connected the Normandy with the First American National Bank across Superior Street. The block with the Lyric theater was razed beginning in June of 1976 for new development. The distinctively shaped, round, Radisson Hotel is further west on Superior Street. The Radisson opened in May 1970 with its restaurant on the top that slowly turns 360 degrees. The view from the restaurant is remarkable. Rooms were added in 1975. The NC sign is on top of the Alworth building. The Northern City National Bank's NC was there from 1957 to 1980 when the bank became First Bank Duluth. The Duluth Public Library is the gray oval shaped building to the left of the Radisson at 520 West Superior Street. The library opened in the summer of 1980. The turrets are visible of the 1892 Union Depot, now the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, just behind the library, at 506 West Michigan Street. This Peabody and Stearns designed building is on the National Register of Historic Places. 3. A report investigating the feasibility and applications of low altitude-high resolution aeromagnetic surveying in Minnesota, OFR79-01 Chandler, Val W. A report summarizing the potential and advantages of an conducting an aeromagnetic survey in Minnesota Minnesota Geological Survey 4. Blueline Aerial Photomaps, Richfield, Minnesota Freeman, Alver R. Set of sixteen blueline prints of aerial photographs with superimposed plat maps. Richfield Historical Society 5. Boy Scouts of America, Ogilvie Troop #192, Ogilvie, Minnesota Group photograph of Roland Brandt and Scout Master Bill Adams with ten boys from the Ogilvie Boy Scout Troop #192, at the Crow Wing Scout Reservation, Minnesota. Kanabec County Historical Society 6. Calhoun Yacht Club C scow racing on Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis, Minnesota Lionel Bening racing a C scow, C50 on Lake Calhoun. Calhoun Yacht Club 7. Carl Sprinchorn exhibit opening, American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota Dr. Marion Nelson, art historian, poses with Dr. John Lofgren of the American Swedish Institute at the opening of the Carl Sprinchorn exhibit, Minneapolis, Minnesota. American Swedish Institute 8. Children's Room storytelling area and toy storage, St. Cloud Public Library, St. Cloud, Minnesota Interior view of the storytelling and toy storage area at the second St. Cloud Public Library building at 405 West St. Germain. Great River Regional Library Slides (photographs) 9. Dana Kiecker, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota St. Cloud State University Dana Kiecker pitched for the Boston Red Sox during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. 10. Exterior of the St. Cloud Public Library on moving day, St. Cloud, Minnesota In the summer of 1979, the St. Cloud Public Lbrary moved from its 1902 Carnegie building at 124 Fifth Avenue South to a successor building at 405 West Germain Street. This photograph of the exterior of the building was taken on moving day. The National Guard assisted with the move. Carts of library materials were moved fully loaded onto trucks, in Dewey Decimal order. 11. Geological Society of Minnesota News, April-June 1979 Geological Society of Minnesota The April-May-June 1979 edition of the Geological Society of Minnesota (GSM) newsletter included the second part of a society history prepared for the 40th anniversary, along with regular meeting notices. 12. Geological Society of Minnesota News, January-March 1979 The January-February-March 1979 edition of the Geological Society of Minnesota (GSM) newsletter reported on society affairs, and included the first part of a summary of society history prepared for the 40th anniversary. 13. Geological Society of Minnesota News, June-August 1979 The June-July-August 1979 edition of the Geological Society of Minnesota (GSM) newsletter included the third part of a society history prepared for the 40th anniversary, along with regular meeting notices. 14. Geological Society of Minnesota News, September-November 1979 The Sept Oct Nov 1979 edition of the Geological Society of Minnesota (GSM) newsletter included a story on exploring the Mississippi by Barbara Gudmundson, a memorial to George A. Thiel, and society notices. 15. Geologic map of Minnesota, International Falls sheet, bedrock geology Southwick, David L.; Ojakangas, Richard W. Map showing interpretations of bedrock geology (distribution of rock at the land surface and beneath surface sediments) of the International Falls quadrangle, scale 1:250,000. Electronic file available at: ftp://mgsftp2.mngs.umn.edu/map_catalog/pdf/umn22374.pdf 16. Geologic map of Minnesota, Quaternary geology, S-4 Goebel, Joseph E.; Walton, Matt Quaternary geology map showing interpretations of Quaternary (Pleistocene [glacial] and Holocene [post-glacial]) surficial geology (distribution and type of materials at the land surface), of Minnesota, scale 1:3,168,000. Electronic file available at: ftp://mgsftp2.mngs.umn.edu/map_catalog/pdf/umn22622.pdf 17. Geologic map of Minnesota, Roseau sheet, bedrock geology Ojakangas, Richard W.; Mossler, John H.; Morey, G.B. Map showing interpretations of bedrock geology (distribution of rock at the land surface and beneath surface sediments) of the Roseau quadrangle, scale 1:250,000. Electronic file available at: ftp://mgsftp2.mngs.umn.edu/map_catalog/pdf/umn22373.pdf 18. Grand Opening ceremony, St. Cloud Public Library, St. Cloud, Minnesota Grand Opening ceremony for the second St. Cloud Public Library building at 405 West St. Germain, St. Cloud, Minnesota. 19. Hold That Line: The Protester Report, 1979, Pope County, Minnesota This special edition of Hold That Line from early 1979 is titled "The Powerline Will Affect You or The Protestor Report." It summarizes the impact of the powerline - financial, political, environmental, health and safety and long term operation. Hold That Line was the newsletter of the local movement to protest the construction of an 800 kilovolt direct current powerline across rural Minnesota by the United Power Association (UPA) and the Cooperative Power Association (CPA). The newsletter is known to be published from August 1978 to June 1983. Pope County Historical Society 20. Hydrogeologic map of Minnesota, bedrock hydrogeology, S-5 Kanivetsky, Roman Bedrock hydrogeology (ground water information) map of Minnesota, scale 1:3,168,000. Electronic file available at: ftp://mgsftp2.mngs.umn.edu/map_catalog/pdf/umn22623.pdf 21. Hydrogeologic map of Minnesota, Quaternary hydrogeology, S-6 Quaternary hydrogeology (ground water information) map of Minnesota, scale 1:3,168,000. Electronic file available at: ftp://mgsftp2.mngs.umn.edu/map_catalog/pdf/umn22624.pdf Quaternary hydrogeology (ground water information) map of Minnesota, scale 1:500,000. Electronic file available at: ftp://mgsftp2.mngs.umn.edu/map_catalog/pdf/umn22621.pdf 23. Late summer camping opportunities for the whole family,Camp Menogyn, Grand Marais, Minnesota Minneapolis YMCA Camp Menogyn This is a brochure for Camp Menogyn in Grand Marais, Minnesota promoting the Boundary Waters in late summer. There is information about camping sessions for families, young adults and young women. University of Minnesota Libraries, Kautz Family YMCA Archives 24. Loading materials into moving truck at the St. Cloud Public Library, St. Cloud, Minnesota In the summer of 1979, the St. Cloud Public Lbrary moved from its 1902 Carnegie building at 124 Fifth Avenue South to a successor building at 405 West Germain Street. The National Guard assisted with the move. Carts of library materials were moved fully loaded onto trucks, in Dewey Decimal order. This photograph shows a person loading materials into the moving truck. 25. Minnesota Bikeways: Metro/Northcentral - Map C Minnesota Department of Transportation The front side of "Minnesota Bikeways: Metro/Northcenteral - Map C" contains a "potpourri" article, the map index, and a list of municipal and county parks in the Northcentral Metro. The back side contains the larger bikeways map and a legend. MnDOT's bikeway maps serve as a reference guide illustrating major historical and cultural points of interest in Minnesota, public park lands and facilities, equipment, and safety information. They also depict road analyses for bicycle travel, location of paved road shoulders and off-road bikeways, and controlled access roads where bicycles are prohibited. There are 54 maps in the Statewide Series (1979-1983), 4 maps in the Statewide Quadrant Series (1986-1993), and 2 maps in the Metro Series (1989). Legislatively mandated, these maps were prepared as convenient guides to help bicyclists select their routes. Each map is unique and signifies a historical reference to the state of bicycle facilities at the time of publication. Minnesota Department of Transportation, MnDOT Library Physical Format more Physical Format » Saint Cloud Public Library Bearskin Lake more Subject Headings » About Minnesota Reflections Glossary of Format Terms Minnesota Digital Library Primary Source Sets Minnesota's Immigrants Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) Stay connected with the latest news from the Minnesota Digital Library by subscribing to email updates on the Minitex News platform. Wilson Library, Room 60 309 19th Avenue South	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1887
__label__wiki	0.507593	0.507593	Reader, Electrical, Electronic & Power Eng Research Outputs (90) Multichannel fiber Bragg grating for temperature field monitoring Gbadebo, A., Turitsyna, E., Williams, J. A., Zhang, L., Sun, Y., Zhang, W., Yan, Z., Sun, Q. & Liu, D., 7 Jan 2019, In : Optics Express. 27, 2, p. 461-469 9 p. Bragg gratings temperature distribution Fabrication of precise aperiodic multichannel fibre Bragg grating filters for spectral line suppression in hydrogenated standard telecommunications fibre Gbadebo, A., Turitsyna, E. & Williams, J. A., 12 Jan 2018, In : Optics Express. 26, 2, p. 1315-1323 9 p. line spectra Experimental demonstration of real-time correction of writing errors during fibre-Bragg grating fabrication Gbadebo, A., Turitsyna, E. & Williams, J., 8 Sep 2016, Photonics and Fiber Technology 2016 (ACOFT, BGPP, NP). Optical Society of America, BTh1B.2 Fiber Bragg gratings A technique for mitigating the effect of the writing-beam profile on fibre Bragg grating fabrication Turitsyna, E. G., Gbadebo, A. A. & Williams, J. A. R., 18 May 2015, In : Optics Express. 23, 10, 8 p., 12628. Experimental comparison of differing design approaches for multichannel fibre Bragg gratings Gbadebo, A. A., Turitsyna, E. G. & Williams, J. A. R., 2015, The European Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics 2015. Optical Society of America, paper CE_1_4 Evaluation of impact of beam size on fibre Bragg grating fabrication Gbadebo, A., Turitsyna, E. & Williams, J., 2014, Bragg Gratings, Photosensitivity, and Poling in Glass Waveguides 2014. Optical Society of America, paper BW1D.5 Gbadebo, A. A., Williams, J. A. & Turitsyna, E., 27 Jul 2014, Bragg Gratings, Photosensitivity, and Poling in Glass Waveguides 2014. Optical Society of America, BW1D.5 Fibre grating filters for suppression of near infrared OH emission lines Gbadebo, A., Turitsyna, E., Shu, X., Williams, J. & Turitsyn, S., 2013, 39th European Conference and exhibition on Optical Communication (ECOC 2013). Red Hook, NY (US): IET, p. 852-854 3 p. (IET conference publications; vol. 622). Optical fibers 3D reconstruction of the complex dielectric function of glass during femtosecond laser micro-fabrication Turchin, A., Dubov, M. & Williams, J. A. R., Dec 2011, In : Optical and Quantum Electronics . 42, 14-15, p. 873-886 14 p. Ultrashort pulses Born approximation 3D reconstruction of complex dielectric function of the glass during the femtosecond micro-fabrication Turchin, A. V., Dubov, M. & Williams, J. A., 2010, Advanced photonics and renewable energy. Optical Society of America, paper BWD7. (OSA technical digest). inverse scattering far fields distribution functions In-situ measurement and the reconstruction in 3D of femtosecond inscription induced complex permittivity modification in glass Turchin, A. V., Dubov, M. & Williams, J. A. R., 1 Sep 2010, In : Optics Letters. 