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No chance on Merci EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 03/21/2011
No chance on Merci
The plenary vote at the House of Representatives on whether or not to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Monday would be more about the fate of the Liberal Party (LP) at the legislature rather than Merci’s future in government service.
The crucial vote would be a test on the clout of Noynoy’s party where it should be exerting it, at the 284-member chamber that has as its Speaker also a member of the party. At stake are major legislative initiatives of Noynoy to push his supposed reform thrusts forward.
Merci, nevertheless, would be a key battleground for the LP since Noynoy and every partymate of his has been committed to her removal since the day Noynoy stepped into Malacañang.
The LP, heeding the voice of Noynoy, has considered Merci as a major hurdle in Noynoy’s vow to prosecute Gloria since they perceive that Merci will invariably favor Gloria in any case that will be filed against her..... MORE
Uncertain vote FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/21/2011
Uncertain vote
Bullying tactics are being resorted to by Noynoy and his boys in getting Merci Gutierrez impeached by the House on a plenary vote, and there appears to be strong proof of this threatening stance of the Palace occupant and his House lapdogs.
A threatening text message from Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya has made the congressional rounds, the gist of which is that those congressmen who will abstain, or absent themselves, or vote no to the impeachment complaint in plenary will not be given their pork barrel. The pork barrel given was still that of last year, and the 2011 pork barrel is still being dangled by Noynoy.
It certainly looks like the Liberal Party, despite its boast of having well over 150 yes votes to impeach Merci, may not have the numbers at all, which is why Noynoy’s LPs reportedly are in a panic mode these days.
Abaya, LP’s secretary general, according to the text message that has been circulated among lawmakers, stated that it should be made clear to “LP and non-LPs” that “those who will vote no or absent/abstain on impeachment will get ‘0’ as in zero.”
“At least there should not be any blame laid that there was no forewarning,” Abaya’s reported text message in Taglish said..... MORE
From moving clouds to sowing crops, Chernobyl can help Japan focus 03/21/2011
From moving clouds to sowing crops, Chernobyl can help Japan
MOSCOW — From seeding clouds to reviving agricultural land, Moscow’s experience after Chernobyl can be used by Japan as it tries to contain damage from its quake-hit nuclear plant, Russian experts said.
Concerns have grown over the unraveling crisis at the Fukushima power station as Japan struggles to cool down nuclear fuel rods after cooling systems were knocked out by the devastating earthquake and tsunami.
While the scope of the catastrophe is not likely to reach the levels of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster under the Soviet Union, Russian experts said Japan could minimize damage by using its experience like seeding clouds and recultivating agricultural land.
“The experience of Chernobyl should be used,” said Alexey Yablokov, a radiobiology expert and former environmental advisor to Russia’s first President Boris Yeltsin..... MORE
Nepal sisterhood tackles lecherous trekking guides focus 03/21/2011
Nepal sisterhood tackles lecherous trekking guides
POKHARA — When Nepal’s Chhetri sisters started their all-female trekking agency in the mid-1990s, the idea was so alien to local people that many thought it must be a cover story for a brothel.
For Nepalese women to set up in business was unusual enough. For them to venture out onto remote Himalayan trails, often for weeks at a time and in the company of strangers, was completely unheard of.
But if their compatriots in this conservative, majority-Hindu nation were initially shocked by the three women’s venture, the rest of the world’s reaction to their 3 Sisters trekking agency has been overwhelmingly positive.
Lucky, Dicky and Nicky have won international awards for sustainable tourism from the likes of National Geographic, and rave reviews on travelers’ Web sites such as TripAdvisor..... MORE
Where to, Noy?
Michael Salvador of San Fernando, Pampanga had his passport ready in the event of luck smiling his way. He wanted to work overseas, where at 25, it isn’t late yet to find his fortune that could build him a house, buy him a decent car, and start a small business once he settles back home after five or 10 years.
But his dreams crumbled in his face on June 30 last year, when the TSI manpower agency which had deployed him as a promotions merchandiser for one of the leading electronics firms in the country suddenly terminated his contract.
It was his stepping stone to finding a job abroad.
But worse, he claimed to have been forced to sign a cessation of employment form, with a demand that he could not work in another agency that would supply manpower to the same electronics firm, or he would face legal action if he does so..... MORE
Agnotological war DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 03/21/2011
Agnotological war
Agnotology is a neologism on the study of culturally-induced ignorance or doubt, particularly as this relates to the publication of inaccurate or misleading scientific data. And since the press and media shape 70 percent of what’s known to be culture and knowledge today, it would be more accurate to also include media-induced ignorance through their selective information and news.
In the three literally burning issues of the day, many problems in people’s understanding of the truth are symptomatic of the agnotological conditions perpetrated by news media and the dominant information system hegemonies of the world. From the Fukushima crisis in Japan, to the Libyan struggle in North Africa, to the pro- and anti-nuclear as well as the pro- and anti-Merci impeachment debates in our own setting, the deliberate inducement of ignorance have all led to adverse consequences for people everywhere.
In the nuclear fall-out crisis stemming from the Fukushima reactors’ failures and radiation emissions, we find a culturally-induced ignorance of the Japanese people toward complacency with regard to their authorities’ abuses and unreliability. Japanese power plant officials, for one, kept everyone ignorant of very vital information.
In the first few days, no one was given an inkling as to the enormity of the problem. It was only when one nuclear reactor after another gave way that a clear admission that at least four of them were in really serious trouble came out. Despite this, the Japanese continued to be very trusting of their nuclear authorities, even after threatening radiation levels reached beyond the 20 to 30-mile radius.
What we’re witnessing here is a case of “structured ignorance.” It took criticism from cultures less trusting of authorities against Japan’s niggardly crisis updates to alert everyone of the mortal dangers in this unfolding crisis. Still, this hasn’t been the worst of the lot.
In the case of Libya , where media-induced ignorance through blatant misinformation and disinformation are being used to justify a foreign-backed coup d’etat and eventual Nato oil and land grab, so-called “Allied” fighter jets are now pounding on Tripoli as of posting time.
Al Jazeera was at the forefront of this disinformation and misinformation campaign, starting with its unsubstantiated reports (and later proven false by Russian satellite monitoring) of Gaddafi forces and war planes mowing down unarmed civilian demonstrators. In all video docus from Libya I have seen, the anti-Gaddafi forces were always heavily armed. While there are those who see Al Jazeera as an alternative to CNN and BBC, it actually plays a complementary role through its more subtle information subversion as it appears to be less pro-West than it actually is.
Al Jazeera, for instance, pumped up demonstration casualties to “thousands,” even when these later turned out to be only over a hundred. Such exaggeration was especially blatant considering the fact that even as the turmoil in Libya entered its third week, with a full scale battle in the city of Misrata, the real casualty figure there numbered only 25.
By and large, Al Jazeera’s interviews and panel discussions hardly ever feature the side of Gaddafi or the voices of pro-Gaddafi people on the ground. And as the Gaddafi counter-offensive gained ground, it became clear, too, that the alleged “total loss of popular support” for the Libyan strongman was completely false.
Yet, Al Jazeera’s on-site reporters kept on annotating their news with a blatant anti-Gaddafi virulence.
One of the most obvious lies Western media and the anti-Gaddafi forces tried to foist on the world in the first week of the conflict was that the Libyan opposition movement abhors foreign intervention even to support its cause. But not long after Gaddafi’s counter-offensive successes and before the UN “No Fly Zone” resolution, the anti-Gaddafis in Benghazi were literally begging for it and jubilated when Nato promised to start arming them and bombing pro-Gaddafi Libyans for a grand bloodbath of Arab blood.
With Nato and monarchist anti-Gaddafi forces collaborating, an oil and land grab that will “Balkanize” Libya isn’t too far in the horizon. But more devastation will follow, just as what invading forces did to Iraq.
As the world continues to be kept ignorant of the systematic destruction of the cultural heritage and infrastructure of Iraq by its occupying forces, this is the crux of what Felicity Arbuthnot wrote in a recent article about Libya: The bombing of Libya will begin on or nearly to the day of the 18th anniversary of the beginning of the destruction of Iraq, 19th March (in Europe). Libya, too, will be destroyed — its schools, education system, water, infrastructure, hospitals, and municipal buildings. There will be numerous “tragic mistakes” and “collateral damage,” involving mothers, fathers, children, babies, grandparents, the blind and the deaf, and so on. And like the wonders of past empire’s remains, as with these nations’ rich histories (Iraq and Afghanistan), Libya’s, too, will be gone… forever.
Finally, let’s apply this agnotology to the Philippine setting: The debates between pro- and anti-nuclear power advocates, same with pro- and anti-Merci Gutierrez impeachment proponents simply reveal that both sides are wrong. In the former instance, all of them are all deliberately leaving out geothermal power in their discussions. This, despite a 2010 report by the World Geothermal Congress that total potential of the world for geothermal energy “…is equivalent to 40,000 GW while the total world energy demand (today) is equivalent to 15,000 GW.”
Both the pro- and anti-nuclear power lobbies are definitely creating ignorance of the only true alternative — geothermal energy, of which the Philippine has limitless potential.
Meantime, in the Merci impeachment moro-moro, the nation is being kept ignorant of the fact that both sides are similarly corrupted and will never work to sustain the “Rule of Law” when they all threw this away and resorted to the “Rule of Force” in the case of President Joseph Estrada.
Truly, the facts are there for all to see; and only an agnotological media will continue to befuddle the issues to the people’s detriment.
(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM dwAD; TNT with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8, on “Energy Futures;” visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our articles plus select radio and GNN shows)
Impeach dead in water after Noy ally miscues By Gerry Baldo 03/21/2011
IGLESIA NI CRISTO LOBBY CLAIM, TEXT THREAT
Impeach dead in water after Noy ally miscues
The impeachment bid against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is all but dead after the unnecessary disclosure by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the House committee on justice, of the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s (INC) alleged lobbying in favor of Gutierrez and the supposed “no impeachment, no pork barrel” threat through a text message on lawmakers, several legislators indicated yesterday.
Legislators viewed the twin strategies as an admission of defeat on the part of the pro-administration Liberal Party and other pro-impeachment solons, bolstering wide perception that the impeachment case against Gutierrez was weak and that the House may have a hard time convincing the Senate to convict her.
The impeachment complaint is scheduled to be put into a vote in plenary either today or tomorrow.
“Congressman Tupas’ going public on the alleged ‘calls of INC’ raises doubts on the strength of the basis of impeaching Merci,” Agham Rep. Angelo Palmones said in a text message to reporters..... MORE
Western allies pound Libya; China, Russia express ‘regrets’ 03/21/2011
Western allies pound Libya; China, Russia express ‘regrets’
US, British and French forces hammered Libya from the air and sea, prompting leader Moamer Kadhafi to warn yesterday of a long war in the Mediterranean “battlefield” as Tripoli reported dozens of deaths.
China, however, expressed regret over the multinational air strikes, saying in a foreign ministry statement that it opposed the use of force in international relations.
“China has noted the latest developments in Libya and expresses regret over the military attacks on Libya,” the statement said.
Russia also issued a similarly worded statement in which it called for a ceasefire as soon as possible..... MORE
2,300 Pinay nurses stay behind in Libyan hospitals amid attacks By Michaela P. del Callar 03/21/2011
2,300 Pinay nurses stay behind in Libyan hospitals amid attacks
At least 2,300 Filipino nurses have refused to be evacuated even after the United Nations approved military strikes against Libya.
Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the nurses, 2,000 of whom are based in capital Tripoli and 383 in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, opted to stay following request from the Libyan government, which promised to increase their pay significantly if they remain.
“We have not received any request to come and provide transport so they can leave Tripoli,” Del Rosario said. “They feel safe being in a hospital and there’s nothing safer than being in a hospital.”
But if the situation worsens, he said the government can arrange another ship to pick them up. The government has ended its evacuation in Libya and has moved to safety some 13,000 Filipinos..... MORE
Military rocked by new ‘torture’ video 03/21/2011
Military rocked by new ‘torture’ video
The Armed Forces of the Philippines was rocked yesterday by a fresh “torture” video purporting to show troops abusing train-ees as it moved to cleanse its ranks of rogue soldiers.
The 14-minute video uploaded on Youtube showed soldiers beating a group of young recruits using ropes and sticks as loud screams could be heard in the background.
The military admitted that the video was taken during an “escape and evasion” training exercise three years ago in Pili, Camarines Sur, but stressed the painful hazing had already been outlawed and was a “thing of the past.”.... MORE
Death toll in Visayas, Mindanao rains rises to 11; 30,000 families displaced 03/21/2011
Death toll in Visayas, Mindanao rains rises to 11; 30,000 families displaced
The death toll brought about by continuous heavy rains in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao rose to 11 people while four others went missing as the number of the flood-affected residents increased to almost 30,000 families, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported yesterday.
Latest reports from the NDRRMC showed that two fatalities came from Sierra Bullones in Bohol province, one from Palo in Leyte while eight, including seven members of a family whose house was buried by landslide, came from Tacloban City..... MORE
Ex-solon disputes allegations Lanao Norte ‘unsafe province’ 03/21/2011
Ex-solon disputes allegations Lanao Norte ‘unsafe province’
Former Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo disputed the allegations made by the Philippine National Police (PNP) that Lanao del Norte is one of the “unsafe places” based on the survey conducted by the government-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA)recently.
The report was fed by PNP to police reporters and carried out by the reporters’ newspapers publications nationwide and even globally through its Web sites.
According to Dimaporo, the report was damaging to Lanao del Norte province as the province itself is generally peaceful and even peaceful as compared with Metro Manila. Of course, there were crimes committed by unlawful persons in Lanao del Norte but it happens everywhere either in provinces or in Metro Manila.
“How can you conclude that Lanao del Norte is one of the unsafe places based on the 19 percent out of the 1,161 respondents in 51 provinces during polls? And why peace should be based on elections when we know that polls period the candidates of every party are very hot and they try to outdo their rivals only to win the elections?” Dimaporo asked..... MORE
Uncle guns down actor Apacible
Actor John John Apacible was gunned down by his uncle early yesterday morning in Cainta, Rizal after a heated argument.
Initial reports said Apacible was shot by his uncle when they had a heated argument during their drinking bout.
Apacible succumbed to two gunshot wounds in the chest.
Apacible’s uncle was identified as Armando Rustia Sabado..... MORE
Finance chief urged to reject BIR’s AIR circular, or else... By Charlie V. Manalo 03/21/2011
Finance chief urged to reject BIR’s AIR circular, or else...
A member of the House of Representatives yesterday bared they will summon Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to appear in its Question Hour if he does not accede to the recommendation of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares to withdraw Revenue Regulation 02-2011 requiring certain individual citizens, resident aliens and non-resident aliens engaged in trade or business in the country to file their Annual Information Return (AIR).
Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo made the manifestation for Purisima’s appearance in the Question Hour during the hearing of the House committee on ways and means on Tuesday on the controversial AIR regulation issued last March 1.
“It is a caveat, a manifestation that if the secretary of Finance does not approve the recommendation of the BIR commissioner to withdraw RR 02-2011, then we will proceed with the Question Hour. We will ask him to come here not just to attend a public hearing on RR 02-2011, but we will invoke the right of Congress to require members of the Cabinet to appear before the House under the Question Hour provisions of the rules of the 15th Congress as well as of the Constitution,” Gunigundo said..... MORE
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Where is transparency here? EDITORIAL 06/19/2011
Where is transparency here?
Transparency was Noynoy’s litany when he was seeking the public’s vote for the presidency; a promise which now appears to be an ordeal as he, through his Palace mouthpieces, have rejected proposals in the House to probe those who are classified within the so-called KKKs (Kaibigan, Kaklase and Kabarilan), or presidential cronies, classmates and shooting range buddies.
The Palace’s rejection of course reverberated among the House of Representatives’ allies of Noynoy and the proposed probe, by all indications, will not likely prosper.
But why is his ally, Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada, already concluding that the President is the focus of the probe, when the probe has not even started. And why, if there is nothing to fear about their claimed “honest” and “transparent” President who they claim rules without fear and favor, are these Noynoy allies fearing such a probe, to the point of already covering up for him and his aides?
Noynoy, however, is making the same mistake that made the past administration one of the most unpopular ever..... MORE
Vindictiveness FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/19/2011
It certainly looks like the spirit of vindictiveness in Noynoy lives on and strongly.
The latest word on the Marcos burial issue is that Noynoy is not even bent on giving Marcos military honors, as Vice President Jojo Binay had recommended, after conducting an exhaustive survey among various sectors of society and coming up with what can be called a “win-win” solution: Burial in Ilocos, and military honors of Ferdinand Marcos.
But even the military honors will be denied Marcos, although instead of owning to the fact that it is Noynoy himself who does not want it at all, he is using as his excuse the so-called victims of martial law who oppose it. He also uses another excuse, which is that Marcos may have already been given military honors when his remains were brought home for his burial in a refrigirated crypt in Ilocos.
But definitely, it is still his and his family’s vindictiveness that has kept him from giving Marcos the military honors..... MORE
Franco’s remains stir debate in Spain, 35 years after death focus 06/19/2011
Franco’s remains stir debate in Spain, 35 years after death
MADRID — More than 35 years after the death of Francisco Franco, Spain’s government is mulling whether to move the dictator’s remains from the vast mausoleum he had built with forced labor.
The Valley of the Fallen, an underground tomb complex outside Madrid where he is buried, was constructed on Franco’s orders between 1940 and 1958.
As well as Franco’s own remains, historians estimate the mass graves contain those of between 40,000 and 60,000 of his supporters and the Republicans who opposed them in Spain’s 1936-39 Civil War, which ended with Franco in power.
But for many Spaniards, the memorial site — carved into the side of a mountain in part through the forced labor of thousands of political prisoners — is their country’s most divisive and potent reminder of the Franco era..... MORE
DILG — wake up! VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/19/2011
DILG — wake up!
Any person who participates in any illegal numbers game shall suffer the following penalties:
a) The penalty of imprisonment from 30 days to 90 days, if such a person acts as a bettor.
b) The penalty of imprisonment from six years and one day to eight years, if such a person acts as a personnel or staff of an illegal numbers game operation. The same penalty shall likewise be imposed to any person who allows his vehicle, house, building or land to be used in the operation of illegal numbers game.
c) The penalty of imprisonment for eight years and one day to 10 years, if such a person acts as a collector or agent.
d) The penalty of imprisonment from 10 years and one day to 12 years, if such a person acts as coordinator, controller or supervisor..... MORE
Syria opposition abroad seeks to form united front 06/19/2011
Syria opposition abroad seeks to form united front
LONDON — Syrian opposition figures living abroad are seeking to form a common front with activists inside the country to help put pressure on President Bashar al-Assad’s crisis-hit regime.
As Syrian security forces crack down with deadly force on anti-regime protests, opposition activists have met in Turkey and Brussels, shared a platform in London, will visit Moscow and plan a major conference in the US.
But the regime opponents abroad have a tough job ahead of them, both in linking up with anti-regime activists in Syria and in building their own unified resistance.
“It is unfair to expect us to have a unified opposition” following years of oppressive rule, says Najib Ghadbian, a Middle East expert at Arkansas University in the United States.... MORE
In China, professional mourners spice up funerals FEATURE 06/19/2011
In China, professional mourners spice up funerals
CHONGQING — Hu Xinglian kneels before the corpse of Liang Zhicai and, with one hand on his metal coffin, lets out a piercing wail. But Hu is not at all grief-stricken — she is a professional mourner.
In parts of China, where rural pre-burial rituals are still observed, mourners known as “kusangren” are hired to guarantee that a funeral is a spectacle in grief. And the 53-year-old Hu is up to the task.
She comes to work with a full sound-system, multi-colour spotlights and the six members of her band, “The Orchestra of the Star and River of Chongqing.”
Her job offers a study in contrasts between modern living and tradition in the southwestern province-sized municipality, home to more than 30 million people and a symbol of the rapid urbanization seen across China..... MORE
Being trusted and trustworthy TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 06/19/2011
Being trusted and trustworthy
TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
Every administration has its own versions of “K.” Even the sainted Tita Cory had her “Kamag-anak Inc.” Anybody who gets nailed in Malacañang, especially to the highest post of the land would be the most insecure person in the world even if hundreds of PSG’s and the top intellectuals from UP, Harvard and corporate halls, all at a whispering distance would cordon him closely. He needs a coterie of trusted and loyal friends who would shoo away possible darts that may pinch deeply on himself in order to feign stability and complacency in his incumbency.
Sadly, the first presumption of these rah-rah cheerers is really similar to what they usually teach the applicant secretaries, namely, that their boss is so stupid and clueless that he depends entirely on his secretary for everything from documents, appointments, files to wardrobes, medication, toiletries, but most importantly their loyalty and confidentiality. Utmost fidelity to the person or being a “K” is the absolute qualification therefore..... MORE
Palace calls ‘troublemaker’ source of Ping-Noy rift story By Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/19/2011
CLAIMS DE JESUS MEMO TO TORRES DOES NOT EXIST
Palace calls ‘troublemaker’ source of Ping-Noy rift story
The Palace branded as a troublemaker the source of the recent expose of The Tribune who divulged that the resignation of former Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus was the result of a bitter argument between him and President Aquino over the fate of Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief and Aquino shooting buddy Virginia Torres who Aquino insisted on retaining.
Unnamed sources at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) speaking to media with respect to the lingering issues confronting the agency are just trying to cause some trouble for the government, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said.
Malacañang issued the statement yesterday as it said it remained clueless on a supposed memorandum written by De Jesus on April 6, asking Aquino to impose disciplinary actions on Torres..... MORE
Bongbong wants Rizal Day moved to June 19 06/19/2011
Bongbong wants Rizal Day moved to June 19
Sen. Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr. has renewed his proposal to change the date of the national holiday commemorating the life and works of Jose Rizal from Dec. 30 to June 19, his birth anniversary.
“It is fitting then that Filipinos commemorate Rizal Day on June 19 as a day of triumph of his nationalism and patriotic ideals,” he said, mindful that Dec. 30 is an official national holiday that commemorates a hero’s death.
“The birthday of our national hero should always be a day of celebration of his life and of his great contribution to the country’s independence from foreign domination,” he added..... MORE
NDRRMC alerts regional units for ‘Egay’ By Mario J. Mallari 06/19/2011
NDRRMC alerts regional units for ‘Egay’
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) has alerted all its regional units throughout the country as part of the preparations for tropical depression “Egay” as it continues to aim for the ambitious “zero casualty” during such calamity.
NDRRMC executive director Undersecretary Benito Ramos’ directive to all regional DRRMCs from Regions I to XII, the National Capital Region (NCR), the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Caraga is to closely monitor situation in their respective jurisdiction.
“You are hereby directed to monitor the situation and undertake precautionary measures in your area of responsibility. Likewise, the public and the DRRMCs are advised to take appropriate actions,” Ramos said.
“Let us untiringly aim for zero casualty,” Ramos added..... MORE
EcoWaste lauds Rizal as ‘hero for environment’ 06/19/2011
EcoWaste lauds Rizal as ‘hero for environment’
An environmental network has lauded Dr. Jose Rizal as ‘hero for the environment” as the nation celebrates the 150th year of his birthday today.
In a statement, the EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental network of over 125 public interest groups, honored Rizal for his deep concern and love for Mother Earth and her people.
“We pay homage to our national hero Jose Rizal for his keen devotion to improving community health and environment long before the Constitution formally committed to promoting and protecting the health and environmental rights of the people,” said Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president..... MORE
Caloocan City steps up campaign against drinking liquor in streets By Arlie O. Calalo 06/19/2011
Caloocan City steps up campaign against drinking liquor in streets
By Arlie O. Calalo 06/19/2011
Local authorities in Caloocan City have intensified the campaign against vices that come along with smoking following the arrest of 20 persons who were caught drinking liquor either outside their houses or right in the streets.
On orders of the local government, city police chief Senior Supt. Jude Wilson Santos directed all police sub-stations and police community precincts (PCPs) to carry out Ordinance 0937, which was passed in 2005, by apprehending those who violate it.
During the initial salvo, police operations yielded more than 20 persons who were caught drinking either outside their residences or in the streets and sidewalks, Santos said..... MORE
‘Fish kill’ causes big loss to Navotas traders’ profits 06/19/2011
‘Fish kill’ causes big loss to Navotas traders’ profits
A large group of “fish brokers” in the coastal city of Navotas have sought the help of Camanava Press over their collapsing business in spite of the latest announcement of the Department of Agriculture that fish kill is over.
The members of the Navotas Fish Traders Association led by their vice president, Boy Charing, went to the office of the local media and sought their assistance to inform the public, including those fish traders who buy fish in large volume at the consignacion markets in the city which they sell in most markets in Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Bulacan..... MORE
Vindictiveness FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/...
Franco’s remains stir debate in Spain, 35 years af...
DILG — wake up! VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cru...
Syria opposition abroad seeks to form united front...
In China, professional mourners spice up funerals ...
Being trusted and trustworthy TABLETS OF STONE Lar...
Palace calls ‘troublemaker’ source of Ping-Noy rif...
Bongbong wants Rizal Day moved to June 19 06/19/2...
NDRRMC alerts regional units for ‘Egay’ By Mario J...
EcoWaste lauds Rizal as ‘hero for environment’ 06...
Caloocan City steps up campaign against drinking l...
‘Fish kill’ causes big loss to Navotas traders’ pr...
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Scientists, farmers protest vs manual on GMOs
“Biosafety is not the intent of this new government policy. It will only facilitate the entry of more genetically-modified organisms (GMOS) into the country. This is bio-entry, not biosafety.” – RESIST! Agrochemical TNCs Network
Scientists and agrarian reform advocates held a picket in front of the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently to underscore their opposition to the Aquino administration’s commitment to the entry of genetically-modified organisms (GMOS) into the country.
The picket was specifically directed against the on-going consultation being held by the National Commission on Biosafety in the Philippines (NCBP) for the Manual on Biosafety Decision Making Process, which details the processes and forms for a proposed GMO to be studied, tested and eventually commercialized in the country.
“Biosafety is not the intent of this new government policy. It will only facilitate the entry of more genetically-modified organisms (GMOS) into the country. This is bio-entry, not biosafety,” said RESIST! Agrochemical TNCs Network, which led the action.
Biosafety, according to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, is “the prevention of large-scale loss of biological integrity, focusing both on ecology and human health.”
The group, composed of farmers, scientists, environmental activists, health professionals and development workers asserted that the consultation was a way to hasten the institutionalization of a policy that would make it easier for GMOs to enter the country, without a comprehensive safety, environmental impact and socio-economic impact study.
“The health of the people and the environment is at stake in this issue. As long as proponents have not answered safety and environmental issues raised against GMOs, these should not be allowed in the Philippines,” said Dr. Chito Medina, RESIST Co-convenor and National Coordinator of Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG).
“Also, without socio-economic studies that support the feasibility of these GMOs to help uplift the conditions of farmers, the need for these GM crops should be questioned. MASIPAG farmers maintain that traditional varieties of crops can sustain the livelihood of small farmers. There is no need for these GMOs,” he said.
Wilfredo Marbella, deputy secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and also a Convener of RESIST, said the proposed policy which allows for GMO proponents to withhold significant information relevant to the proposed project in the guise of confidential business information, creates favorable conditions for the massive entry of GMO and GM products in the country.
“Ultimately, farmers will suffer from the negative effects of this policy, and these are myriad. While the government allows for the smooth entry of these GMOs, farmers will continue to suffer from higher cost of farm inputs, displacement due to land and crop conversions, and food insecurity”, he stressed. “Government policies that directly affect farmers should foremost consider farmers’ rights to land and agricultural resources. Opening the country to GMOs undermines these rights.”.... MORE
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/01/31/scientists-farmers-protest-vs-manual-on-gmos/
Wrap up? FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares By Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/01/2012
Wrap up?
By Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/01/2012
The prosecution, through one of its spokesmen, Rep. Miro Quimbo, said in an interview that the prosecution will wrap up its charge on Article 2, which has to do with the charge of failure of Chief Justice Renato Corona to disclose his SALn, and proceed with Article 3, which alleges that Corona “committed culpable violations of the Constitution and betrayed the public trust by failing to meet and observe the stringent standards under Article VIII, Section 7 (3) of the Constitution that provides that “(a) member of the judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.”
But what makes the prosecution think that it can just wrap up Article 2 and slide into Article 3, which is a different article, by next week?
When the prosecution says that it is done with its first charge, or has rested, as court language says, it is usually the turn of the defense to disprove that which the prosecution claims it has proved..... MORE
UNSC on Syria: Calls to stop 'killing machine' as Russia, China slam sanctions (w/ Video)
UNSC on Syria: Calls to stop 'killing machine' as Russia, China slam sanctions
A major diplomatic battle over the fate of Syria has begun at the United Nations, with Russia and China the only permanent Security Council members challenging the UN's right to ‘meddle’ in sovereign states’ internal problems.
Proponents of the West-sponsored draft resolution are calling for Syria’s President Bashar Assad to step down, the release of all prisoners and the withdrawal of troops from Syrian cities, among other things..... MORE
URL: http://rt.com/news/syria-un-security-council-211/
Destination Persian Gulf? US nuclear sub and destroyer enter Red Sea (w/ Video)
Destination Persian Gulf? US nuclear sub and destroyer enter Red Sea
Two ships of the US Navy, the nuclear submarine USS Annapolis and the destroyer USS Momsen have passed through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. Although their destination is confidential, they are now getting dangerously close to the Persian Gulf.
The ships’ passage was a major operation for the Suez administration as due to safety reasons they had to close off the canal to all other traffic and even shut down the bridge, disrupting the link between the banks for some four hours. The traffic on the roadways alongside the canal was also restricted, Interfax news agency reports..... MORE
URL: http://rt.com/news/us-submarine-passes-suez-115/
Hundreds of slaughtered civilians isn't a 'huge number' for Obama
Those drone attacks, carried out by unmanned aircraft controlled thousands of miles away, don’t do a lot of harm, said the president. According to Obama, drones had "not caused a huge number of civilian casualties” and he added that it’s "important for everybody to understand that this thing is kept on a very tight leash.”
How small is that not-so huge number? If you ask anyone outside of the American intelligence community, they’ll tell you it is in the hundreds..... MORE
URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/drones-civilian-death-obama-187/
Actor Boyet de Leon ignores plea against large-scale mining operations in Batangas
Environmental groups in Batangas are crying foul against dramatic actor and Batangas Provincial Board member Christopher de Leon ’s alleged support for mining operations in the region.
Saying that the recent tragedy of Typhoon ‘Sendong’ remains fresh in the minds of many, the Bukluran Para sa Inang Kalikasan (BUKAL) is appalled over how the local government has already approved and endorsed the operations of destructive large-scale mining in the province.
Bukal officials said they received a letter from the office of Governor Vilma Santos-Recto inviting its members to a meeting to discuss mining in Batangas. Earlier on, the group came upon a report released by CrazyHorse Limited, a Canadian Mining firm venturing in Gold-Exploration Project in Taysan, claiming that the firm has already secured the endorsement and approval from the Provincial Board. The endorsement, the company said, was settled May 11, 2011 through the passage of Provincial Board Resolution no. 253.
It was only on January 24 this year, however, that Bukal formally acquired copy of the resolution. The group was particularly dismayed to discover that despite the many dialogues it held with different institutions, churches, schools and communities and alongside officials of the local government, the controversial resolution was still passed.
De Leon, who stands as the head of the Provincial Environment Committee, is now seen as the main proponent of the resolution allowing large-scale mining in Batangas.
“We are disappointed with de Leon’s hypocritical stand toward protecting the environment. During a Church-Leaders Forum Dialogue in March 3, 2011 where he was represented by his Chief-of-Staff, de Leon all but made a commitment to include Bukal’s call for a mining moratorium in the draft of the Provincial Environment Code. A month before this, we had also raised our concerns against large-scale mining in Batangas to de Leon himself, said the group’s lead convenor Fr. Oliver Castor.
Castor said it is now crucial that the people of Batangas know that the actor turned politician is the official primarily responsible for allowing large-scale mining operations in Batangas. He and all the other members of the provincial board unanimously supported the said resolution and betrayed their constituents by ignoring the clamor to save Batangas from environmental destruction,” he said.
Aside from De Leon, Bukal also named board members Carlos Bolilia and Rowena Sombrano-Africa as traitors to the public interest..... MORE
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/01/26/actor-boyet-de-leon-ignores-plea-against-large-scale-mining-operations-in-batangas/
Boracay Island from the eyes of an Ati
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO and MICHAEL CRUZ
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Along the busy stretch of restaurants, bars and shops of Boracay Island’s world famous white beach, Norberto Marcelo and his family sat together, huddled as if they were planning a game strategy.
Norberto and his family are Atis, an indigenous peoples group who served as Boracay’s first dwellers. They were, however, pushed farther into the fringes of the island when its white beach, and eventually almost all parts of the island, was developed into a tourist destination, which is well-known internationally.
Norberto makes a living as a fisherman. His daily catch, which would normally amount to $2.3, is just enough to buy rice for his family. Meanwhile, Potenciana, his wife, grows vegetables in their backyard. Their income hardly suffice for their needs.
“We eat only once a day, usually around 10 a.m.,” Norberto said. When asked if they do not get hungry in the middle of the day, “Sometimes. But what can we do? Life is difficult.”
The situation has forced them to ask for alms on the streets of Boracay, like other families of Ati who would flock the tourist spot after a day of hard work. Their conditions paint an irony to what most people would call tourism and development.
Boracay before tourists arrived
Norberto and his family sitting along Boracay’s white beach(Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao / bulatlat.com)
According to articles found online, Boracay was “discovered” by Sofia Gonzales Tirol and her husband Lamberto Hontiveros Tirol in the late 1800s and they eventually took ownership of some parts of the island.
Norberto, who then lived in the village of Bulabog, regularly visited the white beach during his younger years. He described it as “full of thorns” and the “shores had capiz shells.”
“The sand was so white. You would not be able to stand looking at it because it is so bright, especially around noon time. It sparkles,” Norberto told Bulatlat.com, when asked how Boracay looked back then. “It was then definitely cleaner,” he adds.
Slowly, as tourists started to flock the island, Norberto said, he witnessed how the Boracay changed. Their lives, too, have changed. Many atis were displaced from their homes to give way to the establishments that were being constructed, like hotels and shops. Even Norberto and his family were not spared. In fact, the small parcel of land they call home is owned by the Tirol family.
“So far, they are not asking our family to leave. Maybe they took pity on us. For the meantime, we are cultivating the land so we can live,” Norberto said.
No job opportunities for Ati
As restaurants and shops started to spring along the stretch of the white beach, Norberto said, he and other Atis did not benefit from it.
“We were not able to finish our schooling so we could not land a stable job in any of the establishments,” Norberto said. If they are lucky, the atis are sometimes hired as construction workers for new restaurants or when they are doing renovations..... MORE
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/01/26/boracay-island-from-the-eyes-of-an-ati/
Iraq alert scaled up; DFA offers to repatriate workers By Michaela P. del Callar 02/01/2012
Iraq alert scaled up; DFA offers to repatriate workers
The government will offer voluntary repatriation for Filipino workers in Iraq after it raised the security alert level on the country due to the recent breakout of incidences of violence, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, who concluded his official visit to Iraq on January 29, had conveyed this to his counterpart, Foreign Ministe Hoshyar Zebari, at a meeting in Baghdad over the weekend but did not say when the new policy will be implemented.
“We discussed the security situation in Iraq in light of the recent bombings in Baghdad, after the withdrawal of the US military,” Del Rosario said in a statement..... MORE
Witness demolishes prosecution’s claims By Angie M. Rosales, and Gerry Baldo 02/01/2012
MEGAWORLD’S REDUCED PRICE FOR CJ’S CONDO VOLUNTARY
Witness demolishes prosecution’s claims
By Angie M. Rosales, and Gerry Baldo 02/01/2012
He may have been the prosecution’s witness, but his testimony proved damaging to the case of the prosecution, on the Megaworld (Megaworld) properties bought by Chief Justice Renato Corona, which the prosecution earlier had claimed was a huge 40 percent discount given to the CJ, as a “gift” which the prosecutors tried to connect to Article 3, and prove that the CJ was unfit for the high position in the judiciary.
It even came to the point where the private prosecutor was impeaching his own witness, with Presiding Judge Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile cautioning and lecturing the prosecution on its move to impeaching its witness.
Exasperation of senator-judges on the manner of presentation and how the prosecution panel has been trying to prove its case against the CJ is starting to show..... MORE
Group asks SC to end cause of delay for distribution of Hacienda Luisita By Charlie V. Manalo 02/01/2012
Group asks SC to end cause of delay for distribution of Hacienda Luisita
The farm worker alliance Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita filed their comment on the HLI’s motion for clarification and reconsideration yesterday asking the Supreme Court (SC) to end the cause of delay for the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to its farm workers beneficiaries.
“The court must end the Cojuanco-Aquino’s legal escapade, it’s obvious that they are delaying the process of distribution” said Rodel Mesa, UMA secretary general.
In a 29-page comment/opposition to the motion to clarify and reconsider resolution of Nov. 22, 2011; Ambala that “there is no new matter that came out of Nov. 22, 2011 decision but the discarding of the mandatory option to choose given to the FWB’s.”.... MORE
Spain OFWs join calls to stop closure of diplomatic offices By Michaela P. del Callar 02/01/2012
Spain OFWs join calls to stop closure of diplomatic offices
Filipino workers in Spain have joined calls to stop the closure of Philippine diplomatic missions this year as they decried the government’s plan to cease the operation of the country’s three-year-old consulate in Barcelona.
The protests came amid the government’s decision to scale down its diplomatic operations abroad and start the gradual shut down of 12 embassies and consulates as part of its restructuring plan and austerity measures.
Apart from Barcelona, the 11 other posts to be closed down, according to the Tribune sources are the Philippine consulate in Frankfurt, Germany and the Philippine embassies in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Venezuela and Palau..... MORE
Lim orders strict implementation of curfew hours for minors in city By Pat C. Santos 02/01/2012
Lim orders strict implementation of curfew hours for minors in city
Pestered by numerous complaints from the parents, the curfew ordinance which prohibits minors from loitering the streets of Manila from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. will be implemented even more strictly during the school break.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim directed chief of staff and media bureau director Ric de Guzman to make the necessary coordination with all concerned government units to ensure that the prohibition is enforced to the letter.
With the students going on vacation a few months from now, Lim noted that the school children will all the more have spare time to hang out at night and thus expose themselves to unscrupulous individuals engaging in illegal activities and petty crimes..... MORE
MMDA wants robots to man traffic in metropolis 02/01/2012
MMDA wants robots to man traffic in metropolis
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman FrancisTolentino has asked an award-winning team of young inventors to build a robot traffic enforcer that could detect traffic violators without human intervention.
The high school team from Dr. Yanga’s Colleges Inc. (DYCI) in Bocaue, Bulacan was honored during the Authority’s Monday morning flag ceremony. Their award-winning invention, a robot named Magis, can detect floods, body temperature and blood pressure, among other things. It was exhibited to MMDA officers and staff. The robot had garnered for the team a fourth place award in the annual World Robot Olympiad held recently in Abu Dhabi..... MORE
Ramp model charged for receiving P40-M shabu shipment 02/01/2012
Ramp model charged for receiving P40-M shabu shipment
Criminal charges for volations of the Dangerous Drugs Act have been filed by the Department of Justice against a ramp model and businessman in Quezon City.
Jail awaits Marvin Simon Buluran Sia for violation of the narcotics law after he was arrested for receiving P40 million worth of shabu (hydrochloride methamphetamine) transmitted to him.
Sia is facing charges for violation of Section 3, Article I of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002..... MORE
Wrap up? FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares By Ninez C...
UNSC on Syria: Calls to stop 'killing machine' as ...
Destination Persian Gulf? US nuclear sub and destr...
Hundreds of slaughtered civilians isn't a 'huge nu...
Actor Boyet de Leon ignores plea against large-sca...
Iraq alert scaled up; DFA offers to repatriate wor...
Witness demolishes prosecution’s claims By Angie M...
Group asks SC to end cause of delay for distributi...
Spain OFWs join calls to stop closure of diplomati...
Lim orders strict implementation of curfew hours f...
MMDA wants robots to man traffic in metropolis 02...
Ramp model charged for receiving P40-M shabu shipm...
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University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Cambridge University Commonwealth Society > Commonwealth Annual Lecture
Commonwealth Annual Lecture
Professor Stephen Murphy
Room S1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Rd, Cambridge CB3 9DT .
If you have a question about this talk, please contact Akhila Kadgathur Jayaram.
Event Registration: https://commonwealth-annual-lecture.eventbrite.co.uk
Title of Talk: ‘The Commonwealth: Reform, Resuscitate or Lay to Rest?’
Professor Murphy is currently Professor of British and Commonwealth History at the University of Reading, seconded as Director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. At Reading he was responsible for establishing one of the UK’s first courses on the intelligence community and British politics.
His major research interest in Intelligence and 20th-century British and Commonwealth history has made Professor Murphy a sought-after expert by the international media. He is regularly consulted as an academic expert and has written extensively on decolonisation and the development of the modern Commonwealth. In a recent Telegraph article, his latest book, Monarchy and the End of the Empire, was described as ‘superbly researched’ and ‘by a country mile the most important and well-informed to have been written about the contemporary British monarchy’.
This talk is part of the Cambridge University Commonwealth Society series.
Cambridge University Commonwealth Society
Room S1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Rd, Cambridge CB3 9DT
Education Reform and Innovation - ERI Microsoft Research Summer School epiSTEMe dissemination event
Title: Paediatric Brain Tumours Understanding Implicit Bias Phonon assisted luminescence in hexagonal Boron Nitride The Colombo Plan for aid to South and Southeast Asia: power, process and possibilities of the long 1950s Insta-Glam: Smartphone Apps and Beauty Surveillance Humility, Hope and Holiness: Exploration in the Psychology of Character Strengths
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Alright Pokey! I can't talk about this game without comparing it to Dark Souls. There are many differences between the two games, subtle and obvious. I won't go into the technical stuff for now except to state two things. First, that durability now has much more importance in this game. Your items repair when you rest at a bonfire, as long as they haven't reached zero durability. But the max durability of most items is much lower than in DkS. And what there is goes down much faster. So it's not uncommon to find oneself far from a bonfire with a broken weapon, only repairable by a blacksmith. Having a backup is now almost essential. Secondly, I get the impression that From intends players to level up much higher than they normally would have in Dark Souls. For a while, leveling was almost all I had to spent my souls on. Upgrade stones are in limited supply at this stage. So Steerpike, I would have no qualms about leveling early and often. In that sense, this is a departure from Dark Souls, where saving your souls for Andre's bottomless titanite shard inventory takes precedence.
That said, my first impressions of the game were, frankly, not all positive. The opening sequence is nice, but the early areas of the game just didn't seem that compelling. Compare this to Dark Souls, where you start in the Burg, work your way down to the burg basement and the Depths, then down to Blighttown. There's a definite thematic progression there to match your actual descent further underground. Majula is nice, with its serene vista, but everything else seemed like a bunch of unrelated areas just stuck together.
I understand that I've been so steeped in Dark Souls lore for so long that it has a cohesiveness to me now that it may not have had at first. And DkS2 does seem to be playing its cards close to its chest, as it were, for now. Xtal is quite a ways farther than me so you should probably heed his comments about that more than mine. Still, while I enjoy exploring, it all feels too context-free right now.
I will share an anecdote about my experience in the first area you will likely go to after Majula. It's a crumbling fortress of sorts, something Fromsoft can design in their sleep at this point. And, as an aside, I don't think their level-design chops have degraded one bit. It's the typical method: work your way through a convoluted level and, via a previously inaccessible path, find yourself right back where you started. Still brilliant. In this particular area I began having a very difficult time. I was dying over and over and making no progress. I had no souls to spend on anything as a result. On top of that I had joined a covenant which, unknown to me at the time, makes the enemies harder and which disables all coop. Just when I had gotten almost to the limit of despair, I had a flash of insight, with the help of some player clues, and opened up a shortcut I had previously missed. I won't spoil any more, but will say that From has gotten even more creative in the implementation of shortcuts. I felt such joy at this discovery. After that the level started giving up its secrets to me in rapid succession.
That has kind of been a high point though. No other experience has quite matched it yet. I'm still looking for the thread to tie it all together. I'll add to Xtal's frustration over coop. The match-making system is inscrutable, which I guess shouldn't surprise us. We forget how much of a mystery DkS and DeS were. I have Xtal to thank for suggesting I abandon that covenant I mentioned. While a member, it is not even possible to use the white soapstone, or to see summon signs. That was just part of the saga of our failed attempts at jolly coop.
I have just discovered A New Thing in Dark Souls II that I can't resist sharing.
Remember good old rolling through and whacking illusory walls in Dark Souls? Well, there are the Pharros' Lockstones walls which can still be rolled through or hit, but in addition there is now ANOTHER KIND OF ILLUSORY WALL.
I just discovered one in The Lost Bastille. Just a completely inconspicuous area of wall and it's illusory. But you can't roll through or whack it. You have to press X! And no, there is no button prompt. And then you go into a dead end hallway where another totally inconspicuous part of wall opens the same way. I got access to a previously inaccessible section of rooftop and a ring that could be useful.
Lesson: if you see a message that says there's an illusory wall but you hit the wall there and nothing happens try walking up to it and pressing X.
From Software: Troll Masters Of The Entire Universe.
EDIT: Botch, have you un-petrified the guy in The Lost Bastille yet? Straid of Olaphis is his name. I just realized he sounds exactly like Frampt. PRIMORDIAL SERPENT IN MAN BODY. OH NOES!
EDIT 2: One thing I like so far: there is a merchant to whom you can sell items (Frampt-style), and another (Straid actually) who you can simply trade a boss soul to get a boss weapon/shield/etc. No more having to do random shit like upgrading a Broken Straight Sword to +3 so you can get some Artorias sword. You have the boss soul, you can "trade" it to Straid to get any items it makes. This is the kind of simplification I appreciate. There was no need for the bizarre boss weapon upgrade guessing game of Dark Souls.
EDIT 3: Side note: I am already a max-level Sunbro. Got 30 Sunlight Medals yesterday and the day before, cashed them in, same reward system as in Dark Souls. Get a shield at 10 Medals, sword at 20 and Sunlight Spear miracle at 30. Now when I try to offer Sunlight Medals to the Sunlight Altar it simply tells me nah, we're good; you're a Sunbro for life, go relax, have an Estus. Your work is done, sir.
Sun. Bro. Champion.
I am about to leave Majula and head out to the forest, though I may go back and do the tutorial to pick up some more souls. There are a lot of players running around and loads of messages. One directed me over a cliff to some nice rewards. I haven't found the shield you mentioned. I am playing a warrior, so I have a shield. I believe the gift yellow quartz one is a bit better. The matching sword is ugly. It has been fun so far, not nearly as stressful as the first game. I'll keep my eye out for the lockstone.
Great progress today, just arrived at the second fire in the Lost Bastille - cruel offspring of Latria and the Painted World, that place gives me the willies.
Like Botch, I was a little put off at first; but things have clicked now. DkS1 put me off at first too, because I had been used to Demon's Souls; the same's the case here. The changes are subtle but very, very significant; we'll see if they're for the best long term. But once the mixture starts to gel it becomes more comfortable.
By the way, I can't be the only one who's noticed that Dark Souls 2 is zero-sum, right? If you kill the same enemy enough times, eventually it stops respawning. That's a massive change, one that could make the endgame almost unimaginably difficult unless there's something to balance it out. I sure hope they thought this through.
Yes that respawn limit is definitely a big deal. It remains to be seen just how much though. If it's souls you're after, there's tons to be had from coop or invasions. The unknown, at least for me, is item farming.
I think you're making faster progress than me Steerpike. I'm just now exploring past the first Bastille boss - probably the most interesting one so far. It's just odd that I've run into exactly zero lore about what the Bastille is.
It's creepy, is what it is! I miss Majula's idyllic oceanfront!
I'm taking a break after making it to Malentia in the Cardinal Tower. Took the key back to the blacksmith and got some helpful items. There was a message about a shortcut near the merchant, so I better get looking for it. I could sure use a better weapon. Seems like I had much better weapons in Dark Souls 1 by this time. My Yellow Quartz Sword is broken.
Some crucial information I learned yesterday from experience: rings that break can be repaired. Dks2's equivalent of the Ring of Sacrifice can be repaired for 3,000 souls. I feel like this is a fair compromise.
I've been spending a good deal of time in the Bastille, probing its secrets. The place feels massive even though I know it's not. Those belly-flopping mummies are a huge pain. Here's a question, hopefully spoiler free: has anyone found a key for a certain set of doors? Not talking about Pharros here.
Until I answer that question I'll be exploring the Wharf.
There's a Wharf?
I'm still in the Bastille, getting used by Royal Swordsmen. The mummy giants I can deal with, though I'd feel better with triple my current stamina. I made a little progress last night, but consistently have trouble in the room with the human effigy-looking clay ovens. About forty swordsmen attack at once.
I'm still hung up on this stops-respawning thing. What about Human Effigies? What happens when the merchants are all out of them and there are no monsters to farm for them? You people have to understand, I'm not actually very good at these games. I'm screwed! Game over man, game over!
Botch, I did find an Antiquated Key in the Bastille, is that the one you're looking for?
There is. Reaching it requires defeating a certain boss first. You can regain your humanity by helping (or killing) others. The likelihood appears random though. But there is so much of both going on right now, it's almost a trivial matter to regain it. I've even regained it after, for instance, having the host die on me. I know Xtal has had similar results.
Antiquated key is, unfortunately, not the one. I forgot where I found that one. Was it the Bastille?
Yeah, on the roof near the beginning if you follow the ledge around all the way. It's not really hidden, I couldn't imagine that was the one you were missing. The Bastille seems pretty small, but it also seems like there are lots of places only reachable through creative jumping, maybe it's hidden in one of those spots. I assume, by the way, that Blacksmith McDuff will stop ignoring his customer if he gets a new ember?
Saw at least one (by which I mean four) boss(by which I mean bosses) in the Bastille while helping out in another world. Looks pretty nasty. I too have seen myself revert to human for various reasons - just for being summoned once or twice, I'm almost sure - still, this worries me. Grinders? People who don't play online? Six months from now when the servers are more desolate?
I need to head back to the Forest, because I hear tell of a fire sword and a set of swanky armor laying around, somehow I missed both. This must be rectified...
...though of course I've used all the Titanite that I've-locked-myself-out-of-my-house sells, meaning new stuff I find will be base until I find more. I understand the why of these decisions, I'm just a little worried about the long-term effects.
Finally, a bit of progress. I've been hanging around the Cardinal Tower bonfire for quite a while doing summons to increase my level a bit, still at 16, and to upgrade my Fire Longsword. Steerpike, you need to go get that. I died twice by falling off the tree, but otherwise, it was not hard. I would love to find that armor. Still wearing the original leather. I have the shortcut open to shorten the trip to the boss. I was down to nearly half health when I did some summons and magically got human twice in half an hour. I put a summon down and get a response in 5 seconds. The summon signs show up 4 or 5 at a time, but go, real fast and it is hard to get to one in time. I wonder how many people die trying to make the jump to the cartographer. I died twice and haven't been back. Hope to get to the boss soon.
I just found the fire longsword, now that I don't really need it.
It's not difficult to get to, just requires a bit of timing. I haven't solved the riddle of the Bastille blacksmith yet, but there is a fairly simple way of getting him off that chest he's sitting on.
My PS3 really struggles with this game. It's pretty obvious that the pre-release videos were PC - the console graphical quality is...not good. The big shadow of your character when standing near a bonfire is so jaggy it's ridiculous. I also kind of hate the animations. And often when cocking my bow in first-person, the enemies move around like jerky, 3D sprites. I am enjoying the exploration, but at this point the game just feels like a pale imitation of Dark Souls the first.
Cartographer?
The cartographer has the key to a house in Majula. He is above all the wooden platforms by the big tree you can walk up in the Cardinal Tower. I want that key.
I haven't noticed any graphical problems. I'll look a bit closer.
The Blacksmith is off the chest, he's clanking at his anvil but all he says is that he ought to get a new ember. He won't do any work or acknowledge that I'm there. I have visions of the Titanite I bet he sells, and my morningstar needs Titanite. It hungers for Titanite.
Pokey, if I'm picturing the area you're in correctly, there's an easier way around to the cartographer - a second cave opening in the same wall, but opposite where you come in. You have to do a sort of roundabout trip to the ground, then up a ladder, across the plank houses, and then run along the wall until you get there. It's perpendicular to the masonry wall with a bowman on it. You should see some messages warning of a boulder, which rolls by well ahead of you as long as you take it slow in the cave. I haven't figured out the Majula house yet, but I feel like it's a big part of the mystery. There are really good items in there, too - a Pharros's Lockstone and an Estus Shard, if I recall, and just one enemy. Cale (I think that's the cartographer's name) will turn up later, so be sure to visit again. Something going on with that house.
As to the suit of armor I mentioned, it's a full Drangleic set - better protection than my Elite Knight but far too heavy. The real treasure is the Drangleic Shield - 100% physical damage reduction. Compared to my Eagle Shield the difference is unbelievable. It's also very heavy, but worth the stat investment.
I visited Heide's Tower of Flame briefly. I think that's where I'll go next. For now, I've gotten quite a distance in the Bastille - one boss defeated. I'm having a bit of trouble with the Belfry Luna area and I'm short a lockstone for a third contraption I discovered, but I hope to have the Bastille wrapped up tonight.
Leveling is odd. I'm level 36 already and it's still pretty affordable to level up - maybe 4,000 souls - so I keep doing it. So far it hasn't impacted my ability to summon or be summoned. I can't be very deep into the game, not with three bosses defeated, so I'm not sure what to make of it all.
Thanks for the tip Pokey. I had totally forgotten about that area. I know just where I'll make use of that lockstone...
Steerpike you'll notice that each level has noticeably less impact on your stats than in DkS. I'm already in the low 60s and am most likely nowhere near midway through the game.
Same, as far as leveling goes. I've heard there are more bosses than the first game, so it's probably longer if you take all the optional paths. I'm level 85 and feel like I'm in the middle.
Folks: I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Dark Souls II has a Blighttown. It is called, appropriately, The Gutter. You probably won't get there until you've thoroughly scoured the Harvest Valley and Earthen Peak. If you've been playing for a while now and have thought well, there doesn't seem to be any terrible poison places! ...just you wait. The Gutter / Black Gulch is poison fucking hell. I'm dying constantly there. Which I like.
Reveal Spoiler
I also discovered the Rat covenant. It's interesting. Then I was setting up traps for victims and I corroded all my own armor and rings with acid. D'oh.
I seem like I've hit that mid-game question mark. Like do I push onward or grind for souls/items/levels? My instinct is to grind to learn the areas, and why not, it's fun!
I have learned a game-changing piece of information on the fextralife wiki forums. Game-changing if you'll be a long-term DKS2 player. Bonfire Ascetics, the items you can burn at bonfires which claim to increase the challenge, do just that. But I've learned the way in which they do it: they propel whatever bonfire's area you burn it at to NG+ essentially. That means all enemies will respawn (and have NG+ attributes), and this time around you won't be picking up new items. Apparently in NG+ you will get different drops from bosses (such as +2 rings, instead of the normal or +1 you can get in your first game) and regular enemies will drop NG+ stuff as well (which is apparently different). Thread here: http://fextralife.com/forums/t26995/best-item-bonfire-ascetic/
Also, you can burn an ascetic multiple times in one bonfire. I'm not sure if there's a limit. The key to creating an unending cycle is to find an area which has a Bonfire Ascetic as a static item pickup and just keep rinsing and repeating if you want to reset that area. I'm not sure how many Ascetics can be obtained in one game (without using any to reset an area) but someone in that thread claims to have about 25 of them. I have just two at this point. One was a pickup (I forget where from) and one I bought from a vendor in the Harvest Valley. For an idea of my progress, I've killed 12 bosses.
I have honestly not been using the wiki except to look at the covenant pages; I've been learning a lot of secrets simply from reading the messages I see. They have legitimately helped me with my chances from finding hidden items to boss fights.
Botch, what model of PS3 do you have? I thought they were all created equally...but perhaps not. I agree that some of the shadows are janky, but I haven't had a single performance issue. The game is not only a solid 30fps everywhere, sometimes it seems to go beyond that into weird giant-TV-high-refresh-rate mode like Infamous 1 did. I have a Slim 120 GB model. No performance nitpicking really.
I'm enjoying the game immensely (obvious, maybe?) but it is ... different from Dark Souls. As in it seems less concerned with shepherding the player through a relatively linear path of despair (Gargoyles > Capra > Depths > Blight > Sen's > Anor Londo) and more with creating an even sort of pacing. No one area has upped the ante from the previous quite like we saw with the Lower Burg to the Depths to Blighttown, or the Parish/Blighttown to Sen's to Anor Londo. They get harder in different ways for certain (the lengths to which Black Gulch goes to keep you poisoned, for example) but it is perhaps not as observable as in DKS1.
I think the biggest complaint I can level against it at this point is that the whole world doesn't seem to be bound together as a convincing, cohesive whole, like Dark Souls was. Obviously we all have more experience with the first game and so can picture every area that much easier but I don't think there was ever a place where you felt like you were just in a video game and had "warped" to the next level. At the top of the Undead Parish you could look down upon Firelink Shrine and even the pit of Blighttown. And from almost anywhere you could look up at the great wall of Anor Londo. Dark Souls II, from what I've seen so far at least, has failed to achieve this scope. When I leave the Huntsman's Copse and climb to the top of the Earthen Peak I can't see any area I've traversed before; just poison, fog and marshes. I can't see that spire in the distance that you can see from Majula, I can't see the sunken remains of Heide's Tower of Flame in the distance ... I just see the Harvest Valley below. Don't get me wrong, it's disappointment of the smallest kind, but it's still worth comparing, since Dark Souls the First was incredible impressive when it came to this.
Have any of you found a Fragrant Branch of Yore yet? When you do post here and I can suggest where you use your first one based on what you're looking for!
EDIT: Steerpike, definitely do Heide's Tower next. It will unlock basically your alternate path through the early game, so it's a good idea. The non-optional boss there also isn't that hard. I soloed him.
"I think the biggest complaint I can level against it at this point is that the whole world doesn't seem to be bound together as a convincing, cohesive whole, like Dark Souls was."
Completely agree. For me however, this is a much bigger deal. I play a lot of Dark Souls - more than any other game I've ever played. At this point I don't really see myself having another go at Dark Souls 2. I hope it will eventually convince me otherwise since there's still a lot to be seen. But for all the little annoying things from the first game that this game improved upon (using multiple soul items at a time, gesturing even when standing on a message, quit/restart-free crow trades, etc.) it forgot to make a compelling world.
On top of that, the feel of the combat and movement is just not as fun. For all the lag backstabs and other PvP annoyances, Dark Souls just feels better.
I haven't found a Fragrant Branch and I'm itching to come across one. There are two places I can see to use one: near the blue sword guy and in the Bastille. The latter is just blocking a bonfire - not a big deal since there's another one very close by. But there is an item there as well I think.
Steerpike, I haven't found that alternate route to Cale that you mentioned. I went down to the ground and up the ladder and looked around, but didn't see anything. This was while I was doing summons, so didn't have a lot of time. Am I looking for a ladder or something on the ground?
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Amazing. Incredible. Astounding. Astonishing. Miraculous. Or, maybe just plain unlikely.
Those are the adjectives that snugly fit my geriatric English springer spaniel gun dog Lily’s recuperative powers as she closes in on her 13th birthday. This biddable pet never ceases to amaze me as I observe her during our daily rambles that run deep. What a remarkable flush-and-retrieve companion she’s been, and what a comeback she’s made from the precipice of demise. I admit being shocked she’s still with us.
Less than a year ago, on May Day, I was seriously pondering her burial place, exploring peaceful places we both love, where an indiscreet grave could be dug. Now, though 90 in human age and not nearly what she was in her physical prime, the old lady’s chugging along just fine, thank you, on our daily morning romps. No, she’s not jumping up onto my pickup’s tailgate as she always did, but on a good day she still attempts it and may well have succeeded without a helping hand had I not recognized her intent out of the corner of my eye and intervened. That said, she’s jumping down without the hint of a stumble or stagger, and she’s running up and down steep slopes and through dense, thorny tangles without fear or even a hint of hesitation. She also displays no reservations when approaching frigid standing meltwater, even when a brief swim is required. Hell no. In fact, on warm, sunny winter morns, she even walks out up to her belly into the cold, swollen Green River for a refreshing drink. Yeah, of course I know this could and probably will someday end quickly. But that mortal inevitability in no way diminishes the resilience this spirited, former bundle of energy and enthusiasm has thus far displayed through trying times of growing old.
Doc Schmitt has evaluated a few canines over nearly a half-century as a vet, and he identified Lily as “a tough bitch” after she bounced back from a life-threatening pregnancy that required surgical intervention at age 8. Though he has never seen her trail and flush a pheasant or make what appears to be an impossible blind retrieve, truer words he could not have spoken. His assessment was right on the money. A tough bitch she is, and then some, not to mention an extraordinary yet fading gun dog and daily walking chum.
Back in October, just before bird-hunting season opened, I wrote that it was clear to me that Lily would be of no use as a gun dog and probably would not survive the winter. It was a poignant and painful admission, but one I believed. I had witnessed Lily’s second stroke-like event in six months – this one less severe to the eye but longer-lasting and more debilitating than the first. Although she did tediously regain her balance over time and never lost her appetite or joyful gait, she was unable to slice through dense cover during the six-week pheasant season, and was still often losing her balance and quickly tiring when breaking winter trails through fresh, deep snow. It was obvious to my eyes that Lily was playing her back nine, though not suffering, through it all eager to accompany me and her rambunctious son, Chubby, on our daily morning maneuvers.
When I described Lily’s symptoms in October, many sympathetic readers who’d watched their own dogs suffer similar problems reached out with a potential diagnosis of vestibular disease, often referred to as old-dog syndrome. Although I paid heed, Googled it and thoroughly reviewed the manifestations, I cannot say I was ever totally convinced that was Lily’s problem. All the material I read defined it as a progressive disease, which didn’t seem to fit Lily. Though temporarily encumbered, she continued to improve over time and now, after a few months, she displays no lasting effects. Zero. Plus, she has never shown any indications of associated ear discomfort or ear odor, both of which I learned long ago to keep an eye out for.
I am now convinced that Lily was stricken with two TIAs, or mini-strokes, which she eventually and quite remarkably overcame. A friend who breeds, raises and trains field springers and is a player on the national field-trial circuit believes Lily will eventually die from a stroke, and I’m inclined to agree. I trust his opinions, formed after decades in the company of high-test gun dogs, trainers and especially veterinarians. A man who intently listens to such expert discussion can absorb a lot of free wisdom by osmosis.
That said, I sense Lily’s not done yet. Who knows? At her advanced age, it’s a crap-shoot. She may soon fall on her side, go into tremors and expire. Then again, it’s possible, precluding another event, that she’ll flush and retrieve a few more pheasants this fall. We’ll see. Time will tell. Right this minute, I’m confident she’d flush pheasants from our familiar coverts.
I know better than to sell old Lily-Butt short, and would never question her resolve or resilience. She has been a truly remarkable gun dog with indomitable spirit and unusual recuperative powers. In her prime, say at the age of 5, she was an absolute powerhouse through thick, thorny cover. She literally made punishing coverts shake with her all-out enthusiasm, whether bulldozing through, bounding over or displaying an eye-catching combination of both athletic skills to locate and flush a bird.
Her best days will not be forgotten.
It’s time to start thinking about removing artificial, backyard food sources for black bears, which are now active and hungry. So, take down your bird feeders, which bears will often favor over natural food like skunk cabbage, and the same can be said about garbage and compost and beehives. MassWildlife estimates our bear population to be at least 4,500, with their range expanding eastward. Take action by educating yourself and your neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears.
As rattling brooks flow into roaring rivers, nearly 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout are awaiting spring stocking from MassWildlife’s five hatcheries, including the four local ones at Sunderland, Montague, Palmer and Belchertown. The other hatchery is in Sandwich. These fish, coupled with holdovers from more than 80,000 trout stocked last fall, will provide excellent fishing in the coming months. Stocking was scheduled to begin this week in southeastern Massachusetts, with other regions of the state expected to soon follow. Anglers can get daily stocking updates at mass.gov/trout or by contacting district office for the latest stocking information.
posted in Columns, The Dogs | No Comments
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Bringing together entrepreneurs and investors
Year-end Giving and Action for Good
By Sheila Seclearr December 29, 2017 Blog, Collaborations, Community, Investing, Strategic Planning
Happy Holidays from all of us at UpSpring Associates.
Keep in mind that you can make year-end charitable gifts up until Jan. 30th for the 2017 tax year.
Here are some of our favorites:
Locally, in Santa Fe, we love the wonderful work (see photo above) of the Santa Fe Art Institute as they cultivate creative practices, engage with diverse communities, and address our most pressing social issues.
We also support CHIMERA, Meow Wolf’s non-profit education initiative. Leveraging the artists’ collective behind The House of Eternal Return, Chimera offers kids (k-12) digital classes and other forms of creative engagement. Gifts support critical access to state-of-the-art training for youth and families, regardless of socio-economic background.
Nationally, we’ve been following and supporting the actions of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council as they opposed the Dakota Access Pipeline and led the legal action that resulted in the Court order for DAPL to work with the Tribes to develop spill response plans and file regular reports.
Support the water protector legal defense fund at Earth Justice or take action for fossil fuel independence at the Sacred Stone Camp official website.
Follow and donate to Market Forces: “Your Money as a Force for Good.” They watch banks that fund fossil fuel projects. Native and non-native allies are taking action against big oil investors like Citi, Westpac, and others who profit from continuing our dependence on fossil fuels.
At UpSpring, we look forward to 2018, a new year of supporting the mission of all B-Corps, using business as a power for good.
© 2020 UpSpring. Santa Fe, NM 505.715.6927 | Washington, D.C. 202.256.2692
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Personal history of
Mr. Yoshiaki Takahashi
Inventor of WAIP TECHNOLOGY
1965 Graduated B.S., University of Tokyo, Department of Naval Architect, Faculty of Engineering
1965 ～1975 Joined Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co Ltd (IHI)
Assigned Ship Design Department specialized in propulsion performance
Engaged in performance improvement of controllable pitch propeller (CPP) Assigned Research and Development Engineer
1975 ～1981 Engaged in designing a marine nuclear reactor in technical cooperation with TECHNICATOME, a subsidiary of Commissariat a Energie Atomique de France (CEA)
1981 ～1984 Joined Japan Science and Technology Agency responsible for establishing atomic energy policy for the light water nuclear reactor after the incident of radiation leakage on the Nuclear Ship “Mutsu”
Appointed lecturer in charge of marine nuclear propulsion for Nuclear
Technology Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo
In charge of development of under water technology and engaged in design, fabrication and delivery of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) called the cable repair, burial and inspection system (CARBIS) for cable laying operation sponsored by NTT.
In charge of development of “underwater laser viewing systems” (ULVS) enabling to see underwater objects through turbidity.
In charge of developing “autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)”, the prototype underwater vehicle for torpedo counter measures.
In charge of developing neural network controller, “robust adaptive neural-network controller” (RANC) for ROV.
Appointed lecturer in charge of Ocean Engineering Design for Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Department, University of Tokyo.
2001 Retired from IHI as a chief engineer of Ship building and Offshore Department.
Founded R & D Engineering Inc. and appointed CEO.
1991- 2006 Engaged in research and development aiming at drag reduction by means of micro-bubble and invented “winged air induction pipe” (WAIP) technology.
Conducted sea trials of MV “Adventure 2” equipped with WAIP system in collaboration with DSO National Laboratories, Singapore.
Acquired subsidy fund provided by the Japanese government organization for development of WAIP technology
Appointed a member of the Paper Review Committee for Society of Naval Architects of Japan
Aug 2005 Conducted sea trials and tests of MV “New Ferry Misaki” with a subsidy fund provided by The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation and proved commercially applicable WAIP technology
Dec 2006 Proved over 10% saving of total power on board MV “New Ferry Misaki”
Started marketing WAIP technology
You can find Takahashi's works in interenet
http://www.ocean.jks.ynu.ac.jp/~OEC/sympo/sympo12.htm
http://homepage3.nifty.com/JFOES/page010.html
http://nippon.zaidan.info/seikabutsu/1996/00646/contents/277.htm
http://underwater.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/paper/J/B-C.html
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/images/4425560035
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viXra.org > Data Structures and Algorithms
Abstracts Authors Papers Full Site
Previous months:
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Any replacements are listed farther down
[325] viXra:2001.0402 [pdf] submitted on 2020-01-19 19:33:35
A Distributed Algorithm for Brute Force Password Cracking on n Processors
Authors: Roman Bahadursingh
Comments: 3 Pages.
A Password P, can be defined as a hash of x symbols .A brute force password cracking algorithm will go through every possible combination of symbols from 1 – x symbols. This form of password cracker takes O(n) time to solve, where n is the number of possible combinations, achieved by sn where s is the number of symbols available for a password. Having a password cracker with multiple processors, having the processors instead of all checking from symbol 0 to the last symbol, using a more decentralized approach can greatly improve the speed of this computation to O(n/2) for two processors, O(n/3) for three processors and O(n/np) as a generalized formula. This algorithm also allows for multiple processors of different clock speeds to also crack a password in more optimal time.
Category: Data Structures and Algorithms
Coder-Decoder for Open Science Data
Authors: Domenico Oricchio
Comments: 1 Page.
I thought a method to preserve our scientific and cultural knowledge for future generations
Restricted Proof - Upper Bound of the Sum Over All 2^(-|A|), where A is an Edge Cover of a given Graph is in P
Authors: Rikayan Chaki
Comments: Pages.
We consider the sum of all 2^(-|A|), where A is an edge cover of a graph G=(V, E), restricted to cases where |E| < 2|V| - 2. We show that this expression, under the given assumptions, is in P. This means that it is in O(Poly(G)) = O(Poly(V, E))
Graphical User Interface (Gui) for Visualization of Solutions of Initial Value Problems Using Runge-Kutta Methods
Authors: Folaranmi Akinola Davidson
Comments: 14 Pages. The source code for the GUI may be downloaded from
In this paper, a successful approach for the visualization of the solutions of initial value problems using different Runge-Kutta methods by developing a new graphical user interface (GUI), has been introduced. The main objective of the paper is to apply the tkinter, numpy[1] and matplotlib[2] modules of the Python programming language in developing a GUI that would enable the user to appreciate the accuracy of each Runge-Kutta method at different step size/increment. The second purpose of this paper is to develop a python module that contains functions that can be imported to .py files when the need to implement Runge-Kutta methods on initial value problems arises. The GUI was used to solve and plot the solutions of an initial value problem. The variations in the graph patterns illustrate the accuracy of the output of each method. Keywords GUI, Runge-Kutta methods
Glimpsing into the Interesting World of Understanding & Exploring Semantics of Python Using Isabelle-HOL/JikesRVM – Research Virtual Machine in the Context of Heterogeneous Computing Environments.
Authors: Nirmal Tej Kumar
Comments: 1 Page. Short Communication-Review
Compression Algorithm Calculating Entropy
Authors: George Rajna
Comments: 35 Pages.
Now, a new Tel Aviv University study proposes a radically simple and efficient way of calculating entropy-and it probably exists on your own computer. [22] "We studied two systems: a Bose-Einstein condensate with 100,000 atoms confined in a cavity and an optomechanical cavity that confines light between two mirrors," Gabriel Teixeira Landi, a professor at the University of São Paulo's Physics Institute (IF-USP), told. [21] Search engine entropy is thus important not only for the efficiency of search engines and those using them to find relevant information as well as to the success of the companies and other bodies running such systems, but also to those who run websites hoping to be found and visited following a search. [20] "We've experimentally confirmed the connection between information in the classical case and the quantum case," Murch said, "and we're seeing this new effect of information loss." [19] It's well-known that when a quantum system is continuously measured, it freezes, i.e., it stops changing, which is due to a phenomenon called the quantum Zeno effect. [18] Physicists have extended one of the most prominent fluctuation theorems of classical stochastic thermodynamics, the Jarzynski equality, to quantum field theory. [17] In 1993, physicist Lucien Hardy proposed an experiment showing that there is a small probability (around 6-9%) of observing a particle and its antiparticle interacting with each other without annihilating-something that is impossible in classical physics. [16] Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, recently reengineered their data processing, demonstrating that 16 million atoms were entangled in a one-centimetre crystal. [15] The fact that it is possible to retrieve this lost information reveals new insight into the fundamental nature of quantum measurements, mainly by supporting the idea that quantum measurements contain both quantum and classical components. [14]
An Important Understanding of Code Generation Related Concepts Using HOL - Higher Order Logic/Scala in the Context of JikesRVM - Research Virtual Machine/Jam VM for Testing Smart Devices/IoT/HPC/MongoDB in Heterogeneous Environments & Applications.
Comments: 2 Pages. Short Communication & Technical Notes
An Important Understanding of Code Generation Related Concepts Using HOL - Higher Order Logic/Scala in the Context of JikesRVM - Research Virtual Machine/Jam VM for Testing Smart Devices/IoT/HPC/MongoDB in Heterogeneous Environments & Applications. [ Exploring RVM-Research Virtual Machine Functionality on RASPBERRY PI Platforms ]
Exploring [ C/C++/Bio-C++ ] based Bio-informatics R&D Framework Using [ XNA- Xeno Nucleic Acids/ Machine Learning/Minsky Machines/Group Theory/Grobner Bases.]
[ BioCPP Computational Libraries/dlibC++( Machine Learning-Library)/Group Theory/Grobner Bases ] interaction With C++ based Template Turing Machine w.r.t Minsky Machines in the Context of XNA Sequencing Mechanisms – A Simple Idea to Test Minsky Machines.We intend to explore Synthetic Biology Theoretically.Hence,this Short communication on Synthetic Biology R&D.To understand XNA related mechanisms like Sequencing we are also using/considering Minksy Machines for better Bio-informatics Applications.
Solving the Container Shipment Problem with the Focus on Special Goods (Dangerous and Fragile) Using Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Walter Zimmer, Carsten Mueller
An optimum usage of the shipping space is calculated using genetic algorithms. The objective of the optimization is the maximization of loaded container of type dangerous and the minimization of the unused shipping space. The minimization of the unused shipping space has to be preferred against the maximization of the loaded container of type dangerous. Statistical evalutations were done and the usage of various parameters was analysed.
Monte Carlo based Algorithm for Scoring Grid Systems
Authors: Syed Haseeb Shah
We evaluate Monte Carlo based algorithm for scoring grid systems. The former were used to describe features of the area under study. This was done to select suitable features for City Information Modelling. These algorithms measures path of shortest distance. However, shortest distance does not always ensures shortest time. The algorithm works by pairing multiple iterations of two random numbers in a polygon. The mean of shortest path between these points is calculated. Thus grid systems with shorter paths will return a lower value as compared to grid systems with longer paths. This was applied to GIS systems in urban planning to rate the feasibility of different grid systems. It is a heuristic algorithm that tells us to about the nature of grid system. Instead of measuring the geometry of every path in a grid it eases the workflow of an urban planner by automation.
Robust Quaternion Estimation with Geometric Algebra
Authors: Mauricio Cele Lopez Belon
Comments: 11 Pages. Submitted to Advances in Applied Clifford Algebras
Robust methods for finding the best rotation aligning two sets of corresponding vectors are formulated in the linear algebra framework, using tools like the SVD for polar decomposition or QR for finding eigenvectors. Those are well established numerical algorithms which on the other hand are iterative and computationally expensive. Recently, closed form solutions has been proposed in the quaternion’s framework, those methods are fast but they have singularities i.e., they completely fail on certain input data. In this paper we propose a robust attitude estimator based on a formulation of the problem in Geometric Algebra. We find the optimal eigen-quaternion in closed form with high accuracy and with competitive performance respect to the fastest methods reported in literature.
Building and Visualizing Datasets of a Single Variable (Heart Rate)
Authors: Neel Adwani
Datasets are of great use in the fields like Machine Learning, Data Science, Data Analytics, etc. To solve the problem of Data unavailability, Data sets can be generated with the help of required sensors and that data can even be visualized. Visualization might be necessary to filter or sort out the inaccurate data, which might interfere with the Algorithm used.
Problème du Voyageur de Commerce TSP
Authors: Ayoub Abraich
The travelling salesman problem (TSP) asks the following question: "Given a list of cities and the distances between each pair of cities, what is the shortest possible route that visits each city and returns to the origin city?" It is an NP-hard problem in combinatorial optimization, important in operations research and theoretical computer science.
A Short Communication on Exploring – [ MRI Scans With Sparse Tensors based on Mir-Library/D Language/IoT/HPC Heterogeneous Environments ]
An Interesting Suggestion+Review on Using Sparse Tensors as Information Processing Tools in the Context of Probing Mathematical Algorithms for Next Generation Medical Image Processing R&D based on [ D lang/Mir-Library Modules/IoT/HPC/LLVM/LDC ] - High Performance Computing in Heterogeneous [ Linux/Windows/Other OS ]Environments.
Computational Pathology
Researchers in the US and UK have uncovered a "pathology" affecting floating-point arithmetic that introduces significant errors when describing systems that are extremely sensitive to their initial conditions. [29] Applying AI know-how to the giant pool of data gathered from the world's leading and most powerful scientific instruments could accelerate the process of scientific discovery. [28] Scientists from the University of Oxford, in collaboration with University of Basel and Lancaster University, have developed an algorithm that can be used to measure quantum dots automatically. [27]
A Polynomial Time Algorithm for 3-Sat
Authors: Ortho Flint, Asanka Wickramasinghe, Jay Brasse, Chris Fowler
Comments: 7 Pages. Proofs and code can be found at polynomial3sat.org
In this paper, we provide a polynomial time (and space), algorithm that determines satisfiability of 3-SAT.
Refutation of Algorithm for 3-Sat Satisfiability Via Claimed Boolean Rules
Authors: Colin James III
Comments: 2 Pages. Copyright 2019 by Colin James III All rights reserved. Respond to author by email only: info@cec-services dot com. See updated abstract at ersatz-systems.com.
We evaluate a definition of two Boolean rules claimed for intersection and union as not tautologous. This refutes the subsequent conjecture of an algorithm for 3-SAT satisfiability, to form non tautologous fragments of the universal logic VŁ4.
Refutation of Rewriting Logic for Compositional Specification
We evaluate the first motivational example, before mutual exclusion of multiple trains, for states and transitions as defined. The conjectured model is not tautologous, refutes rewriting logic for compositional specification, and forming a non tautologous fragment of the universal logic VŁ4.
Determining Satisfiability of 3-Sat in Polynomial Time
Comments: 40 Pages. A similar version has been submitted for peer-review.
In this paper, we provide a polynomial time (and space), algorithm that determines satisfiability of 3-SAT. The complexity analysis for the algorithm takes into account no efficiency and yet provides a low enough bound, that efficient versions are practical with respect to today's hardware. We accompany this paper with a serial version of the algorithm without non-trivial efficiencies (link: polynomial3sat.org).
Computational Microscopy Imaging
Researchers have developed a way to enhance the imaging speed of two-photon microscopy up to five times without compromising resolution. [28] "We believe that with further advances such as OCRT, the high impact of this technology may be extended not only to additional ophthalmic diagnostics, but to imaging of pathologies in tissues accessible by endoscopes, catheters, and bronchoscopes throughout the body." [27] Working with researchers from Arizona State University, the team's new mathematical method is able to identify anomalies or bugs in the system before the car hits the road. [26]
A Performance Study of RDF Stores for Linked Sensor Data
Authors: Hoan Nguyen Mau Quoc, Martin Serrano, Han Nguyen Mau, John G. Breslin, Danh Le Phuoc
The ever-increasing amount of Internet of Things (IoT) data emanating from sensor and mobile devices is creating new capabilities and unprecedented economic opportunity for individuals, organizations and states. In comparison with traditional data sources, and in combination with other useful information sources, the data generated by sensors is also providing a meaningful spatio-temporal context. This spatio-temporal correlation feature turns the sensor data become even more valuables, especially for applications and services in Smart City, Smart Health-Care, Industry 4.0, etc. However, due to the heterogeneity and diversity of these data sources, their potential benefits will not be fully achieved if there are no suitable means to support interlinking and exchanging this kind of information. This challenge can be addressed by adopting the suite of technologies developed in the Semantic Web, such as Linked Data model and SPARQL. When using these technologies, and with respect to an application scenario which requires managing and querying a vast amount of sensor data, the task of selecting a suitable RDF engine that supports spatio-temporal RDF data is crucial. In this paper, we present our empirical studies of applying an RDF store for Linked Sensor Data. We propose an evaluation methodology and metrics that allow us to assess the readiness of an RDF store. An extensive performance comparison of the system-level aspects for a number of well-known RDF engines is also given. The results obtained can help to identify the gaps and shortcomings of current RDF stores and related technologies for managing sensor data which may be useful to others in their future implementation efforts.
N-SAT in P with Non-Coherent Space Factorization
Authors: F.L.B. Périat
We know since Cook that Boolean satisfiability problems with at least three literals in each clauses are in NP and are NP-complete. With proving that 3-SAT (or more) is in P, corollary proves that P = NP. In this document, we explain how to find a SAT problem solution in polynomial complexity time.
Unishox Guaranteed Compression for Short Unicode Strings
Authors: Arundale Ramanathan
A new hybrid encoding method is proposed, with which short unicode strings could be compressed using context aware pre-mapped codes and delta coding resulting in surprisingly good ratios.
It is Easier to Verify the Solution Than to Find it - III
Authors: Valdir Monteiro dos Santos Godoi
Comments: 23 Pages. In portuguese.
Introducing firstly the concepts of variable languages and languages with semantic and then without using them we presented original proofs of the famous P versus NP problem of Computer Science. These proofs don't implies that the NP-complete problems not belongs to P, so the P versus NP-complete problem remains open, as well as it is possible (perhaps) to solve the SAT problem in polynomial time.
An Interesting Introduction & Simple Suggestion Using [ Eta Language/x-Machines/mongo Db/basex Db/jikesrvm(rvm – Research Virtual Machine)/jvm/java/gcspytool ] in the Context of DNA Sequencing Concepts Towards Implementation of [ Iot/hpc/osgi ]
Comments: 3 Pages. Short Communication & Simple Suggestion
An Interesting Introduction & Simple Suggestion Using [ ETA Language/X-Machines/Mongo DB/BaseX DB/JikesRVM(RVM – Research Virtual Machine)/JVM/Java/GCSpyTool ] in the Context of DNA Sequencing Concepts towards Implementation of [ IoT/HPC/OSGI ] Heterogeneous Computing Environments for Next Generation Bio-informatics R&D.
Breakthrough in Quantum Computing
Breakthrough in Quantum Computing Now, a team of Virginia Tech chemistry and physics researchers have advanced quantum simulation by devising an algorithm that can more efficiently calculate the properties of molecules on a noisy quantum computer. [42] Physicists at ETH Zurich have now demonstrated an elegant way to relax this intrinsic incompatibility using a mechanical oscillator formed by a single trapped ion, opening up a route for fundamental studies and practical uses alike. [41] Physical experiments were performed by Schiffer's team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and were funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. [40] Novel insight comes now from experiments and simulations performed by a team led by ETH physicists who have studied electronic transport properties in a one-dimensional quantum wire containing a mesoscopic lattice. [39] Femtosecond lasers are capable of processing any solid material with high quality and high precision using their ultrafast and ultra-intense characteristics. [38] To create the flying microlaser, the researchers launched laser light into a water-filled hollow core fiber to optically trap the microparticle. Like the materials used to make traditional lasers, the microparticle incorporates a gain medium. [37] Lasers that emit ultrashort pulses of light are critical components of technologies, including communications and industrial processing, and have been central to fundamental Nobel Prize-winning research in physics. [36] A newly developed laser technology has enabled physicists in the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics (jointly run by LMU Munich and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics) to generate attosecond bursts of high-energy photons of unprecedented intensity. [35] The unique platform, which is referred as a 4-D microscope, combines the sensitivity and high time-resolution of phase imaging with the specificity and high spatial resolution of fluorescence microscopy. [34] The experiment relied on a soliton frequency comb generated in a chip-based optical microresonator made from silicon nitride. [33]
[ Monads+Parsec ] based on Haskell as Mathematical Tools to Probe DNA Sequencing in the Context of [ Nano-Bio ] Devices/IoT/HPC R&D.
