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Sherel Purcell: Montréal Local Expert
Take the train from NYC and Toronto then rent the city bikes found at stations all over the city.
More About Sherel
Explore Montréal
Montréal Travel Guide
USA TODAY 10Best
10Best Itinerary: Enjoy a Kid-Friendly Day in Montreal
If you're traveling with your kids, you'll want to check out these activities
February 29, 2012 // By Shelagh McNally
By Shelagh McNally
Your kids are guaranteed to have a blast while visiting this kid-friendly city. Rain or shine, there are plenty of activities to thrill the children, including some very fun museums where you can learn more about the natural world and ecosystems in the area. Visit the fun penguins at the Biodôme de Montréal or weird, wonderful bugs at the Insectarium.
Ride roller coasters at the Six Flags La Ronde park, watch fireworks in Old Montreal, or take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage. You can even get some hands-on lessons about science and conduct experiments at the Centre des Sciences. You'll find it a challenge to pack everything into one day, so start off picking your kid's favorite activities and go from there.
[PHOTO_136732]
The east end of the city has three kid-friendly attractions. Save a bundle when you buy a Nature Pass that gets you into all three for one price. Start off visiting the colorful bugs and creepy crawlies at the Insectarium. There's naturalized insects from around the globe that you can watch in action, stunning photos, and interactive exhibitions.
Next door is the Botanical Gardens with its colorful plants and displays. Adjacent to the Botanical Garden is Parc Maisonneuve, a large green space with plenty of room for a picnic, a pleasant walk, or cross-country-skiing and snowshoeing during winter.
[PHOTO_136737] Across the street is the Biodôme de Montréal, essentially an indoor zoo with interactive info-terminals and showcase replicas of four ecosystems: the Laurentian Forest (a representation of the North American wilderness), the Tropical Forest, the Saint Lawrence Marine ecosystem and Polar World. The playful penguins are sure to please.
[PHOTO_136735] Take a step back in time by visiting Vieux Montréal. The kids will enjoy taking a Calèche (horse-drawn carriage) tour through the cobblestone streets. There's also an Old Montreal Ghost Walking Tour – an old-fashioned ghost hunt through the streets.
You could also visit the original settlement and archaeological dig in the deep basement at Pointe-à-Callière museum. A few blocks away, there is a fun and entertaining Centre des Sciences with interactive displays and exhibits, and be sure to check what's playing at the IMAX theatre. Those who enjoy history will want to learn about life in the 1700s at Château Ramezay Museum. Housed in a building constructed in 1705, it's one of the oldest buidlings in North America.
Fireworks over the Jacques Cartier bridge — Photo courtesy of Tourisme Montreal If you're looking for some thrills, take the subway over to La Ronde Six Flags in Jean Drapeau Park. There's plenty of rides ranging from massive coasters to the tamest of teacups. Goliath is the newest coaster, standing 175 feet at its highest, with an initial drop of 171 feet. There are eight other coasters as well (standing, steel, wooden, suspended, looping – you name it), each with its own thrills.
Also in the park is the Biosphère, one of the largest geodesic domes in the world; its interactive exhibition displays the ecosystems of the Great Lakes and Saint-Lawrence River regions. The Discovery Hall houses a 16-foot globe that details the importance of water to the world's ecosystems. Stay until dark and enjoy fireworks over the Jacques Cartier Bridge during the International des Feux Loto-Quebec fireworks competition.
Fun at Beaver Lake — Photo courtesy of Tourisme Montreal Parc Mont Royal is a 165-acre playground for locals and visitors. In summer, picnickers come to laze around Lac des Castors (Beaver Lake), or enjoy a snack at the Chalet du Mont-Royal and take in the view. In the winter, cross-country skiers and snow-shoers fill the many trails laid out for them. Hit the hills with toboggans for some fast-paced fun.
Find Authentic Art Objects at L'Art des Artisans du Québec
About Shelagh McNally
Freelance travel writer and editor, Shelagh McNally has been a world traveler since her teens. After 20 years in Toronto, she left her job as Communications Officer for a major bank and moved to Puerto Morelos, Mexico where she helped establish the Miami Herald’s satellite office in Cancun. She went on to contribute to 12 editions of Fodor’s travel guides as well as writing a book about Mayan ruins. She is also the author of the Adventure Guide to Guatemala and the Pocket Guide to Guatemala. She now divides her time between Mexico and her adopted hometown of Montreal, Quebec. She continues to write about Latin America but also about her favorite locations in Canada for a number of international and North American online and print publications.
Read more about Shelagh McNally here.
Connect with Shelagh via: Blog | Twitter
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Last edited by Faegrel
Saturday, May 16, 2020 | History
5 edition of Strange orbit found in the catalog.
Strange orbit
by Simpson, Margaret
Published 1995 by State University of New York Press in Albany .
Space and time -- Fiction.,
Space flight -- Fiction.,
Conduct of life -- Fiction.,
Fourteen-year-old Jessica is chosen to go the moon on the International Youth Space Trip, but the spaceship inexplicably misses its destination and sends the crew on a mysterious voyage through space, time, and the mind itself, transforming them all in the process.
Statement Margaret Simpson.
LC Classifications PZ7.S607 St 1995
Pagination viii, 221 p. ;
ISBN 10 0791426297, 0791426300
A novella set in the hard-scrabble world of James S. A. Corey's NYT-bestselling Expanse series, Strange Dogs follows a family of colonists on Laconia where a new generation of humanity struggles with the profound changes that come with making a home on an alien world. Now a Prime Original series. Like many before them, Cara and her family ventured through /5(51). New Orbit Magazine. likes. "A collection of uncomfortable little futures." Collections of short stories themed around thoughts, concerns and insecurities about our futures.1/5.
Published on "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life." - C-3PO. Get YOUR very own copy of Troll by Emma Clark today! (Does not come with my incredulous notes in the. ASTRONOMERS are confused by the recent discovery of a mystery object orbiting around the sun backwards. Located in the outer solar system past Neptune, the object was spotted by the Pan-STARRS telescope and has been moving in an opposite direction to the rest of the planets.
An orbit is a regular, repeating path that one object takes around another object or center of ng objects, which are called satellites, include planets, moons, asteroids, and manmade devices. Objects orbit each other because of gravity. Gravity is the force that exists between any two objects with object, from the smallest subatomic particle to the . A Strange and Beautiful Book About a Mother Who Disappeared. By Cynthia Zari n. The novel is a strange and beautiful book, about a mother who disappeared, when her daughter was.
Islands of Maine
One rode alone
Adrienne Gimmick 1 Espanol (Cloth)
Practical treatise on gearing.
In the wake of the hurricane
Interoperability in digital public services and administration
Tante Marie book of French cooking
Sunday book of readings adapted for children.
Basic Ultrasonics.
The Poems of Emily Dickinson Volume II
The rugrats joke book
Love Is a Story
Gala-Days
social dimensions of a philosophy of education.
Strange orbit by Simpson, Margaret Download PDF EPUB FB2
STRANGE PRACTICE is the first in a contemporary fantasy series introducing the fast-talking Greta Helsing, doctor to London's supernatural community. The first book in a contemporary fantasy series that introduces the fast-talking Greta Helsing, doctor to London’s supernatural community.
This website is maintained by Orbit, an imprint. item 5 Strange Orbit (Point Science Fiction S.) by Simpson, Margaret Paperback Book The - Strange Orbit (Point Science Fiction S.) by Simpson, Margaret Paperback Book The. $ Free shipping. No ratings or reviews yet.
Be the first to write. Winner of the Earthworm Award, this book features six Strange orbit book selected astronauts who are about to travel to the moon aboard the spaceship Adventurer. Shortly after takeoff, Adventurer enters a strange orbit, and nothing can prepare the crew for what they are about to encounter.
Check out Strange Cargo 3 by William Orbit on Amazon Music. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on (32). Strange Orbit Paperback – Septem by Margaret Simpson (Author) › Visit Amazon's Margaret Simpson Page.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author. Are you an author. Learn about Author 5/5(1). In Strange Orbits by Ramon Somoza is the first book in a series, a sci-fi that will enthrall children and inspire adults.
At the age of ten, Tanit is gifted with an unusual intelligence and is a specialist in astrobiology. Thanks to her intelligence, she is sent on a mission fifty light years from Earth.
She has hopes of uniting with her mother in the new colony, but she doesn’t. The strange thing was that unlike the Sputnik one and two, The Black Knight Satellite orbited Earth from East to West.
Sputnik one and two orbited West to East using Earth’s natural rotation to maintain orbit. According to research the first Polar orbiting satellite was launched in The Orbit Magazine Anthology. K likes. Your information source for the book on the "Orbit, Fun & White Noise" universe of magazines!Followers: K.
"Strange Practice is written with elegance, wit, and compassion. The prose is gorgeous, the wit is mordant, and the ideas are provocative. Also, there are ghouls."— Laura Amy Schlitz, Newbery Medal winner "A satisfying and surprising read, with rich imagery, nuance, and real compassion for its characters—give Strange Practice a shot!"—/5(14).
Dark Orbit book. Read reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Reports of a strange, new habitable planet have reached the Twenty Plan /5. About the Author. Marlene Perez is the author of paranormal and urban fantasy books,including the best-selling DEAD IS series for teens.
The first book in the series, Dead is the New Black, was named an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers as well as an ALA Popular Paperback. Dead is Just a Rumor was on VOYA’s Best Science Fiction, Horror, &.
It might be a quite strong story at times, it is a book for children, and sometimes quite strong stuff happens It is quite confusing trying to navigate this in the amazon store. Apart from that it is a really nice story, with supergenious little girl finding herself stranded in the other end of the galaxy with a broken ship/5.
Strange Practice Vivian Shaw. Orbit, $ trade paper (p) ISBN More By and About This Author New Coronavirus Updates for the Book Biz. About Us. William Orbit (born William Mark Wainwright; 15 December ) is an English musician, composer and record producer who has sold million recordings worldwide of his own work, his production and songwriting work.
He is a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, Ivor Novello Awards and other music industry : Shoreditch, Hackney, London, England. ‘Carey writes with compassion and fire – strange and surprising and humane Orbit is an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group Ltd and the data controller is Little, Brown Book Group Ltd.
You can unsubscribe from the Orbit newsletter at any time via the link in any email we send you. Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw. Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars. Genre: Urban Fantasy.
Series: Book 1. Publisher: Orbit (J ) Length: pages. Author Information: Website | Twitter. Admittedly, I was both excited and a little nervous about starting Strange Practice because of the mixed reviews, but as it turned out, I ended up.
Read online Strange Orbit. Publisher: Hippo Pages: ISBN: ISBN Publication Date: Janu Format: PDF, Audiobook, Epub /5(20). UFO hunters have spotted a curious object near the sun in a new NASA image. It is, in the words of a blogger for the website Gather, "what looks like a metallic, jointed spaceship with a gigantic.
The ending may leave you wanting more, but even on its own, Dark Orbit remains thought-provoking days later.” —RT Book Reviews Top Pick, 4 ½ stars “Gilman has created a breathtakingly strange new world, and she's populated it with vivid, compelling : Tom Doherty Associates.
Published by Orbit. Published on J Published on J Buy the Book Buy the Book Strange Dogs. This novella follows a family of colonists on Laconia where a new brand of human tries to create a home for themselves far from their mother planet, Earth.
Like many before them, Cara and her family ventured through the gates as.Objects beyond the L1 point are controlled by the Sun. "When JE3 came close to the L1 point in Aprilthe object passed throuhgh Llike a portal--from a Sun-orbit to an Earth-orbit.
At some time in the future it might leave Earth-orbit in the same way, back out through the L1 point.".Orbit has described the album as "far from his best" and has suggested that listeners save their money for something else, unless they are "collecto-maniacs".
Orbit was out of print since the late-eighties, but was re-released without Orbit's permission in digital form by IRS to coincide with the artist's latest release, 's My Oracle Lives Label: I.R.S. Records.
esteindesign.xyz - Strange orbit book © 2020
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All Ireland Final
Community Diary
Old Mayo
Call for Mayo General to be taken out of maternity review
By Frances Toner Mayo Advertiser, Fri, May 16, 2014
Fears about the future of the maternity unit at Mayo General Hospital continued to grow as new details emerged this week about the confidential draft review of services that is under way at hospitals in the west and northwest.
The report sets out six options for “services reconfiguration”, including the downgrading or closure of maternity services at Mayo General Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, Letterkenny General Hospital, and Sligo General Hospital.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland yesterday (Thursday ), Tony Canavan, chief operating officer of the West/North West Hospitals Group, could not confirm there would be no closure of maternity services at the hospitals under review.
However Mr Canavan said the document is the very beginning of a consultation process. “No decisions have been made in relation to the reconfiguration or the downgrading of any facilities,” he said.
“We owe it to the patients that we look after, we owe it to people of the west of Ireland, that we would review all of our services, including our maternity services. It’s not good enough to just assume that what we are doing currently is the best that we can do for our patients. We should review and we need to look at our services in that context.
“The option of closing units is not the only option that is proposed in the document.”
The report in question, commissioned by the HSE, states that “significant changes” are required within maternity services at the hospitals under review.
It points out that most units fall below the recommended number of 2,500 births a year needed to maintain a cost-effective and sustainable service.
Mayo General Hospital recorded 1,699 births last year and 1,788 births in 2012.
The report also points to staffing shortages in terms of midwives and obstetricians.
In a statement issued to media on Wednesday, Bill Maher, group chief executive of the West/North West Hospitals Group, said the review of maternity services followed on from, among other things, the HIQA report published in October 2013, after the death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway.
“It is in this context that a review of the existing models of maternity services care is being conducted across the West/North West Hospitals Group.”
He stressed that no services reconfiguration options have been recommended or approved by the board of the hospital group or by senior management yet.
“Feasibility studies have not even been carried out and, as stated previously, speculation at this early stage in the process is unhelpful and upsetting for patients and staff.”
Fianna Fáil’s Seanad spokesperson on Health, Senator Marc Mac Sharry, accused the Government of carrying out the review “under the radar”.
“This report clearly outlines six options, each of which includes the closure of consultant obstetrician-led maternity services at certain regional hospitals. The maternity units at four of the five hospitals in the group are under threat: Portiuncula, Castlebar, Sligo, and Letterkenny It means that all but University Hospital Galway risks a downgrading of its maternity services,” he said.
“People are upset not because a secret report was exposed, but because of the threat to vital frontline health services in the region. I firmly believe that the public has a right to know about the major changes that are being considered, particularly given the profound and wide-reaching implications. If I had not released the report, this plan would have continued under the radar and would have been announced as a fait accompli after the election, regardless of the views of staff and patients.”
Councillor Harry Barrett is calling for Mayo General Hospital to be taken out of the review altogether.
He said the solution lies in lifting the recruitment embargo in place in the HSE and hiring more obstetricians and midwives for the maternity units to bring staffing ratios up to recommended norms.
“This decision will ultimately be made by the Minister for Health, and it now falls on An Taoiseach to intervene here to make the strongest possible representation for the people of Co Mayo to rule Mayo out of any ministerial decision that would see us losing the maternity unit, or having it downgraded,” said Cllr Barrett.
Ireland councillor Mayo General Hospital Mayo General Hospital Mayo General consultant Taoiseach spokesperson Minister Bill Maher West/North West Hospitals Group Tony Canavan chief operating officer Seanad RT University Hospital Galway Harry Barrett maternity services Obstetrics Midwifery Letterkenny General Hospital Letterkenny General Hospital Savita Halappanavar Cllr Barrett Sligo General Hospital Sligo General Hospital hospital group chief executive frontline health services Marc Mac Sharry
Optimism returns to motor industry
Tiger kidnapping tale set in Claremorris
New figures for housing rents and sales released this week
Man’s car seized while driving pregnant wife to hospital for birth
Proposal to develop Lough Conn as premier water tourism centre
Fracking issue raised in east Mayo
Belmullet gets €6 million for sewerage scheme
Excitement building ahead of Féile na Tuaithe next weekend
Mayo’s lucky National Lottery run continues
Major work begins on Rossport water scheme
Ruane wants action on patient being ‘led up the garden path’ over hip operations
Cannabis growing fine for Ballina man
Sod to be turned on National Outdoor Pursuits Academy
Short stay beds in Ballina to be opened to help deal with overcrowding in Mayo General
Overcrowding drops off sharply at Mayo General
Castlebar Hospice facility planning application to proceed
Chronic shortage of beds for cancer patients is inhumane – Conway-Walsh
Tweets by @MayoAdvert
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❌SOLD❌ Pre War Martin D28 Dreadnought Guitar, 1941
Brand: Martin
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD
The term ‘Holy Grail’ has been taken to mean a number of things deviating from its medieval origin, but in the guitar world, it’s often this – the pre war Martin D28.
These instruments are rare, special, and are emulated by many builders, including C F Martin itself.
A bit about the term “Pre War” – this is taken to mean the date of the US entry into WW2 on December 7 1941, but can be extended into 1942 when wartime shortages forced changes in materials use. One visible example is the use of Herringbone edging. Martin used this as standard, but they had been sourcing that from Germany, and when they ran out, could not possibly resupply.
This pre war Martin D28 dates to approximately June 1941 based on its serial number and production totals, and is in good playing condition with – to understate- a very good sound, rich, full, and large amounts of projection. It has had an amount of work done to it over the years, described below.
As standard for the pre war Martin D28, the body is a dreadnought with Adirondack Spruce top and bracing, Brazilian Rosewood for the sides, back, and head plate, Mahogany for the body blocks, lining and neck, and Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge.
Originally, it was fitted with Grover Sta-Tite tuners and these have been replaced with drop-in Waverly models; the Grovers are included in the case. The bridge is also a replacement made and fitted by Sim Daley in Nashville.
What appears to be the original hard shell case is included.
Text From Gruhn Guitars May 1, 2008 Appraisal Of This Pre-War Martin D28:
“I have personally examined this instrument. The guitar described below is, in our opinion, a Martin style D-28 made in the year 1941.
Serial number 78315. This guitar shows significant playing wear. A large non-original pickguard has been removed and considerable finish touchup work has been done on top, but the guard presently on the guitar appears to be the correct original style. The bridge appears to be original, but it has a replacement saddle. The frets have been dressed and the fingerboard shows filled wear. A crack on a treble side bout has been re-glued but not properly aligned. A strap button has been installed on the heel of the neck. Wood has been added to the top of the original bridge plate. There is finish touch up over belt buckle wear on the back of the body. In other respects it conforms to the typical specifications of the model for the period in which it was made with dreadnought body size, Adirondack Spruce top with herringbone edge trim and low X scalloped bracing, ebony fingerboard with slotted diamond inlays, Brazilian Rosewood back, sides and peghead veneer, zigzag back stripe, and nickel plated Grover tuners. This is an exceptionally fine sounding instrument as well as a model which is greatly sought after by collectors as well as musicians. “
And from a August 1 2009 handwritten update by George Gruhn:
“I have inspected the guitar today. It has been set up with a new bridge by Sim Daley. The value remains unchanged”.
**Note this instrument is priced in USD: $50,000.00 .
Class: Vintage
Serial Number: 78315 , June 1941
This instrument has been sold
Required CITES documentation
Including original Hard case
Nut Width: 43mm 1.69in
Martin Website
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Lourdes (St. Bernadette)
Day-by-Day Itinerary
This four (4) day Catholic Pilgrimage to Lourdes visits one of the most sacred sites in the world where Apparitions of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, occurred. Lourdes is a special place of grace visited by millions each year where Pilgrims attend Mass, go to Confession, and Pray the Rosary in nightly candlelight processions. Get acquainted with the life of Saint Bernadette in the very places where she lived and prayed. In 1858, St. Bernadette witnessed eighteen apparitions of Our Lady who revealed herself as the “Immaculate Conception”. In one of these miracles, Our Lady asked Bernadette to drink from the spring as an act of penance which resulted in the spring’s muddy water turning clear. Since then, Pilgrims have been visiting the beautiful Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes seeking healing and conversion from the Lourdes baths. Almost every part of the Shrine is accessible by wheelchair; six million pilgrims visit this holy place of healing each year!
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3 Nights: Hotel Moderne or Chapelle et Parc, Lourdes
Transfers as per itinerary
Breakfast and Dinner daily
Wine with dinners
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Providing you coverage for both pre-existing conditions and those that may arise during your trip, including medical and dental emergencies, loss of luggage, trip delay, and so much more.
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- Get 100% of Your Trip Cost Back
What is the Cost of “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage: $299
- The ability to cancel your trip for any reason and to get your trip cost refunded.
- How much refund will I get - 100% of your trip cost (others are giving only 50 - 75%)
- Can I cancel my trip any time? – You can cancel up until 48 hours prior to your departure.
- Can I buy it at any time? - You can buy it within 2 weeks of your confirmed reservation, if booking is made up until 60 days prior.
- Will “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage work if I cancel due to Coronavirus, Act of God – Yes.
How Does “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage Work? - To get “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage you’ll have to purchase a base travel insurance plan www.206tours.com/insurance/insurance and add “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage within 14 days (2 weeks) of your first tour confirmation otherwise premium maybe higher or you will not be able to purchase it. Excluded are these 3 states -New York, Missouri and Minnesota -you do not have to purchase basic/ regular travel insurance (which we highly recommend).
You will be able to get all your money back, if you cancel your trip for any reason that’s not already (a reason) covered by your policy, example if you are sick, or a member of your family is sick, you will make a claim through the regular travel insurance, who will refund you.
Day 1, Depart for Lourdes
Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.
Day 2, Arrive Lourdes
Upon arriving at Pau or Toulouse airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival's hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Embark on scenic drive to Lourdes. Check-in to your hotel, and then relax or explore before dinner. Following dinner, you will have free time to pray the Rosary and to attend the candlelight procession. (April-October only). These processions are lit by candlelight and guided by the Most Holy Rosary. Following this prayerful experience, you will return to your hotel for an overnight.
Day 3 & 4, Lourdes
Over the next two days, you will stay in a small town, nestled within the Pyrenees Mountains. During your time in Lourdes, you will pray and meditate in a site of Our Lady's apparitions. Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858, and announced herself as "The Immaculate Conception", near the Grotto of Massabielle. During the first two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady and left without any exchange of words. During the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized God's love for us, penance and the necessity of performing acts of penance for sinners. Throughout your time in Lourdes, you will have the opportunity to attend Mass at the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette; watch a video presentation that explains in detail, the story of Lourdes; drink water from the miraculous spring that has healed many and submerge yourself in the healing baths. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to experience Christ's unconditional love, as you meditate upon the "life size" Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. Also in Lourdes, you will walk in and meditate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. Your group will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the "Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette's impoverished family lived. Each evening following dinner, you will have an opportunity to attend the candlelight procession and the Rosary, before a restful overnight.
Day 5, Return Home
After an early breakfast, your group will leave by motor coach and transfer to the Toulouse or Pau airport for return flights home.
*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.
Special Clergy Discount
A Clergy Discount is available to all members of “Clergy” within the Catholic Church. This includes Seminarians, Deacons, Brothers and Sisters, Priests, Monsignors, Bishops, Cardinals, and His Holiness.
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Home»Games & Sports In India»Street Games Of India: Common Games Played on Streets
Street Games Of India: Common Games Played on Streets
Kids4Fun May 22, 2019 Games & Sports In India Leave a comment 1,975 Views
Street Games Of India: Kokli Chipaki
Kokli Chipaki: Illustration by Amarjeet Malik
Hi! Friends, I am back with a new game ‘Kokla Chappakki’.
