pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 46
1.02M
| source
stringlengths 39
45
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__cc
| 0.567441
| 0.432559
|
W.C. Varones
Someday the mountain might get him but the law never will
Coburn vs. Kagan on Commerce Clause
Elena Kagan can't bring herself to say the government doesn't have the right to dictate what we eat. Not only does she refuse to answer, but her babbling non-answer doesn't portray an intelligent mind.
Thank you, Senator Tom Coburn, for raising the issue of the abuse of the Commerce Clause, the most popular excuse for civil liberties violations from the left.
In other Elena Kagan greatest hits, she again sounds like a moron defending the Constitutionality of book-banning.
By W.C. Varones - June 29, 2010 7 comments:
The Great Polling Swindle: Daily Kos gets had
Some enterprising statisticians saw some fishy numbers in the Daily Kos polls and did a little digging. It turns out that Research 2000, the pollsters Kos paid to do the polling, just pocketed his money and made up the numbers.
I love statistical sleuthing like this.
Kos may or may not be an innocent victim. At a minimum, his initial selection of Research 2000 was probably influenced by them showing him poll results that aligned with his political beliefs (and perhaps their low cost -- they didn't have to employ actual pollsters!), and he apparently didn't do much vetting of the organization before hiring them.
To Kos's credit, he's handling this far more honestly and gracefully than CBS handled RatherGate, CNN handled Eason Jordan and Susan Roesgen, the Washington Post handled JournoList, etc. The MSM could take a lesson from Kos:
Sure, our friends on the Right will get to take some cheap shots, and they should take advantage of the opportunity. But ultimately, this episode validates the reason why we released the internal numbers from Research 2000 -- and why every media outlet should do the same from their pollster; without full transparency of results, this fraud would not have been uncovered. As difficult as it has been to learn that we were victims of that fraud, our commitment to accuracy and the truth is far more important than shielding ourselves from cheap shots from the Right.
UPDATE: Research 2000 was behind the widely reported poll that painted Republicans as extremists:
* 21 percent believe the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) stole the 2008 election and 55 percent aren't sure.
* 31 percent believe Obama is a racist who hates white people and 33 percent aren't sure.
* 23 percent want their state to secede from the U.S. and 19 percent aren't sure.
The MSM fell for that one hook, line, and sinker, and used it to bash Republicans over and over.
By W.C. Varones - June 29, 2010 No comments:
Corruption at the DOJ: The Black Panther voter intimidation case
J. Christian Adams, a DOJ attorney who resigned in protest, speaks out.
"Monster" money-printing
Sound like the hysterical rantings of a crazed San Diego doom blogger?
Nope, it's sound advice from the Royal Bank of Scotland:
Andrew Roberts, credit chief at RBS, is advising clients to read the Bernanke text very closely because the Fed is soon going to have to the pull the lever on "monster" quantitative easing (QE)".
"We cannot stress enough how strongly we believe that a cliff-edge may be around the corner, for the global banking system (particularly in Europe) and for the global economy. Think the unthinkable," he said in a note to investors.
Roberts said the Fed will shift tack, resorting to the 1940s strategy of capping bond yields around 2pc by force majeure said this is the option "which I personally prefer".
Read the whole Ambrose Evans-Pritchard article. He's right on the money:
It is sobering that zero rates, QE a l'outrance, and an $800bn fiscal blitz should should have delivered so little. Just as it is sobering that Club Med bond purchases by the European Central Bank and the creation of the EU's €750bn rescue "shield" have failed to stabilize Europe's debt markets. Greek default contracts reached an all-time high of 1,125 on Friday even though the €110bn EU-IMF rescue is up and running. Are investors questioning EU solvency itself, or making a judgment on German willingness to back pledges with real money?
Clearly we are nearing the end of the "Phoney War", that phase of the global crisis when it seemed as if governments could conjure away the Great Debt. The trauma has merely been displaced from banks, auto makers, and homeowners onto the taxpayer, lifting public debt in the OECD bloc from 70pc of GDP to 100pc by next year. As the Bank for International Settlements warns, sovereign debt crises are nearing "boiling point" in half the world economy.
Fiscal largesse had its place last year. It arrested the downward spiral at a crucial moment, but that moment has passed. There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. The Krugman doctrine of perma-deficits is ruinous - and has in fact ruined Japan. The only plausible escape route for the West is a decade of fiscal austerity offset by helicopter drops of printed money, for as long as it takes.
And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burnin' coal
Pourin' off of every page
Like it was written in my soul from me to you
Tea Party goes global
San Diego's own Leslie Eastman happened to be on vacation in Italy when a Tea Party broke out.
Members of the trans-Atlantic resistance movement swapped notes and tactics.
Click on over to Temple of Mut for the story and pictures.
Welcome home, Leslie!
By W.C. Varones - June 28, 2010 1 comment:
Klansman illness could sink FrankenDodd fake financial reform bill
Not that a real financial reform bill is likely even if this one stalls, but it would at least re-open the possibility of addressing Too Big To Fail.
Ex-KKK leader and current Democratic Senator Robert Byrd's vote may be crucial to pass Frank (D - Fannie Mae) and Dodd's (D - Countrywide) fake financial reform bill.
Just like they did May 21 when the Senate passed the Dodd Permanent Too Big To Fail Bill, Wall Street bank stocks rallied Friday on word of House-Senate agreement on the bill:
UPDATE: The Klansman has died; analysts expect this to delay, not kill, the fake financial reform bill.
The state as force multiplication for the rich
A two-minute illustration by an anarchist that quite accurately captures today's crony capitalism corruption regime.
You did recognize Goldman Sachs and BP in that diagram, didn't you?
HT: SkepticalEye
Journogate: in other news, the sun still rises in the east
Mainstream media "reporters" hate conservatives, share ideas on liberal groupthink e-mail lists before telling public what to think.
We are shocked. Shocked, I tell you.
Charles M. Blows
The New York Times has a new deranged leftist columnist with the delightfully appropriate name Charles M. Blow.
Blow's delusional rant today is how Obama's miserable approval ratings are all the Republicans' fault:
[...] Republican lawmakers latched on to the word “no” like temperamental 2-year-olds. Their strategy: dictate by stalemate. It worked.
Oh, yeah. Remember how those dictators blocked Obama's $800 billion porkulus package? Remember how they stopped the continuing bailout of AIG? Remember how they blocked the bailout of Government Motors? Remember how they blocked Timmy the Tax Cheat's indefinite unlimited bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Remember how they stopped Obama's signature program, the nationalization of the health care industry, dead in its tracks?
Who's the dictator here? Republicans have refused to go along with Obama's overwhelmingly unpopular, un-Constitutional agenda, but they haven't had the votes to be more than a minor irritant as Obama steamrolls the public.
The Blow-job continues to mis-characterize Republicans as social conservatives when in fact the party's focus has long since swung to fiscal issues. Worse, Blow then describes the Tea Party movement as pushing the Republicans further "right" (presumably still regarding social issues) rather than as being a voice of fiscal sanity in the ObamaNation madness.
The New York Times' new columnist is an embarrassment even by the New York Times' embarrassing standards.
BP TBTF
What is irony? In the case of BPTBTF I'll take definition 5 from Dictionary.com.
Bloomberg is reporting that "BP’s Demise Would Threaten U.S. Energy Security, Industry, Jobs". Do I smell an oily bailout?
What I find interesting about this first calculated shot across the taxpayer bow is that I know many people who voted for Obama purely on the "fact" that he was going to save the environment and planet Earth. He was going to be the first green President and protect us from all the evil polluting corporations.
Now under his administration, of course this has to somehow be GW's fault because no administration is actually capable of solving anything while they are in office, BP acted irresponsibly and possibly criminally in what has resulted in the worst environmental disaster in US history. And if some folks predictions are correct, this one might go down as the worst of all time as The Gulf of Mexico becomes the Gulf of oil.
So the suggestion of BP being TBTF is rich. According to this ABC report, they are one of the worst oil companies in the world as far as safety goes. If the Obama administration bails them out by protecting them from the lawsuits and from compensating the Gulf States for their role in this catastrophe, or even worse provides taxpayer money to them to stay in business, then what does that say about Obama's concern for the environment? To a logical thinker it says he doesn't give a shit. If Obama protects BP then Obama is as oil friendly, or maybe even more so, than GW ever was.
Further if the Obama administration bails out BP than what is the Obama administration saying to the oil industry? To me it's saying safety is not the most important thing, profit is. It's saying that BP's lack of safety controls to increase profit is acceptable and should be practiced because if you make a mistake than don't worry, OB got your back. It's saying that the environment doesn't matter.
BP must be held accountable for the commercial industries (fishing, tourism, etc.) they are destroying and the property and eco-damage they are causing. If Obama protects them from that, and even bails them out, after running on a campaign of greenness then that would be enormously ironic.
By Negocios Loucos - June 24, 2010 No comments:
As Obama plans to let the Bush tax cuts expire, raising capital gains, dividend, and other taxes, Russia is going the other way:
Russia will scrap capital gains tax on long-term direct investment from 2011, President Dmitry Medvedev has said.
And as Obama nationalizes the auto industry, the mortgage industry, the health care industry, the student loan industry, etc., Russia is going the other way:
He also said the number of "strategic" firms, in which foreign investment is restricted and which cannot be privatised, would fall from 280 to 41.
And while Obama punishes the private sector to reward government workers, Russia actually wants private industry:
"I would welcome real investors who can build factories, something new in this country."
Where we're going is where Russia is coming from:
Also, many investors have been wary of coming to Russia because of corruption and the dominant role the state plays in Russia's business life.
The Obama Presidency in Multimedia/Picture Form
Words are overrated.
via @Optimus_Inc
via Obama Swears
By Jr Deputy Accountant - June 20, 2010 1 comment:
Skeptical CPA puts on the Zimbabwe Ben trade
In January, I shorted the dollar by taking out an enormous fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.
Now Skeptical CPA has bested my trade on several fronts.
1) He got an even lower fixed rate than I did thanks to the global financial panic pushing Treasuries to all-time low rates.
2) He bought in Texas, where real estate is not nearly as overvalued as in California.
3) He bought in Texas, which is not facing California's fiscal and economic meltdown.
Skeptical CPA, we salute you!
Everybody hates Carly
Carly Fiorina, who's gone from failed and despised CEO of Hewlett-Packard to hanger-on of the comically disastrous campaign of ultra-RINO John McCain, is finding no love in her next soon-to-fail endeavor.
Economic Recovery?
Today I had a peculiar experience; I was searching for a specific shirt and went to a vendor in town that isn't a chain. He didn't have it but had one that's close. I purchased it for $30. I then went to another store a couple of towns over that also wasn't a chain and they did have the exact shirt I was looking for. I purchased that. I then went back to the original store and tried the return the first shirt.
The guys reaction was so apprehensive and he said 'I'll tell you what, how about I put $10 back on the card you used and you keep the shirt.' Now it wasn't savings that struck me it was his vibe. This was the owner of the store and it felt like my return was going to put him under. To beg to put $10 back on the card to still keep the sale was a first for me.
I did keep the shirt for $10 cheaper.
By Negocios Loucos - June 19, 2010 2 comments:
A history of violence
Rep. Bob Etheridge, caught on YouTube recently assaulting a student reporter, has a history of bullying children.
Arsonist Alan Greenspan returns to the scene of the crime to lecture us about fire safety
This would be a reasonable op-ed, other than the fact that it was written by the idiot who destroyed the economy.
It's behind a paywall, but don't worry. There's nothing there that hasn't been said on the WCV many times over.
UPDATE: Free version here. Nice paywall, WSJ!
Donald Kohn is delusional
"He says history will be kind to his ex-boss Alan Greenspan."
And in totally unrelated news, the dollar hit a new all-time low vs. gold today.
High school student 1, filthy rat politician 0
UPDATE: There's a full version, as well as a note on the abridged version above, here.
By Anonymous - June 18, 2010 1 comment:
Labels: John Huppenthal is a filthy weasel
CalPERS, SEIU, Sovereignty, and Soviets
Given the recent post about CalPERS, now is a good time to remind WC readers that the word "Soviet" means "council" (or "Union") in Russian. Soviets were groups of workers' representatives in Russia. Basically, they were unions. They were even "unions of unions" (kinda like the AFL-CIO). The various "Soviets" steadily gained power in Russia in the early 1900's, and then they executed the 1917 Communist Revolution.
The Soviet Union was a government created by the Unions, of the Unions, and for the Unions. Now you might see why it was called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It was a "Union of Soviets", a "Union of Unions", in a way. Lenin specifically included the word "Soviet" into the very name of the nation of which he had just taken control for the purpose of honoring the contributions of the Soviets and reminding the citizens that the Soviets were a central part of the new government itself.
Now, a regular union's purpose is to protect its members from the ownership of the company they work for. That's fine and dandy. But let's ask ourselves; who are the Public Employee Unions protecting their members from? Who "owns" the U.S. government (all obvious jokes aside here)? The citizens of America, is the answer! Public Employee Unions are protecting their members from the citizens, from us! So every time the Public Employee Unions demand fulfillment of unreasonable pension promises despite a state being tens of billions of dollars in debt, they are acting in a way that is totally contrary to the interest of the people, who in theory, own and run their government and are supposed to be able to make their own laws (via our representatives). When the Public Employee Unions actively prevent the people from making their own laws (As they have in Oregon, for instance, when they refused to go along with tax cuts that the people wanted), they are blocking and nullifying the main purpose of our democratic-republic form of government! They are blocking the people from making their own laws! This is a form of tyranny, because the people no longer have the ability to decide their own destiny. See, we, the citizens are "the sovereign" of this nation, not Public Employee Unions! We have the right to write our own laws! And there is no entity that can prevent us from doing so, other than the Constitution itself, which, as the sovereign, we could amend if we wanted. We are not supposed to have to answer to a Union before we decide how we want to spend our money.
Here's another way of describing the important distinction between a regular Union and a Public Employees' Union. If a regular Union has a dispute with ownership, it can seek recourse from the highest power, which is the sovereign. The sovereign (which is the people) ultimately has the power to decide the matter, usually basing their decisions on laws they themselves passed via their representatives. But when a Public Employees' Union has a dispute, then simply because of the fact that their employer is the people themselves, the Public Employees' Union's dispute is with the sovereign itself. And when the Public Employees' Union refuses to budge, refuses to negotiate in good faith, it is damaging the sovereign itself. That is why the Public Employees' Unions represent a kind of perversion of the central, foundational purpose of our government; self-rule. There is no reason why the highest power in the land, the sovereign, should allow itself to be bullied and robbed by any other entity.
When JFK allowed public employee unions to exist, he allowed what was essentially the beginning of our own American version of "soviets". Public Employee Unions, like the SEIU, are essentially in control of vast tracts of our government, in a way that has "Sealed off" the input and decision-making power of the citizens, the rightful sovereign. Public Employee Unions are basically "Soviets", operating within our government, with agendas and goals that do not take into account the interests of the sovereign, the citizens, who happen to be their paymasters, too.
When the SEIU ends up with the power to dictate policy, and how our money is spent, regardless of what the citizens want, we are closer to a Soviet style government system than most people might ever realize. I don't say that in a thoughtlessly inflammatory way, only as a means of comparing forms of government. When Unions actually run a government, it's reasonable to compare that government to that of the USSR. Look at the CalPERS situation, at the SEIU's recent actions in Oregan, at the proposed $50 billion bailout for SEIU-affiliated employees (for Teachers Unions, etc) that the President has asked for, and ask yourself whether the SEIU has ended up with the power to dictate policy. The only realistic answer is yes. If one understands the structure of systems, and how the elements of any given system work together towards a goal, then one can recognize the uneasy truth of the situation we, the people, have allowed to develop. We have allowed a significant part of our government become "Soviet-ized". And it's going to take an amazing effort to reverse this situation. In that respect, we are up against an enormous challenge that not many people even recognize yet as an acute problem. The SEIU has only about 2 million members, yet their political power has become gigantic. The President himself has even said that his entire life's work has been dedicated to the SEIU, and that "the SEIU's agenda is my agenda", and that he will be the one who can push the SEIU's agenda through in Washington, D.C.
The SEIU is an American-style "Soviet". And the Progressives in our government do, indeed mean for it to function that way. They just gave it a different name, in English, not Russian. And as simple as that, we don't recognize what it is. But it's role in the operation of our government is very similar to the role the Soviets (the Unions of Unions) played leading up to the Revolution. I'm not saying any Revolution is going to happen. But if the American people don't ever notice and realize how our governmental "cogs" and structures are now arranged and operating in ways that are eerily similar, in certain key respects, to that of the USSR, then there will be no need for a Revolution. It will have happened over a long period of time, and without a ripple.