35, 17, p. 2952-2954 3 p. in situ measurement permittivity Single-shot 3D reconstruction of complex dielectric function of the glass during the femtosecond laser micro-fabrication Turchin, A. V., Dubov, M. & Williams, J. A. R., Apr 2010, p. 61. 1 p. Mask-less lithography for fabrication of optical waveguides Dubov, M., Natarajan, S. R., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 15 Feb 2008, Commercial and biomedical applications of ultrafast lasers VIII. Neev, J., Nolte, S., Heisterkamp, A. & Schaffer, C. B. (eds.). SPIE, Vol. 6881. p. 688110 (SPIE proceedings; vol. 6881). Ultrafast lasers Optical waveguides An optical fiber Bragg grating tactile sensor Cowie, B., Allsop, T. D. P., Williams, J., Webb, D., Bennion, I. & Fisher, M., May 2007, Optical sensing technology and applications. Baldini, F., Homola, J., Lieberman, R. A. & Miler, M. (eds.). Czech Republic: SPIE, 8 p. 65850I. (SPIE proceedings; vol. 6585). Wideband optical single sideband generation Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 1 Dec 2007, Proceedings of the 36th European Microwave Conference, EuMC 2006. IEEE, p. 612-613 2 p. 4057890 sidebands Multiplexing spectral bands A new method for microwave generation and data transmission using DFB laser based on fiber bragg gratings Leng, J. S., Lai, Y., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., Aug 2006, In : IEEE Photonics Technology Letters. 18, 16, p. 1729-1731 3 p. Microwave generation microwave transmission Distributed temperature measurement using a Fabry-Perot effect based chirped fiber Bragg grating Won, P. C., Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Leng, J. S. & Williams, J. A. R., 15 Sep 2006, In : Optics Communications. 265, 2, p. 494-499 6 p. Impact of fiber nonlinearity in dispersion compensated double-sideband modulated radio-over-fiber links Won, P. C., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 1 Dec 2006, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and 2006 Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference, CLEO/QELS 2006. 4628427 Radio-over-fiber Dispersion compensation Telecommunication links nonlinearity Optical single sideband generation with full RF-band operation Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 1 Dec 2006, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and 2006 Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference, CLEO/QELS 2006. 4628430 Self-phase modulation dependent dispersion mitigation in high power SSB and DSB + dispersion compensated modulated radio-over-fiber links Won, P. C., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., Jul 2006, 2006 IEEE MTT-S: international microwave symposium digest. Sowers, J. & Thorburn, M. (eds.). IEEE, p. 1947-1950 4 p. THPH-04. (IEEE - MTTS International Microwave Symposium. Digest). Self phase modulation Chromatic dispersion Third order intermodulation on nonlinear dispersive radio-on-fiber links Won, P. C., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., 1 May 2006, Optics InfoBase Conference Papers. Optical Society of America Intermodulation distortion Intermodulation Chromatic dispersion effect in a microwave photonic filter using superstructured fiber Bragg grating and dispersive fiber Zhang, W., Bennion, I. & Williams, J. A. R., 22 Aug 2005, In : Optics Express. 13, 17, p. 6429-6437 9 p. Imperfect mitigation of dispersion induced power penalty in high power single-sideband modulated radio-on-fiber links Won, P. C., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 31 Oct 2005, Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (QELS). Optical Society of America, Vol. 3. p. 1741-1743 3 p. JThE61 Won, P. C., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., 31 Oct 2005, Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (QELS). Vol. 3. p. 1699-1701 3 p. JThE47 Analysis of frequency response of a microwave photonic filter using superstructured fiber Bragg grating Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 1 Dec 2004, Conference Proceedings - Lasers and Electro-Optics Society Annual Meeting-LEOS. Vol. 1. p. 276-277 2 p. Bidirectional nonreciprocal wavelength-interleaving coherent fiber transversal filter Lai, Y., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., Feb 2004, In : IEEE Photonics Technology Letters. 16, 2, p. 500-502 3 p. Transversal filters Birefringence Direct real-time cavity mode assessment and optimization technique for fiber lasers Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., Feb 2004, In : IEEE Photonics Technology Letters. 16, 2, p. 413-415 3 p. Laser resonators Distributed temperature sensing using a chirped fibre Bragg grating Won, P. C., Leng, J., Lai, Y. & Williams, J. A. R., Jul 2004, In : Measurement Science and Technology. 15, 8, p. 1501-1505 5 p. Fiber Grating Bragg Grating Optimization of superstructured fiber bragg gratings for microwave photonic filters response Leng, J. S., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., Jul 2004, In : IEEE Photonics Technology Letters. 16, 7, p. 1736-1738 3 p. Erbium doped fiber amplifiers Third-order intermodulation products generated on transmission through nonlinear radio-on-fibre link Won, P. C. & Williams, J. A. R., 30 Sep 2004, In : Electronics letters. 40, 20, p. 1290-1291 2 p. Light transmission Analysis of single and multiple, non-permanent, tunable, birefringent spectral holes in a fibre-Bragg grating stop-band produced via uniaxial pressure Michaille, L., McCall, M. W., Lai, Y. C. & Williams, J. A. R., Jul 2003, In : Optics Communications. 222, 1-6, p. 1-8 8 p. A nonreciprocal wavelength-interleaving bidirectional coherent fiber transversal filter Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., Dec 2003, The 5th Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2003. CLEO/Pacific Rim 2003. IEEE, Vol. 1. p. 384 1 p. W4J-(8)-3 An optical millimeter wave fiber laser Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., Mar 2003, Optical Fiber Communications Conference, 2003. Sawchuk, A. A. (ed.). IEEE, Vol. 1. p. 238-239 2 p. paper TuL5. (Techincal digest). Millimeter waves An optical pump controlled tunable phase-shifted fiber grating transmission filter Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Zhang, L., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., Mar 2003, Optical Fiber Communications Conference, 2003. Sawchuk, A. A. (ed.). IEEE, Vol. 1. p. 35-37 3 p. paper MF32. (Techincal digest). Precipitation (meteorology) Application of superimposed grating structures for optimisation of fibre laser performance Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., Oct 2003, Proceedings : Institute of Physics Meeting on In-Fibre Bragg Gratings and Special Fibres-Photonex Europe 2003. Institute of Physics Direct cavity assessment and mode optimisation technique for DFB fibre laser Lai, Y., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., 16 Oct 2003, In : Electronics letters. 39, 21, p. 1518-1519 2 p. Distributed temperature sensing based on a chirped fibre Bragg grating Won, P. C., Leng, J., Lai, Y. & Williams, J. A. R., Oct 2003, Proceedings : Institute of Physics Meeting on In-Fibre Bragg Gratings and Special Fibres-Photonex Europe 2003. Institute of Physics High performance microwave photonic response of superstructured fibre Bragg grating with designed apodisation function Leng, J. S., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., Oct 2003, The 16th Annual Meeting of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, 2003. LEOS 2003. IEEE, Vol. 2. p. 782-783 2 p. (Annual meeting IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society). Optical generation of millimetre wave signal using a co-located dual distributed feedback fibre laser Lai, Y. C., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., Apr 2003, 1st International Conference on Optical Communications and Networks (ICOCN 2002). Omidyar, C. G., Shiraz, H. G. & Zhong, W. D. (eds.). World Scientific, p. 223-226 4 p. Optically tunable fiber grating transmission filters Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Zhang, L., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 15 Dec 2003, In : Optics Letters. 28, 24, p. 2446-2448 3 p. Optical multichannel flattop filter with complementary outputs for DWDM applications Lai, Y. C., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., Apr 2003, 1st international conference on Optical Communications and Networks. Omidyar, C. G., Shiraz, H. G. & Zhong, W. D. (eds.). World Scientific, p. 163-166 4 p. Optimization of DFB fiber laser performance based on a superimposed cavities structure Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., Dec 2003, The 5th Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2003. CLEO/Pacific Rim 2003. IEEE, Vol. 2. p. 431 1 p. Abnormal spectral evolution of fiber Bragg gratings in hydrogenated fibers Liu, Y., Williams, J. A. R., Zhang, L. & Bennion, I., 15 Apr 2002, In : Optics Letters. 27, 8, p. 586-588 3 p. Accurate differential group delay measurement of narrowband fiber devices with immunity to environmental perturbation Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R., Sugden, K. & Bennion, I., 2002, 2002 IEEE/ILEOS annual meeting conference proceedings: the 15th annual meeting of the IEEE Lasers & Electro-Optics Society. IEEE, Vol. 2. p. 811-812 2 p. ThUl. (IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society. Annual Meeting). Group delay All fibre multichannel flattop filter based on coherent fibre delay line structure Lai, Y., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., May 2002, In : Electronics letters. 38, 10, p. 473-475 3 p. Electric delay lines A novel all fiber microwave transversal filter with complementary outputs Lai, Y., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., 2002, 2002 International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics, MWP 2002 - Technical Digest. IEEE, p. 173-176 4 p. P2-1. (Techincal digest). A novel dual complementary output optical fiber transversal filter for DWDM applications Lai, Y., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R. & Bennion, I., 2002, 2002 IEEE/ILEOS annual meeting conference proceedings: the 15th annual meeting of the IEEE Lasers & Electro-Optics Society. IEEE, Vol. 2. p. 659-660 2 p. ThEl. (IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society. Annual Meeting). Dense wavelength division multiplexing Implementation of microwave photonic filtering using a profiled superstructured fiber Bragg grating and dispersive fiber Gwandu, B. A. L., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., 2002, International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics 2002. IEEE, p. 113-116 4 p. (Techincal digest). Microwave photonic filtering using Gaussian-profiled superstructured fibre Bragg grating and dispersive fibre Gwandu, B. A. L., Zhang, W., Williams, J. A. R., Zhang, L. & Bennion, I., 24 Oct 2002, In : Electronics letters. 38, 22, p. 1328-1330 3 p. Microwave photonic response based on nonlinear response of chirped fibre grating Lai, Y., Zhang, W. & Williams, J. A. R., 2002. Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract Contact John Williams	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1888
__label__cc	0.544394	0.455606	Exploring the Boomerang Effect: The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing Keld Laursen, M. Isabella Leone, Solon Moreira, Toke Reichstein Licensing is one of the most commonly observed inter-firm contractual agreements.Drawing on the resource-based view of the firm and contract economics, we argue that the inclusion of a grant-back clause in licensing agreements emerges as a consequence of the licensor and licensee firms’ requirements to balance the need to protect their technological resources with the need to learn through internal and external processes. We argue that licensing agreements are increasingly likely to contain a grant-back clause (i) the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensor’s patent portfolio, and (ii) the higher the uncertainty of the licensed technology. In contrast, we conjecture decreasing likelihood of a grant-back clause, the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensee’s patent portfolio. Technological uncertainty is conjectured to positively moderate the results both when the licensed technology is part of the core technology of the licensee and the licensor. We test our hypotheses using a sample of 404 licensed technologies over the period 1984-2004. We employ a hierarchical nested decision model to account for the inclusion of a grant-back clause in a licensing contract nested in the decision about which technologies to license out. We find broad support for our theoretical The 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship: Competitiveness and Dynamics of Organizations, Technologies, Systems and Geography - ESADE Business School, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain Duration: 17 Jun 2013 → 19 Jun 2013 http://druid8.sit.aau.dk/registrant/index/login/cid/13 The 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship ESADE Business School, Ramon Llull University The DRUID Society Conference 2013 Laursen, K., Leone, M. I., Moreira, S., & Reichstein, T. (2013). Exploring the Boomerang Effect: The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing. Paper presented at The 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Barcelona, Spain. Laursen, Keld ; Leone, M. Isabella ; Moreira, Solon ; Reichstein, Toke. / Exploring the Boomerang Effect : The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing. Paper presented at The 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Barcelona, Spain.37 p. @conference{0d2c655ec2bf47dca15ecce298a1895c, title = "Exploring the Boomerang Effect: The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing", abstract = "Licensing is one of the most commonly observed inter-firm contractual agreements.Drawing on the resource-based view of the firm and contract economics, we argue that the inclusion of a grant-back clause in licensing agreements emerges as a consequence of the licensor and licensee firms’ requirements to balance the need to protect their technological resources with the need to learn through internal and external processes. We argue that licensing agreements are increasingly likely to contain a grant-back clause (i) the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensor’s patent portfolio, and (ii) the higher the uncertainty of the licensed technology. In contrast, we conjecture decreasing likelihood of a grant-back clause, the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensee’s patent portfolio. Technological uncertainty is conjectured to positively moderate the results both when the licensed technology is part of the core technology of the licensee and the licensor. We test our hypotheses using a sample of 404 licensed technologies over the period 1984-2004. We employ a hierarchical nested decision model to account for the inclusion of a grant-back clause in a licensing contract nested in the decision about which technologies to license out. We find broad support for our theoretical arguments", keywords = "Grant-back Clause, Technology Licensing, Core Technology, Technological Uncertainty", author = "Keld Laursen and Leone, {M. Isabella} and Solon Moreira and Toke Reichstein", note = "null ; Conference date: 17-06-2013 Through 19-06-2013", url = "http://druid8.sit.aau.dk/registrant/index/login/cid/13", Laursen, K, Leone, MI, Moreira, S & Reichstein, T 2013, 'Exploring the Boomerang Effect: The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing' Paper presented at, Barcelona, Spain, 17/06/2013 - 19/06/2013, . Exploring the Boomerang Effect : The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing. / Laursen, Keld; Leone, M. Isabella; Moreira, Solon; Reichstein, Toke. 2013. Paper presented at The 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Barcelona, Spain. T1 - Exploring the Boomerang Effect T2 - The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing AU - Laursen, Keld AU - Leone, M. Isabella AU - Moreira, Solon AU - Reichstein, Toke N2 - Licensing is one of the most commonly observed inter-firm contractual agreements.Drawing on the resource-based view of the firm and contract economics, we argue that the inclusion of a grant-back clause in licensing agreements emerges as a consequence of the licensor and licensee firms’ requirements to balance the need to protect their technological resources with the need to learn through internal and external processes. We argue that licensing agreements are increasingly likely to contain a grant-back clause (i) the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensor’s patent portfolio, and (ii) the higher the uncertainty of the licensed technology. In contrast, we conjecture decreasing likelihood of a grant-back clause, the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensee’s patent portfolio. Technological uncertainty is conjectured to positively moderate the results both when the licensed technology is part of the core technology of the licensee and the licensor. We test our hypotheses using a sample of 404 licensed technologies over the period 1984-2004. We employ a hierarchical nested decision model to account for the inclusion of a grant-back clause in a licensing contract nested in the decision about which technologies to license out. We find broad support for our theoretical arguments AB - Licensing is one of the most commonly observed inter-firm contractual agreements.Drawing on the resource-based view of the firm and contract economics, we argue that the inclusion of a grant-back clause in licensing agreements emerges as a consequence of the licensor and licensee firms’ requirements to balance the need to protect their technological resources with the need to learn through internal and external processes. We argue that licensing agreements are increasingly likely to contain a grant-back clause (i) the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensor’s patent portfolio, and (ii) the higher the uncertainty of the licensed technology. In contrast, we conjecture decreasing likelihood of a grant-back clause, the closer the licensed technology is to the core of the licensee’s patent portfolio. Technological uncertainty is conjectured to positively moderate the results both when the licensed technology is part of the core technology of the licensee and the licensor. We test our hypotheses using a sample of 404 licensed technologies over the period 1984-2004. We employ a hierarchical nested decision model to account for the inclusion of a grant-back clause in a licensing contract nested in the decision about which technologies to license out. We find broad support for our theoretical arguments KW - Grant-back Clause KW - Technology Licensing KW - Core Technology KW - Technological Uncertainty Laursen K, Leone MI, Moreira S, Reichstein T. Exploring the Boomerang Effect: The Role of Core Technologies and Uncertainty in Explaining the Use of the Grant-Back Clause in Technology Licensing. 2013. Paper presented at The 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Barcelona, Spain. http://druid8.sit.aau.dk/acc_papers/yyqcgffbfp2gm401sevsu9gm8fdp.pdf	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1889
__label__cc	0.649657	0.350343	Zlatos, Christy Faculty and Staff - Libraries AuthorZlatos, Christy (6)SubjectActivities and Relationships Table (1)Criminal Activity of Government Informants (1)Gotti, John (1)Media Materials Services (1)media services (1)Regional Media Repository (1)Shneiderman, Ben (1)Tufte, Edward R. (1)Washington State University Libraries (1)Wikipedia Encyclopedias Open Access (1)... View MoreDate Issued2010 - 2015 (3)2000 - 2009 (2)1998 - 1999 (1) zlatos@wsu.edu This collection features scholarly and educational materials by Christy Zlatos, librarian at Washington State University. Happy Birthday, Wikipedia!: A Look at 12 Years of Open Access Zlatos, Christy (6/11/2015) This 20--slide PowerPoint presentation celebrates Wikipedia as it turns 12 and, from the perspective of the author's own career in libraries, explores the information utilities' origins as a cooperative project on the internet. Still Not Ready for Prime Time: Academic Librarian Attitudes towards Wikipedia in a Networked Age How do information literacy librarians regard Wikipedia? Researchers (Lim, 2009, Menchen-Trevino & Hargittai, 2011) have called for greater librarian involvement in providing guidelines for the use of Wikipedia and in ... It's free, it's interactive, and it's available to all: embracing Wikipedia at the library, in the classroom and beyond "Activities and Relationships Table," Redrawn and Rekeyed by Christy Zlatos Zlatos, Christy (MIT Press, 1/15/2003) Shneiderman details four activities and four relationships as well as a host of actions to create this matrix that explores the creative process for artists, software and other technology producers. A Regional Resource for All: The Regional Media Repository at Media Materials Services, Washington State University Libraries In 1989, the Regional Media Repository was created by the merger of the media collections of the University of Idaho and Washington State University. It was located on the ground floor of what is presently known as the ...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1890
__label__wiki	0.645793	0.645793	Raj Aggarwal Centre for Sustainable Power Distribution Honorary/Visiting Staff, Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering 50 - 96 out of 96 results An implementation of current differential relay and directional comparison relay using EMTP MODELS So, K. H., Heo, J. Y., Kim, C. H., Aggarwal, R. K., Kim, J. C. & Jang, G., 2006, In : International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems. 28, 4, p. 261-272 12 p. FORTRAN (programming language) High level languages Software packages A study on the on-line measurement of transmission line impedances for improved relaying protection Kim, I. D. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2006, In : International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems. 28, 6, p. 359-366 8 p. Electric lines Performance evaluation of a distance relay as applied to a transmission system with UPFC Zhou, X., Wang, H. F., Aggarwal, R. K. & Beaumont, P., 2006, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. 21, 3, p. 1137-1147 11 p. Relay protection An enhanced zone 3 algorithm of a distance relay using transient components and state diagram Kim, C. H., Heo, J. Y. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2005, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. 20, 1, p. 39-46 8 p. Chromatic classification of RF signals produced by electrical discharges in HV transformers Zhang, J., Jones, G. R., Spencer, J. W., Jarman, P., Kemp, I. J., Wang, Z., Lewin, P. L. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2005, In : Generation, Transmission and Distribution, IEE Proceedings-. 152, 5, p. 629-634 6 p. Detailed modelling and simulation of UPFC using EMTP Zhou, X. Y., Wang, H. F. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2005, Unkown Publisher. (Upec 2004: 39th International Universitities Power Engineering Conference, Vols 1-3, Conference Proceedings) Semiconductor switches Digital distance protection for composite circuit applications Moore, P. J., Bo, Z. Q. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2005, In : Generation, Transmission and Distribution, IEE Proceedings-. 