Kokla Chappakki is also an outdoor game, but you can play it in your house if you have enough open space to run around and only if your parents allow you to play inside. Lets play the game.
The best thing of this game is that you can have as many members as you wish to take, minimum requirement of the game is six, out of which one will be the Danner. The playing members will sit in a circle closing their eyes and singing a song. The song is rhythmic though it does not have some sensible meaning:
‘Kokla Chipaki jumae raat aae je,
Jedha aage peeche vekhe udhi Shamat aae je’
This song have a English version also:
‘I wrote a letter to my father,
on the way I lost it,
Someone came and picked it up and put it in his pocket’
The players sing this song 3-4 times and within this period the Danner leaves his scarf or Handkerchief at the back of the sitting player. After finishing the song everybody open their eyes and look for the scarf or Handkerchief at their back. Whom so ever finds it runs after the Danner to catch him/her. The Danner runs around the circle and to save himself from another turn takes the seat of the player with the scarf, the new Danner. If the Danner is not able to capture the seat of the person with scarf and is caught be him (the player with scarf), it is his turn again.
The game turns up more interesting when the players play it in a faster pace and involve everybody by dropping the scarf every time behind the new player. More players more you enjoy, best part of the game is when you sing and expect the Danner to drop the Scarf behind you.
This game can be enjoyed by both elders and kids. It can become a good party game. You can even play it with some music played on your Tape Recorder, if you don’t remember the Kokla Chappakki song.
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A Cape Buffalo Cow Hunting Story
Thread starter Brian
This story is published in the current issue of The African Hunting Gazette.
South Africa: Year 2016
NEVER MIND THE BULL
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male. Kipling, 1911
By Brian Gallup
I was standing on the target range at Buffalo Land Safaris in the beautiful lowveld, near Kruger Park. My rifle was a .577 NE single shot that I recently built from an old 10 ga. shotgun. The bullets were my own 700-grain hard-cast solids. This was going to be an interesting Cape buffalo hunt.
I had just met my two young professional hunters and I liked them. Kobus was stalky with broad shoulders and huge hands. He was pleasant and looked right at me when he spoke. He proved to be a serious hunter, but he could still laugh about things. Louis was lean and handsome, with a long white scar in his left eyebrow and a natural, wry grin. The grip of a stainless Colt 1911 showed out of an old leather holster on his hip. These guys were the real deal.
Jock was our cameraman, and turned out to be a savvy bushman as well as an excellent videographer.
I must have been nervous because I was talking a lot as we hung a fresh target on a backstop in front of an old termite mound. Louis walked back to the shooting bench, assuming that I would shoot from there, but I stopped at 40 paces and sheepishly opened the shooting sticks that I had brought from Canada.
Nobody said much while the tracker, known as Lieutenant, politely took over the sticks. He was a bright young man, full of life, and he loved setting up those new Vanguard shooting sticks.
Jock placed his camera tripod about five paces to my left, while Lieutenant stood at his official post on the right side of the shooting sticks. Kobus and Louis stood behind me and waited for me to stop talking and shoot.
The sun was going to set directly behind the target in about half an hour. I dropped a .577 cartridge into the chamber and closed the barrel. But when I looked at the target through the scope, all I could see was glaring red sunlight.
“Can’t see a thing!” I said. Kobus came over and stood beside the muzzle to block the sun.
I looked through the scope again, and could just make out the bull’s eye well enough to shoot.
“How’s that?” asked Kobus.
Then I realized that there were three men with no hearing protection, standing around the muzzle of my Nitro Express rifle.
“This thing has a real loud...,” I started saying, but didn’t finish. It occurred to me that I was about to tell a seasoned PH that a .577 NE was noisy.
I cocked the hammer, took a breath and squeezed the trigger until it fired. With the recoil and the muzzle blast of 116 grains of slow-burning N550 powder, I didn’t see much at first, just Jock and Lieutenant hopping around holding their ears, and a great cloud of dust rising from the termite mound.
“Bull’s eye!” Louis shouted from behind me. I was relieved.
“It works!” I chuckled to myself.
It was eight the next morning when we left the Land Cruiser and walked another 500 metres further to the east bank of the Klaserie River. Louis said the water was so low with the drought that four resident crocodiles had just disappeared, but the trees along the riparian zone of the river were still green, and the low morning sun shone brightly through them. It was a beautiful place.
During the Great Trek, this was a traditional hunting area for the Voortrekkers. They would have been carrying single-shot big bores and may have faced the last of the legendary Cape Lions right here. Some folks believe that not all the Cape Lions were killed off by the pioneers in the 1850s as reported in the history books. Oral history holds that a few of these magnificent beasts, with their jet-black manes, came north as far as the Klaserie River area and lived here in relative peace for at least another century.
The last remaining specimen was an old male that the locals called “Grootpoot”. He, or his huge footprint, was seen near the Klaserie River area in the early 1980s.
This was good country!
We were looking for old Cape buffalo cows in an area that had become too dry to support them. For over a year the country had been in a bad drought and many animals were dying. I guess we were culling, but we never looked at it that way. I had hunted Cape buffalo bulls before, but never cows. Kobus reminded me to not underestimate cows.
“They can be very protective and aggressive.” he said.
We walked across the river, hardly getting our boots wet. Kobus and Louis gave me the palm-down hand sign to stay low while they glassed across a plain and into the bush on the far side. After a minute they nodded to each other and grinned at me, before leading us straight west across about 300 metres of open flat land that was scattered with a few acacia trees.
There was no grass at all on the dry ground and our boots raised enough dust for us to read the wind. Louis, Kobus and Lieutenant watched the far bush line as we went. I was pretty excited!
It was noisy going when we got into the thick sickle bush trees. This tree is considered an invasive weed and has sharp, five-centimetre, thorns that can puncture a tire. I later learned how Louis got that scar in his eyebrow chasing a poacher through this stuff. (The poacher got a hiding for it, too.)
We worked our way around and under thorn branches for a while. Suddenly, Louis and Lieutenant froze in mid-step. Louis gave Kobus a hand signal, and Kobus handed it off to me, but I didn’t understand it. I just kept close.
Louis and the tracker moved about 30 metres to the north where they disappeared into a trench-like ravine. Kobus quickly followed down the steep bank and then turned to help me slide in. We were now in a dry flood channel almost four metres deep and about six metres wide at the top. We could use it to sneak further west. The bottom of the trench was all loose stones and I tried to be quiet, but through my electric ear muffs I sounded like a gravel crusher.
After about 100 metres we stopped and Louis peered over the edge of the south bank for a moment. He was grinning.
“There is a small herd at about 150 metres. They are slowly moving away,” Louis indicated. “I don’t think they know we‘re here.” Kobus checked the wind and the two whispered something; it took all my strength not to ask a dumb question.
“We will wait for the wind to change,” Kobus whispered.
Louis found an easier place for me to climb out of the trench, and when the wind was right we went over the parapet and into more patches of sickle bush. Kobus thoughtfully pointed out a shallow cow track to show me that the herd was still moving slowly. He often did that kind of thing, and it meant a lot.
In about half an hour we came to a wide open area. On the far side, we saw the buffalo. The herd that we were following must have joined another small herd; they had stopped traveling and were just milling around in the shade.
With a gentle breeze beginning to swirl, getting close would be unlikely, no matter what direction we approached from.
So, with Lieutenant in front, and the breeze in our face, we just started marching straight towards the herd in single file across the open ground. We kept going and the herd kept holding. It was just a matter of luck now. This was my first stalk on Cape buffalo in two years, and every step was a thriller.
At about 80 metres from the herd, Kobus brought me forward to walk with the tracker. I took a couple of deep breaths and it made Louis smile. Finally, at close to 50 metres the cows noticed us, and Lieutenant quickly set up the shooting sticks and held them steady for me.
Two bulls were curious and stepped toward us for another look, but the cows were moving out. My scope was turned down to 3x power, so I could see most of the herd through it.
Quickly, Kobus pointed out a tall, old cow quartering towards me. I cocked the hammer, put the crosshairs on the spot that looked like a straight line to her heart, and squeezed off the shot.
It looked good, but I wasn’t sure. The herd scattered and the old cow hobbled off into the bush, unable to put any weight on her right front leg. Kobus had his .458 Belgium Browning ready. He had to remind me to reload. We waited a couple of minutes. Both Kobus and Louis were looking through their binoculars.
I was getting a little anxious and whispered, “What do you think?”
“She’s down.” Kobus whispered back.
We followed the jagged spoor of the wounded buffalo for about 30 metres, and there she was, under a thorn tree taking her final breath.
I thanked Louis, Kobus and Lieutenant.
Kobus and Lieutenant quietly said, “Good shot sir,” when we shook hands. I appreciated their reserved style; respectful to me and respectful to the animal.
Louis had a smoke lit. He took a drag and said, “Knap gedaan.”
“It’s something we say when someone does a good job. “Knap gedaan,” he repeated. “It’s Afrikaans for ‘well done’.”
At the skinning house the men found my hard-cast .577 bullet. They were quite interested in its size and shape. The nose was just flattened a bit after smashing the cow’s shoulder, going through the bottom of the heart and stopping in a rib on the far side.
“Knap gedaan,” I said to myself.
On the third morning the sky was covered in low grey clouds and it smelt like rain. Beautiful rain! One shower and the land would be transformed.
We drove out past the main camp, waving at the staff and pointing to the sky. They waved their hats back at us.
Kobus and Louis had a new area in mind. We drove slowly northwest from the river into higher bench land until we came to a power line running north and south. It was a good place to stop and glass for buffalo. Jock did some videoing.
Kobus said, “Mr Gallup, I must tell you about this power line.”
He explained that we were standing at one of the few remaining reminders of a very tragic time in Mozambique’s history. In the mid-seventies the Cohora Bassa Power Dam was completed in northern Mozambique. Most of the electricity went to Johannesburg via this very power line which crossed through the northern end of the Kruger National Park.
During the civil war in Mozambique in the eighties, thousands of people became refugees. They would set out on foot to follow this power line to safety and hope of better times.
The tragic story goes that the Kruger Park lions got many of them before they ever got to South Africa. Sometimes rangers would go out and shoot a few lions, but it didn’t make much difference - there were lots of lions and lots of refugees.
“Hard times,” Kobus said.
After a long pause, “Now we shall go find some buffalo.”
We walked northeast from there. I could see the line of green trees along the river in the distance, when we came across some fresh spoor. I only knew it was fresh because Kobus and Louis said so. “Lots of cows,” they said, and we followed the tracks north for about a kilometre. It was good walking. We passed two giraffes browsing in the sweet thorn trees and lots of blue wildebeest looking for grass. They were really thin.
“They look like bicycles.” I whispered to Jock. He wasn’t amused and pointed to vultures feeding on a fresh carcass.
That’s when we saw Louis stop in a crouch beside two thorn bushes. Jock quickly set his big camera on his shoulder and adjusted the viewfinder.
I opened and closed the barrel quietly to make sure there was a round in the chamber. My scope was set at 2x power. I was good to go!
Louis peered around the edge of the thorn bushes, then sank lower before turning to us. No grin this time, just a couple of low hand signals to Kobus and Lieutenant before he pointed to a spot on the ground about two metres beyond the edge of the thorn bush.
Kobus signalled me forward, while Lieutenant took two more steps out into the open and gently set up the sticks. I could see some buffalo now. Louis was whispering into my electronic earmuffs. He was so close it was mostly static.
“There is a small herd right on the other side of these bushes, maybe 30 metres. When you get to the sticks you will see three cows and a young, wild-eyed bull standing in front of that tree.”
He pointed to the top of an acacia tree that we could see over the bush. It looked closer than 30 metres to me!
“Take the big cow in the middle that’s standing sideways. Never mind the bull!”
For some reason I was fiercely calm this time and ready for anything. I did as Louis said. There stood the three cows and the young bull on the edge of a small mixed herd. The bull was close and looking at me with his head up and his eyeballs rolled forward, like they do sometimes before they charge.
I strained to ignore him and put the crosshairs in the right spot on the middle cow as she swung her head and turned half a step towards me. The .577NE bellowed and shoved me back, but I saw everything this time and it was in slow motion!
Her shoulder muscles rippled with the impact of the 700-grain cast bullet at 1,800 fps, and she jerked up her right leg. I didn’t have to ask anyone about this shot. I reloaded as the herd scattered. The mean-looking young bull must have had enough because he was gone. We moved forward without waiting, and found the cow on the ground not far from where I hit her. Kobus asked me to finish her with a spine shot. I was wound up pretty tight, and the .577NE felt more like a .30-06.
In less than half an hour the skinners came roaring up on a two-wheel-drive bakkie. They jumped off both sides of the box as soon as it stopped and went straight over to the buffalo.
Being our second buffalo, their curiosity about the big .577 bullet was gaining momentum. All of them were talking at once as they crowded around the huge bullet hole in the cow’s shoulder. Some of them poked a finger or a thumb in it. I showed them a cartridge. They were fascinated, rolling it over in their fingers for a moment, then looking up at me with a kindred grin.
The rifle was leaning up against a tree, and that was considered out of bounds. So I picked it up, checked it for empty in front of them, and handed it to a big, serious-looking guy they called Africa. They were pretty impressed with the 14 pound single shot. Each man would cradle it reverently for a moment, then pass it to the man beside him. It was the holy grail of smoke-poles, and they were holding it in their hands! Their talking never stopped, except for a good laugh here and there.
I asked Louis if he thought I’d ever see my rifle again. He grinned, but he kept listening to the skinners.
“They’ve named your rifle! Africa did; he gave it a sort of tribal name,” said Louis.
They all went quiet at some signal, and Louis became the official spokesman.
“They named it…Vat Nie Kak Nie,” Louis said with some amazement.
“What does it mean?” I asked.
“Well, it’s a…it’s a sort of compliment - in Afrikaans.” Louis was searching for the words.
“It means, uh…uh…’Doesn’t Take Crap’. Yes: Vat Nie Kak Nie - Doesn’t Take Crap!” he said louder.
All the skinners, who were pretending they didn’t speak English, burst into laughter. Then we all did. What a morning!
It never did rain that day. In fact, it wouldn’t rain for another month, and I wouldn’t be there to see it. I left that amazing place two days later.
It was a wonderful hunt. The country, the animals, the people… everything.
I’m going back to the lowveld as soon as I can.
Retired in BC, Canada, Brian recalls that his first formal hunting trip was with his father in 1958, for pronghorn antelope in southern Alberta, Canada. He and his wife Sandy have lived and hunted in some pretty remote places, including the MacKenzie River Valley in Northern Canada. They now spend more time in South Africa. “We keep going back to hunt and explore. We have booked our next trip with our children and grandchildren.”
Reactions: Doug Hamilton, PARA45, AfricaHunting.com and 3 others
Sounds like a wonderful buffalo hunt to me. Casting your own bullets for buf is a little less common.... Thanks for sharing. Bruce
Reactions: Brian
Dr Ray
Brian said:
Fascinating and entertaining. I have used cast lead bullets I made in 30/06 and 270. The 270 bullets with a fast powder shot lower than the normal ones but same east west.
So I was very interested to read about the cast bullets of 700 gns.
I must congratulate you on your hunt and from my perspective I was particularly interested in the performance of the hard cast bullets. Looks like they did the job. I thought they might have drilled right through though so would like to hear another hunting story on day deer.
Thanks for your kind comments.
The 577 does not have excessive pennetration. The bullets went through both shoulders but always stayed inside the animals. ( I killed three cape buffalo cows on that trip.)
The hardcast bullets did not expand past 600".
I made the rifle out of a H&R 10 gauge shotgun. Weight was 13 lbs. with a 27 inch barrel.
Hi Brian, hope you don't mind me adding this
Reactions: Doug Hamilton, gesch, Bas and 3 others
Courtney Hunting Club, NRA Life Member, SCI Kansas City Chapter
South Africa, KwaZulu Natal, Kalahari, Northwest, Limpopo, Gauteng, APNR Kruger Area. USA Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas
Thank you for sharing this article
Stug, Thanks for posting the video! That really adds to it.
stug said:
Thank you for the video. It is excellent!
Wow! The report, the video...I felt like I was there bruised shoulder and all !
Reactions: gesch and Brian
PeteG
They named it…Vat Nie Kak Nie
Nice report
PeteG, Thanks for your kind words.
I have a photos of the rifle and a recovered bullet on my facebook page. Brian Gallup
PARA45
South Africa, Nicaragua, FL, CA, SD, GA, SC, CO
What a great hunt! Thank for such a wonderful and detail report, enjoyed every bit of it. Please post pictures of your Doesn’t Take Crap rifle.
PARA45, Thank you for your generous comments. There is a video above that shows the rifle. Also there are two photos of the rifle and a recovered bullet on my facebook page. Brian Gallup. I have not learned how to post a photo yet, I sorry to admit.
I watch the video after my post, and realized that it was you and your rifle. Well done sir. I also noticed that you smoke cigars. I am a huge cigar smoker (can't say aficionado), but I do like my cigars. Especially a victory cigar after such a wonderful and successful hunt.
Para45, We are kindred spirits!
Reactions: PARA45
The recent book "The Man-eaters of Eden" is about the lions killing people/refugees in KNP. Good read.
YouTube video of Cape Buffalo Cow Hunt with .577NE Single Shot
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wE ARE pROUD TO ANNOUNCE
Neighbor Network Receives Support from NextFifty Initiative
Castle Rock, Colorado – June 14, 2018 — Neighbor Network is proud to announce that it has been chosen as one of the grant recipients from NextFifty Initiative, a Denver-based nonprofit Foundation dedicated to funding innovative, mission-driven initiatives that improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers. The funded project is the Aging Resource Center, which will be a one-stop center for giving and receiving information and services surrounding aging issues.
We’re all aging. For the first time in the history of humanity, the majority of the world’s population will live beyond age 60. NextFifty Initiative was formed to seek, vet and fund projects, ideas, technology and innovations that enhance the quality of life of the aging community.
“This funding allows our organization to take tangible steps in achieving our mission and provide long-term solutions to the aging communities we serve,” said Karie Erickson, Executive Director of Neighbor Network “NextFifty Initiative’s support and partnership allows us to increase our impact by bringing resources to the rural areas and improving community knowledge about aging.”
“Neighbor Network was selected as one of the grant recipients because we see the potential in its mission to positively impact people in their second 50 years,” said Margaret Franckhauser, president and CEO of NextFifty Initiative. “We offer our congratulations for being selected and look forward to a strong partnership that brings progress and change.”
https://www.next50initiative.org/news/nextfifty-initiative-second-cycle-partners
About Neighbor Network
At Neighbor Network, we ensure that older people have the tools and services to stay independent and age with dignity. As Douglas County’s only nonprofit aging resource center, we provide information on aging issues, links to providers, and connections to resources. Our volunteers and staff offer transportation, companionship, home assistance, and other supportive services that keep quality of life up and cost of living down!
About NextFifty Initiative
NextFifty Initiative is an independent, Colorado-based, nonprofit organization. The organization was formed to create brighter, longer and healthier futures that unlock the potential of communities through an advanced grant making approach. Through this work, communities are positioned to fully benefit from the wisdom and diverse experiences of a thriving aging population. Our approach applies a multitude of lenses in funding high-yield aging solutions that benefit people age 50 and older. NextFifty Initiative focuses on both proactive and responsive grant making designed to support concepts, projects and innovations that will benefit generations for years to come.
Proceed to Homepage
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Home News & Analysis AXA forestry portfolio grows to €130m
AXA forestry portfolio grows to €130m
The firm has been increased its exposure to European timberland through a property in France, having snapped up several Finnish forests from UPM last year.
Clare Pennington
forest scenery around Carnac, a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany, France
AXA Investment Managers has bought the 958-hectare Domaine de Saint Augustin forest in the Allier départment of France for €21.5 million, bringing the value of its 20,500 hectares of timberland to €130 million.
The acquisition will diversify AXA’s forestry portfolio because it is deciduous, which AXA says allows for flexibility in meeting fluctuations in demand for different wood types. About half of AXA’s forestry assets are deciduous and the other half coniferous, with some areas also set aside for leisure-activity related revenues.
The forest is within close distance of a new wood energy plant.
“Following our forestry acquisitions in the Nordics last year on behalf of one of our clients, this transaction is indicative of our strategy to diversify our clients’ European forestry portfolios both geographically and through types of tree, which is an important tool for benefitting from peaks in demand and the provision of steady and secure income returns,” said AXA IM head of forest investment Christophe Lebrun.
The real assets forestry portfolio now consists of 5,500 hectares in Finland and 15,000 in France. AXA bought 3,700 hectares of forest last February in Finland for €11.2 million, bringing its total forestry assets to a value of €100 million. In November it bought a further 1,900 hectares in Finland for €7.7 million in November 2015. Both properties were bought from and continue to be managed by Helsinki-based forestry manager UPM.
AXA IM – Real Asset, based in France, manages €3 billion in alternatives assets, including hotel and healthcare interests.
real assets
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Home The Best
The best phones available at AT&T (January 2021)
Here's where you should be spending your money at AT&T
AT&T is one of the largest wireless network providers in the US, serving nearly 160 million subscribers. And being as big as it is, you’d expect it to offer a generous selection of phones. Indeed it does.
Here, we gather up a handful of the best phones you can purchase at AT&T today. This isn’t a list of the best overall with the top-notch performance. Rather, our list aims to speak to specific users.
The Biggest and Best
If you’re looking for the biggest and most powerful all-around device from AT&T, this is it. With a screen size (6.9-inches) that rivals early tablets, it packs an upgraded S Pen stylus and cutting-edge hardware. Oh, and then there’s a first-of-its-kind 108-megapixel camera, too.
Shop Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G at AT&T
A Flagship for Everyone
Shop Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition
Mid-ranger with Two-Day Battery
You can’t buy a Google Pixel from AT&T right now, but this Motorola phone is about as close as you’ll get. Not only does it have a clean version of Android paired with moderately powerful hardware, but it’s also easy on the eye.
The One 5G ticks all the boxes for us, including a large (6.7-inch) screen, great camera experience (48MP, 8PM ultra-wide, 5MP macro, and 2MP depth), and a 5,000mAh battery that goes well into a second day.
Shop Motorola One 5G at AT&T
Best Folding Phone
Shop Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G at AT&T
Ultimate Productivity
A phone built around business and productivity is far more than just giving it a digital stylus, or so Microsoft thinks. Its first Android-based phone is a a hybrid experience that is essentially a more portable Surface — that also takes calls.
With two 5.6-inch displays that open to form an 8.1-inch screen, this is the sort of device you’d want for IT administration, work and school needs, and even gaming. Packed with all of the MS software you’ve come to appreciate, it’s just about as powerful as today’s flagship phones.
Shop Microsoft Surface Duo at AT&T
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Instagram announces Focus: A new artistic camera format for selfies
Keyan Riddick
Instagram is getting in on the trend of Portrait style photos. You know, the ones where the subject is clear but the background is (artificially) blurred to help them stand out. Many devices were released in 2017 with dual cameras focused on this feature. Instagram has introduced the feature as one of its camera formats, dubbed Focus.
In the Instagram app, once you launch the stories camera, you should see ‘Focus’ as an option next to Superzoom. From there you can either take a photo or video, using either the front or back cameras as the shooter. After that, you should have your portrait-stylized photo or video, and then you can apply the usual filters, stickers, and more to the content.