[ Monads+Parsec ] based on Haskell as Mathematical Tools to Probe DNA Sequencing in the Context of [ Nano-Bio ] Devices/IoT/HPC R&D. [ DNA Sequencing as a ‘Physical Anology’ of Monads.Monad as a strategy for combining computations into more complex computations/Testing in Progress ]
Applications of Random Matrices to Image Processing for Image Denoising in the Context of Cryo-Electron Microscopy[cryo-Em] Image Processing & Informatics Using [ Julia Language + Fortran Based Simple Cryo-em Software ] Towards Petascale-HPC Algorithm/s
Applications of Random Matrices to Image Processing for Image Denoising in the Context of Cryo-Electron Microscopy[Cryo-EM] Image Processing & Informatics Using [ Julia Language + Fortran based SIMPLE Cryo-EM Software ] towards PETASCALE-HPC Algorithm/s Design,Understanding & Testing – A Simple Suggestion With an Interesting [ R&D ] Insight. [ SIMPLE Cryo-EM Software +Julia Random Matrices Library interfacing for Testing IoT/HPC/Heterogeneous Computing R&D ] [ Julia joins Fortran/C/C++ Club as a high-level language in which PETAFLOPS computations have been achieved ]
An Insight into Cryo-EM Image Processing R&D based on Byte Code Engineering Analysis in the Context of [ OPAL-Scala Byte Code Engineering Tool/Scala LAB/ImageJ/Fiji] Software – A Simple & Interesting Exploration Using [ Scala/JikesRVM]
An Insight into Cryo-EM Image Processing R&D based on Byte Code Engineering Analysis in the Context of [ OPAL-Scala Byte Code Engineering Tool/Scala LAB/ImageJ/Fiji] Software – A Simple & Interesting Exploration Using [ Scala/JikesRVM(RVM - Research Virtual Machine)/Java Virtual Machine(JVM)/Metascala-Scala JVM ] Informatics Frameworks. [Scala/Jikes RVM/Metascala -Scala JVM are Worth Learning in the Context of IoT/HPC/AI/ML/DL/ImageJ/Fiji ] [Exploring OPAL in Scala -Test Driven Byte Code Engineering R&D ]
DNA Sequencing Using Higher Order Logic[hol] & Stochastic Processes as Mathematical Tools Towards Next Generation/hi-End Bio-Informatics R&D Frameworks in the Context of [ Opal/byte Code Engineering/scala/java/jikesrvm( RVM-Research Virtual Machine )
DNA Sequencing Using Higher Order Logic[HOL] & Stochastic Processes as Mathematical Tools towards Next Generation/Hi-End Bio-Informatics R&D Frameworks in the Context of [ OPAL/Byte Code Engineering/Scala/Java/JikesRVM( RVM-Research Virtual Machine ) /JavaVirtual Machine/Metascala-Scala JVM/IoT/HPC Heterogeneous Computing Environments ] [ Scala/Java/JVM based Languages – The Next BIG Thing in IoT/HPC/Bio-informatics/BIGDATA Revolution – Advanced Software Architecture R&D ]
An Interesting Insight Into [ Cool-Spe/gccs-Gentle Compiler Construction System ] Software in the Context of Computational Complexity of Ising Spin Glass Models Towards [dna/rna] Based High Performance Sequencing and Theoretical Analysis of Gene Therapy R
An Interesting Insight into [ CooL-SPE/GCCS-Gentle Compiler Construction System ] Software in the Context of Computational Complexity of Ising Spin Glass Models towards [DNA/RNA] based High Performance Sequencing and Theoretical Analysis of Gene Therapy R&D. [ Spin Glasses are always an inspiration – A Computational Challenge for the 21 st Century ? ] [The CooL-SPE is a programming environment specially designed to support the professional development of large-scale object-oriented application systems . Revisiting CooL-SPE in the Context of Bio-informatics ]
Technical Comparison Aspects of Leading Blockchain-Based Platforms on Key Characteristic
Authors: Alexander Ivanov, Yevhenii Babichenko, Hlib Kanunnikov, Paul Karpus, Leonid FoiuKhatskevych, Roman Kravchenko, Kyrylo Gorokhovskyi, Ievhen Nevmerzhitskyi
Comments: 7 Pages. Journal: NaUKMA Research Papers. Computer Science
Blockchain as a technology is rapidly developing, finding more and more new entry points into everyday life. This is one of the elements of the technical Revolution 4.0, and it is used in the field of supply, maintenance of various types of registers, access to software products, combating DDOS attacks, distributed storage, fundraising for projects, IoT, etc. Nowadays, there are many blockchainplatforms in the world. They have one technological root but different applications. There are many prerequisites to the fact that in the future the number of new decentralized applications will increase. Therefore, it is important to develop a methodology for determining the optimal blockchainbased platform to solve a specific problem. As an example, consider the worldfamous platforms Ethereum, Nem, and Stellar. Each of them allows to develop decentralized applications, issue tokens, and execute transactions. At the same time, the key features of these blockchainbased platforms are not similar to one another. These very features will be considered in the article. Purpose. Identify the key parameters that characterize the blockchainbased platforms. This will provide an opportunity to present a complex blockchain technology in the form of a simple and understandable architecture. Based on these parameters and using the expertise of the article’s authors, we will be able to develop a methodology to be used to solve the problems of choosing the optimal blockchainbased platform for solving the problem of developing smart contracts and issuing tokens. Methods. Analysis of the complexity of using blockchainbased platforms. Implementation of token issuance, use of test and public networks, execution of transactions, analysis of the development team and the community, analysis of the user interface and the developer interface. Discussion. By developing a platform comparison methodology to determine optimal characteristics, we can take the development process to a new level. This will allow to quickly and effectively solve the tasks. Results. Creation of a methodology for comparison blockchainbased platforms.
Algorithms Developed for Two Porotypes of Airborne Vision-Based Control of Ground Robots
Authors: Ilan Ehrenfeld, Oleg Kupervasser, Hennadii Kutomanov, Vitalii Sarychev, Roman Yavich
Comments: 6 Pages. accepted to 9th Int. Conf. on Geotechnique, Construction Materials and Environment, Tokyo, Japan, 2019
Unmanned autonomous robots will be widely used very soon for land use, treatment, and monitoring. Our and the other groups already described technologies, that can be used for such robots (Kupervasser et al., International Journal of GEOMATE, May, 2018 Vol.14, Issue 45, pp.10-16; Djaja et al., International Journal of GEOMATE, Aug, 2017, Vol.13, Issue 36, pp.31-34). We continue developing these technologies and present here new patented technology of airborne vision-based control of ground robots. The main idea is that robot’s “eyes” is not located on robot, but are independent autonomous system. As a result, the “eyes” can go up and observe the robot from above. We present in this paper algorithms used for two real physical prototypes of a such system
Debugging Quantum Computers
In the paper titled "Statistical Assertions for Validating Patterns and Finding Bugs in Quantum Programs," Huang and Margaret Martonosi, a professor of Computer Science at Princeton, identify three key difficulties in debugging quantum programs, and evaluate their solutions in addressing those difficulties. [37] Researchers at the University of Chicago published a novel technique for improving the reliability of quantum computers by accessing higher energy levels than traditionally considered. [36] An international team of researchers has taken an important step towards solving a difficult variation of this problem, using a statistical approach developed at the University of Freiburg. [35] Storing information in a quantum memory system is a difficult challenge, as the data is usually quickly lost. At TU Wien, ultra-long storage times have now been achieved using tiny diamonds. [34] Electronics could work faster if they could read and write data at terahertz frequency, rather than at a few gigahertz. [33] A team of researchers led by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has demonstrated a new method for splitting light beams into their frequency modes. [32] Quantum communication, which ensures absolute data security, is one of the most advanced branches of the "second quantum revolution". [31] Researchers at the University of Bristol's Quantum Engineering Technology Labs have demonstrated a new type of silicon chip that can help building and testing quantum computers and could find their way into your mobile phone to secure information. [30] Theoretical physicists propose to use negative interference to control heat flow in quantum devices. [29] Particle physicists are studying ways to harness the power of the quantum realm to further their research. [28]
Discovering Domain-Sensitive Topics in User-Reviews
Authors: Sarthak Kamat
Customer reviews are integral to retail businesses. This paper demonstrates new methods for ranking the most representative and interesting snippets within reviews posted by their customers.
An Interesting Investigation Towards Understanding of [ Openjit Compiler Framework + Imagej Java Imaging Software ] Interaction with Jikesrvm [ RVM Research Virtual Machine ] in the Context of [byte Code Engineering Library(bcel) + Iot + High Performa
An Interesting Investigation towards Understanding of [ OpenJIT Compiler Framework + ImageJ - Java Imaging Software ] Interaction with JikesRVM [ RVM- Research Virtual Machine ] in the Context of [Byte Code Engineering Library(BCEL) + IoT + High Performance Computing (HPC)] related Java based Heterogeneous Image Processing Environments – A Simple Suggestion & Technical Notes.
Indirect Quicksort and Mergesort
Authors: Takeuchi Leorge
This paper estimates indirect quicksort and mergesort for various sizes of array element, and suggests a data structure to guarantee time complexity of O(n log(n)) in C language.
Preliminary Study for Developing Instantaneous Quantum Computing Algorithms (Iqca)
Authors: Richard L Amoroso
Comments: 25 Pages. Preprint: IOP J Phys Conf Series 2019, R L Amoroso, D M Dubois, L H Kauffman, P Rowlands (eds) Advances in Fundamental Physics: Prelude to Paradigm Shift, 11th International Symposium Honoring Mathematical Physicist J-P Vigier, 2018 Liege, Belgium
Since the mid-1990s theoretical quadratic exponential and polynomial Quantum Computing (QC) speedup algorithms have been discussed. Recently the advent of relativistic information processing (RIP) introducing a relativistic qubit (r-qubit) with additional degrees of freedom beyond the current Hilbert space Bloch 2-sphere qubit formalism extended theory has appeared. In this work a penultimate form of QC speedup – Instantaneous Quantum Computing Algorithms (IQCA) is proposed. Discussion exists on passing beyond the quantum limits of locality and unitarity heretofore restricting the evolution of quantum systems to the standard Copenhagen Interpretation. In that respect as introduced in prior work an ontological-phase topological QC avails itself of extended modeling. As well-known by EPR experiments instantaneous connectivity exists inherently in the nonlocal arena. As our starting point we utilize Bohm’s super-implicate order where inside a wave packet a super-quantum potential introduces nonlocal connectivity. Additionally EPR experiments entangle simultaneously emitted photon pairs by parametric down-conversion. Operating an IQCA requires a parametric up-conversion cycle an M-Theoretic Unified Field Mechanical (MUFM) set of topological transformations beyond the current Galilean Lorentz-Poincairé transforms of the standard model (SM). Yang- Mills Kaluza-Klein (YM-KK) correspondence is shown to provide a path beyond the semi-quantum limit to realize the local-nonlocal duality required to implement IQCA.
Lucidity Yellowpaper
Authors: Miguel Morales
In this paper we present an implementation of a trustless system of measurement and enforcement of advertising metrics. Specifically, our implementation uses a sidechain composed of a decentralized consortium of verifiers. This implementation provides a decentralized and democratically governed mechanism for the codification of measurement standards. This implementation enforces the standards for computing advertising metrics based on signals received from disconnected programmatic supply chain participants. A simple standard could be codified that enforces the computation of an attribution. It also enables a mechanism in which supply-chain participants may be paid using cryptocurrency safely and at scale. Thus, the system we describe implements the trifecta of blockchain-based tracking and billing of programmatic advertising: campaign insertion orders, supply-chain transparency, and payments. In this paper, we will describe the management of participant identities, a Plasma based sidechain architecture, and support for payments. We also describe a Proof-of-Stake consensus along with a rewards and penalties system used to perpetually incentivize and enforce the correct function of the network.
Whitepaper V.1.2
Authors: Lucidity
The digital advertising ecosystem isn’t in a great place. While growth in digital is booming, the most essential members of the ecosystem (namely advertisers and publishers) are frustrated and powerless in the face of an increasingly apparent reality: digital advertising has a transparency problem. In an age where measuring the performance of ad campaigns is paramount, marketers are unable to fully understand the value they deliver. As has become true for most industries, data is the key to measuring performance. But in advertising, data is trapped and siloed in black box technologies, causing data disagreements and opening the door for fraudulent activities. The end result? Waste. Wasted money. Wasted time. Lucidity has built a blockchain-based solution (with five patents filed) that solves these issues. We provide advertisers with a unified set of data, free of discrepancies and fraud, that they can use to gauge their effectiveness. We provide publishers with a way to prove the value of their inventory and avoid identity theft. And we’ve built the only advertising focused blockchain technology to-date that doesn’t require advertisers and agencies to change their work flow or set up integrations. In the following whitepaper, we will outline in detail the problems we’re solving, how we solve it, and the team that’s bringing it all together.
DNA Sequencing Informatics Framework Using [CoqTP/q*cert/CRSX-HACS/Java/Ocaml/JikesRVM/(RVM-Research Virtual Machine)] in the Context of [IoT/HPC/Cloud Computing/JIProlog/Owl] Hi-End Complex Environments
Comments: 6 Pages. Short Communication
DNA Sequencing Informatics Framework Using [CoqTP/q*cert/CRSX-HACS/Java/Ocaml/JikesRVM/(RVM-Research Virtual Machine)] in the Context of [IoT/HPC/Cloud Computing/JIProlog/Owl] Hi-End Complex Environments – An Interesting insight into the Technically Challenging R&D domains involving Nano-Bio Systems. [ Towards AI/ML/DL based Interfacing of Engineering/Physics/Biology/Medicine Domain Platforms ]
[coqtp-Q*cert-Ocaml-Fortran-Simple] Image Processing Software Based Informatics Framework for Electron Microscopy(em) Images – a Novel Suggestion to Interface Fortran with Ocaml in the Context of Cryo-em Image Processing Tasks.
Comments: 4 Pages. Short Communication on Fortran & Ocaml
[CoqTP-q*cert-Ocaml-Fortran-SIMPLE] Image Processing Software based Informatics Framework for Electron Microscopy(EM) Images – A Novel Suggestion to interface Fortran with Ocaml in the Context of cryo-EM Image Processing Tasks. [ Exploring Theorem Proving & Ocaml - Fortran Interfacing & Image Processing ]
The Neglected Challenge for Practitioners to Practice Requirement Prioritization Methods
Authors: Ji Yuan
Background: Though the academic has been studying the requirement prioritization methodology, the industry still encounters challenges of the requirement prioritization in real world. Most academic models only study requirement prioritization under some limited contexts. Unexpected factors induce the challenges when practicing a requirement prioritization method. Objectives: The objective of this study is to find what challenges to practice requirement prioritization methodologies commonly need to be improved or have been neglected. Methods: We used systematic mapping study and interview-based survey. The systematic mapping study conducts the overview and generalization on the present requirement prioritization techniques in the academic. The survey does the interview on the actual status of practicing requirement prioritization in real world. The data of both methods is qualitatively analyzed by thematic analysis. Results: Through the systematic mapping study on 17 articles, we found some characters common in the design of the academic requirement prioritization models, about the usual workflow step, advantage and limitation. Then through the survey with 14 interviewees, we studied what method the practitioner is most using and what challenge exists to practice the requirement prioritization in real world, mainly related to the workflow and limitation of these practical methods. Finally, based on the contrast of results above, we find what challenge for practitioners between the academic and practical methods worth to be improved or studied further. Besides, according to the acquired empirical insights, we proposed some potential future trends. Conclusions: This study elicited the challenges and insights to practice requirement prioritization methods, which brings the value to inspire the industry for designing and applying more productive requirement prioritization method. Besides, based on the empirical result, we proposed 2 new definition (Practicable Requirement Prioritization Engineering and Modularized Requirement Prioritization Model) and 1 potential situation (Requirement Prioritization of Compounded-Business Software) worth to be studied for the future trend.
Toshiba Breakthrough Algorithm
Toshiba Corporation has realized a major breakthrough in combinatorial optimization—the selection of the best solutions from among an enormous number of combinatorial patterns—with the development of an algorithm that delivers the world's fastest and largest-scale performance, and an approximately 10-fold improvement over current methods. [37] A team of researchers at NTT Corporation has developed a way to use light-based computer hardware that allows it to to compete with silicon. [36] Called the Quantum Material Press, or QPress, this system will accelerate the discovery of next-generation materials for the emerging field of quantum information science (QIS). [35]
Revolutionise Internet Communication
A team of University of Otago/Dodd-Walls Centre scientists have created a novel device that could enable the next generation of faster, more energy efficient internet. [22] UCLA researchers and colleagues have designed a new device that creates electricity from falling snow. [21] Two-dimensional (2-D) semiconductors are promising for quantum computing and future electronics. Now, researchers can convert metallic gold into semiconductor and customize the material atom-by-atom on boron nitride nanotubes. [20]
Network Software Advance Discovery
High-performance computing (HPC)-the use of supercomputers and parallel processing techniques to solve large computational problems-is of great use in the scientific community. [18] A new finding by researchers at the University of Chicago promises to improve the speed and reliability of current and next generation quantum computers by as much as ten times. [17] Ph. D candidate Shuntaro Okada and information scientist Masayuki Ohzeki of Japan's Tohoku University collaborated with global automotive components manufacturer Denso Corporation and other colleagues to develop an algorithm that improves the D-Wave quantum annealer's ability to solve combinatorial optimization problems. [16] D-Wave Systems today published a milestone study demonstrating a topological phase transition using its 2048-qubit annealing quantum computer. [15] New quantum theory research, led by academics at the University of St Andrews' School of Physics, could transform the way scientists predict how quantum particles behave. [14] Intel has announced the design and fabrication of a 49-qubit superconducting quantum-processor chip at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. [13] To improve our understanding of the so-called quantum properties of materials, scientists at the TU Delft investigated thin slices of SrIrO3, a material that belongs to the family of complex oxides. [12] New research carried out by CQT researchers suggest that standard protocols that measure the dimensions of quantum systems may return incorrect numbers. [11] Is entanglement really necessary for describing the physical world, or is it possible to have some post-quantum theory without entanglement? [10] A trio of scientists who defied Einstein by proving the nonlocal nature of quantum entanglement will be honoured with the John Stewart Bell Prize from the University of Toronto (U of T). [9] While physicists are continually looking for ways to unify the theory of relativity, which describes large-scale phenomena, with quantum theory, which describes small-scale phenomena, computer scientists are searching for technologies to build the quantum computer using Quantum Information. In August 2013, the achievement of "fully deterministic" quantum teleportation, using a hybrid technique, was reported. On 29 May 2014, scientists announced a reliable way of transferring data by quantum teleportation. Quantum teleportation of data had been done before but with highly unreliable methods. The accelerating electrons explain not only the Maxwell Equations and the Special Relativity, but the Heisenberg Uncertainty Relation, the Wave-Particle Duality and the electron's spin also, building the Bridge between the Classical and Quantum Theories. The Planck Distribution Law of the electromagnetic oscillators explains the electron/proton mass rate and the Weak and Strong Interactions by the diffraction patterns. The Weak Interaction changes the diffraction patterns by moving the electric charge from one side to the other side of the diffraction pattern, which violates the CP and Time reversal symmetry. The diffraction patterns and the locality of the self-maintaining electromagnetic potential explains also the Quantum Entanglement, giving it as a natural part of the Relativistic Quantum Theory and making possible to build the Quantum Computer with the help of Quantum Information.
D-Wave Quantum Computer Algorithm
Ph. D candidate Shuntaro Okada and information scientist Masayuki Ohzeki of Japan's Tohoku University collaborated with global automotive components manufacturer Denso Corporation and other colleagues to develop an algorithm that improves the D-Wave quantum annealer's ability to solve combinatorial optimization problems. [16] D-Wave Systems today published a milestone study demonstrating a topological phase transition using its 2048-qubit annealing quantum computer. [15] New quantum theory research, led by academics at the University of St Andrews' School of Physics, could transform the way scientists predict how quantum particles behave. [14] Intel has announced the design and fabrication of a 49-qubit superconducting quantum-processor chip at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. [13] To improve our understanding of the so-called quantum properties of materials, scientists at the TU Delft investigated thin slices of SrIrO3, a material that belongs to the family of complex oxides. [12] New research carried out by CQT researchers suggest that standard protocols that measure the dimensions of quantum systems may return incorrect numbers. [11] Is entanglement really necessary for describing the physical world, or is it possible to have some post-quantum theory without entanglement? [10] A trio of scientists who defied Einstein by proving the nonlocal nature of quantum entanglement will be honoured with the John Stewart Bell Prize from the University of Toronto (U of T). [9] While physicists are continually looking for ways to unify the theory of relativity, which describes large-scale phenomena, with quantum theory, which describes small-scale phenomena, computer scientists are searching for technologies to build the quantum computer using Quantum Information. In August 2013, the achievement of "fully deterministic" quantum teleportation, using a hybrid technique, was reported. On 29 May 2014, scientists announced a reliable way of transferring data by quantum teleportation. Quantum teleportation of data had been done before but with highly unreliable methods. The accelerating electrons explain not only the Maxwell Equations and the Special Relativity, but the Heisenberg Uncertainty Relation, the Wave-Particle Duality and the electron's spin also, building the Bridge between the Classical and Quantum Theories. The Planck Distribution Law of the electromagnetic oscillators explains the electron/proton mass rate and the Weak and Strong Interactions by the diffraction patterns. The Weak Interaction changes the diffraction patterns by moving the electric charge from one side to the other side of the diffraction pattern, which violates the CP and Time reversal symmetry. The diffraction patterns and the locality of the self-maintaining electromagnetic potential explains also the Quantum Entanglement, giving it as a natural part of the Relativistic Quantum Theory and making possible to build the Quantum Computer with the help of Quantum Information.
IoT for the Failure of Climate-Change Mitigation and Adaptation and IIoT as a Future Solution
Authors: Nesma Abd El-Mawla, Mahmoud Badawy, Hesham Arafat
Day after day the world stuck more and more in wars, pollution and so many other risk that threaten the environment. With a population of more than 7.3 billion, the planet suffers from continuous damage from human activity. As a result of these human distortions, climate change is one of the most fatal challenges that face the world. Climate Change won’t be stopped or slowed by a single action, but with the help of too many small contributions from different fields, it will have an impressive impact. Changing to electricity generation, manufacturing, and transportation generate most headlines, but the technology field can also play a critical role. The Internet of Things (IoT) in particular, has the potential to reduce greenhouse emissions and help slow the rise of global temperatures. IoT includes more than super brilliant new gadgets and smart widgets. It also influences the Earth's condition, from its available resources to its climate. In this paper we are showing that technology itself could be the tool will save the world if we take advantage of it. Environmental monitoring is a broad application for the Internet of Things (IoT). It involves everything from watching levels of ozone in a meat packing facility to watching national forests for smoke. These solutions are the first step toward creating a numerous connected infrastructures to support innovative services, better flexibility and efficiency. We also make a spot on Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and its challenges as the future is for it.
Security and Key Management Challenges Over WSN (a Survey)
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have turned to be the backbone of most present-day information technology, which supports the service-oriented architecture in a major activity. Sensor nodes and its restricted and limited resources have been a real challenge because there’s a great engagement with sensor nodes and Internet Of things (IoT). WSN is considered to be the base stone of IoT which has been widely used recently in too many applications like smart cities, industrial internet, connected cars, connected health care systems, smart grids, smart farming and it's widely used in both military and civilian applications now, such as monitoring of ambient conditions related to the environment, precious species and critical infrastructures. Secure communication and data transfer among the nodes are strongly needed due to the use of wireless technologies that are easy to eavesdrop, in order to steal its important information. However, is hard to achieve the desired performance of both WSNs and IoT and many critical issues about sensor networks are still open. The major research areas in WSN is going on hardware, operating system of WSN, localization, synchronization, deployment, architecture, programming models, data aggregation and dissemination, database querying, architecture, middleware, quality of service and security. In This paper we discuss in detail all about Wireless Sensor Networks, its classification, types, topologies, attack models and the nodes and all related issues and complications. We also preview too many challenges about sensor nodes and the proposed solutions till now and we make a spot ongoing research activities and issues that affect security and performance of Wireless Sensor Network as well. Then we discuss what’s meant by security objectives, requirements and threat models. Finally, we make a spot on key management operations, goals, constraints, evaluation metrics, different encryption key types and dynamic key management schemes.
Blockchain Remedy or Poison
Authors: Egger Mielberg
We propose a brief analysis of Blockchain technology. Here we try to show as pluses as minuses of this technology in context of storing, intellectual search, analysis and other functionality that is crucial for Big Data System of any kind. We also share our vision of future development of crypto/digital market.
Tool Boxes with Heavyweight Data
A free, open-source toolkit to help researchers deal with data management overload has been devised by the John Innes Centre Informatics team. [43] A new computer program that spots when information in a quantum computer is escaping to unwanted states will give users of this promising technology the ability to check its reliability without any technical knowledge for the first time. [42] With enhanced understanding of this system, the Quantum Dynamics Unit aims to improve upon the industry standard for qubits – bits of quantum information. [41]
[Dlang+Ragel State Machine Compiler+Colm] Based Design of Embedded Systems & Bio-informatics in the Context of IoT/HPC for Hi-end Computational Environment/s – An Insight into Probing Intelligent Embedded Systems and Intelligent Bio-informatics Framework
Comments: 2 Pages. Short Technical Notes
[Dlang+Ragel State Machine Compiler+Colm] Based Design of Embedded Systems & Bio-informatics in the Context of IoT/HPC for Hi-end Computational Environment/s – An Insight into Probing Intelligent Embedded Systems and Intelligent Bio-informatics Frameworks.
Data Formats and Visual Tools for Forecast Evaluation
Authors: Andrey Davydenko, Cuong Sai, Maxim Shcherbakov
Forecast evaluation is inevitably connected with the need to store actuals and forecasts for further analysis. The issue gets complicated when it comes to handling rolling-origin forecasts calculated for many series over multiple horizons. In designing forecast data formats it is important to provide access to all the variables required for exploratory analysis and performance measurement. We show that existing approaches used to store forecast data are not always applicable for implementing reliable cross validation techniques. Here we propose flexible yet simple data schemas allowing the storage and exchange of actuals, forecasts, and additional variables of interest. We also demonstrate how various forecast evaluation tools can be implemented based on the schemas proposed.
Revisiting Mathematical Formalism Involving [Lp Spaces] in the Context of Microwave Imaging for [medical Applications/cryoelectronmicroscopy] – Using [higher Order Logic(hol)/scala/jvm/jikesrvm/scalalab/lms-Scala Informatics] to Implement [iot/hpc] Compu
Revisiting Mathematical Formalism involving [Lp Spaces] in the Context of Microwave Imaging for [Medical applications/CryoElectronMicroscopy] – Using [Higher Order Logic(HOL)/Scala/JVM/JikesRVM/Scalalab/LMS-Scala Informatics] to Implement [IoT/HPC] Computing Framework/s.
An Insight Into Antlr(antlr)/jedit/netbeans/eclipse/java/jvm/jikesrvm/osgi as Bioinformatics Platform in the Context of Dna/rna Sequencing & Gene Chip Design – a Simple & Interesting Suggestion Towards Interfacing Nano-Bio Systems /iot Hardware & Software
An Insight into ANTLR(antlr)/jEdit/NetBeans/Eclipse/Java/JVM/JikesRVM/OSGi as Bioinformatics Platform in the Context of DNA/RNA Sequencing & Gene Chip Design – A Simple & Interesting Suggestion towards Interfacing Nano-Bio Systems/IoT Hardware & Software/HPC Environments.
An Insight Into Theoretical Analysis of Gene Therapy Using Coq Theorem Prover[ctp] – a Simple Computing Framework on [molecular/bio-Molecular Systems,bio-Informatics + Spectroscopy] to Probe Gene Therapy in the Context of Group Theory.
An Insight into Theoretical Analysis of Gene Therapy using Coq Theorem Prover[CTP] – A Simple Computing Framework on -[Molecular/Bio-molecular Systems,Bio-informatics + Spectroscopy] to Probe Gene Therapy in the context of Group Theory.
Cryptographic Key Generation
Cryptography is often used in information technology security environments to protect sensitive, high-value data that might be compromised during transmission or while in storage. [41] In a step forward for information security for the Internet of Things, a team of researchers has published a new paper in the online edition of Nano Letters in which they have engineered a new type of physically unclonable function (PUF) based on interfacial magnetic anisotropy energy (IAE). [40] Researchers from Linköping University and the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden have proposed a new device concept that can efficiently transfer the information carried by electron spin to light at room temperature-a stepping stone toward future information technology. [39] Now writing in Light Science & Applications, Hamidreza Siampour and co-workers have taken a step forward in the field of integrated quantum plasmonics by demonstrating on-chip coupling between a single photon source and plasmonic waveguide. [38] Researchers at University of Utah Health developed a proof-of-concept technology using nanoparticles that could offer a new approach for oral medications. [37] Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), extremely high resolution imaging of the molecule-covered surface structures of silver nanoparticles is possible, even down to the recognition of individual parts of the molecules protecting the surface. [36] A fiber optic sensing system developed by researchers in China and Canada can peer inside supercapacitors and batteries to observe their state of charge. [35] The idea of using a sound wave in optical fibers initially came from the team's partner researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Joint research projects should follow. [34] Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have constructed a first-of-its-kind optic isolator based on resonance of light waves on a rapidly rotating glass sphere. [33]
Exploring & Examining Cryo-EM Images in the Context of Helical Protein Polymers/Bio-Polymers for Helical Reconstructions Using Ruby Language/Machine Learning/Image Processing/ruby-LLVM Informatics Framework.
Wormhole Attacks as Security Risk in Wireless Sensor Networks and Countermeasures of RPL
Authors: Marco Mühl
Comments: 5 Pages. In German
Security is a big topic for basically every network. Attackers are consistently improving their methods and should always be considered a big threat. Especially in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) it is important to find countermeasures. But often this is a big challenge: Finding the right balance between security, effort, performance and cost is not easy. In this paper it is shown, how the Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) can handle an often used attack on networks: the wormhole attack.
It is Easier to Verify the Solution Than to Find it II
Comments: 12 Pages. Yet in portuguese. The chapter 5 complements the previous article.
Introducing the concepts of variable languages and languages with semantic we presented an original proof of the famous P versus NP problem of Computer Science. This proof don't implies that the NP-complete problems not belongs to P, so the P versus NP-complete problem remains open, as well as it is possible (perhaps) to solve the SAT problem in polynomial time.
Shox96 - Guaranteed Compression for Short Strings
Authors: Arundale R., Charumathi A., Harsha N.
None of the lossless entropy encoding methods so far have addressed compression of small strings of arbitrary lengths. Although it appears inconsequent, space occupied by several independent small strings become significant in memory constrained environments. It is also significant when attempting efficient storage of such small strings in a database where while block compression is most efficient, retrieval efficiency could be improved if the strings are individually compressed. This paper formulates a hybrid encoding method with which small strings could be compressed using context aware static codes resulting in surprisingly good ratios and also be used in constrained environments like Arduino. We also go on to prove that this technique can guarantee compression for any English language sentence of minimum 3 words.
Elastic Blockchain: A Solution for Massive Internet Service Abuse
Authors: Junhao Li
Comments: 2 Pages. Apparently, arxiv moderators do not like ideas which make their own research useless.
Internet service abuse is a significant threat for service providers, internet users, and even national security. In this short article, I present elastic blockchain, an architecture for solving massive internet abuse. For webmasters, elastic blockchain lowers the cost of service abuse prevention and may even benefit from service abuse. For regular users, it provides a more user-friendly way to prove their goodwill than doing Turing tests. For attackers and water armies, it increases their cost of attacks dramatically, so they are less likely to do that.
It is Easier to Verify the Solution Than to Find it
Comments: 10 Pages. Yet in portuguese.
Moea Framework Interaction with Bio-CPP in the Context of Nucleic Acids/polypeptide Bio-Informatics & Computing Towards Using – Java/jvm/jikes Rvm/c++/genetic Algorithms.
Authors: DNT Kumar
Defend Against Cyberattacks
The deluge of cyberattacks sweeping across the world has governments and companies thinking about new ways to protect their digital systems, and the corporate and state secrets stored within. [42] The Pentagon on Friday said there has been a cyber breach of Defense Department travel records that compromised the personal information and credit card data of U.S. military and civilian personnel. [41] Quantum secure direct communication transmits secret information directly without encryption. [40]
Computation, Complexity, and P!=NP Proof
Authors: Hugh Wang
If we refer to a string for Turing machines as a guess and a rejectable substring a flaw, then all algorithms reject similarly flawed guesses flaw by flaw until they chance on an unflawed guess, settle with a flawed guess, or return the unflawed guesses. Deterministic algorithms therefore must identify all flaws before guessing flawlessly in the worst case. Time complexity is then bounded below by the order of the product of the least number of flaws to cover all flawed guesses and the least time to identify a flaw. Since there exists $3$-SAT problems with an exponential number of flaws, $3$-SAT is not in $\mathbf{P}$, and therefore $\mathbf{P}\neq\mathbf{NP}$.
Protein Folding Mechanisms – An Introduction & Novel Suggestion based on Dijkstra’s Algorithm.
Authors: DNTKumar
An Interesting Insight & Interaction of Q*cert With BaseX Data Base System in the Context of BIG-DATA Based on - HighVolume Data Querying,Informatics & Computing.
An Interesting Insight & Interaction of Q*cert With BaseX Data Base System in the Context of BIG-DATA Based on - High Volume Data Querying,Informatics & Computing.
Stock Market Prediction for Algorithmic Trading of Indian Nse Stocks Using Machine Learning Techniques & Predictive Analytics: an Excel Based Automated Application Integrating Vba with R and D3.JS
Authors: Chandrima Chowdhury
In this project, an Excel based automated tool has been developed which extensively uses D3.Js, R, Excel VBA and Phantom JS to provide an integrated application that automatically fetches the data from the web and develops models, creates interactive hovering data label D3 charts on excel and also tests the accuracy of the predictions just at the click of a button. Though the models are very basic, the automation mechanism is effective and can be used by people who still want to rely on basic excel apps for stock data analytics. A demo of the tool is available here: https://youtu.be/VBx7Ik6aw7c
Q*cert – CoqTheoremProver[CTP]/OCaml as Bio-informatics Platform in the Context of Understanding Protein Folding Mechanisms
Authors: D.N.T.Kumar
Q*cert – CoqTheoremProver[CTP]/OCaml as Bio-informatics Platform in the Context of Understanding Protein Folding Mechanisms Based on General Purpose Libraries – A Simple Interesting Insight Into the Promising, Challenging & Interesting World of Protein Engineering and Applications.
Using Topology to Understand Protein Folding Mechanisms – An Approximate and Simple Suggestion in the Context of HOL/Scala/Java/JikesRVM/JVM.
Using Topology to Understand Protein Folding Mechanisms – An Approximate and Simple Suggestion in the Context of HOL/Scala/Java/JikesRVM/JVM. [HOL – Higher Order Logic]
Algorithm for Evaluating Bivariate Kolmogorov Statistics in O(n Log N) Time.
Authors: Krystian Zawistowski
We propose an O(n log n) algorithm for evaluation of bivariate Kolmogorov- Smirnov statistics for n samples which. It offers few orders of magnitude of speedup over existing implementations for n > 105 samples of input. The algorithm is based on static Binary Search Trees and sweep algorithm. We share C++ implementation with Python bindings.
Fourth Edition: Complex and Quaternion Optimization
Authors: Yuly Shipilevsky
We introduce and suggest to research a special class of optimiz- ation problems, wherein an objective function is a real-valued complex vari- ables function under constraints, comprising complex-valued complex vari- ables functions: "Complex Optimization" or "Complex Programming". We demonstrate multiple examples to show a rich variety of problems, d- escribing complex optimization as an optimization subclass as well as a Mi- xed-Real-Integer Complex Optimization. Next, we introduce more general concept "Quaternionic Optimization" for optimization over quaternion subsets
Real-Time Scheduling Approach for IoT Based Home Automation System
Authors: Rishab Bhattacharyya, Aditya Das, Atanu Majumdar, Pramit Ghosh
Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most disruptive technologies now- adays which can efficiently connect, control and manage intelligent objects those are connected to the Internet. IoT based applications like smart education, smart agriculture, smart health-care, smart homes etc which can deliver services with- out manual intervention and in a more effective manner. In this work, we have proposed a IoT based smart home automation system using a micro-controller based Arduino board and mobile based Short Message service (SMS) application working functionality. Wi connectivity has been used to establish the communi- cation between the Arduino module and automated home appliances. We have proposed a real-time scheduling strategy that offers a novel communication pro- tocol to control the home environment with the switching functionality. Our sim- ulation results show that the proposed strategy is quite capable to achieve high performance with different simulation scenarios.
Surprising Power of Small Data
The power of the method Bayati and his colleagues outline is that it can be used to pursue multiple goals at once. [37] Using micromagnetic simulation, scientists have found the magnetic parameters and operating modes for the experimental implementation of a fast racetrack memory module that runs on spin current, carrying information via skyrmionium, which can store more data and read it out faster. [36] Scientists at the RDECOM Research Laboratory, the Army's corporate research laboratory (ARL) have found a novel way to safeguard quantum information during transmission, opening the door for more secure and reliable communication for warfighters on the battlefield. [35] Encrypted quantum keys have been sent across a record-breaking 421 km of optical fibre at the fastest data rate ever achieved for long-distance transmission. [34] The companies constructed an application for data transmission via optical fiber lines, which when combined with high-speed quantum cryptography communications technologies demonstrated practical key distribution speeds even in a real-world environment. [33] Nanosized magnetic particles called skyrmions are considered highly promising candidates for new data storage and information technologies. [32] They do this by using "excitons," electrically neutral quasiparticles that exist in insulators, semiconductors and in some liquids. [31] Researchers at ETH Zurich have now developed a method that makes it possible to couple such a spin qubit strongly to microwave photons. [30] Quantum dots that emit entangled photon pairs on demand could be used in quantum communication networks. [29] Researchers successfully integrated the systems—donor atoms and quantum dots. [28] A team of researchers including U of A engineering and physics faculty has developed a new method of detecting single photons, or light particles, using quantum dots. [27] Recent research from Kumamoto University in Japan has revealed that polyoxometalates (POMs), typically used for catalysis, electrochemistry, and photochemistry, may also be used in a technique for analyzing quantum dot (QD) photoluminescence (PL) emission mechanisms. [26]
A New Approach in Content-Based Image Retrieval Neutrosophic Domain
Authors: A. A. Salama, Mohamed Eisa, Hewayda ElGhawalby, A. E. Fawzy
Theaimofthischapteristopresenttexturefeaturesforimagesembedded in the neutrosophic domain with Hesitancy degree. Hesitancy degree is the fourth component of neutrosophic sets. The goal is to extract a set of features to represent the content of each image in the training database to be used for the purpose of retrieving images from the database similar to the image under consideration.
Third Edition: Complex Programming
We introduce and suggest to research a special class of optimization problems, wherein an objective function is a real-valued complex variables function and constraints comprising complex-valued complex variables functions
Proof of P = NP
Authors: Young TAB-LO
Cyber Breach of Travel Records
The Pentagon on Friday said there has been a cyber breach of Defense Department travel records that compromised the personal information and credit card data of U.S. military and civilian personnel. [41] Quantum secure direct communication transmits secret information directly without encryption. [40] Physicists at The City College of New York have used atomically thin two-dimensional materials to realize an array of quantum emitters operating at room temperature that can be integrated into next generation quantum communication systems. [39] Research in the quantum optics lab of Prof. Barak Dayan in the Weizmann Institute of Science may be bringing the development of such computers one step closer by providing the "quantum gates" that are required for communication within and between such quantum computers. [38] Calculations of a quantum system's behavior can spiral out of control when they involve more than a handful of particles. [37] Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have reached a new milestone on the way to optical computing, or the use of light instead of electricity for computing. [36] The key technical novelty of this work is the creation of semantic embeddings out of structured event data. [35] The researchers have focussed on a complex quantum property known as entanglement, which is a vital ingredient in the quest to protect sensitive data. [34] Cryptography is a science of data encryption providing its confidentiality and integrity. [33] Researchers at the University of Sheffield have solved a key puzzle in quantum physics that could help to make data transfer totally secure. [32]
Refutation of Optimization as Complex Programming
Comments: 1 Page. © Copyright 2018 by Colin James III All rights reserved. Respond to the author by email at: info@ersatz-systems dot com.
The optimization paradigm is not tautologous, hence refuting complex programming as that paradigm as a new class.
Developing a New Cryptic Communication Protocol by Quantum Tunnelling over Classic Computer Logic
Authors: Mesut Kavak
I have been working for a time about basic laws of directing the universe [1,2]. It seems that the most basic and impressive principle which causes any physical phenomenon is the Uncertainty Principle of Heisenberg [3], that existence have any property because of the uncertainty. During this process, while I was thinking about conservation of information I noticed, that information cannot be lost; but at a point, it becomes completely unrecognizable according to us as there is no alternative. Any information and the information searched for become the same after a point relatively to us. The sensitivity increases forever but its loss. Each sensitivity level also has higher level; so actually an absolute protection seems possible.
Second Edition: Complex Programming
We introduce and suggest to research a special class of optimization problems, wherein an objective function is a real-valued complex variables function and constraints comprising complex-valued complex variables functions.
Complex Programming
Computational Technology Streamlines
Workflow management systems allow users to prepare, produce and analyze scientific processes to help simplify complex simulations. [27] Now, a team of A*STAR researchers and colleagues has developed a detector that can successfully pick out where human actions will occur in videos, in almost real-time. [26] A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Germany and the U.S. has developed a deep learning algorithm that can be used for motion capture of animals of any kind. [25] In 2016, when we inaugurated our new IBM Research lab in Johannesburg, we took on this challenge and are reporting our first promising results at Health Day at the KDD Data Science Conference in London this month. [24] The research group took advantage of a system at SLAC's Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) that combines machine learning—a form of artificial intelligence where computer algorithms glean knowledge from enormous amounts of data—with experiments that quickly make and screen hundreds of sample materials at a time. [23] Researchers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have demonstrated that deep learning, a powerful form of artificial intelligence, can discern and enhance microscopic details in photos taken by smartphones. [22] Such are the big questions behind one of the new projects underway at the MIT-IBM Watson AI Laboratory, a collaboration for research on the frontiers of artificial intelligence. [21] The possibility of cognitive nuclear-spin processing came to Fisher in part through studies performed in the 1980s that reported a remarkable lithium isotope dependence on the behavior of mother rats. [20] And as will be presented today at the 25th annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS), cognitive neuroscientists increasingly are using those emerging artificial networks to enhance their understanding of one of the most elusive intelligence systems, the human brain. [19] U.S. Army Research Laboratory scientists have discovered a way to leverage emerging brain-like computer architectures for an age-old number-theoretic problem known as integer factorization. [18]
Fourth Edition: Final Results on P vs NP Via Integer Factorization and Optimization
We develop two different polynomial-time integer factorization algorithms. We reduce integer factorization problem to equivalent problem of minimizing a quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients over the integer points in a quadratically constrained two-dimensional region. Next, we reduce those minimization problem to the polynomial-time minimizing a quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients over the integer points in a special two-dimensional rational polyhedron. Next, we reduce integer factorization problem to the problem of enumeration of vertices of integer hull of a special two-dimensional rational polyhedron, solvable in time polynomial by Hartmann's algorithm. Finally, as we show that there exists an NP-hard minimization problem, equivalent to the original minimization problem, we conclude that P = NP.
A Note on Rank Constrained Solutions to Linear Matrix Equations
Authors: Shravan Mohan
This preliminary note presents a heuristic for determining rank constrained solutions to linear matrix equations (LME). The method proposed here is based on minimizing a non- convex quadratic functional, which will hence-forth be termed as the Low-Rank-Functional (LRF). Although this method lacks a formal proof/comprehensive analysis, for example in terms of a probabilistic guarantee for converging to a solution, the proposed idea is intuitive and has been seen to perform well in simulations. To that end, many numerical examples are provided to corroborate the idea.
Fun with Octonions in C++
Authors: John R. Berryhill
Comments: 6 Pages. License Creative Commons 4.0
Historically as well as mathematically, the octonions were derived from the quaternions, and the quaternions from the complex numbers. A proper C++ implementation of these numerical types should reflect these relationships. This brief note describes how the author's previously published C++ Quaternion class serves as the natural foundation for a C++ Octonion class.
En:primes in Arithmetic Progression#largest Known Primes in ap
Authors: Terence Chi-Shen Tao
According to the Green-Tao theorem that a small number of sequences contains an isoquant sequence of arbitrary length The isometric sequence is infinite And in such a structure, p = np
Generalized Integer Sort
Authors: 문예강
In this article, Describe about an integer sorting algorithm that is better than radix sort and more general than counting sort. It works like quick sort in worst case.
Recursive Data Compression Method
Authors: John Archie Gillis
Recursive compression of random data is generally deemed to be an impossible process that defies the laws of physics (Shannon Entropy). This paper explains why this perception is incorrect and provides a proof that explains how such a compression system may be achieved. The practicality of the method has yet to be determined.
P=NP Methods of Organizing Data
The present methods take a novel approach to solving NP-Complete problems and provide steps that a computational device and software program can follow to accurately solve NP-class problems without the use of heuristics or brute force methods.
Biconch Chain: A New Distributed Web Protocol Based on an Innovative Proof of Reputation (PoR) Consensus Algorithm and Eco System
Authors: Caesar Chad, Neo Liu, Leon Lau, Joseph Sadove
BITCONCH chain proposed an innovative POR (Proof Of Reputation) reputation consensus algorithm, which solved the pain point that the blockchain is difficult to maintain both high throughput and decentralization. Based on social graphs, BITCONCH Chain mathematically models social, time, and contribution activities to build a decentralized reputation system. Each user has the opportunity to establish a high reputation value. The higher the user's reputation, the lower the transaction cost (or even free). The more opportunities that are selected as trust nodes to participate in the consensus, the greater the benefits. High-reputation users are defined as “mutual trust nodes”, and small micro-transactions will start “payment channels” for high-speed offline transactions. The reputation system and system incentive system will effectively promote the continued enthusiasm of business developers and ordinary users, and contribute to the construction of the business ecosystem. Business developers with traffic are more likely to get high reputation values, and the chances of being elected to a trusted full node are higher. Ordinary users can increase reputation by actively engaging in social interactions and actively using business applications in the ecosystem, increasing the chances of being selected as trusted light nodes. The Bitconch chain uses a DAG directed acyclic graph data structure to maintain the system's positive scalability. Support smartphone light node client to resist the decentralization of the system and maintain dispersion. Zero-knowledge verification, latticed data storage, quantum-level encryption algorithms, and improved BVM virtual machines make Bitconch chain more reliable and provide a friendly DApp and sidechain development environment to meet certain applications. Technical requirements for large file storage, low transaction costs, user information protection, sidechain and smart contract iterations, and bug fixes. BITCONCH chain is a decentralized distributed network with no block and no chain, which solves two difficulties in the application of blockchain: scalability and decentralization. Bitconch chain, which can be applied to the commercial application needs of users above 10 million, is the most feasible blockchain ecosystem for high-frequency small micro-transactions and social applications.
Algorithm to Improve Information Security
Cryptography is a science of data encryption providing its confidentiality and integrity. [33] Researchers at the University of Sheffield have solved a key puzzle in quantum physics that could help to make data transfer totally secure. [32] "The realization of such all-optical single-photon devices will be a large step towards deterministic multi-mode entanglement generation as well as high-fidelity photonic quantum gates that are crucial for all-optical quantum information processing," says Tanji-Suzuki. [31] Researchers at ETH have now used attosecond laser pulses to measure the time evolution of this effect in molecules. [30] A new benchmark quantum chemical calculation of C2, Si2, and their hydrides reveals a qualitative difference in the topologies of core electron orbitals of organic molecules and their silicon analogues. [29] A University of Central Florida team has designed a nanostructured optical sensor that for the first time can efficiently detect molecular chirality—a property of molecular spatial twist that defines its biochemical properties. [28] UCLA scientists and engineers have developed a new process for assembling semiconductor devices. [27] A new experiment that tests the limit of how large an object can be before it ceases to behave quantum mechanically has been proposed by physicists in the UK and India. [26] Phonons are discrete units of vibrational energy predicted by quantum mechanics that correspond to collective oscillations of atoms inside a molecule or a crystal. [25] This achievement is considered as an important landmark for the realization of practical application of photon upconversion technology. [24]
A Heuristic Algorithm for the Solution of SAT in Polynomial Time
Comments: 40 Pages. Meu trabalho de Métodos em Pesquisa Operacional (PM015), IMECC-UNICAMP.
Usando um novo conceito de linguagem variável, já provei anteriormente que P≠NP, mas tal prova não utilizou nenhum dos problemas clássicos conhecidos como NP-completos, a exemplo de SAT (satisfatibilidade, satisfiability), caixeiro-viajante (travelling-salesman), soma de subconjuntos (subset-sum), da mochila (knapsack), programação linear inteira (integer linear programming), etc. Tal prova não implica que sendo P≠NP então devemos ter NP-completo ∉P, ou seja, os mencionados famosos problemas difíceis podem ainda ser resolvidos em tempo polinomial, sem precisar encerrar a pesquisa nesta direção. Tal como ocorre com o método simplex, que pode resolver em tempo polinomial a grande maioria dos problemas de programação linear, também é possível resolver SAT em tempo polinomial na maioria das vezes, que é o que eu mostro neste trabalho.
P ≠ NP
Authors: Robert DiGregorio
A problem exists that’s hard to solve but easy to verify a solution for.
Third Edition: Final Results on P vs NP Via Integer Factorization and Optimization
We reduce integer factorization problem to the equivalent problem of minimizing a quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients over the integer points in a quadratically constrained two-dimensional region. Next, we reduce integer factorization problem to the problem of enumeration of vertices of integer hull of a special two-dimensional rational polyhedron, solvable in time polynomial by Hartmann's algorithm. Finally, as we show that there exists an NP-hard minimization problem, equivalent to the original minimization problem, we conclude that P = NP.
Nano-Soa a Powerful Alternative and Complementary of Soa
Authors: Bai Yang
SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) and micro SOA (Micro Service) have the advantages of high cohesion and low coupling, but at the same time they also bring complicated implementation, maintenance, high network load, and weak consistency. At the same time, they also increase product development and operation costs. This article attempts to use an improved approach by a kind of plug-in isolation mechanism that avoids the above issues as much as possible while preserving the benefits of SOA. In addition, this paper also proposes a new strong consistent distributed coordination algorithm for improving the low performance and high overhead (at least three network broadcasts and multiple disk I/O requests per request) problem of existing Paxos/Raft algorithms. This algorithm, at the expense of data reliability, completely eliminates the above overhead and provides the same level of strong agreement and high availability guarantees as the Paxos/Raft algorithm.
A Study on the Design Method of a Wholeness Management System Based on Integrated Management of Data Centers
Authors: IlNam Ri, SongIl Choe, Hun Kim
In recent years, with the rapid development of cloud computing and IoT, the demand for big data has increased and the need for large data center and enterprise data center has been actively promoted. (1,3) In this paper, a system design method that integrates and manages various information systems in the data centers of enterprise units is dealt with. Since the production facilities of medium-scale units are managed by various detention facilities and control devices, an integrated monitoring system should be established to manage them collectively. (2) Therefore, the paper suggests a standard design for proposing an integrated model face-to-face configuration of various facilities to be managed in enterprise units and an integrated monitoring system for environmental facilities, do. And we try to evaluate the effectiveness of the system by analyzing the failure information transmission time of the integrated monitoring system.
One Way of Using Ajax Components to Realize Asynchronous Communication in Web Service
Ajax (Asynchronos Javascript And XML), one of the world's most widely used Web 2.0 technologies, is devoid of the traditional Web page approach.(1) This technology is becoming an indispensable element in Web apps as it supports asynchronous communication that allows the user to proceed with the conversation.(3,4) Today 's reality is getting closer to the virtual reality by the dissemination of intelligent devices, the new Internet of Things, cloud computing and the development of information society. In the field of business services, we also need to improve the size and service quality of our web apps, and Ajax technology is constantly expanding.(5) In the fields of stocks, finance, auctions, etc. that deal with large-scale, real-time data, it is important for business service providers to transmit information to users as soon as possible. This Paper describes one way of using Ajax components to realize asynchronous communication of Web service providers on the Internet. Ajax components consist of an Ajax core that supports Epoll and an Ajax library that supports asynchronous communication, and provides an application interface to define and implement various push functions.(2)Web service applications developed using Ajax components can provide various push services by using asynchronous communication with client by using Epoll method.
Human Brain in a Computer
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt have now shown how the new model can be used to investigate multiple properties in parallel. [28] Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are conducting fundamental physics research that will lead to more control over mercurial quantum systems and materials. [27] Physicists in Italy have designed a " quantum battery " that they say could be built using today's solid-state technology. [26] Researches of scientists from South Ural State University are implemented within this area. [25] Following three years of extensive research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) physicist Dr. Uriel Levy and his team have created technology that will enable computers and all optic communication devices to run 100 times faster through terahertz microchips. [24] When the energy efficiency of electronics poses a challenge, magnetic materials may have a solution. [23] An exotic state of matter that is dazzling scientists with its electrical properties, can also exhibit unusual optical properties, as shown in a theoretical study by researchers at A*STAR. [22] The breakthrough was made in the lab of Andrea Alù, director of the ASRC's Photonics Initiative. Alù and his colleagues from The City College of New York, University of Texas at Austin and Tel Aviv University were inspired by the seminal work of three British researchers who won the 2016 Noble Prize in Physics for their work, which teased out that particular properties of matter (such as electrical conductivity) can be preserved in certain materials despite continuous changes in the matter's form or shape. [21] Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new technology for switching heat flows 'on' or 'off'. [20] Thermoelectric materials can use thermal differences to generate electricity. Now there is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way of producing them with the simplest tools: a pencil, photocopy paper, and conductive paint. [19] A team of researchers with the University of California and SRI International has developed a new type of cooling device that is both portable and efficient. [18]
Second Edition: Final Results on P vs NP Via Integer Factorization and Optimization
Two-Factor Authentication Vulnerabilities
Authors: Stefan Ćertić
Comments: 14 Pages. Keywords: internet, 2FA, data security, attacks, breaches.
Corporative giants of the internet, such as Google, Facebook, Various Banks have being using the two-factor authentication technique to ensure security to its users. Although, this companies don’t make this kind operations by themselves, they hire third part companies to do so, integrating the API products for onwards delivery. Because of this, technique have serious breaches that can be explored by a ill-intentioned company. The third part companies stays between the client and the website being in a privileged place to attack any unsuspecting victim.
A Novel Architecture for Cloud Task Scheduling Based on Improved Symbiotic Organisms Search
Authors: Song−Il Choe, Il−Nam Li, Chang−Su Paek, Jun−Hyok Choe, Su−Bom Yun
Abstract-Task scheduling is one of the most challenging aspects in cloud computing nowadays, which plays an important role to improve the overall performance and services of the cloud such as response time, cost, makespan, throughput etc. Recently, a cloud task scheduling algorithm based on the Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) not only have fewer specific parameters, but also take a little time complexity. Symbiotic Organism Search (SOS) is a newly developed metaheuristic optimization technique for solving numerical optimization problems. In this paper, the basic SOS algorithm is reduced and a chaotic local search(CLS) is integrated into the reduced SOS to improve the convergence rate of the basic SOS algorithm. Also, Simulated Annealing (SA) is combined in order to asist the SOS in avoiding being trapped into local minimum. The performance of the proposed SA-CLS-SOS algorithm is evaluated by extensive simulation using MATLAB simulation framework and compared with SOS, SA-SOS and CLS-SOS. Results of simulation showed that improved hybrid SOS performs better than SOS, SA-SOS and CLS-SOS in terms of convergence speed and makespan time.
Researchers have discovered that input-output maps, which are widely used throughout science and engineering to model systems ranging from physics to finance, are strongly biased toward producing simple outputs. [38] A QEG team has provided unprecedented visibility into the spread of information in large quantum mechanical systems, via a novel measurement methodology and metric described in a new article in Physics Review Letters. [37] Researchers from Würzburg and London have succeeded in controlling the coupling of light and matter at room temperature. [36] Researchers have, for the first time, integrated two technologies widely used in applications such as optical communications, bio-imaging and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems that scan the surroundings of self-driving cars and trucks. [35] The unique platform, which is referred as a 4-D microscope, combines the sensitivity and high time-resolution of phase imaging with the specificity and high spatial resolution of fluorescence microscopy. [34] The experiment relied on a soliton frequency comb generated in a chip-based optical microresonator made from silicon nitride. [33] This scientific achievement toward more precise control and monitoring of light is highly interesting for miniaturizing optical devices for sensing and signal processing. [32] It may seem like such optical behavior would require bending the rules of physics, but in fact, scientists at MIT, Harvard University, and elsewhere have now demonstrated that photons can indeed be made to interact-an accomplishment that could open a path toward using photons in quantum computing, if not in light sabers. [31] Optical highways for light are at the heart of modern communications. But when it comes to guiding individual blips of light called photons, reliable transit is far less common. [30] Theoretical physicists propose to use negative interference to control heat flow in quantum devices. [29] Particle physicists are studying ways to harness the power of the quantum realm to further their research. [28]
P ≠ NP Using the Power Key, a Proof by Logical Contradiction
Using a new technique called the power key, it’s possible to imply P ≠ NP using a proof by logical contradiction.
A Proof the P != NP
Authors: Nicolas Bourbaki, Jr
We prove that P != NP using a simple and elegant method.
R-Sport, czyli System Rozgrywek Sportowych (in Polish)
Authors: Szostek Roman
Comments: 24 Pages. New system (algorithm) settlement of sports competitions called R-Sport (in Polish).
Celem rozgrywek sportowych jest wyłonienie spośród grupy drużyn, bądź zawodników, drużyny najlepszej, czyli mistrza. Dlatego pomiędzy poszczególnymi drużynami muszą zostać rozegrane mecze. O tym, kto zostanie mistrzem decydują wyniki wszystkich spotkań. Zasady obowiązujące w trakcie sezonu tworzą System Rozgrywek Sportowych. W dokumencie tym został opisany nowy System Rozgrywek Sportowych. System ten pozwala na sprawiedliwe i efektywne wyłonienie zwycięzcy całego sezonu. Posiada on zalety, których nie posiadają inne, znane i stosowane obecnie Systemy Rozgrywek Sportowych. R-Sport jest Systemem Rozgrywek Sportowych, który pozwala przeprowadzić rozgrywki ligowe na wiele sposobów.
A Solution to P vs NP
Authors: Bebereche Bogdan-Ionut
Secure Data in the Cloud
As cloud storage becomes more common, data security is an increasing concern. [34] Scientists of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Russia) have proposed a scheme for optical encoding of information based on the formation of wave fronts, and which works with spatially incoherent illumination. [33] A joint China-Austria team has performed quantum key distribution between the quantum-science satellite Micius and multiple ground stations located in Xinglong (near Beijing), Nanshan (near Urumqi), and Graz (near Vienna). [32] In the race to build a computer that mimics the massive computational power of the human brain, researchers are increasingly turning to memristors, which can vary their electrical resistance based on the memory of past activity. [31] Engineers worldwide have been developing alternative ways to provide greater memory storage capacity on even smaller computer chips. Previous research into two-dimensional atomic sheets for memory storage has failed to uncover their potential— until now. [30] Scientists used spiraling X-rays at the Lab) to observe, for the first time, a property that gives handedness to swirling electric patterns – dubbed polar vortices – in a synthetically layered material. [28] To build tomorrow's quantum computers, some researchers are turning to dark excitons, which are bound pairs of an electron and the absence of an electron called a hole. [27] Concerning the development of quantum memories for the realization of global quantum networks, scientists of the Quantum Dynamics Division led by Professor Gerhard Rempe at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) have now achieved a major breakthrough: they demonstrated the long-lived storage of a photonic qubit on a single atom trapped in an optical resonator. [26] Achieving strong light-matter interaction at the quantum level has always been a central task in quantum physics since the emergence of quantum information and quantum control. [25]
Thinking Machine Algorithms
Behind every self-driving car, self-learning robot and smart building hides a variety of advanced algorithms that control learning and decision making. [17] Quantum computers can be made to utilize effects such as quantum coherence and entanglement to accelerate machine learning. [16] Neural networks learn how to carry out certain tasks by analyzing large amounts of data displayed to them. [15] Who is the better experimentalist, a human or a robot? When it comes to exploring synthetic and crystallization conditions for inorganic gigantic molecules, actively learning machines are clearly ahead, as demonstrated by British Scientists in an experiment with polyoxometalates published in the journal Angewandte Chemie. [14] Machine learning algorithms are designed to improve as they encounter more data, making them a versatile technology for understanding large sets of photos such as those accessible from Google Images. Elizabeth Holm, professor of materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, is leveraging this technology to better understand the enormous number of research images accumulated in the field of materials science. [13] With the help of artificial intelligence, chemists from the University of Basel in Switzerland have computed the characteristics of about two million crystals made up of four chemical elements. The researchers were able to identify 90 previously unknown thermodynamically stable crystals that can be regarded as new materials. [12] The artificial intelligence system's ability to set itself up quickly every morning and compensate for any overnight fluctuations would make this fragile technology much more useful for field measurements, said co-lead researcher Dr Michael Hush from UNSW ADFA. [11] Quantum physicist Mario Krenn and his colleagues in the group of Anton Zeilinger from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Vienna and the Austrian Academy of Sciences have developed an algorithm which designs new useful quantum experiments. As the computer does not rely on human intuition, it finds novel unfamiliar solutions. [10] Researchers at the University of Chicago's Institute for Molecular Engineering and the University of Konstanz have demonstrated the ability to generate a quantum logic operation, or rotation of the qubit, that-surprisingly—is intrinsically resilient to noise as well as to variations in the strength or duration of the control. Their achievement is based on a geometric concept known as the Berry phase and is implemented through entirely optical means within a single electronic spin in diamond. [9]
A Note On Deutsch-Jozsa Algorithm
Authors: Zhengjun Cao, Jeffrey Uhlmann, Lihua Liu
We remark that Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm has confused two unitary transformations: one is performed on a pure state, the other is performed on a superposition. In the past decades, no constructive specifications on the essential unitary operator performed on the superposition have been found. We think the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm needs more constructive specifications so as to check its correctness.
Replacements of recent Submissions
[122] viXra:1908.0630 [pdf] replaced on 2019-10-05 11:23:08
Comments: 42 Pages. Version 1 is missing a case in the theorem. Version 2 is complete.
Proof of Participation Protocol
We present an innovative approach to the design of a decentralized asynchronous protocol that will, first, let business of any kind realize any project that can be formalized on a “step-by-step” basis, second, allow its users to completely solve Byzantine problem with one or many contracts-related associative networks (subnetwork), third, allow business to design if needed, a strictly economy-based model that can be stable for a long period of time. The innovative approach is totally based on the technology of Smart Transaction [1]. The protocol is mainly focused on a practical realization of economical business contracts of any kind.
A New Algebraic Approach to the Graph Isomorphism and Clique Problems
Authors: Roman Galay
Comments: 14 Pages. roman.galay.2019@gmail.com
As it follows from Gödel's incompleteness theorems, any consistent formal system of axioms and rules of inference should imply a true unprovable statement. Actually this fundamental principle can be efficiently applicable in Computational Mathematics and Complexity Theory concerning the computational complexity of problems from the class NP, particularly and especially the NP-complete ones. While there is a wide set of algorithms for these problems that we call heuristic, the correctness or/and complexity of each concrete algorithm (or the probability of its correct and polynomial-time work) on a class of instances is often too difficult to determine, although we may also assume the existence of a variety of algorithms for NP-complete problems that are both correct and polynomial-time on all the instances from a given class (where the given problem remains NP-complete), but whose correctness or/and polynomial-time complexity on the class is impossible to prove as an example for Gödel's theorems. However, supposedly such algorithms should possess a certain complicatedness of processing the input data and treat it in a certain algebraically “entangled” manner. The same algorithmic analysis in fact concerns all the other significant problems and subclasses of NP, such as the graph isomorphism problem and its associated complexity class GI. The following short article offers a couple of algebraically entangled polynomial-time algorithms for the graph isomorphism and clique problems whose correctness is yet to be determined either empirically or through attempting to find proofs. Besides, the paper contains a description of an equation system for elements of a set of groups (which can also be interpreted as an algebraic equation system) that can be polynomial-time reduced to a graph isomorphism problem and, in the same time, is a non-linear extension of a system of modular linear equations where each equation has its own modulus (hence implying the question whether it’s NP-complete).
Comments: 12 Pages. The following short article offers a couple of algebraically entangled polynomial-time algorithms for the graph isomorphism and clique problems whose correctness is yet to be determined either empirically or through attempting to find proofs.
As it follows from Gödel's incompleteness theorems, any consistent formal system of axioms and rules of inference should imply a true unprovable statement. Actually this fundamental principle can be efficiently applicable in Computational Mathematics and Complexity Theory concerning the computational complexity of problems from the class NP, particularly and especially the NP-complete ones. While there is a wide set of algorithms for these problems that we call heuristic, the correctness or/and complexity of each concrete algorithm (or the probability of its correct and polynomial-time work) on a class of instances is often too difficult to determine, although we may also assume the existence of a variety of algorithms for NP-complete problems that are both correct and polynomial-time on all the instances from a given class (where the given problem remains NP-complete), but whose correctness or/and polynomial-time complexity on the class is impossible to prove as an example for Gödel's theorems. However, supposedly such algorithms should possess a certain complicatedness of processing the input data and treat it in a certain algebraically “entangled” manner. The same algorithmic analysis in fact concerns all the other significant problems and subclasses of NP, such as the graph isomorphism problem and its associated complexity class GI. The following short article offers a couple of algebraically entangled polynomial-time algorithms for the graph isomorphism and clique problems whose correctness is yet to be determined either empirically or through attempting to find proofs.
It is Easier to Verify the Solution Than to Find it - II
Introducing the concepts of variable languages and languages with semantic we presented original proofs of the famous P versus NP problem of Computer Science. These proofs don't implies that the NP-complete problems not belongs to P, so the P versus NP-complete problem remains open, as well as it is possible (perhaps) to solve the SAT problem in polynomial time.
It is Easier to Verify the Solution Than to Find it - I
If we refer to a string for Turing machines as a guess and a rejectable substring a flaw, then all algorithms reject similarly flawed guesses flaw by flaw until they chance on an unflawed guess, settle with a flawed guess, or return the unflawed guesses. Deterministic algorithms therefore must identify all flaws before guessing flawlessly in the worst case. Time complexity is then bounded below by the order of the product of the least number of flaws to cover all flawed guesses and the least time to identify a flaw. Since there exists 3-SAT problems with an exponential number of flaws, 3-SAT is not in P, and therefore P!=NP.
Autopilot to Maintain Movement of a Drone in a Vertical Plane at a Constant Height in the Presence of Vision-Based Navigation
Authors: Shiran Avasker, Alexander Domoshnitsky, Max Kogan, Oleg Kupervaser, Hennadii Kutomanov, Yonatan Rofsov, Roman Yavich
In this report we describe correct operation of autopilot for supply correct drone flight. There exists noticeable delay in getting information about position and orientation of a drone to autopilot in the presence of vision-based navigation. In spite of this fact, we demonstrate that it is possible to provide stable flight at a constant height in a vertical plane. We describe how to form relevant controlling signal for autopilot in the case of the navigation information delay and provide control parameters for particular case of flight.
Comments: 6 Pages. fixed some typos
We propose an O(n log n) algorithm for evaluation of bivariate Kolmogorov- Smirnov statistics (n is number of samples). It offers few orders of magnitude of speedup over existing implementations for n > 100k samples of input. The algorithm is based on static Binary Search Trees and sweep algorithm. We share C++ implementation with Python bindings.
Comments: 6 Pages. fixed typos in abstract.
P ≠ co-NP
Comments: 2 Pages. fix typos and clarify
We prove that class P ≠ class co-NP.
Comments: 40 Pages. A primeira versão deste artigo foi meu trabalho de Métodos em Pesquisa Operacional (PM015), IMECC-UNICAMP.
Usando um novo conceito de linguagem variável, já provei anteriormente que P ≠ NP, mas tal prova não utilizou nenhum dos problemas clássicos conhecidos como NP-completos, a exemplo de SAT (satisfatibilidade, satisfiability), caixeiro-viajante (travelling-salesman), soma de subconjunto (subset-sum), da mochila (knapsack), programação linear inteira (integer linear programming), etc. Tal prova não implica que sendo P ≠ NP então devemos ter NP-completo ∉ P, ou seja, os mencionados famosos problemas difíceis podem ainda ser resolvidos em tempo polinomial, sem precisar encerrar a pesquisa nesta direção. Tal como ocorre com o método simplex, que pode resolver em tempo polinomial a grande maioria dos problemas de programação linear, também é possível resolver SAT em tempo polinomial na maioria das vezes, que é o que eu mostro neste trabalho.
[99] viXra:1802.0337 [pdf] replaced on 2018-03-02 02:39:44
Proof that P ≠ NP
Using sorting keys, we prove that P ≠ NP.
Using a new tool called a “sorting key” it’s possible to imply that P ≠ NP.
Efficient Implementation of Gaussian Elimination in Derivative-Free REML, or How not to Apply the QR Algorithm
Authors: Stephen P. Smith, Karin Meyer, Bruce Tier
A QR algorithm was designed using sparse matrix techniques for likelihood evaluation in REML. The efficiency of the algorithm depends on how the order of columns in the mixed model array are arranged. Three heuristic orderings were considered. The QR algorithm was tested successfully in likelihood evaluation, but vector processing was needed to finish the procedure because of excess fill-ins. The improvements made for the QR algorithm also applied to the competing absorption approach, and hence absorption was found to be more competitive than the QR algorithm in terms of computing time and memory requirements. Absorption was made 52 times faster than a first generation absorption algorithm.
System Rozgrywek Sportowych R-Sport (in Polish)
Contact - Disclaimer - Privacy - Funding
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What Would Wilbon Write?
Written By Chris C-Ford ---- Friday, October 10, 2008
Here is the Wilbon column if the Wizards lose opening night…
The NBA season is underway, and the hopes & dreams of 30 professional franchises are beginning to be shaped. The sky is the limit for many of these teams, and we will soon see which teams will be contenders.
In Chicago, the Bulls won their first game. This is a clear sign that they will win the NBA Finals. Its just a matter of by how much and in how many games. Houston also won their first game, proving to everyone that this could be the year they bust out of the first round. Even the screwball New York Knicks picked up an opening game win, which is rocketing them towards the playoffs.
And then there are the Wizards. At 0-1 things do not look good. A heartbreaking loss at the buzzer to the New Jersey Nets has put the Wizards playoff hopes seemingly out of reach. The Wizards may be able to win without All Star & blogger, Gilbert Arenas, but you cannot win without a force in the paint. That force in the paint was Brendan Haywood, but a preseason injury is keeping him out for 6 months.
Being in last place is somewhat new to the Wizards, but realistically, it is where you would expect them to be. Without Haywood’s 9 points per game, and classic power jams, the Wizards look lost.
Etan Thomas has attempted to fill the Haywood void, but with his measly 9 points per game and semi power jams, he may not be the immediate answer the Wizards need.
So what should the Wizards do the rest of the 81 games this season? Play for Tyler Hansbrough.
Wilbon's Column
Bullets Forever Discusses The Column
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Arsenal’s squad review: Who stays or goes in defence?
By Danny Glendenning
Friday 8th June 2018
Arsenal British Football Caglar Soyuncu Calum Chambers Carl Jenkinson Gunners Hector Bellerin Konstantinos Mavropanos Laurent Koscielny Mehdi Benatia Nacho Monreal Premier League Rob Holding Sead Kolasinac Shkodran Mustafi Sokratis Papastathopoulos Stephan Lichtsteiner Transfer Window Unai Emery
Defensive deficiency has been Arsenal’s bane throughout the last decade. It didn’t abate this season. The Gunners conceded 51 times in 38 Premier League games, the most among the top six teams. Both Burnley and Newcastle United kept tighter backlines, too.
Arsene Wenger had no answer to Arsenal’s porous defence. It’s hoped new boss Unai Emery can solve the problem. Regarded as an authoritarian, the Spaniard is tasked with drilling awareness and discipline into the Gunners.
The second in our four-part Arsenal series concentrates on the defenders. Which deserve the chance to right last season’s wrongs? Furthermore, who could make way for potential new signings during this transfer window?
Find part one → Arsenal's squad review: Who stays or goes in goal?
The days of Tony Adams and Sol Campbell delivering rock-solid performances in Arsenal’s central defence have long gone. Laurent Koscielny is currently the closest quality-wise to his acclaimed predecessors. Since joining eight years ago, the Frenchman’s reputation has enhanced significantly, amassing 324 competitive matches.
Koscielny played 66% of the Gunners’ league contests this season. On peak form, he’s among the English top tier’s most eminent centre-backs. As well as offering comfortability in possession, excellent interception skills, and aerial prowess, the 32-year-old possesses pace to make recovery tackles.
An Achilles injury suffered in early May will rule Koscielny out for at least next campaign’s first seven weeks. As club captain, he’ll be given an opportunity to reclaim his place once returning.
Having cost £35 million in August 2016, Shkodran Mustafi is Arsenal’s sixth-most expensive signing in history. The German has failed to equal such billing, though. His inclination to dive into challenges was on show at least once during each of his 24 league appearances this season.
At 26, Mustafi’s career should have entered its prime. Although he boasts proficient tackling and capacity to pass out from the back, his enthusiastic attitude requires curbing with a steady presence alongside him. The Bad Hersfeld-born defender is a follower, not a leader.
Mustafi almost joined Inter Milan last summer. Three years remain on his Gunners contract, but he may receive one final chance to prove worthy. Missing out on Germany’s World Cup squad serves as a wake-up call.
English bench-warmers or potential first-teamers?
Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have both reached similar points in Arsenal careers. They each earned a squad place this campaign, yet neither featured prominently. The centre-back duo made 24 league appearances combined.
Calum Chambers
Since aligning with North London’s red half, Chambers has struggled to fulfil his enormous potential. Dwindling form meant he was shipped out to Middlesbrough in 2016/17. Having, on average, played in less than a third of the Gunners’ league encounters during the last four seasons, the 23-year-old must learn to balance ball-playing talent with defensive solidity.
Rob Holding
Arsenal snapped Holding up from Bolton Wanderers for £2 million two summers ago. He was awarded 18 opportunities to shine in his debut campaign, including the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea. Despite fitting in seamlessly, the 22-year-old has since failed to progress at the necessary rate.
With the Gunners set to rejig their backline, Holding and Chambers are possibly battling each other for one remaining squad position. If either, which will win out?
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Ashley Cole and Kolo Toure made Premier League debuts aged 19 and 21 respectively. The latest young defender Arsenal seem compelled to blood is Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Known as Dinos, the Greek’s transfer to the Emirates five months ago slipped under everyone’s radar. His debut came in April during the 2-1 defeat away at Manchester United. The 20-year-old delivered an assured performance, leading to supporters demanding a more significant role. He’s featured two times since.
Mavropanos’ ascent will continue next season. Having overtaken both Chambers and Holding in Arsene Wenger’s pecking order, he could mount a first-team challenge under Emery.
Nacho Monreal
Signing in January 2013, Nacho Monreal quickly became a permanent Arsenal fixture. After going on to make 212 competitive appearances, the Spanish defender’s knowledge means his importance increases as time goes by.
Monreal is effective at linking up on the left channel. Consistent if not spectacular, competent tackling ability enabled him to flourish as a central defender this campaign, too. Not only did his performance earn October’s PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award, it contributed to selection in Spain’s World Cup squad.
Monreal should command the Gunners’ left-back position next season. At 32, though, and with just one year remaining on his contract, a younger model is perhaps already being lined up.
Sead Kolasinac
Impressive Bundesliga form persuaded Arsenal to take a punt on Sead Kolasinac, signing him for free 12 months ago. The Bosnian took little time showcasing his strength, on and off the ball, as well as an eagerness to charge forward. He then tailed off, however.
Despite garnering 25 league matches this campaign, Kolasinac proved unsuitable in a four-man defensive set up. He requires adequate cover, as his lack of mobility allows opponents to roam free. It cost the Gunners at times.
Kolasinac must improve next season, or risk Emirates expulsion before his contract expires in 2022.
After departing Barcelona in summer 2011, Hector Bellerin debuted at Arsenal three years later. The Catalan, a typical modern-day full-back, immediately put his blistering pace and dribbling skills to great use. He was soon roundly considered the Premier League’s best right-back.
Bellerin retained a place in the starting eleven throughout this campaign, playing 35 top-flight games. His performance has noticeably dropped, though. He’s gone backwards in the past two years due to having no strong competition. As a consequence, the 23-year-old won’t feature in Spain’s World Cup.
Accustomed to an attacking set-up, can Bellerin up his defensive acumen to fit Emery’s more cautious approach? If not, a new Swiss arrival is waiting in the wings.
Incoming centre-backs?
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Borussia Dortmund’s Sokratis is on the verge of switching alliance to the Emirates for £17.5 million. Speaking three days ago, the Greek defender’s father told Radio, ‘Manchester United have a very good relationship with Dortmund, the teams speak a lot, but Sokratis has chosen to go to Arsenal.’
The Gunners must tighten up in central defence next season. With 79 Greece caps and almost 400 competitive club appearances, Sokratis will provide valuable experience. He’ll also add much-needed aerial ability as well as physicality. There are some concerns, however, that the 29-year-old is beginning to decline.
Mehdi Benatia
Another centre-back on the North London outfit’s radar, Mehdi Benatia could be set to leave Juventus this summer after winning back-to-back Serie A titles. The 31-year-old’s price tag is a potential stumbling block, though. The Old Lady reportedly spurned Arsenal’s £35-million proposal in December.
If a deal can be agreed, Benatia would supply Emery’s side with top-level expertise. The Morocco captain has three big European clubs on his CV in Roma, Bayern Munich, and Juventus.
Further possibility
Per Mertesacker recently ended his 15-year playing career to take charge of Arsenal’s academy. It perhaps leaves another gap to fill.
Caglar Soyuncu is a classy 22-year-old centre-half. The Turkey international has amassed 50 Bundesliga appearances at Freiburg since making his debut in August 2016. Are the Gunners prepared to follow through their interest, fight off Liverpool, and pay the £30 million asking price?
Stephan Lichtsteiner deal confirmed
Emery’s first signing as Arsenal manager was announced on Tuesday. Right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner arrived on a free transfer from Juventus.
Carl Jenkinson has averaged only 5.4 league games per season for the Gunners since moving seven years ago. The 26-year-old’s future lies elsewhere. Mathieu Debuchy’s exit in January left a shortage. The new Swiss acquisition more than fits the bill.
Lichtsteiner is a solid, all-round defender. He lifted 14 trophies at Juve, including seven scudetto titles. The 34-year-old is also expected to earn his 100th international cap in Switzerland’s World Cup opener. The Gunners will doubtless benefit from his winning mentality, vast experience, and exemplary leadership skills.
Danny Glendenning
Passions include reading, sport, and nights out with friends. A football fanatic whose writing career began in May 2016. Now 30 years old, lives in South Yorkshire - local team is Doncaster Rovers, although heart lies with Arsenal. Contributing editor for It's Round And It's White. Current claim to fame is an interview with Ron Atkinson. Always looking for work, either editing or writing. Contact via email: Dannysg1988@outlook.com. Or Twitter: @DannySG1988.
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WALDO VALENZUELA
HOME | BLOG | BIO | DISCOGRAPHY | SERVICES | GALLERY | CONTACT
Guitarist and Sound Engineer of Chilean origin.
In 1987 he relocated from Vallenar to Valdivia (Chile), where he studied Acoustic Engineering for 4 years. Due to the strong Jazz and Rock influence in Valdivia at that time, Waldo honed and perfected his skills in those styles of Music as well as traditional South American Music and Spanish guitar.
By 1991 he transferred to Santiago de Chile where he finished his university studies, graduating in Sound Engineering.
He has participated as a musician in numerous projects and with some of the best bands in Chile, DeKiruza and Gondwana, to name a few.
Currently he is extending his horizons, laying down roots in Los Angeles, CA.
Now settled in the U.S.A. he continues to develop as an Engineer in Audio Post Production for Cinema and Television, in Burbank, CA.
Along with his work in Post Production he has become known as an innovative guitarist and music producer.
It is in this last period where we can find his most recent and outstanding credits, which include:
Simplemente Boleros (Patricio y Los Románticos)
Boleros Originales 2002
Bandhada / Bandhada (Re-Mastering)
Jazz/ rock 1986-2004
Sonic Landscape (Waldo Valenzuela)
Fusión 2005
El Músico Ambulante (Santino)
Pop / Rock 2004
Llévame Contigo (Santino) Pop / Rock 2005
Charlie & the chocolate Factory/ Songs Spanish version
Musical Director & Performer. 2005
Corpse Bride/ Songs Spanish Version. Musical Director & Performer. 2005
Sangra tu Corazon (Julio Cebrian)
Romantic/Ballad 2006
So far, my love (Astrid Chevallier)
Rock. 2006
Happy Feet/ Songs Spanish Version. Musical Director. 2006
Flight of the Conchords / All the songs First season, Spanish version.
Musical Director, Performer (Main Character "Jemaine")
Recordist & mixer. 2007
Beowulf / Songs Spanish Version
Musical Director. 2007
Flight of the Conchords / All the songs Second season, Spanish version.
Merry Acoustic Chritsmas (Willard Lozano)/ Mix and Mastering 2008
Open Cages (Bandhada)/ Mixer and Mastering Engineer 2010
Our little Family (Big brown Door) Rock Soul Blues, Composer, Performer and Mixer 2010
Happy Feet 2/ Songs Spanish Version. Musical Director and Performer 2011
Angry Boys/ All Songs and performances for the first season 2011
The Light of the Sixth Sun (Waldo Valenzuela)/ Jazz latin Rock Fusion 2012
Contributing as Composer, Arranger, Producer, Mixer and Mastering Engineer
Filmography (Post Production)
Life's Too Short (TV series) (dubbing re-recording mixer - 7 episodes)
– Episode #1.4 (2011) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
Entourage (TV series) (dubbing re-recording mixer - 1 episode)
– The Big Bang (2011) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
Angry Boys (TV series) (dubbing re-recording mixer - 12 episodes)
– Episode #1.12 (2011) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
Boardwalk Empire (TV series) (sound re-recording mixer - 12 episodes)
– A Return to Normalcy (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Paris Green (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– The Emerald City (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Belle Femme (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Hold Me in Paradise (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
Eastbound & Down (TV series) (sound mixer - 13 episodes, 2009-2010) (sound dubbing mixer - 6 episodes, 2009)
– Chapter 13 (2010) (sound mixer)
– Chapter 9 (2010) (sound mixer)
Treme (TV series) (dubbing re-recording mixer - 10 episodes)
– I'll Fly Away (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Wish Someone Would Care (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– All on a Mardi Gras Day (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Smoke My Peace Pipe (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Shallow Water, Oh Mama (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
The Pacific (TV mini-series) (dubbing re-recording mixer - 10 episodes)
– Home (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Okinawa (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Iwo Jima (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Peleliu Hills (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Peleliu Airfield (2010) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
Flicka 2 (video) (sound re-recording mixer)
How to Make It in America (TV series) (sound re-recording mixer - 8 episodes)
– Never Say Die (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Keep on Truck'n (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Good Vintage (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Big in Japan (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Unhappy Birthday (2010) (sound re-recording mixer)
Bored to Death (TV series) (sound re-recording mixer - 8 episodes)
– Take a Dive (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– The Case of the Stolen Sperm (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– The Case of the Beautiful Blackmailer (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– The Case of the Lonely White Dove (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– The Case of the Stolen Skateboard (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
Hung (TV series) (sound re-recording mixer - 10 episodes)
– A Dick and a Dream or Fight the Honey (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
Big Love (TV series) (sound re-recording mixer - 22 episodes)
– Sacrament (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Outer Darkness (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Rough Edges (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Fight or Flight (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
– Come, Ye Saints (2009) (sound re-recording mixer)
The Flight of the Conchords (TV series) (dubbing re-recording mixer - 22 episodes)
– Evicted (2009) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Wingmen (2009) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– NewZealandTown (2009) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Prime Minister (2009) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Love Is a Weapon of Choice (2009) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
Cold Souls (sound re-recording mixer)
The Life & Times of Tim (TV series) (sound dubbing mixer - 10 episodes)
– Theo Strikes Back/Amy Gets Wasted (2008) (sound dubbing mixer)
– Mugger/Cin City (2008) (sound dubbing mixer)
– Insurmountable High Score/Tim vs. the Baby (2008) (sound dubbing mixer)
– Hottest Babes on the Planet/Suck It, Philly (2008) (sound dubbing mixer)
– Bashko's Hairy Daughter/Tim's Not Singing (2008) (sound dubbing mixer)
Summer Heights High (TV series) (sound re-recording mixer - 8 episodes)
– Episode #1.8 (2007) (sound re-recording mixer)
Postman Pat (TV series) (dubbing re-recording mixer - 9 episodes)
– Great Greendale Race (2006) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Postman Pat and the Grand Custard Race (2006) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Postman Pat and the Record Breaking Day (2006) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Clowns Around (2004) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
– Ice Cream Machine (2004) (dubbing re-recording mixer)
A Day Without a Mexican (sound recordist)
Threshold (TV movie) (sound recordist)
Do or Die (TV movie) (sound recordist)
...read more about Cine & TV credits.
Phone: 1- (323) 333-3302
e-mail: wvuchilegtr@gmail.com
Estudios Mix
Gonzalo Ramos
e-mail: gonzalo@estudiosmix.com
Hispanica
The project’s basic premise is to set an acoustic album that describes our musical journey as Guitarists and Composers, now as a duo. The main idea of this recording is to put together a set of nylon guitar styles that covers music from South America, Central America, Spain and Middle Eastern.
We have included some ethnic rhythms like “Chacarera” from Argentina/Chile, “Partido Alto” and “Samba do Rancho” from Brazil, “Bolero” and “Salsa” from Central America as well as “Rumba Flamenca” from Spain, “Gipsy Jazz” and some Middle Eastern rhythms, all fusioned with a twist of Jazz.
...read more.
Big Brown Door
Big Brown Door is a musical project created in Los Angeles, CA which is born from the need to express the thoughts and music of Waldo Valenzuela (www.waldoval.com) and JB Boatman. Due to the diverse musical background between the two they find themselves diverging into the realm of Blues music which is influenced by Californian Rock as well as Pop and Soul. Welcome to this musical experience which fuses the best musicians that L.A. has to offer and has finally been brought to light this year, 2011.
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Award Winning ABM (2nd April 2014)
ABM were delighted to receive a prestigious award at Diageo's "International Engineering for Excellence" event at The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin last week.
Diageo, the world's largest producer of distilled spirits have highlighted ABM's hard work and have recognised this by giving an 'Engineering for Innovation' award for the excellent work with the three spirit blending Cubes installed in Africa.
The Heroes of Excellence award is given to the supplier that delivered a significant and critical project on time and on budget with exceptional leadership.
Award winners must also demonstrate the kinds of innovation that result in exceptional value to Diageo.
"Our team are honoured to have been recognised by Diageo as a winner of the Engineering for Innovation from a field of world class suppliers" said Allan Rogerson, founder and Managing Director of ABM.