Take one look around the nation and you will see that Public Employee Unions have devastated State after State with their one-sided, abusive demands of the citizens themselves. CA, IL, NY, MI. The list goes on and on. The SEIU and all of its sub-unions has been sowing the seeds of financial collapse in every state in which they've been given power (by those legislatures in most cases). And Federally, the story is the same. We are in serious financial trouble in this nation, and the SEIU is one easily identifiable entity that is working against the public interest at every turn. Therefore, we need to fight them at every turn. We need to cut off their power. We need to refuse to go along with their destructive demands. We need to reaffirm our very sovereignty and tell the SEIU that it is fully in our power to decide that we no longer want to pay for their bloated pensions, even though we might have signed some contract 15 years ago, or so. When the people decide to break public contracts that are killing their prosperity and putting generations of citizens in debt, they are well within their sovereign rights. We have a duty to act in our own self-interest. -Sic Ibid
By Sic Ibid - June 16, 2010 2 comments:
Labels: CalPERS CA SEIU OBAMA PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS, Radicals in power, Soviets, Wake Up
W.C. Varones Blog welcomes its newest reader, President Barack Obama
Thanks for stopping by, Mr. President. But while you're here, don't just check out Greenspan's Body Count. You want to know what comes next, don't you? And pay attention, sir. You or your successors are going to have to choose between inflation and default.
If you think my views are seditious, you should Flag Me, Obama.
CalPERS to raid bankrupt state budget to cover fatcat employee pensions
Government of the public employee unions, by the public employee unions, and for the public employee unions.
The pension fund board does not need legislative approval to boost the state's contribution rate.
Lefty Glenn Greenwald, of Sock-Puppetry Fame, Shows Some Integrity
Remarkably, he's one of the few lefties who publicly oppose Congressmen assaulting citizens.
I say this without sarcasm or malice. We've got to support lefty bloggers when they (oh, so rarely) do the right thing.
Greenspan's Body Count: Wayne and Herminia Zickefoose
This shocking tale comes from Anaheim, California where two young boys survived attempted murder by their father.
The story is unbelievably horrible:
A wounded 3-year-old boy was found hiding outside his family's Southern California home, and his 5-year-old brother was found unhurt inside, 12 hours after their parents were fatally shot in an apparent murder-suicide, police said Monday.
The shootings happened late Sunday but weren't discovered until midmorning Monday, when a co-worker stopped by to see why the father hadn't reported to work, Anaheim Police Sgt. Tim Schmidt said.
The co-worker instructed the 5-year-old to call 911.
"He said his dad killed his mom and shot himself and he can't find his brother," Schmidt said.
When police arrived, they found the parents' bodies splayed out on lawn chairs in the backyard. From there, they followed a trail of blood leading to the wounded 3-year-old, who was hiding behind trash cans on the side of the house, Schmidt said.
"This is a horrific scene," he said.
The 3-year-old had been shot three times in the shoulder, stomach and chest. He was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center, where he underwent surgery and was in critical condition, Schmidt said.
While police are not releasing the victims' names, the owners of the house at 541 North Fairhaven Street were identified as Wayne and Herminia Zickefoose...
who bought the home in 2001 with help from a loan backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The couple borrowed against the house five times during the following six years, but paid off most of those loans, record show.
Most recently, the couple borrowed $462,000 from Countrywide Home Loans in January 2007, records show. They began missing mortgage payments on that loan in February 2009. They owed nearly $14,000 in back payments by May 2009, when the bank warned them it would foreclose if they didn't make their payments, records show.
The bank sent another notice in March of this year, saying the home "may be sold at a public sale" on April 1. At the time, interest and other charges added to the main loan had pushed the Zickefooses' debt on the mortgage to $491,960.18, records show.
Civil court records also show that a woman identified in one case as Hermie G. Zickefoose and in another as Herminia Zickefoose had amassed, since November 2004, more than $26,000 in debt on four credit cards issued by Chase Bank USA.
They bought the place in 2001 for a somewhat reasonable $232,000. But thanks to Greenspan's easy money bubble, they were given enough rope to hang themselves. They ended up sucking out all the equity and then some, up to almost a half million dollars in debt in a modest, working-class neighborhood.
Various online references to Wayne Zickefoose state that he's a USC MBA, owner of Trojan Auto Service in Buena Park, a "theta healing practitioner," and an amateur investment writer. And while he swore off the stock market in 2008, it sounds like he got involved with something more leveraged and dangerous: "land banking."
I believe the best investment, bar none, is in pre-developed land in the path of growth of a major metropolitan city.
Greenspan's Body Count stands at 139.
Wayne Zickefoose
Herminia Zickefoose
Thomas S. Piazza
Troy Fogel
Michele Fogel
Cynthia Dunn Cannon
Jocelyn Earnest
Lynda Clark
Gregory Bellows
Sallie Gist
Rayshawn Reed
Byron Reed Sr.
Byron Reed Jr.
Elisha Gist
Elijah Gist
Tiera Davidson
Christopher Oetting
Neal Jacobson
Franki Jacobson
Joshua Jacobson
Vincenza Garcia
Bill Sparkman
Debra K. Gibbs
Otis Beckford
Carol Kennedy
Diane Ward
Edith Moreno
Diana Moreno
Scott Peters
Tom Blackmore
Kevin Daniel O'Connell
Julie Fay
Wallis Fay
Siu Fong Ng
Ernest Scherer Jr.
Charlene Abendroth
J.D. Wood
Cynthia Wood
Aubrey Wood
Dillon Wood
Betty J. Lipply
Dwight Deely
Linda Patrick
David Kellerman
Francie Billotti-Wood
Chandler Wood
Gavin Wood
Fiona Wood
Gil Weber
Gregory Graham
Randolph Graham
Ramona woman
Del Mar man
Wayne "Mike" Anderson
Jeffrey M. Pearson
Ervin Antonio Lupoe
Ana Lupoe
Brittney Lupoe
Jaszmin Lupoe
Jassely Lupoe
Benjamin Lupoe
Christian Lupoe
Steven L. Good
Adolf Merckle
Mike Upham
Randy Motts
Kristy Hunt
Joseph Nesheiwat
Tom Brisch
Alex Widmer
Brian Pugh
Marilyn Lewis
Sid Agrawal
Kirk Stephenson
Barry Fox
Dallas Dwayne Carter
David Hetzel
Sharron Hetzel
Cliff Kendall
Pamela Ross
Roland Gore
Mrs. Gore
Wanda Dunn
Karthik Rajaram
Subasri Rajaram
Krishna Rajaram
Ganesha Rajaram
Arjuna Rajaram
Indra Ramasesham
Joe X
Isabelle Jarka
Lt. Michael Howe
Palmer C. White
Dianne Pittman White
Ed Boesen
Edwin F. Rachleff
Carlene Balderrama
Troy VanderStelt
Scott M. Coles
Dawn E. Armstrong
Thomas Lizotte
Jonathon Calvin "40-Cal" Jacques
Salvador X
Lupe X
Little Boy X
Little Girl X
Kashmir Billon
Bill McMurtry
Lisa McMurtry
James Hahn
Raymond Donaca
Deanna Donaca
Michel Veillette
Nadya Ferrari-Veillette
Marguerite Veillette
Vincent Veillette
Mia Veillette
Jacob Veillette
Maurice Pereira
Natasha Pereira
Mark Achilli
Raed Al-Farah
Andrew Kissel
Rufus Shaw Jr.
Lynn Flint Shaw
Mr. Pierce
Walter Buczynksi
Marci Buczynski
Jason Washington
By W.C. Varones - June 15, 2010 23 comments:
Washington Post accuses Ron Paul of conflict of interest on gold standard
Apparently it's unethical to protect your family with sound money while trying to protect your country by advocating sound money.
Miserable hacks.
Death Panels come early to Arizona
... for Chandler, Arizona's Tiffany Tate:
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System announced it would stop paying for lung transplants as of Oct. 1.
AHCCCS officials say the cuts were necessary to keep the state's form of Medicaid from operating at a deficit.
This is obvious stuff. Health care is expensive. Government health care always means rationing.
Obama creates Behavior Modification Council
Because now that the government is responsible for everybody's health care, we can't have people making unhealthy choices that would be a burden on the state!
Off to the Exercise Camp with you, fatty!
HT: ZeroHedge
I need more porkulus!
Obama to pile another $50 billion of debt on future generations to bail out the fatcat public employee unions yet again.
What does the NAACP stand for?
This goes waaaay beyond stupid and oversensitive. This is so stupid it's like signs of the apocalypse stupid. The NAACP freaks out about a space-themed Hallmark card talking about black holes. They are sure it is a racist reference to "black whores."
What's worse? Hallmark panics and pulls the cards.
AP: Obama lied, your health care plan died
Over and over in the health care debate, President Barack Obama said people who like their current coverage would be able to keep it.
But an early draft of an administration regulation estimates that many employers will be forced to make changes to their health plans under the new law. In just three years, a majority of workers—51 percent—will be in plans subject to new federal requirements, according to the draft.
We told you so!
These are the expensive mandates and rules that are reportedly pushing Qualcomm to slash its health care benefits.
Are you still loving your ObamaCare?
For more regular reporting on the ObamaCare debacle, please check out Beers with Demo. He's been much more attentive to the issue than I have.
Greenspan's Body Count: Tom Piazza
Mortgage broker Thomas Piazza was executed Sopranos-style in a Tucson Chick-fil-A.
Thomas S. Piazza, 39, was sitting in a booth at the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 4585 N. Oracle Road about 6:45 a.m. when a man walked up to the table, pulled out a handgun and shot Piazza in the head, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
The shooter -- who is described as being a stocky white man between the ages of 40 and 50, wearing a bike helmet, dark shorts and a dark windbreaker -- walked out of the restaurant and rode away on his bicycle, heading westbound on West Auto Mall Drive, Pacheco said.
"There was no provocation, no exchange of words, nothing," Pacheco said in explaining the incident.
Police continue to search for the gunman.
Piazza, a 1993 University of Arizona graduate, was married with four children.
Police believe the killing may be related to Piazza's role in a mortgage fraud ring that ripped off not only lenders but also small investors. One of the small investors may have been out for some Arizona justice.
The Arizona Attorney General's Facebook page explains the scam in an post from July 2009:
The lawsuit, filed in Pima County Superior Court, alleges that the defendants engaged in a sophisticated system of fraud that led to the filing of foreclosure notices on more than 130 homes and caused substantial harm to investors, lenders and rent-to-own homebuyers.
“The violations alleged in this lawsuit are among the worst abuses of vulnerable consumers that I’ve seen in my time as Attorney General. These kinds of abusive practices have contributed to the mortgage meltdown that now finds Arizona ranked among the top four states in the country for foreclosures,” Goddard said. “This sort of behavior is unconscionable.”
The complaint states that the defendants participated in a scheme that used deceptive tactics to entice under-qualified, novice investors into purchasing homes and then sold them to rent-to-own buyers. However, investigators say the scheme was designed to fail because it targeted rent-to-own homebuyers with credit problems and ignored whether they could qualify to purchase the homes.
Click on over for more detail of the scam and the names of the other conspirators.
It's worth noting that the Attorney General settled the case for a pittance, and Piazza was apparently never criminally charged. Piazza may have done nothing illegal, but someone obviously lost money in Greenspan's bubble and felt wronged.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Piazza's young family. Whatever he may have done, the kids didn't deserve this. Alan Greenspan, you're a sick bastard.
Obama Labor Department says government workers live far better than the people who pay their salaries
Not only much better benefits and job security, but much higher pay as well!
Hope you enjoy barely scraping by so that some government bureaucrat can retire at full pay at 60 or 65!
HT: T-Dub and JDA.
How bout I pour you a nice Brita pitcher full of the Gulf of Mexico?
Republican Liberty Caucus: It's Alive!
Five years ago, I wrote off the Republican Liberty Caucus for dead.
Well, they're back, likely inspired by the Ron Paul and Tea Party movements, and they had a big night Tuesday.
28% of Americans are smoking some really good stuff
Twenty-eight percent (28%) of U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending June 6.
BP re-enacted by cats
HT: DV
And on a more serious note, a scuba diver's video of the ecological devastation.
President of bankrupt developer whines about the banks
You know this guy is full of crap if he gets me to defend Goldman Sachs.
In an op-ed in the Salem News, Michael D. "Mick" Pattinson, president of bankrupt developer Barratt American (builder of Leucadia's Rancho Tyvek Estates -- "Come for the tiny lots, stay for the low-income housing next door"), complains that it's not fair that some people on Wall Street recognized the housing bubble and bet that it would burst, or that some banks stopped lending to overleveraged developers as the housing market cratered.
The developer industry spent millions of dollars lobbying Congress to keep the housing bubble going with tax incentives, lax lending standards, and easy credit from an alphabet soup of government and quasi-government agencies including FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Reserve. I didn't hear Mr. Pattinson complaining as he was getting rich from the funny-money-fueled bubble. In fact, Pattinson was a frequent contributor to the industry's lobbying PAC.
The housing crash was the inevitable result of the greatest asset bubble in the history of the world. Any builders who were overleveraged at the peak of the biggest bubble in history have only themselves to blame for their demise.
Pattinson's argument is equivalent to saying that Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme was a good thing, and the only problem was that investors stopped giving Madoff money to keep the Ponzi going.
Pattinson should stop trying to shift the blame to those who recognized the bubble, and apologize for the wreckage that his industry has caused the entire economy.
Tomorrow's news today: primary election results
It looks like it was a good day nationally, and a bad day in California.
Senator Blanche ObamaCare Lincoln lost her primary in Arkansas and will be retiring, and conservative candidate Sharron Angle beat establishment candidate Sue Lowden in Nevada.
In California, no good news. Carly FAILorina, a RINO McCain-wannabe, beat libertarianish Tom Campbell and Tea Party favorite Chuck DeVore. In a year when Barbara Boxer should be vulnerable, FAILorina is so widely despised even among Republicans that she will lose in a landslide.
Meg Whitman won easily and has a decent chance to beat Jerry Brown, at which point she will establish the second Schwarzenegger administration.
Prop. 14, which will eliminate third-party candidates from the general election, passed.
More bad news: RINOs Abel Maldonado and Mike Villines, who voted for the biggest state tax increase in the history of the U.S., won their primaries for higher offices.
That's how I see it playing out. Any deviation in California would be upside from here.
UPDATE: OK, it looks like I may already be wrong on Arkansas. Let's hope I'm wrong on Prop 14 too.
UPDATE 2: Yippee!!! The vile Villines lost!
Cooperation, Goldman style
You see what happens, Larry, when you subpoena the wrong guys?
Goldman Sachs buries Fincial Crisis Inquiry Commission under 2.5 billion pages.
"We should not be forced to play 'Where's Waldo' on behalf of the American people," said Phil Angelides, the chairman of the inquiry commission, in an interview with reporters. "In our view their [Goldman Sachs] conduct has been extraordinary. They are outliers. The overwhelming number of people and institutions have complied and complied in a timely basis."
HT: T-Dub
Helen Thomas
So we have to wait until they are 89 years old, senile, and possibly had a few cocktails at lunch before the leftists in the mainstream media tell us what they really think.
UPDATE: She's gone! I don't know if that's a good thing. I like having the most vocal leftists on display to prominently show the MSM's bias.
The Great Education Scam gets widespread attention
We've been talking about the Great Education scam for a year and a half.
The theme is catching on with other bloggers and in the mainstream media. Today Instapundit's Glenn Reynolds writes an op-ed in the Washington Examiner, citing recent stories in the Washington Post and New York Times:
First -- as with the housing bubble -- cheap and readily available credit has let people borrow to finance education. They're willing to do so because of (1) consumer ignorance, as students (and, often, their parents) don't fully grasp just how harsh the impact of student loan payments will be after graduation; and (2) a belief that, whatever the cost, a college education is a necessary ticket to future prosperity.
Bubbles burst when there are no longer enough excessively optimistic and ignorant folks to fuel them. And there are signs that this is beginning to happen already.
On the other hand, if you can get a fixed-rate student loan, maybe you'll get lucky with a dollar collapse in a few years. That's my strategy for real estate debt, and it would apply to college debt as well. But if we're wrong and don't get a dollar collapse, college debtors are far worse off than mortgage debtors. You can walk away from a house and go bankrupt to clear other debts, but college debt is bankruptcy-proof and will be a ball and chain until your dying day.
Friend of this blog JenO is doing a worthy fundraiser walk for the American Society for Suicide Prevention. With the fundraising deadline looming, she's had a tough go and needs $850 more. Let's put her over the top.
You can donate here.
Come on, with Alan Greenspan still on the loose, we need all the suicide prevention we can get. And it's tax deductible, meaning Barry O will pick up thirtysomething percent of your donation and if you're unfortunate enough to live in California, the Taxinator will pick up another 10%. That's like getting an almost 1-for-1 match!
Richard Fisher on fake financial reform, the Dirty Fed, and TBTF
Dissent within the Dirty Fed! Someone gets it on Too Big To Fail:
Big banks that took on high risks and generated unsustainable losses received a public benefit: TBTF support. As a result, more conservative banks were denied the market share that would have been theirs if mismanaged big banks had been allowed to go out of business. In essence, conservative banks faced publicly backed competition.
Let me make my sentiments clear: It is my view that, by propping up deeply troubled big banks, authorities have eroded market discipline in the financial system.
The system has become slanted not only toward bigness but also high risk. Consider regulators’ efforts to impose capital requirements on big banks. Clearly, if the central bank and regulators view any losses to big bank creditors as systemically disruptive, big bank debt will effectively reign on high in the capital structure. Big banks would love leverage even more, making regulatory attempts to mandate lower leverage in boom times all the more difficult. In this manner, high risk taking by big banks has been rewarded, and conservatism at smaller institutions has been penalized. Indeed, large banks have been so bold as to claim that the complex constructs used to avoid capital requirements are just an example of the free market’s invisible hand at work. Left unmentioned is the fact that the banking market is not at all free when big banks are not free to fail.