The company also released a new ‘@mention’ sticker. The sticker helps with visibility for when you add a name to your stories — instead of just adding hard-to-see text. It can be found with the other editable stickers available after taking a photo or video.
Both the Focus format and mention sticker are coming in an update rolling out in the Google Play store. Instagram states that the feature is for ‘select’ Android devices, yet didn’t expand on which ones. I was able to use it on both my Pixel 2 XL and Galaxy S9+. How likely are you to use this new feature in your Stories now?
Why should I buy Instagram followers and likes?
Five reasons why Instagram is considered to be the best mobile phone app
How to stop Instagram from tracking everything you do on your Android device
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Hi, everyone! Welcome to my webpage. I’ve come back from the future to write a contemporary romance.
(Special Forces Veterans ~ Book One) is a romantic thriller, with no cliffhangers and a HEA ending.
The book includes steamy love scenes intended for mature readers.
Order here:
mybook.to/AccidentalLove
Delaney Cole has no interest in love and marriage, at this time. She’s a computer whiz, aiming to become a force in Silicon Valley. To pay the bills, she teaches computer science at the local high school. When a fellow teacher is murdered, Delaney discovers the body and finds herself the focus of a psychopath’s fantasies.
Enter Jake Torrance, Special Forces veteran, now a homicide detective with the Boston PD. Jake’s commitment to his work was a factor in the breakdown of his marriage. The follow-on slugfest divorce was a life lesson he won’t soon forget.
While the murder investigation unfolds, and the killer circles closer, Jake and Delaney dance around their unexpected attraction to each other. The charismatic detective fits the image of Delaney’s fantasy lover to a T, but he’s arrived too early and at the worst possible time.
Jake struggles to stay professional, but Delaney stirs emotions he thought he could no longer feel. He starts to believe she might be his second chance at happiness—if he can keep her alive.
Are you done with the body?” the Medical Examiner asked.
Jake nodded. “Call me when you get the toxicology report.” He stepped back as the ME and his assistants placed the shooting victim in a body bag and wheeled him away.
Pulling off latex gloves, Jake asked Officer Bryant, “Who called it in?”
“The teacher, Delaney Cole.”
“Okay, I’ll speak to her first.”
“She’s over there.” Bryant indicated.
Jake turned and stood for a moment, assessing the witness. He guessed she was in her late twenties. She sat with a stiff spine, hands in her lap, staring straight ahead at the blank wall. There was something riveting about her controlled posture. Reading body language was part of Jake’s job. He judged the teacher to be cool and self-contained in her daily life. He walked over to her. “Good evening, ma’am. I’m Detective Torrance.”
She jumped at the sound of his voice, her gaze going to the gold badge riding on his belt before she looked up. “Yes, hello, Detective.”
Jake stared into a pair of electric blue eyes shot through with flecks of gold. Though she wasn’t conventionally beautiful, her facial features blended into a captivating image.
“When can I wash up?” she asked, drawing his attention down to the dried blood on her hands. She wasn’t wearing a ring on her left hand, he noted.
He refocused, clearing his throat. “Yes, ma’am, we’ll get to that shortly.” He crossed to bring another chair into the hallway, positioning it across from her. He sat and pulled out his pen and notebook. “Right, can you walk me through the incidents again, in the order in which they occurred?”
His witness looked perplexed. Clearly, she didn’t want to have to describe the scene again. She drew a wavering breath like someone about to jump into icy water. Jake watched her face while she recapped events with a strained huskiness in her tone. She hesitated. “There is one more thing. I’m pretty sure I heard the gunshot while I was in my classroom.”
Torrance glanced up sharply. Why hadn’t she mentioned that up front? “Go on.”
“I didn’t know what the sound was at the time. I assumed it was to do with the janitors’ equipment. But now I realize it was gunfire. I’m military.”
His dark brows lifted. “You were in the military?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m a military brat. My dad’s Army. He taught me to shoot along with my older brother. I should’ve recognized the sound of gunshot right away, but it was out of place in the school setting.”
Jake watched her closely as she spoke. Though her overall expressions and manner were convincing, the cop in him argued she was on the scene. She could have done it. Until she could be ruled out as a suspect, she was on the shortlist.
Delaney’s heart was beating way too fast, partly because of the interrogation, and partly because of the big, dark-haired detective asking the questions. His rugged good looks made her think of Western men who lived outdoors. His skin was tanned, and there were faint lines around his eyes as if he were used to squinting into the sun. If Delaney was asked to describe his eyes, she would say they were a tawny gold color, rimmed by dark irises, and outlined by long, black lashes.
Even as a corner of her mind was drooling over his looks, she reminded herself that hot men who turned heads weren’t interested in geeky women like her. If he wasn’t in a relationship, he probably dated the kind of long-legged women you saw in glossy magazines.
“Those are all the questions for now,” he said, “unless you have something you would like to add.”
Delaney shook herself out of her trance, hoping her expression didn’t betray her thoughts. He was studying her with curious intensity in his unusual eyes.
She tried to return his gaze unflinchingly. “Uh, no, I’ve told you all I know. Can I wash now? I have clean clothes in my locker.”
“Not just yet. There’re a couple more things I need to do first. Wait here.”
Delaney’s gaze followed his broad back and the powerful stride of his long legs as he headed to the crime scene area. He returned moments later carrying plastic evidence bags. “Could you hold out your hands, please? We’ll be testing everyone in the building for gunshot residue.”
Delaney glanced up at his handsome face, which gave nothing away. She held out her hands. They trembled a little, showing her body was still in shock.
He swabbed her hands with small squares of material and put them in an evidence bag. “You can shower now.” He handed her a larger bag. “Put your soiled clothes in here.”
When they reached the female facilities, Torrance held up a hand to halt her. “Sergeant Bryant confirmed his men have searched this area, but I’ll doublecheck.” He returned in five minutes and looked down at her shoes. “We’ll need those as well. Do you have others in your locker?”
“Yes, I have sneakers.”
Inside the bathroom, Delaney quickly stripped, showered, and shampooed. She’d forgotten that the cleaning crew would have removed the towels for the evening, so she had to make do with paper ones. She had clean panties in her locker but no bra. She pulled on a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants, then sat on a bench to put on her sneakers.
She came out and handed Torrance the evidence bag, acutely aware that her T-shirt showed the outline of her breasts and nipples. When his gaze dropped briefly to her chest, she wondered if he liked what he saw. Then she was shocked that she was thinking about sex at a time like this.
“This is the last thing.” He held out a small square-shaped device. “I need to fingerprint you. It’s to compare and eliminate,” he added. “We’ll process the whole school tomorrow.”
Again, it was impossible to read his expression, but Delaney knew they would be looking for evidence that might tie her to the murder. It was unnerving, even though she was innocent.
“Okay, here we go.” He moved closer, his long fingers holding hers one by one as he rolled them over the inkless fingerprint pad. He was close enough that she could smell him, the faint scent of woodsy aftershave and clean male sweat. By the time he had finished, his nearness had shortened her breath.
He pulled out his notebook, wrote in it, and snapped it shut. “That does it. Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Cole. If you’re not up to driving home, an officer can escort you.”
She shook her head. “That’s all right. I don’t live far.”
He nodded. “If anything else comes to mind, please call me.” He handed her his card, then surprised her with a flashing smile that upped his appeal from compelling to irresistible.
She turned away, hopelessly intrigued, wishing she could have met him under different circumstances. Then again, falling for a man like him—with so much “it” factor—was asking for trouble. She could be in over her head before she knew it.
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The John Scofield Trio: EnRoute
By DOUG COLLETTE
EnRoute may be one of the most remarkable recordings John Scofield has made during a redoubtable career that includes a stint with Miles Davis, a tenure with Billy Cobham, and projects with the likes of Pat Metheny and Medeski Martin & Wood. The level of inspiration on this live set recorded last December at the Blue Note in New York is usually the result of constant roadwork on the part of players who have been together for years at a time. While Scofield has played before with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart, their tour last fall was the first collaboration among them in a number of years.
And though Scofield is the most prominent name here, the music is the real star because all three members of the trio—including bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart—contribute equally. Any one of the three could've taken marquee billing on this CD as the music teems with ideas coming from all directions right from the start on "Wee. Throughout the disc, you hear an almost telepathic communication between these musicians that allows them to pickup ideas from each other and expand upon them with their respective instruments. To that end, this music, as on "Bag, is just about as pure as jazz can get without going completely free-form. Yet the threesome are wise enough to work with just enough structure to allow them touchstones to work from: hear the patience with which they explore "Alfie, reaffirming the axiom that the ballad is in fact the truest test of the musician's mettle.
It's laudable John Scofield never goes too long in the jamband scene without returning to the traditional forms. No question he's raised his profile by playing to younger audiences in recent years, but, even adapting his approach, he has never sounded trendy, in part because his unique combination of fluid jazz guitar attack married to the angular blues texture of his sound, is just as effective in either genre. For EnRoute , Scofield's sound becomes all the more sinuous, as it's totally free of effects—which in turn reflects the purity of his playing and his love of collaboration. And this dynamic translates directly into his partnership with Swallow and Stewart, because there's a spontaneous sense of joy about their interactions here that is absolutely sublime—this is whey they call it playing music. No worries about a wrong note with these guys and accordingly, not a wrong note to be heard. (Notwithstanding the beauty of editing your performance, of course!)
It's a further tribute to the humility of these three artists that the music takes precedence over billing. In the end, it is the music that triumphs, with the musicians as a means to that end, a process they seem eminently willing to embrace.
Wee; Toogs; Name That Tune; Hammock Soliloquy; Bag; It Is Written; Alfie; Travel John; Over Big Top.
John Scofield: guitar; Steve Swallow: electric bass; Bill Stewart: drums.
Title: EnRoute | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Verve Music Group
About John Scofield
The John Scofield Trio CD/LP/Track Review John Scofield Doug Collette Verve Music Group United States EnRoute
Richard Whiteman
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3 Stocks to Get on Your Watchlist
Sean Williams, The Motley Fool, AOL.com
May 29th 2013 5:30PM
I follow quite a lot of companies, so the usefulness of a watchlist to me cannot be overstated. Without my watchlist, I'd be unable to keep up on my favorite sectors and see what's really moving the market. Even worse, I'd be lost when the time came to choose which stock I'm buying or shorting next.
Today is Watchlist Wednesday, so I'm discussing three companies that have crossed my radar in the past week -- and at what point I may consider taking action on these calls with my own money. Keep in mind that these aren't concrete buy or sell recommendations, nor do I guarantee I'll take action on the companies being discussed. What I can promise is that you can follow my real-life transactions through my profile and that I, like everyone else here at The Motley Fool, will continue to hold the integrity of our disclosure policy in the highest regard.
Normally when I add a company to the Watchlist, I have a purpose behind it -- i.e., I think it's going to make a big move up or down, and I feel confident in the direction of that movement. That is (but isn't) the case with biotechnology company Amarin, which I think is set for a huge move. The direction, however, remains as much of a mystery to me as it does investors.
Yesterday's news that AstraZeneca was purchasing Omthera Pharmaceuticals for up to $443 million (including $120 million in royalty incentives if sales targets are reached from its pipeline of drugs) sent ripples throughout the fish oil sector. Omthera's lead drug candidate, Epanova, is currently in late-stage trials to treat high triglyceride levels and help lower the chance of cardiovascular disease for high-risk patients. If approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it would be a direct competitor to Amarin's FDA-approved fish oil treatment, Vascepa.
On the downside, having AstraZeneca as a partner clearly gives Omthera an edge. AstraZeneca has an experienced sale and marketing team, and the simple fact that it snagged Omthera for only 45% the market value of Amarin is a concern for Amarin shareholders betting on a buyout. On the other hand, Omthera's buyout is a signal that with America growing wider in the waistline and cardiovascular diseases on the rise, that Big Pharma is looking toward fish oil drugs as a possible way to add some growth to their bottom line.
We really won't know a lot until Vascepa gets a few quarters of sales under its belt, but Amarin is sure to move big one way or another.
The nightmare continues for Exelon shareholders, who've been unable to catch a break since the recession. Yesterday, a downgrade from Deutsche Bank sent shares reeling nearly 8% as the research firm anticipates that capacity pricing will fall in the future and hurt Exelon's revenue growth. Tack on the fact that Exelon is already the nation's largest nuclear energy provider and nuclear energy is by far the most expensive at the moment, and you have problems on top of problems.
As for me, I still remain unconcerned about Exelon's future. For one, Exelon remains committed to expanding its portfolio of renewable energies. In 2011 it entered into a 230MW solar project in California with First Solar and followed that with another 16.1MW project in Maryland last year, also with First Solar. With Chinese overcapacity crushing prices, both enterprises like Exelon and efficiency leaders like First Solar are benefiting with cheaper long-term energy costs and bigger sales volume.
I also find it very likely that Exelon will get some sort of government subsidy in the future to build additional nuclear facilities. Despite the fears surrounding nuclear energy, it's a clean-burning fuel source that could go a long way to helping America attain its energy independence.
A lot can happen between now and 2016, so I wouldn't allow one downgrade from Deutsche to rock your investment thesis.
I know I just included Tesla in the Watchlist stocks a little more than a month ago, but this run-up is nothing short of ridiculous in my book. Tesla has transcended to the top of my prospective short-sale list shortly after reporting its first-ever quarterly profit and slightly raising its production forecast for the year to 21,000 units. The positives continued, with Tesla repaying the government's loan nine years earlier than it needed to.
However, there are also considerable worries I have with this electric vehicle manufacturer. To start with, I'm not sure how investors can trust a darn thing that Tesla's management promises when they have missed their production deadlines at least twice as often as they've hit them. Only in the past two quarters has production delivered met the forecast. Previous to that, production and design often fell well short of estimates or took longer than expected. Not surprisingly, even the Model X SUV was pushed back a full year! I don't understand how investors can't see that production is this company's weakest link. It doesn't matter if the demand is there if it can't ramp up production to meet that demand!
Valuation is another very big concern. With Tesla having roared to the stratosphere it's now valued at 75 times book, 13.5 times sales, and a blistering 113 times next year's earnings! This year the company is only expected to break even and yet it's nearly quadrupled! When the Fools disclosure policy permits, I'm very seriously considering purchasing puts in Tesla Motors as this run is simply unsustainable.
Foolish roundup
Is my bullishness or bearishness misplaced? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and consider following my cue by using these links to add these companies to your free, personalized Watchlist to keep up on the latest news with each company:
Add Amarin to My Watchlist.
Add Exelon to My Watchlist.
Add Tesla Motors to My Watchlist.
Can Amarin Beat the Odds?
Small biotech companies usually crash and burn when it comes to launching drugs -- but can Amarin prove the doubters wrong with its new lipid-lowering drug? In our new premium research report, The Motley Fool's top biotech analyst offers an in-depth look at this drugmaker's upcoming opportunities, along with reasons to buy and sell this stock today. To find out more simply click here now to claim your copy.
The article 3 Stocks to Get on Your Watchlist originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Sean Williams has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name TMFUltraLong, track every pick he makes under the screen name TrackUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle @TMFUltraLong.The Motley Fool owns shares of, and recommends, Tesla Motors. It also recommends Exelon. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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How Christian Brothers Academy went fully virtual for their first giving day
Like hundreds of schools dealing with the economic impact of COVID-19, Christian Brothers Academy is following its mission by striving to ensure that no student leaves the Academy due to financial concerns. Amidst the need for financial assistance and to bring its community together during these tough times, the school went fully virtual for its first-ever Giving Day, successfully raising over $77,000 in 24 hours.
of the estimated goal reached
Campaign Ambassadors
About Christian Brothers Academy
Christian Brothers Academy (also known as CBA or "The Academy"),located in the Lincroft section of Middletown Township, New Jersey is a private, all-boys preparatory school for grades nine to twelve, with a focus on Christian education. The school is run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle.
A rich and rigorous curriculum, programs of spiritual formation, and a broad range of academic, athletic, and cultural activities enable CBA students to become intellectually mature and morally responsible leaders for the Church and society.
With over 16,000+ constituents spread across the world, the Academy is a 2-time National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence winner.
What challenges did the Christian Brothers Academy face?
Increased need for financial aid due to COVID-19
Christian Brothers Academy anticipated an increased need for financial aid in the wake of COVID-19. During these challenging times, financial aid plays a key role as the Academy tries to focus its efforts on supporting its community. The Academy is accountable for ensuring that no student leaves school due to financial concerns and continues to receive the education that he deserves once this situation dies down.
Limited experience in hosting Giving Days virtually
While Christian Brothers Academy anticipated the immediate need to raise funds, their staff had never hosted a Giving Day previously and therefore, lacked relevant experience. To add to that, social restrictions amidst COVID-19 made it impossible for the Academy to make fundraising asks the traditional way. Christian Brothers Academy had to completely switch to the virtual mode to communicate, connect, and urge its community to contribute to their cause.
Limited time & staff resources
The advancement efforts at Christian Brothers Academy is overseen by a five-member team. However, the driving force behind Giving Day fundraising at the Academy is Thomas Ferro, the Director of The Fund for The Academy. Thomas Ferro had the massive task of catering to 16,000+ constituents while shouldering the responsibility of hosting Christian Brother Academy’s first-ever Giving Day with only 30 days to go.
What was Christian Brothers Academy able to achieve after implementing Almabase?
Go completely virtual for their first ever giving day
The economic impact of COVID-19 prompted Christian Brothers Academy to think of various strategies to better connect with their community during these testing times and garner their support to bring in much needed funds to ensure long-term stability. The Academy hosted their first-ever giving day, successfully raising over $77,000 in 24 hours.
The Academy set up a branded giving page and ensured a smooth registration process for constituents.
Head over to The Academy Giving Day Page
Christian Brothers Academy created a solid marketing plan to make their first giving day a success. In the light of strict social distancing measures, the Academy adopted a virtual communication strategy to be able to connect with their community and get maximum participation.
Christian Brothers Academy upped their game on social media and made brilliant use of email marketing to spread awareness and rally support for their Academy Giving Day campaign.
Here's a glimpse of the Facebook campaign #coltshelpingcolts rallying support from alumni, parents, and friends.
One day before the campaign, CBA President Frank Byrne talks about the impact of the pandemic and stresses on the importance that the Academy Giving Day holds. Watch the post on Facebook.
Another Facebook post on the day of the campaign urging the CBA community to contribute and help the institution deal with the financial crisis brought about by COVID-19. See the post on Facebook.
                                        Follow this link to check out the Academy’s #coltshelpingcolts campaign.
The Academy also made use of email marketing and news features via the school’s alumni platform to keep their constituents notified about updates and rally support for their giving day.
The Academy announced their first-ever Giving Day on their alumni website one week prior to the campaign. Head over to the alumni website to see this feature.
Here’s a quick look at the targeted email campaign Christian Brothers Academy sent to its constituents. The Academy also ensured to include information about parent challenges and gift matching challenges in these emails, incentivizing the community to make a contribution.
CBA encouraging class representatives to make an early donation and sharing an update for an added bonus for alumni
Targeted email sent to parents motivating them to make a gift in honor of their son, his class or the recently graduated Class of 2020. The email also includes details of gift matching challenges inspiring parents to compete amongst one another.
The Academy’s email to all constituents reminding them of the limited time left for the campaign to end and urging them to act fast.
$ 77,237.68 raised
85% of the estimated goal reached
248 online gifts
Inspire a sense of competition amongst donors and amplify the impact
Christian Brothers Academy leveraged the support of its online community to amplify the impact of donations. The school provided its donors with the ability to track the impact of their contribution and also have an insight into who influenced the most number of gifts. With the click of a button, donors could effectively reach their entire social media network and share their contribution measurable via real-time stats, influencing their peers to also donate for the Academy’s cause.
The Academy leveraged gamification techniques like leaderboards, challenges, and tributes to invoke a healthy sense of competition amongst class years and various constituent groups.
Multiple challenges unlocked during the Giving Day campaign
Honor wall showcasing the recent gifts made by community members
Influencer Leaderboard
19K gifts influenced by campaign supporters
24% of total gifts came through peer-to-peer solicitation
Real-time dashboards for efficient campaign management & monitoring
From creating a branded giving page to gift processing, all fundraising functions could be handled via a single dashboard easily. This made end-to-end campaign management easy, efficient, and helped Thomas Ferro single-handedly focus on implementing marketing campaigns to boost participation at the giving day.
The advancement team had access to real-time insight into all important metrics including the number of donors, total gift amount, campaign ambassadors, social shares, email engagement rates, and much more. This data is easily accessible and downloadable by the staff members and acts as an efficient data point for the school to plan future campaigns.
Christian Brothers Academy continues to support its constituents throughout the COVID-19 crisis and organize giving campaigns round the year with Almabase. Head over to the Academy's alumni website.
How Misericordia University Transitioned To A Virtual Homecoming Celebration Amidst The Pandemic
Like hundreds of institutions adhering to social distancing norms amidst the pandemic, Misericordia University went completely virtual for its Annual Homecoming in 2020. Keeping the health and safety of its community as the utmost priority, the Misericordia Alumni Relations Team planned a series of virtual engagement initiatives throughout the day and also encouraged members to donate in support of their beloved students. The university successfully transitioned to a Virtual Homecoming format, finding creative ways to drive high participation from alumni.
How Germanna Community College’s first-ever Giving Day helped support students’ critical needs amidst COVID-19 with $500k in donations
In an effort to continue providing quality education to its students and keep them from dropping out of school due to financial concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Germanna Community College’s first-ever Give Day focused on three critical funding priorities - helping first-generation high school students realize their full potentials, providing need-based scholarship programs, and supporting students with more emergent needs. The college successfully raised $503,855 in 24 hours and surpassed its initial goal of $300,000 by 168%.
How William Peace University made history at its first Founder’s Day of Giving hosted virtually amidst the pandemic
William Peace University was faced with a dilemma when mid-way through their first-ever Founder’s Day of Giving, the university had to send students home and cancel all campus events in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis. The university’s Office of Advancement had to think on the go to adjust to this new normal and the team decided to complete its first-ever Founder’s Day of Giving online, raising over $42,800 in 24 hours.
Get in touch for a detailed demo of Almabase.
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New Releases: Alumni and Faculty Books
By: Margie Kelley
Topics: Information-BooksEducation-AlumniInformation-Books
Smarter Together: How Communities Are Shaping the Next Revolution in Business
By Rob Bernshteyn (MBA 2001)
Greenleaf Book Group Press
Driving value today requires information. Lots of information. Most of us are becoming good at distilling the data within our own companies, but that’s not enough if we want a competitive advantage. In Smarter Together, Coupa Software CEO Rob Bernshteyn explains how we will soon be able to draw upon the intelligence of the community—collectively what we, and the organizations we work for, know—to benefit the community, our companies, and ourselves. As Bernshteyn explains, the prescriptive insights gleaned from the massive amount of community data available worldwide will transform entire industries and break down long-standing barriers to value.