Other articles which may be of interest
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Big Bog Brand New Micro Brewery (Thursday 28th April 2016)
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Wadworth CIP System Upgrade (Friday 15th May 2015)
The Packaging Community Celebrates its Visionaries (Monday 16th June 2014)
UBM Canon Packaging Group Visionary Awards (Monday 12th May 2014)
Diageo's Cubes Complete (Friday 11th April 2014)
Attemperation System at Robinsons Brewery (Wednesday 8th January 2014)
Halewood International - Seal Water Recovery System (Saturday 1st June 2013)
Home Sitemap ABM Ltd Copyright © 2014
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Adoption at the Movies
Kids' Picks
AATM Awards
Paddington Adoption Movie Review (Paddington Reminds Me of a Lot of Adoption Movies)
When a young bear’s aunt decides that she is too old to care for him, she tells him of older days, when kids would wait at train stations to find new families, and suggests that he could do the same thing today. She places a note around his neck saying “Please look after this bear,” and then sends him on a boat journey from Peru to London. The bear arrives at Paddington Station in London and begins asking passersby to be his family; he is ignored. Alone and dejected, the bear is noticed by the Brown family who give him the name Paddington, and offer him at least one night of lodging in their home.
They then try to help Paddington find a family, and the best idea they have is to find a local explorer who had long ago visited Paddington’s family of talking bears in Peru. Their search is complicated, however, when a local taxidermist decides that she wants to get her own hands on Paddington.
How Does This Connect to Adoption?
Very early in the film, Paddington’s aunt tells of a time when “children were left at railway stations with tags around their neck,” and picked up by parents who “cared for them as their own.” She tells Paddington that Londoners “will not have forgotten how to care.”
Some kids may resonate powerfully with Paddington’s feelings of hopelessness as he tries unsuccessfully to find a family. As he introduces himself to the Brown family, Paddington says, “How do you do? I’m just looking for a home.” Mrs. Brown asks where his parents are, and Paddington explains that they died years ago, and that all he has left is a retired aunt. Mrs. Brown wants to help, and does so over the objections of her husband, who says that Paddington’s plight “is not our responsibility.”
Paddington’s bear-language name is a series of ursine growls that is hard for English speakers to pronounce, so they give him an English name – although they do ask his permission first.
The family explains to Paddington, “When a young person comes to this country in a boat, you don’t go with the first family you’re with. You find a guardian – an adult who looks after you.” Paddington lights up, saying “Like you!” To which they reply, “Yes, but not us. It’s usually someone you know” and suggests that if there isn’t anyone you know, you go to an orphanage.
Paddington tries to find a former family friend to live with, but when he goes to find the records that would lead him to this person, he finds that the records are withheld from him. Many adult adoptees will resonate painfully with this scene.
People adopted internationally might resonate with Paddington’s struggle to fit into his new culture. Although he ultimately feels comfortable, along the way he acknowledges, “It’s not easy being in a new place.”
Many foster families believe that their foster kids lie. The Brown family believes this about Paddington when his stories seem unbelievable, but later we learn that his stories are true, but filtered through his point of view.
The Brown family comes to love Paddington. One character expresses, “It doesn’t matter that he’s from the other side of the world. We love him, so he’s family, and that means we stick together.”
Paddington optimistically realizes, “In London, everyone is different, but that means anyone can fit in. I don’t look like anyone else, but that’s OK because I’m a bear – a bear named Paddington.” This could be an encouraging message for people who were adopted across national boundaries.
It’s easy to see this film as a picture of international adoption, but I also see glimpses of the best parts of foster care adoption. *Spoiler Alert* Mrs. Brown ultimately does become an adoptive mom to Paddington, but along the way is trying to help him reunify with people who know and love him. *End Spoiler* Mrs. Brown tells him, “I’m not standing by while there’s a chance of finding you a proper home.”
Paddington expresses “A home is more than a roof over your head.”
When the family refers to an orphanage, an image flashes on the screen of a ghastly looking place. This probably does match the feelings that many have towards orphanages, but might scare some
Weak Points
The Browns mistakenly believe that Paddington is a liar. He overhears a conversation where they say, “He won’t tell us the truth. How can he live with us if we can’t even trust him. Maybe this isn’t the place for him.” Hearing this breaks Paddington’s heart. He gathers his belongings and runs away, leaving a goodbye note. After he runs away, he walks through the cold, rainy London streets knocking on any doors that might belong to the explorer that once knew his family; Paddington is very persistent, but his persistence isn’t rewarded.
As one of Adoption at the Movies' readers on Facebook commented, when Paddington breaks the Brown family's rules, their first inclination is for him to leave the home.
Paddington's life is threatened - and he is nearly killed - by a crazed museum employee.
This is a charming film that could be helpful for families who have adopted internationally or through foster care. It’s optimistic about successfully forming a family, while honest in depicting the difficulty in doing so, and the feelings of loneliness and “not fitting in” that might be common in situations where a young person is far from their family and place of origin.
Paddington reminded me of several other recent movies. You can click the titles to link to my reviews of each, if you like! As in Mr. Peabody and Sherman, it’s the story of a cross-species adoption. Like Despicable Me, orphanages are seen as scary places. Like Anne of Green Gables with the Cuthberts, Paddington’s relationship with the Browns starts as an almost-accidental one-night visit. Like in the documentary Closure, the records that would be most helpful to Paddington are sealed and unavailable to him, but he still finds a way to find the information he needs. Like in the Martian Child, Paddington fears rejection, and tries to avoid it by preemptively running away. Like in Lilo and Stitch, a character says, basically, that family means “we stick together.”
There are some frightening sequences (The taxidermist does try to tranquilize, stuff, and preserve Paddington), and some of Paddington’s emotional pain might resonate strongly with some viewers who have waited a long time for a family to call their own or who have experienced rejection from foster families or other trusted adults. One villain suggests that Paddington can’t be family with the Browns because they are different species; but the family itself has become a positive, safe, and loving place for Paddington. Parents can talk through this points with their children. Overall, the film seems to be optimistic, honest, and fun. I’d suggest it as a good choice for most kids ages 8 and up, with parents present to answer questions.
Questions for After the Film
What makes it hard to be in a new place?
What eventually helped Paddington feel at home?
Mr. Brown said that family means sticking together. What do you think family means?
Posted by Addison at 7:00 AM
Marlene Detierro August 8, 2015 at 1:57 AM
Joanna January 22, 2018 at 9:20 AM
Any chance you will have a review soon for Paddington 2? Wanted to bring a group of adopted children to this movie, but wondered what you thought?
Addison January 23, 2018 at 9:41 PM
Hi Joanna! Thanks for the request. I did watch the film, and hope to have a review up soon. There’s definitely trigger potential (spoiler alert..........,) he gets separated from his adoptive family and taken to prison; he comes to believe that they have forgotten about him when they miss a visit.
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Finding Dory Adoption Movie Review
Here’s our spoiler-filled review of Finding Dory. Read through to the end for our review of Piper, the short film which accompanies Finding...
Show Dogs Adoption Movie Review
When police dog Max botches a sting operation, smugglers escape with a baby panda. Max promises that he will successfully retrieve the pan...
Lion Adoption Movie Review
Lion is one of the most relevant, and most responsible, films about adoption that I’ve screened. Because of how relevant and important this...
The Lego Batman Movie SPOILERS Adoption Movie Review
Be warned… SPOILERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS REVIEW After thwarting another crime in Gotham City, Batman returns to his lair. Although ...
Coco Adoption Movie Review (Spoilers)
(There are spoilers throughout this review) Miguel loves music, but his family forbids it. Four generations ago, Miguel’s great-great-g...
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Collectibles: March 2018
A broad range of special wines made the grade for collectible status this month, centered around a pair of excellent Merlot that stood out in the recent BC Wine Appreciation Society Blind Tasting. A duo of Pinot Noir from the central Okanagan join the fun, as do a couple tasty red blends, all with great cellar potential. Most of these collectibles are generally available, but my own membership in the clubs at several wineries has greatly facilitated acquisition, particularly for the fully allocated production of Blue Mountain. Increasingly, the most interesting BC wines can be exclusively sourced direct.
Blue Mountain 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir: Practically the benchmark for Pinot Noir in BC (let alone at that price), the Blue Mountain Reserve has been going strong for decades, from Okanagan Falls vines up to 30+ years old. The Mavety family took everything 2015 threw at them and still produced a fine Pinot Noir from an unusually warm vintage. The grapes were harvested relatively early, in the first week of September, and the wine manages a moderate 12.5% alcohol after native yeast fermentation (and 16 months in French oak). David Lawrason praised the balanced presentation in his 93-point review on WineAlign, noting the complex profile and outstanding focus and length. Winery Direct $40
Meyer 2016 McLean Creek Road Pinot Noir: The McLean Pinot is the core of Meyer’s portfolio, coming as it does from the home vineyard in Okanagan Falls. Production quantities are the largest of Meyer’s four vineyard-specific Pinot Noir: 650 cases should ensure availability through the summer. The McLean Creek Road vineyard is a complex plot that includes three blocks of Pinot Noir planted to five French clones. Standard practice after several years is to age the wine for 11 months in one-quarter new French oak before bottling the following summer. Anthony Gismondi and Treve Ring both felt 90+ points worthy earlier this month, complimenting “another classic MFV wine” with up to five years further aging possible. Winery Direct $40
Corcelettes 2015 Merlot: I had a chance to taste an early sample of this finely valued Similkameen Merlot before release late last fall and was immediately hooked, particularly at this price point. It’s the first varietal Merlot from Corcelettes, and comes from rare own-rooted vines in the Keremeos Upper Bench home vineyard. The wine performed quite well recently against some strong and established competition in the BCWAS Blind Tasting, but only 322 cases were produced so it won’t last long; I made sure to get mine over the winter. John Schreiner got an early taste in September as well, and praised the powerful aromas and rich, concentrated texture in a 92-point review. Winery Direct $27
Burrowing Owl 2014 Merlot: This popular South Okanagan stalwart is probably Burrowing Owl’s cornerstone wine, yielding several thousand cases on an annual basis, distributed all across the country. By now, the mature vineyards and established winemaking practices ensure a consistent high quality, although some years stand out even further. The warm 2014 vintage brought the Wyse family a Gold medal at last summer’s National Wine Awards, alongside sterling accolades from the judging team: all four reviews on WineAlign allocate 91+ points. The wine’s long aging potential of up to a decade was emphasized, although it is “drinking very well right now,” after 18 months in barrel (French, American, Hungarian, and Russian). Early approachability is a characteristic that no doubt helped it place in the top three of the BCWAS Blind Tasting. Winery Direct $30
Poplar Grove 2014 CSM: Here’s a creative, alternative blend that differs from the more traditional Bordeaux stylings of the winery’s flagship Legacy red. Wine Club members typically get first crack at it, and I was more than happy to do so recently, although 1,200 cases should ensure sufficient availability in the tasting room for some time. The wine’s name comes from the combination of Cabernet, Syrah, and Malbec/Merlot, this year comprising 37% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah, 11% Malbec, and 9% Merlot. Winemaking saw all five varieties fermented (naturally) and barrel aged for 21 months in French oak separately, before blending and another 20 months of bottle age. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed past vintages – in large part due to the Syrah component – and ensure CSM finds its way home with me every year. Winery Direct $35
Stag’s Hollow 2015 Renaissance Meritage: Stag’s Hollow usually formulates minor blends for their varietal reds (e.g., 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon), but hasn’t produced a designated reserve Meritage in many years. As Anthony Gismondi pointed out in his 90-point review, this is the first one since 2005 – and only 100 cases were produced! With sufficient quantity and quality of estate fruit (Cabernets in particular) on hand in 2015, Winemaker Dwight Sick was able to blend 76% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc from the winery’s home vineyard in Okanagan Falls. After fermentation in one third new French oak the wine spent an additional 18 months on the lees before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The winery encourages further aging in bottle, and John Schreiner is in agreement: his 93-point review recommends cellaring until 2025. Winery Direct $50
Posted by Russell Ball at 14:44 No comments:
Labels: Blue Mountain, Burrowing Owl, Corcelettes, Meyer, Poplar Grove, Stag's Hollow
BCWAS Merlot Blind Tasting
For the past several years the BC Wine Appreciation Society has hosted an annual double-blind varietal tasting, beginning with Syrah in 2013, and in latter years featuring Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. Having recently taken over as Society Cellarmaster I was given the task of organizing this year’s tasting, and settled on long-suffering Merlot. After taking a beating following the release of the film Sideways in 2004, unfairly maligned Merlot deserves to be championed more often, particularly given its standing as BC’s most-planted red grape. I looked forward to the challenge of showing off some top local examples.
I was limited to only eight wines given the physical constraints of our venue, fewer than years past, so it was important to ensure variety and avoid overlap. I focused on regional distribution alongside important criteria such as quality and availability. Using what was on hand in the Society cellar allowed for a selection of vintages from 2012-2015, while geographic range from Naramata through Osoyoos and on to Keremeos yielded sufficient diversity. While I longed for some of the exclusive icons from LaStella or Checkmate, price was another consideration, and so the wines remained within the $27-$40 range. Cost doesn’t always predict quality however, so prominent award-winners were in the mix to see how they stacked up. The wines were all poured blind, and served blind in the following randomized order:
Painted Rock 2012: The tasting’s oldest wine, coming from professional storage in the BCWAS cellar, it’s long since sold out, as the 2014 is currently available at the winery. The Merlot block on the west-facing Skaha Bench estate vineyard was harvested October 23, and the grapes were later aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak before just over 1,000 cases were bottled.
Stag’s Hollow 2014 Renaissance: The winery’s reserve tier Merlot was harvested from the Okanagan Falls home vineyard on October 27, before aging in 50% new French oak for 15 months. This wine was one of two minor blends in the tasting, having incorporated 10% Cabernet Sauvignon for additional complexity, before bottling of just 225 cases. A Gold Medal at the 2017 All Canadian Wine Championships made it one to watch.
Cassini 2013 “Nobilus”: Bursting with accolades, Cassini’s example of Golden Mile Bench Merlot offered high expectations. The wine had returned a Double Gold (Best of Category) at the 2016 All Canadian Wine Championships, and a prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Award last summer. Adrian Cassini entrusted his grapes to 100% new French oak for two years after harvest in the last week of October, releasing only 187 cases in the fall of 2017.
Corcelettes 2015: From the young winery’s relatively new home vineyard on the Keremeos Upper Bench, rare own-rooted vinifera vines were harvested early in September during this hot vintage. The grapes spent 16 months in a mix of French and American oak before 322 cases were released quite recently. At only $27 it was also the least expensive wine in the tasting.
Poplar Grove 2014: Just north of the winery location at the south end of the Naramata Bench are the pair of neighbouring vineyards that yielded a thousand cases of this local favourite. The wine is actually a four-grape blend, harvested over a month-long period starting in early October: 88% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec. Grapes were aged in used French oak (second- to fourth-fill) for 21 months.
Burrowing Owl 2014: Anchoring the winery’s portfolio means 6,500 cases of this money-maker come from expansive southern Okanagan vineyards. The Black Sage Bench home vineyard and another on the Osoyoos East Bench contributed grapes harvested over two weeks mid-October. Burrowing Owl’s trademark varied elevage spread the grapes across 65% French, 18% American, 10% Hungarian, and 7% Russian oak, one quarter of it in new barrels.
Church & State 2013: Another Black Sage Bench example, but this time from lower in altitude closer to the valley floor. The Coyote Bowl and Rattlesnake Vineyards adjacent to the winery were harvested October 23, before 22 months of aging in one third new French oak. Just 275 cases came about, and it’s long since been supplanted by the present 2015 vintage for sale.
Van Westen 2014 “Vivre la Vie”: Rob Van Westen’s family vineyards can be found at the northern end of the Naramata Bench. The three small blocks that formed this wine were harvested from October 4-19, and spent 21 months in 25% new French oak before bottling of a mere 148 cases. The 2017 All Canadian Wine Championships awarded Double Gold to mark this bottle as category leader in the premium Merlot tier.
The fifty-plus participants at the sold-out tasting were all asked to rank order the eight wines on anonymous ballots, which I then tabulated using a Borda-count system (for all the voting-method geeks out there) to yield the overall crowd favourites. The clear champions emerged on top in short order, led by Cassini, Van Westen, and Burrowing Owl. The next level was dominated by Corcelettes, Painted Rock, and Poplar Grove, and demonstrating that vintage certainly was not a reliable predictor of appeal, given the full four-year range in that cluster.
Unfortunately, a couple of the wines seemed to have suffered from either faulty bottles or tainted stemware, as reports of off flavours harmed the chances of both Church & State and Stag’s Hollow, relegating them to the rear. My own servings seemed to have avoided any problematic bottles or glasses, as both Church & State and Stag’s Hollow found favour in my notes. Served second, Stag’s Hollow yielded a toasty, leathery nose with palate of blackberries and a pucker on the finish. Church & State, one of the older wines, offered a dusty nose before an aggressive palate of chewy tannins and tart fruit that finished long. It’s truly a shame some glitches may have prevented these two wines from achieving their potential.
The third wine served, top-ranked Cassini, made a particular impression – my notes reference the rich, creamy texture and profile of baked fruit and vanilla. Van Westen showed the winery’s trademark age-worthy tannins, with smoky hints but a well-balanced acidity that brought juicy fruit to the forefront. Burrowing Owl offered significant caramelization on the nose and palate – easy to like – with an accessible texture and ripe southern Okanagan fruit. Corcelettes revealed the freshness of youth, with a range of berry fruit flavours and hints of menthol, pleasantly elegant given the price point. Painted Rock’s Merlot always takes longest of John Skinner’s reds to come around, and even with the benefit of age it was still tight, showing floral character on the nose in time, while ripe, dark berries emerged on the palate. Poplar Grove belied its relative youth, presenting a surprisingly smooth palate of quintessential blueberry, along with deceptive spices that had me guessing Similkameen.
The entire experience was enlightening in the way that blind tastings so often are, and guests seemed quite pleased with the wines and information on offer. I myself was grateful my selections went over so well, and look forward to assembling future tastings of new varieties (or even blends). Thank you to the members of the BC Wine Appreciation Society for so diligently tasting and rating these wines – I hope you had as much fun as I did!
Labels: Burrowing Owl, Cassini, Church and State, Corcelettes, Painted Rock, Poplar Grove, Stag's Hollow, Van Westen
Collectibles: February 2018
In years past the month of the Vancouver International Wine Festival would be my shopping bonanza for both international and domestic bottles. Now, having significantly increased the frequency of my visits to tasting rooms in person, I no longer need to rely as heavily on the Festival store to fill my cellar with BC’s bounty. The Festival comes at an odd time of year, before most local wineries have bottled new vintages, so it can be a time to find the last reserves of some (saved for the Festival), or alternatively, advance access to those yet to be released. Festival purchases and a few recent winter treats make up this month’s collectibles.
Quails’ Gate 2016 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir: I can often rely on the Stewart family to bring out the big guns for VIWF, and the fact they previewed this upcoming vintage of the winery’s flagship red speaks volumes. Not even mentioned yet online, the 2016 was being poured and purchased in the Festival tasting room, showing off a remarkably approachable profile at this young age. The highly expressive nose and rich palate were balanced and fresh, and will no doubt age well for many years, but made for easy enjoyment well before the official winery release. Winemaker Nikki Callaway brought in ideal West Kelowna fruit from an exceptional growing season to assemble 1,100 cases after ten months in French oak. The Stewart Family Reserve is a consistent benchmark for rich, New World Pinot Noir in BC. VIWF Store $60
Van Westen 2016 “VD” Pinot Noir: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Rob Van Westen’s petite Pinot project offers a much less well known example, and mightily hard to find at that. Repeat customers get first notification before Rob spends a mid-winter week stocking store shelves and hand-delivering new releases while the vines slumber. The good news is this niche collaboration between Rob and veteran winemaker Tom DiBello has grown in quantity by 25% since last year, now reaching a grand total of 105 cases. The grapes come from the Granite Ridge vineyard on the Naramata Bench, planted to the meaty Pommard clone, and aged nine months in French oak. The generous vintage has yielded another obliging bottle, with softly textured, ripe tannins atop the underlying structure. It may be tempting to crack that screwtop in the short term but here’s another good cellar candidate for those with patience. Winery Direct $40
SpierHead 2016 Cuvée Pinot Noir: The East Kelowna winery on Spiers Road may be changing their name to Spearhead for the sake of convenience but the only change to the wine is it keeps getting better. Supervised by new General Manager Grant Stanley (via Quails’ Gate and 50th Parallel), the growing portfolio holds five Pinot Noir (six if counting the White Pinot) at present, with the Cuvée coming out on top. While Van Westen makes the exception for Pinot, Spearhead is all in on the variety, taking advantage of their ideal estate terroir and that of trusted partners. Cuvée 2016 is a 400 case blend of the best barrels from four clones (115, 667, 828, Pommard) following ten months in French oak. John Schreiner noted the boldness of intense, even jammy fruit flavours in January, while the GismondiOnWine team offered 90+ points (and recommended three years in the cellar) just last week. Winery Direct $44
LaStella 2014 Allegretto Merlot: A tiny “Pie Franco” logo on the label provides a hint of this wine’s special status. The single vineyard Merlot that sits just below the flagship Maestoso in LaStella’s portfolio is planted on its own rootstock in high drainage white silica sand. This “pie franco” accomplishment is rare in a global industry dominated by grafted vines seeking to escape the ravages of phylloxerae. The estate Stagg’s Vineyard on the west bench of south Osoyoos has just over four acres of Merlot (alongside four more of Syrah), and provided for 275 cases in 2014, resulting in a wine reserved exclusively for Club members. The winery claims a certain purity in flavour is obtained from these own-rooted vines, offering a taste of Merlot in its most authentic form. Winery Direct $69
Painted Rock 2015 Syrah: With their sole white wine (Chardonnay) sold out, the Painted Rock team placed particular emphasis on their several superb reds available at the VIWF. The Syrah from the Skinner family’s Skaha Bench estate vineyard south of Penticton has been a favourite in my household for many years. The effects of a warm vintage are apparent in what Anthony Gismondi describes as a “hedonistic nature” sure to find many fans despite a bit less complexity than normal. Liam Carrier’s 92-point review on IconScores offers an intriguing description of blood orange, mint, and vanilla in a “mind-blowingly intense” wine worthy of supplanting the winery’s premier Red Icon. Fortunately 1,700 cases were produced, after 18 months in 30% new French oak, giving many a chance to try it for themselves and be the judge. VIWF Store $46
Burrowing Owl 2014 Meritage: In an age where every winery has a flagship red with a proprietary name Burrowing Owl has stayed with good old fashioned Meritage – straightforward and descriptive. A bottle goes into my vertical collection each year, making for a nice exploration of the vintage at one of the South Okanagan’s most noteworthy wineries. The blend of 32% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, and 11% Petit Verdot was bottled in August 2016, after 21 months in oak (18 months varietally independent), three quarters French. A near endless stream of compliments have come from the WineAlign judging team, yet despite unanimous 90+ point scores the same team awarded a moderate Silver medal at the 2017 National Wine Awards – an ode, perhaps, to the uncertainties of competition. Winery Direct $50
Labels: Burrowing Owl, LaStella, Painted Rock, Quails' Gate, Spierhead, Van Westen
Collectibles: January 2018
The hectic holiday season is behind us but there are plenty of stellar gift-worthy wines still on hand – and a gift to oneself is perfectly legitimate. Even though the tasting rooms in wine country are closed for the season, online stores are open year-round, plus the many fine wine retailers around home are always happy to help the cause. In the case of one collectible, it’s exclusively available at retail, as Chris Carson is nearly too busy making wine to sell it! This month’s selection features several marvellous, under-the-radar examples that will find a comfortable home in my cellar, in many cases building on multi-year verticals as I find myself coming back for another vintage.
Carson 2015 Pinot Noir: For the past decade, the highly respected Pinot Noir of Meyer Family Vineyards has been ushered into bottle by the talented Chris Carson, who also produces his own “garagiste” wine with very little fanfare. A twenty-year-old 1.5 acre block of Clone 115 on the Naramata Bench yields a mere couple hundred cases that Carson vinifies at Meyer’s Okanagan Falls winery. The winemaking is described as “very traditional” and includes an indigenous yeast ferment followed by 11 months aging in one-third new French oak. Every year a sample bottle makes its way to Anthony Gismondi, who bestowed another 90+ score for the third year running in October: Carson’s “hedonistic” style serves up “juicy, red fruit with a savoury, spicy undercurrent.” Marquis Wine Cellars $50
Quails’ Gate 2015 Syrah “The Boswell”: Four years after introduction as a (one-time) special edition anniversary series wine, Syrah has grown to become a notable component of the Burgundian-focused portfolio at Quails’ Gate. The Northern-Rhone-styled wine represents a rarity in that it hails from estate vineyards in West Kelowna, in contrast to the extensive plantings of Syrah found in the South Okanagan. Outsider status notwithstanding, The Boswell continues to garner serious accolades every year: Anthony Gismondi and Treve Ring had nothing but praise in October and November, John Schreiner conveyed his approval with 93-points, and WineAlign’s David Lawrason was similarly impressed with the perfectly ripened fruit and impressive focus. After working through the last of the (equally good) 2014 the winery is finally ready to release the 580 cases bottled last June following 18 months in French oak. Winery Direct $63
Corcelettes 2015 Menhir: Named after marker stones found on the Baessler family’s original farm in Switzerland, the reasonably-priced flagship at Corcelettes eschews the typical Bordeaux blends for Cabernet-Syrah. The components hover around the same proportions annually, coming in at 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Syrah in 2015, mellowed for 16 months in French oak puncheons, to yield just 145 cases. Previous vintages were sourced from the winery’s original Middle Bench Vineyard in Keremeos, but since taking over the former Herder property on Upper Bench Road, the new home vineyard provides fruit from up against the sun-baked hills. John Schreiner had an advance taste in September and confirmed it remains a “round and generous wine” worthy of 93 points. Winery Direct $35
Painted Rock 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon: One could say that every vintage of John Skinner’s Cabernet since that first Lieutenant Governor’s Award-winning 2007 has been sold out upon bottling. Ironically the winery’s recently introduced varietal Cabernet Franc is arguably more noteworthy, but, Sauv still sells. That’s not to say the Sauvignon is unworthy of the attention - this is one of the region’s finest, must-have versions for collectors - it’s just hard to find outside the winery! Production only reached 328 cases in 2015, after 18 months in 30% new French oak, and while some additional rows were recently planted, those younger grapes are going into the exciting new Syrah-Cabernet. The red hot 2015 sunshine seasoned this vintage with “savoury, black cherry fruit and warm, brown spicing,” in the words of Anthony Gismondi: his 90-point review makes the case for patience however – if you can find a bottle hold on for even greater rewards in 2022. Winery Direct $40
LaStella 2014 La Sophia Cabernet Sauvignon: Painted Rock’s Cabernet is prevalent compared to the mere three barrels from LaStella in 2014. Just 75 cases are available from this excellent vintage, harvested from the famed U2 block of Inkameep Vineyard in the north end of the Black Sage Bench. Like the winery’s Maestoso Merlot, this super-premium bottle comes with a price to match, reflecting both the work that goes into it, and the wine’s status and prestige – at least the price slows down sales to give collectors a chance! Having tasted past vintages of La Sophia I’m willing to splurge for a bottle of this deliciously rich but focused wine; the winery suggests it “draws a comparison to the great Cabernets from Washington State rather than the plusher and fatter examples from Napa Valley.” Winery Direct $103
Blind Creek Collective 2014 Consensus: After just one year the Similkameen project of Road 13 and partners has already been forced to rebrand when their original name, “The Similkameen Collective” fell afoul of regulatory authorities (appellation names apparently can’t be part of wine names). The change makes the inaugural vintage of their Bordeaux blend a collectible aberration, but for 2014 the name serves to better reflects the site anyway. The 100-acre Blind Creek Vineyard in Cawston has contributed stellar grapes to many of Road 13’s award-winning wines (and those of other wineries across BC). Consensus brings together 148 cases of 36% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec, recently bottled after 36-months in French oak. Seeing as BCC has next to no web presence and the premium-priced wines are currently sold on the side in the Road 13 tasting room, Consensus makes for the ultimate insider collectible. Winery Direct $60
Labels: Blind Creek Collective, Carson, Corcelettes, LaStella, Painted Rock, Quails' Gate, Road 13
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Airbus starts production of first A330neo
Airbus' first A330neo is coming to life one year after the programme was launched, with the first 'cutting of metal' underway at its production facilities in Toulouse and Nantes.
Machining of the first engine pylon started during the summer at Airbus’ facility in Saint-Eloi (Toulouse), while Airbus’ Plant in Nantes began production of the first A330neo centre wing box.
The first A330neo Centre Wing Box rib 1 produced in Nantes uses an innovative Isogrid design with 330 triangular pockets which enables the part to meet all our rigidity, strength and low weight requirements.
The all-new pylon produced in Saint-Eloi is a key element in the A330neo’s innovative design, attaching the latest generation, fuel-efficient Trent 7000 engines to the wings. Made out of light weight titanium, the A330neo pylon uses cutting-edge aerodynamics, materials and design technologies derived from the A350 XWB. The A330neo pylon will be fitted with a new A350 XWB inspired fairing made from composite materials and titanium for ensuring optimised aerodynamics.
The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus Widebody Family with first deliveries scheduled to start in Q4 2017. The A330neo incorporates latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features.
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Mayaro Virus: A New Human Disease Agent
III. Investigation of an Epidemic of Acute Febrile Illness on the River Guama in Pará, Brazil, and Isolation of Mayaro Virus as Causative Agent1
Ottis R. Causey, Otavio M. Maroja
Affiliations: 1 The Belém Virus Laboratory, Belém, Pará, Brazil
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 6, Issue 6, 1 Nov 1957, p. 1017 - 1023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1957.6.1017
Investigation of an epidemic of unknown etiology in a community of quarry and forest workers on the River Guama, 120 miles east of Belém, Brazil, resulted in the isolation of six strains of virus, subsequently shown to be Mayaro, from the blood of six patients. The common complaints were moderate and continuous fever and severe frontal headache of two to five days' duration. There were no deaths.
Sera collected from 50 persons on April 15 were found to have no neutralizing antibodies against Semliki virus, which is antigenically closely related to Mayaro virus. Seven, or 18.9 per cent, of 37 sera collected from these same persons three weeks later showed protective antibodies by the same technique. Samples obtained at this time from 37 persons not bled earlier revealed that 7, or 18.9 per cent, also had demonstrable antibodies. Two later conversions were demonstrated in second samples collected June 26. Six of the serum conversions were in persons from whom the virus strains were isolated by mouse inoculation.
Previous neutralization tests with Semliki virus and the sera from 551 adults in 17 localities throughout the Amazon Valley had shown protective antibodies in 53, or 9.6 per cent, of the persons examined. It now seems probable that these antibodies represent infections with Mayaro virus.
/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1957.6.1017
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1957.6.1017
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Home Heritage Features A Tribute To Roger Graef
A Tribute To Roger Graef
BAFTA/ Jamie Simonds
To recognise the outstanding contribution Roger Graef has made to television documentary, BAFTA held a Tribute evening to celebrate Graef's groundbreaking body of work.
Roger Graef
On 12 May 2014, BAFTA held a Tribute evening to celebrate Roger Graef’s 50th year as a filmmaker. During the event Graef looked back over his career in conversation with BBC One controller Charlotte Moore and delivered a 12 point manifesto that “will help filmmakers and commissioners build on the current success of documentaries.”
Matters of justice have always been close to Roger’s heart - he first chose theatre as the medium through which to harness his passion for conveying important human stories. This then led to the start of an illustrious career in TV, beginning in 1964 with One Of Them Is Brett, a film commissioned by The Society for the Aid of Thalidomide Children to show head teachers of infants’ schools that children who lack limbs can still have perfectly good brains.
Well-made documentaries are islands of evidence and tools for change in a sea of noise.
BAFTA/ Jamie Simonds Graef's other credits include In the Name of Allah - the first full-length film on Islam for Western television, as well as the first Amnesty International film, Pleasure at Her Majesty’s and BAFTA-winning experimental prison musical Feltham Sings (2002).
As a director, producer and executive producer, BAFTA award-winning Roger has been responsible for more than 160 documentaries to date spanning current affairs, criminal justice, communication, business, city planning and architecture, science, comedy and the arts.
During the celebratory evening, footage of Graef's work was shown and the filmmaker received personal tributes from colleagues & friends Michael Palin, Richard Klein, Jay Hunt, Tom Giles and many more admirers from the industry.
In conversation with Charlotte Moore, Graef revealed what inspired him to bring difficult issues into people's homes, whilst reflecting on his work to date and his high hopes for the future of filmmaking.
Watch Roger Graef In Conversation With Charlotte Moore
Chromeless One player. www.bafta.org + Powered by brightcove
Graef also used the Tribute evening as an opportunity to outline his manifesto for the future of filmmaking. Graef covered the problems that filmmakers face in the fight for ratings and urged them to "make room for failure", because "commissioners need the time and the freedom to take more risks."
Blurring the line between current affairs and documentaries helps to bring the human face to stories that are only summarised by the news.
Graef made clear the importance of "letting subjects speak for themselves" and remembering that "documentaries are not fact-driven, even though they’re factual."
For the full manifesto, download the BAFTA Guru podcast
Watch Roger Graef Deliver His Manifesto
Roger Graef: A BAFTA Tribute
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Comics Featured News Reviews TV Shows
The Walking Dead: S716 Season Finale “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” – Our Review
On Apr 13, 2017 1:20 am, by Robert@ReturnOfBetweenTheStaples
Check out our review of the season finale episode “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” of The Walking Dead on AMC. The Walking Dead: S716 Our Review.
The Walking Dead – Season 7 episodes 16 Season Finale “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life”
Warning: There will be spoilers.
The Walking Dead: S716 Our Review
Some quick recapping then we’re just diving right into it…
Robert: Unless you’ve been living under a rock, this was the big Season 7 Finale for The Walking Dead. This is the beginning of the WAR with Negan & The Saviors. Rick has been slowly gathering both resources & allies to stand up and fight Negan. Sasha & Rosita go balls to the wall and try to sneak into Sanctuary and kill Negan but unfortunately Sasha gets captured and you think she kills herself but instead, she doesn’t but decides to join Negan in his confrontation with Rick. Rick meanwhile is building his army and stand as Rosita returned with Dwight who tells them that Negan & the Saviors are coming. Dwight makes a deal to stall the Saviors to help Rick & Crew.
Robert: Okay. So here we are. The Season finale. Rick pulls everyone together. King Ezekiel readies his army and heads out. The Knights of the Kingdom with King Ezekiel, Carol & Shiva come across Morgan who’s barely keeping it together but joins them. At the same time, Maggie rallies Hilltop to join the big fight as well. Of course, the Heapsters / Garbage people show up to stand with Rick but JUST as the big fight is about to go off. Negan has Eugene talk to Rick, try to persuade Rick to stand down so not everyone has to die. Rick decides that Eugene has gone to the dark side and signals for bombs to go off but alas… they don’t as suddenly the Heapsters / Garbage people show their true colors and turn on Rick & Crew. Negan & the Saviors come inside after the Heapsters let them in. Negan decides to show Rick & Alexandria a “present” which he has locked up in a coffin.
Robert: Right. Here’s with that – Sasha agrees to join Negan and then takes the pill Eugene gave her and while she dies in the coffin, she has flashbacks of her love with Abraham. Of course, Sasha is the big surprise that Negan planned to show Rick & all of Alexandria. Show his power over her and them. Well, this backfires as Sasha comes out of the coffin as Walker Sasha and goes to attack Negan. They both fall of the truck the coffin was on and THIS sparks those in Alexandria to fight back, starting with CARL. Yes. Carl tuns and takes out three Heapsters around him – BANG BANG BANG! Rick attacks. Michonee attacks. Everyone attacks it’s all out chaos, everyone shooting one another until suddenly, the Saviors take control back and surround the Alexandrians, stop the fighting. That’s where Negan has his moment with Rick & Carl, about to kill Rick in front of Carl then kill Carl. Just as Negan’s about to strike – King Ezekiel, the Knights of The Kingdom and especially Shiva all attack! Then Maggie and Hilltop join the fight. Now it’s all out chaos and battle where everyone is fighting with everyone. Morgan ends up back to back with Rick against the odds and just as it seems like Rick & crew are about to win – The Heapsters do the smoke bombs and GONE. Negan escapes with Simon and the remaining Saviors. Rick & crew are there with those who survived from Alexandria, Hilltop and The Kingdom. The first battle has ended. Now the war shall begin as Negan ends up declaring this in the final scene.
Robert: So what did I think of the season finale? I REALLY really enjoyed it. It has the drama from Sasha’s end of life flashbacks to remind you of how much she had grown and exactly what everyone was fighting for. Not only the painful survival in this new Walking Dead world but the love for those around you. Now did I think that the later fight scenes seemed a bit rushed? Maybe a little but I also enjoy those moments when the heroes have fallen and just as they’re about to die, more heroes rush into to help them. That story / scenes almost always work for me and it worked on this season finale as well.
Robert: Did I wish it had more deadly Walkers?! Sure but I feel that was left out because it was yet another conflict to manage in all the chaos in the end. Would it have added to the show, given it’s title – of course but we got what we got. I hope that the show can start to NOT bend to the mass outcries of some of the fandom and limit the violence after the season opener with Negan. Let the show reign hard in it’s violence as The Walking Dead has shown numerous times that it doesn’t need that to make a good episode but it is a realization on the world they’re in which can be quite violent and gruesome in both the dead and those living. Could it have been a better episode? Of course it could have but I liked this episode and how it ended. Everyone wants a war and wars don’t happen over one of two episodes. From what it feels like the war against Negan could last the entire next season and maybe beyond. Does the war need to have more victims? YES. That is what REALLY bothered me about this episode, not enough victims in a bloody gun battle. NO ONE you’ve watched going into this episode were at risk beyond Sasha and that’s likely because Sonequa Martin-Green’s real-life casting as the star of Star Trek: Discovery. I didn’t like that but The Walking Dead showrunners did say that they would have toned down the violence this season so I’m assuming that applied to those who didn’t die in the season finale.
Robert: Now I have to say Sonequa Martin-Green was just lovely all season but this was her episode to shine and boy did she. Thank-you for all your work on The Walking Dead and I look forward to watching Sonequa Martin-Green on Star Trek: Discovery.
Ian: Yet another season of TWD wraps up as the series made a bit of progress but more often moving along at a snail’s pace. While it took the entire season to come to fairly exciting stand off, the pay off doesn’t feel that satisfying despite some solid character study episodes. For example, while this was the closing arc for Sasha’s character, I was never invested in the Abrams drama at all.
Ian: Sasha got pushed into a role that Carol already claimed a few seasons back – a civilian forged by hardship to soldier on, no matter the personal cost. To spice it up and to generate some kind of emotional drama, relationship drama got shoehorned in with two independent woman fight over dibs about being Abraham’s most ideal love interest. Screw that noise.
Ian: I’ll give them kudos to how Sasha’s final moments played out and if it wasn’t so on the noise about avenging Abrah’s, the pay off feels short changed for the reasons why rather than how it all played out which thankfully, Sonequa did a pretty good job with.
Ian: Some other details such as the Junker’s purpose is also perplexing. While playing a minor role in the comics, I could never take the dumpster LARPers as anything other than just a weird gimmick that felt alien to the rest of the show. While the audience could draw a similar experience with King Ezekiel’s character and his brand of bravado/showmanship that also feels like a joke sometimes, the key difference is the purpose.
Ian: King Ezekiel and his cool cat Shiva are larger than life but this is purposely done as Ezekiel feels that by taking on the role of this majestic king, he can become a symbol to rally his people together especially when Negan does the same with his own vicious brand of tyranny to keep people in line. It’s expanded more in the comic as Ezekiel explains his humble origin of being former zookeeper before the outbreak and how he built his relationship with Shiva but it’s still fairly clear by the context what is shown to the audience so far.
Ian: Meanwhile, the junkers speak in weird ways with no reason at all – They just act this way because that’s just how they are. The phrasing and delivering of lines by their leader, Jadis, is done in such a familiar way of Star Trek encounter that could only be explained as nerds dealing with brutal new world with the only coping mechanism available to them – badly over the top acting. It’s distracting as hell and the whole twist with selling out to Negan felt flat as there was no real reason to trust the group aside from bare minimum mutual destruction kind of deal.
Ian: Honestly while the Sasha send off was done well, the show doesn’t reach that far outside of what fans have seen in the past as JMD being perfect for Negan can’t carry the entire show if the writing and character development is average at the best. It’s a show that can easily please the diehard core audience but my own personal hold out is for the road ahead as the show can easily try to take more risks with the source material and please, PLEASE don’t drag out plot points just to fill out a season.
Robert: The biggest issue with this season finale is that it DID NOT end on any type of cliff hanger. No Negan going to bash someone’s head in. No, someone got shot and are bleeding out, can we save them? No, someone got shot in the woods outside of Alexandria and will they become a Walker? Nope and THAT will and I believe HAS hurt the shows ratings. WHAT is the big drawn to turn in right away at the start of next season?! Right now, nothing important besides the start of the war.
Robert: Now this is also likely why the show MIGHT follow the comic book and start the next season a few years LATER during the war with Negan. Now, THAT might be a big enough #YeahBuWha to bring viewers back. MAYBE. I hope so, I still enjoy the show despite their failures this season.
SHIVA eating Savior’s faces off!
“The WIDOW LIVES!!” Negan cries when he sees Maggie charging at them. Nice homage to Into the Badlands
Sasha Walker looked awesome. Loved the sad ending with Maggie & Rosita finding her and putting her down. Touching.
Kick Ass CARL! I mentioned it before but man, he was HUGE for the crew, taking down people in the blink of an eye!
Morgan on edge, can he come back and if so, how?
So Aaron’s boyfriend is one of the few Alexandrians dead. Hello Daryl?
Next Week… there is no next week. AMC The Walking Dead returns in October 2017
What’s Next? FEAR OF THE WALKING DEAD Returns in June 2017, here’s a sneak peak…
Alanna Masterson Andrew Lincoln Austin Amelio Carl Carl Grimes Chandler Riggs Christian Serratos Danai Gurira Daryl Daryl Dixon Dwight Eugene Father Gabriel Stokes Gregory Jeffrey Dean Morgan Jesus Josh McDermitt Lauren Cohan Maggie Greene Michonne Negan Norman Reedus Oceanside Rick Rick Grimes Rosita Sasha Saviors Seth Gilliam Simon Sonequa Martin-Green Steven Ogg Tara Tara Chambler The Walking Dead The Walking Dead: S716 Season Finale "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" Tom Payne Xander Berkley
The Walking Dead: S714 “The Other Side” & S715 “Something They Need” – Our Reviews
The Walking Dead: S711 & S712 “Hostiles and Calamities”+”Say Yes” – Our Reviews
The Walking Dead: S708 “Hearts Still Beating” – Our Review
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Lyon v Rangers
Lyon v Rangers will shown live at the Blue Room on Tuesday. The game kicks off at 2.45pm. Guests are more than welcome to attend (including any Lyon supporters out there). Please note that as usual, there is a charge of $10 to cover the cost of the satellite feed.
Posted by Greig at 9:46 AM
Labels: Fixtures
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"This might be Tim City, but we are the people" - Stewart Devine, 2002
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International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences of Yazd
Vol. 10, No. 1, 2012, pp. 7-14 Bioline Code: rm12002
International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2012, pp. 7-14
en Long-term effects of maternal exposure to Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on sperm and testicular parameters in Wistar rats offspring
Dorostghoal, Mehran; Moazedi, Ahmad Ali; Zardkaf, Adel &
Background: Phthalate esters have been shown to cause reproductive toxicity in both developing and adult animals.
Objective: This study was designed to assess long-term effects of maternal exposure to Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) on reproductive ability of both neonatal and adult male offspring.
Materials and Methods: 60 female rats randomly divided in four equal groups; vehicle control and three treatment groups that received 10, 100 and 500 mg/kg/day DEHP via gavage during gestation and lactation. At different ages after birth, the volumes of testes were measured by Cavellieri method, testes weights recorded and epididymal sperm samples were assessed for number and gross morphology of spermatozoa. Following tissue processing, seminiferous tubules diameter and germinal epithelium height evaluated with morphometric techniques.
Results: Mean testis weight decreased significantly (p <0.05) in 500 mg/kg/day dose group from 28 to 150 days after birth. Significant decreases were seen in total volumes of testis in 100 (p<0.05) and 500 (p<0.01) mg/kg/day doses groups until 150 days after birth. Seminiferous tubules diameter and germinal epithelium height decreased significantly in 100 (p<0.05) and 500 (p<0.01) mg/kg/day doses groups during postnatal development. Also, mean sperm density in 100 mg/kg/day (p<0.05) and 500 mg/kg/day (p<0.01) doses groups and percent of morphologically normal sperm in highest dose group (p<0.05) decreased significantly until 150 days after birth.
Conclusion: Present study showed that maternal exposure to Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate during gestation and lactation caused to permanent and dose-related reductions of sperm and testicular parameters in rats offspring.
Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Testis, Sperm, Morphometry, Stereology.
© Copyright 2012 - Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine
Alternative site location: http://www.ijrm.ir
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Trailer Review - Kalank
Comments [ 2 ] By Shreya S. | 04 April 2019 | 10:16pm
Post the release of Raazi (2019) and its award-sweeping stint earlier this year, Dharma Productions' josh is at an all-time high. Re-casting Alia Bhatt as the protagonist, Karan Johar unveiled the trailer of his dream project, titled Kalank (2019), today. Co-producers Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Fox Star Studios have roped in a powerhouse of a cast in the form of Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sonakshi Sinha in pivotal roles alongside Bhatt, while Kunal Khemu, Kiara Advani and Kriti Sanon appear in cameos and musicals, respectively. Our team at India-Forums avidly watched and critiqued the highly anticipated preview of Kalank (2019), scheduled to release on 17th April, 2019.
The movie is set in the colonial 1940s, the pre-independence era of distinct economic and religious inequality. The trailer opens with Sinha in a sari-clad, ideal bahu avatar, her look resembling that of Jaya Bachchan from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2000). She is indulging in religious customs and household chores. In contrast, Bhatt is seen to be a lively and liberal maiden. As we move on to have a closer look into their lives, we realize how a hesitant Sinha convinces her reluctant husband, essayed by Kapur, to remarry, for she is unable to bestow the Chaudhrys with an heir. On the other hand, there are sparks flying between Bhatt and Dhawan, a Muslim, belonging to an entirely different cultural background. Dutt and Nene are seldom seen in the two-minute long trailer. How the four central characters deal with love, hate and sacrifice amongst growing communal tensions, forms the crux of the story.
Unarguably, the movie's premise and art direction bears stark similarities to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's signature technique. Abhishek Varman appears to have done a fair job with the overall direction. Cinematographer Binod Pradhan pleasingly captures the lavish mansions and old mohalla sets, constructing an ideal backdrop for unrequited love. The music and background score by Pritam and Sanchit Balhara is alluring, and the title track crooned by Arijit Singh is already topping the charts. However, judging solely from the trailer, it seems like writer Shibani Bathija has failed to flesh out the characters of Balraj Chaudhry and Bahaar Begum, played by Dutt and Nene, respectively. Shweta Venkat Mathew, the editor, has assigned minimal screen time to the acclaimed actors. The scanty use of dialogues in the trailer also produces an enigmatic air around the storyline.
Though Johar claims the movie to be his father, legendary director-producer Yash Johar's conceptualization, there are rumors emerging now that the plot is loosely inspired by author Shauna Singh Baldwin's book, What The Body Remembers. Kalank seems to be highly influenced by what we can call the "Bhansali style of filming and, amusingly, a few of Dharma Productions' past projects. Nonetheless, the movie has been creating the right buzz, thanks to its massive star power. We, at India-Forums, rate the trailer a generous 3 out of 5, only due to the intriguing impact the love triangle makes on the audience's minds. We urge you to tune into YouTube or your favorite video streaming website to give the trailer a watch. Comment below to let us know what you think of it!
Writer: Anushka J.
Editors: Ramya K. and Gunia K.
Graphics: Liana G.
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Hat Danko LP
by Dugong
Reissue of Dugong's fantastic second album to mark it's 10th anniversary and Bombed Out's 15th anniversary.
Following on from 2001's The Eastmoor Rules, I don't think there were many that expected the leap that Dugong were to make between that fantastic record and this one.
While their debut album was a great melodic punk record it only hinted at what the band could be capable of. Hat Danko delivered on all fronts as the influences that crept into the bands sound prior to this are here fully explored.
The Karate influence is once again present on "They Never Saw The Magic" while "Vital Loop" has a full-on, late 90s emo feel to it. Then you get the perfect pop-punk of "Tonight This Is Perfect", the more refrained "Human Fade", the antagonistic "And Now We Are Men" and the alt-country twang of "The More Rivers You Cross The More You Know About Rivers".
To put it bluntly, each and every song on this record is a classic in its own right. Together they make for one of the most ambitious, varied (yet cohesive) and, above all else, strongest, releases we've ever put out.
It was with this in mind that we decided to celebrate both the 10th anniversary of Hat Danko's release and the 15th anniversary of Bombed Out with a limited edition LP reissue. The reissue will be released on 180g (that's the heavy stuff) white vinyl and will be wrapped in a lovely gate-fold sleeve.
Artwork, once again, by Paul Heys who wanted to update and move on a little from what he'd done with the CD artwork 10 years earlier. We hope you approve.
Final note: the LP version of the album contains 9 songs rather than 10. The track "Return to Form" will be included with the download but the band have chosen not to include it on the LP as, with band members having played different instruments on said track they didn't feel it quite fit in with the flow of the album.
Honest Industry
Tonight This is Perfect
Vital Loop
Human Fade
And Now We Are Men
The More Rivers You Cross The More You Know About Rivers
The Legs that Carried Him
Snakes! Why did it have to be Snakes?
They Never Saw the Magic
This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 22 September, 2013.
The Rituals - The Past Twelve Months CD £6.00
The Mercy Suite - Credis Quad Habes et Habes MCD £5.00
The SWord - The SWord CD £4.00
Dropnose - s/t MCD £4.00
Dugong - Quick to the City MCD £5.00
The Mercy Suite - Crestfallen CD £6.00
The Dauntless Elite - Graft LP £7.50
The Leif Ericsson - s/t 12" Picture Disc £8.00
Slow Science / The Dauntless Elite - split 12" £5.00
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Craig Morgan Marks 12th USO Tour With Trip to South Korea
by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | November 27, 2019
Craig Morgan, who spent 10.5 years on active duty in the U.S. Army in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and 6.5 years in the Army Reserves, performed for service members in South Korea during Thanksgiving week as part of his 12th USO Tour.
Craig’s trip to Camp Humphreys in South Korea will be highlighted in a special episode of CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown, airing at 9 a.m. ET on Dec. 14 and 15.
“This is what I know—this ain’t just what I think,” said Craig to NCD earlier this month. “If it were not for our military, and the men and women who serve in our military, and their families serving them, and ensuring that the home front is held up, and the rest of this country doing what it can for our men and women, we would not celebrate the freedoms that we celebrate . . . I have a great appreciation, obviously having served with them, but having done what I do now for so long, I can tell you 20 years later, I still feel very odd being this guy, because I was that guy for so long that when I go overseas, I feel super out of place. I feel like I should have a weapon, be in uniform, protecting the guy, doing what I’m doing. So it’s always an out of body experience when I’m over there . . . But I say what most people in this country say, ‘Thank you. Thank you, for your service.’”
In 2018, Craig was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in recognition of his dedication to entertaining troops and their families around the world. The Outstanding Civilian Service Medal is one of the highest awards that the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian. The Army recognized Craig for his significant dedication to supporting military members who have served their country, often in harm’s way.
photo by NCD
written by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | published November 27, 2019 9:35 am
category: NCD News | related posts: Craig Morgan, South Korea, USO Tour
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New Bikes At School For Homeless Kids
Bob Moffitt
Thursday, January 16, 2014 | Sacramento, CA | Permalink
sacramento police department
Mustard Seed School Director Angela Hassell says there are 35 children at the school, but there are 300 who rotate in and out every year. She says the bikes could have been given to individual students. But, the school decided more children would benefit if the bikes stay at the school for use by current and future students.
"Sometimes when they go home, kids aren't able to hang on to them very long because they're moving around from one week to the next," says Hassell. "They move into a shelter, where they don't have space to store it, the bike disappears, or given to a friend, something like that."
Eleven-year-old Joshua Land understands the idea behind keeping the bikes at school.
"I had a bike when I lived in Oak Park," he says. "But someone rode up, hopped the gate and they stole my wheels off of it."
The children now at the school will be able to ride the bikes during safety training demonstrations called bike rodeos. Hassell says her goal is more access during the rest of the year. She says she is looking for a suitable space.
"I would love to have once a week where we could take the kids out on bikes for their P.E. class and be able to use the rodeo as it happens to enforce the safety things."
Eight-year-old Curtnisia Amos is excited about going through a safety class.
"That would be awesome because if some people don't know how to ride a bike, they could be teached how to ride a bike," she says.
The donations are part of a Sacramento Police program to teach bicycle safety. The program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.
The bikes were donated anonymously. The police also brought pizza for a lunch time party.
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1832 and 1833 United States House of Representatives elections
1832 and 1833 U.S. House of Representatives elections
← 1830 / 1831 July 2, 1832 – October 7, 1833 1834 / 1835 →
All 240 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
121 seats needed for a majority
Majority party
Minority party
Andrew Stevenson Lewis Williams
Jacksonian Anti-Jacksonian
Leader's seat
Virginia 11th North Carolina 13th
Last election
126 seats 66 seats
Seats won
143[a] 63[a]
Seat change
Fourth party
Anti-Masonic Nullifier
17 seats 4 seats
Speaker before election
Andrew Stevenson
Jacksonian
Elected Speaker
Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1832. They were held concurrently with the 1832 presidential election, in which Democrat Andrew Jackson was reelected.
The Jacksonians[b] gained 17 seats, picking up several new seats in districts that were created following the 1830 census; the rival National Republican Party lost a net total of three seats. Economic issues were key factors in this election. Southern agricultural districts reacted angrily to passage of the Tariff of 1832, which led to the Nullification Crisis. President Andrew Jackson and the Jacksonians showed a distrust for the banking sector, particularly the central Second Bank of the United States, which was strongly supported by the rival Anti-Jacksonian Party.[c]
The third-party Anti-Masonic Party, based on anti-Masonry, gained eight seats, and Nullifier Party, a John C. Calhoun-led states' rights party that supported South Carolina in the Nullification Crisis, picked up five seats, including all but one of the nine representatives in the South Carolina delegation.
This House initially elected Andrew Stevenson as Speaker. He resigned when President Jackson appointed him as Minister to the United Kingdom. Anti-Jacksonian Representatives were then able to elect John Bell as Speaker over James Polk.
1 Special elections
1.1 22nd Congress
1.2 23rd Congress
2 Election summaries
3 Connecticut
4 Pennsylvania
5 Vermont
22nd Congress
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2019)
This race
First elected
Virginia 22 Charles Clement Johnston Jacksonian 1831 Incumbent died June 17, 1832.
New member elected in 1832.
Jacksonian hold.
Successor seated December 12, 1832.
Y Joseph Draper (Jacksonian) 54.91%
John B. George (Unknown) 45.09%[1]
Vermont 1 Jonathan Hunt Anti-Jacksonian 1827 Incumbent died May 15, 1832.
New member elected January 1, 1833 on the fourth ballot.
Anti-Jacksonian hold.
Winner also elected the same day to the next term, see below. First ballot (July 6, 1832):
Richard Skinner (Anti-Jacksonian) 43.70%
William Czar Bradley (Jacksonian) 24.59%
Hiland Hall (Anti-Jacksonian) 19.08%
John Phelps (Anti-Masonic) 12.63%[2]
Second ballot (September 4, 1832):
Orsamus Cook Merrill (Jacksonian) 24.90%
John Phelps (Anti-Masonic) 12.42%
William Czar Bradley (Jacksonian) 5.80%
Daniel Kellogg (Jacksonian) 5.60%
John S. Pettibone (Anti-Masonic) 4.75%
Hiland Hall (Anti-Jacksonian) 1.31%[3]
Third ballot (November 6, 1832):
Richard Skinner (Anti-Jacksonian) 2.76%[4]
Fourth ballot (January 1, 1833):
Y Hiland Hall (Anti-Jacksonian) 55.69%
John Phelps (Anti-Masonic) 8.67%
John S. Pettibone (Anti-Masonic) 1.85%[5]
23rd Congress
Virginia 5 John Randolph Jacksonian 1815
1817 (Retired)
1825 (Resigned)
1833 Incumbent died May 24, 1833.
New member elected in August 1833.
Y Thomas T. Bouldin (Jacksonian) 91.59%
Daniel A. Wilson (Unknown) 8.41%[6]
Pennsylvania 1 Joel B. Sutherland Jacksonian 1826 Incumbent resigned to become a judge, but then resigned that position to run for this seat.
Incumbent re-elected October 8, 1833.
Y Joel B. Sutherland (Jacksonian) 56.4%
John Sergeant (Anti-Jacksonian) 42.5%
Election summaries
Following the 1830 Census, 27 new seats were apportioned,[7] with 4 States losing 1 seat each, 8 States having no change, and the remaining 12 States gaining between 1 and 6 seats.
63 25 143 9
Anti-Jacksonian Anti-Masonic Jacksonian [d]
Anti-Jacksonian
Anti-Masonic
Nullifier
At-large November 13, 1832 1 1 0 0 0
At-large October 1, 1832 9 2 0 0 9 2 0
Districts August 6, 1832 3 2 0 0 3 2 0
Louisiana[e]
Districts July 2–4, 1832 3 3 0 0 0
At-large August 6–7, 1832 2 1 0 0 2 1 0
Missouri[f]
At-large August 6, 1832
August 5, 1833 2 1 2 1 0 0 0
At-large November 6, 1832 6 0 6 0 6 6 0
District November 5–7, 1832 40 6 0 3 8 32 9 0
Districts October 9, 1832 19 5 6 2 2 2 11 5 0
Districts October 9, 1832 28 2 4 2 10 3 14 3 0
Late elections (After the March 4, 1833 beginning of the term)
Districts August 5, 1833 5 2 0 0 4 1 1 1
At-large April 11, 1833 6 6 0 0 0
Districts August 5, 1833 13 1 9 5 0 4 4 0
Districts September 9, 1833 8 1 1 0 7 1 0
Districts October 7, 1833 8 1 2 3 0 6 2 0
Districts April 1, 1833 12 1 9 4 2 2 1 1 0
At-large March 12, 1833 5 1 0 0 5 1 0
Districts August 8, 1833 13 7 5 0 6 5 0
Districts September 2–3, 1833 9 0 0 1 4 8 4
Districts August 1–2, 1833 13 4 1 0 12 4 0
Districts January 1, 1833 5 3 2 0 0
Districts April, 1833 21 1 7 2 0 14 3 0
House seats
Senator Samuel A. Foot lost re-election to the U.S. Senate. He was then subsequently elected to the U.S. House to represent one of the six seats from Connecticut's at-large congressional district.
[Data unknown/missing]
Main article: 1832 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania
See also: List of United States Representatives from Pennsylvania
Following the reapportionment resulting from the 1830 census, Pennsylvania gained two representatives, increasing from 26 to 28, and was redistricted into 25 districts, two of which were plural districts. Pennsylvania elected its members October 9, 1832.
Candidates[8][g]
Pennsylvania 1 Joel B. Sutherland Jacksonian 1826 Incumbent re-elected.
Winner resigned to become a judge but then won re-election to the seat.
James Gowen (Anti-Jacksonian) 40.5%
Samuel B. Davis (Jacksonian) 9.5%
Plural district with 2 seats Henry Horn Jacksonian 1830 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Anti-Jacksonian gain.
Y Horace Binney (Anti-Jacksonian) 62.9%
Y James Harper (Anti-Jacksonian) 59.9%
Benjamin Richards (Jacksonian) 39.8%
Henry Horn (Jacksonian) 37.4%
None (Seat created) New seat.
Pennsylvania 3 John G. Watmough Anti-Jacksonian 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Y John G. Watmough (Anti-Jacksonian) 53.7%
Jesse R. Burden (Jacksonian) 34.4%
Mahon M. Lewis (Jacksonian) 11.9%
Plural district with 3 seats William Hiester Anti-Masonic 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Y William Hiester (Anti-Masonic) 58.5%
Y David Potts Jr. (Anti-Masonic) 58.4%%
Y Edward Darlington (Anti-Masonic) 58.3%
Frederick Hambright (Jacksonian) 41.7%
John Morgan (Jacksonian) 41.6%
Henry Myers (Jacksonian) 41.5%
Joshua Evans Jr. Jacksonian 1828 Incumbent retired.
Anti-Masonic gain.
David Potts Jr. Anti-Masonic 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Pennsylvania 5 Joel K. Mann Jacksonian 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Y Joel K. Mann (Jacksonian) 54.5%
Benjamin Reiff (Anti-Masonic) 45.5%
Pennsylvania 6 None (District created) New seat.
Jacksonian gain.
Y Robert Ramsey (Jacksonian) 43.9%
Mathias Morris (Anti-Jacksonian) 38.6%
Thomas Ross (Anti-Masonic) 17.5%
Pennsylvania 7 Peter Ihrie Jr.
Redistricted from the 8th district Jacksonian 1829 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Jacksonian hold
Y David D. Wagener (Jacksonian) 58.3%
Peter Ihrie Jr. (Anti-Masonic[h]) 34.7%
Owen Rice 6.9%
Pennsylvania 8 Henry King
Redistricted from the 7th district Jacksonian 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Y Henry King (Jacksonian) 54.3%
William Audenreid (Anti-Masonic) 45.7%
Pennsylvania 9 Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
Y Henry A. P. Muhlenberg (Jacksonian) 57.1%
David Hollenstein (Anti-Masonic) 42.9%
Pennsylvania 10 John C. Bucher
Redistricted from the 6th district Jacksonian 1830 Incumbent lost re-election.
Y William Clark (Anti-Masonic) 60.7%
John C. Bucher (Jacksonian) 39.3%
Pennsylvania 11 Adam King
Redistricted from the 10th district Jacksonian 1826 Incumbent lost re-election.
Y Charles A. Barnitz (Anti-Masonic) 51.9%
Adam King (Jacksonian) 48.1%
Pennsylvania 12 Thomas H. Crawford
Y George Chambers (Anti-Masonic) 55.6%
Thomas H. Crawford (Jacksonian) 44.4%
Pennsylvania 13 None (District created) New seat.
Y Jesse Miller (Jacksonian) 53.8%
Thomas Whiteside (Anti-Masonic) 46.2%
Y Joseph Henderson (Jacksonian) 52.9%
James Milliken (Anti-Masonic) 47.1%
Y Andrew Beaumont (Jacksonian) 34.8%
Thomas W. Miner (Anti-Masonic/Anti-Jacksonian) 33.3%
James McClintock (Independent Jacksonian) 31.9%
Y Joseph B. Anthony (Jacksonian) 58.1%
Ner Middleswarth (Anti-Masonic) 41.9%
Y John Laporte (Jacksonian) 60.3%
Simon Kinney (Anti-Masonic) 39.7%
Pennsylvania 18 George Burd
Redistricted from the 13th district Anti-Jacksonian 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Y George Burd (Anti-Jacksonian) 52.0%
David Mann (Anti-Masonic) 48.0%
Pennsylvania 19 Richard Coulter
Redistricted from the 17th district Jacksonian 1826 Incumbent re-elected.
Y Richard Coulter (Jacksonian) 100%
Pennsylvania 20 Andrew Stewart
Redistricted from the 14th district Anti-Masonic 1820
1828 (Lost)
1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Y Andrew Stewart (Anti-Masonic) 51.8%
William G. Hawkins (Jacksonian) 48.8%
Pennsylvania 21 Thomas M. T. McKennan
Redistricted from the 15th district Anti-Masonic 1830 Incumbent re-elected.
Y Thomas M. T. McKennan (Anti-Masonic) 56.1%
William McCreery (Jacksonian) 43.9%
Pennsylvania 22 Harmar Denny
Redistricted from the 16th district Anti-Masonic 1829 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
Y Harmar Denny (Anti-Masonic) 61.2%
William Robinson (Jacksonian) 38.8%
Y Samuel S. Harrison (Jacksonian) 61.0%
William Ayers (Anti-Masonic) 39.0%
Pennsylvania 24 John Banks
Y John Banks (Anti-Masonic) 51.1%
Samuel Power (Jacksonian) 48.9%
Y John Galbraith (Jacksonian) 55.2%
Thomas H. Sill (Anti-Masonic) 44.8%
Main article: 1833 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont
See also: List of United States Representatives from Vermont
Vermont elected its members January 1, 1833, but two were elected late in the Spring of 1833. The 4th district's election in the previous cycle (1830–1831) went to eleven ballots, so its member wasn't elected until the 1832, near the beginning of this cycle (1832–1833).
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2020)
Winner also elected the same day to finish the current term.
Vermont 2 William Slade Anti-Masonic 1831 (Special) Incumbent re-elected.
Y William Slade (Anti-Masonic) 50.21%
Charles Kilborn Williams (Anti-Jacksonian) 33.60%
Charles Linsley (Jacksonian) 16.18%[9]
Vermont 3 Horace Everett Anti-Jacksonian 1828 Incumbent re-elected on the third ballot. First ballot (January 1, 1833):
Titus Hutchinson (Anti-Masonic) 41.59%
Horace Everett (Anti-Jacksonian) 27.66%
Daniel A. Buck (Jacksonian) 26.44%
Isaac N. Cushman (Anti-Jacksonian) 4.31%[10]
Second ballot (March 5, 1833):
Daniel A. Buck (Jacksonian) 28.95%[11]
Third ballot (May 7, 1833):
Y Horace Everett (Anti-Jacksonian) 43.26%
Vermont 4 Heman Allen Anti-Jacksonian 1832 (Late) Incumbent re-elected.
Y Heman Allen (Anti-Jacksonian) 59.51
Luther B. Hunt (Jacksonian) 29.34%
Joel Barber (Anti-Masonic) 11.14%[13]
Vermont 5 William Cahoon Anti-Masonic 1829 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected on the second ballot.
Anti-Masonic hold. First ballot (January 1, 1833):
Y Benjamin F. Deming (Anti-Masonic) 47.99%
James Bell (Anti-Jacksonian) 32.59%
Jonathan P. Miller (Jacksonian) 5.91%[14]
Jonathan P. Miller (Jacksonian) 34.05%
Isaac Fletcher (Jacksonian) 5.52%
James Bell (Anti-Jacksonian) 3.07%
Azel Spaulding (Jacksonian) 1.77%[15]
1832 United States elections
List of United States House of Representatives elections, 1824–54
1832 and 1833 United States Senate elections
22nd United States Congress
23rd United States Congress
^ a b There are discrepancies among the sources, e.g. Dubin, pg. 108 (and Moore, pg. 956-959) vs. Martis, pg. 92 (and "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. ): Dubin lists 145 Democrats (or Jacksonians, including 1 Independent Democrat), 60 National Republicans, 24 Anti-Masons, 7 Southern Rights or Nullifiers, and 1 "Unionist", while the latter sources list 143 Jacksonians or Democrats, 63 Anti-Jacksonians or National Republicans, 25 Anti-Masons, and 9 Nullifiers. Figures used here defer to Martis and the party figures from the Historian of the House.
^ By this point, Jacksonians also started to be known as Democrats.
^ By this point, Anti-Jacksonians were also known as National Republicans.
^ Nullifier
^ While Dubin (pg. 103) and Moore (pg. 956) indicate that Philemon Thomas of LA-02 was a Democrat/Jeffersonian, Martis (pg. 92) lists Philemon Thomas as a National Republican/Anti-Jeffersonian – figures listed here defer to Martis in this case.
^ Missouri held an election in 1832 for the first seat in its at-large district, and again in 1833 for the second seat in that district.
^ For plural districts, percent is based on assumption that each voter cast as many votes as there are seats
^ Changed parties
^ "Our Campaigns - VA District 22 Special Election Race - Nov 00, 1832". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 01 - Special Election - First Trial Race - Jul 03, 1832". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 01 - Special Election - Second Trial Race - Sep 04, 1832". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 01 - Special Election - Third Trial Race - Nov 06, 1832". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 01 - Special Election - Fourth Trial Race - Jan 01, 1833". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VA District 05 Special Election Race - Aug 00, 1833". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ 4 Stat. 516
^ "Wilkes University Elections Statistics Project" (PDF).
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 02 Race - Jan 01, 1833". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 03 - First Trial Race - Jan 01, 1833". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 03 - Second Trial Race - Mar 05, 1833". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^ "Our Campaigns - VT - District 03 - Third Trial Race - May 07, 1833". www.ourcampaigns.com.
Dubin, Michael J. (March 1, 1998). United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses. McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-0786402830.
Martis, Kenneth C. (January 1, 1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0029201701.
Moore, John L., ed. (1994). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections (Third ed.). Congressional Quarterly Inc. ISBN 978-0871879967.
"Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789���Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)
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Tour Guide to Heavenly Lake on Tian Shan
Tianchi is an alpine lake in Xinjiang, Tianchi lies on the north side of the Bogda Shan(Tian Shan) range of the Tianshan Mountains, about 30 kilometers south of Fukang City and 45 kilometers east of Urumqi. (Bogda is a Mongolian word, meaning “God”.) It is an alpine drift lake shaped in the Quaternary Glacier period. This crescent-shaped lake deserves its name, Pearl of Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan Mountain). With melted snow as its source, Heavenly Lake enjoys crystal water.
Our Bus routes: Urumqi northern suburb Bus Station - Fukang City - Heavenly Lake Scenic Spot
It costs ￥10.5 and about 1 hour from Urumqi northern suburb Bus Station to Fukang City.
There are shuttles from Fukang Bus Station directly to the Heavenly Lake, the fare is ￥5, and it takes about 20 minutes.
Generally, most tourists arrived at 10 am to 12 am, and the bus departure as soon as it is full.
The ticket price is RMB 100 per person, and you need to take a scenic coach to the lake, which cost RMB 70, travelling about 40 minutes.
There was cable car directly to the Heavenly Lake nearby the scenic ticket center in the past, and now it has moved to scenic area outside the ticket center, and the cable car has been shutdown.
winding mountain road inside the Heavenly Lake scenic area, twists and turns
There is an ancient elm standing by the northern shore of Heavenly Lake of Tianshan, which is 15 meters high.
Some vendors leased Xinjiang feature clothing beside the Heavenly Lake.
The left picture is the Goddess Temple, the right one is the elm we saw when cruised on the ships in Tianchi.
Heavenly Lake Tourist Center provided a variety of feature Xinjiang snacks – this is toasted steamed buns, each RMB 5.
The gate of the Heavenly Lake on Tian Shan
Xinjiang Tour: http://www.tourdechina.cn/ChinaTours/Southern_Xinjiang_Cultural_11_Days_Tour.html
Tengwang Pavilion: One of the Three Famous Pavilions in Ancient South China
The pavilion was built in AD 653, when Tengwang Li Yuanying (King Teng), a younger brother of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was the governor of Nanchang. This is also the reason why Li Yuanying is more well-known than his other brothers.
Li Yuanying was born in the imperial family, and he was a typical image of a flamboyant dandy by the influence of court life. In 639, he was enfeoffed as Prince Teng and spent his early years in Suzhou. In 652 he was assigned the governorship of Nanchang. Later, he built a pavilion as his townhouse, which is the famous Tengwang Pavilion.
The reputation of Tengwang Pavilion, to a great extent, is due to a well-known text - "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion" by Wangbo. It was said that when the author, a reputable poet of the Tang Dynasty, passed Nanchang on his way to Guangdong, he wrote this prose on the subject of the banquet which was being held to celebrate the reconstruction of the pavilion. Because of the famous text, most people remember Tengwang Pavilion, while few remember Li Yuanying. Pavilion of Prince Teng became a popular place to welcome and send off guests in history, compose poetry, and lyric writing in this pavilion became a long-lasting fashion. Even commoner emperor Zhu Yuanzhang also set up the celebration party on this pavilion. The pavilion was to be destroyed and rebuilt a total of 29 times over the next centuries.
In 1926, tragedy struck when the pavilion was totally destroyed by fire during that period’s tangled warfare among warlords. In 1989, the pavilion was rebuilt again according to the architectural style of the Song Dynasty. This nine-storied structure stands 57.5 meters in height and occupies a construction area of 13,000 square meters with a 12-meter-long base symbolic of ancient city walls. Made of reinforced cement, the pavilion, featuring flying eaves and engraved beams, looks quite splendid.
The Pavilion is reached by a zigzag bridge and is circled by rock gardens and lakes. The main building of the pavilion is 57.5 meters tall with nine storeys, occupying an area of 47,000 square meters. There are two smaller towers standing on the north and south sides of the principal building. The charm of the pavilion is in the green tiles and the up-turned double eaves. Moreover, there are great collections of musical instruments, religious ornaments, bronze sacrifice ornaments, and series bells which reflect the true classical elegance of the new pavilion.
There is a large white marble relief in the main hall of the first floor.
The second layer is a dark layer, and there is a large meticulous re-color frescoes "outstanding personality map" in the main hall, painted the eighty leading ancient Jiangxi celebrities from the Qin Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty. The third layer is a corridor around the next four layers, is also an important Pavilion level, there are four giant gold plaques under the hallway. In the middle of the hall, there is a fresco on the screen wall, based on the story of "The Peony Pavilion".
The Peony Pavilion is a play written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty and first performed in 1598 at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. After that, Pavilion of Prince Teng was gradually evolved into an opera stage from a dance balcony. The fourth layer is a dark layer.
Similar to the third layer, the fifth floor is also a corridor around the fourth layer, it is the best place to view the landscape and meet friends with texts. There are four gold plaques under the hallway, whose contents were based on the Preface to Tengwang Pavilion. The wall in the middle of hall was inlaid with Wang Bo's brass monument " Preface to Tengwang Pavilion ", about ten square meters.
There is a flowers butterfly picture hanging on the east wall of the West Hall, which is chose from story that Li Yuanying loved butterfly and also loved to paint butterfly.
The sixth layer is the highest floor of Pavilion of Prince Teng. The West Hall is known as the "Antique Showcase Room", which is a small stage, where there are some rare copies of ancient musical instruments display. And there are some twenty minutes of the Tang Dynasty musician performances every day.
As one of the three famous pavilions in ancient China, Tengwang Pavilion fully reflects the profound Chinese culture although it is reconstruction in recent years, it is also reflects the characteristics of ancient civilizations in Jiangxi.
More attractions in Nanchang: http://www.tourdechina.cn/chinaguide/nanchang/Attractions/
Miao Dragon Boat Festival
Shibing County is located in the north of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, the center hinterland of state-level scenic spot: Wuyang River. The county has a population of 150,000, and more than 50% of the Miao ethnic minority population, mainly inhabited in the south county, that is Qingshui River.
Ping Village is a Miao village by the Qingshui River, the birthplace of the unique Miao canoe boat race in the world. Every May 24 of the lunar calendar, all the boat must first go to Ping Village to worship dragon (a ceremony of praying for rain) before going to other villages to accept gifts to friends and relatives. Then the next day, 25th, all the boats gather together at Shidong Town to hold the Dragon Boat Festival of Miao People.
Dragon Boat Festival is one of national grand festivals at Shibing County, falls between the 24th and the 27th of the fifth lunar month and is separate in origin from the Han people’s festival of the same name. On that day, ladies who have married take some Zongzi(rice dumpling) back home, and hand ducks, geese on the head of dragon boat in the uncle's home, while some will take some pigs and cattle, means sending blessing and congratulations, as well as sending harvest and lucky.
This is a native Miao stockade. One ancient legend about "dragon" was born here, from which evolved into a "Dragon Boat Festival." Every May 24 is a holiday in Ping Village. The beginning of the Dragon Boat Festival is not the sound boat race, but visit relatives first. Look at this picture, this is the scene that the relatives of a family carry the gifts and heading for the village...
These sticky rice dumplings are essential for Dragon Boat Festival.
Adult bring the children who wear new clothes to the entrance of the village to pick their relatives up.
Seeing some new faces of the relatives, the girl was a little nervous.
As usual, no matter friends or relatives, you have to drink a cup of wine to enter into the village.
There are guests and hosts, but no boundaries, and friends here were from all sides.
After dinner, we came to the riverside, and found there were all kinds of stalls besides the river.
The people who sold duck were chatting to each other.
The man had bought ducks and was going home.
Vendors from outside were very joyous.
There were many people under the large tree to watch the coming boat race.
The girls were playing water at the side of the boat.
These women were talking their everyday matters.
glory on the face of these women
Everybody was very happy.
A canoe boat was heading for the meeting place.
Miao young and adult were prepared well for the race.
The captain was having a rest, to wait for the "battle".
Relatives of the clans came to toast.
Also hang the kinship and hope to the neck of the "Dragon".
Red silk flag expressed blessing
Toast embodies hope
The elderly carried a child came to the bow to take a picture.
A boy about 10 years of age was wearing dresses, beat drums and gongs.
In the drum field, women beat the drums.
The young man also beat the drum.
Miao shaman killed the white cock as a sacrifice for dragon.
Wearing a gown and a mandarin jack, the old man beat a drum to set the pace for the oarsmen.
The competition was very fierce…
After the race, the boat was leisurely flowed back.
The winners were cleaning the field.
Look back, lingering these simple and beautiful landscape.
Miao Travel Guide: http://www.tourdechina.cn/ChinaGuide/guizhou/
Tengwang Pavilion: One of the Three Famous Pavilio...
Xitang, A Petty Bourgeoisie Taste Ancient Town
Challenge the dangerous Mount Hua
Panning people in the coal field
Bai nationality tie-dyeing, an art of Dali
Shadow of Tianlongtunbao Ancient Town
Stories of Beijing Subway
Baipu, a little town for leisure
Zhangbi Ancient Castle, perfect for tunnel warfare...
The Rainy West Street
A Scenic View of Sun Moon Lake
Follow the Monkey King to the Flaming Mountain
The Top of the World’s Roof
Taxia Village, a picturesque scene
Maiji Mountain Grottoes, the art treasures behind ...
Mouth-watering Shanxi cuisine
Go the see the butterflies in Yalong Bay
Moller Villa, a fairy-tale castle
Chengdu, a city of mahjong
Manzhouli, a border city on the grassland
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HOME On This Page: Tickets | About the Film | Post-Film Discussion & Special Guest |
| Synopsis | Directors' Statement | Additional Info & Links |
Page Buy Tickets Online
FULL BATTLE RATTLE
Directors Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss
TRT: 85 minutes
Digital - DigiBeta/Dolby 5.1
Genre: Documentary - history, world affairs, Iraq, military, technology, simulation
This film is Not Rated, suggest PG - for simulated scenes of war - see trailer
Tuesday Sep 09, 7 pm
Wednesday Sep 10, 7 pm
Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Cincinnati Art Museum,
953 Eden Park Dr, Eden Park/Mt. Adams.
Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for Art Museum members, ETA/Start members, military families and students with valid ID.
$7 tickets are ONLY available online, by phone, at the Museum, and at the door subject to availability.
visit or call the Art Museum (513 721 ARTS)
($9 tix only, cash only),
click each location below for a map:
Clifton - Ludlow Ave. -
College Hill - North Central -
The College Hill Coffee Co.
Northside - Hamilton Ave. -
Downtown Cincinnati -
Tickets will also be available at the door, subject to availability.
Post-Film Discussion
Christopher Mugavero,
Captain, US Army,
Captain Mugavero will join us to offer his unique insight into the simulation operation in the Mojave Desert.
He was assigned as an Assistant Operations Officer for five years with the Iraq Simulation program at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, California. A participant in FULL BATTLE RATTLE, Chris was the Officer in Charge for the village of Medina Wasl, responsible for villager and insurgent activities.
With 17 years in the Army Capt. Mugavero served a one year tour in Iraq as an MTT Team Leader in Baghdad and currently is an instructor at the Manuever Captain's Career Course in Fort Knox, KY, where he is a member of the 16th Cavalry Regiment.
On the personal side, Chris originally hails from New York, is a Liberal Arts graduate of Western Louisianna State University, and is married with three children ages 4, 8 and 12.
THERE'S A BREAK IN THE ACTION ...
Off-camera we hear, "Now you wounded guys, leave your bandages on!" 'Dead' soldiers and 'dead' insurgents get up off the ground, an Iraqi woman in villager costume asks in clear English, "Are we done?" and the bizarre assembly heads toward the tinkling sound of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" -- coming from a yellow ice cream truck in the middle of the desert.
Is this a Hollywood movie set? Not exactly. But as makeup artists apply stage blood to the 'wounded' and acting coaches teach troops how to fall when they are shot, there is a definite air of "lights, camera, action!" as videographers set up for the next round of action.
WELCOME TO FULL BATTLE RATTLE, a unique documentary film about an unusual subject: "virtual Iraq" - the billion dollar urban warfare simulation at the National Training Center in the Mojave Desert, halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The film's title refers to military slang describing full battle dress - 50 pounds of gear including Kevlar vest, weapon and ammo - "full battle rattle."
HIGH-TECH, HIGH-PRESSURE and at times satirically high-camp, this is an environment that few civilians ever see or even know about. Humorous incongruities aside, what happens here is serious business.
MADE WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE US ARMY, without censorship or pre-conditions, the directors could have used this film as a platform for political opinion. To their credit and the credibility of the film, they elected not to editorialize one way or another, allowing the story to speak for itself and allowing audiences to form their own opinions without polemic influence.
INDEED, THIS FILM IGNORES the hashed and rehashed politics and civilian decisions that put us on the ground in Iraq. Instead, FBR looks at how we are preparing our troops to deal with the realities of engagement as they evolve. Severe casualties are a huge problem - how do we prepare our units and med teams in the field to mitigate the damage to our troops?
IN THE RUN-UP TO WAR, our leaders never thought that our troops would be handling multiple factions, civil war and insurgent attacks on a town-by-town basis, year-after-year. How do we prepare combat units to make diplomatic and political solutions, build alliances, provide aid, keep the peace and confront insurgents? With FULL BATTLE RATTLE, directors Tony Gerber and Jesse Moss have crafted a fast-paced, well-made and highly informative film -- definitely worth watching, for a number of reasons:
<1> THE STORY & THE SETTING. The premise for the film's creation is the unique environment and at times surreal circumstances under which the action takes place. Before deploying to the battlefield, Army units spend two weeks immersed in the Iraq simulation at Fort Irwin, California, to prepare for and enhance their chances of survival and success when they face the real thing. 300 Iraqi nationals play villagers; 1300 soldiers in the Army's Opposing Force garrison are cast as insurgents and run the control center and logistics operation.
<2> THE PEOPLE. We get to know Lt. Col. Robert McLaughlin, commander of the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry, based at Ft. Bliss, with deep concern for his mission, his troops and the Iraqi people. Plus others like Col. Kramer, Capt. Mugavero, Lt. Freeman and non-coms Sgt. Ramsey and Sgt. Greene. We meet Iraqi nationals Bassam Kalsho who works in a San Diego liquor store when not serving as Deputy Mayor of the Medina Wasl village for the Army, Azhar Cholagh who sends her Army pay home to her parents in Baghdad; asylum applicant Nagi Moshi who plays the Deputy Police Chief of Medina Wasl, and another Iraqi woman who spends her off-time studying for American citizenship. These are real people and FULL BATTLE RATTLE offers revealing portraits that transcend the training exercise.
<3> CINEMATIC CONSTRUCTION. The only filmmakers ever allowed to document an entire simulation operation, Gerber and Moss worked independently, with Gerber embedded in BlueFor, capturing the action in Col. McLaughlin's brigade and at the control center; and Moss embedded with OpFor (Opposing Force), capturing the action from the village of Medina Wasl and the insurgents. The pacing is rapid and the scenes shift from live action - political and armed engagement - to candid interviews during the various teams' down time. Plus, there is ample footage of Col. Kramer explaining how the simulation works and the rules of engagement.
<4> INSIGHT. FULL BATTLE RATTLE offers many important insights - the differences between Iraqi and American cultures and how the simulation training attempts to address them; the complexities of modern warfare and of maintaining an occupation presence in a foreign culture, the use of technology and simulation in preparation; and the improvement of in-the-field medical care based on exposure to realistic conditions in the simulation.
Another insight concerns the evolution in overall mission focus evidenced by conversion of the NTC simulation operation to urban warfare use in 2005. This element is particularly salient, as considerable focus is now on non-kinetic operations, which is military speak for being a politician, diplomat, aid worker and policeman - all those things our military wished to avoid in the 1990s and thus did not train for.
While combat readiness remains a must, based on the lessons learned to date in Iraq the inclusion of non-kinetic elements receives equal emphasis in the preparation of our troops. Although the outcome of this focus was not publicly apparent when FULL BATTLE RATTLE was filmed in 2006, its pre- and post-surge success has now been documented.
WORTH READING: These points and more are amplified in the "Directors' Statement" and the "NTC Simulation Info" in the sections below.
Directors' Statement
Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss
Deciding to Make the Film
In May 2006, we asked the Army for permission to film inside their Iraq Simulation in California's Mojave Desert. Formally known as the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, the simulation had been the subject of several news reports. These reports piqued our curiosity. We learned that the Army had - in order to adapt to the changing nature of the war in Iraq -constructed a number of mock villages in Mojave Desert and populated them with Iraqi American role players. Combat Brigades deploying to Iraq were sent through the simulation for two weeks and subjected to an immersive training exercise designed to prepare them for the military, cultural, political and humanitarian challenges awaiting them in the real war zone.
On one hand, this effort struck us as a perfectly sensible. On the other hand, there was something disturbingly odd about the exercise. Could war really be simulated? Who were these Iraqi American role players who lived for weeks inside the simulation? Aspects of the simulation seemed utterly fake. Yet the stakes were very real. Soldiers and civilians were dying in Iraq. Could this training save lives? This tension -between the fake and the real - is what drew us to the story as documentary filmmakers. It was our hope that by living inside the simulation we might answer these questions and gain valuable insight into the war itself.
Emboldened by the belief that the best films about war are often the least conventional (Altman's Mash, Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, David O. Russell's Three Kings, Peter Davis's Heart and Minds), we approached the Army about access.
The Army resisted our initial efforts to film inside the simulation. As independent documentary filmmakers, we were not affiliated with any broadcast network or news agency. After persisting for several months and demonstrating our professional qualifications, we were invited to visit the simulation for two days.