152, 2, p. 283-290 8 p. Genetic algorithms for optimal reactive power compensation on the national grid system Li, F., Pilgrim, J. D., Dabeedin, C., Chebbo, A. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2005, In : Power Systems, IEEE Transactions on. 20, 1, p. 493-500 8 p. Accurate fault locator for EHV transmission lines based on radial basis function neural networks Joorabian, M., Asl, S. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2004, In : Electric Power Systems Research. 71, 3, p. 195-202 8 p. EHV power transmission Electric fault location An adaptive autoreclosure scheme in transmission lines Heo, JY., Kim, CH. & Aggarwal, RK., 2004. A new approach to fault location in a single core underground cable system using combined fuzzy logic and wavelet analysis Moshtagh, J. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2004, p. 228-231 Vol.1. Cable cores Wavelet analysis A new approach to single-phase pipie type cable modelling using conformal mapping Moshtagh, J. & Aggarwal, RK., 2004. A new approach using wavelet transform and learning vector quantisation for fault classification in transmission lines Zhou, ZY., Wang, HF. & Aggarwal, RK., 2004. A novel approach to diagnosis of defective equipments In GIS using self organizing map Aggarwal, R., Tao, L. & Chul Hwan, K., 2004, p. 362-368 Vol.1. Electric switchgear Self organizing maps Partial discharges Power spectrum A novel fault location technique based on current signals only for thyristor controlled series compensated transmission lines using wavelet analysis and self organising map neural networks Cheong, W. J. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2004, p. 224-227 Vol.1. A study of the on-line measurement of power line impedance for distance relay accuracy improvement Dong Kim, II. & Aggarwal, RK., 2004. Identification of the defective equipments in GIS using the self organising map Lin, T., Aggarwal, R. K. & Kim, C. H., 2004, In : Generation, Transmission and Distribution, IEE Proceedings-. 151, 5, p. 644-650 7 p. Power spectral density Implementation and laboratory test of a fully integrated neural network based protection relay for high voltage transmission lines Aggarwal, R. K., Lorenzo, J. I. & Orille, A. L., 2004, p. 72-75 Vol.1. Electric instrument transformers Analysis of power transformer dissolved gas data using the self-organizing map Thang, K. F., Aggarwal, R. K., McGrail, A. J. & Esp, D. G., 2003, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. 18, 4, p. 1241-1248 8 p. A novel algorithm for fault classification in transmission lines using a combined adaptive network and fuzzy inference system Yeo, S. M., Kim, C. H., Hong, K. S., Lim, Y. B., Aggarwal, R. K., Johns, A. T. & Choi, M. S., 2003, In : International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems. 25, 9, p. 747-758 12 p. Fuzzy inference Fire hazards Fault detection Closure on "A novel fault detection technique of high impedance arcing faults in transmission lines using the wavelet transform" Kim, C. H. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2003, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. 18, 4, p. 1596-1597 2 p. Dynamic transform and artifical based condition monitoring for GIS Heo, JH., Kim, CH., Aggarwal, RK. & Park, NO., 2003. Implementation and test of a TCSC ANN-based alpha th order inverse control system Tang, Y., Chen, H., Wang, H. F., Aggarwal, R., Johns, A. T., Dai, X. Z. & Li, N. H., 2003, In : International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems. 25, 4, p. 309-317 9 p. Power system control applications based on artrificial immune systems Ali, G., Wang, HF. & Aggarwal, RK., 2003. Radio frequency measurement of different discharges Babnik, T., Aggarwal, RK., Moore, PJ. & Wang, ZD., 2003. Remote radiometric measurements of PDs occurring in power transformers Babnik, T., Aggarwal, RK., Moore, PJ. & Jarman, P., 2003. Wavelet transform and artificial intelligence based condition monitoring for GIS Lin, T., Aggarwal, R. K. & Kim, C. H., 2003, p. 191-195 Vol.1. Accurate fault location in high voltage transmission systems comprising an improved thyristor controlled series capacitor model using wavelet transforms and neural network Cheong, W. J. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2002. An ANN routine for fault detection, classification, and location in transmission lines Coury, D. V., Oleskovicz, M. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2002, In : Electric Power Components and Systems. 30, 11, p. 1137-1149 13 p. A novel fault-detection technique of high-impedance arcing faults in transmission lines using the wavelet transform Kim, C. H., Kim, H., Ko, Y. H., Byun, S. H., Aggarwal, R. K. & Johns, A. T., Oct 2002, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. 17, 4, p. 921-929 9 p. A novel feature extraction and optimization method for neural-network based fault classification in TCSC-compensated lines Cheong, WJ. & Aggarwal, RK., 2002. Applying pattern recognition to fault classification for power system protection Coury, DV., Oleskovicz, M. & Aggarwal, RK., 2002, In : International Journal of Power & Energy Systems. 22, 2, p. 85-92 8 p. Combined wavelet transform and regression technique for secondary current compensation of current transformers Li, F., Li, Y. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2002, In : Generation, Transmission and Distribution, IEE Proceedings-. 149, 4, p. 497-503 7 p. Error compensation Compensation and Redress Compensation of CT secondary currents using the combined Wavelet Transform and regression technique Li, F., Li, Y. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2002, In : IEE proceedings - Generation, Transmission and Distribution. 149, 4, p. 497-503 7 p. Wavelet analysis of the fault transient phenomena in an improved thyristor controlled series compensated transmission line model with particular reference to accurate fault location A complete scheme for fault detection, classification and location in transmission lines using neural networks Oleskovicz, M., Coury, DV. & Aggarwal, RK., 2001. Advanced hybrid genetic algorithm for short-term generation scheduling El Desouky, A. A., Aggarwal, R., Elkateb, M. M. & Li, F., 2001, In : Generation, Transmission and Distribution, IEE Proceedings-. 148, 6, p. 511-517 7 p. An Alternative Approach to Adaptive Single-Pole Auto Reclosing in High-Voltage Transmission Systems Based on Variable Dead Time Control Ahn, S. P., Aggarwal, R. K. & Johns, A. T., 2001, In : Power Engineering Review, IEEE. 21, 4, p. 70-70 1 p. An alternative technique for full stator winding protection using artificial intelligence Ai, Q., Aggarwal, RK., Weller, G. & Caunce, B., 2001. A Novel Approach to the Classification of the Transient Phenomena in Power Transformers Using Combined Wavelet Transform and Neural Network Mao, P. L. & Aggarwal, R. K., 2001, In : Power Engineering Review, IEEE. 21, 7, p. 70-70 1 p. A physical dynamic simulator of thyristor controlled series capacitor for a HV transmission system Tang, Y., Chen, H., Wang, HF., Li, H., Aggarwal, RK. & Johns, AT., 2001, In : AMSE C: Advances in Modelling and Analysis. 2, p. 19-30 12 p. Application of self-organising map algorithm for analysis and interpretation of dissolved gases in power transformers Thang, K. F., Aggarwal, R. K., McGrail, A. J. & Esp, D. G., 2001, p. 1881-1886 vol.3. Gas fuel analysis Modeling transmission lines for travelling wave study Tang, Y., Chen, H., Wang, H. F., Aggarwal, R., Johns, A. T., Dai, F. & Jiang, S., 2001, In : Modelling, Measurement and Control A. 74, 5-6, p. 1-20 20 p. Transmission Line traveling waves Modelling the transmission lines for traveling wave study Tang, Y., Chen, H., Wang, HF., Aggarwal, RK. & Johns, AT., 2001, In : AMSE C: Advances in Modelling and Analysis. 6, p. 1-20 20 p. Wavelet transform in the accurate detection of high impedance arcing faults in high voltage transmission lines Kim, C. H., Kim, H., Aggarwal, R. K. & Johns, A. T., 2001. Wavelet transforms in power systems Part 2 Examples of application to actual power system transients Kim, C. H. & Aggarwal, R., 2001, In : Power Engineering Journal. 15, 4, p. 193-202 10 p. Contact Raj Aggarwal	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1891
__label__wiki	0.670726	0.670726	RVA Mag Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005 EAT DRINK GAYRVA VA Shows You Must See This Week: November 20 – November 26 Marilyn Drew Necci \| November 20, 2019 Topics: Addy, Alfred, Ant The Symbol, Archangel, Beeline, Big Sty, Blackliq, Bonsai Trees, Bravo, C Shreve, Cane, Capital Ale House Music Hall, Chance Fischer, Cole Hicks, David Shultz, Dropping Julia, Dropping Ugly, Easalio, Elevation27, Empath, F.R.E.E., Fan Ran, Femme Funk, gallery 5, Garden Grove Brewing, GIANT, GOOGZ, Gumming, Harli & The House of Jupiter, Illa Styles, Immortal Technique, Intalek, Jarv, Jimbo Mathus, Johnny Ciggs, jonathan vassar, La Dispute, Lance Bangs, Linden Row, Marti, Michael Millions, Nick Woods, Nickelus F, Poor Boys, Radio B, Rah Scrilla, Raw Mom Presents, Recluse Raccoon, Reppa Ton, RVA Rap Elite, Shagwüf, Ships In The Night, shows you must see, Sofia Lakis, The Broadberry, The Canal Club, The Dark Room, The Richmonder, The Southern Cafe, Touche Amore, Trapcry, Trey Burnart Hall, True Body, VV, Wild Pink Friday, November 22 & Saturday November 23 Raw Mom Weekend, Night 1: Alfred, Trapcry, Archangel, F.R.E.E. Night 2: Gumming, True Body, VV, Lance Bangs, Sofia Lakis @ Gallery 5 – single night: $8 in advance/$10 at the door. Weekend pass: $15 in advance (order tickets HERE) Hope everyone’s getting their wallets limbered up, their psyches strengthened, and their cars fit for traveling, because it’s that time again! Yes indeed, folks, the holidays are coming sooner than you think — Thanksgiving is a mere eight days away, and Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa are only a month past that. It’s coming time to see the fam, with all the happiness and terror that entails. But before the holiday season officially kicks in, let’s celebrate our river city fam with the first ever Raw Mom Weekend at Gallery 5. My old pal Rivanna Youngpool has really outdone herself with this one, bringing two nights of incredible local talent together on the Gallery 5 stage to celebrate the ever-renewing wellspring of talent that is the Richmond music scene. Night one is the night on which we will all dance, featuring hip hop, ambient electro, and psychedelic dance grooves from several different politically-informed artists of color. Rapper Alfred will headline and bring his lysergic beats and tongue-twisting rhymes to keep your ears burning and your feet moving. Trapcry, meanwhile, brings powerful electric funk with a strong social conscience, as Archangel explores spaced-out anime-inspired breakbeats. That’s Friday night, and on Saturday, night two brings us a whole different approach that’s sure to be equally invigorating. The noisy, quirky, brilliant, powerful punk rock of Gumming tops the bill and promises to trip you out and rip your head off all at the same time. Things will get more gothic at points with sets from True Body and VV, while Lance Bangs will bring you an always-pleasing dose of slack indie rockin’. Sofia Lakis will kick things off with some beats to ensure that there’s plenty of dancing on this night as well. What better way do we have to celebrate the last weekend before the holidays spread their ambivalent malaise across the next six weeks? I can’t think of one. Wednesday, November 20, 9 PM Ant The Symbol, GIANT, Johnny Ciggs, Reppa Ton, Rah Scrilla, Jarv, C Shreve @ The Richmonder – Free! Over here at RVA Mag, we’ve been following the work of Ant The Symbol for a solid decade now, since back when he was still Just Plain Ant of the Just Plain Sounds crew. He’s been growing and maturing as a producer and musician ever since, and over the past few years, his massive collaborative albums have become event listening for the entire RVA hip