The Ends Game: How Smart Companies Stop Selling Products and Start Delivering Value
By Marco Bertini (DBA 2006) and Oded Koenigsberg
Would you rather pay for health care or for better health? For school or education? For groceries or nutrition? A car or transportation? A theater performance or entertainment? In The Ends Game, Marco Bertini describes how some firms are rewriting the rules of commerce: Instead of selling the “means” (their products and services), they adopt innovative revenue models to pursue “ends” (actual outcomes). They show that paying by the pill, semester, food item, vehicle, or show does not necessarily reflect the value that customers actually derive from their purchases. Revenue models anchored on the ownership of products, they argue, are patently inferior. Bertini and Koenigsberg explain that advances in technology have made it possible for firms to collect “impact data” that tells them when and how customers use their products and how those products perform, and that firms can draw on this data to turn products into seamless services. New revenue models will enable transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
Real-world examples show how companies in health care, transportation, education, and other sectors are playing “the ends game,” including Dollar Shave Club, Rent the Runway, and “pay as you fly” insurance for drone flights. Finally, the authors outline the challenges in adopting these new models and offer guidance to overcome them.
Spirituality After Harvard: My Path Out of Depression and Into Inner Peace
By Edmund C. Bujalski (MBA 1976)
Very few of us get through life without experiencing a major personal crisis or devastating loss. These crises and losses can come with great pain and often with almost unbearable inner turmoil. Twenty years ago, the author Edmund Bujalski experienced a crisis that left him depressed and despairing that he might never find inner peace. In this book, he shares the spiritual practices that transformed his life. In straightforward language, he provides a set of tools and techniques that everyone can use to bring more joy, happiness, and love into their lives. After graduating Cum Laude from Harvard College in 1974 and earning his MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1976, Bujalski had a successful business career as CEO of several health care services companies. His journey into spirituality has since led him to explore a variety of alternative healing modalities including becoming a Reiki Master Teacher.
Investing for the Smarter Sex: Wealth Building Tips and Secrets Sophisticated Women Know (But Wall Street Won’t Tell You)
By Tiffany Kent (MBA 2001)
Wealth Engagement LLC
Investing for the Smarter Sex is a financial advisory book geared to help you take active steps toward achieving your dream life. Former Wall Street investor, adviser, and author Tiffany Kent infuses specific investment advice with her personal story to show you how to take control of your finances and live comfortably for the rest of your life. Kent’s guide helps you develop a personal investment blueprint, design a solid financial plan to help you gain number clarity, hire an advisor who understands you and values your voice at the table, interpret the mumbo jumbo of investment language, and pull it all together so that you can secure your financial future.
Leadership Courage: Leadership in a Culture of Cowardice
By Kirk Kirlin (MBA 1979)
Authors Place Press
In a time when timidity and disquiet seem epidemic in both American and American Church culture, author Kirk Kirlin offers nine principles of courageous leadership to point the way for those who influence others. Leadership Courage is not theory; this is a book about the real issues of leadership: character, inner fortitude, courage, and identity. For those walking through the fires of life and leadership, this book will be a forge that helps shape your soul.
The Daughters of Kobani
By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (MBA 2006)
In 2014, northeastern Syria might have been the last place you would expect to find a revolution centered on women's rights. But that year, an all-female militia faced off against ISIS in a little town few had ever heard of: Kobani. By then, the Islamic State had swept across vast swaths of the country, taking town after town and spreading terror as the civil war burned all around it. From that unlikely showdown in Kobani emerged a fighting force that would wage war against ISIS across northern Syria alongside the United States. In the process, these women would spread their own political vision, determined to make women’s equality a reality by fighting—house by house, street by street, city by city—the men who bought and sold women.
Based on years of on-the-ground reporting, The Daughters of Kobani is the unforgettable story of the women of the Kurdish militia who improbably became part of the world’s best hope for stopping ISIS in Syria. Drawing from hundreds of hours of interviews, best-selling author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon introduces us to the women fighting on the front lines, determined to not only extinguish the terror of ISIS but also prove that women could lead in war and must enjoy equal rights. In helping to cement the territorial defeat of ISIS, whose savagery toward women astounded the world, these women played a central role in neutralizing the threat the group posed worldwide. In the process, they earned the respect—and significant military support—of US Special Operations Forces.
Spring: Bouncing Back from Rejection
By Ambi Parameswaran (AMP 186, 2014)
“Spring: a twisted piece of metal that can be pushed, pressed or pulled but which always returns to its original shape or position afterwards.” Rejection is inevitable in every stage of our lives. But what if this inevitability were a tool? What if it could be used as leverage to spring forward at every setback? What if there was a way to systematically process rejection and become a super-spring?
Ambi Parameswaran—best-selling author, brand/leadership coach, and former CEO of FCB-Ulka Advertising—was rejected at his dream job interviews, denied promotions, and turned down by potential clients. He now knows that he eventually succeeded because of the way he handled these rejections. Spring is packed with tales of rejection and redemption. Walt Disney, the Beatles, Thomas Alva Edison, Michael Jordan, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the founders of Infosys, author Amish, and others have used rejections as a pivot to swing their careers and businesses around. Parameswaran brings his decades of experience to bear on perhaps the vital life and career lesson you could learn from rejection. In Spring, he puts a gentle arm around your shoulders and helps you bounce back stronger than ever from every rejection.
Juror Number Two
By Efrem Sigel (MBA 1968)
The Writers Press
This riveting memoir recounts the author’s experience on a jury in a murder trial and his subsequent investigation of the conditions in East Harlem that led young people to be involved in drug-selling and criminal activity. Besides the trial itself, the book is the story of the failures in NYCHA housing projects, the schools and the criminal justice system, and the efforts of a handful of educators, nonprofit leaders, and criminal justice reformers to find pathways to success for these young people. In the author's words, “As a juror in a criminal trial, your vote is one of 12 determining whether the accused goes free or is punished. When the charge is murder, you never forget that a decision to convict can take away his liberty for the rest of his life. I had thought that our jury’s vote at the conclusion of the trial would be the end of the story. But I was mistaken. For me the jury verdict was only the beginning.” True crime buffs and fans of memoirs will be enthralled by Sigel’s irresistible mix of clear reporting, empathy, and thoughtful examination of the link between poverty and violence.
A Blessing: Women of Color Teaming Up to Lead, Empower and Thrive
By Bonita C. Stewart (MBA 1983) and Jacqueline Adams (MBA 1978)
Wordeee
An unapologetic look at the often-overlooked role of Black women in the social, political, psychological, and economic history of the United States, A Blessing offers a playbook for Black teams to find innovative ways to support one another as they climb the typically lonely and stressful, yet ultimately rewarding, ladders of opportunity. A Blessing also includes the results of Bonita C. Stewart’s and Jacqueline Adams’ proprietary Women of Color in Business: Cross Generational Survey, which examines the views of 4,005 female knowledge workers across four races (Black, Latin X, Asian, and white) and four generations (Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers). In addition, the authors interview other successful Harvard Business School alumnae who are creating or leaving legacies.
What an MBA Taught Me…But My Kids Made Me Learn
By Bea Wray (MBA 1999)
Post Hill Press
Great business schools know that connection, more than curriculum, shapes great leaders. Every aspect of the experience intentionally maximizes relationship building.
What an MBA Taught Me...But My Kids Made Me Learn is author Bea Wray’s sometimes hilarious, other times harrowing journey through Harvard Business School, 20 years of business experience, and the most important academy of all: parenting. When Wray returned to entrepreneurial work after six years as a full-time mom, she worried. What relevant skills could she bring to the corporate table? Yet her career took off as her interpersonal expertise soared. Perhaps family time can be a breakthrough, rather than a break from professional advancement.
As she discovered, “soft” skills are actually pretty hard, but they can be mastered. As kids demonstrate, we all learn best when having fun. In this book, dozens of essential executive leadership lessons are carefully wrapped in humorous and heartfelt stories to inspire and encourage you.
Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life
By Ashley Whillans, Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Harvard Business Review Press
Four out of five adults report feeling that they have too much to do and not enough time to do it. These time-poor people experience less joy each day. They laugh less. They are less healthy, less productive, and more likely to divorce. In one study, time stress produced a stronger negative effect on happiness than unemployment.
How can we escape the time traps that make us feel this way and keep us from living our best lives? Time Smart is a playbook for taking back the time you lose to mindless tasks and unfulfilling chores. Author and Harvard Business School assistant professor Ashley Whillans shares proven strategies for improving your “time affluence.” These techniques will free up seconds, minutes, and hours that, over the long term, become weeks and months that you can reinvest in positive, healthy activities. Time Smart shows you how to achieve the mindset shift that will make these activities part of your everyday regimen through assessments, checklists, and activities that can build a happier, more fulfilling life.
The Fine Print: Alumni Recommend Their Best Reads
Ink: The Habit of Innovation
Re: Scott Anthony (MBA 2001)
Alumni and Faculty Books for September 2020
Alumni and Faculty Books for June 2020
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Doha Al Janubiyah
Saturday - Thursday 09:30 - 23:00
Hyper Panda
MUVI Cinemas
Coming Soon muvi00:00 - 00:00920000262
Stay tuned for the first Saudi Cinemas
Billy Beez
Second Floor00:00 - 00:00920000262
Billy Beez is the ultimate indoor play park for kids! 20,000 sq. ft. play parks offer a variety of features and activities, from slides to sports courts, tunnels to towers, ball blasters to bouncy trampolines, adventure is always right around the corner at Billy Beez. The park is ideal for all ages, including infants, toddlers, adults and every age in between. With designated areas for the little ones and Super Speed slides for the older ones, Billy Beez has something for everyone. Ideal for birthday parties.
The ”Firefly” is the symbol chosen for the happiness of the Sparkys' center-goers, especially the children who compete in the modern computer games that characterize these centers, as well as the mechanical adventure games, which are characterized by tests of strength and perseverance. The giant hydraulic screens and the availability of three-dimensional cinema in this series added a distinctive feature that has made it a destination for families always.
P.O. Box: 341904 Riyadh 11333, Saudi Arabia
Get our application
Copyright Reserved ©2017 Mall of Dhahran | one of Arabian Centres Malls | Fawaz Al Hokair Group
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Home » Moisture Control
Architectural ProductsProducts by TypeThermal & Moisture Barriers
Linda C. Lentz
From rain-screen technology and whole house dehumidification to enhanced sheathing and roof underlayment, this month’s selection homes in on excessive moisture and humidity—whether it’s pounding the exterior of a structure or coming from within the building itself. — Linda C. Lentz
Long-term insurance
Named for its ability to endure extended exposure to the elements, Gold Bond e2XP Extended Exposure Sheathing has a coated fiberglass facer or mat and an enhanced mold- and moisture-resistant core. Designed to attach to the outside of sidewall and soffit framings as a water-resistant underlayment, it can be used in both wood- and metal-stud construction, or as a substrate for a number of air- and water-resistant barriers. National Gypsum Company, Charlotte, N.C. www.purplechoice.com
[Reader Service: August 2008 #220]
Developed to prevent damaging moisture conditions, Delta-Roof underlayments include Delta-Maxx Titan (left), a vapor-permeable and watertight material enhanced with a spongelike bottom layer that absorbs a surfeit of condensation or water to safeguard wood roof rafters and sheathing. Delta-Vents (left) is a multilayered underlayment for insulated pitched roofs that is not only impermeable to wind and rain but permeable to water vapor from inside the house, thus managing its evaporation. Cosella-Dörken Products, Beamsville, Ontario. www.cosella-dorken.com
A better backing
To comply with the 2006 international codes for residential and commercial buildings (IRC and IBC, respectively), which do not approve paper-faced greenboard for use in wet areas, DensShield Tile Backer is a glass-mat gypsum panel that can be scored, cut, and installed like traditional gypsum drywall but eliminates its vulnerability to mold, mildew, and deterioration. Additionally, it does not require the use of a membrane during installation. Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga. www.densshield.com
Flash protection
Augmented with a Butyl Hybrid formula, BT25XL Window and Door Sealing Tape is a waterproofing membrane notable for its ability to adhere to difficult substrates, such as OSB, among others, and in extreme temperatures. Available in a variety of widths, BT25XL meets or exceeds all building codes, including ASTM 2112. It is also said to be the only flashing tape that has passed the hurricane-level windblown-rain test. Protecto Wrap Company, Denver, Colo. www.protectowrap.com
Recent Articles by Linda Lentz
Gruss Center for Art and Design at The Lawrenceville School by Sasaki
ISEC Pedestrian Crossing at Northeastern University by Payette and Arup
Charles Library at Temple University
Linda Lentz is a senior editor at Architectural Record, responsible for the Record Interiors issue, the monthly interiors page, the quarterly lighting sections, and such special issue sections as Schools of the 21st Century and Good Design is Good Business. She joined RECORD in 2008. Previously, the Brooklyn native worked as a freelance writer and editor covering design, materials, and products for numerous design and shelter publications—including Interior Design, Metropolitan Home, Robb Report, This Old House, and Building Products, in addition to RECORD, and its spin-off, My House. This followed 10 years as Articles Editor at Home Magazine. She holds an M.A. from NYU and a B.F.A. from Pratt Institute.
Wimbledon Centre Court by Populous and ME Engineers
Sustainable Facades: Design Methods for High-Performance Building Envelopes
The Architecture Concept Book
Architectural Detailing: Function, Constructibility, Aesthetics, 3rd Edition
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Cosmological and Astrophysical Neutrino Mass Measurements111Prepared by attendees of the workshop “The Future of Neutrino Mass Measurements: Terrestrial, Astrophysical, and Cosmological Measurements in the Next Decade,” a program of the Institute for Nuclear Theory in Seattle in February, 2010.
K. N. Abazajian1, E. Calabrese2, A. Cooray3, F. De Bernardis3, S. Dodelson4,5,6, A. Friedland7, G. M. Fuller8, S. Hannestad9, B. G. Keating8, E. V. Linder10,11, C. Lunardini12, A. Melchiorri2, R. Miquel13,14,E. Pierpaoli15, J. Pritchard16, P. Serra17, M. Takada18, Y. Y. Y. Wong19 1Maryland Center for Fundamental Physics, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 USA 2Physics Department and INFN, Universita’ di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 4Center for Particle Astrophysics, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL 60510 5Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637 6Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, Chicago, IL 60637 7Theoretical Division, T-2, MS B285, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA 8Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0424, USA 9Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark 10Berkeley Lab & University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 11Institute for the Early Universe WCU, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea 12Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA 13Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, E-08010 Barcelona, Spain 14Institut de Física d’Altes Energies, E-08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain 15Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0484, USA 16Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, MS-51, 60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138 17Astrophysics Branch, NASA-Ames Research Center, 245-6, Moffett Field, CA 94035 18Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (IPMU), The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8582, Japan 19Institut für Theoretische Teilchenphysik und Kosmologie, RWTH Aachen, D-52056, Germany
Cosmological and astrophysical measurements provide powerful constraints on neutrino masses complementary to those from accelerators and reactors. Here we provide a guide to these different probes, for each explaining its physical basis, underlying assumptions, current and future reach.
I Introduction
Neutrinos are an integral part of the Standard Model of particle physics and are copiously produced by a variety of astrophysical sources. Neutrinos also constitute a fraction of the dark matter in our Universe, leaving a characteristic imprint on various cosmological observables. It is not surprising then that astrophysics and cosmology are poised to contribute to some of the most pressing problems in particle physics: understanding the properties of neutrinos, pinning down their masses, and ultimately understanding the origin of these tiny masses.
Recent advances in observational cosmology have resulted in tight constraints on the sum of the neutrino masses, and upcoming experiments are expected to improve on these results thanks both to new observational techniques and to larger data sets. In this paper, we review the physical basis of the cosmological tests, the set of astrophysical and cosmological observables that are sensitive to neutrino properties and, for each, present current and future constraints. Lurking ahead is the tantalizing possibility of a detection: oscillation experiments have determined that the difference of the square of two of the neutrino masses is greater than (0.05eV)2, implying a lower limit on the quantity that cosmological observations are most sensitive to: the sum of the neutrino masses. Current upper bounds range from a factor of 4-10 above the lower limit, so the grand challenge for the next generation of cosmological surveys – detecting the effect of massive neutrinos on the cosmos – appears within reach.
Ii Physical Basis of Cosmological Probes
The Standard Models of particle physics and cosmology make a robust prediction that the number density of relic neutrinos is 112 cm−3 per species. This result is based solely on standard model physics and implies that massive neutrinos constitute a fraction
fν=ΩνΩm=∑mν93Ωmh2eV≃0.08∑mν1eV (1)
of the total matter density in the universe, where Ων and Ωm are the neutrino energy density and matter density, respectively, in units of the critical density. The last equality assumes the WMAP-7 best fit value, Ωmh2=0.134 kom10 , where the Hubble rate today is parameterized as H0≡100h km s−1 Mpc−1. The distribution of matter in the Universe depends sensitively on fν, and therefore current and upcoming surveys that probe this structure in a variety of ways have the potential to constrain or measure the sum of the neutrino masses.
The small masses of neutrinos distinguish them from the rest of the matter in the Universe. Neutrino thermal velocities are non-negligible in the early universe and lead to smearing out of over-dense regions. At cosmic time t, neutrinos can free-stream distances of order vt∼(Tν/mν)×(1/H) where H is the Hubble rate and Tν the neutrino temperature, calibrated from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) to be 1.9a−1K where a is the scale factor (set equal to one today) governing the expansion of the Universe. The comoving free-streaming length scale is therefore vt/a∼0.04f−1νh−1a−1/2 Mpc. Neutrinos do not clump on scales significantly smaller than this free-streaming scale. When any component of the density does not clump, the delicate balance between dilution due to the expansion of the Universe and accretion due to gravitational instability is upset, and gravitational potential wells decay. Over the course of billions of years, this decay is appreciable even if only a small fraction of the matter is not participating in the cosmic dance of structure formation. Structure on scales smaller than ∼0.1 Mpc/fν is suppressed for all a, while scales larger than 100 Mpc are never affected. Neutrinos therefore produce a characteristic fall-off in the power spectrum of the matter distribution from large to small scales. In linear perturbation theory the suppression of power is roughly given by ΔP/P∼−8fν, and if non-linear corrections are included the suppression increases to ΔP/P∼−10fν for Fourier modes with wavenumber k∼0.5−1hMpc−1 Brandbyge:2008rv ; Brandbyge:2009ce ; Viel:2010bn ; Wong:2008ws ; Lesgourgues:2009am ; Saito:2009ah .
There are a wide variety of cosmological probes of the matter distribution, each of which has the potential to detect the signature suppression caused by neutrino masses. Dozens of surveys over the coming decade will make detailed observations, hidden in which will be clues to the neutrino mass. Extracting the relevant information will be challenging: a combination of insight and improved computational capability will be necessary to confront simply the theoretical systematics that threaten to obscure the signal. However, the possibility of detecting the signature of neutrino masses in cosmology is so alluring that scores of researchers are devoted to address the most pressing issues. The wide variety of probes is absolutely essential since each has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Further such a joint analysis of different probes covering wider ranges of redshifts and distance scales measured will be a powerful way of efficiently breaking parameter degeneracies. For example, both dark energy and neutrino mass suppress structure formation, but leave their imprints on different sets of length scales and redshifts.
Iii Probes
There are two main techniques for probing the matter distribution: mapping the distribution of biased tracers and observing the subtle effects of gravitational lensing. The most traditional tracer is the galaxy distribution, which is related to the underlying matter distribution by a bias factor that can be both time and scale dependent (although it is likely constant on large scales). Other biased tracers are neutral hydrogen – as mapped by Lyman α absorption or by 21 cm emission – and galaxy clusters. Gravitational lensing is different in that it is sensitive to the gravitational potential directly (which is linearly related to the matter distribution by the Poisson equation), but lensing of objects at a given distance from us depends on all values of the potential along the line of sight so offers only a 2D, projected view of the distribution. Table 1 lists these probes, the limits currently obtained and those that might be reached with future surveys.222Note that the potential of a future laboratory tritium β-decay experiment to probe the absolute neutrino mass scale is usually characterized by two numbers: its sensitivity to the neutrino mass, defined as the 95% upper limit the experiment can set on the neutrino mass if the true neutrino mass is zero, and its discovery potential (or detection threshold), defined as the minimal mass that the neutrino should have in order for the mass to be detected by the experiment at some confidence level (say, 95%). The future cosmological limits presented in Table 1 have been derived formally as 95% sensitivities to ∑mν. However, for reasonable cosmological models, the sensitivity and the 95% discovery potential for a given probe are generally numerically quite similar Hannestad:2007cp . Therefore, as a rule of thumb, the numbers denoted “reach” in Table 1 can be taken to mean both the sensitivity and the discovery potential at 95% C.L.
Each of these probes faces technological, observational, and theoretical challenges in its quest to extract a few percent level signal. Table 1 highlights the key theoretical systematics each probe will have to overcome to obtain a reliable constraint on neutrino masses.
Current ∑mν (eV)
Forecast ∑mν (eV)
Key Systematics
Current Surveys
Future Surveys
CMB Primordial 1.3 0.6 Recombination WMAP, Planck None
CMB Primordial + Distance 0.58 0.35 Distance measurements WMAP, Planck None
Lensing of CMB ∞ 0.2−0.05 NG of Secondary anisotropies Planck, ACT act , SPT spt EBEX ReichbornKjennerud:2010ja , ACTPol, SPTPol, POLARBEAR polar , CMBPol Baumann:2008aq
Galaxy Distribution 0.6 0.1 Nonlinearities, Bias SDSS Reid:2009xm ; Percival:2009xn , BOSS boss DES des , BigBOSS bigboss , DESpec despec , LSST :2009pq , Subaru PFS subaru , HETDEX bib:hetdex
Lensing of Galaxies 0.6 0.07 Baryons, NL, Photometric redshifts CFHT-LS Fu:2007qq , COSMOS cosmos DES des , Hyper SuprimeCam, LSST :2009pq , Euclid euclid , WFIRST wfirst
Lyman α 0.2 0.1 Bias, Metals, QSO continuum SDSS, BOSS, Keck BigBOSS bigboss , TMT tmt , GMT gmt
21 cm ∞ 0.1−0.006 Foregrounds, Astrophysical modeling GBT gbt , LOFAR lofar , PAPER Parsons:2009in , GMRT gmrt MWA mwa , SKA ska , FFTT Mao et al. (2008)
Galaxy Clusters 0.3 0.1 Mass Function, Mass Calibration SDSS, SPT, ACT, XMM xmm Chandra chandra DES, eRosita rosita , LSST
Core-Collapse Supernovae ∞ θ13>0.001∗ Emergent ν spectra SuperK superk , ICECube icecube Noble Liquids, Gadzooks gadzooks
Table 1: Cosmological probes of neutrino mass. “Current” denotes published (although in some cases controversial, hence the range) 95% C.L/ upper bound on ∑mν obtained from currently operating surveys, while “Reach” indicates the forecasted 95% sensitivity on ∑mν from future observations. These numbers have been derived for a minimal 7-parameter vanilla+mν model. The six other parameters are: the amplitude of fluctuations, the slope of the spectral index of the primordial fluctuations, the baryon density, the matter density, the epoch of reionization, and the Hubble constant. ∗ If the neutrinos have the normal mass hierarchy, supernovae spectra are sensitive to θ13∼10−3. The inverted hierarchy produces a different signature, but one that is insensitive to θ13.
iii.1 Primordial Cosmic Microwave Background
In the first row of Table 1, we report the constraints obtained using 2-point statistics of the CMB: temperature and polarization auto-spectra and the temperature-polarization cross-spectrum. Massive neutrinos increase the anisotropy on small scales because the decaying gravitational potentials enhance the photon energy density fluctuation (see, e.g., mb ; 1996ApJ…467…10D ). Also, the sound horizon, which dictates the position of the acoustic peaks, shifts due to the slightly different expansion history caused by massive neutrinos. The current WMAP 7-year dataset constrains the sum of neutrino masses to 1.3 eV at 95% c.l. kom10 within the standard cosmological model, ΛCDM. Planck data alone will constrain Σmν to 0.6 eV at 95% C.L. (see, e.g., deb09 ). This constraint should be considered as the most conservative and reliable cosmological constraint on neutrino masses. A tighter constraint on the neutrino masses can be obtained by combining CMB observations with measurements of the Hubble constant H0 and cosmic distances such as from Type Ia supernovae and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO). The WMAP7+BAO+H0 analysis of kom10 reports a constraint of 0.58 eV at 95% C.L., while a constraint about a factor 2 smaller could be achieved when the Planck data will be combined with similar datasets.