On this initial trip we visited Medina Wasl, one of several Iraqi villages in the simulation, and observed an Army Combat Brigade involved in a role-playing exercise. This was fascinating and utterly surreal. It looked like Iraq (desert). It felt like Iraq (120 degrees). The townsfolk were all Arabic speaking Iraqis. Yet the village looked like a B movie set. Odder still were the American soldiers cast as insurgents lounging around town in dishdashah - a form of traditional Iraqi dress -BBQing hamburgers as if they were relaxing on the front porch of a fraternity house.
It was like walking into the middle of the world's largest, most expensive, most complex stage play. And it was immediately apparent to us that the play itself - as enacted by soldiers and role players -could serve the film in two ways: as both the dramatic framework of our story; and as a distorted mirror reflecting -in strange but revealing ways -the many challenges facing America in Iraq.
After returning to New York and reviewing our footage, we immediately approached the Army and requested permission to live inside the simulation for the duration of an entire training rotation -three weeks. This was something no journalist, filmmaker or news organization had ever done before. We proposed that Tony Gerber (Director/Producer) would live with the Army Brigade in training, and that Jesse Moss (Director/Producer) would live in the village of Medina Wasl, a scenario that would allow us to document both sides of this "fake" war.
Much to our surprise, the Army agreed to our request. We asked to join the 4-1 Cav (the 4th Brigade of the 1st Cavalry, from Fort Bliss, Texas), during their training rotation in August 2006. On August 7, we moved into the simulation.
A written agreement with the Army ensured that we would have complete editorial freedom. Our movements were never monitored, our questions were never screened, and we were able to move freely within the simulated battle-space.
Working in the Field
The major initial challenge was not the working conditions, which, although brutal, were not we reminded ourselves -nearly as dangerous as those faced by journalists in the real Iraq. (Soldiers and insurgents in the simulation play a sophisticated form of laser-tag. Although soldiers have died in the simulation, casualties are rare.)
Rather, the initial challenge to us, as documentary filmmakers, was finding characters to follow through the simulation. We hit the ground running. And within a few days identified the soldiers and Iraqi role players who would both play key roles in the "drama" and had compelling personal stories.
What made our challenge difficult was not only the number of characters we were actively following, and the improvised nature of the simulation, but the limited production resources available to us. Both of us worked alone in the field, shooting and recording sound. The work was exhausting and overwhelming but exhilarating. During the production we shot 350 hours of footage using the Panasonic DVX100a camera, shooting 24P anamorphic (16:9).
Full Battle Rattle is the story of a village, Medina Wasl, perched on the brink of civil war. The outcome of this story -the fate of Medina Wasl -was not scripted. Lt. Col. McLaughlin and his soldiers could achieve victory and win the "hearts and minds" of the people, or they could lose, and send the town spiraling downward. It became apparent to us, as we edited the film, that the story of Medina Wasl was a striking allegory of the real Iraq War, mirroring nearly every phase of the conflict, from occupation, through the rise of the insurgency, collateral damage, reconstruction and civil war.
In August 2006, the war was going badly, but some, including President Bush and his war cabinet, remained optimistic. Would the fate of Medina Wasl foretell the future? Or, more modestly, yield curious insight into the military missteps and the cultural and religious differences that confound America's efforts in Iraq. We choose to let the viewer decide whether the outcome of the simulation (withdrawal) is an accurate indicator of the future.
Full Battle Rattle is also the story of a group of people brought together in an unusual moment in time, in an unusual place. The film, we hope, provides a snapshot of their lives as they undergo profound transformation. For the soldiers of the 5-82 Battalion, war and Iraq (and possibly death) loom on the horizon. For the Iraqi role players, Iraq, their native homeland, recedes into the past (and is destroyed), even as it materializes, in simulated form, in front of them. They are all on the journey to become Americans. Unexpectedly, for Sgt. Paul Greene, who plays an insurgent in Medina Wasl, Iraq is both past, present and future, as he rudely discovers when, near the end of the film, he is deployed a third time.
Finally, Full Battle Rattle offers a glimpse inside the soul of the American war machine, presented in all its surreal, shocking power. There are 13 villages in the simulation, and new ones on the horizon. The Army employs 300 Iraqi American role players to populate these villages. Army Brigades (approximately 3000 soldiers) travel through the simulation nearly every month. And a military city of 15,000 - Fort Irwin - exists to support the operation of the simulation. What was once a cold war training facility, in which tanks battled each other in a simulated Eastern Front, has evolved into a web of villages in which an entire nation has been simulated, with rival tribes, an army of its own, two news networks, a civilian leadership, a court system, an insurgency, a radical Shiite militia, live goats, amputees, and robotic mannequins. The irony was not lost on us that while Iraq disintegrates, a new, ersatz Iraq rises in the desert, 40 miles from Barstow, California.
While we both have strong and similar feelings about the war, we neither set out to make a "pro war" nor an "anti war" film. Nor did we set out to discover facts that would conform to a set of rigid political beliefs. Rather, our intention was to examine this world from the inside, and allow viewers to decide for themselves. We believe this is one of the great strengths of the film.
It took approximately 14 months, and the work of 3 extremely talented editors, to edit Full Battle Rattle. We first assembled a rough outline of the key moment in the drama - what we referred to in the edit room as "on stage" events. These were the scripted scenarios -known as injects -devised by military and civilian planners (The Lizard Team) that follow a loose storyline and are designed to test the Brigade. In addition, these events included the Brigade's un-scripted responses, and attacks initiated by insurgents. Our effort was to show the clear choices confronting Lt. Col McLaughlin, and document how the decisions he and his soldiers made would shape the final outcome of their mission.
Secondly, we focused on events "off-stage" - moments when our key subjects were out of character, and, in a sense, playing themselves. These included interviews, and cinema verite moments.
Lastly, we focused on the material that the audience would need to understand the rules of the simulation - the "rules of the game." This information was largely provided -through interviews -with Col. Cameron Kramer, Chief of Plans and Operations, at the National Training Center, and Capt. Chris Mugavero, the Officer in Charge of Medina Wasl.
Finding the right balance between these three main elements required a long process of experimentation and calibration. The decision to leave the simulation in the final act of the film and return to Fort Bliss (with Lt. Col. McLauglin and his soldiers) and San Diego (with our Iraqi role players) was not easy. Yet ultimately we felt it was important, even necessary, to see our subjects in the "real" world, to understand everything that was at stake for them, and bring their stories, in the film, to closure.
The look and feel of the film was important to us. We come from a strong cinema verite tradition, but are comfortable and have worked successfully in narrative fiction and more conventional (interview-based) forms of documentary storytelling. The appeal of this film, in this place, was the opportunity to draw these styles together and create something new and different: to shoot breathless, surprising, and occasionally rough cinema verite; to cover the "on stage" moments in the simulation as, appropriately, a form of fiction; and sit down with our subjects for candid, intense interviews.
We came from different backgrounds as filmmakers but in Full Battle Rattle found the ultimate subject in which we could walk a line between the real and the imagined -a subject in which the distinction between the two is beside the point.
Synopsis,
NTC Info & Links,
Simulation & Immersion
(from the filmmakers)
FULL BATTLE RATTLE is the story of a real war and a fake town. In California's Mojave Desert, the US Army has built a "virtual Iraq" -a billion dollar urban warfare simulation -and populated it with hundreds of Iraqi role-players. Army units spend three weeks inside the simulation before deploying to Iraq.
FULL BATTLE RATTLE follows an Army Battalion through the simulation, as they attempt to quell an insurgency and prevent the mock village of Medina Wasl from slipping into civil war.
The story is told from both sides of the conflict, and filtered through a compelling cast of characters, including the Army Colonel who commands the Battalion, the Iraqi exiles who play civilians on the battlefield, and the American soldiers cast as "insurgents." We follow our subjects from the moment they receive their role assignments through their simulated "deaths." Despite the movie-set contrivances, the stakes and the emotions are very real. As reality and fantasy overlap, the film moves from comic to surreal to poignant.
Will the Army improve life in Medina Wasl and win the "hearts and minds" of the people, or will their mistakes propel the town into violent civil war? Does the fate of Medina Wasl reflect the Army's rose-colored vision of success, or suggest that the Army has lost control of their script? And what happens to the "actors" on this stage after the curtain falls and they resume their "real" lives?
Through these intimate stories of Iraqi exiles fleeing the war (and now "playing" it) and US Soldiers heading into it, FULL BATTLE RATTLE provides a revelatory look at the soul of the American war machine, and, in the battle for Medina Wasl, finds a potent allegory of the Iraq War and the cultural and religious differences that confound America's efforts.
About the National Training Center
Out in the mesquite and yucca scrub of the High Mojave Desert region of California, you'll find Ft. Irwin. A US Army installation roughly the size of Rhode Island, it sits about half-way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, surrounded by the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, Edwards Air Force Base and the Twenty-Nine Palms USMC Base on the West and South; and Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve on the North and East. (Map.)
Ft. Irwin is home to the 1,000 square mile National Training Center, containing the desert/urban warfare simulation of Iraq. Initially employed in the 1980s primarily for large-scale tank battle training, in 2005, two years into the current Iraq war, the NTC shifted scenarios to urban operations representative of the Middle East. When FULL BATTLE RATTLE was filmed, there were 13 Iraqi villages in the desert area; now there are 19 and some have been/are being converted to Afghan scenarios.
Army's adaption to counterinsurgency gives hope for work that remains. Army Times
Commentary: National Training Center provides taste of 'real' combat. Colorado Springs Business Journal
Special report on NTC Iraq simulation, IEDs, etc., with photos and videos. USA Today
Illinois soldier serves in specialized service in the Army. Military Medical News
NBC News report from the NTC at Ft. Irwin. Article and Video
Air Force, Army improve joint training. US Joint Forces Command
Simulation and Technology:
Various descriptions of USC-ICT projects with the NTC, immersion, AI, virtual humans, games and simulation USC Institute for Creative Technologies
Strategic Plan, May 2007 Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
RDE elements, including Simulation and Training Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
Use of AI, gaming and simulation in military training methodology. Stanford University
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Watch Touch (2020) Episode 2 Online Free
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Moorim School
The Moorim School isn’t focused solely on high academic scores. The school teaches its students virtues including honesty, faith, sacrifice and communication. The teachers and students at the school come from different countries and each have their own stories.
Yoon Shi Woo (Lee Hyun Woo) is a troublemaker idol star who suffers a setback and finds himself shoved into this strange school to straighten ......
Since Kyung-Tak was forced to retire from his military services due to the fault of his superior, he is jobless and tries to make a living helping out at his parent's restaurant. As luck would have it, he saves the client of bodyguard Yu-jin, during his attempt to find a new job, causing him to be employed by a security company. Kyung-tak's life is headed for further changes as Na Young moves into town with her grandmot......
The Legend of the Blue Sea
Inspired by a classic Joseon legend from Korea’s first collection of unofficial historical tales, about a fisherman who captures and releases a mermaid, this drama tells the love story between the son of a noble family in Joseon era and a mermaid.
How can a mermaid from the Joseon era survive in modern-day Seoul? Shim Chung (Jun Ji Hyun) is a mermaid who finds herself transplanted to modern times. She......
This drama is based on the web novel “Moonlight Drawn By Clouds” by Yoon Yi Soo and illustrated by kk which was originally published online from 2013-Oct-03 to 2014-Oct-10 on naver.
Hong Ra On (Kim Yoo Jung), disguises herself as a man and counsels men on dating. Due to a love letter she wrote for a client, she meets Lee Yeong—future Crown Prince Hyomyeong (Park Bo Gum). Hong Ra On is unaware that h......
Hwajung
This interpretation tells of Gwanghae (Cha Seung Won) as the son of a concubine and secondary heir, who in his thirst for power, usurps the Crown and ousts his half-sister Jungmyung (Lee Yeon Hee) from the palace. Gwanghae is then deposed in a coup by the Westerners, who replace him with Injo (Kim Jae Won). Extremely paranoid and wanting to stabilise his position, he is also out for Jungmyung’s life.......
The plot is described as revolving around a ?fateful? couple and their unfolding love story; So Ji Sub?s love interest is played by Lee Yeon Hee. ......
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The Joint Danube Survey 3 (JDS3), was the world’s biggest river research expedition of its kind in 2013, the UN International Year of Water Cooperation. JDS3 catalyzed international cooperation from all 14 of the main Danube Basin countries and the European Commission. Here you can find in-depth information JDS3 and its objectives.
What is the Joint Danube Survey?
The Joint Danube Survey 3 (JDS3), is the world’s biggest river research expedition of its kind in 2013, the UN International Year of Water Cooperation. JDS3 catalyzes international cooperation from all 14 of the main Danube Basin countries and the European Commission. The JDS is carried out every six years – JDS1 was in 2001 and JDS2 in 2007.
For six weeks between 13 August and 26 September, the JDS3 ships will travel 2,375 km downstream the Danube River, through 10 countries, to the Danube Delta. The JDS3 is coordinated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). An international Core Team of 20 scientists is responsible for sampling, sample processing, on-board analyses and all survey activities.
Leading laboratories across Europe will carry out chemical analyses. Corporate partners, such as the Coca-Cola System and Donauchemie, support the JDS3 through financial contributions and by sharing their knowledge about water management from a private sector perspective. Public events and the website danubesurvey.org will ensure that everybody can get involved with JDS3.
Why is the JDS3 so important?
In 1994, Danube countries signed the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) to work towards joint management of water in the Danube’s catchment area. In 2000, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) came into force. All countries of the ICPDR endorsed the WFD.
The WFD requires surface waters to achieve `good chemical and ecological status´ by 2015, basically meaning that the water should be clean, and provide good conditions, such as routes for migrating fish and suitable habitat for natural species to live healthily. It also required countries to develop a first River Basin Management Plan until 2009 and to identify measures they should take to achieve good status generally until 2015.
JDS1 and JDS2 provided essential information to help identify the main issues in the region and their causes, and assisted Danubian and European decision-makers in selecting the right measures to solve problems. The JDS3 follows up on this past work to determine if the status of waters has improved or deteriorated, as some key measures have already been put in place by countries. The results will feed directly into the next Danube River Basin Management Plan and the Joint Program of Measures to be adopted at the end of 2015.
The JDS3 will also raise awareness for water protection and the work of the ICPDR towards river basin management and sustainable development in the Danube River Basin - through active communications, media relations and public events during the expedition.
What will be tested and how?
Two ships will lead the expedition. Serbia´s Argus, the main laboratory ship during both previous surveys, was recently refurbished and includes instruments such as a centrifuge, sieving machine, microscope, incubators and refrigerators. Romania’s Istros is a coastal and river research ship with six cabins, a lab and dining room. In addition, two Austrian vessels, the Wien and Meßschiff IV, will be used for fish sampling.
A total of 68 sites will be sampled, with one or two sites daily on average. All sample containers will be prepared, labelled and pre-packed before the survey. Each sampling site takes about four hours. Many samples will be tested on-board the ships, while others will be shipped to participating laboratories throughout Europe.
Sampling at JDS3 stations may include up to five different sample types – water, sediment, biology, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and biota (fish). The experts will conduct numerous tests, looking for animals and plants, from larger shellfish to microscopic bacteria, and chemical and hazardous substances. They will monitor physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH, as well as radioactive contaminants. The study of hydromorphological characteristics will include activities such as sediment testing, creating inventories of harbours, sand bars and gravel banks, and measuring water velocity. 32 sites were chosen for monitoring fish. Non-lethal electro-fishing will be used to stun fish for collection. The river bottom will be sampled for fish with an electrified bottom trawler net. On-board experts will also remove fish blood and liver samples for toxicological analysis.
What are the results from JDS1 & JDS2?
For JDS1, positive findings included high levels of biodiversity and rare species. Negative results included concern over organic and microbiological pollution, heavy metals, oil from ships, pesticides and chemicals.
For JDS2, the findings again confirmed that cooperation among Danube countries was bringing positive results, with progress made in many areas since the JDS1. For example, water quality was generally improving, although more work was needed. People could swim in parts of the Danube River Basin, but not everywhere. People could eat fish without health risk, although further investigation of mercury concentrations was needed. And the Danube still had significant natural populations of plants and animals and large areas that remain in good natural condition.
The JDS3 will continue to sample, test and assess many of the same locations and parameters from JDS1 and JDS2. Hopefully, the results will again confirm that cooperation in the basin continues to reap rewards, and that the waters and life within them are progressively becoming healthier and safer for all.
Joint Danube Survey Flyer (988.57 KB)
Information flyer on Joint Danube Survey 3: objectives, measures and background at a glance.
JDS 2
Website of the Joint Danube Survey 2
Frequent news on JDS3.
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ICPDR Secretariat
Vienna International Centre, Room D0412
Wagramer Strasse 5, A-1220 Vienna, Austria, map
E-Mail: secretariat@icpdr.org
Telephone: +431 260 60 5738
Fax: +431 260 60 5895
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If you would like to support the Dog Breeding Refom Group you can donate here:
A Voice for Dogs | Est. 2012 | Registered charity no. 1176163
Information for Puppy Buyers
Guide to Buying a Puppy
The Standard for Dog Breeding
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Remember you are the customer. You
deserve a healthy and properly socialised pet.
Ask breeders your educated questions
The Standard For Dog Breeding, states the standards which must be met to provide good health and welfare for all dogs involved in breeding.
Introduction to the Standard
The manner in which all dogs are bred and reared affects their welfare. Their physical characteristics (colour, size and shape) are largely established by their inherited genetic material and, to some extent, by their upbringing. Both specific inherited diseases, such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), and conformation, such as wrinkled skin and head shape, are inherited and so the selection of genetically healthy breeding stock is essential. The temperament of dogs also has a genetic component, but in addition is strongly influenced by early environment. The specific experiences early in life and the relative complexity of the environment have a profound influence on behaviour throughout life.
These issues are as true for cross-bred dogs as they are for Kennel Club registered and so-called pure-bred puppies. It is therefore important that only physically and temperamentally healthy dogs are used for breeding and that their puppies are reared in an appropriate environment.
Breeding dogs is not a simple matter. To produce genetically and temperamentally sound puppies is a very complex process and we do not expect the majority of those who breed dogs to be experts in all aspects of the underlying science. However the standard does insist that proper advice is taken during the process of selecting breeding stock and breeding from them. For example, veterinary surgeons are an essential source of advice to breeders. No-one is more important in providing sound scientific advice than the veterinary surgeon in whose care the dogs are entrusted. The veterinary profession, to whom we entrust the care of dogs, is not only trained to diagnose and treat disease, but is also competent in providing essential knowledge of genetics for those choosing to breed from their dogs. There are also a variety of other, mainly internet-based, tools available and these are mentioned in guidance to the standard.
The DBRG does not consider any other current standard published in the UK to be comprehensive enough to fully protect the welfare of both breeding stock and their puppies. This standard is aimed at everyone who breeds dogs, whether they do so occasionally or regularly and whether they do so as a hobby, for interest, or for profit. There is nothing in the standard which it is impractical to comply with fully if breeding is done responsibly, however frequently puppies are produced.
The left hand column of the standard contains the items that the DBRG considers are essential to good breeding practice. Consequently the word ‘must’ is used throughout that column. The right hand column contains advice on how to comply with the standard and what might be expected to be seen at an inspection. Consequently the word ‘should’ predominates.
The standard is written in language that we consider is clear but not too technical. The DBRG website has a number of helpful documents that aim to provide additional information to assist in complying with the standard – including information on inherited disease and some examples of draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The Standard for Dog Breeding V7A
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Review: “20th Century Women”
on January 13 | in MOVIE REVIEWS | by Michael Parsons | with No Comments
Opening In Washington, DC on January 13th/Everywhere January 20th/Directed by Mike Mills/Starring Annette Bening, Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning and Lucas Jade Zumann/Drama/118 minutes/Rated R
Granola and punk are the diametrically opposed cultural mores of 1979 Santa Barbara in Mike Mills’ darling flick “20th Century Women”, which has the paradoxical quality of feeling both haphazard and polished. More distinctly, and with little previous work by which to compare, writer/director Mills (“Beginners”) has whittled the multi-generational retro-drama into a concise and meaningful statement about life instead of leaving us with something endlessly contemplative (like many of its ilk tend to do).
It’s the story of 55-year-old Dorothea (Annette Bening), a divorcee raising 15-year-old Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann). She shares quarters with her tenants, a spiritual mechanic named William (Billy Crudup) and his polar opposite Abbie (Greta Gerwig), a pink-haired misfit whose cervix was recently rendered incompetent after a bout with cancer. Dorothea displays a subtle interest in forty-something William, a delightful enigma who comes written with back story like the rest of his housemates. He is somewhat of a chick-magnet, but without effort or ego, his personality the fragmented driftwood from colliding lifestyles.
Mills takes exceptional care of how and when he explains his characters, who emerge with rich, earthy, if slightly bitter, flavor. (The film should be certified fresh and organic on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes). Though all of them are excessive in some manner or another, Elle Fanning seems the most severe as Julie, a promiscuous seventeen-year-old who secretly bunks with Jamie but ironically won’t sleep with him. This is an interesting dynamic, and the ultimate purgatory for a burgeoning youth, especially when Dorothea taps Abbie and Julie to help Jamie come out of his shell.
Nothing a book on feminism won’t take care of. Jamie gets a little more education than Dorothea had anticipated to a hilarious but ultimately very enlightening degree–for starters, he learns never to question a classmate when they’re bragging about sex–and it’s notable that Mills takes this route versus having Crudup’s affable character fill the father-figure void. Exposition is concise and interesting and with purpose, and each character’s individual journey is fully realized, while as a whole the film maintains a fine balance of comedy and drama.
Both Mills’ writing and the cast are very matter-of-fact. For example, a dinner table conversation blossoms from the topic of menstruation into Julie describing how she lost her virginity (to a cringing, tortured Jamie). By the same token, there’s a line to be drawn, and though as liberal as any Birkenstock-wearing mom of the time, Dorothea is still the most conservative of the bunch. To that effect, Bening doesn’t portray her as an irresponsible bohemian commune-type, rather a parent trying to do best by her kid, because it’s not evident to her that what she’s been doing all along isn’t too shabby.
“20th Century Women” is expressive but devoid of melodrama, saturated with the colors, complexion music of the era—Black Flag and Talking Heads appropriately bookend the spectrum of angst and uncertainty that plague Dorothea’s microcosm of shifting times. One of the best ensembles of the year.
Opens In Washington, DC on January 13th
Everywhere January 20th
—M. Parsons 2017
about the author: Michael Parsons
Father. Realtor®. Movie nut. After pestering my parents for their commentary on “Star Wars” when I was four years old, my mind went into a creative frenzy. I’d imagined something entirely different than the actual film, which I didn’t end up seeing until its 1979 re-release at the Uptown Theater in Washington, DC. This was my formal introduction to the cinema. During that long wait, which felt like an eternity to a child, my mind was being molded by more corrosive stuff like “Trilogy of Terror” and “Rosemary’s Baby”, most of which I’d conned various babysitters into letting me watch on television ( I convinced one poor lady that “Jaws” was actually “Moby Dick”). The folks were pretty strict in that regard, so the less appropriate it was for a kid to watch, the more I was fascinated by it. Horror staples like “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th”, as well as lesser-known low-budget fare like “Madman”, “Sleepaway Camp” and “Pieces” all ended up sneaking their way into the VHS on a regular basis. Since then, I’ve developed an obsession with the entire film industry. Even though I watch and review a wide breadth of films these days, my appreciation for the campy, poorly lit micro-budgeters still lends itself to my evolving perspective on movies just as much as the summer blockbusters and Oscar contenders. As I recall my trips to the movie theater, I realize that this stuff is about much more than just a fleeting piece of entertainment. A couple years ago, I was finally given the opportunity to lend my opinion on films to a publication, The Rogers Revue, with a subsequent run at Reel Film News. It's been both a privilege and a gateway to what we’re doing now. Most of my experience has come from interviewing independent filmmakers, who consistently promote innovation. The filmmaking process is grueling and relatively unforgiving. Fellow film enthusiast Eddie Pasa and I have created DC Filmdom as a medium for film reviews, discussion, and (inevitably) some debate. And so, the creative frenzy continues. (Michael is a member of the Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association).
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Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) – Movie Review
100%%
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» MOVIE REVIEWS » Review: “20th Century Women”
20th Century Women, A24, Annette Bening, Billy Crudup, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, Mike Mills
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Coach Cathy Rush Gives a First Hand Account of “The Mighty Macs”
Review: “The Boss Baby”
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Full Impact (1993)
Full Impact (1993)- * *1\2
Directed by: David Huey
Starring: Gary Daniels, Kent Ducanon, Sonny Lee, Gerald Okamura, Ron Hall, and Linda Bennett
“That’s love in the 90’s!” - Jared Taskin
Jared Taskin (Daniels) is an ex-cop, now bounty hunter. Due to a trauma in his past, he is currently in therapy, with a Dr. Weise (Bennett). When a serial killer known as “The Death Touch” starts rampaging around L.A., Taskin reconnects with some of his old cronies on the police force to help bring the baddie down. This includes former partner William Arkaday (Ducanon), and the two men, one representing the police, and the other representing the more “outside the law” angle, go in search of the notoriously hard to catch Death Toucher. Will they do it?
We really hope that this movie is someone’s first experience with Gary Daniels. While it’s pretty unrepresentative of the rest of his career, when you first put on Full Impact and see a montage of a luxuriantly-haired meathead flexing for the camera, it’s inevitable that the viewer will think one thing and one thing only: Awesome.
Before you watch Full Impact, you just have to brace yourself for rampant silliness. That’s all there is to it. Most of the movie is pretty funny, but it’s so brain-numbingly dumb, the brief 82 minute running time seems longer. Every few minutes, whether it makes sense or not, there is some sort of fight. That seems like it would be a good thing, but after a while the dumbness becomes fairly overwhelming.
While the movie seems to have been shot in America, the dubbing is laughably atrocious. At least Daniels seems to have dubbed his own voice. The guy who dubbed his bald partner (the fact that Daniels, with his lovely blonde locks is teamed with a bald man has to be some kind of irony...doesn’t it?) either has a 30 cigar a day habit or is gargling with razor blades. Other characters on screen also make fun of Daniels’ hair.
On top of that, he’s even called a “Limey Chuck Norris” at one point. Which is interesting, due to the parallels, plotwise, between this movie and A Force of One (1979). They should have called this movie “Taskin Force”. Maybe a third movie (after American Streetfighter - where Daniels and everyone else played different characters - though other elements remain the same, the two movies remain unconnected, despite what it may seem like) could be made where Jared Taskin is a member of the Taskin Force and he leads a gang of people to fight the baddies. Well, we can always dream. At least Taskin has a novel way of eating breakfast cereal. So it’s not a total loss.
Gerald Okamura has a dialogue-less role as a Punchfighter in the one scene of Punchfighting in this movie. The scene is utterly pointless, but at least it features a shirtless Okamura grappling with his opponent. So it’s not a total loss. Ron Hall makes an appearance as one of Taskin’s opponents, and an American treasure named Sonny Lee plays Bruce Valentaine (no, we didn’t spell that wrong, that’s how the man chooses - yes, CHOOSES, to spell his name. We assume.) - a man unafraid to take on Taskin in the ring. It must be his American flag Zubaz that give him the confidence he needs. I certainly know that it works for me. Though aren’t there laws about desecrating the American flag? Ah, we kid Sonny/Bruce. We kid because we love.
If only Full Impact was shot, written, edited, acted, choreographed, lit and dubbed better, it would be just...better. As it stands now, it’s a highly ridiculous moment in the career of Gary Daniels. Your tolerance for utter stupidity will determine how much you love or hate Full Impact. For us it was a mixed bag.
Comeuppance Review by: Brett and Ty
Also check out write-ups from our buddies, Cool Target and DTVC!
Posted by Ty at 13.8.14
Labels: 1993, Full Impact, Gary Daniels, Gerald Okamura, Kent Ducanon, Linda Bennett, Punchfighting, Ron Hall, Sonny Lee
robotGEEK said...
Sounds like gold to me! I'm in!
Roger Renman said...
This movie was shot pretty shabbily, as if done in a great hurry. Daniels was the only thing making it worthwhile. All of David Huey's movies have the same cheap look.
Jack Thursby said...
Can't really remember much about this movie. I've got on DVD in a double bill with American Streetfighter. In fact I think my copy's called American Streetfighter 2: Full Impact (even though there's no connection between the two films).
As I recall it re-purposes some footage from the latter movie as an extended flashback. I haven't watched it in a good 10 years. I remember lots of silly dubbing (is this the one with a motorbike chase at the end?)
All I can really remember is Daniels sweet 90s ponytail. Someone really needs to ask him what happened to that.
Ty said...
RobotGEEK: There's some silly Gary Daniels gold in this one.
Roger: Agreed. Pretty junky overall...but at least Gary is decent in it.
Jack: He needs to bring back the ponytail! Haha. It's not too late.
venom said...
As far as Daniels output does, this isn't one of his better films, if any film should be someone first experience with Daniels it's "Rage".
Rage is solid. Same with Recoil.
We Got Company!
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Dead Space – Xbox 360
There are no new ideas, just new ways of freshening the old ones up. At least, that’s how the old cliché goes. While it’s a tenet derived from narrative fiction, the same notion can be applied to videogames – a medium that continues to push the idea of interactive storytelling further with new and exciting ways of involving the player in the narrative, even if the stories never really evolve beyond the same yarns that have been spun before. But, as with fiction, old tales can be rendered new when enough care and polish is applied. Sometimes, it’s not just the story that matters most, but the storyteller. And that’s exactly the position EA finds itself in with the launch of their new IP, Dead Space, a new take on a somewhat creaky survival horror genre in desperate need of a fresh voice.
Dead Space was conceived and developed by EA’s Redwood Studio and largely represents the mass effect of a number of general influences. From the cinema, the tale culls elements from The Thing, the Alien series and Event Horizon – properties that stamp their imprint on Dead Space’s tale of a haunted starship found floating in the ether of space. And much of the game play components are on loan from Bioshock, Resident Evil 4 and the Doom series, all of which receive subtle nods of appreciation throughout the game.
That said, imitation can be the sincerest form of flattery as the Redwood developers expertly take these influences and mold them into something familiar, while spinning it off in some fresh and exciting directions.
At the outset of the game, your character Isaac Clarke (paying homage to Asimov and Arthur C.) is awakened aboard a vessel streaking through space to rendezvous with the deep space mining ship, the USG Ishimura. The crew of this “planet cracker” had made an amazing discovery on the surface below and the scientists aboard had begun the process of deciphering their archaeological find when all Hell broke loose. Responding to a mysterious distress signal, transmitted by Clarke’s girlfriend, the player finds themselves with two main objectives – rescue the girl while sifting through the rubble and decay that has overtaken the Ishimura in a bid at understanding how things went so horribly wrong.
The bulk of the game takes place on the Ishimura – a mammoth starship that takes on a character all its own, similar to the role that Rapture played in Bioshock. While much of the ship is engineered around its role as a military mining facility – the ship exists as a city in miniature, leading the player through a number of unique, yet organically connected environments.
Using the survival horror genre as its template, the developers append a good deal of game play variety on the foundations laid out by the original Resident Evil over a decade ago. First and foremost, the player will find themselves wandering through dank, dark corridors hunting down clues and solving environmental puzzles which once resolved will clear the path deeper into the ship. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way from the original Resident Evil’s “key hunts” as a number of the challenges faced by Clarke prove to be realistically complex.
In one sequence, Clarke is forced to fix a radar array that had been compromised in a previous firefight by replacing the damaged dishes with viable replacements. Complicating matters further is the revelation that the communications equipment is located in a Zero-G environment overrun with vicious aliens, prompting the player to multitask as they extract the broken equipment, hunt down the replacements, take advantage of the lowered gravity and jettison from floor to the ceiling while taking time out to battle these malicious beasties. Mind benders like this are abundant throughout the game and do a great job of mixing up the puzzle solving with the action, keeping your brain and trigger fingers completely on their toes.
Another inspiration on loan from Bioshock is the use of audio and video files to further the narrative without pulling the player out of the game play. As you search through the crumbled interior, you’ll find these documents which once picked up will begin to play. The audio recordings are piped over the soundtrack while the video entries appear as a holographic projection that emanates from Clarke’s RIG suit. While this attention to detail helps to color in the corners of the game world, it also does a nice job of furthering the story without pulling players out of the action. As the game progresses and the narrative clips grow more chilling and revelatory, these haunting dialogue patches coupled with the extremely creepy ambient soundscape that constantly surrounds the player conspire to ratchet up the fear factor.
Survival horror used to be all about running for your life. That’s what drove the success of the first Resident Evil, where players often found themselves surrounded by enemies with nary a bullet to spare. Over the years, developers upped our arsenal, giving us ample rounds to mow down all those hungry hell hounds. Dead Space presents a very compelling middle-ground, with players given alternate tools to take down every creature they encounter but usually leaving them with precious little ammunition. Throughout the game, you’ll come across automated shops that sell a variety of equipment (your standard health packs, ammo) and weapons but it all comes at a fairly steep price. You never really feel overpowered which aids that creeping feeling of unease.
It’s not so much an abundance of guns & ammo that is needed so much as skill in using these tools. See, the creatures in Dead Space are extremely tough to bring down. Where most games prompt players to go for the head (the standard one shot-one kill approach), the nasty Necromorphs of Dead Space are best brought down by dismembering their limbs. This runs counter to the way players normally approach an action game, with the player tasked with taking a surgical (literally) approach to disarming the horde. Gutt shots and head shots seem to only tick these aliens off, so players will instinctively begin firing at the legs. This usually won’t kill the baddies out right, but it does slow them down enough to let you concentrate on the rest of your body of work. With arms and legs flying, this game is not for the squeamish and the resulting explosions of viscera visually reference the ghastly transformations seen in John Carpenter’s The Thing.
There is also a minor RPG element at work with the player capable of upgrading their weapons and suit (the RIG) to increase their capabilities. These augmentations are made by affixing power nodes to the equipment at the special ‘forges’ that pop up in each area. These nodes can be spent to increase ammo capacity and damage totals as well as more defensive concerns such as hit points and air supply.
On that note, Dead Space also introduces a number of unique wrinkles to the game play. Several times throughout the adventure, the player will find themselves outside the ship (usually to repair something) where they have to contend with alien attacks as well as a dwindling oxygen supply. With every element of the HUD affixed to the player’s character model (there is no traditional HUD – instead the important gauges can be seen on the player’s suit), you’ll find yourself scanning ahead for the next threat while keeping a cautious eye on the decreasing oxygen counter. Adding to the sense of urgency brought about by this race against time, is the fact that the sound is muted while in space, meaning you can no longer hear those critters coming.
As mentioned previously, there are also a few set-pieces set in zero-gravity where the player finds themselves exploring and fighting on all surfaces, turning the world upside down as they navigate their way through a constantly shifting landscape. Finally, from time-to-time, you’ll be called upon to take control of a massive laser cannon and practice your skeet shooting against a variety of external threats including fending off an asteroid assault.
At its core, Dead Space aims to bring you on a roller coaster ride and like the best amusements, wants to scare the hell out of you while leaving you grinning in the end. Is Space worth exploring or is it full of dead air?
When the original Gears of War launched in 2006, it flew under the banner “Shattered Beauty”. It’s a great evocative phrase that could have been stuck to last year’s Bioshock and makes an apt adjective to append to this title as well. The world in which Dead Space inhabits is compelling, with a great, ghastly ghost ship displaying some wonderful design choices. There isn’t an area of this ship that doesn’t invite exploration – from the dank, claustrophobic hallways and catwalks leading to massive, cavernous cargo holds to decaying floral terrariums onward to the chill of outer space.
At the beginning of the game, the influences on loan from other games were abundant and I feared that I was just playing through a prettier Doom 3. But I think the references are done on purpose with the developers placing us into familiar (yet disturbing) environs, letting us get a little comfortable before pulling the rug and revealing how deep their madness runs.
Early on in the game, I traversed through my 13th successive industrial hallway, when I came to a door expecting more of the same on the other side. As the door slid open and revealed a massive control deck, with a window open upon vast alien worlds suspended in space, a hail of asteroids raining down upon the hull, I just stopped and took it all in. This was the definition of “shattered beauty” – with imagery so potent it took my breath away while it sucker-punched me. Of course, stop and stare too long and you’ll learn my hard lesson. Within moments I was eviscerated. I’ve got to say though, my exposed entrails never looked so good.
Survival horror has come a long way from Resident Evil’s directive to just “run like hell”. These days, action games require a variety of interconnected systems to sell the surreal life, a challenge that Dead Space meets by marrying the exploration elements of horror-adventure titles with the visceral combat thrills pioneered by Resident Evil 4 and deepened in last year’s Bioshock. While EA Redmond cribs from a large number of prior games, they do a good job of pulling in what works and cutting the fat.
The ability to augment your RIG and weaponry pays off in a number of ways. With the player afforded fewer nodes than needed to max all skills and abilities in one play through, you really have to make choices as to how you want to develop your character’s equipment. Multiple play-throughs at higher difficulties will eventually allow you to enhance all aspects but that first play-through requires a good deal of strategy in selecting the right approach. The fact that nodes can also be used to open locked doors (thus depleting them from your inventory but granting you access to secret areas brimming with currency and equipment) presents another risk/reward scenario to work through. While there is often one set way to get from Point A to Point B as the plot dictates, the dynamic events that crop up during your travel between waypoints (including a number of surprising confrontations) leads to increased tension every time you open a door.
The developers also do a nice job of introducing a number of creative puzzles that employ ‘real world’ physics-based solutions to hurdle the various environmental hazards that crop up. In addition, you gain access to two special powers – Stasis (which freezes enemies) and Kinesis (which acts similar to the Gravity Gun in Half Life 2) and these abilities go a long way towards helping you overcome some of these brain teasers.
If the survival horror genre has revealed one consistent weakness, it’s in the area of control. The closest we’ve gotten to a truly elegant control scheme is the Wii-version of Resident Evil 4, and even that left some hand-wringing with the unnecessary waggle motions. While contemporary analog schemes have remedied Resident Evil’s original tank-like controls, the added complexity found in today’s titles simply places more demand on game pads.
Essentially, too many possible actions for too few buttons and that’s saying a lot, as today’s controllers have an abundance of inputs. Dead Space is not immune from this criticism. Between the various primary and secondary attacks, health recharges, environment navigation and sprinting and context sensitive actions, there is a bit of a learning curve associated in the title.
The developers did an admirable job of trying to keep the player in the game as much as possible, eliminating the irksome ‘menu trips’ that rob games like this of their tension by keeping every ancillary element (recordings, inventory, HUD) organically tied to your RIG suit. These systems can all be called up via holographic projection (and paged through) with the click of a button meaning you can continue navigating a besieged Sick Bay while paging through your list of Med Packs without breaking from the screen. Unfortunately, this adds to the learning curve. You will learn the controls and eventually they’ll become second nature but they are far from elegant, a fact learned very quickly when you are on the run from a horde of Necromorphs and are clumsily fumbling with your onscreen inventory to recharge your Stasis meter.
The music is appropriately moody with menacing orchestral movements mixing with industrial sounding thrash whenever the enemies drop in unexpectedly. That said, a lot of this is indistinguishable from the soundtracks that have backed other survival horror titles – which I guess, goes hand in hand with the soundtracks employed on most Hollywood horror movies. These scores are developed to set a mood, goose the flesh and get that heart racing. To that end, the music works but none of it is memorable enough to haunt your dreams afterward.
If anything, games like this almost work better when the music is kept to sparse appearances. Sometimes, silent moments interrupted with a cacophony of screams and rattling chains can prove more effective. The sound design backing Dead Space is astounding. Remember the sequences in James Cameron’s Aliens, where the Colonial Marines pushed forward through a derelict housing complex, with only the patter of rain and the steady ping of their motion sensors backing their footsteps. It’s that same minimalist approach that Dead Space employs in some key stretches that really works your nerves. It makes the spine-chilling screams that echo throughout the hallways the more frightening as you never know for sure if there is an enemy ready to pounce or if the sound guys are just up to their old tricks.
The fact that closed doors don’t stop most enemies just adds to the fear. Memo to starship engineers: Stop installing these handy-dandy ducts, it makes it too easy for xenomorphs to get the drop on me. Then there’s the old tagline, “In Space – No one can hear you scream”. Several memorable sequences are played out against the vacuum of space. The fact that the creatures scurry about the side of the ship but you can’t hear them coming, lends to some real uncomfortable moments where you are trying to forge ahead but keep glancing behind you to see what’s there.
I don’t know what’s worse – the fact that I was always scrounging for more ammo or the knowledge that Dead Space features some of more intelligent enemies I’ve encountered in a good long time. Forget the fact that they only get angrier the more limbs you slice away, these creatures also display a devious intelligence that always had me second-guessing my actions whenever I entered a new area. Sure, many of them tend to bull rush you the second they spot you but they also have a knack for getting behind cover, scurrying up walls and away from your shots and even diving into the ventilation systems in order to creep up behind you. Relying upon the lessons taught in similar games, I would often exit a room should the going get tough, assuming that I could hunt down some ammo or health and return to the battle when I was good and ready. Unfortunately, these demons were always one step ahead of me, popping down from the ceiling or through the floor no matter how many rooms away I managed to scurry to. I never grew bored of enemy encounters and no matter how much I upgraded my equipment, I always felt slightly outmatched, creating a nice challenge that carries through the entire game.
After years of aiming for the head, I’ve found my mad skills are useless. These aliens don’t go down easy. Taking a clinical approach to creature cutting, you’ll need to systematically take down key appendages to stop these critters from charging. Each enemy type has a different weakness which you can exploit through deft use of your tools and weapons but until you find that, these enemy encounters will scare the hell out of you. In the great survival horror tradition, you are often low on ammo, light on air and just far enough away from a supply center to ever truly feel comfortable. Fortunately, the Save spots are liberally deposited throughout each of the game’s 12 massive environments.
Finally, there are a handful of boss encounters that exist on a scale (in terms of shear size and depth of complexity) that rival some of the epic battles waged in Nintendo’s venerable Legend of Zelda series. I have a Love-Hate relationship with Boss Battles. Once I have bested whatever beastie is causing me extreme anxiety, I will rave about it for years. But nothing robs me of follicles more than these climactic clashes with titans. On multiple occasions, Dead Space worked my last strand but also left me grinning from ear-to-ear when I was done.
EA used to get knocked for milking their franchises and pumping out sequel after sequel. The last year or so has seen the company expand and take some moderate risk through the introduction of new intellectual properties, such as Army of Two and Dead Space. While Dead Space may not fully reinvent the genre, it does take familiar elements and cobble them together to create a new and exciting IP that has a lot of potential to rival the venerable Resident Evil series. Resident Evil reinvented itself with their last installment and Dead Space takes its cue from what worked in that title, adds its own flavoring and actually throws a shout back to the game design choices of the original RE to create a survival horror game that is an absolute must play. This is one of the most engaging titles of the year, a scary and exciting thrill ride that may take us to some familiar looking destinations but always finds new and exciting ways through which to view them. Dead Space is well worth exploring.
Posted on: Friday November 28, 2008 :: Permalink
Posted in: Games
Dead Space, Xbox 360
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Emerging mHealth: Paths for Growth
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Solway Junction Railway - History
Home Page | Towns and Villages | History | Pictures | Contact Us | Sitemap | Cumbria Railways
SOLWAY JUNCTION RAILWAY - OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS
First sod cut on the railway - 28th March 1865
Formal completion of work on Railway - 27th June 1868
Opened for freight traffic - 13th September 1869
First passenger train Excursion from Kirtlebridge to Annan - 1st October 1869
First passenger train Annan to Bowness - 3rd March 1870
First passenger train Bowness to Brayton 8th August 1870
Scottish portion transferred to Caledonian Railway - 9th September 1873
English portion transferred to Caledonian Railway - 6th July 1895
Last train accross the viaduct - 31st August 1921
Goods working reopened between Brayton and Abbey Junction - 1922
Kirtlebridge to Annan Section closed - Autumn 1931
Whole system finally closed - 14th February 1933
Viaduct demolished in 1934-35 by Arnott Young and Company from Glasgow
Track lifted between Bowness and Brayton Junction started 15th May 1937 followed by section between Kirtlebridge and Corsehill Quarry two months later.
Track lifted between Corsehill Quarry and Annan at the end of 1951
For more information on Solway Junction Railway you can view a copy John B. Howes work from the early 1950's by kind permission of Cumbria Library in Carlisle. Another excellent source is the book written by Stuart Edgar and John M. Sinton published by Oakwood Press.
To view the Caledonian Railway Appendix 1915 put together by John Charters CLICK HERE
Cumberland News - May 6th 1950
Solway Viaduct - I have had more difficulty than I thought In digging out the full history Of the Solway Viaduct. I imagined I knew where to seek, but I was mistaken. Nevertheless I have gained quite a fund of Information and more will follow. As I stated, the first sod of the Solway Junction Railway was cut in 1865, bUt it was not until 1869 that the first train moved over the viaduct. The viaduct was designed by Mr James Bunlees, the same man who 10 years previously had built an embankment across Morecambe bay.
1,94O Yards Long - The bridging of the Solway estuary involved the building of a sea embankment of 440 yards on the English side and one of 154 yards in Scotland, and for the actual viaduct 2,900 tons of cast iron and 1,800 tons of wrought iron were used. The cast iron piles were 12 inches in diameter and were driven into the floor of the Solway by a pile driver. No scaffolding was used but specially constructed barges, and the actual viaduct was 1940 yards long. It had a chequered career. Badly damaged by ice flows in 1881, it took a year to repair. It was not used in the 1914-18 war, but was re-opened in 1920 but in 1922 it was condemned as unsafe. I will give some more news next week, but in the meantime I will be grateful if any of my readers can advise me if a complete history of the Solway Junction Railway has ever been written,
Cumberland News - May 13th 1950
End of the Viaduct - Many readers will be interested in the additional details which I am able to give this week about the Solway Viaduct. The keeper of the bridge for many years was Mr William Hunter, of Lilac House, Bowness, and his eldest son Mr Peter Hunter, of Rosehall, Annan was Station Master at Bowness for five years. Later he occupied for a long time a similar position at Coalburn, afterwards being promoted to Bellshill. I am indepted to Mr Hunter for the photograph of Bowness Station, which was taken in 1913. He has also been good enough to let me see an extract from an article by John Thomas entitlede "The end of the Solway Viaduct" which apperaed in the LMS magazine and is the most complete account of the undertaking of which I am aware. Commenced in 1865, the viaduct was finished in 1868, the original owners being Solway Junction Railway Company who obtained their first act in 1864
Bowness to Brayton - A branch line led from Kirtlebridge on the Caledonian Railway system down to Annan, and on this side of the Border the line, the �total length of which was 21 miles 18 chains, passed from :Bowness to Brayton by way of Whiterigg, Abbey Junction and Bromfield. The railway was opened for goods traffic in 1889, and passenger traffic followed in 1870. Three years later the Caledonian �annexed� the Scottish portion of the system and in 1895 the English portion also became their property. The railway was never a prolific passenger carrier b�t Thomas stated that the valuable ore traffic to the Lanarkshire steel works might have made it a big success had not the Cumberland hematite ore been largely superseded towards the end of the nineteenth century by the importation of ore from Spain As so many of my readers are interested In this remarkable structure there will no doubt be glad to have further details next week.
Disaster to Viaduct - Last week I recalled some or the statistics of the Solway Viaduct and mentioned the disaster of 1881 when it was badly damaged by ice. I have now dug out more details of this which win interest those who remember the famous bridge. At the end of January in 1881 there was very hard frost and the waters of the Solway estuary froze at the edges. Likewise there was a lot or Ice lnthe Eden and the Esk. Then came a high tide which lifted all the ice and jammed it in the rivers and at the head of the Firth. This coincid�d with a thaw in the fells which brought the rivers down in spate. Thus When the tide flowed out all the packed ice followed inn great icebergs down the Solway and crashed against the viaduct.
Ice 10 Foot Thick - We are told that the blocks were as solid as �builder�s concrete" often six to ten feet thick and as much as 27 yards square. The scene recalled the Arctic and such a spectacle as � had never before been witnessed, in these latitudes�. A disaster was foreseen by the engineer in charge, and that night four men kept vigil in the signalbox which stood in the middle of the 1900 yard viaduct. They were brave men it was a pitch black night and as the ice came down the Solway at a speed of 10 mlles per hour it hit the piers of the viaduct with great force which made it �shake and rattle from end to end". At 3am came a great ~rash which left no doubt in the minds of the men who were perched in their little slgnalbox as to what had happened. Shortly afterwards another crash this time nearer the box, made them make a strategic withdrawal to the Scotch side to await dawn. It was a sad sight which met thier eyes. One big gap had been torn and many more pillars damaged, and still a great mass of ice to come down. After several days of battering the final damage was two big gaps, one of 50 yards and another of 300 yards, wlth many other piles and pillars damaged. Fortunatley there was no loss of life.
Viaduct�s Chequered Career - Continuing the story of the Solway Viaduct from last week as told by, Mr John Thomas in the "L.M.S. Magazine�. It is interesting to note that although the bridge carried only a single line of metals the foundations were made for a double line. The piers, of which there were 181 single and 12 double, supporting the superstructure, were formed from five cast iron columns. Strong tides and shifting sands presented a "bogey� from the start, and strong timber buttresses had to be built to protect the piers. The bridge had a chequered career. In the Winter of 1875-76 water penetrated the hollow iron pillars and a number of them cracked when the water froze. I have previously mentioned the hard frost at the end of January 1881 when the ice flowed down the Solway and crashed into the viaduct 45 piers were smashed and 37 girders plunged. into the Firth. Parliment authorised a sum of �30,000 to make good the damage which occupied many months in the following year.
Passed into History - During the first great war the viaduct was closed and services between Annan and Brayton abandoned. In 1920 traffic was resumed but at the end of two seasons the bridge was condemned and train services ceased permanently. Afterwards the structure was used by unauthorised pedestrians who sought an easy and cheap method of gaining entrance to England or Scotland and several people were fined for using the bridge. A passenger train service was maintained between Kirtlebride and Annan (Shawhill) until the Autumn of 1931, but even that was discontinued and eventually this relic of the Solway Junction Company�s ent�prise had to pass into the pages of history. It was I believe in May, 1934, that arrangements were made with a Glasgow firm for the demolition of the viaduct, which it was estimated would take about twelve months.
Seven Wise Men - I have received three more very ineresting letters about the Solway Viaduct. One Is from Mrs J. McKechan, of 6 Margery Street, Carlisle, teling me that her great Uncle, who Was Burgh Treasurer to the Annan Town Council, was a member of the committee which, in 1885, proposed that the viaduct should be built.
After its construction this committee, wbich consisted of seven men was called by the inhabitants of Ann the �Seven Wise Men� who are seen in the accompanying photograph, for the use of which am indebted to Mrs McKechan.
Viaduct Medallion - The second communication also comes from a Carlisle reader, Mr chas Lowry, of 129 Denton Street, who states that he has in his possession a medallion struck to commemorate thye starting of the viaduct project. The inscription on the outer edge reads as follows . "To commemorate the cutting of the first sod�. In the centre are the words "Solway Junction Railway at Annan, by Wm Ewart Esq. MP 28th of March", 1865. On the reverse is shown an engine and coach crossing a viaduct, and below are two shields one on the left with two lions and on the right one lion rampant.
Pig-Iron Traffic - As the viaduct closed to traffic during the 1914-18 war, or did it remain open? Last week I quoted from an article in the "LMS Magazine,� which stated that it was closed and that traffic was resumed in 1920. My third letter is from Mr Thomas McKracken of 2 Station View, Kirtlebridge, who worked on the Solway line for 23 years, and who says that more trathc was worked over the bridge during those war years than in any period of its existence. There was a heavy Pig iron traffic from West Cumberland to the Clydeside steel works, worked by the M and C Railway to Brayton on to Kirtlebridge, via Abbey Junction aud Bowness. Prior to the war period the bridge was examined by the Caledonian Railway engineers, and engines of a lighter weight were provided to suit its carrying capaclty. My correspondent says the bridge was closed to all traffic in the early months of 1921 he remembers that after packing his railway tools, furniture and so on, they were worked from Brayton to Kirtlebridge via Carlisle, June 16th 1921, which was about a week alfer the line was closed.
Cumberland News - June 3rd 1950
First Across Viaduct - Who was the first person to cross the Solway Viaduct on its completion? According to Mr R.Noble of Clifton Road, Benwell, Newcastle, that distinction goes to his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Ann Noble Who died in her 85th year at Gateshead, and was daughter of Mr John Cottam, who was in business at Bowness as a grocer and general dealers When the bridge was nearly finished says my correspondent, a foreman, or ganger, promised Mrs Noble that she shouid be the first to go over as soon as it had been completed. "He was good as his a word,� continues Mr Noble, and on the Sunday morning before it was officialy opened he called for her and took her aOtoss. She told me she was a bit nervous, but was very proud of it afterwards. My mother also recalled that it Was a regular practice on Sunday for men to go over to the English side as the public houses on the other side of the border closed.
Carlisle Journal - August 21st 1964
FOR ARMAMENTS - And when, 14 years later, final demolition Work Was carried out on the instructions of the Solway navigation Commissioner, the contractors, Arnott Young and Co of Glasgow, found that old "unsafe" structure so firm that they had to resort to a great deal of blasting to uproot the ironwork. Some of the scrap was resmelted at Darlington and Motherwell, while the rest was shipped to Japan to be put to use for armaments in the Sino-Japanese war. In the meantime the disused viaduct deteriorated to the point where it became a dice with death even to cross the rusting girders and weather worn planks on foot. However, many people made the hazardous journey, not a few of them making the long trip across for a pint of beer in Bowness when the public houses on the other side of the water closed for the Sabbath.
HAIR RAISING - And for those who perhaps indulged a little too freely at the Cumberland hostelries, the trek back across the Firth must have been a hair raising venture. There were one or tvo misadventures we are told. Metal plates had worked loose and dropped into the sea 40 feet below, leaving airy gaps in the catwalk, and the whole structure swayed and clanked alarmingly in a strong wind. The law took a hand and it was made an offence to cross the derelict viaduct on foot. A number of people were arrested and brought before the courts after being apprehended by a watchman put, like Horatio, on sole duty on the crumbling bridge. His must have been a lonely and thankless task, for he was stuck in a little watchman�s hut high on the bridge, a prey to the chill winds and lonely vistas of the Solway.
HIS CROSSING FEE - One man who brought occasional comfort to the watchman was Mr James Leap Brown, now remarkably fit and active 87, who lives with his wife at The Pottery, a cottage beside the old embankment at Bowness. I used to take a glass across to him he reminisced. It only cost threepence, and an ounce of black twist which cost three pence. And we�d sit for a while and have a crack. As far as I remember the old man was only on duty at weekends, He had a little hut about two thirds of the way across the viaduct from this side. Mr Brown chuckled: �Mind you might call it a peace offering". I used to come across the bridge from the Scottish side on a Saturday night.
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McDonald’s to Acquire Dynamic Yield
IsraelUSA
Published on March 28, 2019 By FinSMEs
McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) acquired Dynamic Yield, Ltd., a New York and Tel Aviv, Israel-based leader in personalization and decision logic technology.
The amount of the deal was not disclosed but some media outlets said it totalled approx. $300m.
Led by Liad Agmon, co-founder and CEO, Dynamic Yield is an AI-powered Personalization Anywhere™ platform that delivers individualized experiences at every customer touchpoint: web, apps, email, kiosks, IoT, and call centers. The platform’s data management capabilities provide for a unified view of the customer, allowing the rapid and scalable creation of highly targeted digital interactions. Marketers, product managers, and engineers use Dynamic Yield daily for launching new personalization campaigns, running server-side and client-side A/B tests, leveraging machine-learning for product and content recommendations, and employing algorithms for smartly triggered email and push notifications. The company serves more than 300 brands across the world.
The acquisition aims to fast-tracks McDonald’s digital transformation. The company will utilize this decision technology to provide a more personalized customer experience by varying outdoor digital Drive Thru menu displays to show food based on time of day, weather, current restaurant traffic and trending menu items.
The decision technology can also instantly suggest and display additional items to a customer’s order based on their current selections.
McDonald’s tested this technology in several U.S. restaurants in 2018. Upon closing of the acquisition, McDonald’s will begin to roll this technology out in the Drive Thru at restaurants in the United States in 2019 and then expand the use to other top international markets. The company will also begin work to integrate the technology into all of its digital customer experience touchpoints, such as self-order kiosks and McDonald’s Global Mobile App.
Steve Easterbrook, President and Chief Executive Officer, McDonald’s is a global foodservice retailer with nearly 38,000 locations in over 100 countries around the world.
Upon closing, McDonald’s will become sole owner and will continue to invest in Dynamic Yield’s core personalization product and world-class teams. Dynamic Yield will remain a stand-alone company and employees will continue to operate out of offices around the world. Dynamic Yield will also continue to serve their current and future clients.
Tagged with: Dynamic Yield, McDonald's
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Dynamic Yield Closes $12M Series B Funding Round
By FinSMEs Published on June 23, 2014
Dynamic Yield Raises $22M in Series C Funding
Dynamic Yield Raises $9m in Series C Funding
By FinSMEs Published on July 21, 2017
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Posts Categorized: Adna Sablyich
Short & Sweet – Sleeping Giants + Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel
April 14, 2017 Bonnie Adult, Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Read in 2017, Short & Sweet Reviews 12 Comments
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
Narrator: Andy Secombe, Eric Meyers, Laurel Lefkow, Charlie Anson, Liza Ross, William Hope, Christoper Ragland, Katharine Mangold, Adna Sablyich
Series: Themis Files #1
Published by Random House Audio on April 26th 2016
A page-turning debut in the tradition of Michael Crichton, World War Z, and The Martian, Sleeping Giants is a thriller fueled by an earthshaking mystery—and a fight to control a gargantuan power.
A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.
Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.
But some can never stop searching for answers.
Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?
Eleven-year-old Rose Franklin rides her new bicycle in Deadwood, South Dakota when she suddenly falls into a large hole. At the bottom of this hole was a twenty-foot-long metal hand which she had fallen directly into the palm. Seventeen years later, Rose Franklin is a brilliant physicist who has been brought in to study the mysterious hand that she fell into as a child to determine anything she can about it.
“I don’t really believe in fate,” she says, “but somehow ‘small world’ doesn’t begin to do this justice.”
Its origins and its chemical makeup defy logic; it weighs far less than would be expected based on its mass and its composition couldn’t have come from Earth. When Army helicopter pilots Kara Resnik and Ryan Mitchell crash somewhere in Syria, they find an extremely long, metal forearm that connects to the metal hand like a magnet when placed nearby. The search for the remaining pieces of this metal body continues across the globe to hopefully one day determine the purpose of this creation.
I absolutely adored this story. Sleeping Giants is a science fiction story that delves into the mysteries of space, the mysterious mythology uncovered about the origins of the metal giant, and delves into the scientific aspects of the giant’s metallurgy in an informative and detailed way. The mysteries go beyond the giant though, expanding to each and every character and no one is left to fall by the wayside. Who is the unnamed narrator that possesses so much power and authority, how coincidental is it that Rose Franklin remains involved with the hand years later, what was the purpose of this metal giant and where did it come from? The whole book reads like one massive conspiracy theory, much like an episode of the X-Files and we’re slowly fed answers but never to the bigger picture questions. Will we ever truly know?
The fact that this was Neuvel’s debut is absolutely mind-boggling. The concept and the execution both are fascinating and immensely entertaining. The execution will definitely divide readers seeing as he traded a traditional narrative for a more epistolary type storytelling, using interview transcripts, news articles, journal entries, etc. for the entirety of the tale. If you’re an audiobook fan, this is even more brilliant to listen to with its full cast narration. I don’t re-read stories often but I re-read this one in anticipation of Waking Gods. I think I loved it, even more, the second time around.
Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel
Narrator: Andy Secombe, Adna Sablyich, Laurel Lefkow, Eric Meyers, William Hope, Charlie Anson, Christoper Ragland, Karina Fernandez, Madeleine Rose, Roy McMillan, Olivia Dowd, Sarah Wells
Published by Random House Audio on April 4th 2017
In the gripping sequel to Sleeping Giants, which was hailed by Pierce Brown as “a luminous conspiracy yarn . . . reminiscent of The Martian and World War Z,” Sylvain Neuvel’s innovative series about human-alien contact takes another giant step forward.
As a child, Rose Franklin made an astonishing discovery: a giant metallic hand, buried deep within the earth. As an adult, she’s dedicated her brilliant scientific career to solving the mystery that began that fateful day: Why was a titanic robot of unknown origin buried in pieces around the world? Years of investigation have produced intriguing answers—and even more perplexing questions. But the truth is closer than ever before when a second robot, more massive than the first, materializes and lashes out with deadly force.
Now humankind faces a nightmare invasion scenario made real, as more colossal machines touch down across the globe. But Rose and her team at the Earth Defense Corps refuse to surrender. They can turn the tide if they can unlock the last secrets of an advanced alien technology. The greatest weapon humanity wields is knowledge in a do-or-die battle to inherit the Earth . . . and maybe even the stars.
“I came to realize that good and evil were out of my reach, that time was the only thing I had any control over. I could buy time, create intervals. I could not truly make the world a better place, but I could make part of it a better place for a short while.”
Waking Gods bolsters and expands upon the Sleeping Giants storyline by adding high levels of adrenaline and excitement in this highly anticipated follow-up. Ten years have passed since the end of Sleeping Giants when Rose and team completed the reconstruction of the metal giant they named Themis after the ancient Greek Titan-goddess. They were beginning to slowly piece together information surrounding the mystery of her origins and are only briefly grasping her full technological capabilities when another metal giant appears in the center of London. It stands immobile for weeks, but without provocation, it attacks one-day leaving thousands dead, but some miraculously survived. More giants appear around the globe and Rose and team are given the impossible task of determining how to stop these attacks and to find out the reason behind them before Earth’s population is exterminated.
No sophomore slump to be had here. Listening to Waking Gods felt akin to being on a high-speed roller coaster: you’re buckled in, the ride is moving, and the time to change your mind has long since passed. But damn, is it a crazy good time.
Waking Gods continues with the same interview style of storytelling, with a few new characters/voices to acquaint ourselves with. The plot was incredibly fast paced and read much like an action movie would just minus the visuals. Incredibly similar to The War of the Worlds in regards to the severity and devastation of the attacks but much less straightforward in terms of the reasoning behind the attacks themselves (and far more fascinatingly scientific View Spoiler »the concept that the majority of humans are descendants of alien beings? Brilliant. « Hide Spoiler.) Neuvel imbues his alien invasion with a history and purpose essentially giving the human race a chance at survival. He also manages to add a level of humor (there’s something unequivocally humorous about two individuals trying to manhandle a giant robot, albeit clunkily, into battle) that somehow manages to meld harmoniously with such a somber narrative. There are twists and turns aplenty, one particular scene made me loudly gasp and another where my face started leaking, and the ending will leave you thunderstruck. Neuvel’s endings, while definitely worthy of the term ‘cliffhanger’, never feel cheap but rather an apt ending that will lead to a brilliant beginning of the next, and possibly last, installment.
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Know Your Guardians of the Galaxy: Gamora
Comic Books, Movies
In FreakSugar’s continuing series “Know Your Guardians of the Galaxy,” we look at Gamora, the badass green alien lady, played by Zoe Saldana, from the trailers for the Guardians of the Galaxy film opening next week. You might remember Saldana from her work as the badass blue alien lady in James Cameron’s 2009 epic film Avatar. Gamora was created by comic book writer and artist Jim Starlin, who was also responsible for the characters Drax and Thanos, the Mad Titan, who will also be making appearances in the film.
If the first thing you thought when you first set eyes on Gamora was “She-Hulk with knives,” don’t fret. I thought the same thing when I first encountered the character in the 1991 crossover The Infinity Gauntlet, which centered on Thanos throwing his hands in the air and killing half the universe like he just didn’t care. As it turns out, Gamora’s story is interesting in its own right and intricately entwined with the genocidal villain.
Thanos and young Gamora
When Gamora was young, Thanos found her after her entire race, the Zen Whoberi, had been wiped out by the Badoon, the same Badoon which had given a young Star-Lord trouble. In short, the Badoon are bastards. Thanos decided to raise Gamora as a weapon, because what’s less creepy than adopting some random alien girl and molding her into an assassin? Thanos trained her in martial arts in order for her to become the “deadliest woman in the galaxy” to assassinate the Magus, leader of the Universal Church of Truth and evil alternate reality version of Adam Warlock. The Mad Titan wasn’t exactly the warmest of father figures, but he did give her a doll for Christmas one time, which was awkward. (And how is Christmas a tradition that extends beyond Earth? Was it more of a Winter Solstice-type celebration? Even that’s problematic. Anyway.) During a visit to an alien planet, Gamora was raped and beaten by thugs, after which she was found by Thanos, nurtured back to health, and given cybernetic enhancements to complement her badassery.
Eventually, Thanos deployed Gamora to dispense with the Universal Church, killing every member and preventing the Church from massacring her race before it ever occurred (because time travel and comics). “But I thought you said the Badoon killed her race?” you may ask. Well, yes, they did, but only to balance the cosmic scales since the Universal Church had been prevented from doing so. Because, again, comics.
(Sidebar: Can we just note how much a product of its time this story is? The tale was written in the 1970s, when folks across the country were exploring new age and alternative religions and philosophies. The villains are called the Universal Church of Truth, for chrissakes. And the leader is named the Magus, who, incidentally, had a magnificent fro. And Gamora’s race is called the Zen Whoberi, which sounds like an Eastern energy drink.)
Although Gamora missed her chance at killing the Magus himself, she was assigned by Thanos to protect Adam Warlock, Thanos’ sometime-partner in these types of cosmic skirmishes. Gamora, Adam, Pip the Troll (yes, Pip), and Thanos finally managed to put an end to the Magus’ rule, but Thanos’ machinations made Gamora give Thanos a case of the skeptical side-eye. Turns out Gamora was right to be suspicious, as Thanos made a play at destroying the universe, as one does. The combined might of Gamora, Adam Warlock, Pip, and the Avengers managed to curtail the Mad Titan’s plans, but not before Thanos mortally wounded his foster daughter and destroyed Pip’s mind. In order to save the lives of his friends, Adam absorbed Gamora and Pip into his Soul Gem and its Soulworld (which allows him to control all things related to the Soul, natch), and later joined them when he died.
Gamora, Adam, and Pip enjoyed a peaceful existence in Soulworld until the Silver Surfer alerted the trio that Thanos had returned, at Mistress Death’s behest, to wipe out half of the universe’s population. The Surfer explained that Thanos had assembled the Infinity Gems, including the Soul Gem, which essentially granted Thanos the power of a god. (The Infinity Gems are the basically the Infinity Stones that have been peppered through or alluded to in Marvel’s films as far back as the first Thor movie.) Adam found the three recently deceased bodies on Earth using the Soul Gem, and he and his friends inhabited those bodies, using some kind of magic-whammy to make them resemble their previous mortal vessels. Assisted by Earth’s heroes, the trio stopped Thanos, with Adam eventually coming into possession of the Infinity Gauntlet himself.
When the Living Tribunal, a representative of the One-Above-All, decreed that the Infinity Gems could no longer work in concert with one another, Adam assembled the Infinity Watch, dispensing the gems to others for safeguarding. He gave the Time Gem to Gamora, who could only access the power of the gem through dreams and precognition. She begins a romantic relationship with Adam before leaving him and his weirdness to lead a group of female warriors known as The Graces (which, admittedly, was probably a step in the right direction). When the Annihilation Wave threatened to destroy the universe, Gamora stepped in to help. At this point, she’s helped preserve the universe so many times that one more and she’ll get a free universal save.
After helping stave off the Wave, the encroachment of the cybernetic aliens known as the Phalanx, and a resurrected Magus, Gamora helps form the Guardians of the Galaxy. Currently, she serves alongside Star-Lord, Groot, Drax, and Rocket in keeping the universe safe from threats that seem to spring straight from an H.P. Lovecraft fever dream.
Gamora in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Outside the comics, Gamora appeared in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, dispatched by the Kree religious zealot known as Ronan the Accuser to retrieve a small orb containing immense power for Thanos. In exchange, Thanos has agree to destroy the Xandarians, who have recently signed a peace treaty with the Kree. Ronan regards the Xandarians as filth, so he’s not too keen on that idea. Gamora sees both Thanos and Ronan as dangerous madmen and plans to take the orb to a third party to keep the orb safe. While attempting to snatch the orb from Star-Lord–who, in turn, is being pursued by Rocket and Groot for a bounty–Gamora and company land themselves in jail.
The quartet becomes a quintet after they meet up with Drax, who wants to murder Gamora for Ronan’s murder of his family. Unfortunately, the orb land lands in Ronan’s hands, who decides to keep it and take care of Xandar on his own. Boo. Double boo, because we learn that the orb actually contains the Infinity Stone of Power (linking the movie’s narrative to the rest of the films that came before it.) Fortunately, following some madcap hijinks and resolved misunderstandings, the team–dubbed sarcastically by Ronan as the Guardians of the Galaxy–stop Ronan from murdering all of Xandar’s population. (Yay!) Gamora and the team have created the family that they were all missing and agree to stay together.
Baby Groot and Gamora in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
As for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we only know a few morsels as to what happens to Gamora, but it does appear she’ll have some sisterly bonding and maybe reconciliation with Nebula (played by Karen Gillan), who was raised by Thanos alongside Gamora after Thanos killed Gamora’s family. Nebula fought Ronan’s side during the battle of Xandar in exchange for Ronan killing Thanos afterward, as she was none-too-keen on her adopted pappy’s experiments twisting her body. So, Gamora and Nebula probably has some catching up to do and hash some things out. Probably. And there was a flirtation between Gamora and Star-Lord in the first film that, from the looks from the footage released so far, will be addressed in Vol. 2. It appears to be a busy film for our favorite assassin-turned-Guardian.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters May 5.
GamoraGuardians of the GalaxyGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2James GunnMarvelThanosZoe Saldana
Jed W. Keith makes squiggle-thoughts into word-thinkems on and off the Internet. Aside from FreakSugar, you may have seen his scrawlings at The Mary Sue and Legion of Leia and the Association for Linen Management. When not writing about pop culture, he does educational and technical writing for a whole host of companies. Also, he plays a mean game of Ms. Pac-Man.
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Centre study on life expectancy and life expectancy inequalities in England and Wales published today in the Lancet
A paper by Centre Investigator Majid Ezzati has been published today in the Lancet, entitled "The future of life expectancy and life expectancy inequalities in England and Wales: Bayesian spatiotemporal forecasting". The paper also involves colleagues from the Small Area Health Statistics Unit, and is a study on life expectancy and life expectancy inequalities in England and Wales to 2030. The results show that men are narrowing the gap on women when it comes to life expectancy in England and Wales. Although life expectancy is improving for both sexes, it comes at the cost of widening inequalities between deprived and affluent areas.
The paper is published in the Lancet http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2815%2960...
The study has also received extensive media coverage, including on the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32512343) and the Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/30/life-expectancy-increases-gap-widens-rich-poor-imperial-research)
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A PPAR-β/δ Agonist is Neuroprotective and Decreases Cognitive Impairment in a Rodent Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Author(s): Nihar R. Das, Rahul P. Gangwal, Mangesh V. Damre, Abhay T. Sangamwar, Shyam S. Sharma. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector-67, SAS Nagar, Punjab-160062, India., India
Journal Name: Current Neurovascular Research
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with higher risk of cognitive impairment that may lead to memory loss, confusion, and decreased attention span. In this study, we have investigated the effect of GW0742, a PPAR-β/δ agonist in rat model of cognitive impairment associated with PD. Bilateral intranigral administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) (100 µg/1 µl/side) produced significant cognitive dysfunctions. PPAR-β/δ agonist GW0742 at a dose of 30 and 100 µg/kg showed significant improvement in cognitive impairments caused by MPTP in rat model of PD as evident from passive avoidance and Morris water maze test. MPTP-induced massive oxidative damage and DNA fragmentation was ameliorated by GW0742 treatment as observed after MDA and GSH estimation and TUNEL assay. Tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons were decreased by 25% of normal control in MPTP group and GW0742 treatment restored tyrosine hydroxylase levels showing neuroprotective nature. Further, we performed physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling study using GastroPlus to characterize the kinetics of GW0742 in the brain. The predicted amounts of GW0742 in brain suggest that it has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. This study implicates the involvement of PPAR-β/δ in PD induced cognitive impairment.
Keywords: GastroPlus, GW0742, MPTP, parkinson’s disease, PBPK modeling, PPAR beta.
Title:A PPAR-β/δ Agonist is Neuroprotective and Decreases Cognitive Impairment in a Rodent Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Author(s):Nihar R. Das, Rahul P. Gangwal, Mangesh V. Damre, Abhay T. Sangamwar and Shyam S. Sharma
Affiliation:Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector-67, SAS Nagar, Punjab-160062, India.
Keywords:GastroPlus, GW0742, MPTP, parkinson’s disease, PBPK modeling, PPAR beta.
Abstract:Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with higher risk of cognitive impairment that may lead to memory loss, confusion, and decreased attention span. In this study, we have investigated the effect of GW0742, a PPAR-β/δ agonist in rat model of cognitive impairment associated with PD. Bilateral intranigral administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) (100 µg/1 µl/side) produced significant cognitive dysfunctions. PPAR-β/δ agonist GW0742 at a dose of 30 and 100 µg/kg showed significant improvement in cognitive impairments caused by MPTP in rat model of PD as evident from passive avoidance and Morris water maze test. MPTP-induced massive oxidative damage and DNA fragmentation was ameliorated by GW0742 treatment as observed after MDA and GSH estimation and TUNEL assay. Tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons were decreased by 25% of normal control in MPTP group and GW0742 treatment restored tyrosine hydroxylase levels showing neuroprotective nature. Further, we performed physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling study using GastroPlus to characterize the kinetics of GW0742 in the brain. The predicted amounts of GW0742 in brain suggest that it has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. This study implicates the involvement of PPAR-β/δ in PD induced cognitive impairment.
Nihar R. Das, Rahul P. Gangwal, Mangesh V. Damre, Abhay T. Sangamwar and Shyam S. Sharma, “A PPAR-β/δ Agonist is Neuroprotective and Decreases Cognitive Impairment in a Rodent Model of Parkinson’s Disease”, Current Neurovascular Research (2014) 11: 114. https://doi.org/10.2174/1567202611666140318114037
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Adventure Travel Gear Fitness & Nutrition Skills Camping Photos Contests
Image Via: Mike Tully
Mount Liberty via the Liberty Spring Trail
Mike Tully
Explore the USA > Adventure
Credit: Mike Tully
A Spectacular Early Spring Day Hike in New Hampshire’s Franconia Range
The Franconia range offers challenging terrain and beautiful views while still within a 2 hour drive from Boston. The area is popular with hikers in all seasons, but I like it most in the snow. It is the best time of year for many reasons. No black flies, no mosquitoes and no traffic jams on the trails. Sure you must carry extra gear and prepare for dangerous cold, but the stunning views that greet you when rise out of the forest into the snow covered alpine tundra make it all worthwhile.
Mount Liberty is 4,560 foot high and capped by a sharp granite peak that offers 360 degree views. It is a great target for a winter outing. The Flume parking area in (which is plowed in the winter) in Franconia Notch State Park offers the best starting point for the 8 mile round trip to the summit.
It should be noted that New Hampshire’s high peaks are subjected to brutally cold temperatures and some of the highest recorded winds on earth. They must be respected in all seasons, but especially in winter and early spring. The conditions above the tree line can be extreme on the mildest days. My hiking companion Chris and I followed the late March weather forecast and picked a day when the valley was to have mild temps in the 30s and winds 10-20 mph. A rough rule of thumb would put the temps above tree line in the 20s and winds 20-30 mph. We packed enough layers of clothing for a brief stay at the top.
At 10:30 am we headed south from the Basin parking area along the bike trail that follows the Pemigewassett River. Special care must be taken hiking along the bike trail in winter, as it is popular with snowmobilers who like to go very fast. About a mile down the bike trail we turned left on to Liberty Spring trail. Six inches of fresh snow had fallen overnight and there were no footprints on the trail. We briefly debated putting on snowshoes, but then decided to try Kahtoola MICROspikes on our boots instead. The trail was firmly packed under the fresh snow. The traffic had carved about an 18” trough that wasn’t really wide enough for graceful striding on snowshoes. The fresh snow was a bit more effort than hiking a packed trail, but not bad.
The four mile ascent has a total elevation gain of 3,250 feet and the incline is fairly steady along the Liberty Spring trail with no real treacherous grades until near the end. We did encounter some steeper areas where we were backsliding in the snow and did consider donning the snowshoes. By this point we had been passed up by six younger, faster hikers and we made note of their footwear – three with snowshoes, three without. A tough call, but we pressed on without.
Stopping for some Lunch
Our original plan was to stop and have lunch at Liberty Spring campsite, .6 miles from the summit. I ran out of energy before we got that far, so we had to break for lunch along the trail, or more accurately, on the trail. The winter traffic on this popular trail produces a firm packed base to stand on. The problem with hiking sans snowshoes is that you can’t step off the trail without plunging into some awfully deep snow. We were forced to break for lunch sitting directly on the trail, which became very awkward when a couple of hikers had to pass through. Very much like playing the game of Twister. They were good sports about it.
Liberty Spring campsite wouldn’t have been a better place to stop for lunch. The campsite consists of 7 single and 3 double tent platforms, but all were buried in the deep snow. The latter part of the ascent was in a tunnel of pine trees laden with fresh snow. By 2 PM the trees began getting very short. At this point we were fueled by the anticipation of the views that awaited us at the top.
The Liberty Spring trail ends at the Franconia Ridge trail about .3 of a mile from the summit. This is where you break out into the open alpine tundra. Turning right on the Franconia Ridge trail brings you to the Summit of Little Haystack. The summit was a grand sight after hours in the forest. It consists of a sharply peaked granite outcropping. Chris remarked that the location of the summit is obvious, “you can put your finger on it”.
The conditions were not what we expected from the “partly cloudy” forecast. Dark snow squalls were rolling through. Visibility was spotty, but the nearby peaks could be seen at times. The wind and snow stung exposed skin, but it felt great. Standing at the peak in those conditions felt like the summit of Everest. We got to stand like explorers at the top of the world, but still had time to get down the mountain and drive home for dinner. Everything we could have hoped for in a day hike.
How to get to New Hampshire’s Franconia Range
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Home>News>COP 21: Developed country partners have to decide on a legally-binding agreement, says Mauritian President
COP 21: Developed country partners have to decide on a legally-binding agreement, says Mauritian President
Domain:Environment; International Relations
Persona: Business; Citizen; Government; Non-Citizen
GIS - December 1st, 2015: All of our developed country partners have to come together, demonstrate political will, and agree on a legally-binding agreement. Prudent actions will help us lay the foundations for a sustainable, climate-resilient future, as our survival on this planet depends on the survival of our environment.
This was the main thrust of the address of the President of the Republic, Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which is taking place from 30 November to 11 December 2015 in Paris le Bourget, France.
While observing that time is not on our side, the President pointed out that COP 21 offers an unprecedented opportunity to take heed of scientific findings about anthropogenic changes to climate, and act collectively to accelerate the overall effort to combat climate change.
The President further recalled that in September 2015, Mauritius submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. ‘My country has bold aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon development pathway’, she stressed.
Moreover, President Gurib-Fakim enumerated issues that Mauritius wishes to address as regards the 2015 agreement, namely:
respect and maintain the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibility;
intensify efforts to reduce emission of greenhouse gases by industrialised countries in line with historical responsibility and scientific findings;
treat adaptation, loss and damage issues as separate components of the Paris Agreement; the Mauritius stand is that the loss and damage component be anchored in a permanent international mechanism;
mobilise finance to fight climate change comprehensively; and
boost access to technology and build capacity to expand adaptation and mitigation efforts in SIDS, LDC’s and African countries.
It is recalled that according to the 2014 World Risk Report, Mauritius is ranked 14th on the list of countries at high risk of suffering an extreme climatic event. Temperature is increasing and surpassing the global average. A reduction in annual precipitation rates has been observed while sea level is also rising at significantly higher level than the global average. The climate change projections for Mauritius are bleak.
Government Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website:http://gis.govmu.org
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Growing Up in Fairmount by W. Fred Hendrix
(Originally Published in the July, 2014 Edition)
I consider myself lucky to have grown up in Fairmount during the 1950's. It was a great time and a great place to be a kid. We use to take long hikes in the woods and along the Mo. River. The hills over looking the river had such things as "Look Out Point," "Dead Mans Trail," and the "Jessie James Cave"
One of the great joys was the Byam Theater in Fairmount and the Saturday afternoon shows. The Shows were all black and white then and were for the most part old 30’s and 40’s reruns but we had never seen them before. Tarzan movies, and Westerns along with Flash Gordon and the Three Stooges. There would also be a serial where each week a chapter would be shown, leaving the hero or his girl in the face of death to be continued the next week.
Admission was 10 cents. My mom would give me 35 cents, so that left 25 cents to spend. With popcorn at 5 cents as well as pop and candy for 25 cents it was enough to treat myself and also buy for my "girl friend.” It was great for the parents since they had a place to drop off the kids on a Saturday to keep them busy and out of the way and it was great for the kids to see the movies and to spend time with their friends outside of school.
Once a month or so the Byam would have a talent contest on Saturday afternoon. The girls would have little dance skits, boys would play drums or do a reading or comedy skit. The prizes were a box of popcorn or a Coke and first prize was a free ticket to next week's show. I entered and got second place with a much practiced and moving rendition of "Home on the Range."
The Byam closed in the mid 50's but by that time we were going to the Maywood and then later the Englewood, and going out at night.
It was a great time, little crime, no drugs, and cheap oil. I remember the gas wars when a gallon of gas was 8 cents a gallon. What a great time.
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Thursday May 23, 2013
Intimate Productions
XXXY (London)
w/ HxdB, 314, U-Tee and Wild Zero
Shine Nightclub | 364 Water Street Vancouver, B.C. CA
Rupert Taylor aka xxxy has always had music in his life, from the bands he sang and played guitar in up to his first ever commercially available release as Forensix (mcr) but he has been really making a name for himself over the last few years with his modern take on garage cross rhythms and dubby bass lines with the sound palette of classic house and techno jams.
It all began with a releases on the American Label "Formant" & Mancunian label Mindset which showcased Taylor's unique take on garage music with support from some major tastemakers in the scene his stock began to rise.
His subsequent releases on Fortified Audio, Infrasonics & Pollen cemented his status as an up and coming artist to watch. It was his release 'You Always Start It' and 'Ordinary Things' on Doc DaneekaÕs Ten Thousand Yen label which really attracted the wider public's attention to his inventive productions. The single was picked up in a number of blogs and major music websites with Pitchfork naming it their "best new track" on 31st January 2011 and the release being named in many best of the year lists.
Follow up releases on Orca and All City were met with similar critical acclaim and made xxxy one of the producers to watch in underground music.
It was also in 2011 that xxxy was chosen as one of 60 musicians from tens of thousands who applied to be participant at the Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid where he attended lectures from industry legends such as Bootsy Collins and Nile Rodgers, performed concerts and collaborated with other participants.
2012 led to well received releases on Well Rounded and Halo Cyan which further enhanced his reputation along with a large number of European, Asian and Australasian shows including a performance at Sonar festival in Barcelona which prompted the Red Bull Music Academy to pronounce that he was "fourth-best DJ in the world"
2013 opened with a bang with a release on one of UK music's premier labels; Rinse. The release had numerous plays on BBC radio and undoubtable led to him being booked to play Sonar festival in Tokyo as well as a number of high profile summer festivals.
Meticulous production values and skills on decks characterize a night out on the tiles with xxxy, with celebrated mixes for FACT XLR8R and URB as evidence for his knack of driving the dance floor.
Tickets also available at Beatstreet Records [439 Hastings St] and Zulu Records [1972 W 4th Ave]
Limited Advance Tickets | 19+ | 2 Pieces of ID Required
XXXY
London, UK // Rinse FM, Ten Thousand Yen
HxdB
Vancouver, Canada // Tectonic, Brownswood, Hot N Heavy, B.YRSLF, Car Crash Set, Palms Out, Sounds of Sumo, Aufect, Symbols, Gradient Audio, Party Guy, Innovative Leisure
Hexadecibel is a machine. At least that's what the rumors say - Severine Erickson aka HxdB is one of the Canadian bass-music scene's most prolific, driven and exciting figures to watch. Between his unstoppable productions, memorable DJ sets, performing at and hosting and legendary local events, and lending his talents to two diverse record labels, he is a hard man to keep up with.
Vancouver, Canada //
Sean Plusoneminusone Matwiy and Liam Likemind Joneser have quickly become ambassadors of a fresh style of house music in Vancouver, and for good reason. Diligent educators and diverse selectors, the pair have begun to produce events for Vancouver's dance community, while maintaining focus on their ever-evolving DJ sets.
U-Tee
Vancouver, Canada // Intimate Productions
Over the past 4 years, U-Tee (Ryan Enockson) has been involved in Vancouvers underground music scene.
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Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-10-01
From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>
Athens, Greece, 01/10/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
Commission recommendation for Greece's convergence programme
Gov't presents bill to overhaul Athens,Piraeus urban transport
Gov't welcomes country's biggest ever tourism investment
Two foreign firms bid for Hellenic Duty Free Shops
Greek stocks slump on decline by European markets, sale tender
Simitis speaks with newly appointed Albanian PM Majko
George Papandreou cancels trip to Belgrade
Reduced winter prices on passenger ferries
NEWS IN DETAIL
The European Commission yesterday endorsed the recommendation it will submit to the Council of EU economy and finance ministers (ECOFIN) regarding Greece's all-important convergence programme.
It is the first specific implementation of the new processes anticipated by the fiscal stability and development agreement on the su-pervision of the economic and fiscal policies of member-states that will not join the euro zone as of Jan. 1, 1999.
The primary target of the country's convergence programme is adherence by Greece to terms and conditions that will permit it to participate fully in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and in the common euro currency as of 2001.