It is not difficult to see where this dynamic leads—to more pronounced financial cycles and repeated crises.
Ha! But common sense like this from a lone Fedster will never prevail against Wall Street lobbyists' cash with the likes of Dodd (D - Countrywide) and Frank (D - Fannie Mae) in charge.
The brighter side of Big Brother
Hey, if we didn't have all these government cameras around recording us all the time, we'd miss moments like this.
In related news, while the cops can always record you, you might be arrested for recording the cops.
Left Coast Rebel points out that two thirds of Americans can't name a single Supreme Court Justice.
I'd like to turn this issue on its head and ask why should the whims of Justices be so important in our lives that we should need to know their names. The Constitution set out rights of individuals and restrictions on the powers of government to meddle in our lives. I think the founders would be horrified to learn that Washington power is so all-encompassing in our daily lives that we follow every Presidential and Congressional election and every Supreme Court nomination as if our livelihoods depend on them (which they do, in Obama Nation, of course!).
Free Rent Nation
Here at the WCV, we've been advising underwater homedebtors to stop paying their mortgages for years.
If your loan balance exceeds your home's value, stop paying your mortgage immediately. Remember, in the Bernanke/Pelosi/McCain world, the responsible get screwed, and the reckless get rewarded. If you stop paying your mortgage, your bank will either voluntary renegotiate the terms, or Congress will force them to do it. If you keep paying on an underwater house, you're just throwing good money after bad.
You've already saved ten or twenty thousand dollars, and have you noticed that the bank is still not bothering you? Keep living rent-free. When the bank (or government) finally does get around to calling you, they'll be very nice and accommodative, and they'll negotiate a very nice principal reduction for you.
If the banks are going to delay foreclosure for at least a year due to political pressure, operational capacity, or a desire to delay loss recognition, you might as well take advantage of it, stop paying your mortgage, and live free for a year. [...] Honey, I stopped paying the mortgage! Let's go to Disney World!
In Bailout Nation, only the stupid honor their obligations. [...] If you still are paying your mortgage or credit card balances, look around the room. YOU are the sucker!
Today the New York Times published a story about the joys of not paying: Owners Stop Paying Mortgages, and Stop Fretting.
The average borrower in foreclosure has been delinquent for 438 days before actually being evicted, up from 251 days in January 2008, according to LPS Applied Analytics.
And Angry Future Expat has more thoughts on the subject today.
Voters' guide to California and San Diego propositions
Last week we gave our picks for the June primary ballot.
Today, our friend and local Tea Party founder Leslie Eastman gives her picks.
Separated at Birth: WeWork CEO Adam Neumann and Night Stalker Richard Ramirez
The unthinkable is now the default path forward
The experts agree We're going Full MMT So start buying gold Mauldin Economics on the prestigious Camp Kotok economic gathering: ...
Greenspan's Body Count: Roy Kim
Gothamist : A 58-year-old taxi driver killed himself in his Queens home this month, marking the eight suicide in the taxi industry this yea...
Greenspan's Body Count: unknown UK woman
MortgageStrategyUK : One of the respondents offered the following story:“It has been a difficult time for our family, my wife is now on me...
Cars, Kids And Tobacco
Temple of Mut
Canto Talk, Jan. 30: Wuhan Coronavirus & Senate Impeachment Status
wcvarones -at- gmail -dot- com
Corruption at the DOJ: The Black Panther voter int...
Klansman illness could sink FrankenDodd fake finan...
Journogate: in other news, the sun still rises in ...
Arsonist Alan Greenspan returns to the scene of th...
W.C. Varones Blog welcomes its newest reader, Pres...
CalPERS to raid bankrupt state budget to cover fat...
Lefty Glenn Greenwald, of Sock-Puppetry Fame, Show...
Greenspan's Body Count: Wayne and Herminia Zickefo...
Washington Post accuses Ron Paul of conflict of in...
Obama Labor Department says government workers liv...
How bout I pour you a nice Brita pitcher full of t...
28% of Americans are smoking some really good stuf...
President of bankrupt developer whines about the b...
The Great Education Scam gets widespread attention...
Richard Fisher on fake financial reform, the Dirty...
Voters' guide to California and San Diego proposit...
Boxed(True/False)
SLOBs
The SLOBs
Beers with Demo
Blogger in Chief
Doo Doo Economics
Dueling Barstools
Liberator Today
Lipstick Underground
Shane Atwell
San Diego Tea Party Web Site
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400728
|
__label__wiki
| 0.838218
| 0.838218
|
Patient denied pain meds for filling birth control elsewhere
Woman denied pain medication shares her story with WESH 2 News
Updated: 10:44 PM EDT Mar 17, 2016
Matt Grant
Patients are being denied legitimate prescription medication by pharmacists. An Apopka woman is sharing her story with WESH 2 News. Matt Grant (@MattGrantWESH) has the story.
Patients are being denied legitimate prescription medication by pharmacists.WESH 2 News spoke with one woman who said her prescription for pain medication was not filled and she was shocked to learn why.Without medication, Angela Barrett said she would not be on her feet."I wake up sometimes and my feet will be numb and I literally cannot feel them to walk. If I got out of bed, I would fall," Barrett said.Barrett's back was broken in a 2002 car accident. After surgery failed, Barrett said the Percocet and morphine her doctor prescribed are the only things that help her live a normal life."I wouldn't be able to function," Barrett said.After going to the same Apopka Walgreens for four years, her prescription was denied Wednesday for a reason that shocked her. The pharmacist said he was not comfortable filling the prescription because she had her birth control pills prescription filled at a different Walgreens last month.Special Section: State of PainIt's at the pharmacist's discretion whether to fill a prescription or not.For more than a year, WESH 2 News has reported on patients being denied prescriptions, sometimes not even being told why. In the past, pharmacists have said one red flag to them is when they see patients shopping at multiple pharmacies, far from home. But in this case, Barrett stayed local and stayed within the Walgreens chain when she bought her birth control last month at a branch just over 11 miles away from her usual pharmacy.In a statement, Walgreens said:"For patient safety, we encourage patients to choose one pharmacy or pharmacy chain to have all of their prescriptions filled. We believe it is important for patients to use a single pharmacy so that pharmacists can monitor their medications, avoid potential drug interactions and work with patients on their overall wellness."Barrett said another Walgreens nearby filled it with no problem. Barrett said she finds that confusing."It doesn't make any sense, it makes no common sense, that's for sure," Barrett said.Walgreens said generally speaking, buying birth control at one location should not prevent you from buying medication at another.>>Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS and Android
APOPKA, Fla. —
Patients are being denied legitimate prescription medication by pharmacists.
WESH 2 News spoke with one woman who said her prescription for pain medication was not filled and she was shocked to learn why.
Without medication, Angela Barrett said she would not be on her feet.
"I wake up sometimes and my feet will be numb and I literally cannot feel them to walk. If I got out of bed, I would fall," Barrett said.
Barrett's back was broken in a 2002 car accident. After surgery failed, Barrett said the Percocet and morphine her doctor prescribed are the only things that help her live a normal life.
CDC issues chronic pain recommendations
"I wouldn't be able to function," Barrett said.
After going to the same Apopka Walgreens for four years, her prescription was denied Wednesday for a reason that shocked her. The pharmacist said he was not comfortable filling the prescription because she had her birth control pills prescription filled at a different Walgreens last month.
Special Section: State of Pain
It's at the pharmacist's discretion whether to fill a prescription or not.
For more than a year, WESH 2 News has reported on patients being denied prescriptions, sometimes not even being told why. In the past, pharmacists have said one red flag to them is when they see patients shopping at multiple pharmacies, far from home. But in this case, Barrett stayed local and stayed within the Walgreens chain when she bought her birth control last month at a branch just over 11 miles away from her usual pharmacy.
In a statement, Walgreens said:
"For patient safety, we encourage patients to choose one pharmacy or pharmacy chain to have all of their prescriptions filled. We believe it is important for patients to use a single pharmacy so that pharmacists can monitor their medications, avoid potential drug interactions and work with patients on their overall wellness."
Barrett said another Walgreens nearby filled it with no problem. Barrett said she finds that confusing.
"It doesn't make any sense, it makes no common sense, that's for sure," Barrett said.
Walgreens said generally speaking, buying birth control at one location should not prevent you from buying medication at another.
>>Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS and Android
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400733
|
__label__wiki
| 0.75056
| 0.75056
|
Huawei's surveillance system in Serbia threatens citizens' rights, watchdog warns
The Chinese giant's Safe City Solution for Belgrade is raising questions about its use of personal data.
By Bojan Stojkovski for Central European Processing | April 10, 2019 -- 10:07 GMT (03:07 PDT) | Topic: Innovation
Huawei denies foreign network hack reports Huawei has pointed to its 'unblemished record of cybersecurity' following reports over the weekend that it helped the Chinese government gain access codes for a foreign network.
Serbia wants to use technology to improve public safety in its capital, Belgrade. To that end, it has decided to implement Huawei's Safe City Solution – a surveillance system that includes the installation of thousands of security cameras.
But now an international human-rights watchdog is warning of potential risks to Serbian citizens' privacy posed by the new system.
Last September, Serbian authorities announced that the Chinese tech giant would be installing cameras using facial and license-plate recognition software in 800 locations across the city.
The project is a part of the Strategic Partnership Agreement that the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs signed with Huawei in February 2017.
SEE: Cybersecurity in an IoT and mobile world (ZDNet special report) | Download the report as a PDF (TechRepublic)
Back in January, interior minister Nebojsa Stefanovic told Serbian media that the new cameras would cover "every important street and passageway" in Belgrade, ensuring safety for its citizens and reducing crime and violence.
According to the Serbia-based SHARE Foundation, a watchdog organization that promotes digital rights and online freedoms, the lack of transparency about how the system will be used raises a "fundamental question of human rights and civil freedoms guaranteed by law and the constitution of Serbia".
"We asked about the cameras by filing FOI requests to the Ministry of Interior, and their answer was that the procurement of cameras is confidential. We asked if a data-protection impact assessment was carried out, which is an obligation under the new Serbian Law on Personal Data Protection, and the Ministry replied that the law was not being applied yet," Bojan Perkov, a policy researcher with SHARE, tells ZDNet.
"The official responses we received from the ministry were practically the opposite of what the highest ranking officials said in the media."
Unlike the Serbian authorities, Huawei has had a lot more to say about the project, even publishing a case study about Belgrade on its website last August. However, shortly after SHARE presented its analysis, the case study mysteriously disappeared.
"During our research, we found a case study on Huawei's official website, which stated that the cameras are already operational," Perkov explains.
"Soon after we published the second article about the new cameras, the study was no longer available on their website. But fortunately we were able to make an archived version of the page."
In the archived case study, the Chinese company describes that in the first phase, its project team deployed "more than 100 high-definition cameras and intelligent video content-management systems at more than 60 sites in key areas, and remodeled the command and data center in Belgrade".
Huawei further adds: "In 2018, devices from Phase 1 were used during several high-risk events" and "a large number of police officers regularly monitored all activities related to these events in the command center in real time".
"Thanks to Huawei's intelligent technology, police are now able to locate suspects based on stored HD video, improving safety and security, and realizing an overall reduction in the rates of crime," the case study reads, with Huawei saying so far it has deployed Safe City systems in 230 cities around the world.
SHARE argues that facial-recognition software is the latest technological advance to violate citizens' rights and freedoms.
The organization says Serbian citizens have a right to know what kind of surveillance equipment has been purchased and how their personal data is being processed.
"Huawei has been accused on several occasions over the past few years by the US and some European countries of industrial and political espionage in cooperation with Chinese authorities," the watchdog points out in its analysis.
Huawei says it is not in a position to comment on projects of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.
However, Huawei's representative for Central and Eastern Europe, Liu Yinhanxiao, tells ZDNet that it believes all technologies should be reasonably applied within the framework of laws and regulations.
"Technology per se is neither right nor wrong, but is a propeller of social development."
ZDNet has contacted the Serbian authorities for comment and will update this story if they respond.
More on security and Huawei
Czech cybersecurity agency warns Huawei and ZTE products pose security threat
Huawei security: 'Significant' engineering flaws are a risk to our telecoms networks, says UK
Microsoft: Windows 10 devices open to 'full compromise' from Huawei PC driver
'Prism, Prism on the wall, who is the most trustworthy of them all?' Huawei hits back at US over 5G security claims
US intelligence chiefs say Huawei, ZTE products pose national security risk TechRepublic
US reportedly no longer demands Huawei ban from Germany CNET
The Huawei controversy: Everything you need to know CNET
EU CXO Digital Transformation Tech Industry Smart Cities Cloud
More from Bojan Stojkovski
Why this city wants tech startups and developer jobs to heal its civil war wounds
Tesla power storage: Balkan battery project is 'largest running in Europe'
Fintech startups: Why Bulgaria is a hotbed for finance software development
Albanian gangs take up cryptocurrencies: 'We need a new approach' say police
Roving agile sensor platforms are becoming more sophisticated, capable.
A new administrative center being built between the Nile and the Suez Canal will be the country's first smart city.
Huawei's Ren Zhengfei downplays China's supposed lead in AI, but others talk up fears of a disinformation war -- including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and their Doomsday ...
Cyber defense game brings together security experts, special forces and more as military prepares for warfare 2.0
The Crossed Swords exercise got security professionals across the world to leverage cyberattacks to protect national interests.
Can VR concussion education save youth football?
USA Football and Pop Warner are hoping VR can help make an inherently dangerous sport safer.
Mosquitoes spread disease, but this is how AI is biting back
Machine learning and satellite comms are helping identify mosquitoes and their infection potential.
As facial recognition use ramps up despite its controversy, the technology is being applied in the military realm.
Privacy worries cited as possible reason for DNA test firm 23andMe's sales downturn
It may be no surprise considering US law enforcement was recently granted permission to plunder DNA databases.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400740
|
__label__wiki
| 0.531701
| 0.531701
|
We solve problems
Purchase-Sale Disputes
Nondisclosures, Breach Of Contract
Co-Ownership Disputes
Tenancy-In-Common (TIC) Disputes
Condominium Information And Homeowners Dispute Resolution
Neighbor Disputes
Easements And Views
Landlord / Tenant Issues
Negotiated Move Out/Buyout Agreements
Evictions For Cause
No-Fault Evictions
Defense Of Wrongful Eviction And Habitability Claims
Rent Increase Issues
Rent Board Petitions
Illegal Units/In-Law Units
Land Use, Permits and Appeals
Environmental (CEQA) Appeals And Litigation
Airbnb/Short-Term Rentals
Notice Of Violation (NOV) And Order Of Abatement Hearings
Building Permits And Disputes
Permit Appeals
Discretionary Review And Planning Commission Hearings
Variance And Conditional Use Applications
Rental Agreements And Leases
Tenancy-In-Common Agreements And TIC Dispute Resolution
Condominium Formation and Homeowners' Dispute Resolution
Landlord/Tenant Issues
Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute wins in Court of Appeal, defeats effort by San Francisco to substantially increase Ellis Act relocation payments
Court of Appeal Decision
SPOSFI Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO, March 22 - Yesterday, the Small Property Owners of San Francisco (SPOSFI) and a group of local property owners prevailed in the Court of Appeal against the City and County of San Francisco. The lawsuit challenged a recent ordinance that dramatically increased relocation payments that San Francisco landlords must give to tenants whose rental units are withdrawn under the state's Ellis Act. (The Ellis Act is a California state law that guarantees property owners' right to "go out of the rental business".)
The Court of Appeal of California, First Appellate District upheld two superior court judgments invalidating San Francisco Ordinance No. 68-15 in Coyne et al. v. City and County of San Francisco (2017) A145044. The Court of Appeal held that the ordinance imposes a "prohibitive price" on a landlord's ability to exit the residential rental business, and therefore it is preempted by the Ellis Act. As a result, the City of San Francisco is precluded from enforcing Ordinance 68-15.
A copy of the Court's decision is available HERE.
Attorneys Andrew M. Zacks and Emily L. Brough of Zacks, Freedman & Patterson, PC represented the petitioners at both the trial court and the appellate level, winning in both instances. Andrew M. Zacks said, "This is a victory for all San Francisco property owners. The Court of Appeal's decision makes clear: the City cannot force landlords to remain in the rental business under threat of exorbitant fees and invasive administrative procedures."
The Court held that the ordinance places unlawful conditions on a landlord's right to go out of the residential rental business that are not found in the Ellis Act. Writing for the Court, Presiding Justice Barbara Jones found that the ordinance's Rental Payment Differential obligation - a requirement that landlords subsidize their former tenants' new apartments for two years - is "a form of ransom which interferes with and places an undue burden on landlords who seek simply to go out of business."
The ordinance "imposes a prohibitive price on the ability of landlords to exercise their rights under the Ellis Act." The Court reasons, "A property owner's lawful decision to withdraw from the rental market may not be frustrated by burdensome monetary exactions from the owners to fund the City's policy goals."