The key theoretical systematics in confronting the CMB predictions with data have been overcome. The physics is linear, so all codes agree with the requisite precision. Precise constraints require careful treatment of many of the excited states of hydrogen during recombination Seager:1999bc , but here too recent advances AliHaimoud:2010dx have attained the precision needed to extract accurate information from Planck. There are uncertainties associated with the distance measurements given by H0 and BAO, but again these seem to be under tighter control.
iii.2 Lensing of the CMB
The cosmic microwave background radiation is gravitationally lensed by matter inhomogeneities along the line of sight to the last scattering surface at zlss=1090. Lensing affects the temperature and the polarization of the CMB in several ways. First, the power spectra are smoothed out, an effect that makes sense intuitively since random deflections tend to reduce the amplitude of hot/cold spots. A fit for the presence of lensing on the power spectrum gives a non-zero result (consistent with prediction) at 3.4σ Shirokoff:2010cs and 2.8σ acbar . More dramatically, polarization maps can be decomposed into E- and B-modes, the latter of which is not produced by (scalar) density perturbations. Lensing though transforms E-modes into B-modes with a characteristic spectral shape that depends on the integrated gravitational potential. This shape depends on the sum of the neutrino masses.
The most powerful way to map the projected gravitational potential is to measure CMB polarization on small scales. Each CMB photon is deflected by only a small amount (of order a few arcminutes) but the structures responsible for lensing are coherent over degree scales. This leads to a counter-intuitive probe: CMB structure on small scales offers information about the gravitational potential on large scales. Extracting this information has been the subject of some elegant theoretical work Hu:2001tn ; Hirata:2003ka focused on the higher order moments of the temperature field.
Claims of detection of lensing in the higher-point functions initially relied on cross-correlating with matter tracers (since the auto-correlation that will eventually be so powerful is much noisier), with detections smith ; hirata at the 3σ level. Evidence for the auto-correlation in WMAP data Smidt:2010by was reported in 2010, followed by a 4σ detection in ACT 2011arXiv1103.2124D , but no direct constraints on ∑mν from CMB lensing exist to date. Near-term (next three years) results should enable determination of ∑mν to 0.2 eV (95% cl) from the Planck satellite and ground-based polarization experiments. Long term results (15 years) from CMB lensing (CMBPol/EPIC satellite) strive for 0.04 eV Baumann:2008aq .
CMB lensing is similar to the galaxy lensing method, but has some advantages and disadvantages relative to it Cooray:2002py . One key property is that the source redshift (zlss) is accurately known, in contrast to galaxy lensing where considerable effort is needed to characterize the sources. Furthermore, the source (CMB) redshift is high, so CMB lensing probes the matter (or potential) distribution at higher redshifts, z≈1-4, exploring the universe at an epoch different from many other cosmological techniques. Since large scales and high redshifts are probed, the density field is very nearly linear and non-linear complications are not important. On the other hand, the CMB source is at a single redshift, giving only a single weighted measurement of the gravitational potential and distance factors, rather than the redshift tomography possible with galaxy lensing. Perhaps the most serious systematic is the impact of non-Gaussianities of other secondary anisotropies on the estimators used to extract the potential.
iii.3 Galaxy Distribution
Galaxy surveys have until now been the most direct way of measuring the matter power spectrum on intermediate and small scales, and therefore also the most direct probe of the suppression of fluctuation power caused by the presence of massive neutrinos. At present by far the largest spectroscopic survey is the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and, together with the WMAP CMB data, it provides an upper bound of approximately 0.6 eV on ∑mν Reid:2009xm .
Galaxy redshift surveys measure the power spectrum of galaxy number density fluctuations, Pg(k). In turn, this power spectrum is related to the underlying matter power spectrum P(k) via
Pg(k)=b2(k)P(k), (2)
where the bias parameter b depends on both scale and on the type of galaxies surveyed. This has been shown to be a significant problem for some surveys and therefore emphasis has shifted towards basing surveys on luminous red cluster galaxies which constitute a fairly homogeneous sample. This is for example the case for the SDSS-LRG sample which was used to derive the current 0.6 eV upper bound.
A number of larger galaxy surveys will be carried out within the next decade and will increase sensitivity to neutrino mass significantly. Given some survey design one can expect to measure the galaxy power spectrum Pg(k) up to a statistical uncertainty of Tegmark:1997rp
ΔPg(k)=√12π w(k) Δlnk[Pg(k)+1¯¯¯ng]. (3)
Here, w(k)=(k/2π)3 Veff, Veff is the effective volume of the survey, ¯¯¯ng is the galaxy number density, and Δlnk is the bin size at k in lnk-space. Future surveys will go deeper (and therefore survey even fainter galaxies, leading to larger ¯¯¯ng) and wider (and therefore increased Veff) leading to much smaller errors on the power spectrum.
The precision with which the power spectrum can, in principle, be measured is related to the survey volume because that is a measure of the number of independent Fourier modes available. On small scales precision is limited by shot noise, i.e. by the sparseness of galaxies. However, in practice this is not the most significant problem on small scales. Rather, the usefulness of small scale data is limited by the fact that structures are non-linear. At z=0 this effectively cuts away all data at k>0.1h/Mpc. Additionally, the luminosity dependence of the galaxy bias and its evolution can be combined with clustering information and the CMB primary spectrum to constrain the neutrino masses Seljak:2004sj . The current constraint on the neutrino masses with this method using a range of galaxy clustering data from SDSS, DEEP-2 at z∼ 1, and Lyman-break clustering at z∼3 is 0.28 eV at 95% C.L DeBernardis:2008qq .
However, most upcoming surveys aim at measuring at higher redshift than the SDSS and therefore the problem of non-linearity will be somewhat alleviated. In Hannestad:2007cp a study of neutrino mass constraints was carried out for a number of proposed surveys combined with Planck data. Very roughly, the HETDEX bib:hetdex or BOSS boss surveys, together with Planck should push the sensitivity to about 0.2 eV at 95% C.L., and a future space-based mission such as WFIRST or EUCLID could yield a sensitivity of around 0.1 eV (95% C.L.).
The major theoretical hurdles that need to be addressed in order to extract these sensitive limits are understanding the nonlinearities and bias. Simulations and cross-correlating with lensing surveys can help with these issues.
iii.4 Lensing of Galaxies
Weak gravitational lensing (or cosmic shear) of distant galaxies by the intervening large scale structure provides an elegant way to map directly the matter distribution in the universe. Perturbations in the matter density field between the source and the observer bend the paths of light rays, thereby inducing distortions in the observed images of source galaxies. By measuring the angular correlation of these distortions, one can probe the clustering statistics of the intervening matter density field. This again allows a probe of the neutrino masses Cooray:1999rv .
Current weak lensing surveys are already providing interesting constraints on neutrino masses. An analysis of the CFHTLS data from a 30 square degree sky patch finds a 95% C.L. upper limit of ∑mν<1.1 eV in a 7-parameter vanilla+mν model when combined with the WMAP 5-year data Ichiki:2008ye . A tighter constraint, ∑mν<0.54 eV, is obtained when distance measurements from SNIa and BAO are also included in the analysis Ichiki:2008ye .
Future dedicated lensing surveys will probe higher redshifts with almost full sky coverage. Furthermore, all surveys will provide photometric redshift information on the source galaxies. This additional information allows for the binning of galaxy images by redshift and hence tomographic studies of the evolution of the intervening large scale structure and the distance-redshift relation. The LSST :2009pq combined with primary CMB anisotropy measurements from Planck can constrain ∑mν down to ∼0.07 eV (95% C.L.) using five tomography bins Hannestad:2006as . Similar sensitivity is expected also for Euclid Kitching:2008dp .
Dominant systematics. On the observational side, photometric redshift measurements typically have uncertainties of Δz=0.03→0.1. Accurate modeling of this uncertainty will be important for tomographic studies. The measurements themselves of course require great care and much work has been done over the last decade understanding how to use the stars to correct for instrumental and atmospheric distortions. On the theory side, future weak lensing surveys will derive most of their constraining power from nominally nonlinear scales k>0.1 Mpc−1. This will require that we control the uncertainties in our theoretical predictions of the nonlinear power spectrum to a percent level. Baryon physics will also be important here. The study of Jing:2005gm finds that baryon physics can contribute an uncertainty of up to 10% at multipole ℓ>1000 corresponding to physical scales k less than a factor of ten beyond the linear regime.
iii.5 Lyman α Forest
The expectation that cosmological intergalactic low-density gas follows the gravitationally dominant dark matter near the nonlinear clustering scale has led to the proposal of measuring structure in dark matter clustering via the absorption features along the line of sight to a distant quasar, namely, through the Lyman-α forest (e.g., Croft:2000hs ). The results produced some of the most sensitive results on the amplitude and shape of dark matter clustering at small scales, and therefore indirectly on the presence of massive neutrinos when combined with the CMB, though that was not derived in the initial results. This method was immediately questioned due to the effects of a smoothing introduced by peculiar velocities in the forest, as well as uncertainties in the ionizing background of the gas Gnedin:2001wg . The flux power spectrum was also shown to be affected by fluctuations in the temperature of the intergalactic medium (IGM) Lai:2005ha , the temperature and ionization history of the gas, and metal line contamination Jena:2004fc . The promise lies in the sensitivity of the Lyman-α forest to dark matter clustering on small scales, where massive neutrinos would suppress the power spectrum. The measurement of small-scale power shape and amplitude provides information on neutrinos only in combination with precise measures of the large scale matter clustering amplitude from the cosmic microwave background (CMB), from WMAP or Planck (for a review, see, e.g., Ref. Lesgourgues:2006nd ).
An important systematic is the bias relating the power spectrum of the flux (the observable) to the power spectrum of the matter. This bias is sensitive to the temperature history and assumed temperature-density relation of the gas Peeples:2009uj ; Peeples:2009ue ; Abazajiandegen . So far, inversions from the distribution of gas to dark matter have used rigid power-law evolution prescriptions for the temperature-density relation of the gas and its evolution over cosmic history from redshifts z=1−7. The parameterized power-law functional forms for the evolution of the temperature density relation were constrained simultaneously with the inferred matter power spectrum, within the inversion of the gas-to-matter bias in the flux power spectrum. Such work also typically includes priors from independent measures of the temperature density relation at specific redshifts, leading to very tight constraints on the global temperature density relation evolution as well as other parameters McDonald:2004xn ; Viel:2005ha .
Setting potential shortcomings of the method of inversion of the gas-matter bias relation aside, the constraints arising from the flux power spectrum from Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasars McDonald:2004xn ; Viel:2005ha are quite stringent. They are stringent due to the quoted small intrinsic errors on the shape and amplitude of the inferred matter power spectrum, but also because this initial work found that the amplitude of the inferred matter power spectrum was in tension with the WMAP 3-year results Seljak:2006bg , leading to a small and more stringent region where likelihoods for the amplitude and shape of the dark matter power spectrum were consistent (Ref. Seljak:2006bg , Fig. 1). The resulting constraint on the neutrino mass is the most aggressive to date: ∑mν≤0.17 eV (95% CL). An independent analysis of the Lyman-α forest flux power spectrum is finding a residual correlation between spectral noise and the inferred primordial flux power, that may lead to a large change in the inferred matter power spectrum shape and amplitude Abazajianflux . Finally we also note the recent and very detailed study performed by Viel:2010bn in which neutrinos were directly included in the N-body simulations from which the flux power spectra were calculated. They derive a bound based on WMAP-7 plus SDSS Lyman-α of 0.9 eV (95% C.L.).
Future forecasts of the combination of high-resolution Keck and/or VLT spectra of the Lyman-alpha forest show that the sensitivity level of Lyman-α forest measures can be quite stringent when combined with the CMB from Planck, reaching potential sensitivities of ∑mν≤0.11 eV (95% CL) Gratton:2007tb . These forecasts employ simplified models for the temperature history of the gas and global temperature-density relation evolution over cosmic time, therefore it is not certain how a more general approach would change forecast sensitivities.
iii.6 21 cm Surveys
Low frequency radio observations of the redshifted 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen map have the potential to map the distribution of matter at high redshifts measuring the matter power spectrum just as galaxy surveys do at low redshift. Two main epochs can be probed with different designs of array: the epoch of reionization (EoR) at 6≲z≲12, where neutral hydrogen is present in the intergalactic medium, and intensity mapping at z≲4 where the neutral hydrogen in dense clumps is targeted. The signal to be observed is 4-5 orders of magnitude smaller than foreground synchrotron emission from the Galaxy, making foreground removal the biggest issue for the success of these surveys. Fortunately, the smoothness of the foregrounds can be exploited to aid removal and there is cause to be optimistic.
21 cm EoR experiments measure fluctuations in the 21 cm brightness temperature Tb that can be sourced by fluctuations in the ionization field (x), arising from the ionized hydrogen bubbles around clusters of galaxies Trac and Gnedin (2009) , as well as fluctuations in the density so that the observed power spectrum includes both contributions Furlanetto et al. (2006)
P21(k,μ)=T2b(Pδδ+2Pxδ+Pxx+2μ2(Pδδ−Pxδ)+μ4Pδδ), (4)
where redshift-space distortions induce an angular dependence, with μ=^k⋅^n the angle between a Fourier mode and the line of sight. If the contribution from the ionized regions can be accurately modeled, cosmological constraints are possible. Otherwise, more precise measurements to use the angular dependence to separate the density contribution are required.
Since EoR experiments measure the power spectrum at high redshifts they can probe very large volumes where the non-linear scale is small, making many Fourier modes accessible for very precise parameter constraints. At z=8 the non-linear scale is knl=2Mpc−1, almost an order of magnitude larger than at z=0. The sensitivity of the instruments is determined primarily by their collecting area Atot and by the number of antennae Nant correlated together by the interferometer. Initial pathfinder instruments (MWA, LOFAR, PAPER, GMRT) have yet to claim a detection. Even if they do succeed, precision constraints will require the proposed Square Kilometer Array (SKA). Clever experimental design Tegmark and Zaldarriaga (2009) may allow use of the FFT to efficiently correlate many dipoles, increasing Nant dramatically and leading to an even more sensitive instrument dubbed the Fast Fourier Transform Telescope (FFTT).
Predictions for neutrino mass constraints suggest that, in combination with Planck, MWA will constrain ∑mν≈0.1eV, SKA will constrain ∑mν≈0.02eV, while the FFTT could reach ∑mν≈0.003eV McQuinn et al. (2006); Mao et al. (2008) . The sensitivity of FFTT is sufficient that, in principle, individual neutrino masses could be measured at low significance Pritchard and Pierpaoli (2008) . The constraints quoted above degrade by a factor of ∼2 when reionization modeling is required and only FFTT is capable of useful constraints (∑mν≈0.02eV) if the angular decomposition is required Mao et al. (2008) .
21 cm intensity mapping complements optical galaxy surveys at z≲3. Rather than identifying individual galaxies and then binning to estimate the density field, these experiments integrate the entire 21 cm flux emitted from the neutral hydrogen in galaxies within the beam. This sacrifices high angular resolution, most of which probes non-linear scales, for increased survey speed and reduced cost. In addition to being affected by the usual issues of galaxy bias and non-linearity on small scales, these experiments must worry about the possibility of large scale variations in the ionizing background, which could modulate the neutral hydrogen power spectrum (although recent estimates suggest this is a small effect Wyithe and Loeb (2009) ). Possible neutrino mass constraints from post-reionization 21 cm experiments are considered in Visbal et al. (2009) . For their proposed experiments MWA-5k and FFTT targeted at z=3.5 in combination with Planck they find ∑mν=0.02eV and 0.04eV respectively if constant bias is assumed. An initial application of intensity mapping at z=0.8 has recently been carried out gbt .
iii.7 Galaxy Clusters
Galaxy clusters, with masses around 1014−1015Msolar are the largest gravitationally bound objects in our Universe. Observations of cluster number counts in a given volume of the Universe provide information on the amplitude of inhomogeneities on a range of scales around k≃0.1hMpc−1 and therefore are sensitive to neutrino mass.
Clusters are observed in different wavebands: in the radio and X–ray due to intra-cluster gas emission and in the optical/infrared from their galaxies. Optical and X–ray observation have been performed and exploited for cosmological purposes in the past decades using a few hundreds of clusters, while major surveys in the radio band are starting to produce results at this time. The radio surveys exploit the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) effect from inverse Compton scattering, which has the advantage that the radio signal of clusters does not become dimmer with redshift. Future optical surveys like LSST are expected to detect a similar number of clusters.
A key issue which arises when confronting observations with theory is: while the latter makes quite precise predictions for the number of objects in a given mass range expected for a given cosmology, the mass of a cluster is not directly observable and is related in a non-trivial way to the measured quantities (optical, lensing, X-ray, and SZ signals). This mass calibration uncertainty typically constitutes the largest source of systematic error for all types of cluster observations. The standard approaches to address this issue rely on mass–observable relations calibrated either through numerical simulations or through observations (exploiting either the hypothesis of hydrostatic equilibrium or lensing effects to derive the mass). While comparing results from different methods has overcome some of the individual biases, assumptions in the scaling relations are still the outstanding issue. Future surveys delivering many more clusters at different redshifts will greatly help in addressing issues related to galaxy formation and evolution in clusters and understanding the physical processes of the intra-cluster medium.
Current limits on neutrino mass from cluster number counts essentially come from X–ray observations. Combining X–ray cluster number counts with WMAP, BAO, and SN data yields Σmν≤0.33 eV at 95% C.L. when also dark energy is considered, which is half the limit achievable without clusters Vikhlinin09 . While attempts have been made to derive cosmological constraints form clusters observed in galaxy surveys like SDSS, limits on neutrino masses have not been derived yet.
Upcoming surveys in the optical and in the radio yielding tens of thousands of clusters will also allow for the determination of the galaxy cluster power spectrum. By combining information from Planck, the number counts and the power spectrum probes from radio surveys like SPT and optical ones like LSST may achieve a precision σ(Σmν)=0.04−0.07 eV Wang06 .
iii.8 Supernovae
A core collapse supernova neutrino burst signal promises unique insights into the neutrino mass hierarchy and the mixing angle θ13. While the processes of gravitational potential growth and decay in the universe are sensitive to the cosmological neutrino background and, in particular, the neutrino mass, likely they are quite insensitive to neutrino flavor mixing. In contrast, the physics of massive star collapse and the neutrino signature from such an event is insensitive to absolute neutrino rest masses, but can be very sensitive to the neutrino mass hierarchy and flavor mixing.
Large scale numerical simulations show that there can be features in the supernova neutrino fluxes and energy spectra that have their origin in the nonlinear coupling of the flavor histories of outgoing neutrinos. Chief among these features is the spectral swap/split. In the normal mass hierarchy (NH), this swap feature manifests itself as nearly complete neutrino flavor transformation below a characteristic swap energy (∼10MeV). In the inverted mass hierarchy (IH) the swap has an opposite sense, with most neutrinos above the swap energy transforming, while those with energies below the swap energy do not. This is a fairly dramatic signature that, if detected, would pin down the nature of the hierarchy. Moreover, in the NH the swap energy depends on θ13. This energy decreases as θ13 is decreased, suggesting that a detected supernova neutrino burst could give a measure of this unknown vacuum mixing angle. In the NH we would likely need θ13>10−2−10−3 to see the swap. In contrast, in the IH the swap phenomenon and the swap energy are very insensitive to θ13, with the full swap evident even for values of this mixing angle many orders of magnitude below what could be probed in reactor and long baseline experiments.
The principal difficulties in extracting neutrino properties from a supernova neutrino burst revolve around limitations in numerical modeling and the experimental issues associated with the detection itself. Although the swap phenomenon itself probably is relatively robust, recent work makes clear that the nonlinear neutrino flavor transformation regime should be treated with a full 3×3 matrix and “multi-angle” computation. There are as yet only a few such calculations. These numerical studies are in a nascent stage, and there may be surprises as this work progresses. Core collapse supernovae in the Galaxy occur relatively infrequently (e.g., every 30 years or so), so an obvious question is whether the right kinds of detectors (e.g., water Cerenkov, liquid scintillator, etc.) will be around to catch a burst. Additionally, once the objective of detection becomes resolving a swap/split, the experimental scheme must focus on the relatively low expected swap energies. Liquid noble gas detectors being crafted for dark matter detection might be configured to do this.
Iv Model depdendence
Upper bounds on the neutrino mass — and, indeed, any positive measurement thereof in the future — from precision cosmological observations are inherently model-dependent. This dependence arises because the presence of neutrino hot dark matter manifests itself as a relatively smooth feature in the cosmological observables; Any information about the neutrino mass can be obtained only by way of statistical inference from the observational data after a parametric model has been chosen as the basis for the analysis.
As of now there is a general consensus in the cosmology community that the simplest model required to account for all cosmological observations is the concordance flat ΛCDM model. This model assumes
General relativity holds on all length scales;
The large-scale spatial geometry of the universe is flat;
The Universe consists of (a) photons, whose energy density is fixed by the COBE FIRAS measurement of the CMB temperature and energy spectrum Fixsen:1996nj , (b) three families of thermalized neutrinos whose temperature is linked to the CMB temperature via Tν=(4/11)1/3Tγ from entropy conservation arguments, and (c) atoms333The atomic part of the universe’s energy budget is often labeled “baryons” by cosmologists, since the non-baryonic part of an atom, namely the electrons, account only for a negligible fraction of the atom’s total mass., cold dark matter444A dark matter fluid is classified as cold if it is non-relativistic and has negligible velocity dispersion in the epochs relevant for the generation of CMB anisotropies and structure formation., and vacuum energy due to a cosmological constant;
The initial conditions, i.e., the statistics and amplitude of the primordial perturbations to the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker metric, are set by the simplest single-field inflation models. The perturbations are adiabatic, and minimal primordial gravitational waves are produced during inflation. The spectrum of density perturbations is described by a single spectral index ns and an amplitude As, both of which are free to vary.
Besides the parameters mentioned above, a minimal model of the CMB anisotropies requires an additional astrophysical parameter, the optical depth to reionization τ. Furthermore, a number of nuisance parameters are used in the analysis of galaxy clustering data to describe certain nonlinear effects that are, as of now, not fully understood or calculable from first principles. These are marginalized at the end of the analysis. In all there are six free physical parameters in the so-called “vanilla” model of cosmology:
Ωbh2,ΩCDMh2,ΩΛ,ns,As,τ. (5)
Spatial flatness implies Ωb+ΩCDM+ΩΛ=1, from which we can deduce the reduced Hubble parameter h. The simplest neutrino mass limits can be obtained by including in this empirical description a variable amount of hot dark matter characterized by the sum of the neutrino masses ∑mν.