hop scene whenever he releases one. THE WHAT?! is the latest in a string of Ant The Symbol releases on his post-JPS home of Gritty City Records, and it shows that as time goes on, the man just gets better at making incredible music for the city’s best to spit rhymes over. That doesn’t mean he’s getting predictable — even his latest crew of collaborators can acknowledge that. The first thing Kels says on his THE WHAT?! track, “My Way,” is, “I love you, Ant, but this beat’s weird.” Speaking personally, that’s why I look forward to each new Ant The Symbol project — where others get predictable, he gets creative. He’s put out so many records I’ve honestly lost count, and he still hasn’t come anywhere near repeating himself. That’s why you should make a point to show up tonight at Gritty City’s longtime live home, which is called The Richmonder instead of Emilio’s now but is still the same dope spot. Ant The Symbol’s gonna join with his Gritty City crew and a whole bunch of other talented rappers from Richmond and beyond to bring you the freshest new sounds this city has to offer, in the form of his new album. Don’t be left asking, “the what?” Show up tonight so you know the answer. Thursday, November 21, 7 PM Wild Pink, Addy, Recluse Raccoon, Beeline @ Poor Boys – $5 If you’ve been seeing the phrase “Prsmcat Presents” on a bunch of good shows lately, you’re not the only one — this new booking project from members of Majjin Boo has brought a cornucopia of excellent live music to the city over the past couple months, and established themselves as a name to look out for. This visit from Brooklyn’s own Wild Pink is just the latest positive result of Prsmcat’s efforts around town, many of which have involved the return of rad live sounds to the backroom stage at Poor Boys, the venue formerly known as Flora and, before that, Balliceaux. I can’t imagine anyone having any complaints about that. Wild Pink are definitely worth spending a Thursday night in the aforementioned back room. On last year’s Yolk In The Fur, it’s clear why this trio dedicated their latest album to the memory of Tom Petty — that recently-departed heartland rocker is an obvious influence for Wild Pink, one they feed through a 21st century sensibility that evokes the best work by The War On Drugs. It’s smooth, comfortable, and ever-so-slightly melancholy, in a manner sure to evoke a sad smile of recognition. Wild Pink will be joined on this weekend-preview night at Poor Boys by some excellent local indie groups as well, foremost among them Recluse Raccoon. The results are sure to charm you. Friday, November 22, 7:30 PM Bonsai Trees, Dropping Ugly, Linden Row @ Garden Grove Brewing – Free! Damn, y’all, I love it when this happens — when I’m poking through a list of bands, all of which I’m unfamiliar with, trying to find the makings of a killer show. I always find something good — this is Richmond, after all; we do live music RIGHT. But it’s rare that I am totally blown away by a band whose name I’ve never even heard before. However, Connecticut’s Bonsai Trees are that rare band. This talented quartet’s recently-released Learn To Grow LP came out of nowhere to blindside me with its incredible collection of melodic, emotional alt-rock tunes. The more I listen to it, the more stoked I get. At this rate, I’ll be bouncing all over the room by the time they even take the Garden Grove stage Friday night. And whether you’ve heard them before or not, I pretty much guarantee that once they start playing, you’ll be just as over the moon as I am. The fact that their show is free and also features talented RVA combos Dropping Ugly and Linden Row merely sweetens the already-delicious pot. Is that how that particular cliche works? Oh, who cares. All I care about is you going to see Bonsai Trees Friday night. Seriously, do it. Saturday, November 23, 8 PM David Shultz, Nick Woods, Jonathan Vassar, Trey Burnart Hall @ Capital Ale House Music Hall – $8 (order tickets HERE) By now, you’re probably used to seeing “singer-songwriter night” tagged onto certain performances that take place around this city, and you’ve come to expect certain things — talented solo performers who are for the most part just getting started with their musical careers, playing a selection of tunes you probably won’t have heard before but you just might love. This Saturday night show at Capital Ale House’s Richmond Music Hall could accurately be termed a singer-songwriter night as well, but if it were, it’d be a particularly stacked one, featuring as it does multiple Richmond musicians who’ve built decade-plus careers here in the river city. Take David Shultz, for example. From his days fronting alt-country combo The Skyline to more recent solo acoustic outings and now some brand new tunes created with the assistance of multiple Spacebomb-affiliated creators (perhaps a harbinger of positive things to come?), Shultz has quite the track record going for him — and he’s clearly far from done as a creative musical force. His old pal Nick Woods is similar — once the Richmond-based frontman of indie-folk group Orioles, these days he’s making country-style acoustic music down in Nashville. And of course, Jonathan Vassar’s heartfelt folk-Americana sounds have been a constant here in Richmond for over 15 years now. Trey Burnart Hall is a relative newcomer by comparison, but he’s an incredibly talented one. If it’s a showcase for some of the most talented singer-songwriters this city’s ever produced that you crave, you’re in for a major treat at Capital Ale House this Saturday night. Sunday, November 24, 6 PM RVA Rap Elite Season Finale, feat. Team Radio (Radio B, Michael Millions, Cole Hicks, Cane, Intalek) vs Team Petey (Nickelus F, Big Sty, Easalio, Illa Styles, Fan Ran), Bravo vs. Chance Fischer, Big Sty, BlackLiq @ The Dark Room – $10 Battle rap is a strong tradition that dates back to the very dawn of hip hop, but it’s had its ups and downs over the decades. Freestyle battles between talented rappers are definitely on the upswing here in Richmond, though, and have been for the past few years, from the work of the Southpaw Battle Coalition to the star-studded presentations by RVA Rap Elite. This particular event constitutes the 2019 Season Finale for these events, which have relocated with the closing of Champion RVA to The Hofheimer Building’s Dark Room. RVA Rap Elite majordomo Radio B is really pulling out all the stops for this last event of 2019, too — he and his AGM partner Nickelus F have each formed five-MC teams that will battle it out in a cypher sure to have faces melting and heads exploding all over the Hof. Between Radio B’s enlistment of heavy hitters Michael Millions, Cole Hicks, and more; and Nickelus F’s recruitment of Illa Styles, Fan Ran, and other world-class talents, it’s hard to predict who could prevail in this clash of the hip hop titans. Meanwhile, Bravo and Chance Fischer will strut their own stuff in a battle that’s guaranteed to showcase some devastating rhymes from these two top-level rhyme spitters. And of course, BlackLiq and Big Sty will each bring the fire with sets of their own. If you care at all about hip hop in RVA, you have got to make it out to this one — it really doesn’t get better. Monday, November 25, 7 PM Jimbo Mathus @ The Canal Club – $15 (order tickets HERE) It’s entirely possible that right now, you’re thinking what I was thinking when I first saw this listing: “Jimbo Mathus… do I know who he is?” You almost certainly do, but chances are you know him better as the co-founder and leader of the Squirrel Nut Zippers than you do as a solo performer. Everyone remembers the Zippers from their late 90s hit, “Hell,” but that quick taste of success did them a disservice, as their old-time Dixieland jazz approach got them swept into the “swing revival” dustbin with the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and old VHS copies of Swingers when the turn of the millennium rolled around. Meanwhile, Jimbo Mathus was and remains a world-class talent with a wide-ranging creative sensibility that finds him dipping into the worlds of folk, blues, and Southern soul, as he’s proven with his 2019 solo album Incinerator — his fourth under his own name. The album sees him collaborate with former Zippers bandmate Andrew Bird, as well as Lily Hiatt and members of the Drive-By Truckers. The result isn’t that much like your memories of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, but it’s sure to be a hit with anyone who loves heartfelt American music created by truly unique characters that haven’t been homogenized by our country’s creeping suburban wasteland. That’s what you’ll get from Jimbo Mathus, and you’re going to love it. Tuesday, November 26, 8 PM La Dispute, Touche Amore, Empath @ The Broadberry – $25 (order tickets HERE) One of the first articles I wrote for RVA Mag, nearly a decade ago, was about Touche Amore and Pianos Become The Teeth coming to town to perform. While La Dispute wasn’t part of that gig, they were, along with those other two bands, part of the loosely-aligned group known as The Wave. This was a cadre of half a dozen or so bands who formed an affiliation based on their mutual status as groups attempting to thread the needle between emo and hardcore at the dawn of the 2010s. Those groups have gone in a variety of musical directions since then — Pianos Become The Teeth have dropped the screaming and found a deep well of melodic emotion to draw from, Touche Amore have remained closely musically aligned to hardcore even as their exploration of deeply fraught lyrical content has cut ever closer to the bone. As for La Dispute, 2019 has seen them sign to Epitaph Records and release their first LP in five years, Panorama. On it, vocalist Jordan Dreyer — always the most literarily inclined of The Wave’s songwriters — has gone deeper than ever into his novelistic inclinations, exploring his own emotional responses to trauma and tragedy in the lives of those he cares about over the course of the album’s 10 songs, even as the rest of the band generates dynamic compositions that move from quiet introspection to overwhelming crescendos in a matter of minutes. The result is an incredible musical journey that will have a powerful impact on all who witness it — especially in the live environment La Dispute will create at The Broadberry this Tuesday night. Let it impact you. Be there. Elsewhere Around The State: Friday, November 22, 6 PM Femme Funk, feat. Shagwuf, Ships In The Night, Harli & The House of Jupiter, Dropping Julia, Marti @ The Southern Cafe (Charlottesville) – $15 (order tickets HERE) This Friday night in Charlottesville, The Southern Cafe will bring us the third annual celebration of C-ville’s showcase of femme musicians, Femme Funk. This year’s event is set to benefit Planned Parenthood of Charlottesville, and with the kind of peril reproductive rights and women’s health care face in Trump’s America, you’d be hard pressed to find a better cause than this one. Plus, you’ll get to hear a highly diverse set of sounds from Central Virginia performers of a feminine persuasion, and that’s always a joy. It’s especially a joy when the evening is headlined by the unrestrained rock n’ roll passion of Shagwuf, whose blues-inflected alt-rock has been blowing minds around VA and beyond for quite a few years now. The evening will also feature as wide a variety of sounds as is possible to find in one room on one evening, from Harli & the House Of Jupiter’s powerful soul-punk fusion to Ships In The Night’s dark, ambient electronic sounds to the rootsy pop of Dropping Julia and the indie rocking of Marti. See how much femme artists have to offer the world of Virginia music and take a drive up 64 this Friday night for Femme Funk — you won’t be sorry. Tuesday, November 26, 7:30 PM Immortal Technique, GOOGZ @ Elevation27 (Virginia Beach) – $20-$25 (order tickets HERE) If you’ve just been following the lists