The European Commission ascertains that this programme is in accordance with the general economic policy guidelines, ratified at the Cardiff summit last June. The European Commission also said that what is important is for inflation to decrease to the planned level of 2.5 per cent in 1999, with subsequent price stability to be maintained.
The Greek government must decrease public deficits to 2.4 per cent of GDP in 1998 and then reduce them progressively even further in the years to come in order to reach 0.8 per cent in 2001.
The public debt will have to decrease from 108.6 of GDP in 1998 to 99.8 per cent in 2001.
The European Commission also finds that the Greek programme sets out progress scheduled by the government towards convergence criteria and more specifically inflation, fiscal issues, longterm interest rates and monetary stability. The participation of each country in the euro zone depends on respect for these criteria. The Greek convergence programme covers the 1998- 2001 period.
The main conclusions reached by the Commission after examining the Greek convergence programme are that the programme reflects the target set by the government for respect for the necessary terms and conditions which will allow Greece to join the euro as of Jan. 1, 2001, and that it is mostly adjusted to the requirements of the "Stability Pact" on the condition, of course, that relevant measures of a fiscal and structural nature announced by the government in 1998 for this purpose will be fully implemented.
The Commission also urges the Greek government to honour commitments in terms of fiscal measures, as well as the implementation of structural reforms which it had announced itself when it included the drachma in the exchange rate mechanism on March 16, 1998.
The Greek programme is based on an ambitious prediction of growth rates which does not lack realism, says the Commission.
It further notes that:
-The growth of salaries at slow rates and the strengthening of fiscal discipline will play a decisive role in the effort to achieve targets set by the convergence programme for a decrease in inflation.
From this aspect, implementation of the 1998 budget appears to be developing in accordance with predictions. In addition, the Greek authorities announced, after submitting the convergence programme to the Commission, new and more ambitious targets in the fiscal sector for 1999 (deficits amounting to 1.7 per cent of GDP instead of 2.1 per cent).
-For the success of the Greek convergence programme an increase in public investments is necessary which will be funded through a decrease in current expenditures without, however, overturning the downward trend of the total deficit.
-The percentage of public debt in relation to GDP decreased since 1994 but more slowly than was allowed by the decrease in deficits during the same period. The programme aims at securing a primary surplus in the region of 7 per cent of GDP, starting from 1998. The intensification of the pace of privatisations of public corporations could play a more important role in reducing the debt.
-The Commission assesses that the structural deficit (rid of its cyclical fluctuations) aimed at the 0.8 per cent level for deficits in 2001 must be adequate to secure a safety margin so that the 3 per cent ceiling set by the agreement will not be ultim ately exceeded.
Structural reforms are essential for an improvement in the Greek economy's effectiveness, particularly in the massive public sector.
ECOFIN is expected to ratify the Greek convergence programme by issuing an official avis based on the Commission's recommendation at its session on Oct. 12.
The government yesterday released a bill to rationalise and unify the sprawling Athens and Piraeus urban transport systems, allowing a write-off of 950 billion drachmas in debts and incorporation of a new metro being built for the capital.
The bill was devised by Transport and Communications Minister Tasos Mantelis, who outlined its contents at a news conference yesterday.
Under the terms of the bill, state-owned Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA) will head separate companies currently running the city's blue buses, trollies and green buses, and electric railway, which is being expanded into a fully fledged metro system.
The firms are destined to become subsidiaries of OASA, which is to undertake strategic planning for city transport, also allocating and checking services for its future subsidiaries.
OASA will set up a traffic control centre, devise timetables, and expand or abolish routes.
Local government will have the right to acquire up to 40 percent of OASA's stock, and set up municipal-run transport, in line with OASA's strategic planning.
OASA will also recommend measures to the transport ministry to ease the circulation of buses in the city's congested traffic, with the ministry coordinating any changes with other ministries.
Agreement has already been reached with Public Works, Town Planning and Environment Minister Costas Laliotis to extend bus lanes in the capital by five kilometres, Mr. Mantelis said.
Under the terms of the bill, debts totalling 950 billion drachmas will be written off, which comprise a 450 billion drachma deficit for blue buses, 250 billion drachmas in financing for old debts, and 250 billion drachmas in new loans.
Every September, the government will announce its pricing policy for the next calendar year and set targets for operational spending.
Mr. Mantelis said that fares would not rise in 1999, and tickets would continue to be valid for both buses and trollies.
Long-term supply contracts forged by OASA will be financed from the public investment programme with 134.145 billion drachmas for allocation between 1999 and 2002.
The procurement contracts are for 750 new buses, 192 new trollies and 120 carriages for the electric railway.
The government is to hire 200 bus drivers from among the vehicles' previous owners during a short-lived privatisation in the early 1990s; and from among bus drivers who lost their jobs in that denationalisation, which was later reversed by the ruling PASOK party in a change of government.
Surplus staff will be transferred within OASA and its subsidiaries, and retrained if necessary. Around 700 staff are to be transferred into the transport sector from other public sector services, Mr. Mantelis said.
Under the terms of an article in the bill, the new Athens metro being built is to be incorporated into the capital's unified transport system.
Within six months of the bill becoming law, Attiko Metro, which is supervising construction of the new underground system, must give the transport ministry an operational plan for two lines nearing completion, and how they will connect with existing bus and trolley services.
From the date the operational plan is endorsed, Attiko Metro will fall under the jurisdiction of the transport ministry.
Three months later, Attiko Metro will create a subsidiary to handle transportation.
The subsidiary will merge with the existing electric railway operator within three years under a special decree to be issued nearer the time by the transport ministry.
Development Minister Vasso Papandreou yesterday welcomed a plan by a group of Greek and Greek-American businessmen to spend an initial 50 billion drachmas in developing a stretch of the Peloponnese for tourism.
The investment spanning four chunks of land in Messinia is considered to be the largest tourism investment project ever undertaken in Greece, and will require the approval of parliament.
It forms part of Ms Papandreou's policy of subsidising the creation of integrated tourism development areas around the country by private sector investors.
"The Messinia project meets the government's policy of improving the quality of Greece's tourism product. It is significant that it is taking place in an area of western Greece that has no tourism development," Ms Papandreou told a news conference.
In the initial phase, the plan involves the construction of luxury hotels totalling 2,300-beds, two 18-hole golf courses, a conference centre, a thalassotherapy centre, sports facilities and a shopping mall.
The project is expected to be completed by 2002 and will create 1,000 jobs in the area, with spending expected to reach 200 billion drachmas.
Buildings will cover only one percent of the land for development in the first phase, and five percent at the end of the project.
Remaining land will retain its natural greenery, or undergo landscaping, in line with a policy to protect the environment. The project's investors are shipowner Vassilis Konstantakopoulos, who owns the land to be developed, and a group of Greek-American businessmen.
They have set up Messinia Tourist Enterprises SA to carry out the scheme.
The Konstantakopoulos shipowning family of Messinia has a 95 percent stake in the company.
The remaining five percent is held by the three Greek-Americans: 2.50 percent by Californian businessman Angelos Tsakopoulos; 1.25 percent by Chicago-based lawyer and banker Jim Rigas; and 1.25 percent by New York engineer Peter Pappas.
The project will be funded by 35 percent from shareholders' equity, excluding the value of the privately owned land; 35 percent through bank loans; and 30 percent through state subsidies under a development law. Expressions of interest for the project were called last year.
The deal will have to secure a parliamentary vote in line with all investments worth more than 25 billion drachmas subsidised under the same development law.
At the moment, Messinia has just 33 hotel beds to 1,000 residents, sharply lower than the Dodecanese islands, where the ratio is 530 to every 1,000 residents. On completion of the project, Messinia will have 85 beds to 1, 000 inhabitants.
"As a government we support this project being implemented as soon as possible," Ms Papandreou said.
Saresco of France and Kappe of the Netherlands yesterday entered bids in a privatisation tender through the bourse for a 67 percent stake in Hellenic Duty Free Shops SA, the Public Securities Enterprise (DEKA) said.
It was the second tender for the company after the first fell flat earlier this year. The sale is part of the government's wide-ranging privatisation plan.
A bid by Saresco with listed Papaellinas and Sarandis was accepted. The firm, which had also taken part in the first tender, yesterday offered 3, 250 drachmas per share accompanied by a copy of a bank letter of guarantee.
It has been asked to bring the original.
Rejected by the authorities was Kappe's bid, which offered 3,300 drachmas per share but no letter of guarantee. DEKA said the group had failed to comply with the tender's rules.
The government had set 3,100 drachmas per share as the floor for bidding.
Hellenic Duty Free Shops has already floated a 20 percent stake on the Athens Stock Exchange. The current flotation is to offer most of the remaining stock.
Greek equities lost ground in scant trade yesterday, affected by declines in other markets in Europe and caution over a tender through the bourse to privatise Hellenic Duty Free Shops SA with bids due after the session's close, analysts said.
The general index ended 1.80 percent down at 2,120.90 points with turnover at 30.7 billion drachmas, slightly down on 33.6 billion drachmas in the previous session, on 6,413,000 shares traded.
Sector indices mostly finished lower.
The heavily weighted banking sector plunged 1.74 percent, Insurance dropped 0.95 percent, Investment rose 0.48 percent, Leasing lost 3.22 percent, Industrials slumped 2.71 percent, Construction dropped 2.07 percent, Miscellaneous shed 3.25 percent and H olding fell 0.99 percent.
The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.21 percent lower. The FTSE/ASE-20 blue chip index lost 1.69 percent to end at 1,281.28 points.
Of 250 shares traded, laggards outpaced advancers by 178 to 51 with 21 remaining unchanged.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday held a telephone conversationwith his newly appointed Albanian counterpart Pandeli Majko, govern ment sources said.
Mr. Simitis congratulated Mr. Majko on his appointment and invited him to visit Athens on Nov. 12, sources added.
Accepting the invitation, Mr. Majko expressed reservations over the date of the visit, the same sources said, adding that it will be fixed through diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, commenting on the formation of the new Albanian government, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said Greece hoped the new leadership would prove to be a catalyst for positive developments in the neighbouring country.
"We fully support the new prime minister in his efforts to tackle the most pressing and important issues that Albania faces today, i.e. the restoration of public order, the fight against corruption, the economy, and the institution-building process," he said.
"We call on President (Rexhep) Mejdani to take political initiatives to revive the spirit of dialogue and round tables with a constructive opposition. A constructive opposition is one that takes part actively in parliament and the constitutional process. It is also totally against those tactics which contribute to the recent violent events in Tirana," he added.
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, currently the Councilof Europe's rotating presidency chairman, has cancelled a scheduled visit to Belgrade tomorrow after the refusal of Yugoslav authorities to grant entry visas to an adequate number of foreign participants for a conference in the Yugoslav capital.
Mr. Papandreou was to go to Belgrade for the opening of the "International Conference on Broadcasting for a Democratic Europe: The case of the Association of Independent Electronic Media - ANEM", organised by the secretary general of the Council of Europe. He expressed his "full support to the organisers of the conference" and said that he "shared the efforts put forward for the strengthening of the role of the media in Yugoslavia".
Passenger ferries prices will decrease by 20 per cent as of today and until March 31, 1999, compared to summer rates. Reduced prices are valid on all primary and secondary coastal shipping routes, as well as on the Saronic routes - with the exception of local destinations.
Mostly fair weather is forecast throughout Greece on Thurday with cloud in the nortwest of he country in the evening. Temperatures in Athens will range between 16-28C, while in Thessaloniki from 12-26C.
Thursday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 286.777 British pound 486.378 Japanese yen (100) 211.167 French franc 50.965 German mark 170.857 Italian lira (100) 17.293 Irish Punt 427.056 Belgian franc 8.283 Finnish mark 56.169 Dutch guilder 151.578 Danish kr. 44.951 Austrian sch. 24.281 Spanish peseta 2.014 Swedish kr. 36.452 Norwegian kr. 38.654 Swiss franc 206.564 Port. Escudo 1.667 Aus. dollar 169.751 Can. dollar 188.083 Cyprus pound 576.352
(L.G.)
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Call Us : (800) 215-1164
Miri Ben-Ari talks about “50 States Of Tolerance”
In this Huffington Post article, Miri Ben-Ari talks about the creation of Gedenk’s new program, “50 States Of Tolerance:” middle and high schools educational program, touring 50 states to promote tolerance with a live performance, multimedia and class activities. Enjoy!
Everyone is talking about tolerance these days, perhaps as a result in need to redefine “tolerance” in a world that has lost its innocence over intolerance and constantly tries to adjust to new realities.
I have come to realize the impact tolerance has on young people in reviewing submissions in the final stage of the “Gedenk Award for Tolerance”, a national contest and scholarship program for middle and high school students to promote tolerance. Gedenk, a nonprofit organization, runs this creative program, in partnership with “Scholastic Art & Writing Awards”, asking young students across America to create original works of art, digital media or writing that reflect upon the lessons learned from the Holocaust and other genocides.
In the past three years the “Gedenk Award for Tolerance” received thousands of submissions, created by talented young people. The submissions reveal that many students today are deeply passionate about promoting tolerance. The extraordinary works reflect the students desire to see more tolerance inside and outside the classroom, in a world that seems so connected, so small – yet so divided.
Promoting tolerance in schools?
Not an easy task! However, it is essential to include tolerance as a part of student’s curriculum and educational experience. There are many different approaches when it comes to teaching tolerance to students and it is important to remember that young students are more likely to be receptive, retain and apply what they have learned when they are inspired.
Recently, I visited the Elisabeth Morrow Summer String Festival to give a music master class to 300+ young string players, ages 4 to 18 years old. We performed a song together: my original composition “Symphony of Brotherhood” featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech. I was welcomed to the school gym by an enthusiastic chorus of young students screaming my initials “MBA”. I took a second to get to know them and to explain the power of music and how it can deliver a message, in this case: a call to action for tolerance. Then I performed the song for them. Afterwards, I asked the students if they would like to play the song with me, although it was clearly visible while looking at their eager faces. The power of music never ceases to amaze me with its ability to inspire, unite and connect people. Based on my professional experience, when a group of people becomes creative together, having to listen to each other in order to play in harmony, literally in this case, the outcome is very inspiring. That day in Englewood NJ, the diverse group of young students has realized the essence of Dr. King’s Symphony of Brotherhood, and the sparkle in their eyes while playing their musical instrument together with me, was priceless.
Music is like magic. When people play together differences vanish and all that’s left is a common ground and the sound of the music. Take my story for example: I grew up in Israel and moved to the US with a suitcase, violin case and (very) broken English, but when I got to jam with other musicians none of this mattered. During the master class I shared with the young students that “I wish the entire world could just feel for a second how it feels when you play music together, which is a true Symphony of Brotherhood.”
Music speaks volumes and has the power to transform both musicians and audiences. I plan to continue promoting tolerance to students with the announcement of Gedenk’s “50 States of Tolerance”, an educational program touring 50 states taking place at middle and high schools to promote tolerance with a live performance, multimedia and class activities. “50 States of Tolerance” represents Gedenk’s philosophy of utilizing artistic outlets, connecting to young people, thinking outside of the box and making tolerance relevant.
Photo credit: Micah Spayer
Promoting tolerance in schools?Promoting tolerance in schools?Promoting tolerance in schools?Promoting tolerance in schools?Promoting tolerance in schools?Promoting tolerance in schools?
fourteen − two =
Congrats to our 2017 Gedenk Award for Tolerance!
What can we learn?
How did the Gedenk Award for Tolerance impact your life?
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Activate! BBC's returning Robot Wars series gets new presenters
The Chronicles of Mega Shark
Legends of Tomorrow – Blood Ties
by Deepdarkred on 05/02/2016
GenreSuperhero
Great performances all around.
Watch it or forever regret it.
Another week, another Legends of Tomorrow episode. This one might actually be my most favourite one yet. Unlike with the past two instalments, this one was much tamer in terms of action, but it managed to give almost all actors and actresses involved a moment to show their acting chops and to shine.
**SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT**
This week our team finds itself still stuck in 1975, due to Kendra’s injury. It seems like not even superior futuristic technology can fix what’s broken, so for the moment staying put and hoping for the better is what Rip recommends. Except our Time Lo…Master, has concocted another plan to get back at Savage, hit him where it hurts, straight into his bank account.
This is Legends of Tomorrow though, where things never go as planned, so by the 5th minute mark I was already starting to anticipate everything that could go wrong for everyone. But that’s half of the fun with this show, isn’t it?
Rip and Sara make an unlikely team, joining their efforts in order to figure out where Savage keeps his fortune and making sure they take it off his hands. Arthur Darvill and Caty Lotz were brilliant, each bringing their A game to every scene they shared. The traumas that plague them both might be different, but they manages to connect them, without seeming contrived or too heavy handed. Of course, the fact that they left the expert thieves ”at home” while casing a bank seemed stupid to me, but what do I know?
Still, that allowed for the other half of our plot du jour to kick off. Left to his own devices, with a smaller ship at his convenience, Leonard Snart decided to take a trip down memory lane and do a little bit of temporal surgery on his own past. Alongside Mick Rory, his faithful companion and the young, impressionable Jax, he travelled to Central City to steal an emerald. To everyone else it seemed like a perfectly self-centered, Captain Cold thing to do, but it soon became apparent there was more to the situation than met the eye. The man accused earlier by Rip Hunter of being thick, our hot blooded Heatwave, figured it out first. (I am still going to pitch for an episode that gives us more backstory on these two, because they work so well together and also, I am a sucker for bromance.)
Leonard wants to change the past and give himself, his mother and sister a brighter future to look towards. Jax, the youngest of their group is the one to remind him that changing timelines is a bad idea, but he gets nothing but a rebuke for his efforts. Wentworth Miller has a particular approach to Cold, his mannerism, the way he speaks, it makes Leonard Snart memorable. You won’t ever be confused as to who this character, guaranteed. But in Blood Ties things changed, there were cracks in his usual persona, allowing us all to see a little more of the man underneath the icy mask, making him more than the one-dimensional villain he seems hell-bent on being thought as.
Mick Rory might have not said much this time around, but his actions showed more about his character than words ever could. The way he immediately agreed to give up the Maximilian Emerald, despite his self-centred nature actually said a lot of the relationship he and Snart have, while also shedding some light on his motivations for being there. Maybe we’ll see him try and alter history for his benefit as well, maybe not, but so far I can only hope that one way or another, he’ll be given something more to do. I still feel like Dominic Purcell is criminally underused so far.
Alternating with these two stories – that I will shamelessly consider more important – we get to see Kendra’s health slowly deteriorating, with Ray and Dr. Stein trying to figure out a solution. I was not a big fan of Atom, not sure I am right now, but he did grow on me a little, again, mostly because of the way Brandon Routh chose to play his scenes. Victor Garber and Routh managed to have more chemistry in the few minutes of screen time they shared in one episode than Atom had with anyone else so far in the two parter pilot. Could be because he was finally given something more to do than pick on the inferiority of the team’s criminal elements. Not that I’m bitter about it or anything.
Back to Rip and Sara, after a major debacle at the bank where all supervillains leave their fortunes to be properly guarded, they take the man in charge back to their ship to get out whatever information they can out of him. The scenes leading to this one showed once more why Sara Lance is one of the best characters on the show. Caity Lotz slowly reveals more and more layers of her character, making her more than just the brute of the group, the muscle that can take out a room full of people and still crave blood. Her admission that she still feels the need to kill after the pit showed a more vulnerable side that I feel the fans of the character forget it exists. The fact that Rip showed up his own vulnerable side, while also being supportive was the cherry on top. But, I do have a major pet peeve involving Rip Hunter. He already tried to kill Savage once in the past, why, WHY? didn’t he just kill the man with a gun, opting instead for a knife?
It was ironic, in a painful and bitter kind of a way, to realise that Rip is single handedly responsible for at least the death of his family, after carelessly revealing their names to Savage and that he might also be responsible for making the man so determined to become immortal and hunt down Rip, someone who attempted to murder him 4000 years ago. Talk about holding a grudge.
I think one of the points this episode drives homes, if we take each story separately, is that they all actually need each other. They all went off doing their own thing: trying to defeat Savage, trying to safeguard a better future for themselves, trying to save Kendra, but there was no communication between them. No one knew (or cared) where the others were. They are still not a team by the halfway mark of the episode, but the signs that they might head in that direction are there.
The ending actually paid off, when Rip and Sara discovered that Savage wanted to use Carter’s body to share some of the gift of immortality with his followers. They ended up in danger, only to trigger a chain reaction that brought the more action prone team members together in order to save the two and retrieve Carter’s body, to keep him from being further desecrated. It’s funny how Carter is still the one managing to keep the team together, from beyond the grave. I still feel like his absence didn’t change much. Perhaps his actor is amazing in general, but he fails to impress me as Carter Hall. I feel nothing when I think he is dead and he might not be coming back. Who am I kidding? Of course he’ll return.
At the risk of sounding cruel, I still think Ciara Renee is the weakest link in the cast. Given most of her interactions were with the equally wooden Falk Henschel, things might improve with him gone, but I will not hold my breath for that.
All in all, an amazing episode, with great character development, interactions between characters that shared little screen time before, a nice enough focus on showing instead of telling and a lot of pushing the story forward. At least we’re leaving the ’70s. Go parachute pants!
arthur darvillatomBrandon Routhcaity lotzCaptain Coldcarter hallcasper crumpciara reneeDCdominic purcellfirestormfranz dramehgideonhawkgirlhawkmanheatwavejax jacksonkendra saunderslegends of tomorrowleonard snartmartin steinmick roryRay Palmerreviewrip huntersara lanceVandal Savagevictor garberwentworth millerwhite canary
Deepdarkred
What's there to say about me? I love the sci-fi and fantasy genre when I read, but I am in no way limited to that alone. I do think Frank Herbert deserves a statue for his writing(if there is one, point me in that direction, please). I enjoy writing quite a lot, but I am also kinda lazy. If you want to make me happy give me books or Doctor Who collectibles. Or a real TARDIS, in which case I will love you forever.
arthur darvillatomBrandon Routh
Legends of Tomorrow – White Knights
Legends of Tomorrow – Pilot, Part 2
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Endgame – 10 GPPs
The Hobbit – Escape from Goblin Town
Retribution Falls a.k.a “You can’t take the sky from me, again…”
Ticket To Ride: United Kingdom
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, Blood & Wine DLC Review
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Food: Recipes, cookbook reviews, food notes, and restaurant reviews. Unless otherwise noted, I have personally tried each recipe that gets its own page, but not necessarily recipes listed as part of a cookbook review.
Mimsy Review: The Complete Book of Oriental Cooking
Reviewed by Jerry Stratton, May 23, 2001
Other web pages
More by Myra Waldo
This “Oriental” cookbook written in 1960 has slowly become one of my most-used cookbooks when I need something quick but interesting. It covers a variety of recipes form the “exotic cookery of the Orient” which includes the Pacific Islands to India to China.
Myra Waldo
Myra Waldo is also the author of the invaluable “Casserole Cookbook” that I find so useful for crockery cooking. Here, in a book subtitled “exotic cookery from The Orient”, she presents a wide variety of simple and tasty recipes from the East. There are elleven “countries” presented: Hawaii, including the Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Indochina, Malaya, Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), and India.
In the Pacific Islands there is a lot of fish and shrimp, and a good amount of pork and pineapple. There is beef as well, such as in “I’o Pipi Luau Me Wai Niu”, which is braised beef and spinach in coconut milk with ginger thrown in to give it that exotic flavor. “Pickled Pineapple” looks to be an interesting chutney-style relish, taking advantage of the acidity of pineapple to can for long-term storage.
The section on Japan starts out with a recipe for miso, or more specifically for a miso substitute made with beer, vinegar, and white beans. This is probably the second-largest section of the book, starting with a large number of soups (scrambled egg soup, fish-ball soup, watercress soup, for example), and moving on to fish, clams, scallops, and shrimp. Spinach salad (aemono) is extremely simple and tasty: make a dressing of sesame seed paste, soy sauce, and oil, and pour over cooked spinach.
On Korea’s favorite pickle: ”A fully ripened kimchee is an experience--often, best avoided.” After that, she does provide one kimchee recipe, “salted greens”, which only takes five to seven days to ripen. I’ve only had the nerve to make kimchee once, and not from this recipe. It was extremely tasty. One friend said “I never like kimchee, and this is tasty”. But, she always says that at Korean restaurants too. I’ve never seen her not like kimchee, even though she never does! I have not tried the pork dumplings yet, but they look like they’d be great “browned lightly in oil”.
The Philippine corn soup is my favorite recipe from the entire book. It is an extremely simple shellfish soup: shrimp and clams, and I’d argue that scallops would also be a good addition. To this you add corn and either spinach (my favorite) or watercress, and you’ve got a great, incredibly tasty soup in about half an hour. The Philippines have some of the more interesting desserts as well, such as coconut tart and (coconut) custard with caramel syrup.
”Some dishes are merely hot and spicy, but others are even hotter and spicier.” The Indonesian recipes in this section have been “considerably toned down”, so you should probably double the spices if you’re like me and like hot and spicy. Chicken and Pineapple (Por Ajam), for example, only has 3/4 teaspoon ground chili pepper to go with over two pounds of chicken and a cup of shallots. A travesty! (But a very tasty one, coming as it does also with lime, pineapple, and shrimp.)
China fares very well: “It has been said by gourmets that the world has three great cuisines: French, Italian, and Chinese.” Where Texas barbecue fits she doesn’t say, probably French. This is the largest section of the book, with recipes ranging from shark’s fin soup to Manchurian-style Eggplant and Pork. You can prepare your own five-spice mix with anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and fennel, in equal amounts. (I find this good on popcorn as well.) There are a number of dumplings here requiring varying degrees of skill, depending on how they are to be filled.
”The designation Indochina can only be sanctioned on a gastronomic basis, for French Indochina no longer exists as a nation. In its place are Cambodia, Laos, North, and South Vietnam.” Since this book was written, North and South Vietnam have apparently consolidated. Pineapple Fish Chowder, with orange, anise, saffron, and shrimp along with the pineapple and fish, is very flavorful. Even Pork and Tripe Stew has shrimp in it; I haven’t tried that one, not being particularly enamored of tripe or liver (the stew also calls for beef liver).
While the French left their flavor in Indochina, the British, according to Waldo, did not leave any trace “of British cuisine (if indeed the British have a cuisine)... with the Malayas”. Probably because “the cooking style of the country is based upon well-flavored dishes”. Ouch! Now we’re moving towards curry country: Fish and Green Bean Curry, Fish in Coconut Curry Sauce, Lobster Coconut Curry among the beef and coconut.
Thailand brings us closer to curry country, although Waldo includes only one curry recipe after claiming that every meal will have some. It is, however, an interesting curry of chili peppers, black pepper, caraway, coriander, salt, cabbage, shallots, garlic, lemon rind, and basil. Oranges stuffed with pork is intriguing, but I’m not visualizing her instructions very well. I’m not sure what I’d do with “Golden Silk” either, where you take egg yolks and funnel them into a syrup mixture; you’re supposed to end up with silken strands. I’m sure I’d end up with yolky syrup.
”Of all the peoples of the East, the Burmese have succumbed least to the pressures and tensions of the twentieth century.” Of course, this was 1960 to 1965, and the people of Myanmar probably disagree today, with their political turmoil and ignored elections. Cucumber salad (with cooked cucumbers and tumeric), lime pickle, and mushroom curry, fish croquettes in coconut cream, makes this section unique. Pumpkin soup (with shrimp, shrimp is everywhere in this book, and what’s wrong with that?) is an interesting combination of pumpkin or squash and anchovy, onions, and chili peppers.
In India, samosas are apparently made with yoghurt. I’ve found that yoghurt is a great substitute for milk in many, if not most, bread recipes. (This isn’t because I don’t like milk, but because I don’t drink it often, and most bread recipes only call for a little milk. The rest of the milk invariably goes bad in my refrigerator. Yoghurt simply lasts longer.) This is, of course, curry country, and we have Chicken Curry (with coriander), Curry with Dumplings (lots of ginger), Lamb Curry (cloves), Potato Curry (turmeric), and a generic Curry Sauce made with Indian curry powder.
There are inevitably substitutions made, but for a cookbook written in 1960 it remains amazingly true. Waldo included a short list of places to order “exotic” ingredients in the back of the book. Most likely long since not useful, but the web has more than compensated. This has slowly become one of my most-used cookbooks when I need something quick but interesting.
Eggplant Relish (Brinjal Boortha)
1 medium eggplant,
½ cup finely chopped onion,
¼ cup finely chopped green pepper,
1 tblsp oil,
½ cup flaked coconut,
1½ tsp salt,
¼ tsp ground chili pepper,
3 tblsp heavy cream,
2 tblsp lemon juice.
Bake eggplant at 350 degrees one hour.
Peel.
Sauté onions and peppers in the oil five minutes.
Rinse coconut under cold water.
Chop together eggplant, vegetables, coconut, salt, chili pepper.
Blend in cream and lemon juice.
Chop very fine.
The Complete Book of Oriental Cooking
My cost: $0.25
Recommendation: Easy and interesting•
If you enjoyed The Complete Book of Oriental Cooking…
If you enjoy Asian, you might also be interested in Classic Chinese Cuisine, Corn and clam soup, and The Art of Korean Cooking.
If you enjoy cookbooks, you might also be interested in A Concise Encyclopedia of Gastronomy, Bull Cook Historical Recipes, Cavalier Cooking, Classic Chinese Cuisine, Cooking the Bahamian Way, Country Commune Cooking, Life, Loves, and Meat Loaf, The Art of Korean Cooking, The Casserole Cookbook, The Complete Bread Cookbook, The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas, The Healthy Cuisine of India, The New Larousse Gastronomique, Saucepans and the Single Girl, The Northwest Cartoon Cookery, Good Food From Mexico, Laurel’s Kitchen, The Cooking of Vienna’s Empire, James Beard’s Fireside Cook Book, French Bistro Cooking, A Fifteenth Century Cookry Boke, Crockery Cookery, Southern Cooking, The Frugal Gourmet Keeps the Feast, The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, French Cooking Simplified With a Food Processor, In Good Taste, Heritage of America Cookbook, Our Favorite Hometown Recipes Vol. II, The Indian Spice Kitchen, Japanese Country Cookbook, La Cuisine Française, Larousse Treasury of Country Cooking, The Natural Foods Cookbook, A Russian Jew Cooks in Peru, Soul Food Cook Book, The Tassajara Trilogy, Pains Spéciaux & Viennoiseries, Whole Earth Cookbook, The Wok: a chinese cook book, Southern Living Cookbook for Two, Lebanese Cuisine, The Art of Syrian Cookery, Popular Greek Recipes, In a Persian Kitchen, The Art of Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking, and The Southern Living Cookbook Library.
If you enjoy Myra Waldo, you might also be interested in The Casserole Cookbook.
The Complete Book of Oriental Cooking•
For an “Oriental” cookbook written in 1960 it remains amazingly useful. This has slowly become one of my most-used cookbooks when I need something quick but interesting.
Runaway Kitchen
San Diego After Midnight
xoushii’s Gastronomic Adventures
Food@RSS
These were people who believed everything about the Soviet Union was perfect, but they were bringing their own toilet paper. — P.J. O’Rourke (Ship of Fools)
The Complete Book of Oriental Cooking last modified May 25th, 2009.
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Peter Hoflich: Writings from the distant 20th Century
Caveat Emptor Press: detailed overview
Late 20th Century writings from the House of Caveat Emptor Press.
Caveat Emptor Press was established in 1992 as a concept. I used Caveat Emptor Press and a photocopier to complete my first book, Toothless In The Blizzard, which I then distributed to my friends and family in un-numbered copies. Since then it has been my excuse to self-publish other writings that include: a novel, several collections of poetry, several groups of short stories, and an almanac of unpublished articles and essays. Caveat Emptor Press has moved once, from 1268 Kane Rd., in Mississauga, to its present location in Nishinomiya. In 1999, Caveat Emptor press published its first work from another author in 1999 when Peter Hoflich and Jennifer Boudreaux published a slim volume of poems entitled Split Poems.
CEP00000001 Toothless in the Blizzard (poetry) – 61 pages - 1993
CEP00000002 Void’s Metamorphosis (a novel) – 91 pages - 1994
CEP00000003 123.45 Stories – 135 1000-word stories – approximately 170 pages - 1998
CEP00000004 Travel Diary – 152 pages - 1999
CEP00000005 An Alienation Almanac – 109 pages - 1999
CEP00000006 Tautological Sophisms – 123 pages and counting - 1999
CEP00000007 Split Poems – Peter Hoflich and Jennifer Boudreaux – 27/38 pages - 2000
CEP00000008 the All-Seeing Eye: Illustrations 1993 to 1999 – 34 pages long - 2000
CEP00000009 Peter Hoflich/Self-titled, by Peter Hoflich – (currently 105 pages long) - 2000
CEP00000010 Burn This Book - 2000
CEP00000011 POETALLICA - 2000
CEP00000012 20th Century Home-boy - 2000
CEP00000013 PHomnibus - 2000
CEP00000014 Head Cheese * Year One - 2001
CEP000000015 Four Ages of Travel - 2001
HC0000001 Head Cheese Japan Zine - 2002
HC0000002EB Head Cheese 2 Electric Boogaloo Zine - 2003
Peter Brian Hoflich: Born 20th of April, 1969, Oakville, Ontario Canada. Raised and educated in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada except for two years in Salzburg, Austria. English Literature at the University of Waterloo, further language studies: German in Germany for a summer, and Chinese in Taiwan for three years. Extensive travel in 45 countries in Europe and Asia. Currently living in Japan, married to Naoko Fujino of Himeji, Hyogo, Japan, a fellow expatriate he met in Taiwan. Family divided between Germany, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. Divides his time between work (English instruction: students of all levels and ages) and commuting, watching movies on video, reading, listening to music, raising a cat called Zorro, practicing sumo, putting off Japanese language study, and writing writing writing.
Caveat Emptor Press
C/o Peter Hoflich
21-2-206 Hinoike-cho
Nishinomiya, Hyogo
Japan 662-0084
Jennifer Marie Boudreaux: Born in Louisiana, raised and educated in Texad, Indonesia, Salzburg. Studied information arts in Portland, Maine, and now lives in Texas, working as a librarian, and still in awe with the world around her.
CEP00000001 Toothless in the Blizzard (poetry) – 61 pages
252 poems, with an index of 2,112 images included in the poems.
These poems were written by me throughout high school and into university. As such, they should probably be called juvenilia. But I see now that at that time I did have a preoccupation with certain images that I can no longer summon, for better or worse, and they still have a ring of eternal truth. This is perhaps why I don’t feel too ashamed to recall the better ones, and list them with my bibliography. One of the special features of this collection is the index of images I have included - I don’t recall ever reading a book of poems that included a poem, so I embarked on the grueling and time-consuming process of not just transcribing my poems and laying them out for a book, but also of going through the text and adding index markers, generating an index, printing it out, etc. My word processor in those days was WordPerfect 3.1, I believe. The real text contains page references in the index, but I believe now that when they are lumped together they form alliterative poems, letter by letter, all throughout the alphabet.
Sample poems
Index of images
Go to top:
CEP00000002 Void’s Metamorphosis (a novel) – 91 pages
Void’s Metamorphosis is a novel I wrote in my senior year at college, i.e. my fourth year in the University of Waterloo as an English Literature major. I took a creative writing course and decided to write a novel based on the concepts of the doppelganger and the metamorphosis it symbolizes in the life of the narrator. I got a lot of my ideas as I trudged through the winter snow and ice to my student room. It was a lonely year, since I had been separated from my girlfriend, now my wife, and I was nearly broke, but I was strengthened and disciplined in my mission by writing extensively for the school newspaper. The story is told in the first person by a university professor who is somewhat buffeted by life, and is about the dangerous people he finds himself involved with - and finally his descent into despair and a kind of madness. It has four distinct episodes, told to him in the form of stories / recollections/ anecdotes, but is held together by a framing story. It begins one sunny day when…
CEP00000003 123.45 Stories – 135 1000-word stories written in the idle summer in 1998 – approximately 170 pages
These stories were written in one mad, energetic summer. The project started when I realized that my pile of “notes for potentially intriguing story ideas” had become quite large. I had amassed over fifty or sixty. During a long period between jobs when I was living my wife’s family’s house in Japan, at a time when I could barely speak any Japanese, I found that the thoughts and words flowed. I decided that it would be a good idea to flesh out the thoughts I had scribbled down and see what become of them. I would limit myself to 1000 words, just to see what became of my ideas. I also thought that 1000 words was a good length for a short story, that being about the length of the average magazine or long newspaper article (which is also what most people prefer to read over fiction anyway). I kept track of the dates the stories were written on. On one mad day, I actually wrote ten stories, which should be about 10,000 words. During the course of the project, several other ideas came to mind, and the whole thing expanded somewhat. After the stories, I decided to add some appendices: words that intrigues me, concepts that amazed me, synonyms that set me mind on fire, as well as some recent poems I had written. Now it is groaning under its own unwieldiness. I hope to some day take the best stories and actually turn them into real stories, although it might be true that the better tales in the collection stand as they are at 1000 words.
Table of contents and descriptions
CEP00000004 Travel Diary – 152 pages
In my short life, I have been fortunate to have traveled quite a bit. I have rarely kept a travel diary, yet just after I embarked on the longest trip of my life I sensibly decided to write down what I saw, where I went, and what I did there. The process of traveling, as well as the fact that I was the sole driver in our two-person team of travelers, kept my descriptions to a somewhat clinical descriptive level – money spent, times, distances, etc. When I returned from the trip, I added material and rounded out the daily descriptions to the best of my ability
Honeymoon trip: June 13, 1997 to March 10, 1998
Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Germany 2, the Czech Republic, Austria 2, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Greece 2, Italy/Vatican City/San Marino, Slovenia, Austria 3, Germany 3, France, Spain, Portugal, Spain 2, France 2, Switzerland 2, Germany 4, Hong Kong, Taiwan Japan 2
India trip: December 16, 1998 to January 8, 1999
Japan trip: February 10 to February 23, 1996
CEP00000005 An Alienation Almanac – 109 pages
An Alienation Almanac is a collection of short stories that are built up around the theme of alienation, hence the title. If a psychologist were to put together such an almanac of case studies, it is possible that in a fictional world they might provide some sort of benefit, which is what this collection attempts to do. Some of the stories were written in 1995, others were begun in 1995 and finished in 1999.
CEP0000006 Tautological Sophisms – 123 pages and counting
Tautological Sophisms is a collection of the various articles I have written over the years on various themes, from humorous to explanatory to purely theoretical. Others describe events I have taken part in or witnessed in my years living in Taiwan or Japan, others are my cultural observations.
CEP00000007 Split Poems – Peter Hoflich and Jennifer Boudreaux – 27/38 pages
In 1999 I organized several of my poems from that year and 1998, and printed them in a split version with my old classmate Jennifer Boudreaux of Houston, Texas. We have not met in 13 years, but have found it not difficult to communicate through the internet.
Interviews with the authors:
CEP0000008 the All-Seeing Eye: Illustrations 1993 to 1999 – 34 pages long
In my collection of short stories called 123.45 Short Stories I put an illustration on each page, sometimes in the middle of the text, sometimes below the text. This proved to be rather distracting for the readers, whose eyes were often challenged. I reworked the illustrations so that they would be a book of just illustrations. It is a small thing, kind of cute.
Sampes:
CEP0000009 Peter Hoflich/Self-titled, by Peter Hoflich – (currently 105 pages long)
Peter Hoflich/Self-titled is the title for an collection of short stories begun in 1995.
CEP000000010 Burn This Book
A series of illegible poems on a theme of creative exploration.
CEP000000011 POETALLICA
New poems, new words, new definitions. Written on a theme or not.
CEP000000012 20th Centry Home-boy
Text contents from www.hoflich.com/Peter homepage.
CEP000000013 PHomnibus
Literary sampler of Peter Hoflich writings, as seen in these sample pages of CEP1 to CEP11.
CEP000000014 Head Cheese * Year One
Text from on-line news satire site Head Cheese. Including Head Cheese 1, Head Cheese 2, Head Cheese 3, Head Cheese 4, Head Cheese 5, Head Cheese 6 (letters to the editor edition), and Head Cheese 7, but not including Head Cheese 8 (best of Head Cheese) and Head Cheese 9 (the write-in edition).
CEP000000015 Four Ages of Travel
four travel stories: England/Ireland, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan - 2001
HC0000001 Head Cheese Japan Zine
72 page zine – no ads – with reviews, fiction, comics, etc. – 2002
HC0000002EB Head Cheese 2 Electric Boogaloo Zine
48 page – no ads – with reviews, fiction, comics, Mick Harvey report, etc. – 2003
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July 27 holidays in 2019
Holiday name
Revolution Anniversary Celebration
Cuba National Holiday
Day of Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War
North korea Public Holiday
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
United states Observance
National Love is Kind Day *
- Weird
National Scotch Day
National Créme Bruléé Day
National New Jersey Day
July 27 2018 holidays
Historical Events on July 27
1775: The Second Continental Congress passes legislation that founds the U.S Army Medical Department.
1778: British and French Naval forces come to a stalemate during the First Battle of Ushant during the American Revolution.
1789: The Department of Foreign Affairs is created. It would later be renamed the Department of State.
1794: Maximilien Robespierre is arrested during the French Revolution.
1816: At the Battle of Negro Fort, a US Navy Gunboat pitches a hot shot cannonball into the powder magazine of the fort. The resulting explosion kills over 275 people. Experts consider it to be one of the deadliest single cannon shots fired in United States history.
1857: At the Siege of Arrah, 68 men hold out for over a week against 3,000 mutinying sepoys and 8,000 irregular forces.
1890: Vincent van Gogh commits suicide by shooting himself. 2 days later, he dies.
1900: A speech is given by Kaiser Wilhelm II that compares Germans to Huns. The word Hun would then be used for many years thereafter as an insulting term for Germans.
1929: 53 nations sign the Geneva Convention which deals with the treatment of POW’s during war.
1940: Bugs Bunny is introduced in an animated short called the Wild hare.
1942: Allied forces manage to stop the Axis advance into Egypt.
1955: The Allied occupation of Austria – which ran from the end of World War II – comes to a conclusion.
1964: 5,000 additional American military advisers are sent to South Vietnam. This brings the total U.S forces in the country up to 21,000.
1974: The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee makes a 27-11 vote to recommend the first article of impeachment against U.S President Richard Nixon.
Famous Birthdays on July 27
Italian poet, educator and Nobel Prize laureate, Giosue Carducci is born in 1835.
German chemist and Nobel Prize laureate, Hans Fischer is born in 1881.
American actor Jerry Van Dyke is born in 1931
American basketball player Forest Able is born in 1932.
English actress and singer, Anna Dawson is born in 1937.
American game designer and co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, Gary Gygax is born in 1938.
Popular upcoming holidays you may be interested in
First Day of Summer (June Solstice)
National Donut Day
Upcoming holidays in
Upcoming popular
Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 20, 2020
Blue Monday January 20, 2020
Chinese New Year January 25, 2020
Australia Day January 26, 2020
Black History Month February 01, 2020
Groundhog Day February 02, 2020
Lantern Festival February 08, 2020
National Pizza Day February 09, 2020
National Margarita Day February 22, 2020
All text and image content copyrighted by HolidaysCalendar.com. All rights reserved.
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Dave Sheridan Joins Cast of Animated Spaghetti Western Orient City.
by Michael Therkelsen Jun 1, 2016, 7:52 am
From the press release from October Coast PR:
Horror-comedy fave Dave Sheridan has joined the cast of dazzling spaghetti western samurai flick Orient City: Ronin & The Princess. Now being funded via crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter (with less than a day to go), the hand-drawn samurai spaghetti western is the brainchild of acclaimed artists Ryan Colucci and Zsombor Huszka.
Orient City marks the third time Sheridan, best known for his performances in such films as Scary Movie, “The Walking Dead” and A Haunted House, has worked with Colucci.
Orient City: Ronin & The Princess is a samurai spaghetti western that mixes the characteristics of the American Wild West and Feudal Asia. An unforgiving place, Orient City is a vertical tangle of rock and skyscrapers interconnected with waterways and cable cars. The poor, quite literally, dwell at the bottom. At the center of it all is Boshi, a fallen samurai who has sworn to protect a young girl whose family has been assassinated. Together they head to Orient City for one thing… revenge.
“I have worked with Dave Sheridan on two projects now, the music film With You and my feature White Space which is in post, and he was able to play such wildly different characters”, says Colucci. “Looking back over his films, he has such range and I believe he can inhabit any character he pours himself into. Fans of his may already realize this, but Dave Sheridan is seriously under-rated outside the comedy/horror world.”
While Orient City: Ronin & The Princess has officially been funded – hitting it’s 30k goal with a day to spare – creators stress that the more coin they generate in the campaign, the better the film will be.
Kickstarter Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rcolucci/orient-city-a-hand-drawn-animated-film.
Previous article XLrator Media & IndustryWorks Studios to Produce and Distribute Action-Thrillers Globally
Next article Etheria Film Night to Honor Jackie Kong, Premiere Sixx’s The Stylist.
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hotdiscomix: Remix Services
Remix Services
Disco Labels
Link zur Unternavigation
VOLUME 7 · PROGRAM 9
Boise slut does Bowie in again! (or, Miss Kimberly comes to NY and "This Is Not America.") Colin Stoddard reveals "Secrets Of The Night."
Miss Kimberly last appeared on Disconet's Volume 4, Program 13 with a nice extended edit of David Bowie's "Cat People (Putting Out Fire.)" She's back with another excellent job on the all-too-short "This Is Not America" 12" from EMI-America by David Bowie and the Pat Metheny group. Formerly Boise's premiere club DJ and bon vivant, Miss K took the plunge and moved to the Big Apple last year where she now spins at Danceteria, teaches aerobics, and keeps her eye on Ed Koch.
Colin Stoddard is next with his most interesting production to date: "Secrets Of The Night." (His previous "On Your Knees" and "Dark Shawdows" graced Disconet programs over the past few years, and now the former Prince of Darkness is in the limelight!) Ed Terry co-wrote and co-produced the song with Colin at Terry Sound in Northport, LI, and Greg Lovely was executive producer.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Side A runs 15:12, from 117 BPM to 120.
James and Susan Wells get a specially extended "R.S.V.P." Casey Jones gives Earlene Bentley & Sylvester's "Stargazing" the Disconet touch.
James "My Claim To Fame" Wells and sensuous Susan are back with "R.S.V.P.", a bright, uptempo and almost religious 12" on Fanfare/UK written and produced by Ian "High Energy" Levine and Fiachra Trench. The vocal and instrumental versions have been reworked here into a special Disconet version which really cooks. Now you'll get some R.S.V.P.'s to play it again!
Earlene Bentley featuring Sylvester singing "Stargazing" is next, from their Record Shack/UK 12". This continues to be a popular import in the U.S., and now with Casey Jones' hot Disconet remix, watch Earlene and Sylvester break wide open on your dance floor. Ian Levine and Fiachra Trench also wrote and produced, with Fiachra doing the arrangements and Ian doing the mix.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Side B runs 15:57 from 130 BPM to 128 BPM.
Double Dee & Steinski's "Lesson 3" for students of funky fun. Tim Greene has "The Facts Of Life." and Jimmy "Bo" Horne says "Let's Do It."
Professors Doug DiFranco and Steve Stein (a/k/a Double Dee & Steinski, famous for "Lesson 1/ Play That Beat, Mr. DJ" and "Lesson 2/The James Brown Mix") are back with "Lesson 3." Herman Kelly & Life's "Let's Dance" keeps the thread together, and we're pleased to welcome JFK, Lauren Bacall and Groucho to your dance floor. Ralph MacDonald's "Jam On The Groove" congas are superb, as are Newcleus, Afrika Bambaataa and all of the other cameos on this neat street edit.
Tim Greene is next with "The Facts Of Life", an upbeat rap which is also the vocal side of Tim's debut Sugarscoop release. Tim co-wrote and produced with Sheldon Holland and Jay D. Mitchell, and Raul did the mix at Secret Sound in NYC with Tom Gartland and Jim Lyons at the controls. (Secret is sounding good!) The facts of life are here for all to hear, with special guest raps by Lady T. and Lady Crush. Jay Jay did the scratching. Get ready to get addicted.
Jimmy "Bo" Horne completes the streetside with "Let's Do It" coming at you on Sunnyview. No wonder this sounds so fine… Ricky Finch co-wrote and produced the track with Dave Crawford. The groove is authentic Miami, with the light percussive embellishments and unique Jimmy "Bo" vocals which make this one a hit. There's a weird breakdown near the end, which you'll probably use once you start working two copies of the record to good advantage.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 1 runs 15:35, from 122 BPM to 117 BPM.
"I Only Love You" by Yarbrough & Peoples gets the Steven Von Blau touch. Dan Hartman's "Second Nature" now packs a wicked punch!
Yarbrough & Peoples' "Be A Winner" album on Total Experience/RCA jumped up the charts with "Don't Waste Your Time" last year, and a little gem was buried on the B-side of Yarbrough & People's last 12" remix from the album… a song called "I Only Love You", written and produced by Jonah Ellis. Lonnie Simmons was executive producer. Steven Von Blau has given it a rhythmic intro and phased breaks along the way, making the song a real powerhouse for energy-hungry dance floors that appreciate quality.
Another 12" remix is next… Dan Hartman's "Second Nature" from his "I Can Dream About You" LP on MCA, remixed by John Luongo into vocal and dubs and now combined here is this special Disconet version. With Martha & The Vandellas clearly on their heatwave mind, the song has spunk, and everyone loves a Detroit saxophone.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 2 runs 15:09, from 162 BPM (beats per minute) to 178.
Sal Cuomo wins the LCD chronograph. Sal plays at Chez Elle and Joe's East-West in upstate NY, and the pressing serial number on Program 7 (#1204) matched the lucky winning number for that program… we've sent Sal the watch that does practically everything. Sal's favorites on Program 7 included the Disconet "Material Girl" remix, "Method of Modern Love" remix, and "Careless Whisper" remix. Send in the feedback card to win!!! Print clearly!
« Volume 7, Program 8
Volume 7, Program 10 »
Portrait (de)
Volume 1 – 11
Disconet DJ News
Interpreten A-Z
Copyright © hotdiscomix 2000-2006 | Webmaster | Impressum | XHTML | CSS
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Beyond the Lights (FILM REVIEW)
Film Review by Kam Williams
Screen Chemistry Abounds in Superstar-Bodyguard Romantic Romp
Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) has it all, or so it seems. After years of trying to make it, the emerging pop singer is finally on the brink of superstardom, thanks to several hit singles she recently released, duets with her famous rapper boyfriend, Kid Culprit (Machine Gun Kelly).
Nevertheless, when we meet Noni in the midst of a whirlwind tour of appearances on award shows, she’s secretly miserable and seriously considering suicide. That’s because every step of her assault on showbiz has been dictated by her abusive mother, Macy (Minnie Driver), the proverbial stage-mom from Hell.
Noni no longer recognizes her real self in the mirror underneath the purple hair extensions, the provocative wardrobe, and the phony smile that masks the hard cold truth about a vulnerable soul at the end of her rope. Then, just as she’s set to launch herself from the balcony of a penthouse suite at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel, fate intervenes in the person of Kaz (Nate Parker), the quick-thinking LAPD officer assigned to protect her from the paparazzi and overzealous fans.
Springing into action, he grabs an arm and pulls Noni back over the rail. Now that she has been afforded a second chance at life, one can’t help but wonder whether she’ll wise up and declare her independence from her miserable misanthrope of a mother? Or, will she notice that the right man for her might be the handsome hunk with bulging biceps who saved the day, even if he’s not a rich celebrity like the unreliable bad-boy she’s currently dating?
These are the foremost questions subsequently explored by Beyond the Lights, a steamy romantic romp written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Secret Life of Bees and Love & Basketball). Don’t be duped into thinking that you’ve seen this same story somewhere before, given how the plot is vaguely reminiscent of Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner’s The Bodyguard (1992).
Beyond the Lights unfolds in a unique fashion all its own. This amorous tale of female empowerment might be better thought of as an engaging blend of hip-hop performances and soap opera drama that’s at its best when leads Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker generate beaucoup chemistry while sharing the screen.
Love in the time of hip-hopera!
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, suggestive gestures, partial nudity and matures themes
Distributor: Relativity Media
To see a trailer for Beyond the Lights, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rvgJ2WbDsc
Posted by Kam at 12:33 PM
The Sly Fox Film Reviews
KamWilliams.com
The Sly Fox Film Reviews publishes the content of film critic Kam Williams. Voted Most Outstanding Journalist of the Decade by the Disilgold Soul Literary Review in 2008, Kam Williams is a syndicated film and book critic who writes for 100+ publications around the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada and the Caribbean. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Online, the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committee and Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition to a BA in Black Studies from Cornell, he has an MA in English from Brown, an MBA from The Wharton School, and a JD from Boston University. Kam lives in Princeton, NJ with his wife and son.
Birdman (FILM REVIEW)
True Love (BOOK REVIEW)
As Above, So Below (DVD REVIEW)
Top Ten DVD Releases for 12-2-14
Kam's Movie Kapsules for 12-5-14
Little Hope Was Arson (FILM REVIEW)
The Light of Truth (BOOK REVIEW)
Brooke Shields (INTERVIEW)
25 to Life (FILM REVIEW)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (FILM REVIEW...
Horrible Bosses 2 (FILM REVIEW)
The Giver (DVD REVIEW)
A Madea Christmas (DVD REVIEW)
The November Man (DVD REVIEW)
Top Ten DVD Releases for 11-25-14
Kam's Movie Kapsules for 11-28-14
Who We Be (BOOK REVIEW)
Jeffrey Wright (INTERVIEW)
Dumb & Dumber To (FILM REVIEW)
Kal Penn (INTERVIEW)
If I Stay (DVD REVIEW)
When Comedy Went to School (DVD REVIEW)
Into the Storm (DVD REVIEW)
22 Jump Street (DVD REVIEW)
Cosby: His Life and Times (BOOK REVIEW)
Nate Parker (INTERVIEW)
Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (FILM REVIEW)
Isabella Rossellini (INTERVIEW)
Interstellar (FILM REVIEW)
Whiplash (FILM REVIEW)
Tammy (DVD REVIEW)
Jersey Boys (DVD REVIEW)
11-14 Kam's Kapsules (FEATURE)
The Justice Imperative (BOOK REVIEW)
Marque Richardson (INTERVIEW)
Sex Ed (FILM REVIEW)
Nightcrawler (FILM REVIEW)
0.5 Stars (17)
1 Star (245)
2.5 Stars (113)
4 Stars (1260)
DVDs (1255)
Kam's Kapsules (569)
This Week’s DVD Releases (407)
TV Pilot (1)
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Pressure builds for MTD delay
Submitted by pw_admin on 20 February, 2019 - 10:14
Two leading professional bodies have joined the Lords Economic Affairs Committee in calling for the Government to delay the introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT by one year.
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) responded to an update on the scheme from Financial Secretary Mel Stride.
Stride confirmed that MTD for VAT is ready for implementation, adding that more than 16,500 businesses had signed up for the pilot service.
From 1 April 2019, firms with a taxable turnover above the VAT-registration threshold of £85,000 will be required to use digital tools for record-keeping and VAT returns.
However, the CIOT and ATT have argued that better clarity and guidance is needed before the scheme is launched.
Adrian Rudd, chairman of a joint CIOT/ATT working group, said:
"It is good that progress is being made on awareness of MTD, though one in five affected businesses remain completely unaware of it and many of those that are aware are hazy on the details.
"Accordingly we would have liked the minister to have announced a one-year deferral of mandation in order to allow businesses more time to prepare, especially during these challenging times."
This echoes a previous report from the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, which said HMRC had failed to adequately support small businesses and should delay MTD for VAT by at least one year.
We can help you prepare for MTD.
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The Smith Street Band w/ The Nation Blue @ The Triffid, Brisbane - 24/11/2016
After a full on year touring around Australia, United States and Europe The Smith Street Band boys are back in Aus and on tour, with a brand spankin’ new single Death to the Lads and an album set to be released early next year it was undoubtedly going to be a good night. For anyone whose been to a Smith Street Band gig before you know it’s one where you can jump around and scream your lungs out to the lyrics of every song, their sell out show at The Triffid was no different.
Getting the crowd amped for an eventful night was The Nation Blue performing a set filled with great energy and head banging hooks. The crowd was rowdy and full of anticipation before The Smith Street Band took to the stage, they opened their set with new single Death to the Lads where words were sung back to the band with equal enthusiasm to classics such as Surrender and Throw Me in the River that would be seen later in their set. During multiple points of the performance the crowds collective voice took over that of Wil Wagner’s with their songs becoming more like chants.
The performance revealed just how relatable these songs truly are to every participant in the crowd, as the band connected to the audience through Ducks Fly Together and Young Drunk. Their set also included two new tracks off their upcoming album which although maintained the authentic and anthem like Smith Street Band sound a new level of maturity could be heard. It was a sweaty set filled with passion, energy and honest expression that could be seen throughout their entire live performance.
The Melbourne band begun wrapping their set up by playing I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore and I Can’t Feel My Face before ensuring the crowd there would be no encore. Playing The Arrogance of the Drunk Pedestrian as the last song of their set, whatever direction you looked you could see members of the crowd singing back to the band who looked equally as wrapped to be up on stage playing to the sell-out audience. The band gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, a gig filled with blood, sweat, tears and great Australian music from a great band. Now all that’s left to do for us is wait for the release of their upcoming album which will no doubt bring more great tracks and live performances.
Reviewer: Natasha Bruce
Photography: Josh Cummings
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Harvard's Efforts to Make Its Single-Sex Student Organizations Go Co-ed Is Opposed by...Harvard Women
Charlotte Allen
Heh heh--guess who's protesting Harvard's sanctions against its single-sex student "final clubs" that are supposedly "the exclusive preserve of men"?
Harvard women!
According to WBUR:
Dozens of students marched around Harvard Yard Monday, saying the move unfairly hurts Harvard women.
Shouting “Hear her Harvard,” the protesters — who were mostly women, many belonging to all-women final clubs or sororities — said Harvard’s restrictions would deprive women of spaces away from men.
The women say these spaces are necessary to foster self-confidence on a campus where they say men tend to be overbearing in class and disrespectful in social situations.
Seems that when Harvard administrators made their big move last week to force the off-campus clubs to go co-ed by sanctioning Harvard students who joined them, they forgot that some of the reputedly misogynist clubs were were actually sororities and other organizations whose members are exclusively female--and that that's the way their members like it.
The target of Harvard's vendetta was supposed to be the ultra-secretive 225-year-old Porcellian club, open only to male Harvard students and drawing its members from an upper-crust demographic that seemed to have gotten under the skin of some administrators. Porcellian and the other elite final clubs (so-called because they're the last clubs that students join before graduating) had once been officially affiliated with Harvard, although their clubhouses were off-campus. But when the university issued an earlier decree for them to go co-ed, in 1984, the clubs severed those official ties while continuing to draw their membership from Harvard. Some of the clubs have since agreed to admit women under relentless pressure from Harvard, but Porcellian has been an outspoken holdout. According to the Washington Post:
After a university task force found that the Porcellian Club and its ilk (there are eight all-male final clubs, according to the Harvard Crimson) held “deeply misogynistic attitudes” that contribute to an unsafe sexual environment, pressure mounted for the clubs to either admit women or risk sanctions.
Last Friday, university officials took their strongest action yet, announcing that new college students who join “unrecognized single-gender organizations” will not be eligible for leadership positions in recognized student groups, including sports teams, nor will they be recommended by the Harvard College dean for prestigious academic awards such as the Rhodes Scholarship....
Letters from Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust and Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana endorsing the new policy emphasized gender equality.
“For us to make progress … we must address deeply rooted gender attitudes, and the related issues of sexual misconduct,” Faust said. The college cannot “endorse selection criteria that reject much of the student body merely because of gender.”
But the problem is that single-sex organizations on elite college campuses, far from withering away amid the eradication of "deeply rooted gender attitudes," are actually more popular than ever. During the 32 years since 1984, Harvard has seen the revival of Greek-letter fraternities (long officially abolished by Harvard)--and the birth of Greek-letter women's sororities as well as five new all-female final clubs. Harvard doesn't officially recognize any of those organizations, but some 30 percent of Harvard students are said to belong to them. Thus, according to the Post:
The unexpected consequence of the penalties, then, is to prevent women from associating under their gender as well, prompting all-female groups to ask the administration to consider them in a different vein from their all-male counterparts.
“Basking in the praise of the national press for its efforts to make all-male final clubs go co-ed, Harvard has left out an important piece of the story: female final clubs,” three female students wrote in an op-ed for the Harvard Crimson.
They argued that while women would remain disenfranchised within the hierarchies of historically male clubs, the act of making historically female clubs go co-ed would effectively cause them to “die out,” as they lack the resources to compete.
The students further accused Harvard of pushing for “hasty, symbolic victories” as a “form of damage control” after negative media attention on final clubs.
“The support systems, safe spaces, and alumnae networks the women’s clubs have been striving to build will disappear,” they wrote. “That strikes us as a tremendous waste, and an ironic one, given Harvard’s stated goals.”
Of course, if Harvard lifts the sanctions against all-female student organizations, it's hard to see why it should continue to penalize all-male organizations--so Harvard's now in a gender-bind that's delicious to contemplate. Seems that the self-righteous smarty-pants at Harvard haven't been so smart after all.
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3 of this country's 4 districts are Fontvielle, La Condamine & Monte Carlo
Gary Philis Bill
Show #1355 - Friday, June 22, 1990
Bill Heins, a graduate student originally from Whiting, Iowa
Philis Curlender, a homemaker from Los Angeles, California
Gary Harvey, an accounts payable supervisor originally from Baltimore, Maryland
20TH CENTURY PERSONALITIES
[The TH was uppercase and about 5/6ths the size of the 20.]
"OF" SONGS
She defected from the Soviet Union in 1967 after assuming her mother's maiden name, Alliluyeva
In the U.S. this type of beer has a maximum alcoholic content of .5%
She drank the poison that Captain Hook had intended for Peter Pan
A furnished Hoosier log cabin can be found in the world's largest kids museum in this capital
Song in which "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord"
Soon after the United Arab Republic was established on Feb. 1, 1958, he became its first president
This Japanese rice drink is listed under "beer" in both Britannica & Encyclopedia Americana
Port cities on this lake include Toledo, Cleveland & Buffalo
In a Kipling story, the camel got his hump by being lazy & making this contemptuous sound
A 1936 hit ends, "That's the story of, that's" this
Spy who said, "People came to see me because I was the first who dared to show myself naked to the public."
The U.S. imports more beer from this country, the home of Heineken, than any other
This country borders the White Sea on the north & the Black Sea on the south
A donkey, a hound, a cat & a cock are these title characters in a Grimm's fairy tale
No. 1 Hit by Simon Garfunkel that begins "Hello darkness, my old friend"
This fifth child of Emperor Hirohito was born on December 23, 1933
Wine is made from substances rich in sugar while beer's ingredients are high in this
This region of NW France was founded by Celts fleeing the Anglo-Saxon invasion
Chee-Chee the monkey told Dr. Dolittle this was "the rarest animal of the African jungle"
To avoid a broken heart, in 1965 The Supremes gave this order
Guinness makes a bitter variety & Mackeson a sweet variety of this dark beer
There's a neutral zone between Iraq & this large neighbor to its south
Under the name Victor Appleton, Edward Stratemeyer created the adventures of this inventive boy
(AUDIO DAILY DOUBLE) It's what Matt Monro was describing in the following song: "She walks like an angel walks / She talks like an angel talks / And her hair has a kind of curl..."
$2,400 -$400 $900
$2,400 $500 $1,100
CHARACTERS IN MUSICALS
This emperor was in his villa at Antium, 35 miles from the city, when Rome burned
Weighing up to 2 1/4 pounds, the largest ones on record reportedly killed 92 people in Bangladesh in '86
He said, "I left my capacity for hoping on the little roads that led to Zelda's sanitarium."
These members of the phylum Porifera can be used for cleaning & bathing
Ezra Taft Benson, Earl Butz & John R. Block have held this cabinet post
Harry the Horse, Angie the Ox, Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Sky Masterson Mission Band
The 2 modern nations that occupy the land that nurtured the Indus Valley civilization about 2300 B.C.
The American Midwest sees more of these storms than any other place in the world
In 1899 Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote, "I know why the caged bird" does this
The flying fox of Southeast Asia isn't a fox at all but one of these
In the Presidential Oath of Office the word "swear" may be replaced by this word
The Romans called this country Helvetia & established garrisons & colonies at Nyon, Augst & Avenches
The terms El Niño and La Niña were coined to describe warm & cold water pools in this ocean
Wilfred Scawen Blunt called this "the famed rock, which Hercules & Goth & Moor bequeathed us."
It's theorized this class of animals evolved as ponds dried up; they learned to also live on land
The National Security Act of 1947 created this agency first directed by Lt. Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg
When Mark Antony gave Roman lands to his children by Cleopatra, this man made war on her
During daylight hours, a single red pennant warns boaters that these are in effect
Completes the line from "How do I love thee": "I love thee to the depth & breadth & height..."
DD: $200 5
A viviparous insect differs from an oviparious insect in this way
Unless another day is appointed, Congress begins its sessions on this date
A thermograph records temerature & a hydrograph records this
The author who wrote "I am a camera with its shutter open"
Animals that are dormant in winter are said to hibernate; those dormant in summer are said to do this
Seigniorage is the profit the government makes by doing this
$400 $900 $3,300
(lock game)
The only American woman awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, she won hers in 1938
$50 $899 $4,300
3rd place: Secrets of the Unknown VHS set & NES with Family & Junior editions of Jeopardy! & Wheel of Fortune 2nd place: trip on Delta to Las Vegas & stay at Flamingo Hilton New champion: $4,300
-$300 $1,100 $4,300
2 W 12 R,
(including 1 DD) 17 R,
(including 1 DD)
Combined Coryat: $5,100
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Fairness for Veterans (& Owing Our Exec. Producer a Steak Dinner)
YEAR IN REVIEW - MOMENT OF THE YEAR... (& why I owe Erin Gutierrez a steak dinner in 2017)
I'm usually the optimistic one. The "it will work out" guy. The one who wants to just try it because it could turn out even better than we hoped.
That's why it's unusual that I needed some convincing when we got the idea to collect petition signatures from viewers who watched "Charlie Foxtrot." I just didn't think it would work fast enough for Congress to Act. Our Executive Producer, Erin Gutierrez, bet me a steak dinner it would. Now she's choosing the restaurant.
Trust me, I hoped it would would help. What I doubted was the speed of Congress. There had already been forty years of waiting on Washington.
You see, since the Carter administration there's been a push to help a group of service members striped of benefits after being kicked out with a less than honorable discharge when what they needed was treatment for PTSD, TBI or both.
I was veryhopeful the Fairness for Veterans Act would get more traction after our coverage on 38 TEGNA Inc. stations. However I didn't expect the legislation to pass Congress this session. Washington never moves that fast, right?!
Here's what happened next...
We released Charlie Foxtrot on Veterans Day. Less than a month later, we had the attention of Senator Johnny Isakson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
He sponsored a special "Mission Charlie Foxtrot" event inside the U.S. Capitol. We played our investigation in the Congressional Auditorium and hosted a panel of lawmakers alongside the people featured in our investigation. The next day, we handed over thousands of petition signatures to Senator Gary Peters, who sponsored the Fairness for Veterans Act.
Three days later - it passed! And last Friday President Obama signed Fairness for Veterans in to law.
Finally, our service members will have a second chance for benefits promised to them the day they enlisted.
It took an Act of Congress.
It's my Moment of the Year. And I can't wait to buy Erin Gutierrez that steak dinner in 2017... a reminder that anything is possible.
Happy News Year, everyone!
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姜瀚原個人網站
Hanyuan Jiang's website
學術研究 Academic research
氮水平和接种根瘤菌对大豆生长和生物固氮的影响 Effects of inoculation with rhizobia strains and nitrogen level on nodulation and plant growth in so
伊富高價值觀的保育
前言與致謝
第一章介紹
第二章 農業
第三章 宗教
第四章 梯田
第五章 旅遊業
第六章 生活習慣
第七章 全球背景下的伊富高價值
第八章 以價值觀為中心的文化保育
補充照片
附件和參考文獻
Conservation of Ifugao Values
Appendices and reference
Supplementary photos
文章 Writings
攝影 Photography
好友作品 Friends’ photography
日本能登 Japan Noto
安徽古鎮 Old towns in Anhui
亞利桑那 Arizona
黃山 Huangshan
印度尼西亞 Indonesia
河北曲周 Quzhou Quzhou
山西 Shanxi
加州和風號 California Zephyr
篆刻 Seal
客家諺語集錄 Collection of Hakka proverbs
詩 Poems
多媒體製作 Media production
日曆 Calendars
海報 Posters
簡介 About
聯繫 Contact
Chapter 8 关闭 返回上一级
Chapter 8 Conservation of Ifugao values
Although many Ifugao interviewees recognized the importance of their traditional values, proposals for conservation remain on the cultural pratices such as the farming techniques, the religion, and the dances. However, after examining difficulties of proposed measures of education and government support, I argue that the priority should be the conservation of the Ifugao values (Figure 54).
Figure 54: Conceptual map of conservation strategies and its significance
Many interviewees referred to education, both in school and in family, as an important measure to develop whill will, at the same time, conserve the culture. One of them told me that “it is only through education that we can improve our life” (KE3). However, there was a complaint about the education system in the past that “in Catholic schools they are teaching the subject of values education, but these are very Christian values…everything is about Christianity but nothing about the Ifugao. So we grew up knowing the only reason why we are Ifugaos is by our names. We know nothing about our culture and nothing about our values” (KE8). Therefore, there are efforts to include the Ifugao culture in the curriculum “so young people will eventually appreciate programs or courses related to the preservation or conservation of [the] culture, like anthropology or agriculture” (KE11). Nowadays, “they [the school teachers] are starting today to teach our children about our culture like the history of this place and the cultural dances, [and] how and when to wear native clothes” (BW16) (Figure 55).
Figure 55: Students learning traditional Ifugao dances
As is recognized, “there is really a big responsibility for us now especially [those] who have the knowledge of our culture to contribute or help” (GW2). Some who have traditional skills are teaching, and one of them said, “I keep on teaching even teachers so that they will teach in the school to help the community, but they just teach and the students will go to college and do not apply [what they have been taught]” (BW11). Another limitation of school education was pointed out. A text in the Indigenous Peoples’ Education Center in Kiangan (2016), using the example of the curricula on the traditional chants, hudhud, reads, “students are taught to memorize snippets of the epic chants not for its socio-cultural significance, but rather for inter-municipality competitions.”
Other than school education, Ifugaos have been passing their traditions across generations through family education. One interviewee said, “[the education] really has to start from the family, because in school it is only the formal education. But it starts at home” (GW2). In Ifugao, “old folks like to bring kids to the rice fields. Maybe [the work at the fields] plants in their mind and even when they are big, they will go back and work in the field. That is why the old folks kept on saying that you [children] come and work in the fields, so that if you grow old, you will not forget”, said one of the interviewees (BH11).
Yet, the fundamental difficulty of family education was that “it is not just the young people who don’t like them [the traditions], even the elders are ashamed of wearing g-strings and [to] dance. Like everybody knows it is hard work to farm, but we tell the young to preserve the terraces” (RF2).
1.2 Government support
Individual efforts on conserving the culture, according to an interviewee, is “a spark in the darkness” (GW7) and therefore, almost all interviewees agreed that the government intervention would be needed. They expected governments to support by providing funds for farmers to maintain terraces, providing affordable education and jobs, and funding cultural events. One example of the government intervention is the environmental fee visitors pay before entering heritage sites. One interviewee said “we collect [an] environmental fee[1] [which]…is used for the irrigation system” (GW7). One municipal government also “provides funds, little funds…for the farmers to have a capital [fund] to start livelihood businesses to support and to help them with the economic situation” (GW6), and likewise another municipal governments “are promoting our School of Living Traditions (SLD) and every time we are funding it,” said another interviewee (GW8).
While many Ifugaos rely on the government support, some limitations were noted. One interviewee thought that the fund from the government “still won’t be enough because the Philippine government is a poor government. They cannot give farmers pensions at all” (GW7). And even if the governments “are providing funds for the ordination of the mumbaki, nowadays the young people are not interested to be trained” (GW3). Moreover, another interviewee pointed out that “modernization of agriculture [and] farmers’ organizations now is already a destruction to our culture” (GW6).
At the same time, due to various limits from the political structure, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), where many indigenous cultures other than the Ifugao reside, is trying to gain its autonomy. On the 29th Founding Anniversary of the CAR, one speech read: “we want to involve people in decision making, because development should be inclusive. But when we discussed [this] on the national level, sometimes we are prevented because of standards, national standards that we should follow.”
However in fact, the governance in Ifugao had been on an communal level in an autonomous fashion, as one interviewee pointed out, “the present situation is that we have village level government unlike in the old days [when] we talked among ourselves. Now it seems the task is given to the council” (KE9). And perhaps, like what was pointed out, whether self-governing or not, what is needed is an open discussion.
1.3 Conservation of Ifugao values
So far, proposed measures to conserve the Ifugao culture have been rather limited to the practices, like the dancing and rituals, but with little emphasis on values. With all the interviews and observations, it slowly became clear to me that all Ifugao practices not only evolved from the two core values discussed in Chapter 7, the values of communal cooperation and a sustainable relationship with nature (Figure 56) — but at the same time had been protected as people, especially the elders and those who lived in remote villages, held on to them.
Figure 56: Illustration of conceptual relationships of Ifugao values and cultural practices
Therefore, as Ifugaos changed their values and no longer view the cultural practices as preferable, many conservation measures were found costly or even as burdens, and thus require government support. The other limitation is that without emphasizing the underlying values, the practices were reduced to hollow performances for aesthestic and tourist purposes. Moreover, as the Ifugao society becomes assimilated to the non-Ifugao ones, the conservation of the Ifugao culture should be placed in the context of a more universal perspective. And therefore, it is the values from which cultural practices originated that should be the subject of conservation.
However, these values can be easy to undermine, but hard to reestablish. It requires trust and collective action. The difficulty and the irony is that the lack of these prerequisites is, at the same time, the outcome of the traditional values being undermined. Yet, it is our inaction that maintains this cycle, and to break it, we can begin action[2] with our individual reflections on experiences and events in life. Too often it seems that most of us do not question the rightfulness of what we are used to or feel comfortable with. We seem to take for granted that gasoline is a superior form of energy to human labor without thinking about the biomass and time it takes to form crude oil; we seem to take for granted that a shirt can be thrown away when fashion trends change without thinking of the tedious tasks workers used to produce a shirt; we seem to take for granted that our life has meaning as long as we are busy without thinking what we are busy for. Is our inaction a result of our human nature to want comfort, or of our fear of losing what we privately enjoy? If our human nature is to want comfort, should there be limit at which the limited material resources can sustain us? If there is such limit, should we still connect our unlimited desire for happiness with materialistic enjoyment? If we know that our lifestyle is not sustainable, resulting directly and indirectly in sufferings somewhere in the world, should we control our desires although there are others living “more unsustainably”, or do we continue? If we feel it is immoral that opportunities for materialistic prosperity are unequal among the general people, why do we think it is acceptable to pursue them now rather than preserve for the future generations? Is it because we believe that current prosperity will not deprive other people and future generations of equal opportunities, or are we choosing to be unconvinced?
If such reflection provokes any doubt or hesitation in the things we take for granted as good, we should have the courage to try to initiate discussions with our fellow community members and to make small changes in our daily life. No matter how such discussions or changes in the actions in our daily life may turn out to be, uncomfortable, lonesome, or awakening, we experience the tension of the three relationships of human versus nature, human versus human, and human versus self. There will be no regret if the Ifugao values are found undersirable and should be forgotten, yet if we discover value in them and live those values in our life, we would have achieved no small thing.
[1] The environmental fee was 50 pesos for Batad Rice Terraces and 350 for Nagacadan Rice Terraces.
[2] We may need to begin action as soon as possible because with the exponential-like development of mankind, the tipping point posed by climate change and the development of weapons of mass destruction is not far away. (Morris, 2010)
Chapter 2 Agriculture
Chapter 3 Religion
Chapter 4 Rice terraces
Chapter 5 Tourism
Chapter 6 Lifestyle
Chapter 7 Value of Ifugao culture in the face of global development trends
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Beginner lessons - Early mistakes to avoid
Chasing poundage rather than technique -
As a novice, it can be hard not to get caught up in the early wild ride that is adding poundage very easy every week, or every few weeks. However this often comes at the expense of maintaining or promoting proper movement execution.
Over time, these motor patterns of said lifter becomes established and these bad habits become hard to break later when attempts at maximal poundages are performed.
And while progressive overload should be the cornerstone of the novice and intermediate lifter, it shouldn't be adhered to "at any cost".
Believing a certain routine will make you look a certain way -
I remember when I was young, a few years into training, and I really thought that following a certain pros routine would make me "look like them".
I see this subtly still in the minds of young lifters or guys with little experience. You know how? With these phrases...
"well it works for him."
This is said by fanboys of guys they follow/idolize/want to be like...and they need to believe that because something works for their idol, that it will work for them as well.
"I'm using so n so's routine. And he's jacked."
So n so didn't use THAT routine to get jacked, if he's an advanced guy. He arrived at that destination via other means. And those other means would probably serve you better than following his 6 day a week split routine that he worked up to doing over the course of the last decade.
Another example of this is any time some Hollywood actor gets in decent enough shape for a role to "stand out" on film. Without fail, magazines and websites will report on his "routine", which no one can know for certain whether it was or not. But this doesn't stop guys from believing that if they follow said routine they will look like that within a few months.
Dwayne didn't always look like this. For the longest time he looked like....(see below)
From guys I've spoken with that are in the know about this, most of these guys run a cycle, train multiple times a day, have two or three guys helping them with their training and nutrition. And they have millions of dollars in the bank to live comfortably off of in order to do nothing but train, eat, and "supplement" everyday in order to get ready for a role. Do you have that kind of time and money? Because if not, the shitty routine you are reading in that magazine where he trained "four days a week, doing 50 push ups and some swiss ball ab work" isn't going to do a god damn thing for you.
I mean how many times have we seen The Rock's workout and diet in a magazine at this point? I wonder how many guys have done both of those in order to "look like the Rock?"
Nevermind that he's been training for over 20 years now. Totally lost on them because apparently he just got jacked like, this year.
Newflash. If you want to be jacked like Dwayne Johnson, be prepared to put in a couple of decades of hard work, take some anabolics, and go through phases where you were chubby, then lean, then chubby, then lean again. None of this happens in a few months, or even a few years. And no routine is going to make you "look like someone". Last time I checked, your dad banged your mom and created you. And what someone else does or did won't always help you.
...well, he looked like this. Lots of years in between.
Part of the process of fulfilling your genetic potential is going through the process of becoming advanced. It's actually not until you get closer to your genetic ceiling that you've made enough mistakes and tried enough shit to know what the hell really works for you.
So be prepared to do a lot of the wrong shit. Just know that following a guys routine that has been training for two decades isn't going to make you look like him any time soon.
Chronic routine changing -
This is sort of an extension to the last point.
But even more so, I can't figure out what is going through the mind of people when I read shit like this.
"I just used X routine and had great results. So now I'm going to try Y routine."
So you're using a program that is working well, and making some sweet ass gains, and you're going to change it because.....I literally have no snappy comeback to this.
Witchcraft?
I don't know, I'm at a loss. But I read this over and over again. And it makes zero sense to me at all.
Listen, if you are making progress you ride that shit out until it's deader than hell. And you know what? You won't even know that for months and months and months. And you know what else? Even then, you don't have to overhaul everything in order to keep moving forward. In fact, that's often the worst thing you can do. You make a change here, then see what happens. If you progress again, that's all you do. Until progress is no longer forthcoming.
Then you repeat that. Make a small change. Better? Worse? Nothing?
If something works, don't make a change until it no longer does for quite some time. And then, make minor changes. It could literally be something as slight as taking your reps from 5 to 12. Or switching one movement out for another.
Neglecting back work -
This is another area I see with most novice guys. And a lot of the novice routines that get used by so many of them.
Your back is basically the foundation for everything you do along with your trunk and hips. So addressing it with a few sets of shitty rows once a week is just not going to be enough.
I will say this, in my early years I did not make this particular mistake. I have no idea if I had genetics for a big back, but I honestly believe all the years I spent early on doing chins for hours on end, and doing a metric fuck ton of various rows played a part in it.
Yet, do you know how many guys I know can't do a strict set of 10 with bodyweight only even after several years of supposed, "serious training?"
How serious are you training if you can't do 10 chin ups/pull ups after YEARS of being in the gym?
Pulling your bodyweight up is one of the most basic strength building movements you can do. And you're too weak or too fat to do a strict set of ten....after YEARS of training?
Either you neglected your back work, and ignored hard work, or you got into one of those stupid ass "perma bulk" modes and also neglected hard back work. Now you're too heavy to pull your fat ass up for a set of 10 on one of the most simplistic and basic movements you should be doing.
Someone will probably get mad about that, but generally when someone makes you mad with something they say, it should cause a bit of self reflection. I mean, in this particular case it should. If someone tells you you're a piece of shit....well, it's possible that should cause some self reflection too, depending on the source.
Either way, so many people spend too much time neglecting SERIOUS back work early in their training, because it's hard, and it's not fancy. Make it fancy. It will literally carry over to everything else you do.
Spot reduction -
This really is still talked about! I swear to God it is. I still see it all the time.
You cannot do an exercise to "get more definition in my arms."
"Get my legs more toned."
"Get my pecs leaner."
All of these things require two things -
1. A reduction in bodyfat.
2. An increase in muscle mass in those areas.
I will say this, the more developed an area gets, the less fat it does tend to carry around it. This is not "spot reduction" however. When I read the term "spot reduction" it generally means the person thinks doing a movement for that area strips fat off of it.
So if you hate that a particular bodypart tends to carry more fat in it, you can end up carrying less fat around that area IF that area becomes VERY developed (I've seen this not only in myself but lots of others). But that takes time, and it still takes a reduction in overall bodyfat, and an increase in muscle mass. Doing movements for that area don't make it leaner because you're working it.
But basically what your focus should be, right from the beginning is decreasing bodyfat, and simply increasing muscle mass overall. You're going to have an area on your body that ultimately holds on to fat the hardest, and will always be the last place you lose it. Even if that area becomes more developed it's still probably going to be your "problem area". Doing a zillion sets of ab work isn't going to get you a six pack if you're rocking 20% bodyfat.
Not building balance/creating muscular gaps -
Talk to any therapist or psychiatrist in the world and they will all tell you that as adults, most of who we are gets shapen, or misshapen, in our most impressionable years when we are young. The foundation for how we think, believe, behave, and act all starts getting built from the time we are very young. And since it is the foundation, it stays with us for the rest of our lives unless one or two things happen...
1. Experience teaches us otherwise, i.e. we have a paradigm shift due to something happening that changes us.
2. Extensive therapy that allows us to process the fragmented parts of trauma that happen to us in our youth.
Now apply both of those things to what you are building as a novice, and ask yourself if you are building a solid foundation with a very balanced training and eating program.
One of my biggest issues with most beginner programs is that they lack total body development, and balance. It's usually the same template.
Three days a week - Squatting, deadlifting, bench pressing, and rowing. There might be one or two things in there outside of that but that's about it.
Does this look like balance to you? Because it doesn't to me.
"Well a beginner doesn't need all those other things."
What other things? Things that help to create stability at every area of the kinetic chain? Things that make sure hamstring and quadriceps strength are in balance? Things that make sure one side of the body doesn't become dominant because unilateral work was excluded?
I firmly believe that a lot of the injuries you end up with down the road are related to some of the things that get imprinted on you in your early stages of training. You'll gravitate towards movements you love, neglecting the ones you hate, and this becomes a cornerstone of future training habits.
A beginner has the same muscles when he or she starts training, as they will have twenty years later. So why do so many beginner templates neglect these areas when doing so means the beginner becomes intermediate or advanced, is then left in "catch up" mode in regards to developing them? Why can't a beginner use a leg curl, or do work for their brachialis?
"Because they don't need all that extra fluff. All the major muscle groups get hit with the big movements...blah blah blah"
Beginners need to work on complete development so that less energy needs to be devoted to specialization later. This doesn't mean the beginner or intermediate specializes, it just means they don't neglect things because a few big movements "hit the total body".
Down the line, he or she will most likely end up with an injury due to improper mechanics, or because something has been left weak, or underdeveloped.
This is what creating a muscular gap is. When a secondary or tertiary mover in a lift doesn't get adequate attention and is neglected for years on end. By addressing them early in training, there's less of a chance of dealing with "trauma" later.
Think of it as good muscle parenting. Neglecting certain muscles is like leaving your toddler alone all day to figure out how to cook because they are hungry. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.
Sam Brooks November 13, 2015 at 12:53 PM
"Think of it as good muscle parenting. Neglecting certain muscles is like leaving your toddler alone all day to figure out how to cook because they are hungry. It just doesn't make a lot of sense."
Lol, this is good
I wish I thought like this years ago when the starting strength cult brainwashed me
Outstanding article Paul! Great point on filling in muscular gaps early on. Chasing poundage in EVERY movement is another mistake I see quite frequently with younger lifters. Apparently there is a preacher curl and nose-breaker Olympic event we are unaware of.
The embracement of softcore
Why I hate John Meadows
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LivingNonviolence
Information and inspiration on everyday nonviolence
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It isn't big...
At the Southern Border – “A Laboratory of Injustic...
At The Southern Border - "A Laboratory of Injustic...
This Is Not What You Have Taught Us, Our Teacher
"Dear Christian American Patriot..."
At the Southern Border – “A Laboratory of Injustice, A Landscape of Hope”
Part Two: A Landscape of Hope
(Ed. note - For Part One scroll down to yesterday's post. )
At the Hope Border Institute, encountering more of the righteous, the tzadikim, we were told of how the border has been a “laboratory of injustice,” but for them it is a “landscape of hope.” Our guide into Mexico was a young man named Diego, someone whose life represents the hope waiting to flower from that place. He grew up in Juarez, just over the border from El Paso. As a child, he would go back and forth for school, as so many did, for school, for work, to shop, to visit family. He spoke of his hope for the area, for the “borderlands,” a place that is one community on both sides of the border. He spoke of the gash formed by the wall that cuts through the region, dividing human beings from each other, people who are meant to be as one in the borderlands. It is a beautiful image for the whole world, human communities that transcend the borders between them. That is part of the teaching that rises from the “landscape of hope.”