The Court finds that the City's housing crisis is the not the fault of an individual landlord who exits the residential rental business, but rather the consequence of the City's rent-control laws. The Court writes, "We disagree with the City's analysis that attributes a tenant's future increased rent in new housing to his landlord's decision to exercise Ellis Act rights. This analysis ignores the impact of the City's policy decision to impose residential rent control, creating a rent differential."
The Court also notes serious concerns regarding the ordinance's procedure for landlords to request a hardship-related fee reduction from the Rent Board: "Forcing an owner to endure an uncertain administrative procedure of unknown duration requiring the disclosure of sensitive personal information simply to find out whether relocation payments are financially prohibitive may impose a prohibitive price on Ellis Act rights."
Noni Richen, president of the Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute, said, "We are thrilled with the Court of Appeal's decision. This was the right decision under the law and the right decision for San Francisco."
This is the City's second attempt to dramatically increase Ellis-Act relocation payments. On April 15, 2014, the City enacted Ordinance No. 54-14 to "mitigate adverse impacts of tenant evictions" under the Ellis Act. Ordinance 54-14 entitled a tenant evicted under the Ellis Act to an increased relocation payment set as the greater of the existing relocation payment, or the "Rental Payment Differential." (S.F.Admin.Code, ch. 37, § 37.9A, subd. (e)(3)(E).) The "Rental Payment Differential" is the difference between the tenant's current rent and the prevailing rent for a comparable apartment in San Francisco over a two year period. The ordinance took effect on June 1, 2014. SPOSFI challenged Ordinance 54-14 in the Superior Court of San Francisco in Case No. CGC-14-540709. The Superior Court held that the payment requirement under Ordinance 54-14 was preempted by the Ellis Act and invalid.
Following the Superior Court's decision, the City enacted a revised version of the ordinance, Ordinance No. 68-15. The new ordinance differs from the previous version in two ways: first, this new enhanced relocation payments are capped at $50,000.00 (whereas the former scheme could easily hit six figures); second, to be eligible for the enhanced payment, tenants must return a "declaration" stating under penalty of perjury that they will use the payment for Relocation Costs. In response, SPOSFI filed a new petition for writ of mandate and complaint for declaratory relief in the Superior Court, arguing that the ordinance deprives property owners of their right to go out of the residential rental business under the Ellis Act. The Superior Court enjoined the City from enforcing Ordinance 68-15, finding that the new ordinance was likewise preempted by the Ellis Act. The City appealed, and yesterday, the Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court's decision.
Founded in 1998, the Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute provides owners of small rental properties in San Francisco the tools and information necessary to conduct business successfully in the changing marketplace. Through education programs, publications and workshops, SPOSFI helps 2,000 members understand their rights and obligations, how to work constructively with government officials, and how to deal effectively with their tenants. SPOSFI is a non-profit organization with a volunteer board. For more information, call (415) 647-2419 or visit www.smallprop.org.
Zacks, Freedman & Patterson, PC is a law firm dedicated to advocating for the rights of property owners. With experience and knowledge in rent control issues, zoning, permitting, transactional disputes and other real estate matters, Zacks, Freedman & Patterson, PC has successfully advocated its clients' positions before local administrative tribunals and at all levels of the State and Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. For more information, call (415) 956-8100 or visit www.zfplaw.com.
When it comes to real estate, we love a good challenge.
Contact Zacks, Freedman & Patterson, PC
We don't just know how real estate law works; we work to make it better. To learn more about our services and to discuss your situation in detail, call 415-956-8100 or contact us online.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 400
© 2020 by Zacks, Freedman & Patterson, PC. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400741
|
__label__cc
| 0.55402
| 0.44598
|
Impartner Receives $20 Million in Growth Capital From Vector Capital
Strategic financing to further accelerate Impartner's leadership in channel management solutions.
Impartner, the fastest-growing and most-award winning pure-play channel management platform, announced today that it has received $20 million in growth capital financing from Vector Capital, a leading global private equity firm specializing in transformational investments in technology businesses.
The financing will allow Impartner to further accelerate their already strong growth by increasing sales and marketing expenditure and acquiring complementary technologies, continuing to capture momentum in the fast-growing channel management technology market, which analysts estimate could be as large as $5 billion.
"Impartner has a proven track record of helping companies accelerate indirect revenue and providing them with a powerful lever that can accelerate their performance," said Ilya Voytov, head of research for Vector Capital's Credit Strategy. "We are pleased to be working with CEO Joe Wang for the third time and are confident that Impartner has the right team and product offering to extend their leading market position in this sector."
"This is a pivotal period in Impartner's history," said Impartner CEO Joe Wang. "In the more than four-and-a-half years since acquiring Treehouse, now Impartner, we've been on a market-making trajectory that's changed the face of how companies worldwide manage their channels. This funding is additional octane that helps us continue to accelerate that transformation."
The funding announcement continues a steady stream of recent news from Impartner including ongoing national and international recognition for Impartner PRM, a cooperative agreement with Microsoft to co-sell and co-market Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Impartner PRM, a recent acquisition that is the second in just over a year, a new milestone of more than 10M partners signing into portals using Impartner technology worldwide and a move to a 4th office in as many years.
About Impartner
Impartner delivers the industry's most complete SaaS-based Channel Management Platform, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. Impartner's flagship Partner Relationship Management (PRM) solution is the industry's most award-winning PRM technology and one of the industry's only turnkey solutions that can deploy a world-class Partner Portal in as few as 14 days. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com
Media Partner - News and Articles>
WORLD BIZ MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2019 ISSUE
WORLD BANK AWARDS 2019 - THE BEST BANKS FOR BUSINESS
CSR LEADER 100 - THE MOST RESPONSIBLE COMPANIES
WORLD FDI AWARDS 2019 - THE BEST INVESTMENT DESTINATIONS
DESTIG ART INVESTMENT: TOP EMERGING ARTISTS
Awards
PRBD Global
Foreign Direct Investment
Innovation
Corporate Social Responsibility
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400749
|
__label__cc
| 0.623116
| 0.376884
|
5 Ways to Experience Quebec City Like a Local
A big village with jovial locals, good food, and a cornucopia of festivals and activities, Québec City entices you to step outside, even on the coldest days. Our insider, Pamela, shows you how to experience the city like a local.
Photo © iStock/ablokhin
Beyond the old city walls and the towering majesty of Château Frontenac, Québec City is where history, culture and the great outdoors happily comingle.
The best way to experience the city is on foot. Start by visiting the old city, then explore some of the local neighborhoods. Wander down quiet streets and discover unique architecture and cozy cafes. Stay at HI Québec, or a B&B like Maison Historique James Thompson or B&B de la Tour.
Montmorency Falls
Old Quebec
Culture of Quebec
Quebec for Foodies
Montmorency Falls has been a part of Quebec City’s history and culture since the 17th century. A favorite among locals and tourists alike, hike along the paths, try Via Ferrata or Ice canyoning, or spend some time staring at the majesty of water plunging 83 meters.
Rent a bike in Old Quebec and ride to Montmorency Falls – a 10.5mi (17km) journey, one way – or take bus #800 from Place D’Youville and get off at stop #3473 des Rapides (US $2.85 per direction).
Montmorency Falls in autumn. Photo credit: Pamela MacNaughtan
Old Quebec is at the top of most itineraries. Cobblestoned streets, cafes with sidewalk patios, a 24-hour clock (the rest of Canada uses the 12-hour clock), and commas instead of full-stops on prices; all add to the illusion that you’re exploring a city in Europe, rather than Canada.
Everyone should start in Old Quebec. Wander down the Dufferin Terrace boardwalk and visit Maison de la littérature, a church that’s been converted into a gorgeous library.
Take a historical walking tour or a food tour of the old city. Wander along the fortifications and stand at the docks on rue Dalhousie to take a photo of Château Frontenac, standing majestically over the city.
Chateau Frontenac from rue Dalhousie in Quebec. Photo credit: Pamela MacNaughtan
The culture of Quebec City centers around its history and language and contributes to the city’s ‘big village’ vibe.
Spend time visiting the museums and galleries dedicated to telling the story of New France, starting with the Musée du Fort or Musée Place Royale. Attend festivals like Carnaval de Québec or Fêtes de la Nouvelle France, both of which embrace the city’s love for culture, history and the outdoors. Enjoy the various urban pop-up spaces and street performances, which are scattered throughout the city in the summer months.
Heading to Canada?
Get our FREE Insider's Guide and let our locals show you the best of Canada's hidden gems.
Food and drink are another integral piece of Québec City’s culture. While Old Québec has plenty of restaurants, some of the best food is found in the more local neighborhoods.
Poutine is an essential experience, and Chez Ashton is a top choice. Enjoy a smoothie from Blender bar à jus in the neighborhood of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Venture into Saint-Roch for lunch at Deux22 or comfort food at La Cuisine. At night, go Brasserie Griendel in Saint-Sauveur or Le Projet in Sainte-Jean-Baptiste for craft beer and eats.
Day Trips from Quebec
Take a day trip from Québec City to embrace the outdoors. Instead of going to Île d’Orléans, take the ferry across the Saint-Lawrence river to Lévis. In winter, go to Hôtel de Glace at Village Vacances Valcartier.
Hotel de Glace in winter. Photo credit: Pamela MacNaughtan
Take the shuttle from Old Québec to Wendake and learn about the Huron-Wendat people and their role in Québec.
Wendake. Photo credit: Pamela MacNaughtan
After outbreaks of various European diseases decimated their population and struggles with colonial powers attributed to the deteriorated the Huron-Wendat Confederation of the Great Lakes, hundreds of Huron-Wendat people left the region and journeyed to the north-east section of their territory (now known as Quebec).
Located 11mi (18km) from Old Quebec, Wendake is dedicated to preserving (and sharing) their culture, language and traditions. One of the best Aboriginal tourism destinations in Canada, Wendake will take your experience in Quebec to the next level. It’s a must-do.
Start with a visit to Onhoüa Chetek8e Traditional Huron Site. Take a guided tour through the Long House and learn about aspects of early aboriginal life in Québec; stopping at Nek8arre Restaurant to try sagamité (a traditional red bean and corn soup) and bannock. From here, continue to peel back the layers of Wendake with a visit to Musée Huron-Wendat, followed by an evening of traditional storytelling while huddled around a fire inside a Long House at Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations.
On hot summer days or the early days of autumn, canoe down the St. Charles river. Explore Kabir Kouba, a 28m waterfall that cascades into a 42m deep canyon, on your own or take a guided tour and learn about traditional leather work in Wendake.
Attend a Pow Wow (held each year at the end of June) and feel the warm embrace of the locals. Dine at Sagamité Restaurant for traditional aboriginal foods with a flavorful modern upgrade.
How to get there: A shuttle leaves Old Québec (rue Sainte-Anne, in front of the Tourist Information office) three times a day. The cost is US $8 ($10 CAD) per adult. Call 418-847-0624 to make a reservation. You can also take bus #801 in front of Hôtel Palace Royale to Terminus Charlesbourg, then bus #72 from T. Charlesbourg to stop #4088 A. Duchesneau.
Want to know more about Canada? Check out our podcast. We discuss when a traveler becomes a snack; the perils of wilderness adventure, a culinary tour of the provinces for foodies, and we speak to World Nomads photography scholarship mentor Richard I'Anson.
By Pamela MacNaughtan,
World Nomads Contributor - Tue, 24 Oct 2017
An Encounter with Polar Bears in Churchill, Manitoba
Alicia heads to Churchill to see how Nat Hab and WWF’s conservational efforts keep the co-existence between humans and polar bears safe.
7 of the Best Experiences in Ottawa, Canada
From street art and local festivals to exploring the outdoors and day-trips to Gatineau Hills, this local knows the top things to see and do in Ottawa.
Make Ontario Your Playground: Top 5 Wilderness Escapes
From Algonquin National Park and the Georgian Bay to venturing off the beaten track to Lake Superior, here’s how to make Ontario your playground – no matter what the season.
Download our free Insiders' Guide to Canada
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400750
|
__label__cc
| 0.665915
| 0.334085
|
Under the Sea: Mexico's Best Diving and Snorkeling
The aquamarine Caribbean waters around the Yucatán Peninsula abound with marine life. But don’t forget Baja’s Cabo Pulmo Reserve, considered one of the most successful marine parks in the world.
Photo © Getty Images / Ken Kiefer
As I back-roll off the boat and take my first breaths below the surface, I feel the familiar peace of being underwater settle in. I’m in my instructor training certification class in Xcalak, Mexico, and we all descend to begin practicing our skills. Suddenly, I see a shadowy figure appear. Is it…? Yes – a manatee! As one by one we notice it, the practicing ceases; there is no training anymore, there is only us and this graceful creature. Often referred to as sea cows due to their large size, these slow plant eaters have a wide snout, flippers, round body, and a flat tail that helps them move through the water with surprising ease.
Careful not to get too close and startle her, I watch as she glides over the reef, the sun streaming down behind her, casting a very mermaid-like silhouette. We watch her for a few magical minutes before she slips away, into the great blue beyond.
An encounter with a manatee is just one of many possible adventures when diving in Mexico.
Cozumel: The Jewel of Mexican Diving
Banco Chinchorro: Into the Unknown
Isla Mujeres: An Eco-conscious Experience
Isla Holbox: Gentle Giants
Cabo Pulmo: The Great Blue
Cozumel, a world-renowned diving destination off the northeastern edge of the Yucatán Peninsula, is the most popular location in Mexico for scuba diving. The water is generally crystal clear and warm, and the life is plentiful including idyllic, waving fan corals, eels, turtles, sharks, rays and all kinds of colorful fish. While there are beginner dive sites in Cozumel, the advanced drift dives (where divers let the current carry them) are more common. The currents here make a sharp curve around the island and can be pretty strong, adding to the adventure.
Reef fish in Cozumel. Photo credit: Getty Images / Andaman SE
If Cozumel is the crown jewel of diving in Mexico, then Banco Chinchorro is the diamond in the rough. Located in the southernmost part of Quintana Roo, this relatively unknown, remote atoll is only accessible via boat. The reefs and sea life here are abundant and mostly untouched; fisherman and divers are the only people to be found for miles around. Sightings of sharks, rays, manatees, and saltwater crocs are common and while there are plenty of tame dive sites, advanced wreck diving is also available.
Somewhere between the popularity of Cozumel and the remoteness of Banco Chinchorro, there is Isla Mujeres, just off the shore of Cancún. One of the exceptional dive spots here is the Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) or the Underwater Museum of Art. MUSA is an artificial reef structure made up of over 500 statues placed underwater as building blocks for coral to grow on.
Many different artists were involved in the sculpture creation, and the subjects for the statues range from houses to cars to unexploded mines. One of the most evocative exhibits is a large group of standing figures, reminiscent of the terracotta warriors of Xi’an, China, with statues stretching as far as you can see. This unique intersection of art and science has been a success for the region. As divers, we’re more aware of the environmental impact that humans are having on the reefs and underwater life, and the museum is a shining example that we can still have a positive impact on our environment. MUSA’s a must see for eco-conscious divers.
Underwater Museum of Art near Isla Mujeres. Photo credit: Getty Images / Donald Miralle
Off the northern coast of Quintana Roo is Isla Holbox, a calm-water paradise that’s the essence of island living. There are no reefs in Isla Holbox, but there is a special phenomenon that happens every year from May to September – the whale shark migration. Whale sharks are filter feeders (aka not human eaters) and are the biggest fish known to man – they can reach 40 feet (12m) in length and up to 22 tons. Their mouth alone can be 5 feet (1.5m) wide.
Unfortunately, I missed whale shark season, but I hope to return soon to snorkel with these amazing behemoths (scuba diving is prohibited, one of many rules in place to protect the sharks).
Snorkeling with a whale shark. Photo credit: Getty Images / Rodrigo Friscione
The Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is located on the Pacific side of Mexico, a world away from the warm, Caribbean waters of the Yucatan. The Pacific Ocean is the big, deep blue – the waters are colder, rougher, and more challenging, and the sea life is equal to the environment. The pelagic life here is famous, featuring sea lions, whales, sharks, schooling rays, and dramatic wall drop-offs.
School of Pacific Cownose Rays, Cabo Pulmo. Photo credit: Getty Images/Ullstein Bild
Cozumel has a small airport or can be reached via ferry from Playa del Carmen, about an hour from the major airport in Cancún. There are a multitude of dive shops catering to different preferences (group size vs. price). Dive trips can be arranged once on the island or prior. I recommend reading reviews on the operator’s experience and safety before booking. For accommodation, Cozumel has everything from high-priced resorts to guesthouses to hostels. Expect to spend around US $100 ($2,028 MXN) for a two-tank dive.
Banco Chinchorro
This atoll is only accessible via boat, from Mahahual or Xcalak. Both towns have rustic accommodation. Rent a car or take a public bus from the Cancún airport to reach the region. There are only a few dive operators in the area, so it’s best to contact in advance. Diving trips start at around US $150 ($3,048 MXN) and increase for overnight trips.
The island is a ferry ride away from the major airport in Cancún. There are quite a few dive operators, and I recommend researching beforehand to find an operator that suits your needs. High and low-end accommodations available. Prices are around US $100 ($2,028 MXN) for a two-tank dive.