of new releases over the past eight years or so, you could be forgiven for thinking that Immortal Technique had retired from the hip hop game. We haven’t gotten any new music out of the most radical rapper in the game since his 2011 collection, The Martyr, and while he swears he’s still working on long-promised fifth album The Middle Passage, there’s no release date as yet. That’s all the more reason to head to Virginia Beach this Tuesday and see Immortal Technique murder the mic, live and in person. While these days he’s probably better known for his radical left-wing politics due to multiple appearances on the shows of Joe Rogan and (uh) Alex Jones, Technique’s hip hop mixes those politics with some incredibly harsh lyrical content, leaving him somewhere between political rap and outright horrorcore — a dichotomy clearly visible in songs like “Point Of No Return” and “Dance With The Devil.” Regardless of whether you agree with everything Immortal Technique raps about (personally, I’ve never been a fan of his casual use of homophobic slurs), he’s an incredibly talented and provocative MC of the sort who doesn’t come around very often at all. So go see him, because there’s no telling when you’ll get the chance again. Email me if you’ve got any tips for me about upcoming shows (that take place after the week this column covers -– this week’s column has obviously already been written): [email protected] Top Photo: Gumming, by Joey Wharton, via Twitter Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond sidebar-alt Copyright © 2020 · RVA Magazine on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1905
__label__wiki	0.730213	0.730213	Right Wing News Right Wing News SHOCK: Why Weren’t Liberals Furious About These Photos Of Illegal Immigrant Detentions Under Obama? • By The Conservative Jew While the mainstream media and even globalist former first lady Laura Bush are out there trying to push a fake narrative about the separation of children from parents at the border they all seem to be forgetting one important fact, that George W. Bush initiated the “zero-tolerance policy” and Barack Hussein Obama had no issue implementing it during his presidential administration but the same reporters who are today attacking President Trump were completely silent back in 2014 when the border crisis reached fever pitch under the Obama administration. https://twitter.com/brandondarby/status/1008500591914573824 The Daily Caller reported: “Much of the media coverage over the last few weeks has focused on the policy of separating illegal immigrant children from their parents on the US border. The Trump administration has come under fire for enforcing the policy, which calls for criminal prosecution of would-be immigrants who cross the border illegally, therefore separating them from their children. The outrage has struck some reporters as peculiar, particularly since there was abject silence and a lack of outrage when the Obama administration treated illegal immigrants in a similar fashion. Barack Obama deported more people than any president in history and reached a record number — 97,000 — of criminal prosecutions in 2013 for illegal border crossings. Breitbart Texas reporter Brandon Darby toured detention facilities under the Obama administration. “’Cages’ — The chainlink partitions in the holding facilities at border are the exact same ones we showed you during the Obama Admin. Why didn’t you care then?” Darby tweeted this weekend as the outrage raged over Trump’s use of detention facilities. Darby followed up with a series of photos of the facilities that he published in 2014” This is all an attack on President Trump, and when they attack President Trump, they attack all of us who support and voted for him. President Trump is doing exactly what we elected him to do. He is enforcing a law that was signed by George W. Bush and enforced by Barack Huessin Obama. But strangely enough, for some reason, when they enforced it, the mainstream liberal media and all the living former first ladies had no issue with it. The truth here is that our politicians, the very ones who we elect and who we pay for stopped considering us Americans as worthy. Any foreigner who decides to stroll across the border comes before Americans in their book. And then they wonder why an outsider like President Donald Trump was able to beat 16 primary challengers and went on to hand Hillary Clinton and the Democrat Party the biggest upset in Presidential election history. We the people woke up, and we will never again vote for people who believe foreign nationals are worth more than law-abiding American citizens and legal residents! Here is more on this policy via The Guardian: “The Trump administration will increase criminal prosecutions of parents entering the United States illegally and place their children in protective custody as part of efforts to tighten immigration enforcement, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official. Trump administration ends 57,000 Hondurans’ special immigration status Under the new policy, parents caught crossing the border illegally will be separated from their children and criminally prosecuted. “Those apprehended will be sent directly to federal court under the custody of the US Marshals Service, and their children will be transferred to the custody of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement,” the DHS official said in an email. The policy, which the official said was signed on Friday, formalizes plans that have been under discussion for more than a year. Reuters first reported the government’s idea to separate parents and children apprehended at the border in March 2017. A month later, the administration said it was no longer considering the policy because of a drop in apprehensions of families at the US southern border with Mexico. Shortly after Trump took office, pledging a hard line against illegal immigration, border arrests fell. Apprehensions, however, are again on the rise and reaching levels seen during the administration of Barack Obama, frustrating Trump. “Illegal immigration must end!” he tweeted on Friday. Families seeking asylum should turn themselves into authorities so their petitions can be processed instead of attempting to cross illegally, the DHS official said. Currently, border crossers are often deported after their apprehension without being charged criminally. Immigration advocates say that family separations for criminal prosecutions and other circumstances have already been happening for months. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in February to challenge the practice. In April, Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, announced a “zero tolerance” policy for prosecutions of all illegal entry into the United States, and cases have already begun ticking up. The DHS said that there have been about 30,000 prosecution referrals since the start of the 2018 fiscal year in October, up from 18,642 prosecutions for the entire 2017 fiscal year.” Trump Just Sent Nasty Kathy Griffin Into Sobbing Fit After Profanity-Laced Insult Of Melania Kids In Libs’ Viral Vid Of Sobbing Child Immigrants At ‘Trump’s Internment Camps’ Not Who They Said White House Guests KNEEL During National Anthem, Trump Makes Them Immediately Regret It The Marine Corp band in their bright red uniforms were on the south balcony of the White House on a bright, sunny Tuesday in Washington, DC. The Army Chorus sang, beginning the event with ‘America the Beautiful’ and concluded with ‘God Bless America’. At least two people who were guests at President Trump’s Celebration of America event yesterday knelt, showing exactly why so many Americans are ticked over the National Anthem controversy. The event replaced a celebration at the White House in honor of the Super Bowl win for the Philadelphia Eagles. These two disrespectful idiots took a knee as the “Star Spangled Banner” rang out across the South Lawn of the White House. Simply disgraceful. These aren’t social justice warriors… these are unpatriotic jerks. A video was posted to Twitter by a reporter for SVT, the Swedish national public TV broadcaster. It shows a man, wearing a light blue button down, kneeling as the National Anthem played, before clapping and ultimately coming to his feet after the song finished. I guess he thought that was his five minutes of fame or something. Should President Trump shut the border down now with no more warnings about it or delay? — Amanda Shea (@TheAmandaShea) November 26, 2018 What it really amounted to was making a fool out of himself internationally. President Trump showcases all of these liberal dimwits for what they are… America-hating, radical leftists who are far more interested in hating our brave police officers and our country than they are in respecting America and taking national pride in their country and President. When President Trump took the podium, he blew his audience away with his love for our country, military, police, flag and the National Anthem. He made every single person who disrespects them like this look like the small, craven liberals that they really are. The man, who did not identify himself, left the event immediately after the United States Marine Band performed the anthem, according to a news anchor for TV2 Denmark. Gee, crawling away with his tail between his legs like the lowly cur he his. Guess he couldn’t stand patriotism after he showed how much he hates his own country. A man takes a knee during Trump’s celebration. pic.twitter.com/zghJSk2YOu — Carina Bergfeldt (@carinabergfeldt) June 5, 2018 There was a second man who was pictured kneeling as well. That was posted to Twitter by a CNN White House producer. He was wearing a light blue checkered shirt and had a little American flag. This guy was right up front. He was also apparently the same person who reportedly heckled Trump. That guy was roundly booed by everyone around him. CNN’s analyst April Ryan posted false news on Twitter yesterday claiming people were booing Trump when it was the heckler they went after. She eventually retracted what she said after her own colleagues called her out on the lie. “Stop hiding behind the armed services and the National Anthem,” the guy yelled to a chorus of boos, according to the Daily Mail. “Let’s hear it for the Eagles.” “Go home,” one person shouted at the heckler. Do YOU think we have the best President and First Lady ever? Follow Amanda Shea on Twitter to get RIGHT daily insight! The President didn’t engage the heckler, but looked in his direction and pursed his lips. He looked like he wanted to smack him. Right there with ya. President Trump disinvited the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House after they at first said they had more than 70 players coming to the People’s House to celebrate. By this week, that number had dropped to less than ten and then to only one player. They kept trying to change the date to one where President Trump would be out of the country. I don’t blame the President in the least for canceling the visit. That was totally appropriate. If you insist on being ungrateful and insulting a sitting President of the United States, then you don’t deserve the honor of going to the White House period. Trump claimed on Monday that the team disagreed “with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.” Eagles players denied that accusation, pointing out that no one on the team knelt for the anthem during last season. But that has nothing to do with how each individual on the team states his beliefs and shows his disrespect for President Trump. The man who was booed after shouting @ POTUS also took a knee during the anthem but appears to also sing the anthem while kneeling, based on pic by Olivier Douliery/ TNS. (He was behind me & I didn't turn around until I heard him shouting) pic.twitter.com/qwuqpEXrOE — Noah Gray (@NoahGrayCNN) June 5, 2018 