A number of variations around this general framework are possible and generally fall into the following categories:
Extra relativistic species: Besides three light neutrinos, several particle physics puzzles have opened up the possibility of non-standard, sub-eV to eV particle production in the early Universe. Amongst these are light sterile neutrinos (motivated by popular interpretations of the LSND and the MiniBooNE results), and hot dark matter axions (possible solution to the strong CP problem). The energy density residing in these additional light particles is conventionally parameterized as ΔNeff, i.e., the effective number of additional “neutrino families”. Phenomenologically, the presence of additional light particles has been shown in the past to exhibit considerable degeneracy with neutrino masses Hannestad:2003xv but could even lead to tighter constraints Giusarma:2011ex . Using a combination of distance and clustering probes it is still possible to constrain ∑mν to the sub-eV level in this class of cosmological models Hamann:2010bk . It should be noted that these scenarios generically predict modifications to the outcome of big bang nucleosynthesis and thus can be independently constrained by observations of the primordial light elemental abundances (e.g., Simha:2008zj ).
Warm instead of cold dark matter: Warm dark matter (WDM) scenarios invoke keV-mass particles in order to suppress the formation of dwarf galaxy-sized objects and potentially alleviate the cusp problem in dark matter halos. The effects of replacing CDM with WDM are generally limited to the very small scales Viel:2005qj , and are not degenerate with light neutrino masses.
Inflation physics: Popular extensions to the simplest description of the primordial perturbations include a running spectral index (i.e., a scale-dependent spectral index), the presence of a significant primordial gravitational wave background (a generic prediction of certain classes of inflation models), and isocurvature modes (from, e.g., multi-field inflation). The latter two affect only the CMB anisotropies at low multipoles and are not directly degenerate with neutrino masses. A running spectral index can in principle mimic or offset to some extent the small-scale suppression in the matter power spectrum caused by free-streaming massive neutrinos. However, running can be tightly constrained by the CMB anisotropies. Indeed, constraints on ∑mν from the WMAP 5-year data were already completely indepdendent of these additional parameters from inflation Dunkley:2008ie .
Dynamical dark energy: These scenarios involve replacing the cosmological constant with a fluid whose equation of state parameter w satisfies w<−1/3 and may additionally be time-dependent. A popular realization, the so-called quintessence, uses a slowly rolling scalar field to achieve w≃−1. More elaborate variants usually involve some degree of coupling between the scalar field and other matter components. The dark energy equation of state parameter w was previously shown to exhibit considerable degeneracy with the neutrino mass 2003PhRvL..91d1301A ; Hannestad:2005gj . However, in the post-BAO era, a combination of distance probes (e.g., BAO and Supernova Ia) can very effectively remove this degeneracy Goobar:2006xz ; Reid:2009nq ; use of CMB lensing information will also help in the future linder . A more non-trivial issue concerns coupled dark energy scenarios and the possibility of their giving rise to scale-dependent clustering which may mimic or offset the effects of neutrino masses. This issue has yet to be explored in detail.
Modified gravity: These scenarios, which modify general relativity at very large distances, are primarily constructed to explain the observed late-time accelerated expansion of the universe in lieu of a cosmological constant. Phenomenologically they share some similarities with the dynamical dark energy scenarios discussed above. See linder1 ; linder2 for some discussion of the covariance of effects on the matter power spectrum from gravity modifications and from neutrino mass
Non-flat spatial geometry: Flat spatial geometry is one of the pillars of the inflationary paradigm; relaxing the assumption of spatial flatness is perhaps the least theoretically well-motivated extension to ΛCDM discussed here. Phenomenologically, non-flat scenarios modify the distance-to-redshift relations in much the same way as the modifications encountered in dynamical dark energy scenarios, and thus can be constrained using a combination of distance probes and Hubble parameter measurements kom10 , leaving virtually no room for degeneracy with ∑mν.
Several classes of cosmological models that differ radically from ΛCDM have been proposed in the literature. These include broken scale invariance Blanchard:2003du and void models that seek to explain current cosmological observations without invoking a phase of late-time accelerated expansion. While these models have found some success with certain subsets of the available data, it is generally difficult to reconcile the simplest variants with all data sets.
From the above discussion, it is fair to conclude that neutrino mass limits from cosmology can be considered robust with respect to reasonable modifications of the ΛCDM model. Nonetheless, we stress again here that these limits are necessarily derived from an inference process, and since the effects of neutrino mass on cosmological observables are purely gravitational, even a positive detection of hot dark matter in the future will not uniquely identify it as the neutrino with the correct quantum numbers. However, should a future cosmological neutrino mass measurement find concordance with the outcome of experiments sensitive to mass differences and absolute masses, then it would provide an unambiguous confirmation of the ΛCDM paradigm.
V Conclusion
It has often been said that cosmological probes of neutrino masses are complementary to terrestrial probes. On the simplest level, this is obvious in that cosmology is sensitive to the sum of the neutrino masses and terrestrial experiments probe either mass differences or different linear combinations of the masses. On a deeper level, though, information from terrestrial experiments will be a driving force in cosmology for years to come. Cosmology now has the almost unique opportunity/challenge to measure a fundamental physics parameter with a wide variety of probes. The challenge is whether each can fit its data with the plain vanilla ΛCDM model (which has been so successful to date) plus mν. If these probes converge on the value of mν measured by terrestrial experiments, it will constitute one of the great triumphs of modern cosmology. If not, then we will have evidence for new physics: quintessence, modified gravity, non-standard inflation, curvature, or other possibilities whose richness is only hinted at by the parameters used to describe them. Sorting through the possibilities will likely require new probes and drive the field for generations.
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"Politika" daily: NATO Pact among the candidates for Nobel Peace Prize
NATO is among 317 candidates for this year's Nobel Prize, "Politika" writes in today's issue
Source: Tanjug Saturday, March 7, 2020 | 10:31
Ilustracija: Depositphotos/ Photocreo
According to the Nobel Institute in Oslo, January 31 was the deadline for submitting nominations, 317 candidates were registered, including 210 distinguished individuals and 107 international organizations.
The newspaper recalls that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has been keeping the names of candidates, as well as nominees, strictly confidential for decades, and according to the committee's statute, this information has been kept for 50 years.
However, data on the candidates and their promoters are "leaking" to the public, so it is known that among the candidates are, for the second year, climate activist Greta Thunberg, but also NATO, which, according to "Politika", provoked astonishment among the part of the Norwegian political public and opposition media.
Some MPs of the ruling Conservative Right Party support NATO nomination, who believe that its military alliance has, for decades, prevented the outbreak of conflict in the world, especially during the Cold War and the former Soviet Union.
According to proponents, thanks to NATO, peace prevails in Europe for more than 70 years, though, as one of them states, "its attainment and maintenance inevitably calls for occasionally appliance of military power and start a war."
"Politika", however, concludes that Greta Thunberg is the favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize, as confirmed by bookmaker quotas, while NATO has not yet turned on the bookmakers slips.
Aleksic denied the accusations of rape, and he was remanded in custody
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According to the latest report, 849 people have died in Spain, with nearly 95.000 infected so far
World Tuesday, March 31, 2020 14:05 Comments: 0
In New York, in the last six hours, one man dies every 3 minutes from coronavirus
Currently, in the United States, 163.429 people have been infected with the coronavirus, with the death toll exceeding 3.000
Nearly 800,000 infected
A total of 785.807 cases of coronavirus patients have been registered in the world by this morning, 37.820 died and 165.659 recovered, according to Worldometers
"Most likely, coronavirus will stay with us forever"
Situation with the coronavirus pandemic can only stabilize in a few years
World Monday, March 30, 2020 21:10 Comments: 0
Spain breaks infamous records: More infected than in China; there are also sick Serbs
New 5.085 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Spain, according to the latest data
Accusations from Great Britain: China has concealed coronavirus data
China declares an end to the coronavirus epidemic on Sunday after the number of currently infected has fallen below three thousand people
China: The end of the epidemic
A coronavirus epidemic has stopped in China, according to Health Committee official Mi Feng
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French teenage girl the youngest coronavirus victim in Europe with no chronic illness
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World Friday, March 27, 2020 23:19 Comments: 0
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GUIDANCE ATHLETICS MENTORSHIP EDUCATION
Sport and education have always gone hand in hand for Danny Hall. As a collegiate coach for 30 years, Coach Hall has had tremendous success on the “diamond” and has positively impacted a countless number of student athletes from across the country.
Recently, Coach Hall realized the impact that he, staff and student athletes could have on the community surrounding Georgia Tech. It would be easy for Coach Hall to teach the basic skills of baseball and improve the fundamentals and skill set of children interested in baseball. However, Coach Hall wants to dig deeper. By developing a mentoring program using himself, staff and the student athletes of Georgia Tech he feels he can have an everlasting impact on children that are growing up with too few, or without quality role models. Introducing GAME, a non-profit organization designed to improve the lives of diasadvantaged youth. GAME is an acronymn that describes the four base principles the organizations hopes to achieve. Guidance, Athletics, Mentorship and Education.
Based on both qualitative and quantitavie research we understand that children do not automatically act with integrity or demonstrate sportsmanship. The acquisition of values is often a by-product of a series of complex processes that evolve from individuals’ experiences. GAME teaches participants a set of skills to allow them to face challenges at home, school and play in a constructive manner. The goal is for participants to internalize The "Starting Nine" Focus Areas, which are at the heart of GAMES's mission. The "Starting Nine" Focus areas are listed below:
Education - the process of facilitating learning.
Teamwork - acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause.
Sportsmanship - respecting the rules of play and those that enforce the rules; winning or losing with humility.
Respect - to feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.
Integrity - strict adherence to a standard of value or conduct; personal honesty and independence.
Responsibility - accounting for one’s actions; a dependable person that anyone can count on.
Judgement - the ability to make a decision or form an opinion; a decision reached after consideration.
Perseverance - to persist in an idea, purpose or task despite obstacles.
Confidence - reliance or trust; a feeling of self-assurance
GAME is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. EIN: 81-1301422 DLN:17053165309026
© 2018 by GAME.
Find us: 1100 Howell Mill Rd. Unit 313
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Available 24/7 - Complimentary Consultation
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A Trafficking Conviction is a Minimum Mandatory Prison Sentence
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If you’ve been arrested for the possession of a controlled substance for one or more of the following drugs such as oxycodone, adderall, xanax, and other prescription medication, there may be several defense options available for you. One that may apply to you is possessing a prescribed pill outside of its container isn’t necessarily a crime. Contact us now to find out how we can protect your rights against the penalties for a possession of a controlled substance.
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Your license may be suspended due to a drug conviction in Florida
Upon the conviction of a person 18 years of age or older for a controlled substance offence, the court shall revoke the driver license or driving privilege of the person. The period of such revocation shall be 1 year or until the person is evaluated for and, if deemed necessary, completes a drug treatment and rehabilitation program approved or regulated by the Department of Children and Families. However, the court may direct the department to issue a license for driving privilege restricted to business or employment purposes only. A driver whose license or driving privilege has been suspended or revoked may, after 6 months, petition the department for restoration of the driving privilege on a restricted or unrestricted basis. In no case shall a restricted license be available until 6 months of the suspension or revocation period has expired. If the court withholds adjudication there will be no suspension of the driver’s license.
The full statute (s. 322.055) can be seen here
Can I be charged for a controlled substance not in my possession?
Yes, this is referred to as constructive possession, which describes a situation in which you do not necessarily have the drugs on your person, but do have dominion and control over them. For instance, if police officers find drugs in your home or car, then you can be charged with possession.
Even if you’re charged with possession doesn’t mean that prosecution can make the charge stick. Drugs found in your car or home by law enforcement is not enough to convict you with a proper legal defense. Factors such as how many people in the car, who had access to the car, the location of the vehicle, are important factors to consider when putting together a defense for your case.
What if someone planted drugs in my car or home?
Without legal guidance, it can be difficult to prove how the drugs appeared in your possession. Since you are the owner of the vehicle or home in question, the burden of proof falls back on you to develop factors in your favor. In situations like this, it’s urgent that you contact an experienced drug crime attorney to help guide you through your options before settling for the wrong choice. When it comes to protecting your rights, it is also imperative to note that remaining silent is not a defense and can be used against you.
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DUI Seminole County Florida Amendments to the License Suspension Statute
Blog DUI Seminole County Florida Amendments to the License Suspension Statute Date Updated: 07-15-2017 On July 1st of 2013, the statute, Florida Statute 322.2615,
Blog Welcome to our new website! Date: 06-21-2013 The Law Offices of Matthews R. Bark, PA is proud to welcome you to our new
Charged with Possession of Cocaine? Appellate Court Reversing Convictions
Blog Charged with Possession of Cocaine? Appellate Court Reversing Convictions Date: 08-24-2013 Updated on: 11/29/20 Just yesterday, August 23rd, 2013, the Fifth District Court of
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The Spy Who Couldn't Spell
A Dyslexic Traitor, an Unbreakable Code, and the FBI's Hunt for America's Stolen Secrets
By: Yudhijit Bhattacharjee
Narrated by: Robert Fass
Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, True Crime
Three Minutes to Doomsday
An Agent, a Traitor, and the Worst Espionage Breach in U.S. History
By: Joe Navarro
Narrated by: George Newbern
In 1988 Joe Navarro, one of the youngest agents ever hired by the FBI, was dividing his time between SWAT assignments, flying air reconnaissance, and working counterintelligence. But his real expertise was "reading" body language. He possessed an uncanny ability to glean the thoughts of those he interrogated.
The best of Clancy with the best of Law & Order
By Lord Emsworth on 07-17-17
The Spy Who Was Left Behind
By: Michael Pullara
Narrated by: Michael Pullara
On August 8, 1993, a single bullet to the head killed Freddie Woodruff, the Central Intelligence Agency’s station chief in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Within hours, police had a suspect - a vodka-soaked village bumpkin named Anzor Sharmaidze. A tidy explanation quickly followed: It was a tragic accident. US diplomats hailed Georgia’s swift work. Yet the bullet that killed Woodruff was never found, and key witnesses have since retracted their testimony, saying they were beaten and forced to identify Sharmaidze. But if he didn’t do it, who did?
great book needs a hires narrator
By Blake Dahl on 11-17-18
Spies in the Family
An American Spymaster, His Russian Crown Jewel, and the Friendship That Helped End the Cold War
By: Eva Dillon
Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
In the summer of 1975, 17-year-old Eva Dillon's family was living in New Delhi when her father was exposed as a CIA spy. Eva had long believed that her father was a US State Department employee. She had no idea that he was handling the CIA's highest ranking double agent - Dmitri Fedorovich Polyakov, a Soviet general whose code name was TOPHAT. Dillon's father and Polyakov had a close friendship that went back years, to their first meeting in Burma in the mid-1960s.
By SaraofDI on 11-06-17
Best of Enemies
The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War
By: Gus Russo, Eric Dezenhall
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
In 1978, CIA maverick Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko were new arrivals on the Washington, D.C., intelligence scene, with Jack working out of the CIA's counterintelligence office and Gennady out of the Soviet Embassy. Both men were assigned to seduce the other into betraying his country in the final days of the Cold War, but instead the men ended up becoming the best of friends. Theirs is a friendship that never should have happened, and their story is chock full of treachery, darkly comic misunderstandings, bureaucratic inanity, and landmark intelligence breakthroughs.
By M.E. on 01-13-19
By: Gus Russo, and others
By: Ken Bensinger
Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
The definitive, shocking account of the FIFA scandal - the biggest international corruption case of recent years, spearheaded by US investigators, involving dozens of countries, and implicating nearly every aspect of the world’s most popular sport, soccer, including its biggest event, the World Cup.
Football Must
By Miguel on 08-22-18
The Billion Dollar Spy
A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal
By: David E. Hoffman
Narrated by: Dan Woren
While getting into his car on the evening of February 16, 1978, the chief of the CIA's Moscow station was handed an envelope by an unknown Russian. Its contents stunned the Americans: details of top-secret Soviet research and development in military technology that was totally unknown to the United States.
Compelling as historical thriller, character study
By Mr. Pointy on 08-25-15
The Rescue Artist
A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece
By: Edward Dolnick
Narrated by: Sean Crisden
In the predawn hours of a gloomy February day in 1994, two thieves entered the National Gallery in Oslo and made off with one of the world's most famous paintings, Edvard Munch's Scream. It was a brazen crime committed while the whole world was watching the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Baffled and humiliated, the Norwegian police turned to the one man they believed could help: a half English, half American undercover cop named Charley Hill, the world's greatest art detective.
Fascinating, educational, and a great police story
By MAGJAG on 06-29-19
Chasing Phil
The Adventures of Two Undercover Agents with the World's Most Charming Con Man
By: David Howard
Narrated by: Joe Ochman
The Thunderbird Motel, 1977. J. J. Wedick and Jack Brennan - two fresh-faced, maverick FBI agents - were about to embark on one of their agency's first wire-wearing undercover missions. Their target? Charismatic, globetrotting con man Phil Kitzer, whom some called the world's greatest swindler. From the Thunderbird, the three men took off to Cleveland, to Miami, to Hawaii, to Frankfurt, to the Bahamas - meeting other members of Kitzer's crime syndicate and powerful politicians and businessmen he fooled at each stop.
By dogcow on 05-05-18
In the Enemy's House
The Secret Saga of the FBI Agent and the Code Breaker Who Caught the Russian Spies
By: Howard Blum
Narrated by: David Colacci
In 1946, genius linguist and codebreaker Meredith Gardner discovered that the KGB was running an extensive network of strategically placed spies inside the United States, whose goal was to infiltrate American intelligence and steal the nation's military and atomic secrets. Over the course of the next decade, he and young FBI supervisor Bob Lamphere worked together on Venona, a top-secret mission to uncover the Soviet agents and protect the Holy Grail of Cold War espionage - the atomic bomb.
Excellent non-fiction spy story
By Katherine on 10-13-18
A Spy Among Friends
Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
By: Ben Macintyre
Kim Philby was the greatest spy in history, a brilliant and charming man who rose to head Britain's counterintelligence against the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War - while he was secretly working for the enemy. And nobody thought he knew Philby like Nicholas Elliott, Philby's best friend and fellow officer in MI6.
Reads like a spy novel
By Kate M. on 08-15-14
The Ice Diaries
The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Daring Mission
By: Captain William R. Anderson, Don Keith - contributor
Narrated by: Roger Mueller
The Ice Diaries tells the incredible true story of Captain William R. Anderson and his crew's harrowing top-secret mission aboard the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. Bristling with newly classified, never-before-published information, The Ice Diaries takes listeners on a dangerous journey beneath the vast, unexplored Arctic ice cap during the height of the Cold War.
a great book about brave men
By TDL Martin on 02-05-20
By: Captain William R. Anderson, and others
Scarface and the Untouchable
Al Capone, Eliot Ness, and the Battle for Chicago
By: Max Allan Collins, A. Brad Schwartz
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Max Allan Collins, A. Brad Schwartz
A Mystery Writers of America “Grand Master” - author of the gangster classic Road to Perdition, longtime Dick Tracy writer, and multiple Shamus Award winner - teams with an acclaimed rising young historian in this riveting, myth-shattering dual portrait of Al Capone, America’s most notorious gangster, and Eliot Ness, the legendary Prohibition agent whose extraordinary investigative work crippled his organization.
Very interesting listen
By Erin Peper on 10-25-18
By: Max Allan Collins, and others
Above Suspicion
By: Joe Sharkey
Narrated by: Marc Cashman
A personal look at a crime of passion describes an FBI agent's successful career, family life, and extramarital affair that ended in murder, and the guilt that drove him to confess in spite of his impenetrable government shield. In a true story of crime, guilt, and conscience, a model agent's illicit involvement with an informant leads him to commit a crime that reveals all the workings of the human heart - and the dark side of the FBI.
Excellent journalism
By 6catz on 02-01-17
Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage
By: Cliff Stoll
Narrated by: Will Damron
Before the internet became widely known as a global tool for terrorists, one perceptive US citizen recognized its ominous potential. Armed with clear evidence of computer espionage, he began a highly personal quest to expose a hidden network of spies that threatened national security. But would the authorities back him up? Cliff Stoll's dramatic firsthand account is "a computer-age detective story, instantly fascinating [and] astonishingly gripping" - Smithsonian.
My favorite non-fiction book!
By Philip Lowe on 08-28-20
Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal.
By: Evan Ratliff
Narrated by: Evan Ratliff
The incredible true story of the decade-long quest to bring down Paul Le Roux - the creator of a frighteningly powerful internet-enabled cartel who merged the ruthlessness of a drug lord with the technological savvy of a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.
Is it me? Yawn.
By Edward Mann on 12-20-19
The Life and Times of Charles Manson
By: Jeff Guinn
Narrated by: Jim Frangione
More than 40 years ago Charles Manson and his mostly female commune killed nine people, among them the pregnant actress Sharon Tate. It was the culmination of a criminal career that author Jeff Guinn traces back to Manson’s childhood. Guinn interviewed Manson’s sister and cousin, neither of whom had ever previously cooperated with an author. Childhood friends, cellmates, and even some members of the Manson family have provided new information about Manson’s life. Guinn has made discoveries about the night of the Tate murders, answering unresolved questions.
Thought It would like every other Manson book I own....
By leelee8888 on 06-11-19
The Spy and the Traitor
The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
5 out of 5 stars 6,262
Unfolding the delicious three-way gamesmanship between America, Britain, and the Soviet Union, and culminating in the gripping cinematic beat-by-beat of Oleg Gordievsky's nail-biting escape from Moscow in 1985, Ben Macintyre's latest may be his best yet. Like the greatest novels of John le Carré, it brings listeners deep into a world of treachery and betrayal, where the lines bleed between the personal and the professional, and one man's hatred of communism had the power to change the future of nations.
Lost almost a nights sleep to this... and well worth it.
By George Smith on 10-09-18
Spam Nation
The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime - from Global Epidemic to Your Front Door
By: Brian Krebs
Narrated by: Christopher Lane
In Spam Nation, investigative journalist and cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs unmasks the criminal masterminds driving some of the biggest spam and hacker operations targeting Americans and their bank accounts. Tracing the rise, fall, and alarming resurrection of the digital mafia behind the two largest spam pharmacies - and countless viruses, phishing, and spyware attacks - he delivers the first definitive narrative of the global spam problem and its threat to consumers everywhere.
Risky topic, but Br. Krebs hits it out of the park
By RRiley on 12-21-14
The thrilling, true-life account of the FBI's hunt for ingenious traitor Brian Regan - known as the Spy Who Couldn't Spell.
Before Edward Snowden's infamous data breach, the largest theft of government secrets was committed by an ingenious traitor whose intricate espionage scheme and complex system of coded messages were made even more baffling by his dyslexia. His name is Brian Regan, but he came to be known as the Spy Who Couldn't Spell.
In December of 2000, FBI special agent Steven Carr of the bureau's Washington, DC, office received a package from FBI New York: a series of coded letters from an anonymous sender to the Libyan consulate, offering to sell classified US intelligence. The offer, and the threat, were all too real. A self-proclaimed CIA analyst with top secret clearance had information about US reconnaissance satellites, air defense systems, weapons depots, munitions factories, and underground bunkers throughout the Middle East.
Rooting out the traitor would not be easy, but certain clues suggested a government agent with a military background, a family, and a dire need for money. Leading a diligent team of investigators and code breakers, Carr spent years hunting down a dangerous spy and his cache of stolen secrets.