This island can be reached by a ferry from Chiquilá, a two-hour bus ride from the nearest airport in Cancún. High and low-end accommodations available. Snorkeling with whale sharks costs around US $150 ($3,048 MXN) per person.
The village of the same name near the marine park is a 90-min drive northeast from San Jose del Cabo international airport. Nearby Cabo San Lucas is a popular resort destination with high and low-end accommodations available, but if you want to stay in Cabo Pulmo, accommodations are generally more rustic and smaller guesthouse and rental properties are the best options. There are quite a few dive operators so trips can be arranged on site or prior. Expect to pay around US $100 ($2,028 MXN) per two-tank dive.
Note: Not all World Nomads travel insurance plans for travelers from all countries cover scuba diving. Be sure to select the right plan and/or adventure sport option for the type of diving and depth of dive you’re doing before you buy.
By Sara Walton,
World Nomads Contributor - Sat, 26 Jan 2019
From Selva to Sierra: Exploring Mexico’s Megadiversity
A bat volcano. A river named “place of monkeys.” The “Lake of Seven Colors.” These are just a few of Mexico’s prime spots for nature lovers.
Whale and Sea Turtle Encounters on the Mexican Coast
Nomad Johanna shares her experiences, from friendly gray whales in Baja to releasing baby turtles in Oaxaca.
Redefine the Dive: 10 Tips to Dive Sustainably
Here are some easy ways to minimise impact to the planet while diving; from choosing the right operator to not feeding the fish and watching your waste.
Download our free guide - Mexico: Where Nomads Go
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400751
|
__label__cc
| 0.57315
| 0.42685
|
WVM
sponsor-a-child
Subsequent Contribution
ENG ▾
My giving: 0 item
What is Child Sponsorship
Connect with your child
Hear from our sponsors
Hello, my name is Bavari
Watch my greeting video
Age 8 Democratic Republic of the Congo
I am a boy
I am 8 years old
My birthday is on 24/9/2012
I live in Loma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
I speak Kindibu
Sponsor Bavari
Search for a child
1 of 338 results
All Countries Asian Countries (RM65/mth) India Indonesia Myanmar Philippines Sri Lanka Vietnam Non-Asian Countries (RM80/mth) Democratic Republic of the Congo Lebanon Lesotho Any Gender Female Male Any Age under 5 5 to 10 above 10 Search now
Show me the
longest-waiting child Sponsor without searching
For assistance,
call us at +603-7800 0899
This video is only supported in Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Kindly ensure that this page in open in the above browsers to play the video.
Change my world
Bavari's community is about 130km from Kinshasa, the capital. About 21,560 people live here. Child and mother mortality is high because of problems like HIV/AIDS and waterborne diseases. Many children under five are malnourished, and there is poor access to basic health services and safe water. Schools are poorly equipped, and many students drop out. Illiteracy is high among youths and adults. In general, income levels are low. Children’s rights are often ignored by the community.
See how Democratic Republic of the Congo compares with Malaysia
World Vision works in partnership with children, families and communities to be self-sustainable in areas such as:
Join 2231 Malaysians
who are already sponsoring children
like me in my community.
Bavari Search now
How sponsoring a child helps children and communities
Your monthly contribution of RM65 (to sponsor a child in an Asian country) or RM80 (to sponsor a child in a non-Asian country) will provide the basic necessities of life to children and families in need.
Through our special focus on children, World Vision works with communities for about 10 to 15 years, empowering children, families and communities to break the cycle of poverty.
World Vision works to provide clean water in the communities we work in. We also raise awareness on hygiene and sanitation while empowering communities to run and maintain their water and sanitation facilities.
World Vision ensures child and maternal health by promoting health and nutrition practices, improving health services and preventing major causes of disease.
World Vision helps to address barriers to education and works with communities and local governments to improve the quality of education children receive.
World Vision equips families with skills and tools to boost their income and support their families, such as improving agriculture and business skills, and increasing access to financial services.
World Vision seeks to protect children in the communities we serve from violence and abuse. We equip communities to protect and advocate for children, raise awareness on child rights, and empower children to have a voice and role in their communities.
Hear from our child sponsors
Access to My World Vision
My World Vision is a personalised, password-protected online platform that lets you learn more about your sponsored child and their community, manage your sponsorships and personal details, plus more!
You will receive a welcome pack introducing you to your sponsored child, World Vision and the basics of child sponsorship.
A Chance to Connect
You will be able to reach out to your sponsored child by sending letters and gifts, writing to them through the My World Vision portal, and even visiting them in person!
The Latest Updates
You can stay updated on your sponsored child and World Vision’s work through World Vision newsletters, annual child progress reports, annual reviews and emails.
Child SponsorshipCurrently selected
Open Up Your World
CSNew
How I can protect my child?
Visit us at roadshow
Read our reports
World Vision is an international Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
Where the funds go
86.1% to the beneficiaries
7.6% for administration
6.3% for fundraising
Children waiting to be sponsored:
Last updated 29/01/20 18:53
Email: admin@worldvision.com.my
© World Vision Malaysia Berhad (394690‑U). All rights reserved.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400754
|
__label__wiki
| 0.861338
| 0.861338
|
This adaptation objective recognizes that many species may have limited capacities to evolve tolerances at a rate that is commensurate with the rate of future climate change. Consequently, there are risks that species may become extirpated throughout parts of their geographic ranges. One way to prevent some of these losses is to identify and protect climate refugia. Refugia are effectively safe havens on the landscape that provide the diversity of habitats and stability needed to promote persistence of biodiversity as regional biotic and abiotic environmental conditions change. In essence, they are locations that biodiversity can retreat to, persist in, and can potentially expand from under changing climate.
Identify areas that could harbor current species into the future
Identify where species populations remain stable
An assessment at this level involves identifying areas that will likely be suitable for species into the future or areas where species may be able to move to as climates change. Such species-specific assessments will likely rely on the models and approaches used to project the responses of species and populations to changes in climate. These models may allow researchers to identify areas that will continue to have suitable climates for a given species into the future.
Model relationship between snowpack and fecundity for cold-adapted species (e.g., red fir [Abies magnifica], marten [Martes americana], wolverine [Gulo gulo], and pika [Ochotona princeps]) that are already restricted to their interglacial refugia. This relationship can be projected into the future with forecasted snowpack predictions to predict future species distribution.
Use fossil evidence and/or genetic data to investigate the glacial history and post-glacial colonization of a species to map species refugia during Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in relation to current distribution.
Identify and map limiting climate beyond which species cannot survive (such as physiological tolerance).
Map habitats with high natural resilience to climate change (e.g. spring-fed streams)
Map areas projected to experience little change in vegetation
An assessment at this level focuses on identifying ecosystems that provide environmental conditions that are expected to undergo limited change under climate warming. These could be areas that are expected to have little change in vegetation, as determined by the kinds of vegetation assessments described above. They may also involve identifying and mapping geographic locations that are expected to undergo limited changes in biophysical conditions as determined by climate models.
Map high-quality aquatic refugia (e.g., high stream length, more natural flow regimes, and fewer direct human impacts)
Map soil water capacity to assess available water balance for vegetation
Map areas with high natural resiliency to changing climate
Map drought refugia
Map areas projected to maintain stable climate
Landscape level assessments of refugia can be mapped in several ways. One could map places associated with Pleistocene climate refugia. Pleistocene refugia are landscape units that, due to topographic features, enabled species to survive glaciation processes. These are also locations from where modern species expanded their ranges when the glaciers receded. Thus, they represent locations of potential evolutionary origin of many modern plant and animal taxa. One could map areas of high physiographic or topographic complexity. Studies have shown that areas with a high degree of variability in landscape topography and geology/soils have associated variability in climatic conditions (especially temperature and moisture) that then supports a diversity of species that have different thermal and moisture requirements for survival.
Map drivers of local variation in air temperature ( e.g., cold air drainage, elevation, and slope and aspect effects)
Map areas with stable climate (difference or percent change) and/or stable vegetation
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400758
|
__label__cc
| 0.74051
| 0.25949
|
Home sport Atletico Madrid don’t fear Liverpool
Atletico Madrid don’t fear Liverpool
Atletico Madrid don't fear Liverpool
Reigning Champions League winners Liverpool take on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, but Los Rojiblancos are not intimidated by the quality of the Reds.
Although Atleti could have had a much easier draw on paper, Diego Simeone‘s men are aware that they have to measure themselves against the best teams in order to progress in the tournament.
Neither this year, nor last season, did Atleti have any luck in the draw for the Round of 16.
Juventus eliminated Atleti back in March and in two months they will have to take on Liverpool, who are in top form at the moment.
“From here to February there is a lot left,” those from Atletico stress, and they may recall knocking Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich out of the Champions League semi-finals in 2015/16 despite being underdogs.
Meanwhile, Jan Oblak will be called to face one of Europe’s most lethal tridents in Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, but he is confident that he team can go through to the next round.
“Liverpool are a great team, but we will face them with great enthusiasm,” Oblak said after Monday’s draw.
“I have no doubt that if we do things well, we can qualify to the quarter finals.”
Source: MARCA
Previous articleFox News poll: 50% of Americans want Trump impeached
Next articleAggression’s Battleships oversee dumping of chemical pollutants in the Red Sea
Kieran Trippier talks Diego Simeone, life in Spain, becoming a better defender
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has damaged ankle ligaments, Jürgen Klopp confirms
Roy Keane labels Tottenham full-backs ‘Dumb and Dumber’ in Liverpool defeat
Alisson: It’s more difficult to win the Ballon d’Or as a goalkeeper
Mohamed Salah is ‘happy at Liverpool’; less so with the Egyptian FA
Mohamed Salah: Liverpool in talks with Roma for Egypt forward
Video shows wreckage of crashed USAF plane ‘carrying high-ranking US military officials in Afghanistan’s eastern Ghazni province 9 views
The death toll of Al-Saud soldiers in border battles has risen to 53 since May 10 8 views
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400760
|
__label__cc
| 0.591546
| 0.408454
|
William G. Jungbauer
John D. Magnuson
Michael P. McReynolds
David Tomenes
Steven McCarney
Railroad Injuries
Railroad Whistleblower Claims
Personal Injury/General Negligence
YJB Library
FELA Articles
Yaeger Report
Inside YJB
FELA FAQs
Whistleblower FAQs
Railroad Personal Injury Reports
4601 Weston Woods Way | St. Paul, MN 55127
Home / Blog / Switzerland Latest Site of Major Passenger Train Crash
Switzerland Latest Site of Major Passenger Train Crash
July came to a close with yet another major rail accident, which occurred near the Swiss countryside town of Granges-près-Marnand. This crash involved the head-on collision of two trains traveling in opposite directions, which left almost 35 passengers requiring medical treatment. The 24-year-old driver of the southbound train paid the ultimate price, losing his life in the crash. Unsure whether he might still have been alive, rescue workers sawed through the mangled wreckage only to discover he had succumbed to his injuries from the collision.
Signal -jumping to blame?
Preliminary investigations point to what Europeans term signal-jumping as the possible cause of the collision. Signal-jumping involves rushing to commence acceleration prior to being given the proper light-based sign indicating it is safe to proceed. Investigators see few other possible explanations for such a collision, noting that the southbound train traveled at a considerably slower speed of about 25 miles per hour. This slower speed is credited with the fact that the collision resulted in only one fatality. Investigators still have no clue as to why the southbound train didn’t wait for the faster northbound train to pass.
Month of misery
The Swiss crash marks the fourth major rail accident in July, joining a grizzly crash in Spain with close to 80 casualties and a freakish crude oil train crash in Canada that burned down large parts of a village, taking the lives of almost 50 townspeople. A week before the Spain crash, Paris witnessed a deadly train wreck claiming the lives of seven passengers. Investigators have yet to identify any unifying themes in these crashes, except for human error and in certain circumstances poor judgment.
Stanching the flow
A number of improvements are already being suggested to prevent future accidents. These include:
Improving signaling systems
Upgrading high-speed rail tracks
Instituting improved training programs for drivers
Train accidents are traumatizing for any person involved and the injuries and stress can last a lifetime. Affected parties should seek legal counsel at their earliest convenience to begin the recovery process as soon as possible.
By William G. Jungbauer | Published August 5, 2013 | Posted in Uncategorized
Am insurance bad faith verdict. A man and his wife were sitting in their parked pickup truck when they were struck and injured by a taxicab.
National Law Firm
Headquarters: St. Paul, MN
States with resolved cases
NPR Podcast
Federal Whistleblower Laws for Employee Protections
Your browser does not support the audio element. originally broadcast on KALW
St. Paul Office
4601 Weston Woods Way
Yaeger & Jungbauer Barristers, PLC is located in St. Paul, MN and serves clients in and around Willernie, Circle Pines, Saint Paul, Hugo, Anoka County, Ramsey County, and Nationwide.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400762
|
__label__cc
| 0.525724
| 0.474276
|
coe·la·canth
any of an order (Coelacanthiformes) of lobefin fishes, now extinct except for the latimeria
Origin of coelacanth
from Modern Latin Coelacanthus from Classical Greek koilos (see -coele) + akantha, thorn (see acantho-)
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
"Coelacanth." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/coelacanth.
Coelacanth. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/coelacanth
Any of various mostly extinct lobe-finned fishes of the group Coelacanthiformes or Actinistia, known only in fossil form until a living species, Latimeria chalumnae, was identified in 1938. A second Latimeria species was described in 1999.
New Latin Coelacanthus former genus name Greek koilos hollow ; see -coel . Greek akantha spine (in reference to the hollow spines of the fins)
Related Forms:
coe′la·can′thine′
coe′la·can′thous
Latimeria chalumnae
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Any of various fishes of the group Coelacanthiformes or Actinistia, having lobed, fleshy fins. Coelacanths are crossopterygians, the ancient group of lobe-finned fishes that gave rise to land vertebrates. They were known only from Paleozoic and Mesozoic fossils until a living species (Latimeria chalumnae) was found in the Indian Ocean in 1938. A second Latimeria species was described in 1999.
(plural coelacanths)
Either of two species of deep-water fish, Latimeria chalumnae of the Indian Ocean and Latimeria menadoensis of Indonesia.
Any lobe-finned fish in the order Coelacanthiformes, thought until 1938 to have been extinct for 70 million years.
Ancient Greek κοῖλος (koilos, “hollow”) + ἄκανθα (akantha, “spine”).
coelacanthiformes
coelacanthimorpha
coelacanthine
living-fossil
coelacanths
latimeria
lobefin
crossopterygian
WORDS NEAR coelacanth IN THE DICTIONARY
coefficients-of-friction
coehorn
coehorns
-coel
coelacanthid
coelacanthids
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400764
|
__label__wiki
| 0.709789
| 0.709789
|
The Larry Meiller Show Blog
Courtesy of Virge Temme Architecture
5 Tips For Building A Sustainable Home
Creating Energy Efficient Home Is About More Than Solar Panels, Insulation Sustainable Architect Says
By Mary Kate McCoy
Thursday, June 13, 2019, 5:55am
Where do you spend the majority of your time? For most of us, the answer is likely our homes.
And how we build and design them can set the tone for our lives, said Virge Temme, an architect who specializes in sustainable design.
"Our attitudes, our health, the way we relate to nature — designing a home in such a way that it makes you feel calm, that interacts with your desired activities, that it interacts with nature, really elevates the human spirit," she said.
Not only can a sustainably built home be good for your health and the environment, it can also save you money over time. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates making energy efficiency improvements could save you anywhere from 5 to 30 percent on your annual utitlity bill.
Yet when building a sustainable home, there's a lot to consider, and the first few steps can be daunting.
What materials are best? How do you install them properly? How can I build a home that is both energy efficient and cost-effective?
"The biggest question I hear is that people really don't know how to even start thinking about this," Temme said.
"Some people think if they tear down their existing house and put a great big huge new house with a whole bunch of solar panels on the roof, that's a green house," she continued. "Not necessarily, in fact that might be contrary to a sustainable way of approaching home design."
So where do you begin? Temme shared five steps to consider when building a sustainable home.
1. Choose a lot close to existing infrastructure.
Reducing your carbon footprint should guide most of your decisions, she said. Think about how close you will be to grocery stores, school, work — essentially places you regularly visit. That will allow you to walk or bicycle to these places and reduce carbon emissions from your car.
2. Build as small as you can comfortably live.
Analyze the way you live in your home and see where you can duplicate activities or otherwise reduce space. This saves on material resources during the construction and can reduce heating and cooling costs.
"People are beginning to realize that big is not always best," she said. "When we consciously reduce the amount of space that we're living in, we can pack a lot more enjoyability and usefulness into our homes than if we just keep applying more and more square footage."
3. Buy as locally as possible.
Educate yourself on where your construction and finishing materials come from and try to purchase most of your materials from within 500 miles of your home, Temme said.
4. Become smart about energy-efficient design.
Temme recommends either hiring a designer who is an expert in the field, or taking an in-depth class on the subject, such as WUFI-Passive, taught by Passive House Institute United States.
If you’re trying to update your current home to be energy-efficient, it’s still important to consult a specialist, Temme said. When energy retrofitting, people need to be especially careful about moisture within the house, it’s not just about slapping on a bunch of insulation, she said.