White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused the team of a “political stunt” just minutes before Tuesday’s alternative event began, claiming the players had chosen to “abandon their fans.” That’s exactly what they did. “If this wasn’t a political stunt by the Eagles franchise then they wouldn’t have committed to attend the event and then backed out,” she said in her Tuesday press briefing. “And if it wasn’t a political stunt, they wouldn’t have attempted to reschedule the visit while the President was overseas.” Trump was brief in his remarks and only spoke for about four minutes. He began by explaining why it’s an issue of patriotism for Americans to stand for the National Anthem. “We love our flag and stand for our National Anthem,” Trump said to great applause from the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House. “We stand to honor our military and to honor country and to honor the fallen heroes who never made it back home.” Yes, we do… and those that don’t can take a hike. At The White House. One guy in the audience took a knee during the national anthem at President Trumps celebration of America no Eagles event. Left right after – didn’t wanna talk pic.twitter.com/NLRGp26gln — Jesper Zølck (@zolckTv2) June 5, 2018 CLICK HERE To Sign Petition to BAN ‘The View’ For Being Hateful Melania Unveils This Year’s White House Christmas Decorations That Libs Are SURE To Hate Melania Trump’s first year in office was marked by immense criticism of our incredible first lady, who in the eyes of the Trump family’s numerous detractors, Melania could do nothing right, or at least as well as her predecessor, Michelle Obama. This included her full Christmas decor plan, which was stunning in silver and white, and a beautiful modern take on the same tired style that Michelle un-creatively came up with. This year’s decorations will likely be no different, if not worse. Last year, liberals claimed she decked the halls in depression and gloom, likening it to looking more like a haunted house than a holiday home. So, what will they say about this year’s new look? Congrats, @MichelleObama, for reaching the highest level of arrogance in being offended that @FLOTUS didn’t ask for your advice on doing the job. Don’t worry, she learned what not to do by watching you.#MAGA #Trump2020 #MelaniaTrump #MichelleObama #FLOTUS Chicks On The Right reports: FLOTUS doesn’t just slay on the fashion front. Her decorating skills are off the charts. (Yes, yes– I know she didn’t do this by herself, but if you really believe she didn’t have a say, you’re nuuuuuuuuuuuuts.) ANYWHO. She finally unveiled this year’s White House Christmas decorations, and they’re GORGEOUS. The People’s House @WhiteHouse is ready to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season! pic.twitter.com/oejKW3mC15 — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) November 26, 2018 You have no idea how much I want to stroll through those halls of beautifully decorated trees. Oh well. I’ll have to settle for the aisles of Hobby Lobby. The @WhiteHouse is sparkling for the Christmas season! pic.twitter.com/ncNhlkZAWl It all looks great. I’m obsessed. TY, that is all. Crime1 year ago President Trump Announced How He Just Got Mexico To Pay For The Wall When President Trump said he would have Mexico pay for the wall on our southern border, he meant it. He... Politics1 year ago Three Clinton Foundation Whistleblowers Will Testify This Coming Week, “Explosive” Allegations to Come… “With regard to the investigation, which doesn’t get a lot of attention, into the Clinton foundation, the DOJ designated John... News1 year ago Get 'em, Trump! Culture1 year ago Kurt Russel SHOWED Overpaid Celebs To Shut Up About Trump – Hits Them Where It Hurts! That had to hurt! Trump About To Drop Presidential Hammer On Obama For Attempting To Overtake Investigation 'providing information to the FBI' Melania Trump’s first year in office was marked by immense criticism of our incredible first lady, who in the eyes... Mexico Makes a Big Move After Weekend Border Violence As the most reliable and balanced news aggregation service in the world, RWN offers the following information published by: The... MSM ‘Conveniently’ Leaves Out 2 Major Details In Outrage Over Tear Gas Used At Border Mainstream media would have you believe that our president authorized the border patrol to tear gas women and children. But... Ocasio-Cortez Makes Herself Look A COMPLETE Idiot For Last Time – Gets BLASTED This woman really should learn when to shut up. BREAKING: North Korea’s Plan For EMP Attack Out During Holidays – Stabs Trump In Back As the most reliable and balanced news aggregation service in the world, RWN offers the following information published by: Washington... Top Republican Still ‘Very Seriously’ Considering 2020 Bid Against Trump Is this a good idea?! Our Military Just Unleashed Their Secret Weapon On Migrants – Libs Lose Their Minds! As the most reliable and balanced news aggregation service in the world, RWN offers the following information published by: Breitbart... Copyright © 2020 Right Wing News. All rights reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1906
__label__cc	0.628061	0.371939	Douglas R. Gillespie Doug Gillespie oversees his own financial-market and economic consulting firm, Gillespie Research Associates. Pulling Together Three Bearish Stock Themes By Douglas R. Gillespie - Oct 25, 2004, 12:00 AM CDT I have three not-so-bullish stock-market themes at work at the moment: a scary October, the possibility of a major failing rally, accompanied by approaching electoral chaos. Here's a brief update that helps pull the three together. The following table helps put the three themes into a statistical perspective, using my seven-measure tracking group as a proxy. SELECTED STOCK-MARKET RETURNS TO 10/22/04 FROM KEY DATES (Excluding Dividends, Ranked In Order From 09/30/04) To Close on 10/22/04 From: Close 09/30 Close Aug. Close 2004 NASDAQ 100 -2.4% +1.8% +10.3% -7.5% -2.0% NYSE Comp. -2.9% -0.7% +4.9% -3.8% +1.3% Russ. 2000 -4.2% -0.9% +9.9% -6.3% +2.0% Value Line -4.1% -1.1% +6.6% -8.3% -2.0% Wil. 5000 -3.7% -1.3% +4.4% -5.0% -0.5% S&P 500 -4.0% -1.7% +3.1% -5.4% -1.5% DJIA -4.7% -3.2% -0.6% -9.1% -6.7% Average -3.7% -1.0% +5.5% -6.5% -1.3% Median -4.0% -1.1% +4.9% -6.3% -1.5% A Scary October The missive dated 10/12 ("Stocks: A Scary October?") observed the following: "Some Octobers have been particularly rough sledding for the stock market. So far (on balance), October 2004 has not been. But investors should not breath the proverbial sigh of relief quite yet. "For October so far, my seven-measure stock-market tracking group was up an average 0.9% through yesterday's close. All seven components were up in price, in a range of 1.8% for the NASDAQ 100, to less than 0.1% for the DJIA. There is nothing too scary about that -- so far ... However, I still detect storm clouds gathering on the horizon." As the above table indicates, the tracking group's average 0.9% gain when the 10/12 missive was written has slipped to a 1.0% decline (through last Friday's close). Nevertheless, this reversal still lacks the gusto necessary to award it a "scary." classification. The results from the close on 10/6 through last Friday are a different deal. Maybe they, too, lack scary proportions, but they certainly are not pleasant. Let's place them within the context of another recent research piece. A Major Failing Rally The missive dated 10/6 ("The Mother of All 2004 Failing Stock-Market Rallies?") had the following to say. This is an extensive excerpt, which will make it a more effective segue into theme number three -- electoral chaos. "Unto itself, yesterday's [10/5's] modest stock sell-off was not a big deal ... unless it were to follow through on the downside. Then it could become a bigger deal, giving the appearance of yet another failed rally. And I think a decent case can be made for a volatile, troubled period immediately ahead. "There's the continuing threat of domestic terrorism, of course, heightened materially by the rapidly approaching national election. Considering where the major sentiment measures are at present, the stock market is ill-prepared for such an event. It would get creamed! "But is it possible the ingredients for another kind of terrorism of sorts are beginning to coalesce. Suppose, for instance, the Presidential election segued into out-and-out chaos? I sense this as a growing possibility. "Something is up with the huge quantity of new voter registration throughout the country. Where I suspect this is leading is massive voter fraud throughout the country on 11/2, or at least what will appear as such -- something akin to what Florida-2000 spawned, but on a much, much grander scale! "Taken to an extreme -- something not to be ruled out, in my view -- it could leave the United States in political chaos on the morning of 11/3. I believe the initial foreign reaction would be very harsh, hitting the dollar hard, which would spill over quickly to higher interest rates [yes, higher interest rates], significantly lower stock prices and a major spike in the price of physical gold. In the case of the latter, new highs in gold's bull market." As matters have turned out, recent highs on most bellwether equity-market measures were made on 10/6, so my suspicion that something was up around that time was on target. As far as I'm concerned, this entire year has been nothing but a series of failing rallies. Some might want to describe the process as a giant distribution top. Go right ahead; you get no argument from me! On this score, let's go back to the earlier table. It includes returns through last Friday from 2004's respective high closes. Not included are the dates on which those highs occurred, which I think is very germane, vis-a-vis failing rallies and/or a big distribution top. The NASDAQ 100 set its high close way back on 1/26. Then came those for the DJIA and the S&P 500, set on 2/11. Next were the NYSE Composite and the Wilshire 5000, which made theirs on 3/5. Finally came the 2004 highs for the Russell 2000 and the Value Line (geometric), set on 4/5. Think about this chronology. The most recent of the 2004 highs were made going on seven months ago. Then juxtapose this to the wild optimism of early this year, which included the admonition from the CNBC crowd that went something like: "It's a Presidential election year, stocks can't miss!" Electoral Chaos I've been thinking about the potential chaos aspects of the coming election for many weeks. I probably should have gotten my feelings on the table earlier than on 10/6, as mentioned above, but everyone knows the "better later than never" shtick. Simply stated, Gillespie has bad, bad karma about what is coming on the chaos front. From the missive dated 10/13 ("Stocks and the Coming Electoral Chaos"): "The chaotic events surrounding the year-2000 Presidential election certainly contributed to a shaky stock market behaving in an even shakier way. Are stocks on a course for a similar outcome this time around? "...The ingredients are now very much in place for a high level of either actual or perceived election fraud. And to stay out of the partisan fray, ... fraud of the perceived variety can and is likely to work in both directions. To wit: Republicans alleging it against Democrats as well as the other way around. "I can envision, and quite realistically, wholesale allegations coming from both sides leading to numerous petitions to federal judges in more than one state for extensions of voting hours, thousands of impounded voting machines, cries heard 'round the globe of "disenfranchised voters" in huge numbers, ad infinitum, ad nauseam." The 10/13 missive contained a table relating to the year-2000 affair. It is definitely worth repeating. THE STOCK MARKET'S BEHAVIOR AROUND KEY DATES DURING THE YEAR-2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION* Close Low Close 11/07 and 