As we made our way on foot back across the bridge between Juarez and El Paso, we encountered US guards just before reaching the border itself.
They are standing illegally on the Mexican side of the border, cynically placed there to prevent migrants from stepping onto US soil, from which they would legally be entitled to ask for asylum. From the bridge we could look down through steel grating and see migrants who had been arrested being herded into a makeshift camp, there beneath the bridge. In that moment I so wished that I had superhero powers, my body and soul aching to swoop down and carry them all to safety. I sang the words of Rebbe Nachman to myself as I cried, kol ha’olam kulo gesher tzar m’od v’ha’ikar lo l’fached k’lal/the whole world is a very narrow bridge and the main thing is not to be afraid at all. I hoped that somehow my singing might help the people below to find courage and not be afraid, even the children.
Standing at the wall that cuts through the heart of the borderlands, I searched for hope in the eyes of the children of Juarez with whom we spoke through the steel slats. With the help of others who could translate for me, I responded to one bright-eyed boy of eleven who asked me my name. When I told him that my name is Victor, he laughed and said, “no, it can’t be, that’s my name.” We laughed and joked for some time. Diego was standing beside me and explained that there is a special relationship between people with the same name. In Spanish, each partner of the same name is called a “tokayo” in relation to the other. I extended my hand through the slats and kept saying to little Victor, “tokayo, tokayo.”
Just to the side of where I stood with Victor there were photographs taped to the cold steel, pictures of two other children, Jakelin and Felipe, the two children who died while in detention, their memories blessing the borderlands that it might yet become the landscape of hope it is meant to be. Her fingers gently curled around the steel edges of the slats, touching the photographs, a girl-woman of sixteen spoke with us, telling us of her coming marriage. A child-bride, her words carried wisdom beyond her years, words of lament for the suffering of so many, for those who had died, for those who struggle to find hope as they make their way through the borderlands.
In the shy smile of this girl about to be thrust into womanhood, motherhood undoubtedly not far off, I saw the face of Our Lady of Guadeloupe as depicted in the brilliant colors of a mural on a wall of Casa del Migrante, a shelter that we visited in Juarez. A mother blessing her children, the mural makes clear the extreme dangers of the journey, migrants clinging to the roofs of boxcars as the train approaches a tunnel, darkness enveloping the future, but for the reassuring light of a mother’s smile. We were introduced at the shelter to a woman whose arm was in a cast. She had traveled some two thousand miles on foot from Honduras to Juarez with a broken arm, receiving medical attention only once she arrived in the shelter.
In the silent space amid the cracks of my broken heart, I am seeking, searching out the lessons of this journey to the borderlands. It is the silent space from which God calls to us. It is the silent space that we are called to enter in the very middle of the Torah, in the heart of the Torah, the silent space of the borderlands between the beginning and the end, the place where journeys meet as one. In the Torah portion for the week of our journey, Parashat Sh’mini (Lev. 9:1-11:47) we come as migrants to the very middle of the Torah, the silent space that lies between the two words darosh || darash/and Moses diligently searched. So it is for us to search, to seek, to hear God’s call from the very middle of the journey as we seek our way across the narrow bridge, right where the border is. At the very end of the portion, God tells us as we make our way through the desert, ki ani ha’shem ha’ma’aleh etchem me’eretz mitzrayim/for I, God, am the One Who leads you up from out of the land of Egypt. We are one with those who seek the way up from the lands of their suffering, seeking refuge among us. I pray that we shall be as God’s angels, like the tzadikim of the borderlands, helping them to make their way to safety, traversing what might yet be a landscape of hope.
Just before God’s promise to lead us up, at the end of Parashat Sh’mini (Lev. 11:44), we are told, sanctify yourselves and then you will become holy/v’hit’kadishtem vi’h’yi’tem k’doshim. In a very simple comment that goes to the essence of what it means to be holy, the modern Chassidic Rebbe, the Slonimer Rebbe, known as the N’tivot Shalom/Paths of Peace, draws on the classic teaching of the Talmudic sage, Hillel. Offered as a summary statement of all of Torah, Hillel taught: “what is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow” (Tractate Shabbat 31a). We need to imagine ourselves at the border, each as a refugee, asking of how we would wish to be treated.
As Jews, we know what that has to mean. We know the ultimate consequence for us of doors closed to refugees. We see the shoes, the piles of shoes. We know to what ends the “banality of evil” can lead. Upon arriving for the start of this journey to the border, I walked to the El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center. Standing in front of the small, closed building, I wanted to affirm at the start of our journey the Torah’s reminder not to oppress the stranger, meant to be felt viscerally by each of us, to be felt in the depths of our soul, the verse that is repeated some thirty-six times, …for you know the soul of the stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt/v’atem y’datem et nefesh ha’ger ki gerim he’yi’tem b’eretz mitz’rayim. What would it mean in the way of knowing the soul of the stranger, and what would be its impact on national policy, if we could see ourselves in every refugee at the southern border, if we could see and affirm our shared humanity?
As we davened Mincha, praying the prayers of afternoon right alongside the border wall, song and prayer wafting through the slats to our young friends, I heard my name called as had never before happened in prayer. My eyes were closed as I prayed the Amidah, touched by fervor, by yearning. In the midst of prayer, I heard my name called by an angelic voice, gentle but insistent, calling over and over again, Veector, Veector, Veector. I began to smile, bursting with emotion, tears of joy and sorrow welling. It was God’s voice calling through little Victor, my tokayo, my friend. So may God’s voice of motherly love be heard in human key, giving succor and hope to all who make their way through the borderlands; giving challenge to all of us who are called to be as the tzadikim, to do the work of Elijah and help turn “a laboratory of injustice into a landscape of hope.”
Posted by Vicky at 8:23 AM
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© 2014 by Lu Erickson
If you enjoy Margie's New Man, check out Lu's full-length novels by clicking on the images below~
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Margie Russo tugged again on her seat belt, snugging it up tight, even though the pilot had turned off the seat-belt light an hour ago. She glanced around at the total lack of concern that surrounded her--inane conversation in the aisles, people somehow finding the focus to not only watch, but actually follow, the inflight movie, attendants smiling and nodding absently as they glided through the plane. Didn't anyone here grasp that they were all encased in what, by the standards of the universe, amounted to a soda can sputtering through the air at 35,000 feet just waiting for the foot of God to drop-kick them back down to earth?!
If she'd just have taken that damn pill Liz had offered, she'd be blessedly deep in a drug-induced oblivion right now, instead of nursing a killer tension headache made worse by two cute little bottles of Jack Daniels (which should, by the way, come with the warning: The Surgeon General has determined that alcohol dispensed from containers manufactured by Lilliputians is still capable of landing the consumer on his or her respective butt).
Margie snatched the complimentary airline goody bag from the empty seat next to her and rummaged around for the complimentary breath mint--she'd already pilfered the extra complimentary pen and postcards. Although she'd never dream of committing such a breach in etiquette when sober, she couldn't at the moment figure out what was so terribly wrong about rifling through the bag that, while admittedly did not belong to her, did not belong to anyone else either.
"Is anyone sitting here?"
It took Margie an extra second or two to process the question. Her gaze retraced the deep resonant voice past the denim-clad thighs, over the understated burnished-gold buckle, up to the wide shoulders, and on to the well-defined lips that had spoken.
"Uh. No," she answered, gathering up her things from the seat and looking around for a place to stow them. Oh Lordy, here was one of the few, the proud, the beautiful. One of those men that were so good-looking, they made a woman nervous just to be in the same room with them. In her whole life, Margie had only known two before. Tony Lagomarsino from her high school oil painting class--a soulful-eyed cynic who painted a bowl of fruit in a way that had made her press her thighs together under the table. And Carl Jackson, an architect with a competing firm whose tanned, blonde-highlighted forearms reduced her to blathering idiocy whenever he asked to use the telephone at her desk.
Margie reached for the catalog of duty-free goods, trying to appear nonchalant and hoping that her Jack Daniels breath wasn't rising like a noxious cloud around her. He'd think that she was some kind of a drunk, or so neurotic that she needed a dose of liquid courage to get through a little transatlantic flight. Never mind that that was exactly the case. Well, she was never taking another drink. Never. Not even if she were gutshot in the middle of the Mojave Desert and the only way to numb the pain was to gulp the last swallows from a battered bottle of moonshine (the rest having been used to disinfect the wound, of course).
The pleasant smell of aftershave wafted over from her new seatmate. Margie shifted her eyes without moving her head. Damn. A gold band. But on his right hand. Now, what the heck was that supposed to mean? Wasn't the whole purpose of wearing a ring to give a clear signal to the world whether or not you were married? And here was this guy flouting centuries of tried and true tradition designed to spare civilized folk from the exact type of awkward moment Margie felt certain was right around the corner. What type of guy would mess with your mind like that?
Margie turned her head just the slightest bit, thanking God for her excellent peripheral vision. He'd closed his eyes! She ventured a full-on gander, taking in the just-right amount of dark stubble on his face, the shiny chestnut curl that circled the back of his ear--and the others that barely grazed the neckline of his sweater. His eyelashes were so long they almost rested against his cheekbones, and Margie fought the urge to run a fingertip along that ridge, feeling the soft fringe.
Margie exhaled a wistful sigh, wondering what it would be like to wake up in the morning and see someone that beautiful on the pillow beside her. She could see he was a man of strong commitment by the solid line of his jaw. He'd be the perfect husband--always ready to take out the garbage, he'd never use the last of the toilet paper without replacing the roll, and he'd sense without being told that it was the man's responsibility to scoop the dog-pooh from the yard and to squish all bugs over a half-inch that trespassed into the home. (Margie had been involved in two previous affairs of the heart and had no illusions about what really mattered in a relationship.)
Margie settled back in her seat, opening her eyes wide to shake the fantasy. Who was she kidding? The plane would land in two more hours, he'd wake up refreshed to collect his carry-on luggage and she'd haul herself out of the cramped seat to collect hers. She'd follow him out of the plane and, after a few glimpses of him at baggage collection, she'd never see him again.
She wondered now where he'd come from. He'd have had to spend the majority of the flight somewhere. Maybe he'd gotten tired of being fawned over in first class and decided to venture back into economy to do a little slumming. Or maybe he'd been in economy all along in another section of the plane and his seatmate--probably some attention-starved woman with the pathetic fantasy of starting a mid-air romance--had been so annoying he'd been forced to move.
His head slipped just a little on the backrest, bringing his face even with hers. Margie turned to look at him. Ah, perfection. Just the type of Nordic features she was attracted to, yet interestingly placed in a Mediterranean coloring. He must be a combo. Italian mother, Swedish father? Norwegian mother, Spanish father? She wondered if he were Catholic. That would certainly make her mother happy. Why, he wouldn't even have to be a doctor if he were Catholic.
He slipped a little more and Margie quickly faced forward, her breath catching in her throat as his head came to rest on her shoulder. She supposed she should gently raise him back onto his own headrest. She inhaled slowly, telling herself not to do anything rash. His hair smelled divine--a woodsy kind of shampooey smell. She turned her nose into it, taking a deep breath. His hair tickled her.
"Can I get you something to drink?"
Margie erased the scowl from her face before she faced the flight attendant, trying to remind herself the woman was just trying to do her job and didn't mean to intrude on their intimate moment.
"Actually, I'll have another Jack Daniels and seven, please." Oh, shut up, she told the little-miss-goody-two-shoes in her head, one more drink wasn't going to hurt anything.
"Anything for the gentleman?" the attendant asked sweetly.
"Oh." It would look like she had the right to speak for him, with his head nuzzled into her shoulder. "No, he's fine," she answered, feeling the warmth of his breath through the woven cotton of her blouse.
The attendant pulled her tray into place and set the drink in the round depression. He stirred on her shoulder and Margie froze, her hand suspended halfway between her mouth and the tray. A soft moan escaped his lips as he settled in again. Margie gave up on her drink for the moment, afraid that any movement might wake him. But just as she tried to relax in the chair, a hand flopped over the armrest and landed on her stomach.
Oh my God, Margie thought, she was going to be felt up on a plane by a sleeping man that she'd never even met. Was she just going to sit here and do nothing? She should have pushed his head back when he'd first invaded her territory, beautifully fragrant shiny chestnut curls be damned.
Her hand shot out toward her glass and she gulped a long swallow. Too much damn seven and not enough whiskey. She replaced the glass and was left wondering where to put her hand since her lap was already taken. Deciding that the armrest was as good as anywhere, she glanced down at her stomach and was struck by the magnificence of the human hand. The intricacy of the small bones and tendons, the pink-peach nails topped with slender ivory crescents. His fingers twitched against her and she ached to trace the ridges and indentations, to curl her fingers around his palm. One more drink and she just might do it. Her hand hesitated no more than a second before she reached for the glass and drained it.
She looked down again and slowly moved her hand towards his. She knew that the drink couldn't possibly have taken effect yet, but what the hell, she was really only looking for an excuse so that she could blame it on the alcohol when she later related the story to Liz.
Margie laid her hand over his and curled her much smaller fingers around his palm. Jesus, this man slept like the dead! Maybe she should feel him up--Liz was always telling her she was afraid to take chances. She almost giggled as she imagined slipping her hand under his sweater to explore the territory.
Margie glanced at her watch. Not much more than an hour until landing. They were probably somewhere over Seattle now. She wondered where he lived and what he did for a living. His fingernails were clean but she had felt calluses on his palm, just below the base of his fingers. Maybe he was a sculptor and used a chisel to sculpt huge stone masterpieces. Or maybe an archeologist who had to wield a shovel or pick to make wonderful discoveries. Oh God, maybe he was an real estate agent who golfed on the weekends. No. Absolutely not. Hands like his were meant for greater things. He was a sculptor. Definitely.
The sound of an elevator bell filled the cabin and Margie noticed that the seat belt light had come on. They'd begun their descent. She could feel anticipation bubbling up from the passengers--ten hours was a long time to be cooped up in a soda can. And yet she really hadn't minded the last two in the least.
The sculptor shifted on her shoulder and rolled back to his own seat.
No! Come back! But when he failed to pay any attention to her wishes, Margie did her own adjusting, noticing for the first time since he'd come into her life that her back had developed a kink. She arched, using the opportunity to sneak one last glance. He opened his eyes, and Margie saw their lovely shade of blue. She had wondered what color they'd be, what with him being a combo and all.
He gave her an absent smile and she put out her hand. "You've been a great travelling companion. It was a pleasure."
He frowned in confusion but accepted her hand just the same. "Yeah, sure," he replied hesitantly. But then he didn't really know what had passed between them, did he? Margie faced forward and gripped both armrests, never minding that she was only entitled to one of them.
The plane landed without incident, and just as she'd envisioned, he gathered his things and walked off the plane before her.
But not without leaving a little bit of himself behind, Margie discovered, as the cool air hit the damp little spot of drool on her shoulder.
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Malhar Chaudhari
EasyBraille
Malhar Chaudhari, Siddharth Agrawal
What began as a simple idea to explore, has now turned into a passion to bring that idea to perfection (not that we claim it is perfect, but yes certainly better than our last attempt). This idea for bringing the vast expanse of electronic text to the visually impaired in an e-braille format began with the Kindle for the Blind, and has now taken another shape based on a unique way to display the characters. EasyBraille was result of relentless pursuit to achieve a drastic reduction is size and cost, making it portable and within affordable reach of the average braille user. Making the device easy to use, has been another core area of interest in development.
Now coming to the unique innovation we spoke about:
Based on our interaction with braille trainers and some braille readers, we realized that instead of having multiple characters and the user scrolling his fingers over them, we have a single character which would scroll the characters beneath the forefinger to display text. Now we know that many advanced braille readers, use both their hands and about three fingers to read braille text. But usually the less dominant hand is used to locate the next line (which is redundant in a refreshable braille display as most displays are single line displays) and the second and the third finger, of the three fingers used, are predominantly used to maintain pace, while the first one does the reading. Thus keeping these insights in mind, we have designed the following prototype.
What is the impact of this innovation?
Today majority of the braille readers cost in the range of $ 3,000 – $ 15,000, largely limiting their access to common braille users. With our single character display, we believe EasyBraille to cost around INR (symbol) 7,000 or roughly aroud $100 making it more affordable and more accessible to the braille readers across the spectrum without having to compromise on quality or ease of access.
Replacing the hardware required to support a multi-character display by a single character display greatly reduces the size of the device. Thus the average braille user can easily carry it with him anywhere and use it at his convenience making it more portable and lasting a longer duration than many of the existing products.
Fig: 3D Depiction of EasyBraille
Some of the distinguishing features of EasyBraille are:
Extensive Support for all types of E-book formats
Flash Drive based E-book storage
Portable, light weight, battery powered (rechargeable)
Completely VOICE GUIDED NAVIGATION (Personal Digital Assistant, with natural language processing)
Audio Playback also available
Add and remember Bookmarks
Variable Adjustable Reading Speed
Playback from particular chapter in a book, or last reading point
Auto refreshable braille display with touch sensor to judge reader presence
Affordable and more accessible than any available solution in market
EasyBraille is powered by the Raspberry Pi Model 2. R-Pi was chosen primarily because of its capability to provide extensive support for most of our features. Voice Navigation, audio notification and playback has been implemented using the Jasper Personal Assistant on the Raspberry Pi. An open source e-book reader with wide support for different formats is being considered for reading the e-books. Another important feature of EasyBraille is the speed, at which the characters are read from the device, can be configured by the user as per his preference. Moreover as soon as the user removes contact of his finger with the display, the capacitive sensor would get deactivated and the text would stop scrolling. This would let the user continue from where he left, even if he is interrupted due to any task. This feature helps to maintain continuity for the readers.
The most important part of the device, the refreshable display, is implemented using mini solenoids, instead of fabricating or using custom made solutions, to achieve high performance and keep the costs low. Factors like refresh time, size, weight and cost were taken into consideration while choosing this solution. The required assembly for this part of the device is being currently 3D modeled, and subsequently will be given for printing.
Although the design is under development, we are sure that we would be coming out with our first prototype in the next two months. We are eager to test our first prototype with braille readers and know the response.
Also we are currently using EasyBraille as an e-book reader, but are not oblivious to the fact that it has a large potential to act as a personal assistant to the visually impaired, greatly bridging the digital divide and are designing it in such a way that we are able to leverage that potential without much adjustments required at the user end.
And lastly and the most important part, we plan to release all the schematics, STL files, and the code written as a part of the process to the open source community. This would enable us to leverage the enthusiasm and skill set of members of the open source community in order to improve the product iteratively and enable us to help the visually impaired more efficiently and effectively without worrying much about licensing and other hassles. We will share the link for the same in due time.
You can download a small presentation HERE which gives a synopsis of the complete idea.
Kindle for the Blind
Malhar Chaudhari, Sarvesh Patkar, Virag Doshi, Tushar Advani, Suchitra Sundararaman, Akshay Gharge, Moumita Dey, Vinayak Joshi
This project aims at building a portable, light weight and low power device that converts the large ocean of e-knowledge into Braille format. It is a revolutionary upgrade to the current electronic Braille display devices which are not portable. It has an easy to use audio user interface for basic operations, like searching from a library of E-Books. Also, it provides a comprehensive set of audio notifications for informing the user. The device is connected to a USB Mass Storage Device loaded with E-Books whose text can be converted to standard Braille format and displayed on a Refreshable Braille Display. This device will increase literature access to the visually impaired through the development of a portable, hand-held Braille E-Book Reader. Please note that the current version of the project does not have a refreshable braille display due to some fabrication limitations.
You can follow my new design EasyBraille, which uses a unique innovation, in the way characters are displayed from the device.
Why is “kindle for the blind” a pressing need?
The number of Braille printed books is very less
Even if they are available, the Braille version is quite larger than the normal book
The cost of blind education is very high, due to requirement of special aids and professionals
Refreshable Braille Display cost around 2000-3000 USD often requiring additional computing hardware
This leads to an overall reduced literacy rate for the visually impaired and subsequent lower standards of living around the world. This project was motivated by the fact that, all categories of visually impaired people should have equal access and opportunity to education.
While designing these products it was equally necessary to keep in mind that we don’t just design another refreshable braille display, but a product that addressed majority of the issues discussed above.
Thus the most major features of this product are:
Capable of Independent Operation without any external hardware or human help achieved with the help of audio navigation and smart search
Capable of reading multiple books in widely available digital text formats stored in an external flash drive
Low power battery supported and portable
Hardware Description:
Fig: Top Level Block Diagram
The device gets an external supply from a battery which passes it through a regulator circuit, the DC Distribution Box (DCDB) to provide regulated power to the various sections of the device. It takes 12V unregulated supply from a battery and gives regulated supply voltages of 3.3V and 5V to the different components in the system.
The e-books are loaded into a Mass Storage Device (USB Flash drive) in a .txt format. This Flash Drive is connected to the device (VDrive module which uses VNCL FTDI-Vinculum Chip) which reads the .txt files and converts the text into braille format to be displayed on the designed LED matrix to verify the working of the device. This particular section of the device is of significant importance as the reading of books from a flash drive is a very common mode of data storage and helps in increasing the portability of the machine.
The selection of the books within the flash drive is done using the speech recognition functionality of the HM 2007 Voice recognition IC. This feature allows the blind user to navigate a plethora of E-books using simple voice commands.
A given file is selected only when the user speaks the title of the given file in the mic. An audio amplifier circuit is also designed using LM386 to play multiple monotone as notifications to the user.
Up-Down scroll buttons are provided to scroll between the lines of a given text files.
The control logic unit consists of the MSP430F5659 microcontroller. This particular IC was chosen because of the large number of IO ports requirements as per the design of our system.
Software Description:
Fig: Software Flow Chart
The software implementation of the system is based on a sequential logic. The initialization of the system includes initialization port pins and verifying operation of various sub systems. To read any E-Book, hardware interrupt has to be raised by the user, which transfers the control to the voice recognition module which then takes a user input. Based on this input, a given E-Book file is copied from the USB Mass Storage Device and converted to braille format and stored in the RAM space of the MSP. These converted characters are then sent to the LED Matrix Display.
Note: I have been unable to include the exact technical details (for eg. Implementation etc), as I don’t have the permission to release the same from some of my other team members.
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edited by John Madeley
edited by Carl Rayer
attachment from Carl Rayer
Millennium Summit Falls Far Short of Needs
John Madeley is a best-selling author, journalist and broadcaster, specialising in economic and social development issues, notably international trade, transnational corporations, food and agriculture, aid and human rights. He is the author of many books, newspaper articles and other publications. Based in Reading, he keeps in trim with medium-distance cycling.
John Madeley’s latest book is:
Beyond Reach?
Publication date: 17th October 2009
When a feisty young married woman inspires a church minister with an inappropriate choice of women to join a campaign to end poverty, the result is an explosive mix that takes them into a world that neither bargained for.
Set in 2005 this novel is an eye-witness account of the Make Poverty History campaign, of the scrapes and joys of campaigning for a just cause.
Taking the reader through English suburbia, to Gleneagles in Scotland, and Niger, West Africa, John Madeley tells a sensitive, witty story of a relationship between people who are dedicated to ending poverty, Their relationship energises them for the campaign, leading them to a devastating exposé of government duplicity.
Anyone who took part in the Make Poverty History campaign, who bought a wrist band, who now wants to see the end of poverty, or who just wants a good read, will find this an inspiring book.
‘A revealing story about a scandal of our time, witty, sharp - and above all urgent’ - Rosie Boycott
‘In this amusing novel, John Madeley links modern ethics and politics with the age-old issues of relationships and the meaning of life. All this, with serious intent, too’ - Tim Lang
‘In the tradition of Saturday, this outstanding novel weaves together the world of public events with the private world of individual lives’ - Carl Rayer
‘Be warned, this book could change your life’ - Ann Pettifor
Published by Longstone Books,
Price £9.99 (Quantity discounts available. Contact author)
e-mail: john.madeley@gmail.com
Website: www.johnmadeley.com
Royalties from the book go to agencies who are working to end poverty
Recent books by John Madeley:
Big Business, Poor Peoples
How Transnational Corporations Damage the World's Poor (Second Edition)
A snappy guide to how transnational corporations effect the global poor
Updated edition of a best-selling title, with a new chapter and material on climate change and responses to it, such as Biofuels
Authored by a leading expert and broadcaster on development and environmental issues
First edition sold over 3,500 copies [ISBN: 978 1 85649 672 8]
Publisher: Zed Books
Paperback Price £ 16.99/ $ 30.95
Paperback ISBN-13: 9781848130333; Paperback ISBN-10: 1848130333
Hardback Price £ 60.00 / $ 99.95
Hardback ISBN-13: 9781848130326; Hardback ISBN-10: 1848130325
Comments on “Big Business, Poor Peoples”
Authoritative and highly readable, Madeley names the names and tells the stories to provide a clear answer to those who cling to the myth that foreign investment, transnational corporations, the IMF, the World Bank and UNDP are an answer to the prayers of the poor. An excellent book that should be read by everyone committed to ending global poverty. - David Korten
Readable and persuasive....a timely and cogent examination of transnational corporations, the engines that drive globalization. New Internationalist
50 Reasons to Buy Fair Trade (with Miles Litvinoff).
Fair trade is growing fast, offering hope for the poor from international trade. 50 Reasons To Buy Fair Trade gives powerful reasons for buying these goods. It illustrates how the poor benefit and how consumers can play an important role when they shop. An inspiring guide that shows how everyone can make a difference.
Publisher: Pluto Press. Price £7.99. ISBN 0-7453-2584-X
Comments on 50 Reasons to Buy Fair Trade
‘A lively, accessible and inspiring survey of how fair trade is bringing new hope to poor producers around the world.’ Paul Chandler, Chief Executive, Traidcraft
‘The best and most comprehensive guide around to the principles and practice of fair trade.’ Joanna Blythman, food writer and campaigner
‘This well researched, balanced and inspiring book is a great guide to how and why the empowered individual can make a difference.’ Craig Sams, founder of Green & Blacks
100 ways to Make Poverty History
An Action kit to change your world (September 2005)
It’s time poverty was made history. We can all contribute to this. On every page of this book is a simple action plan - 100 effective ideas that could make a real difference to the way that millions of people live in the developing world.
From e-mailing the Prime Minister to local campaigning, making choices about shopping, food and travel, everyone can play an active part in making poverty history. This is not simply a book of high ideals – there are step-by-step instructions with telephone numbers, website addresses and detailed advice on how to get your message heard.
Publisher Canterbury Press, Price £5.99. ISBN: 1 85311 683 1
Comments on 100 ways to Make Poverty History
Has arrived in the nick of time. Slim and easily digestible...packed with practical ideas - Sarah Meyrick, Church Times.
....makes an ideal handbook for youth group leaders looking for project ideas or a private citizen seeking to make a difference. - Methodist Recorder
A great book to give to someone we hope will join us in the fight to make poverty history - Enid Fox, Coracle
A Peoples World
Alternatives to Economic Globalization (September 2003)
John Madeley has interviewed some of the world’s most courageous and innovative campaigners and progressive thinkers. Here is what they think about what globalization really is, what's wrong with it and what are the practicable and concrete alternatives.
Interviewees include: Peggy Antrobus, Walden Bello, Barry Coates, Fiona Dove, Gustavo Esteva, Hazel Henderson, Francois Houtart, Martin Khor, David Korten, Caroline Lucas MEP, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Ann Pettifor, Devinder Sharma, Vandana Shiva and Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. The book strips bare the myth that there are no alternatives to corporate-driven globalization
The second half the book looks at what needs to happen to enable alternatives to be implemented, paying particular attention to:
• Tackling corporate power. Regulation; accountability; restructuring; dismantling; citizen revolt.
• The World Trade Organisation - reform or replace?
• Switching the economic emphasis from the global to the local;
• Cancellation of foreign debt.
An inspiring and relevant book of ideas and practical proposals for a world that is more just, humane, stable and diverse.
Publisher: Zed Books Hardback: ISBN:1 84277 222 8. £32.95 Paperback. ISBN:1 84277 222 6. £9.99
The Need for a New Agriculture (2002)
What kind of agriculture do we need to feed the world? Governments have committed themselves to halving hunger by the year 2015 as a first step towards food for all. The target is difficult but achievable.
The book shows that we already have the experience on which to base a new approach to agricultural production and feeding the world's population. Millions need better access to the land from which the market forced them, and a more equitable income distribution. The books outlines the changes that could offer viable and sustainable livelihoods to resource-poor farmers, and, above all, food for the hungry.
Publisher: Zed Books Hardback: ISBN 1 84277 018 7. £32.95 Paperback ISBN 1 84277 019 5 £9.99
Comments on “Food for All”
I welcome John Madeley’s book....his long experience in the field has enabled him to draw together many strands....I hope that it will stimulate decision makers to muster the necessary political will and resources to tackle the scourges of hunger and malnutrition. - Jacques Diouf (Director-General of FAO)
....unmasks the global effort to deprive the South of the ability to feed itself . - Devinder Sharma
Hungry for Trade
How the Poor Pay for Free Trade (2000)
John Madeley explores some key questions about the “free trade” advocated by the World Trade Organisation and others. He shows how the world’s poor are paying for this “free trade”, how millions have lost their land and their livelihoods because of trade liberalisation.
The book looks at the effects of international trade in foodstuffs on the poor, and at the role the transnational corporations. It examines how developing countries can safeguard their farmers from trade liberalisation. This is a clarion call to remove our ideological blinkers and think afresh.
Publisher: Zed Books Hardback: ISBN 1 85649 864 6 £32.95 Paperback: ISBN 1 85649 864 4 £9.99
Comments on “Hungry for Trade”
.....a timely and important resource for the growing debate on trade and agriculture and the review of WTO rules that promote trade at the cost of livelihoods and food security.....This book is an important milestone on the road towards food democracy. Vandana Shiva
John Madeley has spent his life advocating the cause of farmers in the poorer countries....His ability to research complex issues like TRIPS, genetically modified foods and the CAP, and to explain in simple terms how they are damaging the poor, is astounding. And we know he is right. John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich
* “Hungry for Trade” is the best selling title in Zed Book’s Global Issues series
The above books can be obtained from:
John Madeley, 19 Woodford Close, Caversham, Reading, UK, RG4 7HN email
or from booksellers
John Madeley’s other books are:
"Trade and the Poor: the impact of international trade on developing countries", Intermediate Technology Publications, 1992 and 1995.
"Land is Life: land reform and sustainable agriculture", Intermediate Technology Publications, 1992. (co-editor)
"When Aid is No Help: how projects fail and how they could succeed", Intermediate Technology Publications, 1991. (Available from IT Publications, 103-105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH)
His other publications include:
"Corporate Control of the Food Chain: the GM link", Consumers International, 2003.
"Crops and Robbers", Action Aid, 2001.
"Food for all: Can hunger be halved?" Panos, 2001.
"The Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Food Security in the South" CIDSE, 2001.
"Trade and hunger", Forum Syd, 2000.
"Brussels' blind spot: the lack of coherence between poverty eradication and the European Union's other policies", Christian Aid/APRODEV, 1999.
"Trade and the Hungry: how international trade is causing hunger", APRODEV, 1999.
"Hungry for Power", UK Food Group, 1999 (editor).
"Foreign Exploits: Transnationals and tourism", CIIR briefing paper, 1996.
"Yours for Food: Plant genetic resources and food security", Christian Aid, 1996.
"Fish: A net loss for the poor"; briefing paper, Panos Institute,1995.
"Tobacco: the Smoke Blows South"; briefing paper, Panos Institute, 1994.
"Who Runs the World?", Christian Aid, 1994, (co-author).
"Winners and Losers: The Impact of the GATT Uruguay Round on Developing Countries", Christian Aid, 1993, (co-author).
"Diego Garcia: Contrast to the Falklands", Minority Rights Group, 1984.
"Human Rights Begin with Breakfast", Pergamon Press/UNA, 1982.
"Planet as Community", Holystone Publications, 1980.
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Remembering Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia (1955 - 2012)
Home » Prime Minister Meles Zenawi: An African icon gone too soon
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi: An African icon gone too soon
December 9, 2013 · by Meles · in Articles, Meles Zenawi
By Duop Chak Wuol
Waging an armed struggle against your own country is probably one of the toughest decisions a man could make. However, there are political, cultural, and social issues that might lead one to declare a war against a state, and this is exactly what the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi decided to do in 1975. His decision changed Ethiopia forever, both socially and economically.
I would like to first admit that praising one who passed is typically done by people who had close ties to the person or knew the person well. However, my conscience compels me to write this piece about late Ethiopian leader Meles during the fifth anniversary of his death.
After the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) successfully deposed former Ethiopian communist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in May 1991, Meles surprised The World Bank and other global financial institutions by rejecting hundreds of millions of dollars that were offered to Ethiopia in the form of a loan. His main reason for refusing to take the loans was that the conditions of the loans were not compatible with Ethiopia’s economy at the time.
He was right to refuse: the loan would have placed Ethiopia at a greater economic disadvantage, given the fact that interests associated with the loans were too high.
Under the leadership of Mengistu, Ethiopia was synonymous with poverty and famine. The Red Terror Mengistu waged against Ethiopians in 1977-1979 resulted in the death of thousands of Ethiopians who opposed his regime. It was a tragic incidence.
However, Meles’ efforts helped eliminate such a perception. He eliminated poverty by expanding Ethiopia’s agricultural sector and investing in small farming. Ethiopia’s economy is now booming because of his ideas. Meles also correctly identified that dependence on foreign aid does not progress the nation’s economy. He was a strategic decision-maker who pushed for Ethiopia to effectively utilize its own natural resources.
As someone who once studied in Ethiopia, I witnessed Ethiopians who were living under extreme tyranny. Mengistu’s rule was a pure dictatorship that also limited his people’s freedom of movement.
If one were to study the late Ethiopian leader Meles, they would conclude that he was indisputably a brilliant strategic thinker. One of Meles’ political achievements was the inclusion of Ethiopians whose ethnicities were theoretically outlawed by Mengistu from Ethiopia’s politics. I recall listening to a song from certain Ethiopian nationalities, other than those in Amharic, which was seen as being in direct opposition to leadership. The oppression used by former Ethiopia’s dictator was simply too broad and ruthless.
Meles Zenawi once said: “We have our own script. We have our own calendar. We represent the greatness of Africa’s past. We also represent the worst of Africa’s present, in terms of poverty. It is the best and the worst of African reality.”
Africa lacks leaders with the mentality of Meles. The continent will probably remain undeveloped for many decades, perhaps centuries, if its leaders stick to the old mentality of focusing their energies on staying in power for life rather than developing their countries.
The late Ethiopian leader proved that he was fighting for a reason, with strategies that he used successfully. Ethiopia is now the East African economic powerhouse, a notion that was unthinkable under Mengistu’s rule. I believe Africa would prosper if its leaders adopted Meles’ economic ideas.
Meles’ economic thoughts are revered throughout Africa and around the world. For example, the thriving Rwandan economy was a brainchild of Meles. The Rwandan President Paul Kagame copied Meles’s economic ideas, which allowed his country’s economy to prosper. Meles’s policy of development, elimination of poverty, and the pursuit of economic growth for Ethiopia changed his country for the better. His sudden passing in August 2012 left millions of Africans stunned. His decision to wage a war against Mengistu’s was morally right. He fought, won, and implemented the ideas he was fighting for. He was a hero for Ethiopia, Africa, and the world. Meles was truly a brilliant strategic African thinker gone too soon.
Duop Chak Wuol is the Editor-in-Chief of the South Sudan News Agency. He can be reached at duop282@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are his and should not be attributed to the South Sudan News Agency.
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Tags: Meles Zenawi, Paul Kagame, Rwanda, Zenawi
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Meles Zenawi Profile
Born: May 8, 1955, Adwa, Tigrai, Ethiopia
Died: August 20, 2012, Brussels
Spouse: Azeb Mesfin
In Power: May 28, 1991 – August 20, 2012
Children: Senay Meles Zenawi, Marda Meles Zenawi, Semhal Meles Zenawi
Education: Addis Ababa University (1974), Erasmus University, Open University
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Copyright © 2020 Meles Zenawi Memorial (1955 - 2012)
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Crawl (USA / 15A / 87 mins)
In short: Scares up a storm
Directed by Alexandre Aja. Starring Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper, Ross Anderson.
The Plot: Ace swimmer Haley (Kaya Scodelario) battles through the elements of a Category 5 hurricane in Florida to reach her father Dave (Barry Pepper). He’s not answering his phone, so she arrives at her former family home and finds him unconscious in the dank and already flooding basement. They’ve got company – two alligators who are in their element and are intent on snacking on them. As they fight for survival amidst rising waters and even worse weather, they’ll have to face off against the alligators in a battle to the death…
The Verdict: It wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to say that director Alexandre Aja might view his new survival horror film Crawl as doing for alligators what Jaws did for sharks. The toothy prehistoric predators, who survived the extinction of the dinosaurs, make great villains. They have the edge on sharks too – they’re just as nimble in the water but can go on land too. That makes for a suspenseful prospect for the set-up of Crawl. Like all good survival horrors, Michael and Shawn Rasmussen’s script establishes the confines of its environment and the constant threat of injury or death circling from above and below. It’s not just about locking our two lead characters in the closet with the monster. It’s also about upping the stakes and putting more monsters around the closet too.
The story is inspired by a real-life event from last year’s Hurricane Florence. Though, it might be best to take that with a pinch of salt. We’re in the movie world here, though there’s no Jason Statham around to punch alligators. Instead, it’s a simple father-and-daughter story as the two of them try to find a way out of the basement and then the house alive – and in one piece. Aja has already established himself as a skilful director of suspenseful horror, breaking through with his brilliantly gory mood piece Switchblade Romance. While Crawl is a more obvious genre film, Aja has a playful sense of humour about his antagonists. They chomp away at anything they can get their teeth on, often centimetres away from a kill. A tense scene in a flooded bathroom is a good example of this. Aja doesn’t shy away from the gore either – the crunchy sound effects and thrashing are more unsettling than the liberal bloodletting. This is a film that bites.
Spending the majority of the film soaked and in distress, Scodelario makes for a compelling protagonist – far from the damsel in distress or a scream queen. There’s not much backstory here, other than her swimming skills which come in useful later on. However, she holds the screen and gives a very physical and gutsy performance. Pepper provides solid support too. The real star of the show though is the production design and special effects, which look far more convincing and real-world than another recent entry, The Hurricane Heist. Shot not on a Hollywood backlot but in Serbia, all manner of controlled chaos breaks loose as the hurricane intensifies. Hungry alligators aren’t the only problem here. Aja drops in a surprise element towards the end, but doesn’t do much with it other than suggest that there’s something else going on in the drainpipes. There’s missed potential here for a particularly creepy scene.
Crawl has no pretensions about what it is. It’s a fast-moving and effective piece of genre filmmaking. It scares up a storm thanks to its hands-on approach to telling its story in a straightforward manner, building up and then releasing its high tension and maintains focus on its central characters. The alligators behave in different ways too, rather than be collectively the same. As a late-summer diversion, Crawl does its job efficiently and with plenty of bite.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Review by Gareth O’Connor
Alexandre AjaBarry PepperKaya ScodelarioRoss Anderson
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Cloud Service Provider Host Color Announced A Free Tier
In Press Releases, Technology
March 14, 2019 – South Bend, Indiana
The South Bend based Cloud service provider HostColor.com (HC) announced the launch of a “Free Private Cloud Tier” as a part of its to its Business Cloud Infrastructure services
The Cloud infrastructure provider Host Color (HC) has added a “Free Tier” to its Business Cloud services. The “Free Tier” is a Private Cloud service that comes with 1 CPU Core, 1 GB vRAM, 10 GB SATA Storage and 40 GB monthly data transfer quota on 100 Mbps Internet Connection. The limits of the HC “Free Private Cloud Tier” are specified in the service specification published on the Host Color’s Private Cloud section – and there are no hidden terms or restrictions.
Private Clouds are computing instances configured on demand to support certain workloads that the organizations need to move to “The Cloud”. The Private Clouds are not visible over the public Internet. They are secure computing instances created for internal use and the organizations operate them behind firewalls and access them through virtual private networks.
Host Color says in its news release that the “Free Private Cloud Tier guarantees that business owners who move certain workloads to their own Private Clouds will have full control over the resource usage and their monthly service bills” as overcharging for computing resource usage and especially for data transfer is a growing concern for those who use the so-called “major clouds”.
“Unlike the similar services offered by the major clouds, the Host Color’s “Free Private Cloud Tier” does not set limits on the number of hours that anyone can use the service in a calendar month”, says Host Color’s CEO Dimitar Avramov. He adds that HC doesn’t impose limits on the number of computing tasks and operations which can be executed. “On the AWS free tier, for example there are “20,000 times where the user can you retrieve a file from Amazon S3” and the client is charged after that. On HC Cloud, there are no such limits”, explains the Host Color’s CEO.
All Private Clouds are provisioned and hosted on top of the Host Color’s Cloud Computing infrastructure built with VMware ESXi – arguably the world’s most reliable virtualization technology, used by the large financial institutions and organizations that need to have an IT infrastructure with 100% availability. The HC clients’ data is hosted and well-protected on a enterprise grade Fault-Tolerant Storage Area Network (SAN), which features built-in protection and safeguards the information under any circumstances without performance impact.
HC has recently launched a Managed Cloud services (Managed Public and Private Cloud servers). Managed Public and Private Clouds include initial setup, installation of Windows or Linux based operating system, antivirus and anti-spam protection, configuration of the Public or a Private Cloud environment to the client’s custom settings, regular maintenance and updates of all software programs and applications, 24/7/365 resource monitoring, security updates, reboots, Cloud instance recovery and data backups.
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Arctic Cam
Public Safety Report
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Obituary guidelines
Submit Death Notice
Ice Dogs
UAF Nanooks
Yukon Quest
Fairbanks, AK (99707)
Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few snow showers developing late. Low -18F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%..
Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few snow showers developing late. Low -18F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%.
Sullivan misleads on Quds Force
Michael J. Walleri Fairbanks
To the editor: Sen. Sullivan’s claim that “General Soleimani and the Iranian Quds Force ... have been responsible for the killing and wounding of thousands of U.S. service members” is a profound over-simplification and misleading. Quds Force military operations were allied with U.S. forces in the Liberation of Tikrit, Battle of Baiji, Liberation of Jurf Al Sakahar, Siege of Amirli, 2014 Northern Iraq Offensive and 2001 Battle of Herat. Sullivan is confusing and conflating the Quds forces with Hezbollah, which was led by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and who was killed with Soleimani. Al-Muhandis was responsible for many American deaths. But al-Muhandis also led the Popular Mobilization Forces, an arm of the Iraqi government supported by the United States. Both the CIA and the Department of Defense opposed Trump designating the Quds Force a terrorist organization.
Hezbollah — supported by Shia Iran — is battling Saudi (Sunni)-backed terrorist groups such as ISIS, the Taliban, al Qaida, Hamas, etc. These Saudi-backed Sunni terrorist groups were responsible for 9/11 and continue to attack American military personnel. It would be very difficult to determine whether more American military personnel have been killed by Iranian-backed Shia terrorist groups or Saudi-backed Sunni terrorist groups. The death of Al-Muhandis may have been a legitimate target of American forces in Iraq. However, killing Soleimani would be more akin to killing Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan, the director general of Saudi Arabia’s General Intelligence Directorate. Both are equally responsible for the death of American military personnel, in roughly the same manner: i.e. support for terrorist groups that actually do the killing of American military personnel.
The real winners in these developments are Russia and Saudi Arabia, which are competing with Iran in a three-way multidimensional war for Middle East hegemony since the U.S. drawdown in Syria and Kurdish Iraq. While alignments in this area shift, Trump continues to direct America to do Russian and Saudi bidding. America doesn’t have an existential interest in this conflict. Sullivan’s lock-step recitation of Trump’s misleading talking points subvert America’s interests to Russian and Saudi Arabia’s interest and places American military lives at risk to do so.
University Of Alaska
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Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer.
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Mercury Music Prize 2014
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 1st, 2014
The Industry’s Annual Cry for Attention
Damon Albarn was the headline act to be nominated for this year’s Mercury Music Prize, but his first solo album is no great shakes, and the judges arguably just threw his name in the pot to generate some headlines.
The only other established name is Bombay Bicycle Club whose fourth album So Long See You Tomorrow is pretty much what the judges will be saying (it’s a lay).
So attention turns to the seven newbies on the list, particularly given that seven of the winners in the past decades were on debut. The most important thing to note when betting on this market is that the winner can truly come from out of nowhere – don’t let larger odds be a deterrant. GoGo Penguin at 16s is the perfect bet if you’re in that frisky sort of mood.
Elsewhere, Anna Calvi’s One Breath isn’t as good as her first album whilst Polar Bear keep doing what Polar Bear do. It shouldn’t be enough to win a Mercury however. Likewise the favourite Nick Mulvey’s First Mind, although it should be noted that before last year, the leader with the bookies had won three prizes running.
If the judges want to go all body piercings and mayhem on us, Royal Blood could be the bet at 6. Whilst if they want to reward Scotland for saying ‘no’, Edinburgh rap trio Young Fathers will be the beneficiaries (11.5)
Whoever you back, don’t go wild. Substances are taken before the prize is decided dontcha know…
This entry was posted in Articles, Award Shows, Betting, Oggsblog. Bookmark the permalink.
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Drummond Hill
3 September 2013 November 18, 2013 Niagara Mistinfo, UncategorizedhauntingsLeave a comment
At the corner of Drummond Rd and Lundy’s lane, in the heart Niagara, lies one of the most notoriously haunted cemeteries north of the boarder.
The oldest tombstone at the Drummond Hill Cemetery dates as far back as 1797, a time when the small wooden structure that sits nearby stood tall as the Drummond Hill Presbyterian Church.
The church was destroyed in 1814 during the infamous Battle of Lundy’s Lane, a six-hour battle in which Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond and his troops successfully thwarted an attack from the rival Americans.
As the story goes, the ghosts of five injured soldiers have been seen limping their way through the former battlefield, fading off into the distance. The apparition of three gun blazed British soldiers, marching their way up the hill towards the Lundy House has also been reported.
May the faint of heart be forewarned.
by: Chase Kell
Victoria Day Fireworks Niagara Falls
Merritt House
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CEI (Centre for Electronic Imaging)
The Solar-wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) is a collaborative space mission between the European Space Agency ESA and the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). The aim of the mission is to build a greater understanding of the Sun-Earth connection by measuring interactions between the Earth’s magnetosphere and highly energetic solar winds. Launch is expected to take place in 2023.
The SMILE video gives an overview of the project. This can be downloaded here.
CEI Involvement
Centre for electronic imaging 'missions': SMILE - Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer
The Centre for Electronic Imaging (CEI) is responsible for the CCDs that will lie at the heart of the Soft X-ray Imager that will take spectral images of the earth’s magnetosphere. The radiation environment in space will result in long term damage to the CCDs over the course of the mission, as well as contributing to the instrument background. Researchers at the Open University will be concentrating on optimising the CCD performance to maximise the science return of the mission through modelling and experimental campaigns.
This work includes:
Radiation test campaign
A radiation damage assessment campaign is currently ongoing that will involve exposing CCDs to a radiation dose similar to that which will be experienced by the flight devices over the mission lifetime.
♦Initial room temperature proton exposure conducted at the MC40 cyclotron in Birmingham using CCDs similar to flight devices made September 2018.
♦Irradiated devices currently being assessed for changes to detector characteristics due to radiation damage.
♦Further exposures planned using cryogenically cooled CCDs including specific CCD models designed for mission.
Calibration and characterisation activities
Characterisation and calibration of the CCDs with soft X-rays is currently ongoing to understand their response to different energy X-rays. Initial calibration will be made using 55Fe isotope source within a cryogenically cooled test chamber. Further tests will be conducted using the PTB-EUV beamline at the BESSY-II synchrotron facility in Berlin.
♦Test chamber built and tested.
♦Initial characterisation of CCDs similar to flight devices currently ongoing within OU laboratory.
♦Test plan completed for synchrotron test campaign in 2019
♦Further calibration activities planned using 55Fe source within OU laboratory
SMILE camera head
X-ray event detection
Data processing algorithms are being developed and tested for the on-board Event Detection Unit to identify soft X-rays observed in the images and reject background cosmic events.
♦Event detection methodology plan completed
♦First iteration of event detection algorithm implemented
♦X-ray and cosmic ray data simulated for testing of algorithm
♦Further testing of the event detection algorithm planned using CCD
♦Working with MSSL to implement event detection algorithm into flight electronics
Instrument background modelling
Modelling of the scale and types of radiation effects incident on the CCDs due to the mission orbit and instrument design is ongoing. This involves understanding the radiation background and its effect on images collected by the detectors.
♦Monte-Carlo modelling of the radiation incident upon the spacecraft and the resulting interactions with the CCDs are being modelled using Geant4.
♦Radiation modelling of damage to other electronic components is ongoing using FASTRAD modelling of dose and limits.
Simultated CCD response
CCD design input
The CEI provides ongoing input into the design of CCDs. This includes minimising CCD damage and instrument background by optimising the design of CCD radiation store shield that is in close proximity to the detectors.
Flight model testing
The CCD flight models will undergo final testing prior to their integration in the SXI.
♦ A soft-shell cleanroom has been built at the Open University to provide an ISO class 4 environment for safe handling of flight devices.
Micrometeoroid
Previous X-ray astronomy missions such as XMM-Newton, Swift-XRT and Suzaku have all suffered damage due to micrometeoroid impacts. A study is being conducted into the likelihood of micrometeoroids impacting the CCDs over the mission lifetime and the effect that these impacts would have on the performance of the SXI.
CCD working group
The CEI leads regular CCD working group meetings with Leicester University, Teledyne e2v, ESA and MSSL.
EI publications related to SMILE
The list below covers CEI publications to date concerning SMILE:
Raab, Walfried; Branduardi-Raymont, Graziella; Dai, Lei; Wang, Chi; Donovan, Eric; Enno, Greg; Escoubet, Philippe; Holland, Andrew; Jing, Li; Kataria, Dhiren; Li, Lei; Read, Andy; Rebuffat, Denis; Romstedt, Jens; Runciman, Chris; Sembay, Steve; Spanswick, Emma; Sykes, Jon; Thornhill, Julian; Wielders, Arno; Zhang, Aibing and Zheng, Jianhua (2016). SMILE: a joint ESA/CAS mission to investigate the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere. In: Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, p. 990502.
Soman, M.R.; Hall, D.J.; Holland, A.D.; Burgon, R.; Buggey, T.; Skottfelt, J.; Sembay, S.; Drumm, P.; Thornhill, J.; Read, A.; Sykes, J.; Walton, D.; Branduardi-Raymont, G.; Kennedy, T.; Raab, W.; Verhoeve, P.; Agnolon, D. and Woffinden, C. (2018). The SMILE Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) CCD design and development. In: Journal of Instrumentation, 13(1), article no. C01022.
Hall, D. J.; Skottfelt, J.; Soman, M. R.; Bush, N. and Holland, A. (2017). Improving radiation hardness in space-based Charge-Coupled Devices through the narrowing of the charge transfer channel. Journal of Instrumentation, 12, article no. C12021.
“How does the solar system work?”
A question which remains highest on the agenda for European space research. SMILE aims to contribute to this question in a unique way. Never attempted before, it will combine soft X-ray imaging of the Earth’s magnetopause and magnetospheric cusps whilst simultaneously imaging the Northern Aurora using ultraviolet and providing additional in situ measurements of the magnetic field and plasma.
More knowledge of the magnetosphere interaction zones and global auroral distributions are essential for our understanding of space weather. We are still unable to quantify the global effects of these drivers, including the conditions that prevail. SMILE will revolutionise magnetospheric physics using these state-of the-art detection techniques and will play a key role in developing our ability to model space weather.
Space weather can adversely affect performance and reliability of exposed instruments. The emergence of complex Earth and space based technologies poses ongoing challenges. Understanding space weather in more detail will help resolve more practical problems and is the key link in developing a complete understanding of how the Sun gives rise to and controls the Earths plasma environment.
SMILE aims to tackle three key science questions:
1. What are the fundamental modes of the dayside solar wind/magnetosphere interaction?
The manner in which energy and plasma enters the magnetosphere is crucial to understanding and predicting how the magnetosphere will respond. SMILE will explore the phenomenon of magnetopause reconnection, and seek to determine when and where transient and steady reconnection states dominate.
2. What defines the substorm cycle?
The substorm, a disturbance in Earth's magnetosphere that causes energetic particles to enter the ionosphere from higher latitudes, is thought to control how energy and plasma circulate within Earth's magnetosphere. SMILE aims to define this cycle, including timing and amplitudes.
3. How do Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) driven storms arise and what is their relationship to substorms?
Geomagnetic storms driven by coronal mass ejections (CME) represent a severe space weather threat. SMILE will study how and why CME-driven storms develop, and determine whether or not they are always separate phenomena, or can be considered as sequences of substorms.
Recent discoveries have shown, that the outer magnetospheric boundaries can be imaged via the process of solar wind charge exchange (SWCX) X-ray emission. The interaction of solar wind ions with neutral atoms in the Earth’s exosphere produces characteristic soft X-ray lines, with intensities that peak in the cusps and dayside magnetosheath. SWCX emission can thus be used to image the boundaries that control/regulate the flow of solar wind mass and energy into the magnetosphere, and also provides information about the composition of the solar wind through the emission of X-ray spectral lines. The location, shape, and motion of the dayside magnetospheric boundaries, including the bow shock, magnetopause, and cusps will be observed through direct imaging and spectroscopy of these SWCX emissions.
A more pleasant effect of solar radiation - Aurora Borealis (credits: NASA)
In parallel the location and width of the auroral oval, and the transient and localized brightenings that occur within and on the edges of the auroral oval will be observed. This information will be used to quantify the internal configuration of the magnetotail and lobes. This will help to elucidate the consequences of the dayside interactions observed by the soft X-ray imaging. SMILE is designed as a stand-alone mission that performs independent solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements from its near-Earth vantage point, thereby obviating past concerns regarding the arrival times and spatial extent of solar wind features that arose in studies employing distant solar wind monitors. The key parameters to be measured include the solar wind magnetic field strength and orientation.
Additional properties of the solar wind distributions, such as density, velocity, temperature tensor, and heat flux vector of the solar wind plasma will also be investigated.
♦Launch vehicle: either single launch on Vega-C or shared launch on Soyuz or Ariane 6-2
♦Launch mass: Around 2000 kg
♦Operational mission: Nominal 3 years of operations
♦Orbit: Perigee 5,000 km. Apogee ~121000 km. 70 or 98 degree inclination. ~51 hours duration.
♦Instrument payload: Soft X-ray Imager (SXI), UV imager (UVI), Light ion Analyser (LIA) and Magnetometer (MAG)
Further information on the SMILE mission and instrument payload can be found at the ESA SMILE mission pages here.
Radiation damage
Radiation effects vary; considerations are made for the most harmful forms. For SMILE that is solar radiation. Solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) send large amounts of high-energy protons and heavy-ions through space and can damage equipment. Two types of damage mechanisms can take place. Firstly is ‘lattice displacement’ - caused by primarily by high energy protons, electrons and heavy ions. These can alter the arrangement in the atomic lattice of structures leading to defects that can temporarily trap signal electrons, affecting readout of images. Ionising radiation, caused by gamma rays and charged particles that are not energetic enough to cause alterations in a crystal lattice, can lead to a shift in optimised voltage levels and increased dark current in CCDs.
SMILE will be exposed to considerable amounts of radiation throughout the planned orbit, including passage through the Van Allen Belts (particles trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field). CCDs are highly sensitive; displacement damage defects in the silicon crystal lattice can significantly affect the image quality if the properties of the defect are at a critical point relative to the way a CCD is operated. Small changes in the evolution of trap properties and the CCD operation can significantly improve imager performance.
Researchers at the CEI will be investigating the radiation environment in detail, and how the radiation interacts with the instrument shielding to damage the CCDs. Researchers at the CEI will investigate this in detail, for CCD and CMOS sensors. Assessments of radiation damage, including irradiation of the sensors to a predicted end of life dose. Results of these tests will be carefully studied to better understand key performance limitations. This will ensure that equipment is radiation hardened and ready for launch. It is a top priority of the CEI to ensure that optimum performance is maintained throughout the 3-year mission.
In order to achieve the scientific objectives the SMILE payload comprises of two imaging instruments and an in-situ measurement package containing a further two devices. These instruments are described below:
SMILE’s Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) is being led by the University of Leicester with contributions from other institutions in the UK and overseas, including the Open University. SXI will take spectral images of the Earth’s magnetosphere which will enable researchers to observe the dynamical properties of the dayside magnetospheric boundaries within the soft X-ray range, between 0.2 and 5 keV.
SXI will use a wide field lobster-eye telescope boasting two optimised X-ray CCD370s, each containing 4510 x 4510 native pixels that are 18 µm square. The focusing optics will consist of a 4 x 8 array of square Micro Channel Plates (MCPs) manufactured by PHOTONIS (France).
At the forward facing end of the instrument is a baffle that works similarly to a lens hood for commercial cameras by preventing stray light from entering the focal plane.
The focus of the SXI camera is to take images of the dayside solar wind-magnetosphere interactions from the conditions prevailing at the Earth’s bow shock, magnetopause and cusps. At the heart of the instrument are two, back illuminated CCDs.
Due to the high sensitivity of the sensors, it is necessary to provide shielding for these CCDs throughout the orbit, but particularly during transit through the radiation belt (Van Allen belts). Therefore, a radiation shutter mechanism will be closed over the sensors for launch and once every orbit for the spacecraft’s transit through the Earth’s radiation belt
CCDs are silicon-based semiconductors that have integrated circuits constructed into the surface. They consist of pixels represented by p-doped metal-oxide-semiconductors (MOS) capacitors. Semiconductors are useful as they operate by converting incident photons into an electrical charge by liberating electrons; a phenomenon known as the photoelectric effect. Optical photons produce a single electron inside the semiconductor which is then collected by a pixel to be read out as part of the image. X-ray photons tend to generate clouds of electrons when they interact in a pixel, and so the signal from a single X-ray can be collected by a number of neighbouring pixels.
CCDs are particularly useful in astronomical imaging as they are very sensitive. Light is projected onto a pixel array, generating electron signal which is accumulated in the pixels close to where they were incident on the CCD. The pixels (capacitors) accumulate charge for the exposure time until the charge is transferred via a read-out register into a charge amplifier, which converts it into voltage. This process is repeated until the entire image becomes a sequence of voltages which is then digitised by a converter and stored.
SMILE is also equipped with the high heritage Ultra-Violet Imager (UVI) - developed by the University of Calgary and Honeywell Aerospace, with contributions from Belgium and China. UVI will monitor the Earth’s Northern Aurora, which is a consequence of solar wind injection into the magnetosphere. Dayside interactions will be observed alongside SXI where global auroral images will be captured from one hemisphere.
A question which remains highest on the agenda for European space research. SMILE aims to contribute to this question in a unique way. Never attempted before, it will combine soft X-ray imaging of the Earth’s magnetopause and magnetospheric cusps whilst simultaneously imaging the Northern Aurora using ultraviolet.
SMILE is a novel self-standing mission with the aim of measuring the global interactions between the Earth’s magnetosphere and highly energetic solar winds.
The Magnetometer: MAG – Also developed by NSC in China. This instrument will establish the orientation and magnitude of the magnetic field produced by solar winds. This data is paramount for understanding the imaging data obtained by SXI and UVI.
Light Ion Analyser
The Light Ion Analyser: LIA – Developed by the National Space Centre (NSC) in China. LIA will determine aspects of the solar wind, such as density, temperature, velocity and heat flux under various solar wind conditions.
Chandrayaan-2
W-FIRST
WSO-UVS
UKube-1 C3D
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Iranian archeologists excavate underwater sites of Siraf
In Underwater Archeology
By S.Isayev, T. Jafarov - Trend
A team of American and Iranian archaeologists has launched underwater excavations at the historical port of Siraf in the Persian Gulf, PRESS TV reported.
Led by Iranian archaeologist Hossein Tofiqian and US-based Iranian expert Sorna Khakzad, the team started their work on July 16.
The American members of the team have brought the special equipment necessary for underwater excavations, ISNA reported.
"Previous studies had identified three or four archaeological strata at the site," said former director of Siraf Cultural Heritage Studies Center Behrouz Marbaghi.
"The most ancient layer dates back to the Parthian era, and the major archeological strata are related to the Sassanid and the early Islamic periods," he added saying that most of the archeological strata are now under the sea.
Located 220 kilometers south-east of Bushehr and approximately 380 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, the city of Siraf is noted for its many historic sites dating back to the Sassanid, Parthian and Islamic eras.
Previous excavations had yielded east African ivory objects, Indian stone pieces, and Afghan lapis in Siraf which confirm the use of the historic port as the main marine trade route during the pre-Islamic era and the first four centuries following the advent of Islam.
One hundred 35-130 meter deep stone wells and graves at the foot of the mountains surrounding the city are among some of Siraf's unique archeological sites.
Islamic gravestones, the resting place of the Muslim scholar Ibn Sibeveyh, and a number of Towers of Silence and Zoroastrian temples portray the region's religious diversity throughout history.
Excavations had also yielded Sassanid and early-Islamic residential strata as well as a number of intact amphoras used in sea trade during the Parthian, Abbasid and early Islamic eras.
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pass the roti on the left hand side
warning: Creating default object from empty value in /home/passtheroti/www/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.pages.inc on line 34.
Pakistani offensive 'nears end'
The military offensive against Taliban militants entrenched in north-western Pakistan is nearly over, the defence minister has said.
Thousands flee life made 'worse than hell' by violence in Pakistan
Young and old, poor and prosperous, sick and healthy -- residents of Pakistan's Swat Valley continue to flee the violence that has erupted there as the military clashes with the Taliban.
Those who have fled tell of the whole valley being turned into a battlefield as citizens run away, many of them with no shoes and some elderly. They fall ill from sun and heat exposure -- particularly infants and those already weak and sick -- as they flee.
Ingrid Formanek and Zeeshan Ali
Eyewitnesses: Inside Swat
The military operation against Taliban militants continues in Pakistan's north-western district of Swat. It is hard to get news from the war zone, other than the official version. The communications network has been destroyed and all journalists have left the region. But the BBC Urdu service's Abdul Hai Kakar has managed to speak to two people in the main town of Mingora. The names have been changed for security reasons.
Ethnic violence erupts in Pakistani city
Ethnic violence broke out in Pakistan's biggest city of Karachi Wednesday, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens, officials said.
Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub and the capital of southern Sindh province, has a long history of ethnic, religious and sectarian violence but the sprawling city has been relatively peaceful in recent years.
Imtiaz Shah, Zeeshan Haider, Matthew Jones
pakistan violence ethnicity media
Pakistan bows to demand for sharia law in Taliban-controlled Swat Valley
In Swat, some residents celebrated in the streets, hoping the law would herald a return of peace to the violence-ridden valley, home to a ski resort and a one-time honeymooners' favourite. But that outcome was far from certain.
Human rights activists condemned the law, worrying it would presage the spread of Taliban rule to other parts of Pakistan. "I don't think this law is going to appease the Taliban. It's just going to give them a taste of victory," said Asma Jahangir, the United Nations special rapporteur on religious freedoms.
Declan Walsh
Pakistan: women's quest for entitlement
The emancipation of women is often linked to the progress of a society in transformation from a feudal society to a modern state. The story of women in the country that became Pakistan can indeed be told in such terms: as part of a struggle for advancement with education at its centre, and linked at critical moments to wider goals of national emancipation and social reform.
Pippa Virdee
muslim league
Syed Ahmed Khan
Obama Rules Out US Troops in Pakistan
"As he carries out a retooled strategy in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama says he will consult with Pakistan's leaders before pursuing terrorist hideouts in that country.
Obama said U.S. ally Pakistan needs to be more accountable, but ruled out deploying U.S. troops there. ''Our plan does not change the recognition of Pakistan as a sovereign government,'' the president told CBS' ''Face the Nation'' in an interview broadcast Sunday.
Why aren’t we acting now?
This article poses two questions: on the day after US/Nato forces invade and occupy some of Balochistan and Waziristan, what will we say we should have done, and why aren’t we doing it now? Is this far-fetched?
Arshad Zaman
waziristan
CIA chief in Pakistan amid missile strike furor
The new director of the CIA held high-level talks in Pakistan on Saturday after a provincial leader warned against expanding U.S. missile strikes on al-Qaida and Taliban targets inside the country's thinly policed border with Afghanistan.
Leon Panetta arrived in Pakistan on his first overseas trip since taking office as the Obama administration seeks a strategy to turn around the faltering war against Taliban militants in neighboring Afghanistan.
Chief Justice Iftikhar assumes office charge
Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary has taken charge of his office here after mid night.
iftikhar chaudhry
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Coventry: Javed Akhtar in conversation
« Bollywood Film Season Coventry
Leicester: Javed Akhtar in conversation »
Javed Akhtar is a master of the Indian musical and one of Bollywood’s most noted film writers, poets and lyricists, whose credits include the movies Deewar, Zanjeer and Sholay and a host of iconic songs which have earned him numerous awards.
Join us for this very special “in conversation” event celebrating his 75th birthday, where Javed will share his craft of writing for the Bollywood musical, followed by a screening of the film Rock On!! starring his son Farhan Akhtar.
Rock On!! is about four friends reunite to relive their moments of glory as a rock band.
Starring: Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Prachi Desai, Luke Kenny, Purab Kohli
Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Cert 12, 145min, Hindi with English subtitles, India, 2008
Screening as part of BFI Musicals! The Greatest Show on Screen, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery, BFI Film Audience Network and ICO. bfimusicals.co.uk
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/javed-akhtar-rock-on-tickets-87150719147
Square One Cinema
Inside The Hub, Coventry University 4, Jordan Well,
Coventry, CV1 5QT United Kingdom + Google Map
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/life-on-campus/social-and-learning-spaces/square-one/
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KOLLEKTIV
Krautrock • Germany
Kollektiv biography
Founded in Krefeld, Germany in 1970 - Disbanded in 1978 - Brief reunion in 1987
Clearly reminiscent of the ORGANISATION pre-KRAFTWERK sound mixed with the jazzy sound of EMBRYO, KOLLEKTIV plays a rather avant-garde music inspired by both elements of psychedelic music, electronics combined with Jazz interfits.
The band was originally composed of Jogi Karpenkiel (bass) who joined the band "The Phantoms", an utterly pop band who changed their name to become the" Rambo Zambo Bluesband"," Bluesology" and finally ORGANISATION. Jogi Karpenkiel and Klaus Dapper (tenor/baritone/soprano saxes, flutes) got out of "Bluesology" to form the band "The Generals", which will later change their style and will finally start to be known as KOLLEKTIV when both Waldemar Karpenkiel (drums) and Jürgen Havix (guitar, sitar) joined them to form the definitive lineup.
Their self-titled first album is very reminiscent of Kraftwerk's first works, featuring lots of saxophone, guitar solos, flutes and electronic collages in a rather complex structuration that makes their reputation of a Jazz-rock band quite inaccurate and restrictive.
Although this was their sole record released in the 70's, some live sessions recorded in those years were recently issued on cd by the "Long Hair Music" label such as the "SWF-Sessions Volume 5" or the "Live 1973" concert records which feature excellent remasterised sound of old hidden masterpieces.
KOLLEKTIV are an important obscure short-lived Krautrock band that unfortunately broke out after their first release (Jogi Karpenkiel will later join GURU GURU).
Recommended for those interested in the more Jazz fusion-oriented bands of Krautrock!
KOLLEKTIV forum topics / tours, shows & news
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KOLLEKTIV tours, shows & news
KOLLEKTIV Videos (YouTube and more)
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Buy KOLLEKTIV Music
1St Album 1973
LONHA 2008 $38.73
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Kollektiv feat. Jonas Hellborg
SWF Sessions, Volume 5
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KOLLEKTIV Reviews
Kollektiv Krautrock
Kollektiv emerged in 1970 out of the mid-60's Beat group The Generals, where brothers Jogi Karpenkiel and Waldo Karpenkiel played together along with guitarist Jürgen Havix.In late-60's Jogi joined The Phantoms, where he played along with later Kraftwerk member Ralf Hutter and wind instrumentalist Klaus Dapper.When he left to rejoin The Generals he brought also Dapper to the band and the quartet eventually became Kollektiv.Playing in every single corner they could and with an aim to produce free and experimental Rock music, Kollektiv were finally rewarded in 1973 with a self-titled debut LP, released on the legendary Brain label.
And Kollektiv were actually doing that.Pushing the rock limits to the maximum, not always succesful but definitely with a certain dose of originality.The 11-min. opening ''Rambo Zambo'' is a long, free Kraut Rock improvisation with strong psych and jazzy overtones, featuring the extended flute solos of Dapper, the psychedelic guitars of Havix and the powerful grooves of the Karpenkiel brothers' rhythm section, a good attempt in producing an experimental but still energetic piece of music.With ''Baldrian'' things become dangerously serious.Hypnotic, spacey and deeply psychedelic soundscapes with Dapper's sax as the leading instrument.''Försterlied'' needs no presentation at all.A short lyrical track with constant breaks between narration and improvised music.The flipside of the original LP is dedicated to the 20- min. four-piece epic ''Gageg'', which shows Kollektiv at their best.From the hypnotic experience of its first part and the flute-driven Jazz Rock with the smooth grooves to its second powerful phase with saxes in the forefront and the interesting guitar exercises of Havix, ''Gageg'' is sure to please any Kraut Rock fan starving for full instrumental dynamics.
Half interesting and challenging, half too experimental for the tastes of the average prog fan, ''Kollektiv'' is an album with a postive feeling at the end by a group of Germans determined to produce intricate, sonic soundscapes.Recommended and go the for the Long Hair reissue, which contains four bonus tracks from Kollektiv's second incarnation in 1976.
Posted Saturday, November 17, 2012 | Review this album | Report (Review #861450)
Review by Dobermensch
A live studio recording which finds me in a very bad mood after previous reviews. An entirely instrumental affair and quite laid back and 'of its time'. After the last bunch of garbage I've reviewed, 'Kollektiv' gets off to a good start.
The flutes are nice , sounding reverbed to bits, with lots of treated guitars and a laid back 'Gong' like bass that makes me wish I was on a beach having a nice bottle of beer rather than being stuck in Scotland in February.
Disappointingly some electric guitar rears its ugly head and all of a sudden things get pretty heavy and I want to leave my picnic on the beach and scamper off back home.
The whole album is quite similar in many ways to 'Set the Controls' by Floyd, with an atmosphere and technique that is comparable but is nothing special at all. 'Gong' fans may enjoy, but it's rubbish really.
Towards the end things do get horribly 70's and cheesy in the form of the 20 minute 'Gageg' with it's exasperatingly repetitive theme, which lowers this to a 2 star rating. I'd gladly never hear this again. God! what a night of reviewing!
Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 | Review this album | Report (Review #404761)
Review by Bonnek
Special Collaborator Prog Metal Team
Kollektiv is a German kraut rock band with roots going back to the mid 60's. Their early history is tied-up with that of Kraftwerk, back when that band was still called Organisation. Two of Kollektiv's members featured in an early Organisation line-up. The band brings free instrumental Kraut improvisations with jazz and avant leanings.
The Kraftwerk/Organisation roots are still very evident on the first two tracks. Rambo Zambo is an entrancing improvisation with psych flutes and steadily rocking drums much like Kraftwerk's Ruckzuck. Also the first half of Baldrian brings back the droning cosmic experimentations of Kraftwerk. The second half of the track takes a more melodic and bluesy direction, reminiscent of Floyd's early soundtrack work. Both tracks may not be the most original Kraut material but they are both equally outstanding.
After a bit of Kraut chaos with silly Guru Guru-like vocals and lots of noise, the majestic 20 minute Gageg forms the heart of the original album. Again early Floyd blues and early Kraftwerk flutes come to mind but the guitar adds a King Crimson touch, almost like Fripp is doing the sustained guitar improvisations here. The excellent distorted saxophone add a more prominent jazzy flavor.
The 2007 CD reissue adds four live tracks that show the band in full-on jazz-rock-kraut mode, reminding of Soft Machine and Embryo. The sound quality of these tracks is slightly less then the perfectly produced sound of the CD, but it sure is more then good enough to follow all the individual instruments and to feel the power of these performances.
Due to its rather late release date, Kollektiv isn't an essential or historically important Kraut album but it sure is a superb one that comes highly recommended if you want to explore the jazzy/avant side of Krautrock. 4.5 stars
Posted Saturday, December 11, 2010 | Review this album | Report (Review #349740)
Review by Mellotron Storm
In the liner notes it says "Acclaimed by Progressive and Krautrock fans and critics alike, it showed a different, more innovative style of playing contemporary German rock music and was honoured with a nomination for the German Schallplattenpreis.They produced an incomparable, unmistakeable sound with echoes of ORGANISATION and early KRAFTWERK:spacey but melodic, elevated yet rocking, innovative : progressive in the best sense, consequent in the realisation of intent, forging new musical territory without denying it's roots". In fact 2 members of KOLLEKTIV played in a band with Ralf Hutten before he formed ORGANISATION. One being bass player Jogi Karpenkiel who would leave KOLLEKTIV in 1975 to join GURU GURU. Early influences for this band were KING CRIMSON and Frank Zappa. The first 3 tracks on this disc have a rather experimental and improvised feeling to them, while the side long suite "Gages" has more structure to it along with lots of Fripp-like guitar.
"Rambo Zambo" opens with spacey flute sounds that echo, then they are joined 1 1/2 minutes in by the drums with a cool rhythm. The guitar,bass and flute stand out as it gets pretty intense. Great sound ! The guitar after 5 1/2 minutes is more prominant. The flute returns before 9 minutes. "Baldrain" also has a spacey intro and is a very atmospheric piece. Actually Jurgen plays a self-made instrument with 56 strings, built from a zither and parts of a guitar. Some dissonant sax 3 1/2 minutes in as drums come in and bass as we start to get a melody(although it's still spacey). "Forsterlied" is a freaky tune with spoken words that are followed each time with an outburst of sound. This happens over and over in this 1:50 track.
"Gageg" is a 20 minute tune divided into 3 parts. It's very pastoral to start with flute leading the way gently with other gentle sounds coming and going. I like before 3 minutes the way the flute melodies are copied by the guitar. This is dreamy, laid back music.The guitar starts to lay down some angular melodies. Awesome sound. I had this song on when we were pulling into the Wal-Mart parking lot. My youngest daughter needed some school supplies, and it was just the two of us and our dog. Anyway we park and i'm waiting for her to get out but she's looking straight ahead like she's intoxicated by the hypnotising sounds. I didn't say anything for a couple of minutes, then when I did she said "Oh yeah, lets go". Funny. The flute stops after 5 minutes as the bass, guitar and drums create wonder. The flute is back before 7 minutes. The tempo picks up 9 minutes in and becomes jazzy. The guitar then starts to rip it up. The bass and sax shine as well. This section ends 12 1/2 minutes in although the bass continues. Angular guitar melodies arrive and drums. Amazing sound ! The sax takes over for the guitar 14 1/2 minutes in then the guitar returns after 17 minutes with more angular melodies. Nice.
4.5 stars and a must have for all you Krautrock fans out there.
Posted Monday, April 21, 2008 | Review this album | Report (Review #168259)
Live, 2005
In the liner notes the band tells us the significance of the name KOLLEKTIV. We "share the same aims and values, not just with regard to music. We do not seperate into soloist and accompanist (rhythm slave). Each musician and each instrument has the same rights. Our pieces aren't individual compositions; they are born out of and grow through creative collaboration. After all, our name is saying : we are our own roadies, manager, technicians, bus driver, record producers and article writers, and three of us share the same birthday." Another important revelation in their liner notes is : "The structure of our music is more simple than usual jazz, instead we pay more attention to sounds and moods. We mainly do improvisations. Even the themes and arranged parts were once improvised. We try to expand the tone quality by sometimes strong electronic alienation of the guitar, flute and saxaphone, and apart from the "small underground-set" fuzz tone and wah-wah, we use echo, octavoice, phaser, ring-modulators, vibrators and sound filters. In our experience, our music is equally accepted by both jazz and rock people...so let's call it "Rock-Jazz". Lots of great pictures in the liner notes as well, including some from the outdoor concert.
"Rapunzel" has a very relaxed climate as smooth sax melodies along with drums, bass and guitar fill out the sound. The song calms down even more 3 minutes in until we get a jazzy section 4 1/2 minutes in. The guitar and bass melody after 5 minutes is cool. Sax is back 7 minutes in to end song. "Subo" opens with pastoral flute melodies, kind of dreamy actually with light drums and gentle guitar. 9 minutes in the sound builds and collapses, this continues until we get some spacey flute sounds to end it.
"Rambo Zambo" is a 24 minute epic of improv. Experimental sounds until the sound kicks in 3 1/2 minutes in as drums and bass come in. A nice rhythm is the result. After 6 minutes we get some sax that has been tampered with in some way, as different melodies come and go. "Forsterlied" is a 2 minute song that features dissonant sounds followed by spoken words. This continues throughout this tune. "Gageg (exerpt)" has a mellow beginning as flute and light drums lead the way. The gentle guitar reminds me of "Subo". Outbreaks come and go and the song ends with flute.
This is a great piece of history really. A live concert by KOLLEKTIV somewhere in Germany in 1973. Interesting that there is no crowd noise at all (too stoned), but the pictures are a nice touch. There are some fantastic moments on this recording.
Posted Monday, November 5, 2007 | Review this album | Report (Review #149159)
Review by philippe
Early 70's kraut-jazz fusion that contributes to the best of the genre. The music is really, cool, imaginative, intense, improvised and still fresh after all these years. These intuitive jazzy improvisations also introduce some sunny, enchanting flute parts and groovy sax solos. It's largely instrumental and devoted to dynamic prog injections with some flowing, spaced-out sessions. "Rambo Zambo" starts with a high quality improvisation, delivering very colourful free jazz freakout. "Baldrian" introduction delivers a dreamy, psychedelic soundscape, then it provides a kind of ethereal country-rock "trip". "Foirsterlied" is an eccentric, humorous improvisation in the genre of some RIO musical provocations. "Gagen-Andante" is full of tripped out effects, mixing floating flute lines and e- guitars disharmonies in a relative calm tempo. An adventurous & talented effort, moreover the sound is really refined, sophisticated contrary to most of krautrock albums.
Posted Wednesday, July 4, 2007 | Review this album | Report (Review #127495)
Review by hdfisch
Kollektiv was an almost unknown Krautrock formation hailing from Krefeld and originally consisted of Waldo Karpenziel (drums), his twin brother Jogi (bass), Jürgen Havix (guitars) and Klaus Dapper (flute and sax) who played before together with Ralf Hütter (who founded pre-Kraftwerk band Organisation soon after) in a band called "The Phantoms". Waldo, Jogi and Jürgen started playing together in a school band already back in 1964. After listening to Frank Zappa, Blodwyn Pig and King Crimson records and a couple of jazz musicians like Jimmy Smith, Wes Montgomery and Cannonball Adderly they gradually got bored by Beat music and decided to do something completely different and much more exciting. They started using effect machines, sometimes homemade, a zither played with drumsticks on an amplifier, metal sheets and rotating discs, played the bass with a bow and employed any type of exotic instrument. To make a long story short Kollektiv had been a Krautrock band in its very original sense doing really inventive music mainly based on improvisations of minimal themes, often in excess of 10, 15 or more minutes. Some people compare them with closely related band Neu! but if one should draw comparisons at all I hear rather some similarities with Organisation's "Tone Float"-album (which is for me the best work done by Kraftwerk). I've to say that the music presented here is much more diversified and elaborate than the one of Neu! and moreover despite all free-form and loosely structured nature much more enjoyable and comprehensible. Honestly this album has even reinforced my interest in such type of music which gave initially a rather disappointing impression for me after listening exclusively to its famous forerunners. I read an interview with Klaus Dapper published in Sounds magazine in 1974 explaining very well how collectively organised this band was and how they finally reached to the type of music they were actually doing. Basically they were using rock, jazz and pop music as stocks and extracted the best ingredients from each of them or in other words omitted their individual drawbacks. Let me say it in his very own words:
"The high complexity in harmony and melody of jazz music and its overvaluation of instrumental virtuosity is quite disturbing for some of us and a non-expert can easily get the impression that it's a kind of competition between musician and listener which is successful for the former if he plays more complicated than the latter is able to support. In several domains of rock and pop music on the other hand melodies, lyrics, arrangements and improvisations are sometimes that much uninspired and poor. We're trying to find a blend between those genres and other forms of music (free-form and electronic) without taking over those mistakes mentioned. Our music has a structure which is simpler than it's used to be in jazz, instead we pay more attention to tones and moods. It's predominantly improvised music what we're doing. Even most of the themes and determined parts are originally based on improvisation. We broaden the common range of tone colours by using sometimes a rather strong electronic alienation of guitar, flute or saxophone. According to our experience our music is well appreciated by both jazz and rock fans since each of them can find sufficient elements of their preferred style respectively."
I think it's rather futile and redundant to describe the six musical pieces presented here in detail. Nonetheless I'd like to contribute with my review a bit to provide more recognition for this unique band than it actually gets. I'd highly recommend both their debut, the one with recorded SWF-studio sessions and as well the one done after their reformation with exceptional Swedish bassist Jonas Hellborg not only to all Krautrock fans but to anyone open for free-form rock/jazz/electronic who might have been alienated so far by music done by Can, Neu! or Kraftwerk for example. That's why I'll use here the maximum rating option since this work must be considered a masterpiece in progressive music IMO.
Posted Saturday, August 19, 2006 | Review this album | Report (Review #87640)
Review by loserboy
Here are one of the true hidden gems to come out of the 70's German underground scene. This album since I first heard it has moved into the ranks amongst my all time Krautrock favs... and for good reason. I would rank this album on par with the first 2 NEU ! albums and in favt can draw many similarities to their music. KOLLEKTIV were a 4 piece band led by jazz and experimentalist Klaus Dapper (flute and sax). Musically this is a pure juxtaposition of early PINK FLOYD (aka "Ummagumma") with NEU. This all instrumental album really knows how to soar into the depths of space. One of those albums that you toss late at night into the stereo and just sit back and relax too. There is nothing to loud or musically complex here but rather seductive and transcedental. KOLEKTIV musically blend soft flute with flowing bass guitar and drum lines. This is one of those albums where all 4 instruments work to perfection. Highly recommended.
Posted Tuesday, September 6, 2005 | Review this album | Report (Review #45864)
Thanks to Samir Hobeica for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates
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The domain name QLG.COM is for sale
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Get On The Web Limited some years ago registered for its websites, portals and projects a number of generic domain names (including this one), which are now no longer required. We are offering for sale the domain name QLG.COM.
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National Railway Museum Reveal Four And A Half Million Pound Cost For Restoring Flying Scotsman
National Railway Museum reveals just how much its cost taxpayers to return Flying Scotsman to operation
Published: 30th September 2016
Rail.co.uk takes you behind the scenes to explain the expensive overhaul of a national icon
The Sir Nigel Gresley designed ‘A3’ Flying Scotsman is back, wowing the crowds around the country in glorious steam action, to the relief and delight of all, especially the National Railway Museum (NRM).
As the locomotive appeared in Severn Valley Railway’s long awaited ‘Pacific Power’ showcase with ‘youngster’ A1 Tornado (completed in 2008 following a three-year £3million construction project) the NRM announced the full cost of restoring Flying Scotsman as being £4,537,892.
Bought for the nation
Flying Scotsman was built at Doncaster Works, being outshopped as No. 1472 on 27 February 1923. Saved for preservation being purchased from British Rail by the late Alan Peglar, it subsequently passed through the hands of several high-profile private owners until being purchased by the NRM for £2.3 million in 2004. The NRM’s appeal to secure the locomotive for the nation was supported by a £1.8 million National Heritage Memorial Fund grant and public donations.
After working a series of main line Christmas lunch specials Flying Scotsman was withdrawn in December 2005, entering the Works at the NRM in January 2006 for what was then projected as an 18-20 month overhaul estimated to cost £1.6million. As the need for ever more work was uncovered, costs spiralled and timescales for completion lengthened.
Problems heap upon problems
The locomotive was unveiled on the NRM’s York turntable in May 2011, apparently ready for tests and commissioning operations. Then cracks in the hornblocks were discovered and the need for ‘essential remedial work’ was confirmed by the museum. Further questions arose concerning the frames and cylinders (including identifying misalignment of the middle cylinder) and a major report into the project was prepared by Tyseley’s Chief Engineer Bob Meanley and published in October 2012.
The NRM pressed on and a contract was placed with Riley & Son (E) Ltd of Bury in October 2013 to see the troubled, and now massively expensive, overhaul through to a conclusion.
Success at last as ‘FS’ returns to operation
The restoration to steam was finally achieved early this year, generating massive interest and excitement when in February it hauled its inaugural post-overhaul main line train from London Kings Cross to York. The NRM observes that over 200,000 people have now seen the locomotive at the museums York and Shildon sites and at heritage railway events, ‘many tens of thousands’ during its first main line trip and millions more worldwide watching it on television.
Flying Scotsman’s return to mainline operation was completed under a commercial partnership agreement with Riley & Son (E) Ltd, which will continue to manage operation of the locomotive for two years. This includes a programme of on-going maintenance. The locomotive is scheduled to return to the NRM in York for winter maintenance and will be available for viewing over the Christmas period.
“Saving Scotsman for the nation has been a complex project but eminently worthwhile,” commented NRM Director, Paul Kirkman. “Since its return this year, the spectacular sight of this most famous of steam locomotives has captured the imagination and been a life enhancing experience for thousands, possibly millions of people.” Visitors to our museums have been able to get up close and experience the most famous locomotive and express train service in the world first–hand, through our free innovative exhibitions and displays. This globetrotting screen star and multiple record-breaker will continue be seen around the UK, demonstrating the engineering science behind steam traction to new generations of fans.”