In this fast-paced true-life spy thriller, Yudhijit Bhattacharjee reveals how the FBI unraveled Regan's strange web of codes to build a case against a man who nearly collapsed America's military security.
©2016 Yudhijit Bhattacharjee (P)2016 Penguin Audio
We Were the Lucky Ones
Hate Inc.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
What listeners say about The Spy Who Couldn't Spell
Great Great Great Story Telling, What a Great Book!
Soon as I read an excerpt online about this book I marked my calendar with the book's release data. On the date it came out, November 1st, I ordered it on Audible and finished listening to it in 8 days. It's an amazing book. The story telling is suspenseful and I could not get enough of it. Get this book, you won't regret it! A+++++++
Excellent read/listen
An amazing story. My only disappointment was reaching the end of the book.
Not a riveting thriller, but a fascinating story
Definitely an interesting story I was surprised to have never heard about. The tale of an awkward American spy who became the first ever to face the death penalty for espionage
Well worth the listen
SkinnerAK
Compelling story, well read.
The story is regularly diverted, with details on encryption and cipher, that I found impossible to follow. nearly lost me several times, before returning to the story.
Read, don't listen...
struggled to listen...there were too many times where the narration was a string tedious numbers, describing how codes are built. you had to listen to number after number...can't skim over, like when you read.
it was difficult to enjoy. also, the story was told in more of an account. I did not get lost in the story...I just was looking forward to it being over.
Excellent Story and Narration
I listened to this in my car for two weeks, the story was great and I never lost interest. Narration was good and kept it appealing.
Well written and engaging
This book is based on an interesting topic in our history and is presented in such a way that I had a hard time turning it off. It is well-written. Robert Fass was an excellent narrator for this story.
JRP11
Wonderful'. Excellent! Don't give up after a few chapters. It takes awhile to get into, but worth the wait.
Bruceski
I enjoy the concept of cryptography and discovery. This book has lots of those topics.
Very enjoyable and intriguing listen.
Thrilling & True
Would you listen to The Spy Who Couldn't Spell again? Why?
yes - to soak in any details that I missed the 1st time.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
Steve Carr's out of the box thinking. Why the spy did not plead guilty & why he was sentenced with the death penalty. The exhaustive search for threats to national security.
Which character – as performed by Robert Fass – was your favorite?
F.B.I. Special Agent Steve Carr
It has thrilling & tense parts & lots of facts to help the reader understand the true threat to National Security.
Simon Zohhadi
The Dyslexic Syp !
Treachery is an evil crime which has serious and often incalculable consequences. In my country (UK), the Cambridge Five and others did it for political reasons; and foolishly, the political system they backed (communism) failed in the Soviet Union and is now almost extinct. Brian Regan attempted to betray his country (USA) by stealing and passing on top secret information, mainly of the satellite variety, to countries such as Libya and Iraq in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Even the Libyans did not trust him ! He also appeared to betray his country for possibly the worst possible reason: money. He was caught and sentenced to life imprisonment. Brian was dyslexic which adds an unusual angle to this true story.
A thrilling, heart felt book
A brilliant spy book, beautifully written and composed. Its a real page turner and written with feeling and compassion.
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SEMA: Foose P-32 Hot Rod
Oct 31st 2006 at 8:54PM
Chip Foose is a magician. And not the David Blaine, look-at-me-while-I-live-underwater-for-a-month kind of magician. He's the kind we like. He's a wizard with metal. Famous for turning muscle cars into resto-mods or all-out customs that manage to grab their fair share of awards over the year, he also does one-offs as just plain labors of love.
Today he showed his P-32 Lincoln Zephyr V-12-powered homage to the returning flyboys who got back from WWII and decided to build themselves something that would capture the thrills of the fighters and bombers they left behind when they came marching home.
More of a classic rod than Foose's more artistic redoings of muscle cars that have put Overhaulin' on the map, the P-32 Street Fighter has the look of something that would have been made in the '40s or '50s. P-40 Warbird-style exhaust, riveted windscreen trim, a machined nosecone and a stripped out interior all lend a period feel. Very, very cool. Every pic is clickable for a desktop size wallpaper.
ChipFoose
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Mariana Trench: Deepest-ever sub dive finds plastic bag
By Rebecca Morelle
Science Correspondent, BBC News
image copyrightTamara Stubbs
image captionThe latest dive reached 10,927m (35,849ft) beneath the waves - a new record
An American explorer has found plastic waste on the seafloor while breaking the record for the deepest ever dive.
Victor Vescovo descended nearly 11km (seven miles) to the deepest place in the ocean - the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench.
He spent four hours exploring the bottom of the trench in his submersible, built to withstand the immense pressure of the deep.
He found sea creatures, but also found a plastic bag and sweet wrappers.
It is the third time humans have reached the ocean's extreme depths.
image copyrightAtlantic Productions for Discovery Channel
image captionThe explorers believe they have discovered four new species of prawn-like crustaceans called amphipods
The first dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench took place in 1960 by US Navy lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard in a vessel called the bathyscaphe Trieste.
Movie director James Cameron then made a solo plunge half a century later in 2012 in his bright green sub.
Mariana Trench: Deepest ocean 'teems with microbes'
Fly through the Mariana Trench
James Cameron back on surface after deepest ocean dive
The latest descent, which reached 10,927m (35,849ft) beneath the waves, is now the deepest by 11m - making Victor Vescovo the new record holder.
image copyrightReeve Jolliffe
image captionDon Walsh (left), who dived to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 1960, congratulated Victor Vescovo (right)
In total, Mr Vescovo and his team made five dives to the bottom of the trench during the expedition. Robotic landers were also deployed to explore the remote terrain.
Mr Vescovo said: "It is almost indescribable how excited all of us are about achieving what we just did.
"This submarine and its mother ship, along with its extraordinarily talented expedition team, took marine technology to a ridiculously higher new level by diving - rapidly and repeatedly - into the deepest, harshest, area of the ocean."
media captionVictor Vescovo descended almost 11km in a submersible to the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean
Witnessing the dive from the Pacific was Don Walsh. He told BBC News: "I salute Victor Vescovo and his outstanding team for the successful completion of their historic explorations into the Mariana Trench.
"Six decades ago, Jacques Piccard and I were the first to visit that deepest place in the world's oceans.
"Now in the winter of my life, it was a great honour to be invited on this expedition to a place of my youth."
The team believes it has discovered four new species of prawn-like crustaceans called amphipods, saw a creature called a spoon worm 7,000m-down and a pink snailfish at 8,000m.
They also discovered brightly coloured rocky outcrops, possibly created by microbes on the seabed, and collected samples of rock from the seafloor.
Humanity's impact on the planet was also evident with the discovery of plastic pollution. It's something that other expeditions using landers have seen before.
Millions of tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year, but little is known about where a lot of it ends up.
image captionVictor Vescovo spent four hours exploring the bottom of the trench
The scientists now plan to test the creatures they collected to see if they contain microplastics - a recent study found this was a widespread problem, even for animals living in the deep.
The dive forms part of the Five Deeps expedition - an attempt to explore the deepest points in each of the world's five oceans.
It has been funded by Mr Vescovo, a private equity investor, who before turning his attention to the ocean's extreme depths also climbed the highest peaks on the planet's seven continents.
image captionThe 4.6m-long, 3.7m-high DSV Limiting Factor submersible was built by the US-based company Triton Submarines
image captionAfter the record dive, the submersible was brought back on the expedition's main vessel - the DSSV Pressure Drop
As well as the Mariana Trench in the Pacific, in the last six months dives have also taken place in the Puerto Rico Trench in the Atlantic Ocean (8,376m/27,480ft down), the South Sandwich Trench in the Southern Ocean (7,433m/24,388ft) and the Java Trench in Indian Ocean (7,192m/23,596ft).
The final challenge will be to reach the bottom of the Molloy Deep in the Arctic Ocean, which is currently scheduled for August 2019.
The 4.6m-long, 3.7m-high submersible - called the DSV Limiting Factor - was built by the US-based company Triton Submarines, with the aim of having a vessel that could make repeated dives to any part of the ocean.
At its core is a 9cm-thick titanium pressure hull that can fit two people, so dives can be performed solo or as a pair.
It can withstand the crushing pressure found at the bottom of the ocean: 1,000 bars, which is the equivalent of 50 jumbo jets piled on top of a person.
Atlantic Productions for Discovery Channel
Mariana Trench
10,994Deepest natural trench in metres
1960First dive
3Number of dives to date
2,146Higher than Mount Everest in metres, if inverted
Source: Deepsea Challenge/Geology.com
As well as working under pressure, the sub has to operate in the pitch black and near freezing temperatures.
These conditions also made it challenging to capture footage - the Five Deeps expedition has been followed by Atlantic Productions for a documentary for the Discovery Channel.
Anthony Geffen, creative director of Atlantic Productions, said it was the most complicated filming he'd ever been involved with.
"Our team had to pioneer new camera systems that could be mounted on the submersible, operate at up to 10,000m below sea level and work with robotic landers with camera systems that would allow us to film Victor's submersible on the bottom of the ocean.
"We also had to design new rigs that would go inside Victor's submersible and capture every moment of Victor's dives."
After the Five Deeps expedition is complete later this year, the plan is to pass the submersible onto science institutions so researchers can continue to use it.
The challenges of exploring the deep ocean - even with robotic vehicles - has made the ocean trenches one of the last frontiers on the planet.
Once thought to be remote, desolate areas, the deep sea teems with life. There is also growing evidence that they are carbon sinks, playing a role in regulating the Earth's chemistry and climate.
Follow Rebecca on Twitter.
All pictures subject to copyright
Deep-sea exploration
Mariana Trench: Record-breaking journey to the bottom of the ocean
In pictures: Dive to Mariana Trench
Ocean trench: Take a dive 11,000m down
The Five Deeps Expedition
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Related Expertise: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Principal Investors & Private Equity
Private Equity’s Chance to Stand Up for Diversity and Inclusion
16 June 2020 By Lorenna Buck, Tawfik Hammoud, and Vinay Shandal
As protests erupted over the death on May 25 of George Floyd, the latest Black American to be killed by a police officer while in custody, numerous CEOs stepped up to condemn police brutality and racism. Their expressions of outrage are welcome. But centuries of structural disadvantage, civil rights violations, and unjustified violence demand more from the private sector than words. Companies and investors must use this moment to ask how they as organizations can accelerate progress toward racial justice. And one group of investors that so far has been notably absent from the debate could make a big difference: private equity firms.
Individually, PE firms are small. But collectively they represent about 5% of America’s GDP. In 2018 they employed almost 9 million people, and they are a rapidly growing part of our economy. Acting together, they could have an outsize positive social impact.
In light of the branding challenges that the sector has faced, this may be an opportunity to show leadership on the intertwined social justice issues of historically entrenched racism and white privilege. PE firms’ playbook focuses on creating value by working with management to improve the companies they own. So why not put a diverse leadership team and an inclusive culture at the heart of that?
Change can occur at the general partner (GP) level—the level at which PE firms source, execute, and manage investments—and at the portfolio company level. Because GPs are not massive organizations, they can act nimbly. And the companies they own tend to be small and less burdened by the complex bureaucracies typical of public companies. The moral imperative to promote justice, equality, and human rights is reason enough to speak up against embedded structural violence and racism. But the PE sector should also take into account the compelling near-term strategic benefits of taking action.
Aside from reputational risk, inaction creates business risks in the form of lost opportunities for value creation. Research has established that How Diverse Leadership Teams Boost Innovation. Diverse teams operating in an inclusive culture foster innovation, a critical capability at a time of extreme social and economic uncertainty. Emerging as a winner on the other side of COVID-19 will demand radically new ways of thinking and acting.
Moreover, to attract top talent, companies must foster a culture that enables people of color to bring their full, authentic selves to work and must assemble an employee base that reflects the makeup of the population. Certainly, unconscious biases that surface in the workplace are real and difficult to tackle, but addressing them is essential.
PE firms can take a number of steps to confront and overcome racism—both at the GP level and in their portfolio.
In the short term, they must ensure that employees of color feel safe, heard, and respected during difficult times. Although everyone is feeling stressed and worried right now, employees of color may be disproportionately affected or may experience the strains related to the current upheavals in different ways. Leaders need to check in, listen, and resist the urge to impose their views when others are speaking to their pain. Just listen.
In the longer term, leaders should increase their firms’ diversity at the GP level. This means creating truly representative leadership teams, deal teams, and operating teams. In their portfolio companies, they must install diverse boards and C-suites. Firms should look closely at their supplier diversity, set metrics, and pressure their advisors (including legal, accounting, financial, and commercial vendors) to bring diverse teams to the table. Beyond holding themselves accountable on these measures, they should compete with other firms to lead the way—and since PE professionals are among the world’s most competitive, rising to this challenge should come naturally.
Beyond that, we encourage GPs to direct their philanthropic programs to the broader community and enable employees to engage directly with historically marginalized groups. Most powerfully, PE firms can adapt their deal-sourcing processes to fuel the growth of Black-owned businesses and thereby have a direct impact on the economic success of this community and beyond. Overall, as earlier BCG research has shown, companies with greater total societal impact performance across dimensions such as ethical capacity and access and inclusion can deliver better financial performance.
Still, installing diverse leadership teams and boards and adapting deal-sourcing practices are only part of the equation. Diversity without an inclusive culture is not enough. Until individuals of color can pursue their responsibilities in a genuinely inclusive environment that enables them to succeed, a company’s work toward establishing a truly healthy and equitable business environment is not done.
PE firms should also treat diversity and inclusion as an opportunity to do more than catch up. Perhaps the most promising aspect of the situation is the potential for the sector to multiply its impact. Given the success that PE firms have had in scaling their businesses, some of which exit into the public markets, private equity can have a ripple effect. PE can create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive—while also taking a principled stand on a matter of immense and urgent importance.
Lorenna Buck
Tawfik Hammoud
Managing Director & Senior Partner; Global Leader, Principal Investors & Private Equity Practice
Vinay Shandal
How Sustainable Finance Is Shifting the Future of Investing
Managing the Next Decade of Women’s Wealth
Institutional Investors Discover the Power of Purpose
How Big Investors Can Have a Bigger Societal Impact
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Manufactured outrage will drive young people out of politics
Another week and another social media scandal. Most recently, the deputy leader of one of Wales’s political parties has come unstuck with a series of posts on his website. However the manufactured outrage expressed some is in danger of damaging our politics and driving young people out.
The politician in question is Chris Were (Chris who? you might ask). Were is the deputy leader of the Wales Green Party, and former Green activist Anne Greagsby along with Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives have all condemned his online posts. Plaid have gone as far as to call for his expulsion from the Green party arguing it unacceptable that someone with “such a prominent position” who is in “the public eye” should use such language.
Were has now removed the comments but edited highlights were reproduced by Martin Shipton in the Western Mail (May 15th). Were’s comments are clearly unacceptable and fall short of what one might expect from someone seeking public office. But was Plaid Cymru’s response measured?
Without wishing to offend, the Wales Green Party has hardly been an electoral force, and describing the deputy leadership of the party as a ‘prominent position’ is perhaps slightly stretching reality. With Chris Were as their lead candidate, the Greens garnered in 2011 just 4,857 votes in South Wales East out of an electorate of 469,486. I doubt Plaid’s Lindsay Whittle will have any sleepless nights worrying about whether he’ll lose his list seat to Chris Were come 2016.
It goes without saying that sexist, racist and homophobic remarks are repellent, from anyone, whoever they may be. But the manufactured outrage expressed by some over Were is hypocritical and risks driving young people out of politics.
With over 33 million users in the UK, Facebook is rapidly replacing the pub or the rugby club as the place for social interaction. Our next generation of politicians will have grown-up on social media. And while prejudiced remarks are never acceptable, we need to do more to accommodate the Facebook mistakes and Twitter indiscretions of young people, and young political activists in particular.
Labour’s James Brinning, then 19 should not have been suspended as a Cardiff council candidate for remarks he posted as a 15 year old. Paris Brown, the former police youth commissioner for Kent should have been properly vetted before her appointment.
The public already feels that politicians are a breed apart from ordinary people. The increasing professionalisation of our politics is feeding the nation’s mood of political disengagement. Some parties now advise candidates to remove online accounts and edit profiles. If we don’t allow young political activists to be real people, then the next generation of politicians will look even less like the people they seek to represent.
Of course a line needs to be drawn and we wouldn’t expect a budding AM to have a Tweet feed akin to Frankie Boyle. But all political parties need to call a cease-fire on the ‘outrage arms-race’. Party machines should respond appropriately to inappropriate comments, and opponents should concede space for an apology rather than baying for blood.
In Were’s case, his party leader was spot on. While distancing herself from his comments, Pippa Bartolotti said “The Green Party is a forgiving party. The deputy leader is a young person with lessons to learn”.
Given the reaction of other political parties, it seems it’s not just Chris Were who has some lessons to learn.
Steve Brooks is director of the Electoral Reform Society Wales and a Trustee of the Bevan Foundation. He writes in a personal capacity and also tweets from @stephenbrooksUK
Lessons from lockdown: Mark Isherwood MS »
A view from the Senedd »
When “following the science” is not enough »
Being an AM by video conference »
How think tanks can change Wales »
Does the draft Welsh budget solve poverty? »
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Home » Canavan Lays Out Goals for UGBC Environmental Committee
News, On Campus, Featured Story
Canavan Lays Out Goals for UGBC Environmental Committee
by Samantha Karl
September 20, 2018 Updated June 5, 2020 at 6:06 pm
As Kate Canavan, newly appointed chair of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College’s environmental committee and MCAS ’21, assumes her new role within BC’s student governing body, she is concentrating on increasing her committee’s presence on campus.
“Last year, I was a Class of 2021 senator and a member of the environmental committee, and this year, the SA has made changes to ensure that we, as committees, are held accountable for making things happen,” she said. “This year as the environmental chair, I hope to make sure all the members of my committee feel excited and enthusiastic about what they are trying to accomplish and keep that enthusiasm alive throughout the entirety of the year.”
The mission of the environmental committee is to produce an agenda for long and short term goals for environmental change on campus and connect more students who are concerned about the environment with the administration, according to Canavan.
The committee has four members including herself, and Canavan has high hopes for each of them. So far, Canavan has noticed that the individual committee members have their own ideas on how to make BC more green. As a committee, the group’s primary goals are to educate students on the environment, while urging them to recycle and compost.
Last year, she took part in the resolution concerning the administration’s divestment from fossil fuels in her role as a committee member. Canavan said UGBC collaborated with many other environmental groups on campus, such as Climate Justice for BC (CJBC). CJBC’s prior research on divestment enhanced the final product of the divestment resolution and continues to be a resource both UGBC and CJBC can use, according to Canavan. Her takeaway from the joint effort was to make it her priority to continue relationships with environmental groups across campus in 2018, because through partnerships, the committee can better grapple with larger institutional changes.
“We are going to be setting up meetings with other environmental groups on campus to see what UGBC can do to help their attain their goals which in turn, helps the committee attain our goals,” Canavan said.
In the long term, educating and empowering the general student body to make more informed decisions concerning the environment is paramount in the committee chair list of priorities.
“There is a lot of red tape that comes with a lot of the bigger, more substantial changes, which is what makes change in the dining hall a long term goal, but we are hoping to address that,” Canavan said.
Increasing environmental education outreach past outside of the dining halls is an example of a shorter term goal the committee is taking on. Although there are signs around the dining halls that depict what items are recyclable and compostable, she believes more change needs to take place in residence halls—beginning with adding similar flyers in dormitory hallways to the ones students might find in Lower or Mac.
Many of the issues Canavan wants to address will be addressed in a video campaign that the committee will spend this semester working on. She plans to collaborate with the communications division of UGBC to have a finished product by second semester.
On a related note, the environmental committee is also working with the UGBC Student Initiatives’ department on establishing a solid connection to BC Dining. Recently, the committee met with the department’s director of sustainability, Pia Montenez, MCAS ’21 where it received contacts UGBC has in Dining Services to reach out to about creating more eco-friendly dining halls. The partnership is intended to give UGBC the opportunity to use its collective voice rather than just the committee’s to establish a stronger link to one of the University’s most important student service providers.
It is important, as a committee chair, to listen to what the general student body has to say, Canavan said. Her work with Dining Services provides an opportunity to act on that: The environmental committee will be setting up meetings with BC Dining and University administrators to address students’ concerns and see how the committee’s plans for more environmental education can come to fruition.
“We really want to make sure we can address a variety of environmental issues and combine our efforts to realize a lot of different perspectives can be shared together in one finished product,” Canavan said.
Featured Image Courtesy of Kate Canavan
UGBC CJBC environmental dining services kate canavan committee pia montenez
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Beaut Awards
The Late Late Show returns this Friday
By Fiona Flynn
The kids are going back to school, Electric Picnic is almost here, and The Late Late Show is back this Friday night - it's safe to say, summer is over. Let's not pretend there's not a small part of us looking forward to the routine of it all again though, and in case you're not, well you've got a decent enough Late Late Show lineup to get you through.
First up, there will be some genuine honest-to-God Hollywood stars on the show, and from our own shores too. Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan both paid Ryan a visit on Wednesday evening for what was a pre-recorded interview that will go out on Friday night's show. This writer was actually lucky enough to have a seat in the audience, but I won't ruin it other than to say the lads are just lovely, so they are. The pair were chatting about their new World War II movie Anthropoid, as well as their popular TV shows Peaky Blinders and The Fall, while there was of course mention of Jamie Dornan's role in the 50 Shades movies, which he has just finished filming.
Jamie also talked about how his new-found fame hasn't changed him;
"The fame aspect that comes with being a working actor does not intrigue me in the slightest," he tells Tubridy, "I think something like being Irish helps, and my friends. There’s just no allowance for it... In your life, no matter what happens or how much notoriety you gain through your work, the fundamentals of your life don’t change. I hope not. Your wife, your kids, your family and your friends, all that stuff, the stuff that makes you, doesn’t change. On nights like this when you go to a premiere and it all seems crazy, it’s all very heightened but every day is totally normal. It’s just a job, you go to work and do your job and then that’s it."
Besides all that excitement though, Ryan will also honour some of our Olympic champs we became so taken with the last few weeks. That does of course meanCork's O'Donovan brothers will be in to chat to Ryan about their silver medal success in Rio and they're glittering homecoming to Skibbereen earlier this week.
Fellow silver medalist Annalise Murphy will also be talking about her success in Rio, while Ryan will also chat to boxer Michael Conlon, who became part of one of the biggest upsets in Ireland’s Olympic history when he failed to qualify for a medal in a fight he (and many others) felt that he clearly won.
However, as we all know, the Olympics was marred in controversy for Ireland pretty early on. Ryan talks to Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross who found himself in the eye of the storm when he travelled to Rio after news broke of the ticket touting scandal. Minister Ross will give viewers his unique insight into what went down in Brazil, the questions that need to be answered and how he’s going about getting those answers.
The Late Late Show returns this Friday on RTE1 at 9.35pm.
*Update: There they are now...
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Toggle Menu (Division of Diversity and Inclusion)
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A Message from President Barry H. Corey
My prayer is that Biola University will increasingly become a university that attracts and develops Christians who model a biblical understanding of unity amidst diversity and racial reconciliation, and grasp God’s heart for the beautiful breadth of his people throughout his world.