12/12/Date % Change 11/07 to 12/12 Low DJIA 10952 10768 10374 12/01 -1.7 -5.3 S&P 500 1432 1371 1315 11/30 -4.3 -8.2 NAS 100 3280 2863 2507 11/30 -12.7 -23.6 *Dates: 11/7 = year-2000 election day. Hours after the stock-market close on 12/12, the US Supreme Court brought in its ruling favorable to Bush in Bush V. Gore. On 12/13, Gore conceded the election. To be sure, the secular bear market still in progress today was well underway by election day 2000. Therefore, with stocks already in a general downtrend, you cannot say for sure how much damage the unexpected political chaos inflicted. But you can get a pretty good handle on the fact it was relatively substantial. As the above numbers show, the post-election sell-off through the immediately subsequent closing lows in the three proxies I've used were significant. But there is additional statistical information that helps put the declines in a better perspective. The DJIA, S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 declines for all of 2000 were 6.2%, 10.1% and 36.8%, respectively. Thus, the declines in the period immediately following the election were equal to a very large amount of 2000's total red ink. With all the ingredients for significant electoral chaos falling neatly into place well before the fact, it is difficult to envision the markets waiting to be completely blind sided by the event. So perhaps this explains at least part of the stock market's recent weakness. And one place you certainly would expect to see some expression of concern would be the currency markets. Is it possible this already is in progress, too? The next table might be providing a clue, considering the dollar's performance during the first three weeks of the current quarter. THE DOLLAR'S 4Q-2004 AND YEAR-TO-DATE PERFORMANCE AGAINST SELECTED CURRENCIES (Ranked by Fourth-Quarter Returns) Currency/Index 10/22 Close % Change Q4 YTD Swiss Franc 1.2121 1.2452 1.2404 -2.7 -2.3 Japanese Yen 107.24 110.01 107.37 -2.5 -0.1 Canadian Dol. 1.2338 1.2614 1.2963 -2.2 -4.8 Euro 0.7890 0.8041 0.7950 -1.9 -0.8 Australian Dol. 1.3523 1.3738 1.3282 -1.6 1.8 British Pound 0.5474 0.5518 0.5599 -0.8 -2.2 Mexican Peso 11.505 11.383 11.202 1.1 2.7 Brazilian Real 2.8686 2.8580 2.8918 0.4 -0.8 FRB $ Index 85.87 87.36 86.92 -1.7 -1.2 Of course, maybe there will be no election-related event(s) of the variety I am contemplating. There is one client of mine in particular, a very market-savvy young man at that, who has chided me a few times for thinking this will be a cause celebre for the markets. So far, though, he has not dissuaded me. In defense of my position, I was going to provide some representative examples of what is now beginning to sweep through the country in the way of news stories. But when I Googled the subject, the response was simply too voluminous to edit. Therefore, for those who are interested and have some time to spend, I suggest the following. Go to the Google home page and click the "News" link. Then, in the search box, type in "potential U.S. presidential election fraud" and click the "Search News" option. Then, after the several hundred entries appear, click the "Sort by Date" option. There are other search possibilities, but the one I used provided lots and lots of reading material. They may not convince you I am correct, of course, but you surely will not lack for food for thought. EWP on the DOW & S&P 500 Stocks to Accelerate Losses this Week...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1916
__label__wiki	0.610532	0.610532	Episodes, Season 2 Eulogy Credits Transcript Will, Big Guy, Dr. Magnus, and Henry, mourning Ashley Episode No. Season 16 2x03 Two Original Air Date Sara B. Cooper Brenton Spencer Chronological Information End of Nights, Part II "Eulogy" is the third episode of the second season of Sanctuary. It first aired on October 23, 2009, after the two-parter "End of Nights". While Helen and John each deal with Ashley's fate the rest of the Team is forced to deal with an influx of Abnomals who have arrived from Sanctuaries that were destroyed in the Cabal attacks. Opening Scene Edit Helen Magnus imagines John Druitt bringing their lost daughter Ashley back to the Sanctuary, but soon realizes she is daydreaming. Meanwhile, Will Zimmerman is busy organizing the rebuilding of the Sanctuaries that were attacked by the Cabal, as well as the relocation of the residents of the lost Tokyo Sanctuary. However, he soon realizes that he miscalculated the number of trucks needed for the transport, as there are hundreds of abnormals on the ship from Japan. Act 1 Edit Will, Henry, and Two Faced Guy struggle to find space for the abnormal new-arrivals. Kate Freelander prepares to leave, but Will visits her and tells her she can stay if she wants. Magnus continues to experience flashbacks when Will arrives to talk to her about loss and mourning, but Magnus explains that she sees no reason to mourn since she believes that there is a very real chance that her daughter is still alive. Kate and Henry quarrel over Kate's materialist attitude, while Magnus explains that the EM shield was unstable when Ashley teleported out and was presumably killed. However, she says she needs Will as an "emotional compass", since her acting only on her feelings almost destroyed the Sanctuary Network once before. In the middle of the following night, Kate tries to steal two dead specimens of stenopelhabbilis, a rare and precious race of abnormals, from the Sanctuary's hold. However, she discovers that the female was pregnant and the young survived. She tries to take it, but it bites her in the hand and escapes. On the next day, Big Guy and Henry learn from Kate that the stenopelhabbilis baby got away. Ark-Fong Li, the visiting head of the Beijing Sanctuary, soon finds it eating a hamburger, and is also biten when trying to catch it. Will and Magnus search for the signs of Ashley's survival, while a seemingly emotionless John Druitt arrives at the Sanctuary to inform Magnus about his and Nikola Tesla's attempts to penetrate the Cabal's operations. Magnus realizes that what he does is track down and kill the senior members of the organization one by one. He was yet unable to capture Dana Whitcomb, but swears that she will answer for what she did. He also urges Magnus to plan for Ashley's funeral, but Magnus makes it clear that she will decide when the time has come. She has a vision of driving through the desert and meeting an old woman. Li, Henry, and Big Guy discuss how to find the missing baby when Kate adds that it seemed to like hamburgers. Magnus tells Will that she now believes that Ashley "bounced back" from the EM shield and re-materialized somewhere within the Sanctuary. Will tries to explain to her that she may be wrong and Ashley may actually be dead. The guys are still hunting for the baby. Li discovers it eating another hamburger, but it escapes again. They chase it to the lower levels where Bigfoot almost gets it, but it hides in the ventilation systems and leaves the facility. Kate joins the guys, stating, "Well, you clearly don't need my help..." Henry and Kate in Old City, looking for the baby. Kate offers Henry her skills in exchange for the valuable tusks of the dead parents, and he offers her one pair. Magnus and Will discuss Ashley and her mother's feelings, until the computers detect something. Under the Sanctuary, they find the skeleton of a person who obviously teleported into a wall. They analyze it and realize it is not Ashley but one of the other superabnormals. Henry and Kate follow the tracks of the baby – half eaten hamburgers – through the city and into the sewers. Magnus experiences more visions, and begins to believe that Ashley is trapped in the EM shield's buffer in the form of energy. Will begins to doubt her judgment, but agrees to continue looking for signs of Ashley. In the sewers, Kate is still looking for the baby, only to discover that it has grown into a full-size stenopelhabbilis, staring down at her from the ceiling. The stenopelhabbilis attacks Kate, disarming her. Henry saves her before it can hurt her, but they get trapped in what Henry soon discovers to be the creatures nest. The creature seems to attack again, but only licks Kate's face; she was the first person it met after being born, thus it believes her to be its mother. Magnus remembers returning a sacred artifact to a Native American tribe, and receiving a piece of silver jewelry as a gift. Upon waking up, Will shows her the results of the EM shield scan. They are negative, meaning that Ashley is truly gone. Magnus tells Will to inform everyone that the memorial service will be held the following day. The team has returned the stenopelhabbilis, whom Kate chose to name Ralphie, to the Sanctuary. Big Guy likes the name, and Henry admits that Kate did well. Big Guy is upset when Henry gives her her payment in the pair of tusks, but she returns them to him and decides to stay around. Magnus and Druitt talk about Ashley, and it turns out that Druitt has not truly come to terms with his daughter's death. He doesn't join the rest of the team in the small, quiet memorial service they are holding in the ruins of the Sanctuary cathedral. Everyone leaves something connected to Ashley in the empty coffin. Finally, while a tearful Magnus begins to cope with her beloved daughter's death, putting the silver jewelry into the coffin, Dana Whitcomb is drinking coffee in a street café in Paris. John Druitt is watching her from behind a newspaper, and follows her when she leaves. Magnus has one last vision of Ashley, who tells her that she must let go and continue her life. Magnus tells her she can't, to which Ashley replies that she will never truly leave her side. Credits Edit Amanda Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus Robin Dunne as Dr. Will Zimmerman Emilie Ullerup as Ashley Magnus Christopher Heyerdahl as John Druitt / Bigfoot Guest Starring Edit Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander Lynda Boyd as Dana Whitcomb Hiro Kanagawa as Ark-Fong Li Jason Schombing as Napaeae and with Ryan Robbins as Henry Foss Featuring Edit Chuck Campbell as Two Faced Guy Paul Stanley as Navajo Man Brenda McDonald as Navajo Woman Addison Tessema as Navajo Boy Background, Notes, and Trivia Edit This is the last episode featuring Emilie Ullerup as a regular cast member, as the network decided that to get the most dramatic experience they would kill off her character. Damian Kindler promises fans that there is a part for Ashley in the third season, should it be produced. Ullerup stated in an interview that she did not realize that she was going to be killed off, and that she would be happy to come back in Season 3, but won't be back sooner. Ullerup has begun working on several different projects in the meantime, and recently guest starred as Cat Grant on the CW show Smallville. A fan effort is underway to bring Ashley back as a regular to the series. The last scene was incredibly hard to film for the cast and crew as it was the exit for the main character Ashley Magnus and Emilie's last day as part of the main Sanctuary cast. Emilie had a tough time trying to keep herself together, as she was told that "Ashley was at peace" and needed to remain calm, while acting opposite the character's grieving mother; in which Amanda Tapping herself was legitimately crying during the farewell scene. Kate and Henry References, External Links, and Websites Edit "Eulogy" on The Internet Movie Database v - e Sanctuary Season Two ● End of Nights, Part I ● End of Nights, Part II ● Eulogy ● Hero ● Pavor Nocturnus ● Fragments ● Veritas ● Next Tuesday ● Penance ● Sleepers ● Haunted ● Kali, Part I ● Kali, Part II ●. Retrieved from "https://sanctuary.fandom.com/wiki/Eulogy?oldid=15424" More The Sanctuary Network 2 Ashley Magnus 3 Sanctuary	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0097.json.gz/line1918

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