“This is certainly the most famous journey and most famous locomotive in Britain,” commented Michael Portillo when he travelled on the inaugural main line train as part of filming the BBC documentary series ‘Great British Railway Journeys’, going on to describe Flying Scotsman as an “engineering triumph.”
Behind the media spin…………..the real story
The NRM’s engineering team started the FS overhaul but soon ran into difficulties as their capability for completing such a huge task were quickly found to be ‘wanting’. Several staff left as a result and this left the NRM bereft of the engineering and project management skills needed for such a project.
Because the NRM is in essence a Government department, it had to follow tight procurement rules. These possibly work fine for most projects but there are limited firms that have the ability to restore a main line express steam locomotive. This meant the tendering process could not follow the normal system where there are many potential suppliers.
First Class Partnerships (FCP) was engaged to manage the overhaul by the NRM. FCP is an organisation of experts in the rail industry and through Partner Tony Roache, they appointed another former Wolverton Works’ manager Mike Corbett to manage the project.
The over-arching restoration contract was awarded to Ian Riley and Sons who are well known for their high quality locomotive restoration and main line operation. Several main sub-contractors were also engaged such as the Severn Valley Railway, South Devon Railway and Heritage Painting Ltd. Many more contractors were engaged, many very small companies with just one or two staff.
The value of the work meant that some smaller contractors had to be paid up-front for their work which was against NRM procurement rules.
Other tensions were caused by pre-Flying Scotsman contracts that had to be honoured by contractors but with a limited talent pool to draw from for the overhaul. Several apprentices were employed on the project which was based in a Century old workshop using vintage equipment which still delivered the engineering requirements being skilfully used by the engineers.
NRM media demands and blocking
The NRM then decided on a launch date for the engine from Kings Cross which artificially compressed the overhaul time. This, combined with the East Lancs Railway who wanted Riley and Sons to vacate their Works as the lease expired, at Bury brought more pressures.
And the NRM media team also banned specialist trade access to the engine after Steve Davies left the NRM and never managed to explain why when asked about their change of policy. Perhaps they could not bring themselves to admit at the time that they could maintain operational locomotives but did not have the tools, equipment, knowledge and staff for such an overhaul.
There were some very tense moments in the overhaul between FCP and the restoration team who did not always agree on the way forward. These ‘issues’ were compounded by various locomotive components being delivered out of sequence for the overhaul leading to some tense moments.
The end result is for all to see, a triumph but as with all these things, the PR spin masks what went on behind the scenes. Rail.co.uk tells you the real story!
National Railway Museum- Flying Scotsman
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ROOT GNU/Linux v1.3 (Noodle)
Version 1.3 of the Linux distribution 'ROOT' has been released. ROOT is a complete GNU/Linux operating system with the latest GNU & Linux technology.
ROOT 1.3 is a big upgrade from the 1.2 version. Some new features include:
Improvements to the installer. The installer now runs directly from the CD. If your computer doesn't support auto-booting from CD's, you only need one floppy disk to boot it.
GCC 3.2. All packages has been recompiled using GCC 3.2, which is a stable compiler that produces faster binaries than 2.95.x.
GNOME 2.0. The new GNOME version is included. GTK+ 1.2.x and some GNOME 1.4 libs are included for backward compatibility.
KDE 3.0. The new KDE 3 is included (version 3.0.3). It's far more stable than any KDE2 version.
Devfs. The /dev filesystem is used by default. It is a modern replacement for the old /dev file structure. It is fast and only creates devices that acually exists on the system.
PAM included. The 'Pluggable Authentication Module' has been added to the distribution. PAM features very flexible functions for authentication programs.
Getty. The default getty program 'agetty' has been replaced with 'mingetty', which is smaller and faster.
Pureftpd. The default (and only included) FTP daemon is now pureftpd, a stable, secure and fast server.
Non-free programs removed. Non-free programs like Netscape has been removed. Pico has been replaced with the GPL'ed 'nano'. Some non-free programs can be found in a 'nonfree' folder on the CD.
ROOT 1.3 contains the latest stable versions of many free programs and utilities.
ROOT can be downloaded from here:
ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/Linux/distributions/rootlinux/
http://ftp.sunet.se/pub/Linux/distributions/rootlinux/
- or from one of the mirrors (see http://rootlinux.org/download.html)
/ kohn, < a>
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It's Tuesday,
Title: 2007 St. Paul of the Cross - Cross Country
Date: Wednesday October 3rd, 2007
Author: Bill Thom & Peter Block
St. Paul of the Cross - Cross Country
St. Paul of the Cross competes in Cross Country during the fall season. Under the direction of veteran runners Peter Block (14th year as coach) and Bill Thom (3rd year as coach) our “Tigers” participate in the City-Suburban Catholic Conference of Chicago.
Saturday October 20, 2007 – 10:00 a.m.
It was back to Riis Park in Chicago as our cross country "Tigers" competed in the "C Y O Meet"... the final meet of the season. The course was dry and fast with great running conditions of temperatures in the 60's and mostly sunny skies. The one mile course may have been a bit long and the 1.5 mile course may have been slightly short.
In the One Mile race our runners came in...
JV Girls: 9:23 - Caitlin C (75th), 11:19 - Kelly H (109)
JV Boys: 7:24 - Brian T (18th), 7:26 - Nick W (21st), 7:34 - Danny C (27th), 8:23 - Andrew H (51st), 8:58 Nick M (63rd), 9:36 Phil K (68th), 10:16 - Tim C (76th)
In the 1.5 Mile race our runners came in...
Varsity Girls: 10:12 - Kelly K 8th)
Varsity Boys: 9:57 - Sean C (24th)
Congratulations to all runners!
We’ve collected a few shots from this meet and you can see them by clicking the “View Photos” tab above.
Our cross country "Tigers" traveled deep into Chicago to participate in the "Our Lady of Victory Invitational" at Riis Park. The course was slightly damp, and probably a bit short, but weather was good with temperatures near 60° and overcast skies.
JV Girls: 7:47 - Caitlin C (38th)
JV Boys: 6:34 - Brian T (5th), 7:09 - Danny C (30th), 7:37 - Patrick T (44th), 8:13 - Andrew H (64th), 8:32 - Phil K (69th), 8:58 - Stephan I (80th)
Varsity Boys: 10:14 - Sean C (15th)
Friday October 5, 2007 – 4:00 p.m.
It was a hot early fall afternoon with temperatures holding steady in the mid 80's as our St. Paul of the Cross runners competed in the City-Suburban Conference Championship at Bunker Hill Forest Preserve.
JV Girls: 8:00 - Anne P, 8:11 - Bridget P, 8:19 - Caitlin, 9:09 - Bridget D, 9:13 - Melanie, 9:23 - Jessica, 10:17 - Madeline, 11:15 - Emily
JV Boys: 7:14 - Brian T, 7:21 - Danny C, 7:22 - Jack D, 7:33 - Nick W, 8:29 - Will K, 8:35 - Nick M, 10:19 Tim C, 12:30 - Nicky B
Varsity Girls: 11:00 - Kelly K (5th Place Overall!)
Varsity Boys: 10:56 - Sean C, 13:20 - Tom K
Saturday September 29, 2007 – 8:00 a.m.
The 35th annual Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational was run near the Lakefront at Montrose Avenue. Many parents came down and helped prepare our runners... fastening electronic time-keeping chips to shoes and pinning numbers to uniforms. With the sun rising above the lake and rock –n- roll music blasting at the start / finish area the combined boys & girls race started promptly at 8 o’clock. 13 Tigers from St. Paul competed with over 400 other elementary school runners. The course was well marked and featured one trip up big Cricket Hill. Covering a distance of 2,000 meters (approximately 1.25 miles) the race had an exciting finish in a fenced-off chute.
Check out elementary school individual results at: http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/loyc/sports/c-xc/auto_pdf/ElementaryOverall Go there or Go there in new browser
Friday September 28, 2007 – 4:00 p.m.
On a Goldilocks afternoon (not too hot, not too cold) our St. Paul of the Cross runners competed in the City-Suburban Conference Open Invite #2 at Bunker Hill Forest Preserve.
JV Girls: 34 - Ronnie, 38 - Annie P, 57 - Bridget P, 85 - Melanie, 91 - Bridget D, 123 - Kelly H, 126 - Emily
JV Boys: 12 - Brian T, 27 - Jack D, 29 - Kristof, 38 - Nick W, 50 - Danny C, 65 - Andrew H, 70 - Tom C, 81 - Will K, 82 - Nick M, 104 - Phillip, 118 - Steffan, 119 - Tim C, 135 - Nicky B
Varsity Girls: 10 - Kelly K
Varsity Boys: 27 - Sean C, 58 - Bobby S, 62 - Tom K
Debbie Harris has provided a couple shots from this meet and you can see them by clicking the “View Photos” tab above.
It was pleasant but slightly warm afternoon for the City-Suburban Conference Meet at Bunker Hill Forest Preserve. Our St. Paul Cross Country "Tigers" competed in distances of one mile for JV Boys and Girls, and 1.5 miles for Varsity Boys and Girls.
There was a slight crispness in the air on this late summer day... ideal for the first cross country meet of the 2007 season. Our "Tigers" of St. Paul lined up and ran in the City-Suburban Conference Open Invite #1 at Bunker Hill Forest Preserve. Distances were one mile for JV Boys and Girls, and 1.5 miles for Varsity Boys and Girls.
Coach Peter Block: pblock@carstens.com
Coach Bill Thom: bill@kempertech.com
Photo ©2007 RunRace
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Posted: October 3rd, 2007 5:00 pm
Last Update: October 22nd, 2007 8:56 am
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Self Esteem Parenting - Isabella Parker
Model for Psychologists
Book: Parenting/Self Help
Self Esteem Parenting
Five-Part Model
Part 1: Connection - Attached
Part 2: Affection - Loved
Part 3: Attention - Important
Part 4: Recognition - Approval
Part 5: Protection - Safe
Keep Your Sense of Humour
Secrets or Natural Laws?
Parents Misled
Repressed Anger
Child Needs Unmet
Favoured Sibling
Child as Parent
Born Too CLose
Adult Hypnotherapy
Treating Adults
Drugs and Alcohol:
A Self Medication Model of Drug and Alcohol Use
Isabella McKenzie Parker © 2010
There is a lot of info available on alcohol and illicit drugs, the effects of addiction on the individual, destruction of the family and the costs to society. Comprehensive coverage of this info is to be found in numerous other sources. My interest here is to focus on the question of ‘why’ there is so much drug and alcohol use. What is the appeal? Why is there so much reliance on drugs and alcohol for socialising and coping with life? What is the ‘positive’ effect that users are seeking? This is something of a mystery to non-users who manage to function effectively and enjoy life without feeling any need to resort to drugs.
The term ‘recreational drug use’ is used as if to explain illicit drug use. Is the term also supposed to legitimise this use by distinguishing it from ‘workplace drug use’ or ‘career drug use’? If it is intended as an explanation for drug use, it fails. It actually throws up more questions than answers. Why would anyone need to consume mind-altering substances in order to engage in and enjoy recreational activities? Why would anyone think it is a good idea to have distorted perceptions and delusions or impaired functioning and loss of decision making ability or blacking out with no recollections or vomiting in the street and lying comatose in the gutter? Why the need for such detachment from reality? Why choose such self abuse as a form of recreation - and escapism?
As a starting point, we can explore what ‘positive effect’ there is by considering what neurotransmitters are implicated and what effects these neurotransmitters (or hormones) have on the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the body. In this exploration of the ‘why’ question, and in the interests of aiming to provide some clarity of understanding, the topic will be examined from different perspectives so there will be some repetition and overlap of information presented. Table 1 lists neurotransmitters (in no particular order) that are implicated in drug use, including a summary of the main effects of
these neurotransmitters, and drugs linked with each neurotransmitter. Table 2 summarises effects of drugs which implicate multiple neurotransmitters.
Table 1. Neurotransmitters (or receptors) implicated in drug and alcohol use.
Neurotransmitter/receptor Effect on CNS Drugs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dopamine Pleasure in 'pleasure centre' Alcohol and all drugs (including nicotine)
of the brain
Adrenaline, noradrenaline Stimulant, energising Amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis,
also known as epinephrinee, nicotine, caffeine, geranium extract, guarana
GABA Depressant on CNS, Alcohol, cannabis
relaxant, anxiety reduction
Serotonin Hallucinogenic, euphoria, Ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD,
distorted perceptions -> alcohol, cannabis
confidence, risky behaviour
Cannabanoid Hallucinogenic, euphoria Cannabis
Opioids (endorphins) Analgaesic, euphoria Opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycodone,
pethidine, methadone, poppy seed tea,
alcohol, cannabis, GHB
Oxytocin Bonding, 'cuddle hormone', Ecstasy
Table 2. Drugs implicating muiltiple neurotransmitters
Drug (Main effect) Neurotransmitter Effect
Cocaine (stimulant) Dopamine Pleasure
Adrenaline/ nordrenaline Stimulant, energy, 'rush', feeling alive
Serotonin Euphoria, confidence, excitement
Amphetamine (stimulant) Dopamine Pleasure
Adrenaline/ noradrenaline Stimulant, increased stamina and libido
Serotonin Euphoria, well being, perceptual
distortions, feel clever and powerful
Alcohol (depressant) Dopamine Pleasure
GABA Relaxed, impaired reactions
Serotonin Euphoria, distorted perceptions
Opioids Analgaesia
Cannabis (hallucinogen) Dopamine Pleasure
Serotonin Euphoria, perceptual distortions
GABA Depressant, relaxing
Noradrenaline Stimulant
Ecstasy (stimulant and hallucinogen Dopamine Pleasure
or an empathogen/enactogen) Noradrenaline Stimulant
Oxytocin Bonding
Overcoming drug tolerance:
As tolerance develops to illicit drugs, the original effect is sought in new drug experiences achieved by adding alcohol or mixing drug cocktails or misuse of prescription medication, veterinary anaesthetics, herbal products and also by taking synthetic designer drugs that mimic effects of illicit drugs whilst not being detectable by drug tests and getting around drug laws.
Drinking alcohol in addition can enhance drug effects. Cocktails of similar-acting drugs enhances their effects - and also increases risk of death. Combining drugs with a CNS depressant or sedating effect can stop the user breathing. Two or more stimulant drugs can interfere with heart beat. Taking drugs with opposing effects sound like a traffic intersection with all lights ‘green’ - there is bound to be a crash! Problems are being encountered with alcohol-caffeine mixes such as Jager Bomb. There is concern that these drinks lead to violence and drink-driving due largely to an erroneous belief among drinkers that the stimulant effect of caffeine counteracts the cognitive and motor skill impairment caused by the depressant action of alcohol. While the caffeine in these mixes does alleviate fatigue, it does not alleviate impaired function. Hence, these drinkers who are in fact intoxicated and functionally impaired, perceive themselves as not being drunk - police refer to them as ‘wide awake drunks’. They subsequently have a false belief in their actual capabilities and are at increased risk of driving or engaging in other risk-taking behaviour. They also tend to engage in violence – wound up by the caffeine and their social control switched off by alcohol. Dangerous practices are resorted to in order to speed up intoxicating effects and novel experiences are sought by addition of dangerous substances such as adding liquid nitrogen to an alcoholic cocktail. Another example is a dumb practice reported to be common among footballers. There is reliance on ‘uppers’ and ‘downers’ - taking stimulants such as caffeine pills before and during a game to increase alertness and reflexes, then following the match with alcohol to celebrate or drown sorrows and combinations of sleeping pills, pain killers or valium in an attempt to ‘unwind’. This is as clever as slamming a car into reverse gear whilst speeding forward! Table 3 lists some of the more common examples of drug cocktails.
Table 3. Cocktails of drugs with similar or opposite effects.
Cocktail Sedating/Depresssant Effect Stimulant Effect
Cocktails of similar-acting drugs:
GHB cocktail GHB, ketamine and alcohol
'Giggle Pills' guarana and geranium
Cocktails of opposite-acting drugs:
GHB cocktail GHB amphetamines
'Goofballs' barbiturates amphetamines
'Speedballs' heroin methamphetamines
'Hypnotic Pills' poppy seed (morphine and codeine) guarana and geranium
'Jager Bomb' alcohol caffeine
Self Medication Model
In examining drug effects from a psychological perspective, it becomes apparent that alcohol, nicotine and illicit drugs are consumed in order to cope with life by filling an 'inner void', anaesthetising unpleasant feelings or blacking out completely and compensating for psychological and social deficits. In other words, these substances are used for the purpose of ‘self medication’. Hence, I am proposing a Self Medication Model of Drug and Alcohol use. This model is examined by discussing each neurotransmitter listed in Table 1 and exploring the ‘effects’ as they apply in addressing psychological /emotional pain and cognitive/social deficits.
Summarising the neurotransmitters implicated in drug use and the psychological issues the drugs are being used to ‘self medicate’: Emotional deficits (dopamine, oxytocin), cognitive deficits (adrenaline), psychological and social deficits (serotonin, GABA) and analgaesia (opioids, cannabinoids).
** Dopamine produces feelings of pleasure.
Source: All substances discussed.
Q: Why this need? A: Lacking validation, lacking satisfaction in life.
The role of dopamine as a mechanism in the reward aspect of validation has been discussed in the “Validation Hypothesis” (under "More Info"). Validation (ie, feeling valued for who you are and for what you do, having a life that is worthwhile and provides satisfaction) has been identified as a natural source of dopamine - ‘getting high on life’. In contrast, people with lives lacking these sources of natural dopamine are vulnerable to seeking and becoming dependent on the ‘quick fix’ of artificial sources of dopamine – ie, consumption of substances (such as alcohol, drugs, tobacco, high calorie food) and engaging in activities (such as casual sex, pornography, shopping, gambling, internet, gaming) that have the potential to become addictive. The quick fix of hedonism is preferred over the effort required for validation.
** Oxytocin facilitates bonding:
Source: Ecstasy.
Q: Why this need? A: Lack of connectedness.
Poor ‘attachment’ is common due to ‘outsourcing parenting’ and family breakdown has contributed to lack of family connection and greater disenfranchisement of youth. In spite of communication technology and cyber friends, there is a lack of any real connectedness, but instead, an exacerbation of personal alienation and social isolisation.
** Adrenaline energises:
Source: Amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, nicotine, caffeine, geranium extract, guarana.
Q: Why this need? A: Low endogenous arousal of the brain, lack of cognitive self sufficiency.
Why would anyone need or want a stimulant? To provide energy to dance all night – to loud, rhythmless, mind-numbing music and unpleasant flashing lights that can bring on a seizure for an epileptic. And why would they need or want to do that? It is as if they are racing to fill an inner void and numb unthinking minds.
Common complaints are that youth today get bored easily, need to be entertained and have a short attention span. Note: Boredom is the product of a boring mind - anyone bored with their own company will find that others find it boring, too. It is as if they lack a capacity for cognitive self-sufficiency. In understanding why and how, perhaps Hans Eysenck’s account of the extroversion/introversion personality dimension and the modern education methods might be worth a look.
Eysenck posited that the brain requires optimal level of arousal to remain alive. This arousal comes from two sources – endogenous (activation within the individual’s own brain) and exogenous (from stimulation by the external environment, including consumption of stimulants).
Extroverts have low levels of endogenous arousal so require additional external stimulation which may be provided by high energy physical activities, noisy gatherings, loud music, fun company, laughing, variety in activities and company, meeting new people, novel experiences, entertainment and being the ‘life of the party’. By contrast, Introverts have high levels of endogenous arousal so need relatively little external stimulation. Introverts have too much going on in their mind to ever become bored and may actually prefer their own company over social activities. It isn’t that they are deliberately being anti-social or don’t like people. While Introverts can enjoy the company of close friends and social activities, they experience high levels of external stimulation (eg, large crowds, noisy gatherings, loud music) that the Extrovert needs and enjoys, as unpleasant.
Boredom and the need to seek stimulation may represent brains with low endogenous arousal - not a lot of brain activity going on. But, why the high prevalence of boredom?
A possible explanation: Socially progressive education methods are based predominantly on entertainment style, audio-visual, whizz bang technology of images and sound, key strokes, clicks and double clicks on icons and menu options. Prior to introduction of television, education consisted of auditory input from the teacher’s voice, reading text and visual images from some pictures, so consisted mainly of listening/hearing, reading and rote learning. This was regarded as outmoded by the socially progressive policy makers and advisors on education. Yet, reading text involves more complex processing than audio-visual input. Listening/hearing and reading involve cognitive processes to recognize sounds and letters, how they are grouped in words, linked together in sentences, processing of the physical aspects of the text, then interpretation. The meaning of the words and sentences is processed, discerning words that are spelt or sound the same but have different meanings. The imagination processes are activated to create images that represent the words, creating complete pictures of objects and places that have never been seen by the reader, either in real life or in pictures. For a narrative, the imagination processes create moving images. By contrast, highly stimulating, entertainment style of education utilizes less processing functions by the brain so these processes have less opportunity to develop. Audio-visual information is received just like being ‘poured into the brain using a funnel’, like being drip fed liquid nourishment that requires no digestion. Hence, these brains lack opportunity to develop specific cognitive processing abilities, resulting in development of minds that rely on pre-processed packaged information presented in entertainment format.
Research: Reports on studies of effects of TV viewing on young children recommend that infants under two years should not watch any TV at all since passive reception of audio-visual input interferes with cognitive development and also produces over stimulation. The mothers of these children will later complain that these children are ‘too easily bored’, always in need of entertainment, lacking in imagination and creative ability to entertain themselves. What the infant brain needs for cognitive development is stimulation of interaction, two-way exchange with the mother (father and siblings), learning by doing,
developing self-sufficiency in self-entertaining, actively exploring the environment (within the ‘safe zone’).
Summarising:The pre-processed nature of audio-visual education stunts the development of specific cognitive processes and the highly stimulating nature of entertainment style education conditions the brain to be dependent on entertainment and external stimulation. Modern education methods have commonly been accused of dumbing down kids. As for the short attention span – well, with the abolition of the maligned ‘rote learning’, the capacity for sustained attention has not
developed. Lacking cognitive self-sufficiency to self-entertain, they lack capacity to generate sufficient endogenous arousal, so their brains need external stimulation and are conditioned to be dependent on high levels of stimulation.
Perhaps being plugged into an iPod or an iPad or an iPhone is quite literally being plugged into an iLifeSupportSystem. This provides essential stimulation their brains are unable to produce themselves but need in order to achieve sufficient arousal to remain alive.
** Serotonin distorts perceptions:
Source: Ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD, alcohol, cannabis.
Q: Why this need? A: Lack of social confidence.
The delusional quality of the altered states fosters detaching from reality and achieving a false sense of confidence and bravery based on distorted perceptions of reality. The downside is these distorted perceptions interfere with the capacity for recognising danger.
** GABA depresses CNS, relaxant:
Source: Alcohol, cannabis.
Q: Why this need? A: Inability to relax and enjoy social situations.
Lack of cognitive capacity for natural relaxation is compensated for by the chemical quick fix, typical of modern society. Perhaps the natural ability to relax is avoided because it would reveal the lack of cognitive self-sufficiency and the boredom would take over.
** Opioids and Cannabinoids producing analgaesia:
Source: Opiates, alcohol, cannabis.
Q: Why this need? A: Need to anaesthetise emotional pain.
There is a lot of emotional pain in society – as evidenced by impact on mental health. There is a lot of anger in society – as evidenced by the extent of violence. There are a lot of kids and adolescents in pain from parental neglect, emotional deprivation, rejection, abandonment, family breakdown, violence and sexual abuse. In spite of the facade of bravado, there are lot of kids who lack confidence, do not feel good about themselves, have poor self esteem, poor self worth. They lack emotional wellbeing, emotional security and secure family connection. Drugs dull that emotional pain.
Examples of multiple effects:
** Alcohol deserves a separate mention, due to it being the most commonly used drug and the one most associated with social problems.
There are four areas of effects that I would like to focus on: relaxation, binge drinking, sex and violence.
(i) In moderation, alcohol is enjoyable, promoting a temporary sense of wellbeing, relaxation and facilitates social harmony.
(ii) However, there is a vast difference between moderate drinking for relaxation and enjoyment and the binge drinking with the deliberate sole intention of getting drunk ASAP, vomiting in the street and lying comatose in the gutter. The process of getting drunk ASAP is speeded up by intentionally drinking on an empty stomach (eating is referred to as ‘cheating’). Another method to speed up and increase intoxication is delivery of alcohol to other internal body organs which provide quick access to the blood stream (eg, delivering alcohol into the rectum via a rubber tube, known as ‘butt chugging’, and girls inserting tampons soaked in vodka into their rectum or vagina). Three points to make here:
(a) These get-drunk-double-quick strategies are clearly not the product of mature thinking brain processes.
(b) The intention in getting drunk ASAP is clearly Self Medication in its most obvious form, for emotional pain and
coping style for life situations – anaesthetising and blacking out as a means of avoidance and escapism
(c) The dicing-with-death aspect, like many suicide attempts, can only be regarded as a desperate cry for help.
(iii) Alternatively, there is drinking with the intention of ‘getting laid’. This involves unwise decision making, the risk of being raped or waking up in the bed of a stranger after unprotected sex, risking pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. There is no need to go into a discussion here on the reasons a woman with low self esteem would treat herself with such disrespect and engage in such self-abuse. Male participants exploiting this drunken vulnerability clearly have no respect for women. Clearly, they lack integrity and have no self respect, either.
(iv) The term ‘alcohol-fuelled violence’ is a misnomer. Whether repressed anger is internalised or externalised, it is more likely to be expressed violently after consumption of alcohol. This is not because the alcohol causes violence but because it removes the inhibitions that keep the anger under control. There is a range of behaviour that drinkers exhibit in response to consuming alcohol: relaxed, chatty, giggly, romantic, singing, maudlin, sleazy, loud, belligerent, abusive, aggressive and physically violent or even distorted perceptions (when drinkers think alcohol makes them witty, charming or sexy). Yet, a single substance
cannot be responsible for such a diverse range of behaviour. What alcohol actually does is switch off the brain mechanism responsible for inhibition or social control. This results in revealing the true character that is hidden behind the socially desirable facade which we all present to those around us. For example, at a social function, a man with a reputation of being a ‘respectable family man, a pillar of society’ consumes several drinks, then makes crude comments and lewd suggestions to women and gropes their breasts and bottoms. Friends and associates defend his gross behaviour by claiming it is ‘so out of character’ and he ‘just had too much to drink’. Sorry to disillusion anyone or offend drinkers who use alcohol to excuse
bad behaviour, but the reality is that if a man behaves like a sleaze when he is under the influence of alcohol, it is because he
really is a ‘sleaze’. Likewise, anyone who becomes angry, abusive, aggressive or violent after consuming alcohol is really only expressing existing anger and an existing desire to engage in aggressive behaviour – but they keep these feelings and desires under control when they are sober. ("Anger" is discussed under "Self Esteem Parenting” and “Repressed
Anger” is under "More Info").
** Ecstasy also deserves separate mention due to suggestions by proponents of 'utopian pharmacology' that the drug could have a therapeutic role as a cure for deficits in empathy.
Ecstasy is classed as an empathogen or enactogen. It acts simultaneously as a stimulant and as a hallucinogen and also activates oxytocin (referred to as the ‘cuddle hormone’ that facilitates ‘bonding’ in relationships) which induces feelings of connectedness to others. This closeness and altered tactile sensations produce desire for sensual and sexual experiences.
Comments on utopian pharmacology:
According to a reductionist view, all human behaviour, thoughts, attitudes and feelings can be reduced to biochemical processes (such as neurotransmitters) as if this is all the explanation that is required. Accordingly, there is a view that there is a role for‘utopian pharmacology’. Ecstasy supposedly induces feelings of 'empathy' and 'connectedness' (due to oxytocin) and also promotes feelings of confidence (due to serotonin). Ecstasy was dubbed ‘Adam’ by a proponent because he ‘believed
that it returned the user to a state of primordial innocence’. Hence, there is a view that 'character deficits' can supposedly be corrected by use of psychedelic drugs such as ecstasy.
However, these biochemical processes are the mechanism only for experiencing feelings, while cognitive processes (thoughts) that give meaning to feelings are ignored as irrelevant. Psychoactive drugs alleviate symptoms of mental and affective disorders temporarily by changing mood state but do not provide a cure. They do not provide permanent change in aversive feelings or address underlying psychological causal factors (eg, unresolved emotional issues, negative self beliefs, self defeating behaviour, dysfunctional relationship patterns). Antidepressants do not cure depression, anxiolytics do not cure anxiety, mood stabilisers do not cure bipolar disorder, psychotropics do not cure schizophrenia. Likewise, psychoactive drugs are not going to cure deficits in social competency or deficits in empathy. An artificial, drug-induced mood state or altered consciousness will temporarily mask underlying feelings associated with negative or aversive thoughts and beliefs but will not change them so that thoughts and feelings match. There needs to be a match between thoughts and mood, in order to find meaning and make sense of feelings. Dissonance or disconnection between cognitions (thoughts, attitudes, beliefs) and feelings creates inner conflict and confusion. A feature of schizophrenia is a ‘split’ between thoughts and emotions and yet according to utopian pharmacology, it is desirable to create this schism between drug-induced emotions and underlying thoughts, beliefs and attitudes.
In a society where hedonism is valued above effort, a word of caution in assuming that pills such as ecstasy (via their action on neurotransmitters serotonin and oxytocin) can convert society into a utopia by curing mental, emotional and social ills. Supposedly, by empowering individuals with a sense of confidence and exchanging anger, hostilities and violent crime with love for fellow human beings.
However, the reality does not match the utopian vision - which is probably the delusional product of a hallucinogenic drug session. Likewise, the 'Adam delusion'. Studies show that the reality is that two days after a night on ecstasy, users change from being loving and empathetic to being irritable, unsociable and less empathetic than they before their drug binge. Couples who declared undying love (on ecstasy) are more likely to be having rows and split. Physiological tolerance to ecstasy develops and frequent users complain that the magic has faded. Research has found among volunteer users that the drug produced friendliness, playfulness and loving feelings, even among strangers, but it distorts one’s perception of others rather than producing true empathy. It also reduces capacity to recognize facial expressions of fear in other people, an effect that may be involved in the increased sociability.
Never mind that these drugs have the potential to create problems associated with addiction. In addition to the risk of potentially fatal effects while using ecstasy, repeated use may ultimately damage the cells that produce serotonin which has an important role in mood, appetite, pain, learning and memory. There is reportedly already research suggesting disruption or interference with memory. Heavy regular users may experience depression, anxiety, emotional burnout, rejection-sensitivity,
paranoia and various physical symptoms.
What should also be of concern to advocates of legalising drugs and using them to correct social and mental ills and character deficits, is that the psychedelic effects of ecstasy manifest as a perceptual distortion so that fearlessness is actually due to impaired ability to read cues which signal danger. Hence, the increased 'confidence' and 'connectedness' are delusional, so rather than promoting true empathy and confidence, empathogens are agents of delusion. It is an odd contradiction that psychoactive drugs are used to treat delusions in a psychotic episode, yet a psychoactive drug is being advocated to induce delusions as a means of 'curing' social ills.
Utopian pharmacology reflects Huxley’s use of the drug soma, in his dystonian futuristic views in "Brave New World". The utopian pharmacologists need to be reminded that Huxley was not presenting a role of soma as an ideal that was benefiting individuals or society. Perhaps they need to be reminded that the purpose of the government in providing soma was not the wellbeing of the populace, but their control. And perhaps that is the true motive of proponents of utopian pharmacology – dis-empowering individuals by getting them to relinquish their personal power to addictive substances.
A Self Medication Model of drug use might appear to support a role of utopian pharmacology in therapy. However, while the model hypothesises that drugs and alcohol are used in an attempt to cope with life and compensate for cognitive and social deficits, the emphasis here is that it is only an attempt and not a successful one. Like psychotropic drugs, the illicit drugs and alcohol change or cure nothing. They merely serve to escape from problems by distorting reality, anaesthetising aversive feelings, masking inadequacies and filling the void within.
Meditation – a safe, natural alternative:
If the goal of using drugs and alcohol is to relax or experience altered states of awareness or consciousness, then why not give meditation a go? This is truly a self-empowering exercise rather than relinquishing control to a chemical substance. Meditation produces relaxation – but perhaps a state of inner calm would be too confronting for the stimulant user who has a low tolerance for a relaxed mind. Meditation clears the channel between the different levels of consciousness (subconscious, the conscious mind and the higher consciousness) – and no side effects, no developing of tolerance, no addiction. Meditation
facilitates experiences of psychological insights and spiritual awareness - but that might be too confronting for users who are using psychoactive substances to escape into a drug-induced stupor – distortion and delusion (of hallucinogens), anaesthetising or blacking out (with analgaesics) or overwhelming the mind (with stimulants) - rather than explore and resolve.
Validation, vicariousness, voyeurism and vampirism:
If we examine our lives, how worthwhile and satisfying are they? How much validation do we feel? How ‘alive’ do we feel? How much do we feel the need to seek artificial sources of dopamine or adrenalin? Drugs and alcohol are the obvious of these, but there are other sources, activities or interests that we accept as a normal part of society without giving much thought to the role they play in our lives. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether these interests are merely peripheral to our lives (ie, simply supplementing or topping up our need for dopamine and adrenalin) or focal to our lives (ie, the main or sole source of pleasure and feeling alive). There are other sources that are viewed negatively and suggest a pathological lack
Living vicariously:
Can we regard sports fans and viewers of television ‘soaps’ as examples of living vicariously through the lives and achievements of others? Or is it that the adrenaline rush of watching a favoured team battle it out on the sporting field
– or the drama of a ‘soap’ – make the observer feel alive? As a peripheral role in our lives, as mere entertainment that simply
provides some variety to complement our lives and supplement our dopamine and adrenalin needs, just being an observer is ok. But, if life is being lived vicariously through ‘soaps’ or being a sports fan - if you are a soap addict whose major enjoyment in life is looking forward to the next episode - or a sports tragic whose whole idientity is tied up with the team you support and ‘worship’ your favourite sporting ‘hero’ - then it is time to get a life.
There is an old saying: “Those who can, do – those who can’t, teach”. Perhaps we can adapt that to sports: “Those who can, do – those who can’t, watch”. Then again, truthfully, many of us simply do lack athletic ability and inclination to be an active participant in sports. And as for the ‘soaps’, who honestly wants that much drama in their life? What woman would really want to exchange places with a character in a ‘soap’ – even though the main female characters are always ‘amazing
women’?
Voyeurism:
No matter how voyeuristic activities are legitimised as normal aspects of life, the fact is that the essential component of voyeurism can be summed up in the character of the ‘Peeping Tom’. The key ingredients of voyeurism are spying in secret on intimate behaviour, intrusion into privacy and of course the subject matter has to be sexual, salacious and titillating. It may be magazine gossip, focussing on ‘who is sleeping with who’ and ‘who is cheating on who’. And of course the paparazzi, whose intrusive pics of ‘celebrities’ requires a telephoto lens to intrude into privacy from a distance, aiming to cash in on titillating pictures of bare breasts or intimate shots. Do the readers of magazines and newspapers actually want this intrusion into the
lives of others in order to get their dopamine fix? Does voyeurism actually sell magazines? Or is this role of ‘peeping Tom’ imposed on readers by the media, acting as agents of voyeurism, following the mantra of, ‘Sex sells’?
Voyeurism to get a dopamine hit can be 'full on' sex as in viewing pornography. The fact that the participation in pornography is consensual sex by paid actors does not make it any less voyeuristic. While being saved the effort required to peep through a bedroom window or drill a peep hole in a bathroom wall, it is still private behaviour being viewed through the ‘peep hole’ of a camera and the ‘window’ of a computer screen. While the participating actors are ‘consenting’, the viewing is done in secret.
Vampires:
This ghoulish fascination with tragedy of others – like vampires, feeding off the emotional energy of disaster, drama, suffering and grief. ‘Rubber neckers’ flock to the scenes of disasters and tragedies. They hinder the efforts of rescue workers in fire, flood or earthquake. Drivers slow down, gawking, when passing the scene of an accident on the road and others drive by locations where murders have taken place, gawking. Is there an adrenalin rush in this? 'Disaster porn' is a term that has been coined.
For those who do not want to make the effort of visiting these locations, the drama, disaster, tragedy, suffering and grief can be televised and brought to your home – real ‘reality TV’. Electronically-delivered adrenaline. You can have home-delivered pizza with that. Example of electronically-delivered grief: A woman has been raped, viciously bashed and murdered - a television reporter shoves a microphone in the face of a grieving family member and says, “How do you feel? How does this death affect your family”?
Do TV viewers really want this intrusion into the grief of personal tragedy? Or is it just the media that is the vampire, feeding on tragedy and grief in the belief that this is what viewers want and will ‘feed’ their ratings?
Further along the vampire dimension is feeding off the emotional distress of participants in ‘reality’ TV shows. Even
further along the dimension is feeding off the fear of others and further along is creating fear in others and feeding
off that fear. Where do we draw the line on what vampirism – and voyeurism - is an acceptable complement to our
lives and what goes too far in dependency (for our fix) and too far in the violation of others?
Perhaps we do not realise how lacking in self sufficiency we are, as a society. How dependent society is on the quick fix of a pill to dull emotional pain rather than the effort to face and address the cause. Or the hedonic experience of artificial sources of dopamine, rather than the effort of seeking satisfaction in life. As a social species, interpersonal interaction and community social events and sporting activities are an essential part of the social cohesion of society. They contribute to mental and emotional wellbeing and connectedness of its members. However, dependence on these external sources of stimulation does not bring mental and emotional wellbeing. Entertainment and drugs to fill the inner void or feeding on the emotions of others to feel alive, does not bring mental and emotional wellbeing or connectedness – neither does it contribute to social cohesion.
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Top 5 Reasons Not to Buy Samsung Galaxy S3
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5 Reasons Not to Buy Samsung Galaxy S3
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is on it’s Way
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has almost been confirmed for an October launch. The leaked features indicate it getting an unbreakable display and lots of new features which S3 does not posses. The expected price of Note 2 is also around 40k which is almost same as the price of S3 so why not wait for two months and get a better Galaxy .
Google recently launched it’s budget tablet with Android Jelly Beans costing just $199 so why go for a higher range product when you can get a tablet for a much low price. Google Nexus 7 is one of the biggest reasons not to buy Samsung Galaxy S3. The Nexus 7 is started to ship now in the major launched countries.
Though a tablet can never take the place of a basic phone, you can always use VOIP to make voice calls on even cheaper rate from your tablet.
Android Jelly Beans
Google has launched the new Android Version called Android Jelly Beans. But Samsung Galaxy S3 has not yet received the update for Jelly Beans . Although S3 is expected to receive an upgrade of Jelly Beans soon, still for the time being an S3 User cannot enjoy the Jelly Beans experience.
High Price of Samsung Galaxy S3
Samsung Galaxy S3 is priced too high that it’s not for teens nor for the businessmen. It is such a phone which is perfect for teenagers but the price tag makes it a bummer to afford . For businessmen, it’s a good smartphone but still the price tag matters.
S-Voice is available on other Smartphones too
One of the biggest features of Galaxy S3 was S-Voice which responds to the users queries and answers just like the iPhone's Siri. It’s no more a fantasy to buy S3 just for S-Voice as it has been released as an application and is available on the other low end android phones too. So, it’s surely contributes as a reason to not buy Samsung Galaxy S3.
The Bonus Humoured Reason
Most important reason is Samsung Galaxy S3 is DESIGNED FOR HUMANS and we’re not humans we are Social Animals, so it adds to not buy Samsung Galaxy S3 . On a serious note, S3 is a great smartphone but so many points contribute to not buy S3. Better wait for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and iPhone 5 rather than buying Samsung Galaxy S3 now. It is my personal advice.
Categories : Android, Gadgets, Mobile Phones
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About Shine Literacy
Context: Educational Crisis
Awards & Ethos
Shine Centres
Shine Chapters
Khanyisa
Year Beyond
Shine Book Buddies
Shine Training
We run six flagship Shine Centres that support seven schools.
SOCIAL FRANCHISE MODEL
We have a social franchise model that has resulted in the establishment of 20 Shine Chapters in four provinces - the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KZN.
We provide training for volunteers, parents and caregivers to become learning partners to children.
The highly scalable Shine Book Buddies Programme pairs older and younger children in schools together to enhance the reading skills of both.
Shine Literacy offers literacy support programmes in 77 primary schools. Our reach includes the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. We offer training to organisations such as faith-based organisations, community centres as well as to individuals who share our passion to get children reading and, in this way, address South Africa’s educational crisis.
Many parents and caregivers choose to send their children to inner-city schools, far from where they actually live, in the hope of them receiving a better education. However, English is usually the language used to teach in these schools, which for most children, is a second language. Larger classes add to the challenges of children whose below the norm literacy levels put them ‘at risk’.
Our six Shine Centres provide individualised support to children in Grades 2 and 3 (the Shine Literacy Hour Programme) to strengthen their English reading, writing and speaking skills. Children work with trained volunteers once or twice a week, during the school day, for at least one year. A simple assessment at the end of Grade 1 is used to select the children who will take part in the programme. Further bi-annual assessments enable children’s progress to be carefully tracked.
Shine Centres bring benefits for the whole school, not just for those children who attend the programme. Grade R, 1, 2 and 3 classrooms are equipped with multi-cultural age-appropriate storybooks to promote a culture of reading throughout the school. Shine also facilitates an annual Family Literacy Workshop at each school which is host to a Shine Centre.
After many requests from individuals and organisations, we embarked on an exciting journey to find a way to replicate our model, without extensive financial and operational investment. This has resulted in 27 Shine social franchises in four provinces. We call these our ‘Shine Chapters’.
Shine Chapters are social franchises that deliver the Shine Literacy Hour model but are run and funded independently. The Chapter Manager is responsible for recruiting volunteers and ensuring that the programme is delivered according to the Shine Literacy model. Shine Literacy provides initial training and resources, and ongoing support and monitoring. The Chapters are a smart solution for replicating our essential model, helping us to spread knowledge more widely and to reach far more children than we could on our own.
We are proud to be associated with a formidable network of social franchisees:
Di Kerswill at Claremont Primary (Western Cape)
LifeMatters Foundation at Westlake Primary, Lourier Primary, Sullivan Primary, Capricorn Primary and Steenberg Primary (Western Cape)
Common Good Foundation at Kewtown Primary and Kleinberg Primary (Western Cape)
Won Life at Trevor Manuel Primary (Western Cape)
Enlighten Trust at Lukhanyo Primary (Western Cape)
Megan Viljoen and Maddy Loynes at Waterloo Primary (KZN)
Patsy Waites at Clarence Primary (KZN)
Anthea Rodseth and Michelle McIntosh at Clayton Primary (KZN)
Jeanine Forrest at Sherwood Primary (KZN)
Marcelle Brock at Lower Walmer Primary (PE)
Masinyusane at Ben Sinuka Primary and Seyisi Primary (PE)
The Volkswagen Community Trust at Ntlameza Primary and Mngcunube Primary (Uitenhage)
The Social Project at Lerato Primary (Jhb)
This innovative model received recognition in 2013 from Impumelelo (Silver Award for Social Innovation) and the 2012 Rising Star Award (Africa-Middle East) from the STARS Foundation.
Extensive research confirms that self-selected reading for pleasure results in profound growth in nearly all aspects of literacy, including reading ability, vocabulary, grammar, writing style and spelling. Children who read for enjoyment perform better in all subjects including Mathematics.
Shine Literacy created a new programme called Khanyisa, which means ‘to ignite’ or ‘to spark’ in Xhosa. Partnering with Action Volunteers Africa (AVA) and the Western Cape Education Department’s 100 Schools Project, recent matriculants are recruited and trained in our reading methodology. The Khanyisa programme involves placing youth in Grade 2 classrooms for six months, where they are exclusively used as Shine Reading Partners. The objective of this programme is to assist schools in establishing a culture of reading throughout the school by increasing access to exciting books, training staff in ways to promote a love of reading and making reading a daily practice. The Reading Partner ensures that each child in the class has an individual paired reading session at least twice a week. Additionally, the Reading Partner reads a story to the whole class at least once a day.
Currently, Khanyisa is implemented in 11 schools across the Cape Town Metro, in 39 classrooms and with a total complement of 25 unemployed youth as Reading Partners. Through the programme we see 1 565 children weekly. The reading partners are trained using the Shine Literacy methodology for Paired and Shared Reading. See our report on our findings here.
YearBeyond
Shine Literacy’s Theory of Change aims to get more children reading and writing at an appropriate level by delivering programmes that increase children’s access to quality literacy learning opportunities and resources. We realise that only by working in partnership with others can we accomplish our vision of a nation of readers.
YearBeyond or YeBo is a partnership between the Western Cape Government and numerous NGOs aimed at improving educational outcomes and encouraging a culture of volunteerism. This programme uses recent matriculants as Learning Partners. The youth are trained in our reading methodology to provide individual support to young children in low-income communities in an after-school setting. Youth receive stipends via the Jobs Fund, and participate in leadership and self-development courses to prepare them for the job market. Volunteering with YearBeyond is a full-time, five day a week commitment, and volunteers are busy from 9am to 6pm every day. They complete their self-development programme in the mornings, and are transported to their school in the afternoon to run the after-school education support and learner development programme.
In 2018, 60 youth are running elements of the Shine Literacy Hour Programme in 12 primary schools in Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain, Gugulethu, Manenberg and Phillipi.
The Shine Book Buddies model pairs older and younger children in schools together to enhance the reading skills of both. They meet two to three times a week for 15 minutes and do paired and shared reading – methodology also used in all Shine Centres during the Literacy Hour programme. Carefully selected readers (books) are offered in English and/or the mother tongue of the children. This simple, yet highly effective programme, can be facilitated by class teachers, and easily incorporated as a school-led initiative.
The Masikhulisane Book Buddies programme is a bi-lingual, cross-age reading for enjoyment programme which was inspired by Shine Literacy’s methodology. Working in partnership with Masikhulisane, five schools in the Eastern Cape are running this programme in 2018, with Shine Literacy serving as the overseeing partner. It emphasises the importance of developing a love of reading in children, using a bi-lingual approach to ensure that children have the opportunity to read stories in their home language and in their first additional language, and pairing children to read to each other thus drawing on the available resources of proficient readers in the school.
Recent research has highlighted the positive, yet unintended benefits that result from this type of initiative, namely: children from different age groups building friendships (which can benefit an entire community); older children having the opportunity to model good behaviour to younger children which can boost their self-esteem; and children are less likely to take part in bullying and they learn to work collaboratively (Boud, 2002; Developmental Studies Center, 1996; Topping et al., 2011; Juyonen & Graham, 2001).
We have developed creative ways to enable our programme to be used by others through our comprehensive offering of training workshops. We share our ethos and methodology, enabling interested parties to establish Shine Chapters (social franchises), Reading Clubs, a Shine Book Buddies programme, or to transfer vital skills through Family Literacy Workshops to parents, teachers and community-based organisations, who are then able to effect change.
LITERACY HOUR TRAINING
Literacy Hour Training is for anyone who would like to become a Shine Literacy volunteer. These workshops take place on a monthly basis, usually on a Tuesday, from 11:00am – 3:00pm. Contact Trudy on 021 762 4320 or info@shineliteracy.org.za for more details.
VOLUNTEER IN-DEPTH TRAINING
We engage regularly with our existing volunteers to deepen, broaden and refresh their knowledge on carefully selected topics. We invite guest speakers to talk about their areas of expertise within the broader education field.
FAMILY LITERACY WORKSHOPS
Shine’s Family Literacy Workshops seek to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to help them better support learning in the home. The workshops build on parents’ existing understanding, helping them to value what they know and to embrace their vital role in their child’s education. Tips, practical ideas and new resources enable parents to develop a repertoire of strategies and tools for helping their children to become successful readers and writers.
SEE OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
NPO number: 060696
PBO Number: 930025382
Level Four BBBEE Status
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SHINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.DESIGNED & DEVELOPED BY ABNF
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Home » Jessica » Photo » Picture » Seohyun » Sunny » Weibo » [Pictures] 140310 SNSD Jessica Weibo Update with Seohyun and Sunny
[Pictures] 140310 SNSD Jessica Weibo Update with Seohyun and Sunny
SNSD Jessica Weibo Pictures Update with Seohyun and Sunny
The caption of the photo:
[酷][偷笑]
Source: sy_jessica on weibo
Posted in: Jessica, Photo, Picture, Seohyun, Sunny, Weibo
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COMING UP...MAY 2011
Tongue Fu – Bank Holiday Special! Mon 2nd May 2011 - Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA Starring Soweto Kinch, Salena Godden & Joe Driscoll Tongue Fu have joined forces with top UK literature producers Renaissance One, and to celebrate we’ve put together something special for May 2nd Bank Holiday. Three riotous renegades of music and spoken word - performing as ever with the improvisatory brilliance of The Tongue Fu Band. Soweto Kinch – Mobo Award winning, Mercury nominated rapper & jazz saxophonist. “It's difficult to think of anyone currently able to produce a more convincing and engaging mix than Soweto Kinch” BBC Review Salena Godden – Poetry goddess published by Penguin & The Guardian; regular on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live & host of the legendary Book Club Boutique. “The doyenne of the spoken word scene.” Ian McMillan BBC Radio 3 Joe Driscoll – Globe-trotting multi-instrumentalist-singer-rapper-one man boundary-hopping entertainer, who’s opened for The Sugar Hill Gang, Matisyahu and Regina Spektor Plus special guest : Poet In Residence Shane Solanki Hosted by Chris Redmond - as heard on BBC Radio 4’s Pick Of The Week
http://www.richmix.org.uk or 020 7613 7498 for tickets
: £9 / £7 concs - Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
"It's poetry, but not as you know it…amazing to listen to” The Guardian “Top performance poetry night” The Independent
“the best poetry night in London” WriteOutLoud.net http://youtube.com/tonguefutales
MORE top gigs in May 2011 - Coming Soon!
MAY 7th: Salena Godden / live resident poet on 'Saturday Live' / BBC RADIO 4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgj4
MAY 26th: Salena Godden / howthelightgetsin / HAY-ON-WYE http://www.howthelightgetsin.org/tickets/
MAY 29th: Salena Godden / Bang Said The Gun / Meadowlands / BRIGHTON http://www.bangsaidthegun.com/news/tag/meadowlands-festival/
Out Now 'UNDER THE PIER' published by Nasty Little Press: www.nastylittlepress.org For quick updates / twitter: @BookCBoutique or @salenagodden More info & work at these websites too: www.thebookclubboutique.com and www.shortfirepress.com
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Practice Rules
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Driver Profile Form
Race With Us
Driver Training FAQ
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2019 SCCBC Club Standings
Race Drivers
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Without a doubt, auto racing is one of the most exciting sports ever devised. There is an indescribable, visceral feeling as a jostling crowd of brutishly powerful and highly engineered automobiles thunder by, each one daring the other to step beyond the physical limits that tie them to the asphalt.
Or not. At River’s Edge Road Course at Mission Raceway, we see racing as something beyond just grease and gas, rubber and metal, horsepower and speed. We also see it as a family affair, a place where there is something for everyone. Where you don’t need a five- or six-figure annual budget to compete, and where the whole family can be involved in a challenging, rewarding and unifying experience.
Whether your passion is to pilot a powerful formula car around the race track at peak speeds or cajole a wonderfully tempermental 50-year-old vintage car through a crowd of them, SCCBC and the River’s Edge have a class for you. Visit our Race With Us page to learn more about the type of cars and their competition.
You don’t need to wait until you’ve found a suitable car and class to work toward your race license. Visit our Driver Training page to learn how you can become a skilled, competitive driver, all while qualifying for your novice race license.
Refer to our driver training frequently asked questions page for answers to our most common driver training course questions.
The role of sponsorship in every not-for-profit organization is vital to its success. If you are interested in having your firm associated with the glamour and excitement of motorsport racing, visit our sponsor page for more information.
Joining the SCCBC is not just for race drivers. The SCCBC is a club whose mission is to promote the sport of motor racing in British Columbia. If you share our passion for motorsport racing in BC, you’ll find kindred spirits at the SCCBC. Visit our Membership page to find out why membership in the SCCBC may be just the tonic for you.
If tearing up the track at breakneck speeds is not your cup of tea, you can join our corps of talented and dedicated volunteers who make this sport run safely and efficiently. We have rewarding volunteer positions available for turnworkers, safety crew, in timing and scoring, track operations, administration and in other skilled and unskilled areas. Visit our Volunteers page for more information.
Safety Workers
Regarded as our most valued volunteer group, the safety crew and turnworkers provide an indispensible service with a knowledge and skill set that keep the race course safe. Visit our Motorsport and Emergency Turnworkers Association (META) page for information on how you can join this group.
© 2019 Sports Car Club of BC
Images provided courtesy of Gerry Frechette Photography and Martin's Action Photography
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Archive for Dave Clark
More Mark Curtis/Dave Clark reader comments
January 1, 2008 at 3:14 am · Filed under Dave Clark, Dennis Richmond, General, KTVU-Channel 2, Mark Curtis
It’s 2008, and time to clear out the emails:
Miss Young:
I disagree with your viewers who say that Dave Clark (of KTVU) sucks! Or whatever silly word was used to
describe Mr. Clark. He is well qualified with a lot of experience! I think most of the Bay Area viewers are borderline racist! They only tolerate Dennis Richmond as a main anchor…there are no others! As for Mark C., I was an intern there 8 years ago when he would sub or work as a morning reporter! He was a jerk! He arrived there from his DC post in ’98 or ’99! He has not been at KTVU for 14 years! That is a lie!
And here’s another email from a reader:
While I am not sure why Mark Curtis has been demoted, it does no matter, what is ironic is that you would demote what seems to be a light hearted individual and continue to inflict pain..forcing us to watch Dennis. So why are more people are choosing the internet, CNN and radio for their news choices? We hear personality and do not have to see pancake make-up!
Another Oakland viewer, back to ABC
Dennis Richmond Back, Mark Curtis Reporting
November 6, 2007 at 11:07 am · Filed under Dave Clark, Dennis Richmond, KTVU-Channel 2, Mark Curtis
Dennis Richmond is back at his desk, and the people at KTVU couldn’t be any happier.
Dennis returned on Friday to anchor the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.
“I watched him and thought he was back 100 percent (after his neck surgery),” KTVU-Channel 2 news director Ed Chapuis says. “He looks good and his voice is strong.”
Dennis said in an interview with Alameda Magazine back in 2006 that he was looking at spring 2008 as a target date and that doesn’t seem to be changing although Ed says nothing new has been announced.
“Look, we all retire at some point,” Ed says. ” But we haven’t made a statement about Dennis yet.”
As for Mark Curtis, who was ousted as the early morning anchor at KTVU in favor of L.A. anchor Dave Clark, Ed says he hopes viewers will give Dave a chance.
“Mark has made the transition from anchoring to reporting. He’s still working here at KTVU and still using his skills to the best advantage,” Ed says. “Dave Clark just started last Thursday and has only been on for four mornings so far. I think he looks terrific and like a part of the team.”
Ed says he understands that viewers might not like the change, but it was done in an effort to improve the newscast.
“If you are watching KTVU news, you see a lot of people who have been here a long time,” Ed says. “I think we do the best job of covering local news in the Bay Area, but we are always looking for ways to improve our coverage and that includes adding people who have the experience and the level of quality of a Dave Clark.”
Permalink Comments (23)
KTVU Gets a new Face
October 3, 2007 at 1:50 pm · Filed under Dave Clark, KTVU-Channel 2, Mark Curtis
Dave Clark’s in and Mark Curtis is out as the co-anchor of KTVU-Channel 2 ‘s Morning News, which airs from 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays.
Dave begins his new assignment on November 1.
“We are very excited to have Dave join the KTVU News team,” says Tim McVay, KTVU Vice President and General Manager. “He brings with him 35 years of outstanding broadcast journalism and a genuine commitment to the community.”
As for Mark, Timsays he will stay on as a reporter for the station.
“Mark will transition to a reporter role,” Tim says. “As you know he is an excellent journalist and tremendous contributor to the community.”
Dave comes to the Bay Area from Los Angeles where most recently he has been an Anchor/Reporter at KCAL9 TV and KCBS TV. He also worked at KNBC TV.
A native of Philadelphia, Dave is married and has three children.
“We are really looking forward to moving to the Bay Area as a family,” Dave says.
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Artist Title Label
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Fujii, Satoko / Orchestra New York
(Libra - Japan)
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Satoko Fujii leads her 13-piece big band through 5 thrilling and insightful compositions with a who's-who of NY improvisation: Nels Cline (guitar), Ches Smith (drums), Joe Fiedler & Curt Hasselbring (drums), Oscar Noriega, Ellery Eskelin, Briggan Krauss, Andy Laster & Tony Malaby (sax), Herb Robertson, Natsuki Tamura & Dave Ballou (trumpet) & bassist Stomu Takeishi; wow!
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Label: Libra
Catalog ID: 214-058
Squidco Product Code: 28374
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at Systems Two, in Brooklyn, New York, on May 1st, 2019, by Max Ross.
Satoko Fujii-composer
Oscar Noriega-alto saxophone
Briggan Krauss-alto saxophone
Ellery Eskelin-alto saxophone
Tony Malaby-tenor saxophone
Andy Laster-baritone saxophone
Natsuki Tamura-trumpet
Herb Robertson-trumpet
Dave Ballou-trumpet
Curtis Hasselbring-trombone
Joe Fiedler-trombone
Nels Cline-guitar
Stomu Takeishi-bass
Ches Smith-drums
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Artist Biographies:
• Show Bio for Satoko Fujii
"Born on October 9, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan, Fujii began playing piano at four and received classical training until twenty, when she turned to jazz. From 1985-87, she studied at Boston's Berklee College of Music, where her teachers included Herb Pomeroy and Bill Pierce. She returned to Japan for six years before returning to the US to study at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where her teachers included George Russell, Cecil McBee, and Paul Bley, who appeared on her debut CD Something About Water (Libra, 1996).
Since then Fujii has been an innovative bandleader and soloist, a tireless seeker of new sounds, and a prolific recording artist in ensembles ranging from duos to big bands. She has showcased her astonishing range and ability approximately 80 CDs as leader or co-leader. With each new recording or new band, she explores new aspects of her art.
Regular collaborations include her New York trio with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black, augmented by trumpeter/husband Natsuki Tamura to form the Satoki Fujii Four; her duo with Tamura; the Satoko Fujii Quartet featuring Tatsuya Yoshida of the Japanese avant-rock duo, The Ruins; Orchestra New York, which boasts the cream of New York's contemporary avant garde improvisers, including saxophonists Ellery Eskelin and Tony Malaby, trumpeters Herb Roberton and Steven Bernstein, and trombonist Curtis Hasselbring, among others; Orchestra Tokyo, drawing on that city's best improvisers; Orchestra Nagoya; Orchestra Kobe; the co-operative trio Junk Box with Tamura and percussionist John Hollenbeck; ma-do, a quartet including Tamura on trumpet, bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu, and Akira Horikoshi; the Min-Yoh Ensemble with Tamura, trombonist Hasselbring, and accordionist Andrea Parkins; the Satoko Fujii New Trio, featuring bassist Todd Nicholson and drummer Takashi Itani― plus countless engagements and collaborations with some of the world's most important improvisers."
-Satoko Fujii Website (http://www.satokofujii.com/bio.html)
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
^ Hide Bio for Satoko Fujii
• Show Bio for Oscar Noriega
"Multi-instrumentalist and composer, Oscar lives in Brooklyn since 1992.
He has worked with Lee Konitz, Anthony Braxton, Gerry Hemingway, Dewey Redman and Paul Motion.
He is currently performing with Tim Berne's Snakeoil, Endangered Blood (Chris Speed, Jim Black, Trevor Dunn) and colead with Jacob Garchik, the Mexico-inspired Banda De Los Muertos.
He plays alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet and drums."
-Oscar Noriega Website (http://www.oscarnoriega.com/contact/)
^ Hide Bio for Oscar Noriega
• Show Bio for Briggan Krauss
"Saxophonist Briggan Krauss has been an internationally recognized key player in New York City's downtown and creative music scene for more than twenty years. He connects the extreme edges of technique with the unexplored tonal possibilities of the instrument while making his work as much about shape as it is about his unique signature sound.
He has released several critically acclaimed recordings as a leader and has appeared on over fifty other recordings as a sideman. He has worked with a diverse range of artists including John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Steven Bernstein, Wayne Horvitz, Levon Helm, Skerik, Eyvind Kang, Robin Holcomb, Norah Jones, Medeski Martin and Wood, Hal Willner, Skuli Sverrisson, Jim Black, Ikue Mori, Joey Baron, Kato Hideki, Satoko Fuji, Dave Harrington, The New York Composer's Orchestra, Elysian Fields, Iron & Wine, Rufus Wainwright, Sarah Manning, Trey Anastasio, Joan Wasser, Jessie Harris, Beth Fleenor, Lou Reed, Marc Ribot, Antony, and U2.
Briggan's voice has been a part of Steven Bernstein's iconic quartet Sexmob from its inception twenty years ago. Sexmob earned a Grammy Award nomination for their 2006 recording titled Sexotica and Briggan also recorded with guitarist Bill Frisell on his Grammy Award winning 2007 album Unspeakable.
In addition to his work as a saxophonist and composer, Briggan plays guitar in several projects including his String and Reed Quartet. He also works in the areas of sound art, electronic music and interdisciplinary performance. He is currently a professor in the Performance and Interactive Media Arts [PIMA] and Sonic Arts MFA programs at Brooklyn College. "
-Briggan Krauss Website (https://www.briggankrauss.com/bio)
^ Hide Bio for Briggan Krauss
• Show Bio for Ellery Eskelin
"For the past thirty years Ellery Eskelin has been at the forefront of the global creative improvised music scene. Based in New York City, he has traveled widely performing, recording and amassing a very personal and iconoclastic body of work. And yet Ellery Eskelin has always remained deeply committed to the traditions of jazz and American music. Eskelin embodies this seeming contradiction with ease. He does not see jazz as a style or idiom but as a process. Further, a process of creative development that has great relevancy to our time. In this pursuit Eskelin consistently delivers to the listening public unadulterated, passionate music with no excuses and no apologies.
Ellery Eskelin (born 1959) was raised in Baltimore and began playing the tenor saxophone at age ten, inspired by his mother "Bobbie Lee" who played Hammond B3 organ professionally in the early sixties. In 1983 Eskelin moved to New York City and in 1987 began recording with the cooperative group Joint Venture which also began his exposure on the European international touring circuit. Soon after, Eskelin formed the first of many projects as a leader beginning with a trio comprised of bassist Drew Gress and drummer Phil Haynes followed by a short lived group featuring Joe Daley on tuba and Arto Tuncboyaciyan on bakdav drums and percussion. In 1992 Eskelin joined drummer Joey Baron's group, "Baron Down" (instrumentation of drums, trombone and saxophone), an experience that proved to be an important catalyst in his own work fostering an increased interest in new and unusual instrumentation. In 1994 Eskelin formed the group most often associated with him including accordionist Andrea Parkins and drummer Jim Black. To date he has written over 50 compositions for this group, each of which has been documented on a series of CD releases on the Swiss hatHUT record label. The band has toured regularly and performed hundreds of concerts in the US, Canada and throughout Europe during the past twenty years. Eskelin's most recent project is "Trio New York" featuring organist Gary Versace and drummer Gerald Cleaver. "Trio New York" takes a free approach to the great American songbook, bringing Eskelin full circle to his musical beginnings while addressing his varied musical journeys since then.
Along the way Eskelin has done a number of side projects including a group featuring guitarist Marc Ribot and drummer Kenny Wollesen dedicated to the music of Gene Ammons, improvisatory duos with Dutch drummer Han Bennink, an improvising ensemble consisting of strings, vibraphone and saxophone and most recently a group featuring Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar and bassist Michael Formanek. Over the years Eskelin has developed a number of other important associations with musicians such as Gerry Hemingway, Mark Helias, Sylvie Courvoisier, and Bobby Previte. As a side-person Eskelin has worked with a broad cross section of jazz, avant-pop and new-music figures such as organist Brother Jack McDuff, composer Mikel Rouse, guitarist Eugene Chadbourne, oud player and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil, drummer Daniel Humair and the pseudo-group "The Grassy Knoll" among many others.
Eskelin's recordings as a leader and co-leader (there are currently twenty) have been named in Best of the Year critics' polls in the New York Times, The Village Voice , and major jazz magazines in the US and abroad. He also appears on over fifty recordings as a side person. DownBeat Magazine named Eskelin as one of the 25 Rising Stars for the Future in its January 2000 issue ("...players who not only insure the music's survival but promise to take it to the next level") as well as including him in their Annual Critics Polls nearly every year since then. Eskelin was a nominee for the prestigious Danish Jazzpar award in 2003 and was the recipient of a Chamber Music America French-American Exchange grant in 2007 and in 2014 as well as a Chamber Music America New Jazz Works grant in 2009."
-Ellery Eskelin Website (http://home.earthlink.net/~eskelin/styled-5/)
^ Hide Bio for Ellery Eskelin
• Show Bio for Tony Malaby
"Tony Malaby (born January 12, 1964 in Tucson, Arizona) is a jazz tenor saxophonist. Malaby moved to New York City in 1995 and has played with several notable jazz groups, including Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band, Mark Helias's Open Loose, Fred Hersch's Trio + 2 and Walt Whitman project, and bands led by Mario Pavone, Chris Lightcap, Bobby Previte, Tom Varner, Marty Ehrlich, Angelica Sanchez, Mark Dresser, and Kenny Wheeler. Other collaborators have included Tom Rainey, Christian Lillinger, Ben Monder, Eivind Opsvik, Nasheet Waits, and Michael Formanek. His first album as a co-leader was Cosas with Joey Sellers."
-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Malaby)
^ Hide Bio for Tony Malaby
• Show Bio for Andy Laster
"Composer and multireedist Andy Laster grew up on the south shore of Long Island. He studied short fiction writing at the University of Michigan and jazz at Seattle's Cornish Institute before moving to New York City in 1985. His first recording, "Hippo Stomp," appeared on the Sound Aspects label in 1989. This album was followed by two more Sound Aspects releases, "Twirler" and the first eponymously named CD by Hydra, one of Laster's key ongoing projects in the 1990s. "Interpretations of Lessness," based on a poem by Samuel Beckett, was released in 1997 and was named one of the year's top ten jazz recordings by Billboard Magazine. "Window Silver Bright" was released in 2002, with an expanded version of his Lessness ensemble. While leading these two groups, Laster contributed to collaborative ensembles Orange Then Blue and New and Used, as well as performed in Erik Friedlander's Topaz; the Julius Hemphill Sextet; the Pink Noise Saxophone Quartet; Bobby Previte's Weather Clear, Track Fast; and Matt Darriau's Ballin' the Jack. He has also performed with Mark Helias, Hank Roberts' Birds of Prey, Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Marty Ehrlich, Dave Douglas, Elliot Sharp, Roy Nathanson, Satoko Fujii Orchestra, and Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra.
Laster's chamber music has been premiered at New York City venues including Advent Lutheran Church, the Cornelia Street Cafe, and Roulette. He has been awarded residencies at the Blue Mountain Center and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. He wrote incidental music for the play "Cast a Spell" by Traci Parks, which was performed at HERE Arts Center. In 2010, his piece Concrete Floor and Sailfish was selected as part of the American Composer Forum, Philadelphia Chapter, New Voices program and was premiered by Argento Chamber Ensemble. He has also received grants from the American Music Center, the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, and Meet the Composer."
-Andy Laster Website (http://andylaster.com/about/)
^ Hide Bio for Andy Laster
• Show Bio for Natsuki Tamura
"Japanese trumpeter and composer Natsuki Tamura is internationally recognized for a unique musical vocabulary that blends extended techniques with jazz lyricism. This unpredictable virtuoso's seemingly limitless creativity led François Couture in All Music Guide to declare that "... we can officially say there are two Natsuki Tamuras: The one playing angular jazz-rock or ferocious free improv... and the one writing simple melodies of stunning beauty... How the two of them live in the same body and breathe through the same trumpet might remain a mystery."
Born on July 26, 1951, in Otsu, Shiga, Japan, Tamura first picked up the trumpet while performing in his junior high brass band. He began his professional music career after he graduated from high school, playing in numerous bands including the World Sharps Orchestra, Consolation, Skyliners Orchestra, New Herd Orchestra, Music Magic Orchestra, and the Satoko Fujii Ensemble, as well as in his own ensemble. He was the trumpeter for numerous national television shows in Japan from 1973-1982, including The Best Ten, Music Fair, Kirameku Rhythm and many others.
In 1986, he came to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music. He then returned to his native Japan to perform and teach at the Yamaha Popular Music School and at private trumpet studios in Tokyo and Saitama, before coming back to the US to study at New England Conservatory. He made his debut recording as a leader in 1992 on Tobifudo.
In 1997 he released the duo album How Many? with pianist Satoko Fujii, who is also his wife. It marked the beginning of an artistic collaboration that continues up to the present. The duo has made a total of five CDs over the years, including 2012's Muku. "Muku contains some truly stunning, spine-tingling music...its sheer beauty and elegance is what lingers most," wrote Dave Wayne in All About Jazz. "Fujii's orchestral technique, clear chromatic lines and "prepared piano" devices contrast effectively with Tamura's arsenal of extended techniques which he executes with a warm, vocalized tone throughout the trumpet's full range," Ted Panken said in his four-star DownBeat review. Tamura's collaborations with Fujii reveal an intense musical empathy, and have garnered wide popular and critical acclaim. Jim Santella in All About Jazz described their synergy well in his glowing review of the couple's 2006 Not Two disc, In Krakow, In November: "... the creative couple forcefully demonstrates what can happen when you let your musical ideas run free... Similarly, Tamura's mournful trumpet can fly high or low in search of his next surprise. Oftentimes, they both issue plaintive moans that sing like angels on high." Their sixth duet album is due out in 2017.
In 1998, Tamura began recording his unaccompanied solo performances. The stunning solo trumpet debut release, A Song for Jyaki earned a Writers Choice 1998 in Coda magazine, and Andy Bartlett wrote in Coda, "A fabulous set of hiccuping leaps, drones and post-bop trumpet hi-jinx. Tamura goes from growling lows to fluid, free solo runs and echoes not only Don Cherry's slurring anti-virtuosic chops but also Kenny Wheeler's piercing highwire fullness." He followed it up in 2003 with KoKoKoKe, which Jon Davis described in Exposé as "Buddhist chants from an alien planet." Grego Applegate Edwards explains that on Tamura's most recent solo album, 2013's Dragon Nat, "he pares down to focus on simple unwinding melodic material, the sound of his trumpet as a sensuous thing, a periodicity. Taken as a whole it is a kind of environmental tone poem for the moment Natsuki is in now."
2003 was a breakout year for Tamura as a bandleader, with the release of Hada Hada, featuring his free jazz-avant rock quartet with Fujii on synthesizer. Peter Marsh of the BBC had this to say about the high voltage CD: "Imagine Don Cherry woke up one morning, found he'd joined an avant goth-rock band and was booked to score an Italian horror movie. It might be an unlikely scenario, but it goes some way to describing this magnificent sprawl of a record." The quartet's 2004 Quartet release Exit was deemed "...a brilliantly executed set with a neon glow," by Dan McClenaghan in All About Jazz.
In 2005, Tamura made a 180-degree turn in his music with the debut of his all acoustic Gato Libre quartet. Focusing on the intersection of European folk music and sound abstraction, the quartet featured Fujii on accordion, Kazuhiko Tsumura on guitar, and Norikatsu Koreyasu on bass. The quartet's poetic, quietly surreal performances have been praised for their "surprisingly soft and lyrical beauty that at times borders on flat-out impressionism," by Rick Anderson in CD Hotlist. Dan McClenaghan in All About Jazz described their fourth CD, Shiro, as "intimate, something true to the simple beauty of the folk tradition...Tamura's career has largely been about dissolving musical boundaries. With Gato Libre and Shiro, the trumpeter extends his reach even deeper into the prettiest, most accessible of his endeavors." After the unexpected passing of Norikatsu in 2012, Tamura added trombonist Yasuko Kaneko to the group. The new configuration has toured Europe and Japan and released its debut recording, DuDu, in 2014. "DuDu follows the winning formula of its predecessors but, as with the other discs, eschews the formulaic. The result is another sublimely satisfying, elegant record that brims with raw excitement and a reflective nostalgia," writes Hrayr Attarian in All About Jazz. With the tragic death of guitarist Kazuhiko Tsumura, Gato Libre is now a trio. They will release a CD and LP in 2017.
In 2010, Tamura debuted a new electric quartet, First Meeting, featuring Fujii, drummer Tatsuhisa Yamamoto and electric guitarist Kelly Churko. Their first release, Cut the Rope, is "is a noisy, free, impatient album, and ranks among Fujii and Tamura's most accomplished," according to Steve Greenlee in the Boston Globe.
While fronting groups and recording as a leader, Tamura has also played an integral role in nearly all of Satoko Fujii's many projects. He is featured on all of the CDs by Satoko Fujii's various orchestras (NY, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, and Berlin) and has contributed original compositions and arrangements to each of their 19 critically celebrated albums. In addition, he was a featured soloist in the Satoko Fujii Quartet, her avant-rock free jazz group that also included Tatsuya Yoshida of The Ruins. Of his work on the quartet's 2003 release Minerva, Mark Keresman wrote in JazzReview.com, "Natsuki Tamura's trumpet has some of the stark, melancholy lyricism of Miles, the bristling rage of late 60s Freddie Hubbard and a dollop of the extended techniques of Wadada Leo Smith and Lester Bowie."
Tamura is a vital member of Fujii's Min-Yo Ensemble as well. "Tamura tempers his avant-garde antics with an innate lyricism," wrote Steve Smith of Time Out New York in his review of Fujin Raijin, the intimate acoustic quartet's debut CD. He's also been singled out for his contributions to Fujii's ma do ensemble. "With Tamura's brash and glowing lines, the band incorporates mesmeric ostinatos and thrusting opuses into the grand schema," Glenn Astarita wrote in Ejazznews about their first CD, Desert Ship.
Collaborative groups also play an important role in Tamura's career. Most recently, Tamura joined Fujii and two French musicians, trumpeter Christian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins, to form Kaze, which made their recording debut in 2011. In 2015, they released their third album, Uminari, which Jazz Magazine (France) called, "a compelling example of free jazz today. Compositions are perfectly scripted, with a well-oiled interaction and playing of beautiful power..." The collaborative trio Junk Box, which he co-founded in 2006 along with pianist Fujii and drummer John Hollenbeck, plays Fujii's "composed improvisations," graphic scores that take "ensemble dynamics to great creative heights," says Kevin Le Gendre in Jazzwise. Their music "is full of bluster and agitation that nonetheless retains moments of great melodic beauty, usually by way of concise, pertly pretty motifs that trumpeter Tamura plays in between bursts of withering roars that often dissolve into austere overtones." Their premiere CD, Fragment, appeared in 2006. As Daniel Spicer wrote of Fragment in JazzWise, "Tamura spits out gloriously rude Lester-Bowie-like snorts, lows like a herd of robotic cattle or makes like a wheezy howler monkey... Cool and clever." Glenn Astarita of All About Jazz declared it "Required listening."
Along the way, there have been one-off cooperative groups and sideman appearances for Tamura as well. In the Tank, an ad hoc quartet with Fujii and electric guitarists Takayuki Kato and Elliott Sharp, is a "triumphant electro-acoustic adventure" according to Daniel Spicer of Jazzwise. "Think AMM meets blues guitar meets 1970s Miles Davis and you get some idea of the disc's flavor: a slow-moving panorama for the ears, where sounds are systematically added, repeated, refined, and replaced in turn," wrote Nate Dorward in Cadence. Tamura and Fujii were one of two piano/trumpet duos featured on the Double Duo Crossword Puzzle CD, a live recording with Dutch trumpeter Angelo Verploegen and pianist Misha Mengelberg. Tamura has also toured and recorded with saxophonist Larry Ochs' Sax and Drumming Core, and appeared on albums by drummer Jimmy Weinstein, saxophonist Raymond McDonald, and CDs by Japanese free-jazz pioneers trumpeter Itaru Oki and pianist Masahiko Sato. In 2014 he released Nax, a duet album with bassist Alexander Frangenheim. Tamua has toured throughout Japan, North America, and Europe, appearing at major jazz festivals, concert halls, and clubs."
-Natsuki Tamura Website (http://www.natsukitamura.com/bio)
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• Show Bio for Herb Robertson
"Clarence "Herb" Robertson (born February 21, 1951) is a jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist. He was born in New Jersey and attended the Berklee School of Music. He has recorded five solo albums for the JMT record label and also worked as a sideman for Tim Berne, Anthony Davis, Bobby Previte, David Sanborn, George Gruntz, Bill Frisell and Paul Motian, among others."
-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Robertson)
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• Show Bio for Dave Ballou
"Trumpeter/Improviser/Composer/Educator, Dave Ballou has released ten CD's as a leader and co-leader. He has performed or recorded with ensembles led by Michael Formanek, Denman Maroney, Maria Schnieder, Andrew Hill, Dave Liebman, Oliver Lake, Joe Lovano, Sheila Jordan, Steely Dan, Rabih Abou-Kahlil, Don Preston and an extensive list of jazz personalities. Dave has performed Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2 with the Bella Musica Orchestra of NY, Larry Austin's Improvisations with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and Gunther Schuller's Journey into Jazz with the Spokane Symphony and Boston Modern Orchestra Project. He appeared as a featured soloist for the premiere of Schuller's Encounters, a composition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Jordan Hall.The Meridian Arts Ensemble, The TILT Brass ensemble and the Monarch Trio have all performed his compositions. His work for solo trumpet, "Samskara" has been recorded by Jon Nelson for release in 2010. In 2009, Dave received an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council. In 2010, Universtiy of Michigan French Horn professor, Adam Unsworth, performed an adaptation of "Samskara" for horn.
Dave is a Professor of Music at Towson University and coordinator of the Jazz/Commercial music division. He teaches classes in Jazz history, Jazz theory and improvisation, Jazz arranging, studio jazz trumpet and improvisation for all instrumentalists, jazz composition and coaches small jazz ensembles including the improvisation ensemble. He has taught at the Litchfield Jazz Camp, the Maryland Summer Jazz Camp, the Maine Jazz Camp and The Banff Institute.
He earned a BM (magna cum laude) from Berklee College of Music in 1986 and a MA from the University of New Hampshire in 1991.Born in Peace Dale, Rhode Island Dave was drawn to the trumpet at age 11 and quickly was excited by the sounds of jazz trumpeters Clifford Brown, Woody Shaw, Maynard Ferguson, Clark Terry, the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Orchestra as well as classical trumpeterers John Willbraham and Bud Herseth. His early trumpet studies were with RI philharmonic trumpeter Julio Tancredi. Dave began working gigs at the age of 16 playing society gigs in the mansions of Newport and Italian Festival parades in Providence, RI.After brief study at the University of Rhode Island, Dave attended the Berklee College of Music. There he studied with Herb Pomeroy, Greg Hopkins, Jimmy Mosher and Greg Fritze. Other teachers have been George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Hal Crook, Laurie Frink, Charles Schluter, Jeff Stout and Paul Caputo.
Tours with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey (led by Buddy Morrow) and Woody Herman (led by Frank Tiberi) followed studies at Berklee. Dave then attended the University of New Hampshire and received a Master's of Art's degree in 1992. At UNH he came under the direct influence of the jazz great Clark Terry.
Dave worked many types of gigs in the Boston area during and after his studies at UNH. He was also a member of the bands Orange Then Blue and the Either/Orchestra.
In 1994 Dave moved to New York City. Seeking a community in which he could grow as an artist and be surrounded by like-minded musicians, Dave settled into Brooklyn and took part in the vibrant scene there. In NY Dave played Broadway shows , recording sessions and many jazz concerts with some of his heroes: Joe Lovano, Sheila Jordan, Tim Berne, Billy Hart, Dewey Redman, Michael Formanek and Dave Liebman.
Dave joined the faculty of Towson Universtiy in the fall of 2004. He became to coordinator of the Jazz and Commercial Music division in 2006 and has worked to reconnect the Jazz program with the community of musicians influenced by former TU music professor Hank Levy. Earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in the 2009-2010 academic year Dave has become recognized as an innovative pedagouge in the teaching of improvisation and composition. His students have become leaders in the improvised music scene in Baltimore.
He continues to perform with innovative improvisors and composers. Recently appearing with on recordings by Denman Maroney, Mario Pavone and Grammy nominated John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, Dave continues to develop as an instrumentalist, composer and teacher."
-Dave Ballou Website (http://daveballou.com/?page_id=528)
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• Show Bio for Curtis Hasselbring
"Curtis Rae Hasselbring (born July 12, 1965, Fort Wayne, Indiana) is an American jazz trombonist.
Hasselbring learned trombone and guitar while young, though he did not play guitar professionally until the 1990s. He studied formally at the New England Conservatory, graduating in 1988, then worked with Charlie Kohlhase and Ken Schaphorst. He took a master's degree at Rutgers in 1997, during which time he worked with Chris Speed, Bobby Previte, Cuong Vu, Satoko Fujii, and others.[1] He is the leader of the ensembles The New Mellow Edwards, Decoupage, and Curha-chestra. He has released three albums as a leader."
-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Hasselbring)
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• Show Bio for Joe Fiedler
"Influenced by two older cousins who both played trumpet, trombonist/composer Joe Fiedler, born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and based in NYC since 1993, desperately wanted to become a trumpet player himself, but was instead given a trombone by his fourth grade music teacher who saw Fiedler and the trombone as a good match. The young, shy musician accepted the "arranged marriage", and the fourth grade music teacher has since been proven prophetic. Fiedler and the trombone finding each other coincided with the young musician falling under the abiding influence of two albums from his father's collection, The Cannonball Adderley Sextet-Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, and Oscar Peterson's Night Train.
During his high school years Fiedler entertained a fantasy about going to Berklee and studying with the noted educator, Phil Wilson. But as graduation neared he decided to enroll at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. Fiedler spent a couple of years having a typical college experience, but the trombone was on the back burner. After that period of time he decided to move back home and transferred to the University of Pittsburgh. He soon learned through an old high school buddy who was in Pitt's jazz band that they were in need of trombone players. "So I joined and once my flame was relit, I was all in, and full on! At that time I had no idea how to make a living playing the trombone, but I was just in love with practicing and the whole process," commented Fiedler.
Upon graduating Fiedler quickly becoming an in-demand sideman, freelancing for several years in Pittsburgh, including hitting the road with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and working in pit orchestras for Broadway shows. Shortly after, Fiedler moved to New York City in 1993, and two big breaks really opened up a career path for the trombonist. He heard through some friends who were members of Billy Bang's quintet that the great Cecil Taylor was forming a new large ensemble. As a young, brave, and perhaps naïve musician, Fiedler crashed the first rehearsal, and when he wasn't asked to leave, he kept showing up. "After a while I guess that I was just in the band. While playing with Cecil was great, it was the players that I met that led to many other projects, either directly or indirectly. Some of those players included: Steve Swell, Susie Ibarra, Chris Jonas, Rob Brown, and Chris Lightcap," said Fiedler.
Fiedler also met many future collaborators through Joey Sellers, one of his all time favorite composers /arrangers /trombonists, who was holding open rehearsals at the Local 802 Union with his 11 piece band. Fiedler explains, "through the grape vine, I ended up at one of those rehearsals and was able to stick around. Up until then I was a bit mired in the free jazz scene-which was cool, but I wanted to play in an open setting, but with some harmony and form. (Much in the vein of my hero Ray Anderson.) It was in that band that I finally met a whole slew of like-minded players and finally felt at home. That band included: Tony Malaby, Dave Ballou, Dave Berkman and my future band mates, John Hebert and Michael Sarin."
Since this time, Fiedler, born March 24, 1965, has gone from strength to strength, happily entrenched in a whirlwind of prestigious sideman activity over the past twenty years (Fiedler is one of the first-call trombonists in the world and is featured on more than 100 recordings). He has also been modestly crafting and releasing an exceptional cluster of recordings as a composer and bandleader that has garnered high praise from fans and the most revered journalists and critics covering jazz and creative music.
Fiedler exploded out of the gate as a leader with a one two punch; Joe Fiedler Plays the Music of Albert Mangelsdorff, followed by The Crab (both on the much-revered label, Clean-Feed Records), that put him on the map as triple threat musician; a seriously gifted improviser, an accomplished composer/arranger and an imaginative bandleader. These recordings garnered such praise as, "one of the small group jazz discs of the year" (Jim Macnie, The Village Voice), "a memorable and brilliant tribute. Highly recommended" (All Music Guide) and, "pointing a way toward the future of the trombone." (Stephen Loewy, Cadence Magazine). In 2011 Fiedler released Sacred Chrome Orb, and once again took the trombone to new heights in the exposed setting of a trio (sans chordal instrument), accompanied by bassist John Hebert (who also appears on the Manglesdorff album), and the ubiquitous drummer Michael Sarin.
The idea for Fiedler's newest band and recording, both titled Big Sackbut, featuring Fiedler, Josh Roseman & Ryan Keberle - trombones, and Marcus Rojas - tuba (on the Yellow Sound Label, September, 2012), was born in the late 1980s when Fiedler first saw The World Saxophone Quartet live. He explains this revelation: "The drive and energy that they put forth, all without a traditional rhythm section was quite compelling. In addition, the tunes had a wonderful balance of 'loose-tightness' or 'tight-looseness' that totally sucked me right in. And this is to say nothing of the four powerhouse solo voices. I immediately thought of how I might incorporate my image of all of those elements into a trombone driven project of my own. Those ideas rattled around in my head for more than 20
years. Then a little more than two years ago, while on a gig with Ryan Keberle, I told him of my intention to finally follow through and put it all together. As it turned out he was curating a series for
the New York Slide Workers Union and offered me a gig. The series was taking place at Josh Roseman's performance space, Northsix Media Labs in Brooklyn, so he was naturally recruited, being one of my favorite trombonists. This gig was just the little nudge that I needed to bring the project to life, and here it is!"