"It's very, very important when you're doing an energy retrofit to work with a specialist who really understands how to properly put together different wall, roof, flooring assemblies," she said.
5. Build a healthy home.
Learn about how your construction materials are made and what’s in them, she said. The production and installation of these materials can affect not only you and the people who install them, but the factory workers producing them and people living downwind of these factories.
Efficient Home Design
Architecture has the power to change people's lives, according to our guest architect. We discuss what efficient home design looks like and consider what it takes to create sustainable homes.
Original Air Date:
UW Study: Turning Off The Lights Reduces Both Economic, Human Costs
Governor Evers' Task Force On Climate Change Begins Work
How The U.S. Electricity Grid Is Evolving To Consumer Demands
Superior Natural Gas Plant Faces Opposition
Less Data Available For National Climate Assessment
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400765
|
__label__wiki
| 0.572511
| 0.572511
|
Pumpkin Twist
Written for the 'Tweet Me A Story' contest, round 101.
Don's World!
Welcome to Don's world! You may think i'm slightly touched, but welcome into my head!
!!! It's Circle Time !!!
"Blogging Circle of Friends" furnishes the prompts & I write about them...
The Table (300 words)
Prompts: game, light, old. Two wizards are sealed in a coffee table.
<<< Benefits of Writing.Com | For the Authors >>>
#697884 added June 23, 2016 at 11:06pm
Success Stories From Our Members
We receive emails from members every day telling us of their successes since joining Writing.Com:
A student is thrilled that his writing skills have improved immensely, and he's now earned an A instead of a C in English.
A housewife is thankful to have this online space to devote to herself and is writing more than she has in years.
A shy writer who has never shown her work to anyone but close family now feels liberated because so many strangers are reading her work and leaving their reviews for her.
A seasoned writer now feels that his work has been polished enough through the many honest and thorough reviews he's received on Writing.Com, that he has the confidence to submit his first piece of writing for possible publication.
A group of writers have come together and successfully published their own anthology of writing.
The success stories are many, and they continue to roll in.
Our member testimonials contain plenty of success stories of all different kinds to peruse. They are too many to list, and none is less important than another!
2. The Uniqueness of Writing.Com
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400766
|
__label__wiki
| 0.818446
| 0.818446
|
Gov. Justice holds town hall event in Vienna
By Todd Baucher |
Posted: Tue 10:16 PM, Sep 03, 2019 |
West Virginia's governor spoke and fielded questions for more than an hour and a half Tuesday night, at what his campaign billed as a "town hall" event.
It drew hundreds who made reservations for the event at Vienna's Grand Pointe Conference Center.
Topics discussed ranged from the opioid crisis and the state's economy, to local issues, including at one point the Wood County Schools proposed consolidation plan.
The governor also discussed an executive order recently signed by President Donald Trump-one he believes will eventually bring an ethane cracker to the area.
"Is that going to happen in the next six months? No, it's not," the governor told us. "But is that going to happen in the next year and a half, a real, live commitment? I do believe that it is. And I do believe that's a reality that's going to happen."
Justice added that would likely become more of a reality if he and Trump are re-elected in 2020.
He told the audience he believes the Wood County cracker site planned back in 2013-one now up for sale by the company who planned to build it-is still in play for the project.
The governor says, in spite of recent revenue shortfalls for July and August, West Virginia's economy still looks good.
And he believes growing the economy can provide answers to many of the state's problems.
He did not make mention of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin's decision-announced earlier in the day-to stay in the Senate instead of running for his old job as governor.
But Justice did speak of the Democratic presidential candidates-none of which, he said, had ideas that were in the best interests of the Mountain State.
Local professor discusses impeachment trial
UPDATE: Battery charge against Marion County delegate dismissed
Stephen Smith visits Parkersburg for campaign
Sen. Manchin: call witnesses at Trump trial
President Trump plans to speak at March for Life on Friday
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400768
|
__label__cc
| 0.544578
| 0.455422
|
State, federal agencies encourage safer July 4 travels
Alabama ranks in the top 10 deadliest states for Fourth of July impaired driving
Law enforcement increasing patrols July Fourth
By Katie Windham | July 1, 2019 at 6:27 PM EDT - Updated July 1 at 9:41 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30 people died on Alabama roads due to impaired driving during the Fourth of July holiday from 2013-2017.
That puts Alabama in the top 10 deadliest states for Fourth of July impaired driving.
“Across the entire country we see a peak in alcohol impaired driving around some of these summer holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day and especially the Fourth of July,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Heidi King. “We want to make sure we get ahead of this holiday and remind people to arrange for a safe ride.”
King encourages drivers to think ahead by planning for a designated driver, using a ride-sharing service or public transportation instead of getting behind the wheel impaired.
Just a few drinks can lead to poor decisions for drivers, she warned.
There will be heavy local law enforcement presence throughout the state during the holiday weekend to help keep the public safe.
“It’s important that everybody know that law enforcement will be out in force this weekend to save lives,” King said.
Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said there is zero tolerance for driving under the influence.
Bailey and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Montgomery sheriff and police are urging citizens to celebrate safely and responsibly.
Additionally, the Alabama Department of Transportation announced there will be no temporary lane closures on Alabama interstates after noon on Wednesday, July 3, through midnight, Sunday, July 7.
Officials expect 49 million Americans to be traveling this Independence Day, so ALDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time to reach their destination.
“Drivers should prepare to safely navigate the busy roads during the Independence Day holiday, as travelers drive to and from Alabama beaches, lakes and other popular summer destinations,” said ALDOT Drive Safe Alabama Coordinator Allison Green.
ALDOT offers three holiday travel tips: buckle up, designate a sober driver, and slow down. Speeding is the leading contributing factor in fatal crashes on Alabama roads, according to ALDOT.
Green has a final reminder for Alabama drivers during this holiday weekend: “Drive sober, alert and buckled up.”
Copyright 2019 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.
Katie Windham
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400770
|
__label__wiki
| 0.572709
| 0.572709
|
East vs West
I totally agree with you IVO, the players from the east are much more talented technically than those in the west. But like you said the money is just not there. I also believe its a conspiracy against the east to make sure these nations(east) stay impoverished so they can never compete against the west (in the way the west can with us). Just imagine if the east was able to compete with the west league/club style the eastern players would never leave their homelands, and we(east) would probably kick their butt in every competition. The west profits off the easts impoverishment.
Anyway thats my theory, maybe I watch too much television.
Who do you guys think have better players?
The east is improving considerably over the recent years. Bulgaria made semis in usa94 and Romania also had an impressive tournament. Czech Republic made finals of euro96 and Croatia made semis of France98.
Today, it's not a surprise to see an eastern team get to the semis or finals of a major tournament.
I think the east has more technically sound players, who play a more attractive style of football.
The only problem that prevents us from going that extra step, is the lack of money. So many of our players are taken by big western clubs, and a lot of them don't get to play at such a young age. I think this hurts their development. Look at Mutu in Inter, what did he even go there for, not to sit on the bench. Stankovic at Lazio, there's a great talent that isn't being developed. For my country Croatia, we had our most promising player Vranjes go to Leverkausen mid-season. He's only 19 and won't crack the starting line up, even if there wasn't a 3 nonEU rule.
Basically I'm saying that if we had the money, we'd be performing better at both club and country level, than the west.
Anybody agree or disagree?
giani_82
Totally agree with you. The largest amount of money that the best clubs can release here for transfers is about 3 million DM (if they keep their squad). And this is funny since in the West the average teams spend over 20 million DM. But there is no point to pay so much money for the Balkan championships since there are about three clubs of high quality (one at some places) and everything else is pure garbage. And I think when the players go to play outside they gather the experience they need they are more strongly motivated, etc. And because communist times are over everyone now wants to go outside where he'd be paid much more; and therefore, they lack motivation to improve here. And I have the opinion that the players in the East are more technical, but they are less strong physically, and their passing is usually worse. And, yeah, they need money to get motivated.
I agree with you Ivo.
But let me ask you all a question. Don;t you agree that, if Mutu was transfered for $ 20 mil. let's say, then he would be in the first eleven. The western teams are usually sorting the first eleven by the players transfer fee and wages. Of course, there are few excepcions, but are few!!!
Cheap Soccer Tickets | Football Shirts
Bocur David, I'm not sure if Mutu would start if the fee was higher. I think there'd be more pressure to put him in, but Inter is full of high paid players. He'd definately have a better chance at playing with a higher wage, but it wouldn't be written in stone. Look at Kovacevic, Juve paid a lot for him, but he's been used little in the league.
I think money is obviously a motivator for players, but I also think it's the lure of playing for a BIG club, in a BIG league, with stadiums filled with 60,000 people. In the east, you can't get that many people to watch one game unless it's the BIG derby in the country. Even then to get that many people is pretty difficult.
giani_82, I only disagree with you in one sense. About the western players being more strong physically. I think the opposite. I don't think any of them are particularly strong teams, except Germany. I think the rest are average size. I can't speak for a lot of the other countries in the east, but Croatia is a physically strong side, I'd even say one of the strongest. That isn't to say the other eastern teams aren't physically strong, Yugoslavia is also strong, but I haven't seen enough of the other teams lately to comment on them. I haven't seen anybody muscle Croatia around on the pitch, and I don't see it happening any time soon, especially not from the likes of a Spain, Portugal, Italy even France.
[This message has been edited by IVO (edited 06-05-2000).]
I meant that the players have better condition because most of them train in better circumstances, but now these things have changed a bit since some clubs on the Balkans found more money. I did not want to say that their general physical power is better, sorry for this.
I agree with all of you here. East seems to be more technical. And of course west has better conditioning. IVO has some good points about Eastern youngsters. I think you guys said all I was going to say anyway. Anyway good topic.
Tricolor pina la moarte!
Delija
I agree with most everything that has been said here, I would just like to add one thing on the whole idea of our young eastern talent being sold for millions to sit on the bench. A lot of these big clubs buy these players just so that other teams won't have them. For example. Juve buys Kovacevic for big big money to play an average of about 10 minutes per game in the league. Yet in league, euro and cup competitionis he has scored some 20 goals. Juve are laughing, their investment has paid off right away. They keep the Italian media happy by not starting a foreigner at striker over an italian (Inzaghi/Del Piero) yet when he plays he produces, at the same timer, Kova isn't playing for the competition. Imagine him alongside Crespo at Parma or alonside Salas at Lazio. Big clubs tend to monopolize the talent.
delija, isnt kovacevic 27years old? how is that young talent bought for millions? i know what you are trying to say and an excellent example is stankovic in lazio...he is only 22 and almost every team wants to have him, most of them just want him to be in their club, but not start for a while until they are really desperate.
#10 • May 7, 2000
Delija, I see your point, but I'm looking at it from our point of view. These players are going at a young age and it's hampering their development.
I think it's better to stay in their own leagues until 22 or so to properly develop. The Croatian league isn't very strong, but I think a player like Vranjes is better off staying at Osijek and playing than going to Germany to sit on the bench.
The problem is that when the big clubs offer big money, neither the player nor the club can afford to turn it down. Arnsenal had offered 7 million pounds for Vranjes, but he couldn't go because of some sort of rule in England. Something about a youth player having to have played 75% of the games for his NT to play in England. I'm not sure what the exact rule is, I just read that on an Arsenal site.
Even if these players go to big clubs and get loaned out to weaker teams or to Serie B teams it'll be better for them.
Mijatovic
Discussion Starter • #11 • May 9, 2000
I believe that the east is getting bigger every year.Just look at some of the names
Nedved
Koeller
Rebrov
Suker
what would be good to see is an EAST vs WEST all star match in the off-season where the teams are trained for a month and then they play.And then we will see who is the best.But then again those matches are never taken to seriously so I dont know if it would work.I know i would like to see it though.
Austrian football
The place to be to discuss the greats of Austrian football, from the legends of the past like Hans Krankl, Bruno Pezzey, Toni Polster and Andreas Herzog to todays stars like Emanuel Pogatetz :proud:
Styg · updated 2 months ago
Swiss football
Talk about the league and players in here. Don't mention Johann Vogel though :yuck:
Styg · updated Oct 10, 2017
Georgian Football Thread
Georgian Soccer Thread Well since Raanan started a Ukrainian Soccer Thread i thought it would be good to start a Georgian Soccer Thread. There are some many well known Georgian players lying around such Kakha Kaladze of AC Milan, George Kinkladze and Timour Ketsbaia. Georgia is an up and comin...
Tommy · updated Jun 22, 2017
Kosovar Football Thread
Since 2000 the league was reduced from 18 to this years Superleague with 12 teams. These are Superleague teams: - Prishtina - Vllaznimi - Besa - Kosova Prishtina - Flamurtari - Drenica - Ferizaj - Liria - Trepqa 89 - Llapi - KEKu - Drita The firts 6 teams will go for play off, while the...
Albion · updated Jan 25, 2017
Polski football thread
Seeing as the sub-forum is gone, I will open this thread for anything Polish football related, from the NT to the Polish second leage (GIEKSA!!! :wee:)
Andor · updated Aug 5, 2016
Mijatovic May 9, 2000
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400773
|
__label__wiki
| 0.541663
| 0.541663
|
Details on writing and sending reports to us can be found here
B&G V20S VHF Radio
Ngalawa Cup 2017
by Dan Wedgwood 23 Jan 2017 10:30 GMT 31 December 2016 - 6 January 2017
Ngalawa Cup 2017 © Ngalawa Cup
They capsized, snapped masts, got stuck in currents so strong they were pushed backwards, and faced the very real prospect of sun-stroke and dehydration sailing up to 12 hours a day. Luckily the seven teams who raced in January's Ngalawa Cup were ready for all of it... Almost.
Here's what went down...
The week-long race kicked off on New Year's Eve from Nungwi on the northern tip of Zanzibar. The 450km course took the teams south, following the Kaskazi trade winds via a series of checkpoints on islands off the coast of Tanzania to the finish line in Kilwa.
The first three days of racing took the teams down the coast of Zanzibar and across open water to the mainland south of Dar es Salaam.
South Africans Ryan and Clinton (Team Breaking Wind) weren't winning the race but streaked ahead of everyone on the disaster front. Clinton injured his wrist, later finding out it was a full on fracture, and Ryan had been vomiting and losing consciousness intermittently; most likely caused by dehydration or sun stroke.
Helpfully the gods of adventure also gave them the gift of capsizing and having to right a slightly sunken boat just when they least needed it.
Clinton, a former professional kiteboarder, was forced to withdraw and Ryan had a bloody good case for an honourable discharge, but he joined up with British pair Julian and Jonty (Team Devil's Own) and soldiered on.
Ryan's adopted team Devil's Own were well ahead by this point, leading the pack by over four hours. The Leaderboard is calculated using actual sailing times between checkpoints and they were looking almost unbeatable. But the Ngalawa Cup is a rather unpredictable beast and there was trouble ahead for the leaders.
Ngalawa Cup 2017 - photo © Ngalawa Cup
On the fourth day of racing one team who will remain un-named messaged Race HQ saying they'd had enough, they were quitting the race. Another team capsized and couldn't bail out and had to be towed to land by one of the Race Boats. Both bounced back and carried on racing.
In among the chaos, there was also plenty of stunning sailing, impressive speeds and mastery of the genuinely tricky ngalawas. Experienced sailors were being pushed by the traditional vessels with no winches, fibreglass or auto-pilots to rely on and enjoying the gob-smackingly impressive Tanzanian scenery.
The southern section of the race takes the teams from island to island but for Juri and Juliane from Switzerland (Team Bayasgalant), the picturesque sailing was punctured by an impressive capsize on day four.
At the very end of the racing day and just a few hundred metres from Kwale Island where they would moor up overnight they not only went over but managed to get their mast stuck in the mud. The recovery was described aptly as 'hectic' but the mast was successfully replaced.
Tanzania is an incredibly friendly place, but crime occurs in every country. Americans Matt, Marlin and Cole (Team Papachambo) were unlucky - almost all their bags got stolen overnight. Instead of giving up however, they hit the fifth day of the race as hard as ever, even without most of their kit and luggage.
Moving towards the sharp end of the race British pair Julian and Jonty (Team Devil's Own), with their adopted teammate Ryan who had recovered well, were even further ahead and looking like nailed-on race winners. They were 6 hours ahead of the next team, the Swiss Juri and Juliane (Team Bayasgalant) and approaching the finish line...
Their boom snapped. A brutal blow on its own but it got worse. Ryan explains:
"We got caught out on the reef, we were stuck for hours and hours. We ended up pushing the boat around the reef. It was brutal, the water was waist high, your legs start cramping and we had a broken sail.
We jimmy-rigged the sail that got us to move and limped the last three miles, holding the sails out ourselves and paddling the last mile into the wind. It took us about an hour to paddle it to shore, we were absolutely destroyed. It was the hardest thing we did. We got in at 11.45 at night."
A red-line rule of the Ngalawa Cup is no sailing after the course is closed and absolutely no sailing after dark. Julian, Jonty and Ryan may have been the fastest team by a hefty margin but rules are rules and they had to wait for the Race Committee to decide their fate. Because they were caught on the reef and it was unsafe to stop for the night, they avoided disqualification on the grounds of safety - walking and dragging their boat to the finish line was a sensible, albeit dangerous and morale-battering move.