On Big Sackbut one could listen to and enjoy this music immensely without considering the instrumentation, so complete is this music. However, that would be missing most of the soul enriching listening and gratifying fun that is packed into every measure. To hear and contemplate the vast amounts of timbre, tone, rhythm, harmony, melody, charming wittiness and emotion these musicians extract from three trombones and a tuba is an extraordinary experience.
Joe Fiedler's career is always moving full steam ahead, and in addition to leading his own bands, the aforementioned Big Sackbut, and The Joe Fiedler Trio, he is currently working with Miguel Zenon's Large Ensemble, Eddie Palmieri, Fast 'n' Bulbous, Viento De Agua (whose first album, De Puerto Rico alMundo, was selected among the Top 10 Latin albums of the year by The New York Times), the EdPalermo Big Band, Endangered Species-The Music of Wayne Shorter, and many others. Fiedler is alsoin the planning stages for a solo trombone project, and is a regular contributor to The Mingus BigBand. Fiedler's "day job" is Music Director: Arrangements (serving as arranger, orchestrator andtrombonist) for Sesame Street. Over four seasons he has written more than 150 arrangements andcrafted more than 5000 underscoring cues."
-Joe Fiedler Website (http://www.joefiedler.com/)
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• Show Bio for Nels Cline
"Nels Courtney Cline (born January 4, 1956 in Los Angeles) is an American guitarist and composer. He has been the guitarist for the band Wilco since 2004.
He first came to prominence in the 1980s playing jazz, often in collaboration with his twin brother Alex Cline, a drummer. Since then, he has worked with a wide range of musicians in punk and alternative rock, notably Mike Watt and Thurston Moore. He also leads the groups the Nels Cline Singers and Nels Cline Trio.
Cline was named the 82nd greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in November 2011."
-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nels_Cline)
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• Show Bio for Stomu Takeishi
"Stomu Takeishi (born 1964, in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese jazz bass player. He generally plays fretless five-string electric bass guitar, as well as a Klein five-string acoustic bass guitar. He often uses looping or other electronic techniques to enhance the sound of his instrument.
Takeishi began as a koto player. He came to the United States in 1983 to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. After completing his degree in 1986, he moved to Manhattan to continue his studies at The New School. He has lived in New York City ever since.
In the 1990s he began to achieve prominence as an innovative New York jazz bass player, and critics have noted both his adventurous playing and sensitivity to sound and timbre. He has played in many international jazz festivals and often performs at major venues in New York, the United States, and Europe.
He has performed and/or recorded with Don Cherry, Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Motian, Myra Melford, Cuong Vu, Badal Roy, David Tronzo, Erik Friedlander, Satoko Fujii, Laszlo Gardony, Ahmad Mansour and Andy Laster.
In Downbeat's 57th Critics Poll in 2009, Stomu was the poll winner in the category of Electric Bass, Rising Star.
He has been performing all over Mexico with MOLE (Hernan Hecht at drums, Mark Aanderud at piano.)"
-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomu_Takeishi)
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• Show Bio for Ches Smith
"Born in San Diego, CA and raised in Sacramento, Ches Smith came up in a scene of punks and metal musicians who were listening to and experimenting with jazz and free improvisation. He studied philosophy at the University of Oregon before relocating to the San Francisco Bay area in 1995. After a few years of playing with obscure bands and intensive study with drummer / educator Peter Magadini, he enrolled in the graduate program at Mills College in Oakland at the suggestion of percussionist William Winant. There he studied percussion, improvisation, and composition with Winant, Fred Frith, Pauline Oliveros and Alvin Curran. One of Winant's first "assignments" for Ches was to sub in his touring gig at the time, Mr. Bungle (here he met bassist / composer Trevor Dunn who would later hire him for the second incarnation of his Trio-Convulsant). During his time at Mills, Ches co-founded two bands: Theory of Ruin (with Fudgetunnel / Nailbomb frontman Alex Newport), and Good for Cows (w/ Nels Cline Singers' Devin Hoff). He currently performs and records with Xiu Xiu, and Secret Chiefs 3. He has also performed with Ben Goldberg, Annie Gosfield, Wadada Leo Smith, John Tchicai, Fred Frith, and Trevor Dunn. In addition to Ceramic Dog, he also leads his two of his own projects, Congs for Brums and These Arches. He currently spends his time between Los Angeles, San Francisco and Brooklyn."
-Ches Smith Website (http://www.chessmith.com/)
^ Hide Bio for Ches Smith
1. Entity 12:43
2. Flashback 13:16
3. Gounkaiku 16:17
4. Elementary Particle 10:08
5. Everlasting 11:12
sample the album:
descriptions, reviews, &c.
"The Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York, led by one of this era's greatest big band composers, sounds as fresh and exciting on their eleventh recording, Entity, as they did on their first in 1997. Working with a 13-piece big band that includes a remarkable nine founding members, Fujii continues to inspire her orchestra-and be inspired by them. This is an album that revels in the soloing prowess of its individual members while showcasing the ever-inventive composing and arranging of its founder and leader.
"Since I have been playing with this band for such a long time now, I know how they play," Fujii says. "And when I compose, I actually hear their sound. So, soloists actually support my writing. For me composing for this band is more like collaboration-when I compose I am already working with the band, even if I am in Tokyo and they are in New York. Is this strange to say?"
Strange or not, the music is unfailingly exciting, with an urgency and brio born of the mutual admiration between performers and composer. "The music cannot be boring with these musicians," Fujii says. "This band inspires new ideas in me and I always feel free to try something different because I know they will respond and make it sound great." Fujii also found inspiration for her compositions from another source. "I am not a scholar and don't have a deep knowledge of Buddhism," Fujii says, "but I was reading about some of Buddha's ideas online and learned that he had the idea of elementary particles centuries before physicists discovered them. The concept inspired me to write the pieces on this album."
Throughout the album you can hear the chemistry between composer and orchestra. Fujii finds all kinds of ways to frame soloists and provide full ensemble themes that set a mood, often several different moods within the same composition. "Entity" opens with an attention-grabbing blast of energy that launches guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Ches Smith into a bounding and weaving duet. As the band sets up a regular two beat pattern, guitarist and drummer dip and curl in off-kilter tandem around the pulse, beautifully highlighting their subtle sense of rhythm and texture.
Tidal surges of massed horns on "Flashback" launch trombonist Joe Fiedler into a boldly phrased solo that gives way to a searching, introspective unaccompanied solo from Oscar Noriega. Trumpeter Herb Robertson's virtuoso mute technique highlights his outing with the band's blue-chip rhythm section. Fujii's majestic "Gounkaiku" is a feature for trumpeter Dave Ballou's elegant melodicism, while "Elemental Particle" lets Ellery Eskelin cut loose with a fire-breathing solo. "Everlasting," a heart-wrenching ballad, pairs soloists in duets, first trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and trombonist Curtis Hassellbring, then alto saxophonist Briggan Krauss and baritone saxophonist Andy Laster.
On occasion throughout the album, Fujii creates spontaneous arrangements to fit the moment. "While we are playing," Fujii explains, "I can hold up Sign 1, which means play a long tone with any note, or Sign 2, which means play a glissando. There are others, too. It may be a little bit like Butch Morris, but my signs are for predetermined materials." This can be heard in the opening moments of "Gounkaiku," when the band plays a series of long tones that glimmer like a necklace of jeweled sounds or toward the end of "Flashback" when Fujii uses the long tones to create tension before the band plays the rollicking closing theme. It's a part of the ongoing dialog between the composer and a seasoned orchestra fully attuned to her creativity.
Critics and fans alike hail pianist and composer Satoko Fujii as one of the most original voices in jazz today. She's "a virtuoso piano improviser, an original composer and a bandleader who gets the best collaborators to deliver," says John Fordham in The Guardian. In concert and on more than 80 albums as a leader or co-leader, she synthesizes jazz, contemporary classical, avant-rock, and folk musics into an innovative style instantly recognizable as hers alone. A prolific band leader and recording artist, she celebrated her 60th birthday in 2018 by releasing one album a month from bands old and new, from solo to large ensemble. Franz A. Matzner in All About Jazz likened the twelve albums to "an ecosystem of independently thriving organisms linked by the shared soil of Fujii's artistic heritage and shaped by the forces of her creativity."
Over the years, Fujii has led some of the most consistently creative ensembles in modern improvised music, including her trio with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black and an electrifying avant-rock quartet featuring drummer Tatsuya Yoshida of The Ruins. Her ongoing duet project with husband Natsuki Tamura released their sixth recording, Kisaragi, in 2017. "The duo's commitment to producing new sounds based on fresh ideas is second only to their musicianship," says Karl Ackermann in All About Jazz. Aspiration, a CD by an ad hoc quartet featuring Wadada Leo Smith, Tamura, and Ikue Mori, was released in 2017 to wide acclaim. "Four musicians who regularly aspire for greater heights with each venture reach the summit together on Aspiration," writes S. Victor Aaron in Something Else.
As the leader of no less than five orchestras in the U.S., Germany, and Japan (two of which, Berlin and Tokyo, released new CDs in 2018), Fujii has also established herself as one of the world's leading composers for large jazz ensembles, leading Cadence magazine to call her, "the Ellington of free jazz."-Libra
Related Categories of Interest:
Asian Improvisation & Jazz
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Large Ensembles
Satoko Fujii & Natsuki Tamura's Libra Label
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Improvised Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers
Other Releases With These Artists:
Eskelin, Ellery / Christian Weber / Michael Griener
(Intakt)
Fraser, Nick / Kris Davis / Tony Malaby (with Laubrock & Allemano)
(Astral Spirits)
Zoning [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD]
Bynum, Taylor Ho 9-tette
The Ambiguity Manifesto [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Firehouse 12 Records)
The Ambiguity Manifesto
Fujii, Satoko / Joe Fonda
(Long Song Records)
Secret Chiefs 3 / John Zorn
The Book Beri'ah Vol 10-Malkhut
(Tzadik)
Sturge Anthony & McKenzie II, Donald (w/ Nels Cline, Arnold Lee, Melvin Gibbs, David Hofstra, Vernon Reid, CX Kidtronik)
Silenced [VINYL]
Radical Empathy Trio
Reality and Other Imaginary Places [VINYL]
(ESP-Disk)
Reality and Other Imaginary Places
Grdina, Gordon Quartet (w/ Noriega / Lossing / Takeishi)
Cooper's Park
(Songlines)
Eskelin, Ellery w/ Andrea Parkins / Jim Black
12 (+1) Imaginary Views
(Hatology)
Braxton, Anthony (w/ Nels Cline, Greg Saunier, Taylor Ho Bynum)
Quartet (New Haven) 2014 [4 CDs]
Eskelin, Ellery / Andrea Parkins / Jim Black
Kulak, 29 & 30
Fujii, Satoko / Ramon Lopez
(Libra)
Eskelin, Ellery w/ Andrea Parkins & Jim Black
Five Other Pieces (+2)
Eisenstadt, Harris (Malaby / Roebke / Bishop)
Old Growth Forest II [CD]
Old Growth Forest II [CASSETTE with DOWNLOAD]
Lowe, Allen
An Avant Garde of Our Own: Disconnected Works 1980-2018 [8 CD BOX SET]
Kaikou (Yoshino / Natsuki Tamura)
Kaikou
(Oniva)
Torn, David / Tim Berne / Ches Smith
Sun Of Goldfinger
(ECM)
Gray, Devin / Ellery Eskelin / Michael Formanaek / Dave Ballou
Dirigo Rataplan II
(Rataplan Records)
Spence, Alister / Satoko Fujii Orchestra Kobe
Imagine Meeting You Here
(Alister Spence Music)
Ochs, Larry / Gerald Cleaver / Nels Cline
What Is To Be Done
(Clean Feed)
Webber, Anna
(Pi Recordings)
Melford's, Myra Snowy Egret (w/ Miles / Ellman / Takeishi / Sorey)
The Other Side Of Air [VINYL 2 LPs + DOWNLOAD]
Diary 2005-2015 [Scorebook]
Fujii, Satoko / Yuko Yamaoka
Diary 2005-2015: Tuko Yamaoka plays the music of Satoko Fujii [2 CDs]
Amu (Fujii / Tamura / Itani / Wildenhahn)
Weave [CD & DVD]
Sacks, Jacob
Spence, Alister / Satoko Fujii
Mahobin (Fujii / Anker / Tamura / Mori)
Live at Big Apple in Kobe
Ballou, Dave / Beephonk
The Windup
van Hemmen, Flin (w/ Neufeld / Obsvik)
Drums of Days
(Neither/Nor Records)
Zorn, John
In A Convex Mirror
Lee, Okkyung
Cheol-Kkot-Sae (Steel.Flower.Bird)
Holland, Dave Feat. Evan Parker / Craig Taborn / Ches Smith
Uncharted Territories [VINYL 3 LPS]
(Dare2 Records)
Fujii / Fonda / Mimmo
This Is It! (Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura / Takashi Itani)
Burke, Robert / Tony Malaby / Mark Helias
Head Under Water
(FMR)
Ceramic Dog (Ribot / Ches Smith / Shahzad Ismaily)
Y R U Still Here?
(Northern Spy)
Kira Kira (Tamura / Spence / Fujii / Takemura)
Bright Force
Ninety-Nine Years
Friends & Heroes: Guitar Duets
(Fractal Music)
Salamon, Samo / Tony Malaby / Roberto Dani
Traveling Moving Breathing
The Urmuz Epigrams
Kaze (Fujii / Tamura / Pruvost / Orins)
Atody Man
Sturge Anthony &McKenzie II, Donald (w/ Nels Cline, Arnold Lee, Melvin Gibbs, David Hofstra, Vernon Reid, CX Kidtronik)
Silenced [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD]
Fujii, Satoko Orchestra New York
Fraser, Nick (w/ Malaby / Downing / Clutton)
Is Life Long?
Irabagon, Jon / Joe Fiedler / Todd Neufeld
In Formation Network
(Nuscope)
Fujii, Satoko Quartet (w/ Natsuki Tamura / Keisuke Ohta / Takashi Itani)
Live at Jazz Room Cortez
(Cortez Sound)
Smith, Wadada Leo / Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii / Ikue Mori
Fujii, Satoko / Natsuki Tamura
Gato Libre (Fujii / Tamura / Kaneko)
Ochs, Larry / Sax and Drumming Core
Wild Red Yellow
(RogueArt)
Tamura, Natsuki / Alexander Frangenheim
Nax
(Creative Sources)
Pavone, Mario (Pavone / Ballout / Malaby / Noriega / McEachern / Sarin)
Laubrock Ingrid Anti-House (w/ Halvorson, Davis, Hebert, Rainey, Noriega)
Roulette of the Cradle
Malaby, Tony / Mat Maneri / Daniel Levin
New Artifacts
Invisible Hand [2 CDs]
Trouble Kaze (Fujii / Agnel / Tamura / Pruvost / Lasserre / Orins)
(Helix Circum-Disc)
Fujii, Satoko Orchestra Tokyo + KAZE
Peace (Tribute To Kelly Churko)
KO KO KO KE
(PJL)
Millevoi, Nick
Disertion
(Shhpuma)
Malaby, Tony Paloma Recio
Brooklyn Express, The (Fonda / Tononi / Cavallanti / Swell / Robertson)
No Time Left!
Eskelin, Ellery Trio (w/ Gary Versace / Gerry Hemingway)
Willisau Live
Eisenstadt, Harris (Bishop / Malaby / Roebke / Eisenstadt)
Old Growth Forest
Ballou, Dave
Fraser, Nick (feat. Tony Malaby and Kris Davis)
Too Many Continents
Thollem / Wimberly / Cline
(Relative Pitch)
Fujii, Satoko Tobira
Yamiyo Ni Karasu
Fujii, Satoko Orchestra Berlin
Ichigo Ichie
Uminari
(Circum-Libra)
Lightcap, Chris Bigmouth
Solo Live At Snugs
Nagai, Shoko (w/ Reynolds / Goldberger / Takeishi / Black)
Taken Shadow
(Animul)
Malaby's, Tony TubaCello
Scorpion Eater
Gato Libre
Fujii, Satoko New York Orchestra
Sharp, Elliott Aggregat
Mitchell, Matt
Halvorson, Mary Septet
Illusionary Sea
Dragon Nat
Gen Himmel
Fujii, Satoko New Trio
Spring Storm
Eisenstadt, Harris September Trio
The Destructive Element
Eskelin, Ellery with Susan Alcorn and Michael Formanek
Pride, Mike
Drummer's Corpse
(Aum Fidelity)
Halvorson, Mary
Bending Bridges [2 VINYL LPs]
Smith, Ches and These Arches (Smith / Berne / Malaby / Halvorson / Parkins)
Ceramic Dog (Ribot / Smith / Ismaily)
Fraser, Nick
(Barnyard)
Sanchez, Angelica Quintet
Wires and Moss
Tamura, Natsuki / Satoko Fujii
Recommended & Related Releases:
Search for other titles on the Libra label.
New In:
Electro/Experimental
Compositional
Rock & Related
Joke Lanz / Jason Kahn / Norbert Moslang / Gunter Muller / Christian Weber:
kangaroo_kitchen [2 CDS]
(Mikroton Recordings)
George Graewe / Ernst Reijseger / Gerry Hemingway:
Concertgebouw Brugge 2014
(Fundacja Sluchaj!)
Katarsis4 (Bizys / Janonis / Pancerovas / Jusinskas):
Katarsis4
(NoBusiness)
Arto Lindsay / Joe McPhee / Ken Vandermark / Phil Sudderberg:
Largest Afternoon
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Fred Lonberg-Holm / Joe McPhee:
No Time Left for Sadness
Marc Copland:
((Illusions))
ROVA (Raskin / Ochs / Voigt / Ackley):
Saxophone Diplomacy
VocColours / Yoichiro Kita:
Etienne Nillesen / Nicola Hein / Magda Mayas / Eve Risser / Marta Warelis:
Piano Trialogues
Bobby Bradford / Frode Gjerstad / Kent Carter / John Stevens:
Blue Cat [VINYL]
Juan Vinuesa Jazz Quartet (Vinuesa / Berman / Roebke Avery):
Blue Shots From Chicago
Mats Gustafsson / Wendy Gondeln / Wolfgang Voigt / Martin Siewert:
The Shithole Country & Boogie Band
Leap Of Faith:
Crumpled Dimensions
(Evil Clown)
Cyanobacteria / Hubsch:
Are You an Orchid or a Dandelion?
(Toxo Records)
Sounds of Liberation:
Unreleased (Columbia University 1973)
Lars Akerlund / Eryck Abecassis:
Liquid Quintet (feat Agusti Fernandez / Artur Majewski / Albert Cirera / Rafal Mazur / Ramon Prats):
Steve Swell / Robert Boston / Michael Vatcher:
Brain In A Dish
Willem Breuker / Han Bennink:
New Acoustic Swing Duo [2 CDS]
Goh Kwang Lee:
Avalanche (2 CDs)
(Herbal International)
Ernesto Rodrigues / Olaf Rupp / Guilherme Rodrigues :
Man Is Wolf To Man
Masahiko Satoh / Sabu Toyozumi:
The Aiki
Anthony Coleman :
Catenary Oath [VINYL]
The Aiki [VINYL]
Alexandra Grimal / Joelle Leandre:
(Montagne Noire)
Andrea Ermke / Chris Abrahams / Marcello Busato / Arthur Rother:
Guro Johansen Gravem / Sergio Castrillon:
Ekelyveien 10
Alexander Schlippenbach von / Dag Magnus Narvesen:
Liminal Field
(Not Two)
Mike Cooper / Mark Wastell:
Sound Mirrors
(Confront)
David Grubbs / Mats Gustafsson / Rob Mazurek:
The Underflow
Trios [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Honest Jons Records)
Brotzmann / Schlippenbach / Bennink:
Fifty Years After... Live at the Lila Eule 2018 [VINYL]
(Trost Records)
Ivo Perelman / Matthew Shipp:
Live in Nuremberg
(SMP Records)
Ivar Grydeland / Henry Kaiser:
In The Arctic Dreamtime
(Rune Grammofon)
Uwe Oberg / Joe Fonda / Lucia Martinez:
Relight
Marilyn Lerner / Ken Filiano / Lou Grassi:
Evan Parker / Barry Guy / Paul Lytton:
Concert In Vilnius
Concert In Vilnius [VINYL]
Ernesto Rodrigues / Yu Lin Humm / Philippe Trovao / Pedro Frazao / Andre Hencleeday / Ryoko Imai :
Krokofant w/ Stale Storlokken / Ingebrigt Haker Flaten:
Q [VINYL LP + CD]
David Ware S. New Quartet:
Theatre Garonne, 2008
Evan Parker:
Evan Parker With Birds - For Steve Lacy [VINYL]
(Treader)
Epiphanies I-VI [VINYL 2 LPs]
Epiphanies VII-XIII [VINYL 3 LPs]
Michel Banabila :
Movements (music for dance) [VINYL 2 LPs + DOWNLOAD]
(Tapu Records)
Daphne Oram / Vera Gray:
Listen Move & Dance [VINYL]
(Fantome Phonographique)
Jim O'Rourke:
To Magnetize Money and Catch a Roving Eye [4 CD BOX]
(Sonoris)
Formanex w/ AMM / Christian Wolff / Keith Rowe / Ralf Wehowsky / John Tilbury / Phill Niblock / ONsemble / Seth Cluett / Radu Malfatti / Michael Pisaro / Julien Ottavi / Kasper T. Toeplitz :
20 Years Of Experimental Music [10 CDS]
Mr. Stonecipher / Joshua Marquez:
Faux [CASSETTE]
(910 Noise)
Amirtha Kidambi / Lea Bertucci:
Phase Eclipse [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD]
Egil Kalman / Fredrik Rasten:
Weaving a Fabric of Winds
Weaving a Fabric of Winds [VINYL]
Hands To (Jeph Jerman):
Scrine
(Notice Recordings)
Chik White / Xuan Ye:
Breath Fractals
David Myers Lee:
Prototype Of The Veil
(pulsewidth)
Torba (Mauro Diciocia):
Musique Inconcrete [VINYL]
(Fragment Factory)
Joe McPhee / Graham Lambkin / Charlie Mcphee / Oliver Lambkin:
Live in the Batcave [VINYL]
(Black Truffle)
Toys'R Noise:
Manivole [VINYL]
(BeCoq)
Cristian Alvear / Tim Olive:
Telquan
(845 Audio)
Elizabeth Millar / Tim Olive / Craig Pedersen:
Charm Point
Gabbro:
Granular [VINYL]
(Dropa Disc)
Livebatts!:
(ANTS Records)
Luc Ferrari:
Photophonie [VINYL]
(Transversales Disques)
Oddly Imploded (Gregoretti / Argenziano):
They Just Sit About
Keiji Haino / Jim O'Rourke / Oren Ambarchi:
In the past only geniuses were capable of staging the perfect crime (also known as a revolution) Today anybody can accomplish their aims...
Kid Millions & Sarah Bernstein:
Broken Fall (VINYL)
Chester Hawkins :
Metabolism Quartet / Nocturne For Poppy [CASSETTE]
(Zeromoon/ Intangible Arts)
London Experimental Ensemble:
Child Ballads [VINYL]
(Split Rock Records)
Cops Need Serial Numbers [USB mp3 & wav + pdf]
(Intangible Arts)
In the past only geniuses were capable of staging the perfect crime (also known as a revolution) Today anybody can accomplish their aims... [VINYL 2 LPs]
Chris Burn / Philip Thomas:
as if as
Jon Heilbron:
Puma Court
(Another Timbre)
Ryoko Akama / Apartment House:
Dial 45-21-95
Adrian Democ / Apartment House:
Ziadba
Frank Denyer:
The Boundaries of Intimacy
The Fish That Became The Sun (Songs Of The Dispossessed)
Werner Durand :
Schwingende Luftsaulen 2
Jessica Pavone String Ensemble:
(Birdwatcher Records)
Trrma' / Charlemagne Palestine:
Sssseegmmeentss Frrooom Baaari [VINYL]
John Krausbauer :
R Lawler Keenan / John Krausbauer:
Spectre Of Radiants
Morton Feldman (Philip Thomas):
Piano [5 CD BOX SET]
Pauline Oliveros / Guy Klucevsek:
Sounding / Way [VINYL]
(Important Records)
Cornelius Cardew :
(Hat [now] ART)
John Zorn:
Nove Cantici Per Francesco D'Assisi
Encomia
Anthony Braxton (Guillermo Gregorio , Jim O'Rourke, &c.):
Compositions No. 10 & No. 16 (+101)
Melaine Dalibert :
Cheminant
(elsewhere)
Reinier van Houdt / Bruno Duplant:
Lettres et Replis
Shira Legmann / Michael Pisaro:
Hans-Jurg Meier :
Colours De La Rose . Presso Il Passo Di Cristallina . Diaphaneas
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Burkhard Schlothauer :
Harmonies And Structures
Eva-Maria Houben :
Ensemble Works [2 CDS]
Mark Hannesson (Denis Sorokin):
Music For Guitar [2 CDS]
Andre Moller O. :
A Labour Of Love
Antoine Beuger and colectivo maDam:
.. Of Being Numerous
James Weeks:
Windfell
Cyril Bondi / Pierre-Yves Martel / Christoph Schiller / Angharad Davies:
Awire
Federico Pozzer :
Breaths
Catherine Lamb :
Point/Wave
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.:
Reverse Of Rebirth In Universe [RED VINYL]
(RIOT SEASON)
Univers Zero:
Phosphorescent Dreams
(Sub Rosa)
Phosphorescent Dreams [VINYL]
Steve Dalachinsky / The Snobs:
Massive Liquidity
(Bam Balam Records)
Henry Cow:
The Henry Cow Box Redux: The Complete Henry Cow [17 CDs, 1 DVD, 250pg Book]
(Recommended Records)
After Dinner:
Souvenir Cassette (2019) [DELUXE CD EDITION]
(Fish Prints)
Bonne Humeur Provisoire:
Marek [VINYL]
Koenjihyakkei:
Angherr Shisspa Revisited
(Skin Graft)
Angherr Shisspa Revisited [VINYL]
Dhorimviskha
Keiji Haino / Sumac:
Even for just the briefest moment Keep charging this "expiation" Plug in to making it slightly better
Low & Spring Heel Jack:
Bombscare [VINYL 12" EP]
Even for just the briefest moment Keep charging this "expiation" [VINYL 2 LPs]
Odds Against Tomorrow
(Palilalia)
Surplus 1980:
Pigeon Obstacle Course
(Dephine Knormal Musik)
Pigeon Obstacle Course [VINYL + 7'']
Richard Pinhas / Tatsuya Yoshida:
(Magaibutsu Limited)
NYUK (Nasuno / Yoshida / Uchihashi / Nasuki):
NYUK
(Magaibutsu)
Eclectic Maybe Band:
Reflections In A Moebius Ring Mirror
(Discus)
Frostlake:
Ice & Bone
Eugene Chadbourne :
Solo Guitar Volume 3-1/3 [VINYL]
(Feeding Tube Records)
Killick:
Stay-At-Home Monk [VINYL]
(H(i)nds(i)ght)
Elephant9:
Psychedelic Backfire I
Elephant9 w/ Reine Fiske:
Psychedelic Backfire II
Abraxas / John Zorn :
The Book Beri'ah Vol 5: Gevurah
Electric Bird Noise:
Hearn-Roberts-Strong-Watts
(Silber)
Charles Hayward :
(Begin Anywhere)
(Klanggalerie)
[VINYL 2 LPs REMASTERED + DOWNLOAD]
(Black Editions)
Hallelujah Mystic Garden Part Two [VINYL][BLACK VERSION]
New Raspberry Bandits:
Little Birds & Big Trucks
(Veal)
Byron Coley:
Dating Tips for Touring Bands [VINYL]
(Hot Cars Warp)
$100 Gift Certificate :
(Squidco)
Lost Kisses:
My Life is Sad & Funny [DVD]
(Silber Media)
Various Artists:
Isole Che Parlano
(Erosha)
$50 Gift Certificate:
$150 Gift Certificate:
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Beside the Still Waters
Letters to a Young Mother
Ginintuang Butil
International Christian Ministry (ICM) Lessons
TBC Women’s discussion group
A Heartwarming Sight
By haydee.lasco in Beside the Still Waters
There was a slight drizzle when I got out of the car. I was heading towards the nearby ATM booth to replace my depleting budget. I opened my umbrella with pleasure, because it is a gift from my son and I remember him with fondness, as I admire the bands of color in my water-repellant umbrella. While walking towards the ATM booth, I noticed a man and a boy about nine to ten years of age who alighted from an old-model Toyota Corolla. The man later opened his wide umbrella for him and his son. They were several steps away from me and they were walking towards the bank as well.
The man gently put his right hand on the shoulder of the child like it was a natural thing to do. The boy in return put his little arms around the waist of the man like it was a natural thing to do, and they walked towards the bank in that warm embrace. By the way they looked, they seemed to be father and son. It was a heartwarming sight which I rarely see these days.
We almost got out of the ATM booth together. We opened our umbrellas to walk back to the parking lot. The man, after opening his big, black umbrella put his arms once again on the shoulder of his sonand the boy, like it was an ordinary habit, put his left arm around the waist of his father and they walked together like showing to the world that they love each other.
It was a good one hundred-meter walk. I was privileged to see an outworking of a lovely relationship. Most fathers are not demonstrative of their love for they tend to hide it in their father-figure stance. How blessed is that child to have a father like that. If sustained through the years, this child when he becomes a father himself will hopefully do the same to his son.
As I passed by them, the man closed his big umbrella, opened the car, and the boy quickly settled in the front sea. I went straight to my car which was parked a few meters away from theirs. But I felt happy to have seen a display of fatherly love. And from what I saw, the son easily responded to the affectionate gesture of the father. For Love begets love indeed.
Beside the Still Waters (101)
Ginintuang Butil (161)
International Christian Ministry (ICM) Lessons (3)
Letters to a Young Mother (24)
TBC Women’s discussion group (7)
Angeles Heights, San Pablo City, Laguna Philippines 4000 Rodel Lasco (Pastor)
Copyrights © 2012 Trinity Bible Church - Reformed Baptist Church | Holding on the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
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Pappas 5K
Cigar Night
Her Story Inspired Ours
Aubrey's Story
One Mission
Aubrey Michelle (Fadule) Pappas was born in Freemont, California, and was raised in Marlton, NJ, where she grew up in a loving home with her parents, Alida and Joe and brother Joey. As a member of the field hockey and softball teams at Cherokee High School, Aubrey made many friendships that lasted throughout the years. In 2001, Aubrey graduated Magna cum Laude, from LaSalle University, where she earned her Bachelors’ degree in communications. Shortly after graduating college, Aubrey moved to North Brunswick, NJ and was hired as a 6th grade language arts teacher at Linwood Middle School where she worked for 13 years. During her tenure at Linwood, Aubrey developed wonderful friendships with her coworkers, especially her ‘Linwood Ladies’, and put her heart and soul into teaching and getting to know her students. Aubrey not only impacted the lives of her students due to her caring and nurturing personality, but also she had a tremendous impact on her family and friends. Aubrey was a selfless person who showed unconditional love and support for the people she loved.
In January 2006, Aubrey met the love of her life, Officer Paul A. Pappas Jr., a lifelong resident of North Brunswick Township. The two found an immediate connection through fitness, food, travel and sports. They wed in 2009 and bought their dream home in Monroe, NJ in 2010, where they always welcomed and entertained their large families and many friends. Aubrey and Paul enjoyed smoking cigars and drinking sangria together and created their famous “Pappas Sangria” which was enjoyed at many parties and events. In 2012 they welcomed their son into the world! Their “lucky charm” filled their hearts with so much love and Aubrey was an incredible mom who took so much pride in caring for her son. Aubrey and Paul were incredibly excited to expand their family as they had recently announced their second pregnancy shortly before her passing. At the time of her death in October 2014, Aubrey was pregnant with her second child due in March 2015.
She loved cooking and learning new recipes and was passionate about nutrition, fitness and health. She loved Enrique Iglesias and was the dancing queen at every event she went to. Aubrey was an avid New York Giants and New York Yankees fan and even had a life size cardboard cutout of Derek Jeter in her classroom! Stunningly beautiful and popular throughout her life, she was also well-grounded, level headed and remarkably intelligent with an amazing heart and a one of a kind personality that led her to being friends with everyone. Her smile and laugh lit up a room and the hearts of all of those who knew and loved her.
On October 8, 2014, Aubrey and her unborn son, Nicholas “Niko” Pappas, died in a tragic car accident in South Brunswick, NJ. Many people throughout various communities felt the impact of this unfathomable tragedy. Shortly after her passing, Paul found a list in Aubrey’s nightstand that stated the things she wished to achieve in life, her “bucket list”. Paul, family members and friends vowed to help Aubrey complete the list and to continue to “live like Aubrey” and thus The Aubrey Foundation was born.
Our Executive Board
The Executive Board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the foundation, day to day operations associated with each role and ensuring that all decisions made align with our mission. The Executive Board is also responsible for:
Creating a yearly budget
Sharing all Executive Board meeting minutes and financial documents with the General Board
Making decisions via a majority vote of all in attendance at Executive Board meetings
Handling all conflict management issues between members within The Aubrey Foundation and amongst external relationships, as needed
Laureen Romano
Secretary & Marketing Co-Chair
Marketing, Purple for Pappas 5K, Cigar Night, & Scholarship Committees
Aubrey is a light, a guiding force and an inspiration. Aubrey is my cousin but she also was a wonderful teacher and mentor, and my go-to MaMa when I had my son. After her passing my sister, cousin and I founded this organization to continue her mission. I have been humbled by the response from the community and so honored to be a part of it. It is my hope that as this organization grows we continue to be her light, a guiding positive force, and an inspiration for others as we all #LiveLikeAubrey.
Gordon Millner
Events Co-Chair
Purple for Pappas 5K, Cigar Night, & Scholarship Committees
I met Aubrey years ago and was instantly drawn to her personality. She was unbelievably welcoming and a ton of fun to be around. She was bubbly, genuine, and always willing to help. When Aubrey passed away, it seemed crazy that so much of the world wouldn’t get to experience just how wonderful she was. It was that feeling that made me want to join The Aubrey Foundation and make sure Aubrey’s light and legacy continues to reach people even when she is no longer here.
Maria Millner
Purple for Pappas 5K, Cigar Night & Scholarship Committees
Aubrey was a friend, a mentor, a teacher, a cousin. She was laughter, love, strength, ambition, passion and beauty. Above all, she was a positive influence to so many lives. In a world of much uncertainty, hatred and judgement, one appreciates confidence, kindness and acceptance so much more. These beautiful traits were Aubrey’s attributes which I feel must be lived through as many people as possible. This foundation allows me to keep Aubrey’s energy fluid by bringing others together and giving back to the students of North Brunswick, which Aubrey was so deeply invested in. One of the best parts is connecting to new people and collectively continuing to positively influence lives in Aubrey’s name.
Lori Kaye
Marketing Co-Chair
Marketing, Purple for Pappas 5K, & Cigar Night Committees
I became involved with the Aubrey Foundation when I found out that plans were in the works for a “Purple for Pappas 5K” fund-raiser three years ago. My enthusiasm for volunteering was two-fold: I had experience coordinating other successful 5K races, and it was a way for me to “give back” for the way that Aubrey touched our family. My son, Harrison, was a 6th grade Honors English student in Aubrey’s class in 2006-07. He learned how to express himself creatively, and was inspired to step up and be a leader at many levels in middle and high school. As a senior at Stevens Institute of Technology, he continues to “live like Aubrey” by volunteering with many community and charitable events in Hoboken, managing leadership roles in baseball and his fraternity, and continually seeking ways to help others. It brings a smile to my heart when I see him wearing his purple “Live Like Aubrey” bracelet every day…
Heather Zelehoski
Philanthropy Chair
Purple for Pappas 5K & Scholarship Committees
I met Aubrey through my husband, John. Aubrey and John taught together at Linwood Middle School for many years. Aubrey and I had many similar interests including our love for the NY Yankees and above all, our love for our children. As a first time mother, I often turned to Aubrey for advice on motherhood. She was always there to lend a listening ear and to answer any of my questions. As soon as the Foundation was developed, I knew that I wanted to be involved. Aubrey was very special to my family. As a member of the foundation, I hope to give back to others just as Aubrey did.
Emily Angeles
Our General Board
The General Board is responsible for being a representative of The Aubrey Foundation by living out the mission and contributing thoughts, insights and suggestions throughout the year. The General Board is also responsible for actively participating in the foundation’s Fundraising and Recruiting Plan. The General Board will be responsible for voting on the yearly budget.
Cristin Cowley
Aubrey's infectious laugh, her tough but honest loving advice, compassionate heart and positive spirit impacted the lives of many students, educators, community members, friends and family. I was fortunate to not only consider her a mentor, but a friend, cousin and "big sister". Co-founding The Aubrey Foundation provided an opportunity to allow Aubrey's memory to live on through the outlets she was most passionate about: education and bringing family, friends and community together. It is my personal mission through the Foundation to continue encouraging community building through various events and to positively impact students' academic, personal and professional growth in the #LiveLikeAubrey spirit!
Derek Angeles
My involvement with The Aubrey Foundation came about when I designed their first fundraising banner. Although, that first banner was looked at as a favor, I would then find myself designing flyers for additional events, especially the Purple for Pappas 5k, and various signs and pictures. Although I didn’t meet Aubrey personally, what inspires me to continue fulfilling this role within The Aubrey Foundation are the people who began it all and who continue to put forth their efforts towards its’ success. It is through each one of the board member’s stories and experiences that drive me to design each piece to the best of my abilities to represent Aubrey and the foundation that honors not only her name, but her as a person.
Nicole Jacunski
I have known Aubrey since 2006 when we met at Linwood Middle School, and I became her co teacher in an inclusion Language Arts 6th grade class. We became fast friends. We taught together for many years, and made many amazing memories both inside and outside of school. Aubrey always taught me to live life to the fullest, and for that I am grateful. I named my daughter, Skyler Aubrey, after her and know her shining light will always look after my daughter and family.
Mindy Steinman
Arnold Weinberg
Purple for Pappas 5K Committee
Elizabeth Raspa
Cigar Night & Scholarship Committees
Stephanie Raspa
Cigar Night Committee
Antonio Mistretta
We are always looking to expand our family. If you have been inspired just as we are and want to contribute to our mission then you can learn about our opportunities.
Learn More
Scholarship Night
The Aubrey Foundation is a New Jersey 501(c)(3) Non Profit Corporation operating in central New Jersey.
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The Green Goblin's Hideout
Norman's Biography
Dark Reign (Ch. 14)
Norman's Fast Facts
Goblin Art Gallery
Comic Book Appearance Lists
The Green Goblin Cover Gallery
The Osborn Timeline
The Hideout's Featured Articles
Norman Osborn's Family Tree
How to make a Goblin
The Goblin's Kill Count
The Goblin's Arsenal
Norman and Jonah
Norman and Flash
Norman and Doc Ock
Norman and Deadpool
Norman and Tony Stark
m'boy m'boy!!
Osborn Industries vs Oscorp
With great power comes great responsibility?
Osborn's chest scar
The Goblin Glider
Gwen's death revisited
Outside the 616 Universe
Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin in Alternate Universes
My Hideout
Ms. Victoria Hand
Victoria Hand was Norman's selection for the deputy director position in his peace-keeping task force H.A.M.M.E.R., primarily a result of her stance against the regimes that preceded Osborn. Hand, a former accountant in the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, had established a strong set of convictions and these convictions ultimately cost her both her job and her relationship with a fellow agent named Isabelle. She disagreed strongly with the manner in which Nick Fury was managing his war on terrorism, so Victoria sent him a letter explaining her thoughts. Fury had her relocated and Isabelle left her because she warned Victoria to not send out that letter. Of course her disapproval of Fury was ultimately what attracted her to Norman Osborn and a few years later she found herself with an unexpected promotion serving as Norman's (red) right hand (puns intended!). Hand's participation within H.A.M.M.E.R. allowed her to be a major player in world affairs, so, like her boss, she seemed to be everywhere and anywhere during Norman's tenure at the top of the world.
Victoria, in a way, was Norman's voice of reason and she enabled Osborn's busy schedule by being his eyes and ears, while he was off handling other business. She kept Norman abreast to the goings on, and at times, stood up against him if she felt he was misbehaving...
She would constantly encourage him to seek professional help when he was getting too involved and the stress would be literally driving him mad.
Rap Sheet:
1. Victoria was tasked with deciding what the acronym H.A.M.M.E.R. stands for (for the record, no name was ever provided).
2. She also aided Norman Osborn during his search for Tony Stark. Victoria was witness to Norman's use of violent force against a commercial airliner in order to gauge Pepper Potts' capability in her new Stark-tech suit.
3. It was Ms. Hand that uncovered the group responsible for placing a bounty on the ninja Elektra's head (it was a group of former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents).
4. Victoria was aided by Ms. Marvel (aka Karla Sofen) when they set a trap for Bruce Banner that exposed him to gamma radiation. The plan was to have Skaar settle the score on his father the Hulk and Osborn would get to kill two birds with one stone.
5. She was critical in helping Osborn detain Luke Cage and Iron Fist, Brother Voodoo, The Thing and company made an attempt to free Cage, she made a valiant effort to fight them off.
6. In one of her more defiant acts toward Norman, Victoria independently investigated his history as the Green Goblin, which meant interviewing one Peter Parker. Norman later destroyed all of her research after issuing her some veiled threats.
Fate as Osborn's deputy director:
Victoria fought alongside Norman during his siege on Asgard, commanding the helicarrier, so when Norman broke down she was taken down as well. The detailed outline of the events during that siege are explored here. She did not resist arrest once the Avengers brought her into custody and she did not regret her actions. Soon after, she was approached by Steve Rogers, who was impressed with her show of patriotism and reassigned her to support the New Avengers.
Good or Bad?:
Serving essentially as Norman's lieutenant, Victoria was privy to much of Osborn's nefarious deeds, yet she did not waiver in her support of his goals. This creates quite a dilemma when trying to determine if she was not a simply a criminal as well. As noted in her rap sheet above, she witnessed Norman ruthlessly torture people and even put innocent lives in danger to satisfy his agenda. At the end of the day, Steve Rogers felt as though she deserved redemption, but she did defend herself when questioned. Captain America does indeed vouch for her...
Eventually she was incorporated into the 'good' side. Interestingly Spider-Man, who was unnervingly silent on Osborn throughout much of his Dark Reign, did show a little backbone post-Siege when Hand came knocking on the door of the New Avengers. Here's a portion of that conversation from New Avengers (Vol. 2) #7:
We'll leave it that they agreed to disagree...
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They're hitting the road. And everything on it.
Directed by: Dan Mazer
Robert De Niro, as
Zac Efron, as
Zoey Deutch, as
Aubrey Plaza, as
Jason Mantzoukas, as
Dermot Mulroney, as
Julianne Hough, as
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, as
Brandon Mychal Smith, as
Jake Picking, as
Michael Hudson, as
Brah
Adam Pally, as
Cousin Nick
Mo Collins, as
Officer Finch
Henry Zebrowski, as
Officer Reiter
Danny Glover as
Reviewed on: January 26th, 2016
Robert De Niro and Zach Efron in Dirty Grandpa
Clearly, Robert De Niro is taking any script that comes his way. Dirty Grandpa is a crude, juvenile comedy that relies on drug and penis jokes, lots and lots of penis jokes. Worst offense of all is the complete predictability of the script.
Zac Efron plays Jason, a lawyer one week from getting married to a girl whose father works at his father's firm. After attending his grandmother's funeral, who finally succumbed to cancer after a 10 year battle, he agrees to drive his estranged grandfather to Florida to visit an old friend and be back in time to help his fiance finish the wedding details. Once on the road it quickly becomes apparent that Grandpa wants to party and get laid. Or as he explains to Jason, "I haven't had sex in 15 years."
What follows is one dirty joke after another that either involves sex, male genitalia or drugs. Efron seems to lose his clothes far too often. One scene involves him being completely naked on a beach while a young boy's father thinks his son is performing oral sex on Efron. The immaturity of the proceedings quickly becomes tiresome. Not just once do we have penises drawn on someone's face but twice.
There are some laughs to be found. I liked how everyone constantly mistakes Jason for a lesbian. When he first meets his Grandpa's old friend, he asks Grandpa about Jason, "Who's the lesbian?". When some police come upon Jason kissing a girl, one commands, "Okay you two lesbians, break it up."
Aubrey Plaza steals all of her scenes. Her Lenore, is into gerontophilia, which is enjoying sex with old people. She is turned on by Grandpa and wants to have sex with him. Dirty sex talk for her is telling Grandpa to say old person things like how early they eat dinner or, "Tell me how the neighborhood use to be safe."
As Jason and his fiance are tight laced, we just know that this trip will loosen him up. The moment he runs into an attractive, free spirited former class mate, who shares his passion for photography, we know exactly where the movie is headed. A better ending would have been Jason confessing to his fiance that he is not happy with how things are going and finding that she feels the same way and they move on together on a new path.
At one time, De Niro was considered a highly respectable "A" list actor, but films like Dirty Grandpa makes him seem more like a "B" actor so need of work, he will make any movie he is offered.
Photos © Copyright Lionsgate (2016)
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REASON'S GREATEST CAPACITY IS TO CONTEMPLATE EVER WIDER HORIZONS
'The classics hold a surprising fascination for we 21st-century moderns,' says Mark Vernon, commenting on the way Greek philosophy and classical history often feature on primetime TV and radio:
'Yet contemporary presentations of the ancient legacy commonly miss an element that was fundamental to figures such as Plato and Aristotle, Zeno and Hypatia: the quest to know the transcendent. Without that vertical striving, they judged a philosophy rootless, or aimless.'
Mark Vernon goes on to relate the 'loss of this crucial dynamic' to much that is of concern to us today, 'from mental health to climate change'. As he points out, our modern narrative tends to exclude anything which doesn't fit with a secular view of things. The ancients developed human reason but not in order to shut down any sense of wonder or contemplation of a greater reality which might exceed our understanding.
'Reason's greatest capacity is to contemplate ever wider horizons, as Iris Murdoch put it; to open on to transcendent vistas on which the soul can gaze and feed.'
A year ago at Wychwood Circle we were welcoming Oxford psychologist Professor Mark Willliams who has done so much to recommend the practice of mindfulness to the modern world, from the classroom to the houses of parliament. Mark Vernon would not be alone in saying that this is the sort of practice which has long been part of religious traditions such as Christianity, as well of course as Buddhism. We shall be discussing again in March (with Brian Mountford) what it is to be 'spiritual' and there is no doubt a difference between secular and spiritual mindfulness. In a 2014 collection of essays entitled After Mindfulness a distinction is made between 'problem-solving' and 'spiritual' mindfulness. The latter might be said to address 'the questions with which our culture as a whole is struggling - in particular, the nature of the self and our relationship to the divine', says Mark Vernon.
Dr Vernon is a psychotherapist and he has pointed out that (evidence shows) the now quite common Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - originally inspired by Stoicism! - has not always delivered on what it promised. 'The bigger picture held by the ancient philosophers could help explain why', he says. 'If you cut out the divine element, as the secular censor does, the therapy loses its efficacy and ground.' Well, at Wychwood Circle, we only cut out the censor, and whatever our point of view as we come to Wychwood Library on February 5th we shall learn a lot that we probably ought to know about reason and contemplation and doubtless a bit more about mind and mindfulness.
WHY WE NEED BOTH PLATO AND FREUD IN THE 21st CENTURY - a talk and discussion by Dr Mark Vernon at Wychwood Library at 7pm on Sunday 5th February. Open to all. Retiring collection.
Posted by Wychwood Circle at 05:15
PLATO AND FREUD AND OTHERS
REASON'S GREATEST CAPACITY IS TO CONTEMPLATE EVER ...
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Next Generation Products
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As an international business we recognise the importance, influence and duty we have in promoting respect for human rights.
ADDRESSING CHILD LABOUR
Our policy is to respect and support the dignity, wellbeing and human rights of our employees, the workers in our supply chain and the communities in which we operate. We are commited to conducting our business in a responsible and sustainable way, seeking to mitigate the risks and impacts of human rights abuses both within our direct and indirect operations.
We have a collaborative approach to human rights, partnering with key stakeholders across our value chain to make positive societal impact. Our commitment to human rights extends through several Group policies. Our Code of Conduct and Supplier Code set out the foundations to our approach to human rights, which all our employees, suppliers and business partners are required to adhere to. We comply with all human rights law and where local law is less stringent, our Human Rights Policy will take precedent.
Respecting human rights is important in relation to our own employees, external reputation and supply chain sustainability. In our approach to respecting human rights, we refer to the United Nations Guiding Principles and support the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) core conventions for:
Freedom from discrimination (C100 and C111)
Freedom from forced labour (C29 and C105)
Freedom of children from child labour (C138 and C182)
Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining (C87 and C98)
We recognise that along with our direct operations, our supply chain has the potential for human rights abuses and we are committed to working with our suppliers and business partners to improve supply chain standards. The respect for human rights is predominately enabled through our requirements for supplier standards, business conduct and employment practices. Our Human Rights policy sets out our Group-wide commitment and expectations in addressing human rights.
In 2018 we reviewed our existing Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) to better understand human rights in the context of our Next Generation Product’s (NGP) global supply chain. The combined study assessed around 940 entities across our operations, our tobacco leaf supply chain and across our first-tier non-tobacco material (NTM) and strategic NGP supply chains. The results of this assessment supported the development of our Human Rights Policy, which can be accessed in the download library.
Following the results of the HRIA, we are actively seeking to: provide a safe working environment for our employees and those working for us; further mitigate the potential for forced labour in our NGP supply chain; and alleviate child labour from tobacco growing. We continue to respect all human rights, however our focus and drive for performance improvement is in these three areas.
Whilst we operate in a number of countries where human rights are of particular concern our global governance is the same. We respect the need and, as appropriate, facilitate individuals in having access to remedies should human rights be potentially breached. Mechanisms include concern reporting, grievance management and the communication of our Speaking Up (whistleblowing) policy.
We continue to engage with NGOs including Human Rights Watch on the issue of child labour, and in 2018 there was a particular focus on our sourcing activities in Zimbabwe. We welcome continued dialogue and are working collaboratively with a number of stakeholders to improve industry standards within our supply chain.
WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES?
We’re working to further the respect for human rights and to address child labour.
We’re supporting employees and business partners to understand the issue of modern slavery.
We seek to provide a safe working environment for our employees and those working for us.
Child labour is not acceptable. In accordance with the main international and legal instruments contained in the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), we define child labour as work that can harm children’s well-being and hinder their education, development and future livelihood.
Addressing child labour is a multi-stakeholder issue. We would like to see labour laws globally aligned to ILO conventions 138 (minimum age for admission to employment and work) and 182 (the worst forms of child labour).
Similar to other agricultural industries, the risk of child labour is highest in our tobacco growing supply chain. We address child labour through three main avenues;
(i) Leaf supplier programme known as ‘STP’; the ‘People’ pillar of STP is a critical element for the respect of human rights and is aligned with the relevant ILO conventions and the UN Guiding Principles.
(ii) Leaf Partnership Projects; working directly with our suppliers to fund projects in tobacco growing communities to help tackle child labour.
(iii) Our active support of the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation (ECLT), which aims to tackle the root causes of child labour by improving access to education and providing alternatives to childhood working. It also has an advocacy role, raising awareness with governments and communities to galvanise positive action.
As an ECLT Board member we have signed a Pledge of Commitment and Minimum Requirements, which affirms “ECLT Board Members respect and recognize the principles and rights enshrined in the ILO Conventions and recommendations on child labour. The pledge further affirms a sector wide commitment to uphold the robust policies on child labour".
We are actively engaging with the NGO, Human Rights Watch, on the issue of child labour in agricultural supply chains. We believe in dialogue and transparency in dealing with this very important issue.
In addition to our STP, which covers all of our leaf suppliers, we operate a Supplier Qualification Programme for our key non-tobacco materials (NTM) and Next Generation Products (NGP) suppliers. Suppliers are asked to complete a periodic compliance check. This includes questions on business conduct, environmental management and labour practices. We also encourage our suppliers to evaluate their suppliers and sub-contractors. The programme involves a phased cycle of audits to check against the supplier’s self-assessment. We prioritise audits on the basis of risk assessment, quality and performance.
Further detail on how we address the issue of child labour in our agricultural supply chain is detailed in our Addressing Child Labour overview document.
Farmer Welfare and Livelihoods
Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco (ECLT)
We recognise that modern slavery can include forced and child labour, servitude, human trafficking all of which restrict a person’s freedom of movement whether that be physical or non-physical. Like all businesses, we run the risk of being exposed to modern slavery either within our direct operations or indirectly through our supply chain.
We published our first Modern Slavery Act statement, in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act, in March 2016. Our 2017 statement details how we continue to build upon and strengthen our approach to addressing modern slavery and can be accessed here.
We recognise that there could be a risk of human trafficking in the distribution and logistics activities that are connected with our business. It is also feasible that criminals involved in the illicit trade of our products may also be involved with slavery and human trafficking. We seek to mitigate such risks by the controls we have in place in our supply chain that are driven primarily in relation to the threat of illicit trade.
During 2018, we developed a modern slavery e-learning course to support employees and key suppliers in understanding the issue and explaining how to raise concerns on suspected or actual human rights abuses. The e-learning will be translated into several local languages to ensure maximum coverage of our operations and suppliers that are identified as being at a higher risk of human rights breaches.
Since 2014, we have been supporting the international charity, Hope for Justice in pursuing its vision of a world free from slavery. In that time, Hope for Justice has rescued over 350 victims of modern slavery in the UK and have been supporting survivors of sex trafficking at their aftercare facilities in the UK, USA, Cambodia and Norway. You can find out more about Hope for Justice on their website.
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The Surveyor (2015)
123Movies - The Surveyor (2015)
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The year 2019 may just have founds its first meme in the "Fiji Water Girl", who has created ripples on the internet by photobombing nearly every red carpet shot at the Golden Globe awards ceremony held on Sunday. On Sunday, as stars posed for photo opportunities and interviews alike, Kelleth Cuthbert (aka, the Fiji Water girl) had a different agenda - to photobomb as many celebrities as possible in the name of genius advertising.
Talking to CNet, she said, "I've been photobombing since I was a kid".
She added: 'Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans for allowing me the space to have my best angle'.
"I loved the Jim Carrey one", she shared. News tracked down the model and even awarded her "Best Supporting Actress On A Red Carpet" to reward her for her plucky ploy at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, California.
And when we looked into the future and saw miss Fiji at the top of her game.
Doing the rounds online, the star has had a tongue-in-cheek reaction to the interest in her shots.
For now, all the South Siders can do is play the waiting game as they are the only team that currently has an offer on the table. We all see what you're doing here, White Sox.
Later on, the brand also chose to leverage on the hype and tweeted out a meme of its own featuring its Fiji Water model.
"No one's really going to be looking at me", she remembers telling herself. But, who is the Fiji water girl? "As the official water sponsor of the Golden Globes, FIJI Water, along with its FIJI Brand Ambassadors, hydrated guests on the red carpet and during the star-studded show".
Kelleth Cuthbert is having a pretty good week. Unsurprisingly, Cuthbert is a model, who has worked for agencies across North America, including Wilhelmina in Los Angeles and Chicago, Plutino in Toronto, Heffner in Seattle and Donna Baldwin in Denver.
According to Time, FIJI Water has served as the "official water brand" for the Golden Globes since 2015.
She continued, "My husband is laughing very hard about all of this". She remembers the moment, but notes that like all her photobombs, it went by "super fast".
She told Glamour that she found the whole experience hilarious, albeit being confused and overwhelmed with the attention.
Is Meghan Markle returning to Suits for a final appearance?
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Buccaneers focused on Bruce Arians as next head coach, report says
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Team India’s victory dance after historic Test series win in Australia
USC blocking Kingsbury from interviewing with Cards
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WALLENPAUPACK CHURCH
Message From Our Pastor
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Aimee Wentzell
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What Is a Free Methodist?
Wallenpaupack Church is a Free Methodist congregation. Historically, the Free Methodist Church was organized at Pekin, New York, August 23rd, 1860. The first bishop of the new church was Benjamin Titus (B.T.) Roberts. He was a champion for equal rights (especially for women), writer, publisher, Christian educator, and holiness preacher. The influence of his character and ministry continue today.
In 1860, the “free” in Free Methodist emphasized certain basic freedoms found in the Scriptures: Human freedom, upholding the right of every person to be free, denying the right of anyone to hold slaves.
· Freedom and simplicity in worship;
· Free seats in church, so the poor will not be kept out or discriminated against;
· Freedom and openness in relationships and loyalties so the truth may always be spoken freely (avoiding vows of secrecy and secret societies i.e., Free Masons, Order of Eastern Star, Elks, Eagles);
· Freedom of lay persons to be fully involved at all levels of decision making;
· Freedom from materialism in order to help the poor.
The biblical principles on which these freedoms are based are as important today as ever.
We are “methodists,” believing in a disciplined, simple lifestyle. Our witness to the world is through enthusiastic, orderly methods.
(From the pamphlet, “What is a Free Methodist?”) Download this brochure below.
The hierarchy of the Free Methodist church is similar to that of other denominations, but differs in its practical application:
There are three Bishops who oversee the work being done in the United States. They are Bishop David Kendall (Central US), Bishop David Roller (Eastern US), and Bishop Matt Thomas (Western US). These men, as well as a group of people called the General Board of Administration, oversee the work of the conferences.
Each Region of the US is divided into conferences. We are in the Acts 12:24 Churches of the Mid-Atlantic Conference (or you can just say Mid-Atlantic Conference). A conference superintendent oversees the conference. Our superintendent’s name is Dave Harvey. Each conference is divided into districts. We are in the Wilkes-Barre District under the Leadership of Reverend Al Sones.
What is a Free Methodist Brochure
Local Ministerial Candidate Handbook
Book of Discipline
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Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica
Database Included
Volumn Content
Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2011, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (05): 1223-1231.doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB20110439
• BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY • Previous Articles Next Articles
This study developed a mutual recognition of the proteins based on molecular classification, data mining strategies and the statistical clustering method, which was applied to study and classify clusters of coenzyme-A (CoA) binding proteins with their binding patterns extracted by using Pocket1.0 program. Several strategies have been evaluated for the accuracy of the system analysis and the two-step clustering method has been shown to be the best. The results revealed that the known CoA binding proteins can be clustered into three groups by using this approach. The designed classification coefficient was used effectively to identify the critical features for classification. The results show that both hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions are important in all three clusters and that quite a few important residues related to biological activities are involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds. The classification of these interactions and the discovery of the characteristics and differences between the three clusters will have some utility for the design of specific agonists and antagonists.
Key words: Coenzyme-A, Protein classification, Binding mode, Cluster analysis, Pantetheine
Supporting Info
Click here to download Supporting Info material in PDF type
FAN Di, LIU Zhen-Ming, JIN Hong-Wei, ZHANG Liang-Ren. Classification of Coenzyme-A Binding Proteins Based on Co-Factor Binding Modes[J].Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin., 2011, 27(05): 1223-1231.
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URL: http://www.whxb.pku.edu.cn/EN/10.3866/PKU.WHXB20110439
http://www.whxb.pku.edu.cn/EN/Y2011/V27/I05/1223
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Ginenus Fekadu ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4926-06851,
Legese Chelkeba2 &
Ayantu Kebede3
This article has been updated
Stroke is the second-leading global cause of death behind heart disease in 2013 and is a major cause of permanent disability. The burden of stroke in terms of mortality, morbidity and disability is increasing across the world. It is currently observed to be one of the commonest reasons of admission in many health care setups and becoming an alarming serious public health problem in our country Ethiopia. Despite the high burden of strokes globally, there is insufficient information on the current clinical profile of stroke in low and middle income countries (LMICs) including Ethiopia. So, this study was aimed to assess risk factors, clinical presentations and predictors of stroke subtypes among adult patients admitted to stroke unit of Jimma university medical center (JUMC).
Prospective observational study design was carried out at stroke unit (SU) of JUMC for 4 consecutive months from March 10–July 10, 2017. A standardized data extraction checklist and patient interview was used to collect data. Data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of stroke subtypes.
A total of 116 eligible stroke patients were recruited during the study period. The mean age of the patients was 55.1 ± 14.0 years and males comprised 62.9%. According to world health organization (WHO) criteria of stroke diagnosis, 51.7% of patients had ischemic while 48.3% had hemorrhagic stroke. The most common risk factor identified was hypertension (75.9%) followed by family history (33.6%), alcohol intake (22.4%), smoking (17.2%) and heart failure (17.2%). The most common clinical presentation was headache complained by 75.0% of the patients followed by aphasia 60.3% and hemiparesis 53.4%. Atrial fibrillation was the independent predictor of hemorrhagic stroke (AOR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01–0.68).
The clinical characteristics of stroke in this set up were similar to other low- and middle-resource countries. As stroke is a high priority chronic disease, large-scale public health campaign should be launched focusing on public education regarding stroke risk factors and necessary interventions.
Stroke is acute clinical event of focal or global neurological disturbance related to impairment of cerebral circulation, which lasts longer than 24 h resulting in death with no known cause other than vascular origin. Without blood to supply oxygen and to remove waste products, brain cells quickly begin to die [1,2,3,4]. Stroke is the second-leading global cause of death behind heart disease in 2013 and is a major cause of permanent disability [5,6,7]. Currently, the burden of stroke in terms of mortality, morbidity and disability is increasing across the world [8, 9]. Additionally, data from Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) of 2010 revealed that stroke is the leading cardiovascular disease (CVD) which causes mortality and disability in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other low and middle income countries (LMICs) [10].
Risk factors for stroke can be classified as modifiable and non-modifiable. Age, sex, family history and race/ethnicity are non-modifiable risk factors; while hypertension, smoking, diet, and physical inactivity are among some of identified modifiable risk factors [11]. Different risk factors apply to an African population in the development of stroke [12]. Africa might be increasingly affected by high burden of stroke and other vascular diseases due to health transitions in line with ever-changing social, economic and demographic patterns [13]. Additionally, the poor are increasingly affected by stroke, which can be attributable to the changing population exposures to risk factors and inability to afford the high cost of stroke care [14]. Yet, only little data about context-specific risk factors for prioritizing interventions to reduce the stroke burden in sub-Saharan Africa is available [15, 16].
Compared to developed countries, the percentage of hemorrhagic stroke (HS) mortality rate was higher in SSA and other LMICs [10, 17, 18]. There have been variations in the prevalence of major risk factors among the stroke subtypes, demonstrating that knowledge of pathophysiology is crucial for the right management and care of the patients [19]. In addition to highest burden of stroke risk factors in LMICs, the racial or genetic factors also plays key roles in the pathogenesis of stroke. For example, hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) appear to be more prevalent among black races as compared to white races [17]. Currently even though several modifiable risk factors are becoming significant, hypertension is still the most common risk factor globally including our country [20].
Stroke is currently observed to be one of the commonest reasons of admission in many health care setups and becoming an alarming serious public health problem in our country Ethiopia [21, 22]. Under-diagnosing of hypertension and other risk factors, delayed presentation to the hospital, poor risk factors control and failure to adhere to the treatments are some of the major challenges that needs to be addressed [21, 23]. Etiologic investigation for stroke was infrequently performed due to lack of systematic cardiological examinations and brain imaging, most of the time for economic reasons and unavailability of the instruments [24]. The findings of the studies done in Ethiopia frequently changes from one another with respect to various demographic profiles, location and risk factors [21]. Most of the data’s regarding stroke that used in the management, follow-up and prevention of stroke come from studies in developed countries [22]. Thus, in our country we haven’t pooled data on prevalence, risk factors and outcome of the stroke.
The shortage of data specific to the Ethiopian setting limits the formulation of well-designed response and management of stroke [21]. So it is imperative that a lot has to be done to overcome the current challenges concerning the risk factors and clinical profile of stroke in Ethiopia [22]. Hence this study will generate evidences for improving the prevention strategy of stroke and guide health authorities to halt or reduce the devastating effects of stoke at different sectors of our community by having overview knowledge of clinical characteristics of stroke. This study data was part of huge study project done in stroke unit (SU) of Jimma university medical center (JUMC) with novel and extensive findings focusing on stroke. Hence, this study was aimed to assess risk factors, clinical presentations and predictors of stroke subtypes among adult patients admitted to SU of JUMC.
Since this data was part of study previously described by Fekadu etal [24], we have used similar methods. Additionally, the study participants in this finding share similarity with previously published articles of the same study project. Prospective observational study design was conducted at SU of JUMC located at south-west Ethiopia for 4 consecutive months from March 10–July 10, 2017. All adult patients (> 18 years) diagnosed to had stroke clinically or by brain imaging and admitted to SU of JUMC during the study period were included. Those not willing to give an informed consent, died before evaluation, changed diagnosis of stroke, transformed stroke and with hematomas were excluded [23, 24].
Data collection tool and procedure
Data collection was carried out by two trained nurses and one internal medicine resident. Data collectors collect data using interviewer administered questionnaire and standardized data extraction form from the case records of the patients. Data collection tool (Additional file 1) was developed based on the previous study findings done at different sites and using the WHO step wise approach to stroke surveillance [25]. The necessary history used for the study was taken from the patient and/or caregivers by the language they understood. To ensure quality of data, the data abstraction tool was developed in English, translated to local language (Amharic and Afan Oromo) and back translated into English to check its consistency. The data collection form was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics of patients such as risk factors, clinical presentation and subtypes of stroke.
Data processing and analysis
The data was entered to Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics such as proportions, means, standard deviations, medians and interquartile ranges were calculated to describe the independent variables. During candidate selection because of adequate significant variables were obtained at P < 0.05, it was considered as cut off point for candidate selection for multivariable logistic regression analysis model with backward stepwise approach to identify the independent predictors of stroke subtypes. The data was summarized using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. Confidence interval which doesn’t contain 1 and predictor variables with p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Operational definition
Alcohol abuse/ consumption
On average ≥ 2 drinks/day for males and ≥ 1 drinks for females (previous drinker: ex drinker for more than 1 year) [26].
If the patient was previously on oral hypoglycemic agents/insulin treatment or had the diagnosis of any type of DM or FBS ≥ 126 mg/dl or had a documented RBS ≥ 200 mg/dl or glycosylated hemoglobin of ≥6.5% [7, 27,28,29].
Dyslipidemia or hyperlipidemia
Previous had history of hyperlipidemia or using lipid lowering medication or total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol ≥100 mg/dl, and HDL-cholesterol < 40 mg/dl for men or < 50 mg/dl for women, and/or serum triglyceride level ≥ 150 mg/dl [27, 30].
Previously receiving antihypertensive medication or when the patient was previously diagnosed with hypertension or detecting blood pressure of ≥ 140/90 mm/Hg for two measurements [7, 27,28,29].
According to the WHO, Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m 2 [28].
Central obesity: Waist circumference greater than 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women [28].
On average 2 cigarettes per day in men and 1 per day in women
Former smoker: who abstained from smoking for greater than 1 years [31].
Current smoker: smoking within 1 year ago [31].
One hundred twenty five patients were admitted to SU of JUMC with suspected diagnosis of stroke and 9 patients were excluded from the study during the study period. From 116 study participants included in the study; history was obtained solely from 11 patients (9.5%), from the patient and caregiver in 50 cases (43.1%), and solely from caregivers in 55 cases (47.4%). According to WHO criteria 51.7% patients had ischemic type of stroke (IS) while 48.3% had hemorrhagic stroke (HS). Of the total 116 patients, 61 patients evaluated with CT scan of the brain and the rest 55 patients were evaluated clinically to have stroke [24].
The mean age of the patients was 55.1 ± 14.0 years and 65 (56.0%) were in age of group of 45–65 years. Males comprised of 73 (62.9%) with male: female ratio of 1.70:1. Majority of the participants (42.2%) had informal education and 85.3% of patients were independent at home during pre-stroke. Majority of the patients had normal mean body mass index (BMI) (63.8%) and 15.5% of the patients were overweight [23]. Regarding the food habit of the patients during the pre-stroke, 81.9% were mixed diet users (Table 1).
Table 1 Patient characteristics among adult stroke patients admitted to stroke unit of JUMC from March 10–July 10, 2017
Risk factors for stroke subtypes
Risk factors were identified in 114 (98.3%) patients; 59 (98.3%) of IS and 55 (98.2%) of HS patients. The most common risk factor identified was hypertension in 88 (75.9%) patients followed by family history in 39 (33.6%), alcohol intake 26 (22.4%) and smoking 20 (17.2%). Thirty six patients (83.7%) of IS and 34 (75.6%) of HS patients had a pre-stroke knowledge of being hypertensive. Twenty eight patients (24.1%) had no current and previous history of hypertension [17 (28.3%) of IS and 11(19.6%) of HS patients] (Table 2).
Table 2 Risk factors of stroke subtypes among adult patients admitted to stroke unit of JUMC from March10–July 10, 2017
About 18 (20.5%) of the patients had no prior knowledge of being hypertensive, but diagnosed in hospital during admission for stroke. From 46 patients with no previous history of hypertension including newly diagnosed, 19 (41.3%) were never had their blood pressure measured and the remaining measured but was in normal range.
Among the patients with recorded history of hypertension, the median duration of hypertension prior to stroke diagnosis was 3 years (ranged 0.04 to 25 years). Of 70 patients with pre-existing hypertension, 27 (38.6%) were on anti-hypertensive medications, 24 (34.3%) of the patients were discontinued their antihypertensive medication and 19 (27.1%) hadn’t started antihypertensive medication before stroke occurrence. From 51 patients previously started antihypertensive medication the median duration since the medication started was 3 years. From the 27 patients that were on antihypertensive medication during hospital arrival, 19 (70.4%) of the patients’ blood pressure was not controlled. The median month since discontinuation of their antihypertensive medications before onset of stroke was 2.5 months (ranged 0.5 to 48 months).
Diabetes Mellitus was identified as co-morbidity in 8 patients (4 of them previously diagnosed). It was more prevalent in males and in middle age group, but there was no statistically significant difference between stroke subtypes (p = 0.178). Among the patients with previous history of diabetes, the mean duration of diabetes prior to stroke was 5.3 years (ranged 3 to 9 years). Although all previously diagnosed patients were on anti-diabetics, only 1 patient’s blood glucose was controlled (RBS < 200 mg/dl) during hospital arrival.
Physical inactivity/ sedentary life was detected in 13 (11.2%) patients, the remaining patients had habit of physical activity. Of those who had physical activity, 101 (98.1%) had work related aerobic physical activity and 2 (1.9%) had aerobic/planned physical activity. From nine patients (7.8%) who gave a history of previous stroke, eight of them were ischemic stroke patients. From those patients who had previous history of stroke, one patient had history of hypertension for 25 years.
Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking was less prevalent in IS than HS patients, which was statistically significant among smokers (p = 0.038). Majority of the patients who used alcohol were former drinker before 1 year (84.6%), but no difference in smoking status of the patients between the current and previous smokers. Seventy stoke patients (83.6%) had two or more risk factors for stroke, while 17 (14.7%) had one identified risk factor. In addition 17 (14.7%) patients had more than five identified risk factors. With this, the average risk factor for the patient was 3.38 (ranged 0 to 9) risk factors.
Clinical presentation of stroke patients
The most common clinical presentation was headache complained by 87 (75.0%) patients followed by aphasia 70 (60.3%) and hemiparesis 62 (53.4%). Most of ischemic stroke patients presented with headache (71.7%), aphasia (60.0%) and facial palsy (58.3%). Similarly, the common clinical presentations among hemorrhagic stroke patients was headache (78.6%) followed by aphasia (60.7%) and vomiting (57.1%) (Table 3).
Table 3 Clinical presentations of stroke subtypes among adult patients admitted to stroke unit of JUMC from March 10–July 10, 2017
Hemorrhagic stroke patients were more likely to be presented with coma (P = 0.033), vomiting (P = 0.028) and neck stiffness (p = 0.015), but ischemic stroke patients were more likely presented with chest pain (p = 0.016). In other clinical presentations there was no statistical significant difference between stroke subtypes. The average clinical presentation per patient was 6 (ranged from 2 to 12).
Predictors of stroke subtypes
Using P < 0.05 for candidate variable selection for predictors of stroke subtypes on binary logistic regression; atrial fibrillation, heart failure, previous stroke, coronary disease, smoking, migraine/headache and previous situation of hypertension management were selected to be included in multivariable logistic regression. Up on multivariable logistic regression only atrial fibrillation (AOR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01–0.68, P: 0.021) was the independent predictor for hemorrhagic stroke. Patients having atrial fibrillation were 0.08 times less likely experience hemorrhagic stroke than ischemic stroke (Table 4).
Table 4 Predictors of hemorrhagic stroke compared to ischemic stroke patients admitted to stroke unit of JUMC
This study data was drawn from the huge study project done on stroke in SU of JUMC. The study populations participated in this finding share similarity with previously published articles of the same project [23, 24]. Even though this study share similarity and textual overlap in the method and the socio-demographic part with previous findings, this finding provides advance and unique contribution over the previous published studies by exploring the risk factors and clinical presentation of stroke.
The mean age of the patients (55.1 ± 14.0 years), was in line with other studies carried out in developing countries including Ethiopia [29, 32,33,34,35,36], but lower compared to studies by Tirschwell et al. and Sagui et al. [37, 38]. In developing countries like Ethiopia, stroke occurs a few years earlier as compared to developed countries. This disagreement may be due to liability of hospital based studies to selection bias, demographic differences (differences in birth rates and survival into old age) and poor risk factor control. Thus community based studies are required to clearly find out and compare incidence as well as prevalence of stroke by age in our area. Young stroke (< 45 Years) comprised of more than one fifth (22.4%) of all patients similar to study in other part of Ethiopia [36], but higher than study in Gujarat, Nigeria and other parts of Ethiopia [21, 22, 32, 39].
The higher percentage of stroke in male patients over females was in line with other previous studies [14, 17, 29, 30, 39]. The possible reason may be increased risk factors such as cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption among males. In addition, there is no vascular protection of endogenous estrogens in males. This was unlike to some studies where female patients were dominant [13, 22]; may be due high use of contraception, pregnancy related disorders and migraine causing stroke among females in those studies. In our study finding majority of the patients were rural residents. Contrary to this, findings by Gebremariam et al. [21] and Greffie et al. [22] showed that majority of the patients were from urban areas. It is clear that hospital-based cohorts differ in the type of persons that come to the hospital. The location and catchment area of the hospital determines category of patients visiting the hospital. Additionally, cities and rural regions may differ in age constituencies. The high burden of stroke in rural population may also be due to reduced awareness and poor control of risk factors.
Majority of the patients were farmers (37.9%) and housewives (35.3%), which correlates with the study in Nigeria [40], but contrary to studies in Zambia and Vietnam [37, 41]. Lack of information, ignorance of the risk factors and inability to manage such risk factors might be responsible to this effect. Even when the patients understand the risk factors, they may not accept them to be the cause for stroke nor be able to afford the cost of medications. Additionally, since managing risk factors of stroke require longer period or may be life time; most patients failed to adhere and follow it properly. The above causes might have contributed in many directions to the high prevalence of stroke among peoples with lower education level including housewives and farmers.
In this study majority of the patients (63.8%) had normal BMI and only 15.5% of the patients were overweight. Majority of the patients in developing countries had low or normal BMI because of low economic status and have increased labor related physical activities. Compared to normal weight patients, obese and overweight patients are susceptible to develop a stroke. This may be associated with increased risk factors, insulin resistance, pro-thrombotic state, excessive secretion of free fatty acids, release of excitatory amino acids and sympathetic nervous system activation. This directly or indirectly related to thrombotic and coagulation adverse events thereby reducing the functional outcome and may result in catabolic imbalance. At the same time, immobilization in obese patients can impair the post stroke recovery and outcome.
The most common risk factor identified was hypertension in 75.9%, consistent with other findings as uncontrolled hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke both in developing and developed countries [12, 13, 29, 30, 32, 36, 37]. This trend may reflect poor community awareness, health practices and access to healthcare including different patient related factors. Even when blacks are treated for hypertension, they are less likely than white races to be adhere with treatments given for them. This leads us to believe that hypertension is underdiagnosed and less treated in our study community due to lack of an active screening program, failure to take routine blood pressure measurements, poor medical history taking and poor follow up of the patients. Additionally, adherence with long-term treatment is a great challenge to achieve the optimum outcome as uncomplicated hypertension is usually asymptomatic and denial of the disease is common.
In this study, 79.5% of the hypertensive patients had a pre-stroke knowledge of being hypertensive and 27(38.6%) were on anti-hypertensive medication prior to the stroke occurrence. This was in line with study by Gebremariam et al. in which 20 (37.0%) of the patients had prescribed anti-hypertensive medication prior to the stroke occurrence [21]. But it was in contrary to study by Watila et al. [32] in which more than half of the patients had no prior knowledge of being hypertensive and only small proportion of patients had treatment for hypertension prior to having a stroke. The median duration of hypertension prior to stroke was 3 years, in line with previous study in Ethiopia by Gebremariam et al. [21].
From patients who were on antihypertensive medication during hospital arrival, in majority of the patients’ blood pressure was not controlled (> 140/90 mmHg). Poor control of blood pressure is associated with adherence problem, lack of frequent monitoring, cost issue for medications and transportation for follow up. The proportion of patients that never had their blood pressure measured was lower than finding by Walker etal [33]. Most patients discontinued their antihypertensive medications by convincing themselves as they were cured or improved, because hypertension is asymptomatic disease until organ damage is evident.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and the excess risk of stroke. It was diagnosed as co-morbidity in 8 patients, without statistically significant difference between stroke subtypes. According to study by Alemayehu et al. infarction is the most common type of stroke events in diabetic individuals (57.7%) [13]. In our study the prevalence of DM was lower compared to study by Sarkar et al. (25.9%) [34], 46.8% by De Carvalho etal [42], 23.8% by Desalu etal [43], 19.5% by Owolabi etal [17] and 10.1% by Watila etal [32]. But was closely similar with study by Deresse et al. in Ethiopia which was identified in 7.8% of stroke patients [29]. This discrepancy could be due to our small sample size, referral bias and single hospital-based design of our study. We recommend well designed multi-centered studies to quantify the risk of diabetes in Ethiopian stroke patients. The mean duration of diabetes prior to stroke was 5.3 year, that was closely correlates with study by Gebremariam etal [21].
Habituation of alcohol (22.4%) and smoking (17.2%) was higher compared to other previous studies [14, 17, 32, 39, 43]. This was mostly associated with the community in catchment area of our hospital were highly abuser of social drugs. The majority of smokers develop stroke due to smoking may predispose blood vessels to thrombosis and facilitates platelets aggregation possibly by causing an imbalance between brain vascular coagulation and abnormal fibrinolysis. This might alter the function of blood brain barrier and disrupt normal endothelial cell function. The relation between alcoholism and risk factor of stroke is more susceptible to aggravating effect which causes cardio embolism and hypertension thereby increases the risk of ischemic stroke.
In this study 12.9% of patients were previous user of diet containing low fruit and vegetable. The relation between risk of stroke and diet may be associated with increased daily total fat intake that greatly increases risk of stroke. But vegetable foods have low saturated fat and are protective for our health and organ function. Similar to previous study by Tirschwell et al. [37] cardiac disease like atrial fibrillation, coronary disease and heart failure were commonly associated with ischemic stroke than hemorrhagic strokes. Atrial fibrillation which is great source of cardioembolic stroke was diagnosed in 16.4% that was consistent with study by De Carvalho etal 14.95% [42] and Sagui etal 14.7% [38].
Up on multivariate logistic regression, atrial fibrillation was the independent predictor for hemorrhagic stroke. Patients having atrial fibrillation were less likely experience hemorrhagic stroke than ischemic stroke. From the pathophysiology of the stroke, atrial fibrillation is the most common reason for cardioembolic stroke that occludes cerebral arteries which favors ischemic stroke over hemorrhagic stroke. This finding complies with study by Atadzhanov etal in Zambia [16, 41].
At the onset of stroke, the most common clinical presentation was headache (75.0%) followed by aphasia (60.3%) and hemiparesis (53.4%), similar finding was reported on study by Walker et al. in Gambia [33]. This finding was unlike to other studies where motor symptoms (hemiplegia/hemiparesis) were the most common clinical presentation among stroke patients [13, 14, 22, 35, 39, 42]. The difference could be due to two major reasons. Primarily we have collected data on motor symptoms separately; hemiparesis and hemiplegia. Thus if we had collected as one category the result complies with those other previous studies, as 82.6% of patients manifest either hemiplegia/hemiparesis. Secondly even though the severity varies in degrees due to the nature of the disease most patients may complain the headache as the study was prospective with face to face interview. Initial presentation of urinary incontinence was higher (37.9%) as compared to other study by Greffie et al. [22]. Aphasia was one common presentation in this study which was less presentation as compared to other previous studies [14, 22, 39]. Similar to our finding, study by Kuriakose etal [7] reported that vomiting favors hemorrhagic stroke. This may be one indicator of stroke diagnosis based on clinical where brain imaging is not available. In general average clinical presentation for the patient was 6, which was higher than study in India by Kuriakose et al. in which majority of the patients had 3–4 clinical manifestation during admission [7].
Strength and limitations of the study
This study attempted to identify different risk factors related to stroke with a prospective clinical follow-up that focused on the need of preventive strategy and improvement of patient care. To ensure a uniform data collection, we ascertained consistently ascertainable risk factor identification and obtained more or less reliable information to achieve the goals of our study. More generable case ascertainment than in earlier studies, in-person health care professional assessment to verify eligibility for inclusion was addressed.
The study was associated with some limitations and drawbacks. First, this study was a hospital-based study rather than longitudinal community based study. Hence it may be subjected to referral bias, as most of the acute stroke patients’ visit our hospital only from the south western part of Ethiopia. These referral bias as well as convenience sampling approach used might not reflect the true prevalence of the stroke in the community. Even though the study was hospital based, having only one referral center might probably reflect the actual magnitude of stroke in our country.
Secondly, about half of the patients were diagnosed clinically alone to have stroke based on clinical presentations, risk profiles, disease course and other supportive investigations. Clinical way of diagnosis based on clinician judgment rather than biological may distort accuracy and reliability of the data. This may cause unintended false positive and false negative association between different variables of the study. Thus caution should be taken for the generalization of the finding for large community.
Thirdly, in our study protocol, the risk factor status was not refined sufficiently enough especially for ischemic stroke patients with cardiac cases. Even simple and inexpensive diagnostic tests like electrocardiograms (ECG) were not routinely performed. Poor risk factor identification and diagnosis may underestimate or overestimates some factors. Finally, the sample size was small hampering the analysis of some prognostic indicators due to the short recruitment period. In addition, we counted on patient reports of some of their risk factors and other patient related histories, which may introduce recall bias.
Majority of the patients were males, middle aged, rural residents, uneducated and farmers with low socioeconomic status. The increasing burden of stroke in LMICs countries like Ethiopia poses a challenge to the health care system and the community as a whole. The most common risk factor identified was hypertension and the level of poor blood pressure control in hypertensive patients we observed in this study was alarming. The most common clinical presentation was headache and motor symptoms (hemiplegia/hemiparesis). Hemorrhagic stroke patients were more likely to have coma, vomiting and neck stiffness but ischemic stroke patients were more likely presented with chest pain.
As stroke is a high priority chronic global case, large-scale community health campaign should be launched focusing on community education regarding risk factors of stroke as well as recognition of stroke-related symptoms, prognosis and outcomes. The importance of early recognition and treatment may help to improve outcomes, facilitate consistent and continuous follow up as well as with available treatment options disability can be minimized. Educational programs for front-line health-care providers, focusing on simple supportive interventions, could improve outcomes in settings where advanced diagnostics and treatment of stroke remain limited.
In addition, there should be influential contribution from every social media and political level of the country with the goal of increasing the awareness of risk factors and making the community to understand the challenging effect of the stroke on human health and economy of the country. Thus, policy makers should put strategies for screening and management of common risk factors like hypertension.
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
The Editor and Publisher have retracted this article [1]. This article was published as the result of a technical error which resulted in two versions [1, 2] of the same article being published. [2] is the final version of the article. Springer Nature apologises to the authors and to readers for the inconvenience caused. All authors agree with this retraction.
AF:
BMI:
GBD:
Global Burden of Diseases
HS:
IHD:
JUMC:
Jimma university medical center
LMICs:
Low and middle income countries
SSA:
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We thank Jimma University for supporting the study. We are grateful to staff members of stroke unit of JUMC, data collectors and study participants for their cooperation in the success of this study.
The only funder for the study was Jimma University. The funding body did not have any role in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of data or in writing the manuscript.
Clinical Pharmacy Unit, Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, P.O Box 395, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Ginenus Fekadu
School of Pharmacy, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Legese Chelkeba
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Ayantu Kebede
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GF contributes in the design of the study, analysis, interpretation and write up of the manuscript. AK made the data analysis and interpretation of the data. LC contributed to the design of the study and edition of the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript and have approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to Ginenus Fekadu.
Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Jimma University, Institute of health with reference number of IHRPGC/107/207. Permission was obtained from responsible bodies of the JUMC and stroke unit prior to the interview and review of the patient data. At hospital written informed consent was obtained from the study participants. All patients got the right to opt out of the research. For patients who were not of sound mind to consent; those of altered level of consciousness or severe aphasias, one of the family members or caregivers was given the written consent. This was done by explaining the objective and importance of the study as it is beneficial for patient’s quality service delivery for future encounters. The data from the case records and interview was handled with strong confidentiality. Neither the case records nor the data extracted was used for any other purpose. The confidentiality and privacy of patients was assured throughout by removing identifiers from data collection tools using different codes [23, 24].
Not applicable. No individual person’s personal details, images or videos are being used in this study.
The Editor and Publisher have retracted this article. This article was published as the result of a technical error which resulted in two versions of the same article being published. The remaining article is the final and valid version. Springer Nature apologises to the authors and to readers for the inconvenience caused. All authors agree with this retraction.
Data abstraction tool. (DOCX 24 kb)
Fekadu, G., Chelkeba, L. & Kebede, A. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Risk factors, clinical presentations and predictors of stroke among adult patients admitted to stroke unit of Jimma university medical center, south west Ethiopia: prospective observational study. BMC Neurol 19, 183 (2019) doi:10.1186/s12883-019-1412-5
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