They were still heavily penalised for sailing after dark, cruelly pushing them back into second place and awarding the Swiss a shock win on the final day.
Race winner Juri said "We didn't expect to win. We had a fast boat, but there were teams with better tactics. We didn't push it too much. We were the last boat into the finishing line."
Despite losing out on first place, Ryan, who seemed to have had the most eventful race of the fleet pointed out the cosmetic benefits that every hardcore adventurer looks for in a race: "Between the water and the sand, it shaves a layer of skin off. I feel thoroughly exfoliated."
Overall Results:
1. Bayasgalant (Swiss/SriLankan) 56:48:53
2. The Devil's Own (UK) 58:34:04
3. Pappa Chambo (US) 62:47:59
4. Knotty Ngalawas (US) 63:38:53
5. Gimme Dat Booty (Canada) 65:06:02
6. CiunCianiou (Italy) 69:51:56
DNF - Breaking Wind (South Africa)
Next time: the race heads from south to north, starting in Kilwa, on the 27th of June, and finishing on Zanzibar Island. Sign up is open now on The Adventurists website - www.theadventurists.com/ngalawa-cup-the-what
Quotes from the Teams:
Dylan, Team Bayasgalant:
"It is so beautiful, to experience the culture and the way they live. You get to an island, say Kwale, we got there - it's tiny, 800 people live there. They have a little downtown. It's a billiard table under a roof of coconut leaves and a handful of shops. The way they live it's amazing, it's such a slow life - it was so great for us to experience. I live in Europe where it's such a fast paced world. We have no time to enjoy life like these guys. When we got there they stopped working and came round to talk to us. "
"The boats aren't identical. Each boat had a character, and I can say that because I have been in three teams. Some are more stable, some are faster, some are prone to capsizing - the challenge was to master that. It was quite awesome. Seeing these boats which haven't been modified for hundreds of years. It's quite amazing that we can still get on one of those and do 500kms with them. To sail with them it was a really unique experience."
Marco, Knotty Ngalawas:
"I got at least one blister on each finger. Usually, you have the luxury of modern winches, on these boats, it's all your hands and your sweat. And crazy tan lines."
"My hands are so much darker than the rest of my body. I look like I dipped my hands in paint and just pulled them out. My teammate Liz got sunburnt. She put a camping towel on her legs, and one day it fell just short."
What are Ngalawas?
Ngalawas are traditional Tanzanian fishing boats, dug out by hand from mango trees and used for hundreds of years by locals for short trips. They're laughably unsuitable for a long-distance endurance race but their simplicity and lack of technology mean they can be fixed up on the go; teams can carry on racing even after snapping a mast (which some of them did). For Adventurists looking for old school adventure, they're the perfect vessel.
www.ngalawacup.com
French Canadian Team take the spoils in Kraken Cup
One of the World's most adventurous, yet basic, sailing races This week on the 8th January saw Team Village Monde crossing the finish line as winners of the Kraken Cup (sponsored by Garmin) one of the World's most adventurous, yet basic, sailing races. Posted on 10 Jan 2019 Kraken Cup set to start on New Year's Day
Back to basics boat race sets sail Whilst most of us nurse hangovers, New Year's Day in Zanzibar sees 22 teams, made up of 66 sailors, set sail in one of the world's most basic, yet exciting, races. Posted on 28 Dec 2018 500km race in a mango tree hull
Kraken Cup starts on New Year's Day in Zanzibar Whilst most of us nurse hangovers, New Year's Day in Zanzibar sees 22 teams, made up of 66 sailors, set sail in one of the world's most basic, yet exciting, races. Posted on 23 Dec 2018 Simon Walker set for The Kraken Cup
Offshore sailor take on the challenge of ngalawas sailing Simon Walker has sailed around the world the 'wrong way' twice and was skipper of the Toshiba Wave Warrior in the 1996/7 BT Global Challenge, where he was the youngest skipper in the fleet and finished 2nd. Posted on 28 Apr 2018 Ngalawa Cup 2017
Tanzania to Zanzibar with a mango tree hull Making the Ngalawa Cup stand out from the crowd, and giving it its name, is the fact it takes place in ngalawas, traditional fishing boats whose hulls are carved by hand from mango trees with outriggers lashed on. Posted on 15 Jul 2017 Stripped back race about to set sail
All set for the Ngalawa Cup 2017 On the 27th of June the fifth edition of the Ngalawa Cup sets sails. Snaking around the Zanzibar Archipelago, the Cup is a sailing race for over 300km off the coast of Tanzania. Posted on 25 Jun 2017 The Ngalawa Cup set for January
Have you got what it takes to go back to basics? Whether you sail a one man Laser or a 90 foot catamaran, the chances are you'll be benefiting from modern technology, from glass reinforced plastic hulls to the latest carbon fibre sails. Posted on 13 Nov 2016
Tiger Trophy for Monohull dinghies
Rutland SC- 1 Feb to 2 Feb Open Icicle Handicap Series for Monohull dinghies
Bough Beech SC- 2 Feb Tipsy Icicle Series for Monohull dinghies
Leigh & Lowton SC- 2 Feb N12 Mid Winter Dinner for National 12
Royal Harwich YC- 8 Feb Ogston Woolley Jumper for Monohull dinghies with PY greater than 912
Ogston SC- 8 Feb to 9 Feb Open Icicle Handicap Series for Monohull dinghies
Bough Beech SC- 9 Feb N12 Mid Winters for National 12
Royal Harwich YC- 9 Feb Tipsy Icicle Series for Monohull dinghies
Leigh & Lowton SC- 9 Feb Snowflake 5&6 for Monohull dinghies
Chichester YC- 9 Feb Blithfield Barrel - Round 4 for Monohull dinghies
Blithfield SC- 9 Feb
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400774
|
__label__cc
| 0.740779
| 0.259221
|
zenpundit.com
Archive for the ‘cooperation’ Category
Turchin on Human Sacrifice and Society
[by Mark Safranski / “zen“]
Last week I posted on Human Sacrifice and State-Building, which focused on research findings published in Nature regarding the role of human sacrifice in establishing hierarchical societies. My interest was primarily in the way the gory practices of ISIS today seem to mirror this dynamic from prehistoric, ancient and chiefdom societies. Bogfriend T. Greer helpfully alerted me to the fact that noted scholar and cultural evolutionist, Peter Turchin also blogged regarding this research and took a critical posture. Turchin, also addressed human sacrifice to some degree in his latest book, Ultrasociety, which has been on my list to read for his take on the role of warfare but which I have yet to do.
Turchin’s reasons for blogging this article are different from mine, so I suggest that you read him in full as I intend to comment only on selected excerpts:
Is Human Sacrifice Functional at the Society Level?
An article published this week by Nature is generating a lot of press. Using a sample of 93 Austronesian cultures Watts et al. explore the possible relationship between human sacrifice (HS) and the evolution of hierarchical societies. Specifically, they test the “social control” hypothesis, according to which human sacrifice legitimizes, and thus stabilizes political authority in stratified class societies.
Their statistical analyses suggest that human sacrifice stabilizes mild (non-hereditary) forms of social stratification, and promotes a shift to strict (hereditary) forms of stratification. They conclude that “ritual killing helped humans transition from the small egalitarian groups of our ancestors to the large stratified societies we live in today.” In other words, while HS obviously creates winners (rulers and elites) and losers (sacrifice victims and, more generally, commoners), Watts et all argue that it is a functional feature—in the evolutionary sense of the word—at the level of whole societies, because it makes them more durable.
There are two problems with this conclusion. First, Watts et al. do not test their hypothesis against an explicit theoretical alternative (which I will provide in a moment). Second, and more important, their data span a very narrow range of societies, omitting the great majority of complex societies—indeed all truly large-scale societies. Let’s take these two points in order.
Turchin is correct that study focuses on Austronesian islanders in clan and tribal settings and that’s a pretty narrow of a base from which to extrapolate. OTOH, the pre-Cortez estimated population of the Aztec empire begins at five million on the low end. Estimates of the population of Carthage proper, range from 150,000 to 700,000. That’s sufficiently complex that the Mexica and Carthaginians each established sophisticated imperial polities and yet both societies remained extremely robust practitioners of human sacrifice at the time they were conquered and destroyed.
Maybe a more useful approach than simply expanding the data set would be to ask why human sacrifice disappears earlier in some societies than in others or continues to be retained at high levels of complexity?
An alternative theory on the rise of human sacrifice and other extreme forms of structural inequality is explained in my recent book Ultrasociety ….
….Briefly, my argument in Ultrasociety is that large and complex human societies evolved under the selection pressures of war. To win in military competition societies had to become large (so that they could bring a lot of warriors to battle) and to be organized hierarchically (because chains of command help to win battles). Unfortunately, hierarchical organization gave too much power to military leaders and their warrior retinues, who abused it (“power corrupts”). The result was that early centralized societies (chiefdoms and archaic states) were hugely unequal. As I say in Ultrasociety, alpha males set themselves up as god-kings.
Again, I have not read Ultrasociety, but the idea that war would be a major driver of human cultural evolution is one to which I’m inclined to be strongly sympathetic. I’m not familiar enough with Turchin to know if he means war is”the driver” or “a major driver among several” in the evolution of human society.
Human sacrifice was perhaps instrumental for the god-kings and the nobles in keeping the lower orders down, as Watts et al. (and social control hypothesis) argue. But I disagree with them that it was functional in making early centralized societies more stable and durable. In fact, any inequality is corrosive of cooperation, and its extreme forms doubly so. Lack of cooperation between the rulers and ruled made early archaic states highly unstable, and liable to collapse as a result of internal rebellion or conquest by external enemies. Thus, according to this “God-Kings hypothesis,” HS was a dysfunctional side-effect of the early phases of the evolution of hierarchical societies. As warfare continued to push societies to ever larger sizes, extreme forms of structural inequality became an ever greater liability and were selected out. Simply put, societies that evolved less inegalitarian social norms and institutions won over and replaced archaic despotisms.
The question here is if human sacrifice was primarily functional – as a cynically wielded political weapon of terror by elites – or if that solidification of hierarchical stratification was a long term byproduct of religious drivers. It also depends on what evidence you count as “human sacrifice”. In the upper Paleolithic period, burial practices involving grave goods shifted to include additional human remains along with the primary corpse. Whether these additional remains, likely slaves, concubines or prisoners slain in the burial ritual count as human sacrifices in the same sense as on Aztec or Sumerian altars tens of thousands of years later may be reasonably disputed. What is not disputed is that humans being killed by other humans not by random violence or war but purposefully for the larger needs of a community goes back to the earliest and most primitive reckoning of what we call “society” and endured in (ever diminishing) places even into the modern period.
This also begs the question if burial sacrifices, public executions of prisoners and other ritualistic killings on other pretexts conducted by societies of all levels of complexity are fundamentally different in nature from human sacrifices or if they are all subsets of the same atavistic phenomena binding a group through shared participation in violence.
….The most complex society in their sample is Hawaii, which is not complex at all when looked in the global context. I am, right now, analyzing the Seshat Databank for social complexity (finally, we have the data! I will be reporting on our progress soon, and manuscripts are being prepared for publication). And Hawaii is way down on the scale of social complexity. Just to give one measure (out of >50 that I am analyzing), polity population. The social scale of Hawaiian chiefdoms measures in the 10,000s of population, at most 100,000 (and that achieved after the arrival of the Europeans). In Afroeurasia (the Old World), you don’t count as a megaempire unless you have tens of millions of subjects—that’s three orders of magnitude larger than Hawaii!
Why is this important? Because it is only by tracing the trajectories of societies that go beyond the social scale seen in Austronesia that we can test the social control hypothesis against the God-Kings theory. If HS helps to stabilize hierarchical societies, it should do so for societies of thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, tens of millions, and so on. So we should see it persist as societies grow in size.
Well, human sacrifice persisted into the classical period of Greece and Rome, though becoming infrequent and eventually outlawed, though only during the last century of the Roman republic. That’s a significant level of complexity, Rome having become the dominant power in the Mediterranean world a century earlier. Certainly human sacrifice did not destabilize the Greeks and Romans, though the argument could be made that it did harm Sparta, if we count Spartan practices of infanticide for eugenic reasons as human sacrifice.
What muddies the waters here is the prevalence of available substitutes for human sacrifice – usually animal sacrifice initially – that competed and co-existed with human sacrifice in many early societies for extremely long periods of time. Sometimes this readily available alternative was sufficient to eventually extinguish human sacrifice, as happened with the Romans but other times it was not, as with the Aztecs. The latter kept their maniacal pace of human sacrifice up to the end, sacrificing captured Spanish conquistadors and their horses to the bloody Sun god. Human sacrifice did not destabilize the Aztecs and it weakened their tributary vassals but the religious primacy they placed on human sacrifice and the need to capture prisoners in large numbers rather than kill them in battle hobbled the Aztec response to Spanish military assaults.
Comments? Questions?
Posted in analytic, ancient history, anthropology, Archaeology, blog-friends, ceremonial, complex systems, complexity, cooperation, counterpoint, culture, debate, egalitarianism, history, ideas, intellectuals, ISIS, magic, Musings, myth, politics, population, power, prayer, Prehistoric, psychology, Religion, sacrament, sacred, sacrifice, social science, society, sociobiology, symbolism, T Greer, Theology, theory, tribes, war | 1 Comment »
Creating a web-based format for debate and deliberation: discuss?
[ by Charles Cameron — Talmud, hypertext, spider webs, Indra’s net, noosphere, rosaries, renga, the bead game, Xanadu, hooks-and-eyes, onward! ]
Let me firmly anchor this post and its comments, which will no doubt shift and turn as the wind wishes, in discussion of the possibility of improving on current affordances for online deliberation.
Let’s begin here:
@hipbonegamer @Aelkus @pmarca Andy van Dam cited “Talmudic Annotation” as ur hypertext pattern since the mid 1960’s pic.twitter.com/F1XKEf9F7G
— Greg Lloyd (@roundtrip) December 11, 2014
There are a variety of precursor streams to this discussion: I have listed a few that appeal to me in the sub-head of this post and believe we will reach each and all of them in some form and forum if this discussion takes off. And I would like to offer the immediate hospitality of this Zenpundit post and comment section to make a beginning.
Greg’s tweet shows us a page of the Talmud, which is interesting to me for two reasons:
it presents many voices debating a central topic
it does so using an intricate graphical format
The script of a play or movie also records multiple voices in discourse, as does an orchestral score — but the format of the Talmudic score is more intricate, allowing the notation of counterpoint that extends across centuries, and provoking in turn centuries of further commentary and debate.
What can we devise by way of a format, given the constraints of screen space and the affordances of software and interface design, that maximizes the possibility of debate with respect, on the highly charged topics of the day.
We know from the Talmud that such an arrangement is possible in retrospect (when emotion can be recollected in tranquility): I am asking how we can come closest to it in real time. The topics are typically hotly contested, patience and tolerance may not always be in sufficient supply, and moderation by humans with powers of summary and editing should probably not be ruled out of our consdierations. But how do we create a platform that is truly polyphonic, that sustains the voices of all participants without one shouting down or crowding out another, that indeed may embody a practic of listening..?
Carl Rogers has shown us that the ability to express one’s interlocutor’s ideas clearly enough that they acknowledge one has understood them is a significant skill in navigating conversational rapids.
The Talmud should be an inspiration but not a constraint for us. The question is not how to build a Talmud, but how to build a format that can host civil discussion which refines itself as it grows — so that, to use a gardening metaphor, it is neither overgrown nor too harshly manicured, but manages a carefully curated profusion of insights and —
actual interactions between the emotions and ideas in participating or observing individuals’ minds and hearts
Because polyphony is not many voices talking past one another, but together — sometimes discordant, but attempting to resolve those discords as they arrive, and with a figured bass of our common humanity underwriting the lot of them.
And I have said it before: here JS Bach is the master. What he manages with a multitude of musical voices in counterpoint is, in my opinion, what we need in terms of verbal voices in debate.
I am particularly hoping to hear from some of those who participated in tweeted comments arising from my previous post here titled Some thoughts for Marc Andreessen & Adam Elkus, including also Greg Loyd, Callum Flack, Belinda Barnet, Ken (chumulu) — Jon Lebkowsky if he’s around — and friends, and friends of friends.
Posted in adam elkus, anthropology, bach, blogosphere, Buddhist, change, Charles Cameron, cognition, Collaboration, community, comparative, complex systems, computers, connectivity, constraint, cooperation, counterpoint, creativity, critical thinking, cybernetics, debate, democracy, Design, dialog, diplomacy, emotion, feedback, form, futurism, Glass Bead Game, graphical thinking, Hipbone Analysis, Hipbone Games, honor, Humanitarian, imagination, innovation, insight, intelligence, interdisciplinary, internet, judaism, language, literature, logic, media literacy, medici effect, metacognition, music, Musings, negotiation, nuance / subtlety, paradox, psychology, public diplomacy, rethinking thinking, scriptures, synthesis, Theology, twitter, Uncategorized, virtues, visualization | 15 Comments »
Good karma, or paying it forward — piggy-back
[ by Charles Cameron — a frog, a snail, a praying mantis, yes — but not a piggy in sight! ]
See also: At a snail’s pace
Hat-tip: Faizah.
Snail rides frog, photocredit: Lessy Sebastian / Solent News
Mantis rides snail, photocredit: Nordin Seruyan / Barcroft Media
Posted in Charles Cameron, cooperation, Doublequotes, nature, Specs, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Good karma, or paying it forward — piggy-back
E.O. Wilson on the Evolutionary Origin of Creativity and Art
E.O. Wilson
Last summer, eminent sociobiologist E.O. Wilson published an article in Harvard Magazine:
On the Origins of the Arts
….By using this power in addition to examine human history, we can gain insights into the origin and nature of aesthetic judgment. For example, neurobiological monitoring, in particular measurements of the damping of alpha waves during perceptions of abstract designs, have shown that the brain is most aroused by patterns in which there is about a 20 percent redundancy of elements or, put roughly, the amount of complexity found in a simple maze, or two turns of a logarithmic spiral, or an asymmetric cross. It may be coincidence (although I think not) that about the same degree of complexity is shared by a great deal of the art in friezes, grillwork, colophons, logographs, and flag designs. It crops up again in the glyphs of the ancient Middle East and Mesoamerica, as well in the pictographs and letters of modern Asian languages. The same level of complexity characterizes part of what is considered attractive in primitive art and modern abstract art and design. The source of the principle may be that this amount of complexity is the most that the brain can process in a single glance, in the same way that seven is the highest number of objects that can be counted at a single glance. When a picture is more complex, the eye grasps its content by the eye’s saccade or consciously reflective travel from one sector to the next. A quality of great art is its ability to guide attention from one of its parts to another in a manner that pleases, informs, and provokes
This is fascinating. My first question would be how we could determine if the pattern of degree of complexity is the result of cognitive structural limits (a cap on our thinking) or if it represents a sufficient visual sensory catalyst in terms of numbers of elements to cause an excitory response (neurons firing, release of dopamine, acetylcholine etc. ) and a subsequent feedback loop. Great art, or just sometimes interesting designs exhibiting novelty can hold us with a mysterious, absorbing fascination
Later, Wilson writes:
….If ever there was a reason for bringing the humanities and science closer together, it is the need to understand the true nature of the human sensory world, as contrasted with that seen by the rest of life. But there is another, even more important reason to move toward consilience among the great branches of learning. Substantial evidence now exists that human social behavior arose genetically by multilevel evolution. If this interpretation is correct, and a growing number of evolutionary biologists and anthropologists believe it is, we can expect a continuing conflict between components of behavior favored by individual selection and those favored by group selection. Selection at the individual level tends to create competitiveness and selfish behavior among group members—in status, mating, and the securing of resources. In opposition, selection between groups tends to create selfless behavior, expressed in
greater generosity and altruism, which in turn promote stronger cohesion and strength of the group as a whole
First, while I am in no way qualified to argue evolution with E.O. Wilson, I am dimly aware that some biological scientists might be apt to take issue with Wilson’s primacy of multilevel evolution. As a matter of common sense, it seems likely to me that biological systems might have a point where they experience emergent evolutionary effects – the system itself has to be able to adapt to the larger environmental context – how do we know what level of “multilevel” will be the significant driver of natural selection and under what conditions? Or does one level have a rough sort of “hegemony” over the evolutionary process with the rest as “tweaking” influences? Or is there more randomness here than process?
That part is way beyond my ken and readers are welcome to weigh in here.
The second part, given Wilson’s assumptions are more graspable. Creativity often is a matter of individual insights becoming elaborated and exploited, but also has strong collaborative and social aspects. That kind of cooperation may not even be purposeful or ends-driven by both parties, it may simply be behaviors that incidentally help create an environment or social space where creative innovation becomes more likely to flourish – such as the advent of writing and the spread of literacy giving birth to a literary cultural explosion of ideas and invention – and battles over credit and more tangible rewards.
Need to ponder this some more.
Posted in academia, Adaptability, analytic, art, change, cognition, contemplative, cooperation, creativity, critical thinking, culture, dreams, e.o.wilson, europe, Evolution, ideas, imaginal, intellectuals, intelligence, nature, nuance / subtlety, Patterns, philosophy, Prehistoric, science, society, sociobiology, Stigmergy, stochastic, Tactics, theory | 16 Comments »
Book Mini-Review: Makers: the New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson
Makers: The New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson
This is a fun book by the former editor-in-chief of WIRED , author of The Long Tail and the co-founder of 3D Robotics, Chris Anderson. Part pop culture, part tech-optimist futurism and all DIY business book, Anderson is preaching a revolution, one brought about by the intersection of 3D printing and open source “Maker movement” culture, that he believes will be bigger and more transformative to society than was the Web. One with the potential to change the “race to the bottom” economic logic of globalization by allowing manufacturing entrepreneurs to be smart, small, nimble and global by sharing bits and selling atoms.
Here’s the history of two decades of innovation in two sentences: The past ten years have been about discovering new ways to create, invent, and work together on the Web. The next ten years will be about applying those lessons to the real world.
This book is about the next ten years.
….Why? Because making things has gone digital: physical objects now begin as designs on screens, and those designs can be shared online as files…..once an industry goes digital in changes in profound ways, as we’ve seen in everything from retail to publishing. The biggest transformation, but in who’s doing it. Once things can be done on regular computers, they can be done by anyone. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing happening in manufacturing.
…..In short, the Maker Movement shares three characteristics, all of which I’d argue are transformative:
1. People using digital desktop tools to create designs for new products and prototype them (“digital DIY”)
2. A cultural norm to share those designs and collaborate with others in online communities.
3. The use of common design file standards that allow anyone, if they desire, to send their designs to commercial manufacturing services to be produced in any number, just as easily as they can fabricate them on their desktop. This radically foreshortens the path from idea to entrepreneurship, just as the Web did in software, information, and content.
Nations whose entire strategy rests upon being the provider of cheapest labor per unit cost on all scales are going to be in jeopardy if local can innovate, customize and manufacture in near-real time response to customer demand. Creativity of designers and stigmergic /stochastic collaboration of communities rise in economic value relative to top-down, hierarchical production systems with long development lags and capital tied up betting on having large production runs.
Interesting, with potentially profound implications.
Posted in 21st century, 3-D Printing, authors, book, business, change, cognitive goods, computers, connectivity, cooperation, corporations, culture, economic determinism, economics, freedom, ideas, innovation, intellectuals, reading, revolution, society, Stigmergy, stochastic, tech, theory, web 2.0, wired | 1 Comment »
Zenpundit is a blog dedicated to exploring the intersections of foreign policy, history, military theory, national security,strategic thinking, futurism, cognition and a number of other esoteric pursuits.
Customized Web Site & Blog Design
Charles Cameron on The martyr Soleimani embraced by Imam Hussein
zen on Persepolis, for instance?
zenpundit.com is proudly powered by WordPress
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400775
|
__label__cc
| 0.701991
| 0.298009
|
Wicked Good Travel Tips / Travel Syles / Food and Wine / Taste of our Travels / Culinary Travel / Sip, Savor and Smile – Discovering The Memorable Food Festivals of Italy
Sip, Savor and Smile – Discovering The Memorable Food Festivals of Italy
A feast for the senses – Annual Food Festivals of Italy
Italy is one of my favourite places to visit in the world. But although I can enthuse for hours over its architecture and fascinating history, I have to secretly admit it’s really the food that keeps me coming back for more.
Italian food culture really is something special. It’s not just the simplicity of flavours and the pride in fresh ingredients that permeates the everyday eating experience here, but the relish with which these are served – food is not merely to feed the body, but the soul – and in particular the soul of the family and the community. Even in these fast food, global-busy days there is still a sense in Italy that real food is important to take time for.
Every Italian province and town has its own traditional delicacies and specialty produce. One of the best ways to experience this regional diversity is to time your visit to coincide with ‘sagre’ – festivals held by locals to celebrate the harvests of certain foodstuffs. Common celebrations around Italy include ones dedicated to mushrooms, local cheeses, pork, peaches or truffle – but whatever the taste, it is always embedded in tradition and folklore that binds food firmly to local identity.
Sagra del Pesce – Seafood Festival
The biggest sagre are flamboyant affairs. In Camogli on the coast between Genoa and Portofino in Liguria, locals show their enthusiasm for seafood at the Sagra del Pesce (second Sunday of May) by cooking it in the world’s largest frying pan. The festival itself dates back to just after the Second World War when the majority of the town’s fishermen went out to sea and were greeted on return by their wives and a huge feast of fresh fish. Today the pan is set up in the Piazza del Colombo, and the feast is a fry-up of three tons of seafood over the course of the festival for the appreciative crowds.
Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Biano d’Alba – White Truffle Festival
Other big productions include the Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba – the white truffle sagra in Piedmont that runs on weekends from October to mid-November and draws an international crowd of foodies to cheer for the famous pungent ingredient. Alongside the truffle market and fair, there is plenty of entertainment, including parades, concert nights, food stands, white truffle walks for tourists, a donkey race and the truffle world auction.
Romanesco Artichoke Festival
One of my favourites of these bigger events is the Romanesco Artichoke Festival near Rome in Ladispoli, held in the second week of April. Originally set up in 1951 to popularise this bulbous (and apparently aphrodisiac) local vegetable, it’s now a huge event that draws the crowds. Visitors come for the food – including the succulent wedges of fried artichoke that are given out for free in the streets, the artichoke-themed menus in the local restaurants and artichoke cooking contests for chefs. All set to a carnival backdrop of music, jollity and an impressive artichoke sculpture competition in the town square.
Well-known sagre also include mildly Bacchanalian events celebrating the grape – especially in regions known for their D.O.C wines. Some of the most well-known include the Primavera del Prosecco across the regions of Veneto and Campania in spring and the Festa del vino a Montefiascone (Viterbo) in August, where visitors can visit local wine cellars and enjoy a parade to celebrate the creation of the most famous local wine Moscatello by a local abbott.
But if you want a more low-key experience, then it’s worth seeking out smaller, less well-known ones. You won’t often find these food festivals advertised on the internet – these are homegrown celebrations that have sprung up organically over the years, and information travels by word of mouth.
For the lucky visitor who knows where to go, though – or stumbles across an unexpected sagre, they are a real treat. Smaller sagre may only run for a day, but they will generally be merry and relaxed affairs, sometimes with street entertainment or music, but always with plenty of food on show, being prepared and of course eaten (special menus in local trattoria are popular at these kinds of events, and you’ll generally pay around 10-15 euros for a taste sensation worth boasting about when you get home – this will be your dine-out story for years to come…).
Whether it’s gnocchi in Caserta, apricots in Sant’anastasia (Naples), ham and figs in Castel San Girogio (Salemo), porcini mushrooms in Avellino or mozzarella at the Fiordilatte Fiordifesta in Agerola (Campania) there is an endless bounty of delicious food throughout Italy and no shortage of energy to enjoy it. When in Rome…or indeed any other part of Italy – it’s really best to do as the locals do and just join in…
About The Author: Norman Peires is a South African by birth and a global traveller by nature. The former owner of a luxury travel company, he now lives in the UK and France and spends his time exploring new destinations and revisiting old favourites, blogging about them as he travels. A keen surfer and skiier, he is always interested in finding the next mountain or wave to scale. You can read more of his work at www.normanpeires.com, or tweet him at @NormanPeires….
Culinary Travel, Featured, Florence Travel Tips, Food and Wine, Italy Travel Tips, Rome Travel Tips, Taste of our Travels
Guide To The Grand Festivals of Sri Lanka
Great Wolf Lodge Massachusetts – Hype vs Reality Trip Report
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400783
|
__label__wiki
| 0.55688
| 0.55688
|
Download WinPcap Get WinPcap
WinPcap, though still available for download (v4.1.3), has not seen an upgrade in many years and there are no road map/future plans to update the technology. While community support may persist, technical oversight by Riverbed staff, responses to questions posed by Riverbed resources, and bug reporting are no longer available.
Gordon Lyon, Nmap project founder, has created Npcap, a packet capture library for Windows, that includes WinPcap compatibility and may be a suitable replacement for WinPcap and WinPcap Pro. Information can be found at https://nmap.org/npcap/.
Introduction to WinPcap
For many years, WinPcap has been recognized as the industry-standard tool for link-layer network access in Windows environments, allowing applications to capture and transmit network packets bypassing the protocol stack, and including kernel-level packet filtering, a network statistics engine and support for remote packet capture.
WinPcap consists of a driver that extends the operating system to provide low-level network access and a library that is used to easily access low-level network layers. This library also contains the Windows version of the well-known libpcap Unix API.
Thanks to its set of features, WinPcap has been the packet capture and filtering engine for many open source and commercial network tools, including protocol analyzers, network monitors, network intrusion detection systems, sniffers, traffic generators and network testers. Some of these networking tools, like Wireshark, Nmap, Snort, and ntop are known and used throughout the networking community.
Winpcap.org is also the home of WinDump, the Windows version of the popular tcpdump tool. WinDump can be used to watch, diagnose and save to disk network traffic according to various complex rules.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400788
|
__label__wiki
| 0.783151
| 0.783151
|
WinPcap Documentation
The WinPcap manual and tutorial: inside this manual you will find the documentation of the WinPcap API, a tutorial that will explain how to use the WinPcap functions with several samples, the instructions to compile WinPcap and the applications that use it, a complete description of the internals of WinPcap with links to the source code.
The WinPcap manual and tutorial for WinPcap 4.1.2 (an offline version can be found in the developer's pack)
The Chinese version of the WinPcap 4.0.1 manual: http://www.ferrisxu.com/WinPcap/
The Japanese version of the WinPcap 3.0 manual: http://dog.tele.jp/winpcap/html/index.html
Further Documentation
Loris Degioanni, Mario Baldi, Fulvio Risso and Gianluca Varenni, Profiling and Optimization of Software-Based Network-Analysis Applications, Proceedings of the 15th IEEE Symposium on Computer Architecture and High Performance Computing (SBAC-PAD 2003), Sao Paulo, Brazil, November 2003
Fulvio Risso, Loris Degioanni, An Architecture for High Performance Network Analysis, Proceedings of the 6th IEEE Symposium on Computers and Communications (ISCC 2001), Hammamet, Tunisia, July 2001
(First chapter in Italian) Loris Degioanni, Development of an Architecture for Packet Capture and Network Traffic Analysis, Graduation Thesis, Politecnico Di Torino (Turin, Italy, Mar. 2000)
(First chapter in Italian) Gianluca Varenni, An Architecture For Unified Packet Filtering, Graduation Thesis, Politecnico Di Torino (Turin, Italy, Nov. 2001)
(in Italian) Loris Degioanni, Mario Baldi, Fulvio Risso and Gianluca Varenni, WinPcap: una libreria open source per l'analisi di rete, AICA 2003 Annual Congress, Trento, Italy, September 2003
Fiach Reid, Network Programming in .NET
[1] S. McCanne and V. Jacobson, The BSD Packet Filter: A New Architecture for User-level Packet Capture. Proceedings of the 1993 Winter USENIX Technical Conference (San Diego, CA, Jan. 1993), USENIX.
[3] Gary R. Wright, W. Richard Stevens, TCP-IP illustrated Volume 2, chapter 31. Addison-Wesley professional computing series.
[4]Microsoft Software Development Kit and Driver Development Kit Examples, Microsoft Corporation.
[5] Lew Perin, Bugs in the NT DDK Packet Protocol Driver Sample, Internet page. Available at http://www.panix.com/~perin/packetbugs.html
[6] Simpson, W., Editor, The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), RFC 1548, Daydreamer, December 1993.
[7] Microsoft Corporation, 3Com Corporation, NDIS, Network Driver Interface Specification, May 1988
[8] Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT and Windows 2000 Driver Development Kit documentation, Microsoft Corporation.
[9] Peter G. Viscarola, W. Anthony Mason, Windows NT Device Driver Development, Macmillan Technical publishing.
[10] Microsoft MSDN Library, Microsoft Corporation, August 1999.
[11] Ricardo Thompson ([email protected]), 1997
[12] A. Begel, S. McCanne, S.L.Graham, BPF+: Exploiting Global Data-flow Optimization in a Generalized Packet Filter Architecture, Proceedings of ACM SIGCOMM '99, pages 123-134, Conference on Applications, technologies, architectures, and protocols for computer communications, August 30 - September 3, 1999, Cambridge, USA.
[13] M. Yuhara, B. Bershad, C. Maeda, J.E.B. Moss. Efficient packet demultiplexing for multiple endpoints and large messages. In Proceedings of the 1994 Winter USENIX Technical Conference, pages 153-165, San Francisco, CA, January 1994.
[14] Marcus J. Ranum, Kent Landfield, Mike Stolarchuk, Mark Sienkiewicz, Andrew Lambeth, and Eric Wall (Network Flight Recorder, Inc.) Implementing a Generalized Tool for Network Monitoring (LISA'97 "Best Paper" Award), Eleventh Systems Administration Conference (LISA '97), San Diego, CA, October 26-31, 1997
[15] Dawson R. Engler, and M. Frans Kaashoek, DPF: fast, flexible packet demultiplexing, in Proceedings of ACM Communication Architectures, Protocols, and Applications (SIGCOMM '96).
Last modified: Friday, July 2, 2010 10:02
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0123.json.gz/line1400789
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.