This commitment is at the heart of our Statement of Unity Amidst Diversity. It is a commitment that runs deep in Biola’s heritage, dating to the laying of its first cornerstone more than a century ago in downtown Los Angeles, when founder Lyman Stewart said of Biola that “all people, without reference to race, color, class, creed, or previous condition, will ever be welcome to its privileges.”
As we pursue this vision, my prayer is that this community would step forward in new ways to engage the many diverse voices and perspectives within and beyond our campus borders. Through the work of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, Cabinet, Senior Leadership and nine academic schools, our goal is to prepare students who are intellectually and experientially cross-cultural Christians, able to live out the saving grace of the gospel in diverse settings and provide servant leadership where the world most desperately needs it. We must continue our commitment and accountability to attract and nurture the many dimensions of diversity in our faculty, staff and student populations. In so doing we will become more and more a university that reflects the kingdom mosaic of God’s people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).
Barry H. Corey,
Why Diversity is a Value at Biola
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AMD updates its Never Settle Forever bundle
Written by Matthew Lambert
Tags: #free-games #gaming-evolved #murdered-soul-suspect #never-settle-forever #thief
Companies: #amd
AMD is today rolling out an update to its Never Settle Forever bundle, promising more titles and variety as well as availability with a wider range of its graphics hardware.
The Never Settle Forever bundle is AMD's ongoing promotion, whereby purchasers of certain AMD graphics cards from participating retailers are eligible for up to three free games, as well as a few other bonuses.
The company claims that this latest update is a response both to customer demand for more and newer titles as well as to the fact that the previous bundles were a few months out of date and did not incorporate the full range of AMD's latest cards.
As you can see, everything from the R7 240 series up to the mighty R9 295X2 is now included in the promotion. The tiered system of bronze, silver and gold (one, two and three free games respectively) is being maintained. Users will need an R7 260 or R9 270 series card to qualify for the silver tier, while only those who buy an R9 280 series card or higher are eligible for the gold one.
While games from the previous offer are being carried over, AMD is adding a number of new and unreleased ones to the lineup from which users can pick. Thief, AMD's TrueAudio launch title and the latest Mantle-compatible game, was recently added, and will continue to be offered in both the gold and silver tiers. Murdered: Soul Suspect, which is a few months out, is now also available for the gold and silver tiers – users will receive the code upon the game's release. It doesn't support Mantle, but will have AMD optimised technologies, much some other recent Square Enix titles like Tomb Raider and Deux Ex: Human Revolution.
Also introduced as of today are a selection of indie titles, a first for a graphics card package. Guacamelee!, Dyad, The Banner Saga and Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack are the current choices. It's also worth noting that for each game choice you have (i.e. two in the silver tier) you're able to pick two indie games.
Other new additions include what AMD is referring to as classic titles. For these, AMD is working closely with developers who have optimised their game codes for AMD hardware, and offering a selection of games released in the past few years which users may have missed at the time.
The full list of the current 21 games and their global availability is listed below – in case where games aren't available, AMD ensures us it's due to regional availability issues rather than their own program.
Finally, each tier of the Never Settle Forever bundle comes with some extra bonus offers. First is a key code for three months' free use of Splashtop, which lets you stream games from a PC to mobile devices over your home network. Next up is $10 off the AMD Radeon RAMDISK 64GB software, and lastly is the AMD Operator Bundle for the free-to-play game FireFall, which includes some exclusive armour and equipment.
The Never Settle Forever codes will be delivered physically or digitally, depending on the retailer and board partner in question. The coupon is good for a single transaction only – you must select all of your games at once. The reason this is relevant is that AMD has promised to continue updating the selection, so it may pay off to wait to redeem your code. The current codes are valid until August 31 2014.
What do you think of the updated Never Settle Forever package? Has such a package ever been the deciding factor in your GPU purchases? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Asus offers a free triple-A game with X299 motherboards
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Nvidia answers AMD's Battlefield 1 offer with Gears of War 4
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U.S. Warns Argentina That IMF Deal Threatened by Leftist Allies
Ben Bartenstein
Patrick Gillespie
Jan 03 2020, 1:54 AM Jan 04 2020, 1:04 PM January 03 2020, 1:54 AM January 04 2020, 1:04 PM
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. is warning Argentine President Alberto Fernandez that his early foreign policy moves may jeopardize both support from the International Monetary Fund and American investment in the nation’s vast shale oil and gas fields.
A senior Trump administration official said that sheltering former Bolivian President Evo Morales and engaging with Nicolas Maduro’s regime in Venezuela crossed a red line and could cost Argentina backing for new IMF funding and investment in the Vaca Muerta shale fields. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks, said while many of Fernandez’s advisers are pragmatic and understand these risks, Vice President Cristina Fernandez’s influence within the administration is steering him closer to leftist leaders shunned by the U.S.
A State Department official said that the U.S. had been clear that regional governments should support the interim Bolivian administration’s efforts to organize elections.
The U.S. has also urged regional governments to deny Morales a platform to foment social unrest or influence Bolivian politics, the official added. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while a U.S. Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment.
Members of the Trump administration voiced their concerns to Fernandez and his advisers during recent meetings in Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Washington. The U.S. officials have been irked by the asylum offer to Morales, plus signs that Fernandez is aligning Argentina closer to other leftist politicians including Cuba’s Miguel Diaz-Canel, Venezuela’s Maduro and Ecuador’s ex-leader Rafael Correa.
That frustration boiled over last month when Mauricio Claver-Carone, a top adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump flew to Buenos Aires but then skipped Fernandez’s inauguration after learning that a sanctioned Venezuelan official was among the attendees.
Read more: Why Venezuela Will Influence Argentina’s IMF Talks
YPF Chairman Guillermo Nielsen, a senior Argentine official involved in some of the talks, declined to comment.
A senior Argentine official denied the U.S. would withdraw support for an IMF deal, adding that the topic was not brought up by American officials during Nielsen’s visit to Washington last month.
The U.S. holds the most influence at the IMF as its biggest shareholder and was key in offering Argentina’s then-President Mauricio Macri a record $56 billion bailout. Alberto Fernandez criticized the deal at the time, saying it was designed to help win Macri re-election, yet he’s since acknowledged the importance of “constructive and cooperative” dialogue with the Fund. Meanwhile, he has touted Vaca Muerta as essential to spurring growth in an economy that’s dipped in-and-out of recession for the past decade.
While Trump surprised Fernandez with a congratulatory call after his October election, the two have already been at odds on a range of foreign policy issues. That friction comes at a delicate time for Argentina. Fernandez’s government said it’s unable to pay its debt and is starting talks with the IMF and bondholders. U.S. officials had advised Argentina to negotiate with the IMF first before engaging with creditors, the person said.
When Morales resigned as Bolivia’s leader in November, Fernandez aligned himself with Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico, criticizing Trump for applauding what he called a military coup.
The U.S. “regressed decades” on foreign policy and “moved back to the worst of the 1970s, endorsing military interventions against popular governments,” Fernandez told a local radio station at the time. Just days after taking office, his government accepted Morales’s request for asylum in Argentina.
The Argentine leader also poses a potential roadblock to Trump’s policy goals in Venezuela. Last January, the U.S. rallied most of the region’s heads of state, including Macri, behind Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido in an effort to topple Maduro. But Fernandez has refrained from calling Maduro a dictator and suggested Argentina may take a more neutral approach toward Caracas.
Stay Updated With Business News On BloombergQuint
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Rethinking Nineteenth-Century Liberalism
Richard Cobden Bicentenary Essays
Simon Morgan ; Anthony Howe (Redaktør)
Richard Cobden (1804-65) rose from humble beginnings to become the leading advocate of nineteenth-century free-trade and liberalism. As a fierce opponent of the Corn Laws and promoter of international trade he rapidly became an influential figure on the national stage, whose name became a byword for political and economic reform. Les mer
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Richard Cobden (1804-65) rose from humble beginnings to become the leading advocate of nineteenth-century free-trade and liberalism. As a fierce opponent of the Corn Laws and promoter of international trade he rapidly became an influential figure on the national stage, whose name became a byword for political and economic reform. Yet despite the familiarity with which contemporaries and historians refer to 'Cobdenism' his ideals and beliefs are not always easy to identify and classify in a coherent way. Indeed, as this volume makes clear, the variety, diversity and malleability of the 'Cobdenite project' attest to the lack of a strict dogma and highlight Cobden's underlying pragmatism. Divided into five sections, this collection of essays offers a timely reassessment of Cobden's career, its impact and legacy in the two hundred years since his birth. Beginning with an investigation into the intellectual and cultural background to his emergence as a national political figure, the volume then looks at Cobden's impact on the making of Victorian liberal politics. The third section examines Cobden's wider influence in Europe, particularly the impact of his tour of 1846-47 which was in many ways a defining moment not only in the making of Cobden's liberalism but in the making of liberal Europe. Section four broadens the theme of Cobden's contemporary impact, including his contribution to the debate on peace, internationalism and the American Civil War; whilst the final section opens up the theme of Cobden's contested legacy, the variety of interpretations of Cobden's ideas and their influence on late nineteenth- and twentieth-century politics. Offering a broad yet coherent investigation of the 'Cobdenite project' by leading international scholars, this volume provides a fascinating insight into one of the nineteenth century's most important figures whose ideas still resonate today.
Forlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Sosial og politisk filosofi
Sosial- og kulturhistorie
Modern Economic and Social History
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Curfew for Kashmir ahead of anniversary of loss of autonomy
Kashmir conflict
By Archana Chaudhary
August 4, 2020 — 6.05pm
Delhi: Sweeping curbs on movement and on the internet have been imposed in India's portion of the disputed Muslim-majority region of Kashmir ahead of the one-year anniversary of the revocation of seven decades of regional autonomy.
The administration announced a 48-hour curfew in capital Srinagar on Tuesday and Wednesday fearing violent protests from separatists against the ending of the special autonomous status for the Jammu and Kashmir territory, The Hindustan Times reported citing an order by district magistrate Shahid Chaudhary.
A Kashmiri woman requests a police officer to let her cross a street during curfew in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, on Tuesday. Credit:AP
On August 5 last year a surprise move to make Kashmir a "union territory", similar to India's capital Delhi, gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi's federal government complete control over the state's police machinery and administration.
The state's former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti remains in detention which last week was extended until November. Many other leaders including another former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, were freed after being held for several months.
More restrictions were expected across the rest of the troubled region, news reports said.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main opposition Congress party, tweeted a call for Mufti's release.
Last year Home Minister Amit Shah announced the changed status of the restive Himalayan region in the country's Parliament after imposing strict movement restrictions, cutting telephone and internet connectivity, evacuating tourists and Hindu pilgrims, and arresting local political leaders.
The move raised concerns in neighbouring Pakistan and China, which share borders with Kashmir.
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Staff Portal | Login to webmail
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Admission to Bromsgrove School
Pupils may gain admission to Bromsgrove School in most year groups. Main intake points are at Kindergarten, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. Admissions in the course of an academic year are by special arrangement with the Assistant Head (Admissions) and entry into Year 10 is not normally possible due to curriculum constraints.
We encourage parents and children to visit the School by attending one or our regular Open Mornings and we also welcome individual visits. Taster days are available for boarders and day pupils. Open Mornings for all sections of the School are held at regular intervals throughout the year. These events offer the opportunity to meet senior staff from the individual school sections which interest you. You can also watch our School videos.
We offer individual tours of the School and the opportunity meet other staff and pupils. Please contact Mrs Amanda James for further information by email or submit an online visit request here.
All candidates sit our entrance examinations although at 13+ we do accept Common Entrance. In the case of girls and boys entering the Sixth Form from other British schools, offers and subsequent admission to the School is based on interview and GCSE results.
Parents seeking the admission of their sons or daughters are asked to complete the appropriate application form which can be found within our admissions information booklet or can be downloaded from the website. The Registration Fee of £100 for a day place or £200 for a boarding place is payable at the same that Registration Forms are submitted. When a place is offered to an applicant, parents are asked to confirm acceptance and to send an acceptance fee.
Our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) information can be found here.
Our Admissions team are always happy to give advice and help regarding any application to the School.
Our Admissions team - Liberty Chance, Jo Courtney, Amanda James and Tracey Collard
Forces' Applications
Bromsgrove School provides a high-calibre education at a very competitive cost for children of personnel in HM Forces. Forces Discounts are automatically awarded on joining the School and we ensure that fee contributions are no more that 10% of the net fee throughout the School. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information about Forces Discounts or view our document here.
Entry into the Pre-Preparatory and Nursery
Prior to entry, children are invited to spend a morning in school with their prospective year group, during which informal assessments will take place. Children seeking admission into Year 2 will also be assessed more formally in Mathematics and English. This trial morning provides an opportunity for the children to experience life at Bromsgrove Pre-Preparatory and Nursery and to get to know the children in their future class. If a child is moving from another school they will be asked to bring examples of their current work in Mathematics, English and Reading. We will also contact the child’s school for a written report about their academic achievements and behaviour.
Children may join the Nursery at the beginning of the term in which they turn two. Children are required to attend a minimum of five sessions per week to ensure they have access to the full range of the curriculum provided. However, sessions can be taken in any combination of full / half days regularly each week, if places are available.
Transfer to Pre-Preparatory School
Almost all Pre-School pupils continue through to the Pre-Preparatory School. Confirmation of places is made after discussions between the Head of Nursery and the Headmistress, taking issues of behaviour into consideration if necessary. The Head of Nursery can advise on the transfer procedure.
Pre-Preparatory School
Children join the Reception class of the Pre-Preparatory section in the September following their fourth birthday. Pupils may join the School in other year groups, subject to availability of space in each year group. Parents are encouraged to visit with their child before registering for a place. Prior to a place being offered, your child will be invited to spend a morning of informal assessment at the Pre-Preparatory & Pre-School and, where appropriate, a written report from the child's current school or nursery will be requested.
Transfer to Preparatory School after Year 2
It is expected that children will transfer to Bromsgrove Preparatory School but this is dependent on achieving a certain standard of work in Literacy and Numeracy. Issues of behaviour are also considered, where appropriate, during consultation between the Pre-Preparatory & the Preparatory School, prior to transfer.
Prep & Senior Entrance Examinations
All pupils seeking Admission to Bromsgrove School are required to sit our Entrance Examinations.
This year, Entrance Examinations for entry to all years from Year 3 to Year 9 will be held online between Friday 8th - Friday 15th January 2021, followed by a creative writing task on January 16th. All details are available from the Admissions Manager, Mrs Liberty Chance
Candidates wishing to apply to the School via the Common Entrance Examination at 13+ will also be considered. Please ensure the student is formally registered. Further details are available from the candidate’s own school.
Academic Scholarships are offered at 11+, 13+ &16+. There is much competition for Scholarship places but they offer only a small amount of financial help - the reward is through recognition of the Scholars' contribution to their area of excellence within the School.
Academic Scholarship Interview Dates
11+ and 13+ prospective candidates whose performance in the Entrance Examinations (see above for details) is deemed worthy of consideration for an Academic Scholarship will be invited for an online interview with a senior member of staff and the Master of Scholars.
Scholarship interviews are by invitation only and candidates selected for scholarship interview will be informed by Friday 22nd January. The online interviews will be scheduled for the week commencing 25th January 2021.
16+ Academic Scholarship Examination and Interviews will be held on Tuesday 26th January 2021.
Music Scholarships are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
Auditions for 11+, 13+ and 16+ Music Scholarships will take place by invitation between Monday 18th January - Friday 29th January
Full details are available from the Director of Music.
Art Scholarships are offered at 13+ and 16+, Textiles Scholarships are also offered at 16+.
Scholarship interviews: 22 January 2021 (13+ & 16+)
Drama Scholarships are offered at 13+ and 16+.
Auditions for 13+ and 16+ Drama Scholarships will take place by invitation between Monday January 18th - Friday January 29th
Sports Scholarships are offered at 13+ and 16+ assessment days are held prior to pupils sitting entrance examinations. Talented sportsmen and women are invited to apply to attend the assessment days but all candidates are required to meet the necessary academic standard for entry to the school. The Directors of Sport can give more information.
Sports Scholarships Assessment Dates
13+ and 16+ Sport Scholarships will take place by invitation between Monday 18th January - Friday 29th January 2021. During this period socially distanced assessments of candidates will take place involving interview, fitness testing and sports specific performance. If not practically possible then video evidence or coach testimonials will be considered
The following awards are usually made annually:
11+ 4 Academic Awards,1 Music Award
13+ 6 Academic Awards, 2 Music Awards, up to 2 Art Awards and up to 4 Sports Awards
Please complete the online Scholarship Application Form if you would like to apply for a Bromsgrove Scholarship.
Foundation Scholarships are available at 11+ and 13+. These awards only operate in respect of day places and preference is given to candidates from Bromsgrove and the surrounding area. Foundation Scholarships are awarded to very able pupils in need of financial assistance. The maximum award is 50% of the day fee, which can be augmented by a means-tested bursary. Candidates wishing to be considered for a Foundation Scholarship should apply in writing to the Assistant Head in charge of Admissions.
Bromsgrove offers a generous provision of means-tested bursaries and it is possible to apply for both a scholarship and bursary at the same time. Admissions Bursaries are offered at Years 7, 9 & 12 entry. Whilst assessing the bursary, all relevant sources of income and capital assets are taken into account. An element of your capital will be included in our assessment. Although each application is assessed individually and can depend on circumstances, as a guideline, a full bursary may be given to a family with a gross income of £25,000 or less, and then a sliding scale is in operation up to approximately £75,000. Please note however, that if school fees are being paid for siblings, these will be taken into account whilst assessing the award and could reduce assessable income.
Prospective parents should indicate their interest in a bursary on the School Registration Form and then complete the relevant bursary forms. All bursary applications need to have been received by the first week in January and bursary awards are normally made with the offer of a School place by the end of February. Once awarded, the bursary will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Parents seeking the admission of their sons or daughters are asked to download and complete the PDF Registration Form. We do require a completed Registration Form and payment of the Registration Fee before we can proceed to offer a place.
If you need any more information about completing the Registration Form please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Coordinators on 01527 579679 or email admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk who can send you relevant information.
Click here for our latest fees for the current academic year and for details of how to pay.
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Bromsgrove School is a co-educational, independent school.
General Enquiries email:
enquiries@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Admissions enquiries email:
admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Bromsgrove School, Worcester Road,
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU.
Registered in England: Company No. 4808121, Registered Charity No. 1098740 Website design & development by Nexus Creative
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Home » Over 52683 entries
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Hall & Woodhouse, Portishead
Designed by designed by Mackenzie Wheeler Architects & Designers, the contemporary two-storey building of the Hall & Woodhouse Portishead pays homage to the marine heritage of its location through design elements, industrial materials and rugged appearance, incorporating 28 shipping containers... View Project
Mixed Use Development, Santa Monica
Santa Monica’s City Staff has announced their recommendation of OMA’s competition proposal for a mixed use development that encompasses civic plaza, cultural venue, retail, residences, offices and a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Santa... View Project
South Beach ACE, Miami
Sitting on 52 acres within the vibrant and unique community that is Miami Beach, an outdated convention centre acts as an urban blockade – inactive when conventions are not in town, disruptive to adjoining neighbourhoods and inhibiting connections to Lincoln... View Project
Thames Estuary Airport
A new Thames Estuary Airport has been proposed at various times since the 1970s. London’s existing principal airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, are all situated in locations that are sub-optimal in various ways, such as being too close to built-up... View Project
Bishop Edward King Chapel, Oxfordshire
In July 2009, Níall McLaughlin Architects won the RIBA competition to design the new Bishop Edward King Chapel for Ripon College in Oxfordshire. When you stand on this site with your back to the great Beech, leaving the buildings behind,... View Project
University of Limerick Medical School
The Medical School Building and two adjacent accommodation buildings, which opened in September 2012, were designed by Grafton Architects and are the campus base for UL’s Graduate Entry Medical School on the University’s north campus. The UL Medical School has... View Project
Astley Castle, Warwickshire
Strictly speaking a fortified manor more than a castle, the site at Astley Castle has been in continuous occupation since the Saxon period. As Grade II* listed, the castle is counted of national significance. Its site includes the moated castle,... View Project
Newhall Be, Harlow
Newhall is a new neighbourhood between the Essex countryside and Harlow; growing community, designed to a masterplan, where creative contemporary architecture serves the living needs of people in the 21st... View Project
Park Hill, Sheffield
Working in collaboration with their client, Urban Splash, and design team members Studio Egret West and Grant Associates, Hawkins\Brown are bringing love, life and pride back to the Sheffield icon to make it a genuinely vibrant and sustainable community for... View Project
Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre
Flanked by the wild North Atlantic Ocean on one side and a landscape of dramatic cliffs on the other, for centuries the Giant’s Causeway has inspired artists, stirred scientific debate and captured the imagination of all who see it. Inquiring... View Project
Roca London Gallery
The Roca London Gallery is a space designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, where you can enjoy a unique visual and interactive experience with Roca, the leading global bathroom brand. Design, innovation, sustainability and wellbeing are the hallmarks of Roca’s identity... View Project
The Rose Bowl, Hampshire
This holistic masterplan with a luxury hotel design elegantly completes the Ageas Bowl as a world-class sport and leisure destination EPR Architects has worked with the Ageas Bowl to masterplan the completion of the 25,000-seater cricket stadium, golf course, stands... View Project
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Home News TikTok introduces APAC Safety Advisory Council
TikTok introduces APAC Safety Advisory Council
Poovenraj
Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)
TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile videos, has introduced its Asia Pacific (APAC) Safety Advisory Council.
The external Council, which is made up of leading experts in the field of legal and regulatory bodies and academics from across the region, will provide advice on content moderation policies and trust and safety issues specific to APAC.
The Council brings together thought leaders who can help to develop forward-looking policies that not only address the challenges of today, but also plan ahead for the next set of issues that the industry will face. The Council will provide subject matter expertise and advice on TikTok’s content moderation policies and practices to help shape regional and global guidelines.
The Council will also play a critical role in identifying existing and emerging issues in the region which affect TikTok’s platforms and users, and develop strategies to tackle these challenges.
“TikTok is taking a positive step forward in improving its policies and processes with the establishment of the APAC Safety Advisory Council,” said Arjun Narayan, TikTok Director of Trust and Safety, Asia Pacific.
“I’m pleased to welcome the founding members to the Council and firmly believe this Council will provide constructive, sound and honest advice as TikTok continues to strengthen its content policies in Asia Pacific. We look forward to expanding our Council in the future, with representatives from other markets in the region.”
The founding members of TikTok’s APAC Safety Advisory Council are:
Jehan Ara, President, Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES and Founder, The Nest i/o, from Pakistan is a highly regarded expert in the IT industry and will lend her expertise on general content-related issues.
Amitabh Kumar, Founder, Social Media Matters, from India is known for his initiatives on social digital campaigns and is highly regarded for his digital safety programs focused on gender sensitization, digital rights and online safety.
Nguyen Phuong Linh, Executive Director, Management and Sustainable Development Institute, from Vietnam advocates for the rights of marginalized groups, especially children, youth, women and people with disabilities.
Dr. Yuhyun Park, Founder, DQ Institute, from Singapore brings valuable experience and expertise in digital literacy, skills and readiness.
Prof. Akira Sakamoto, Professor, Department of Psychology, Ochanomizu University, from Japan focuses on the intersection of media and digital literacy.
Prof. Seungwoo Son, Professor, Industrial Security, Chung-Ang University, from South Korea is a renowned expert on intellectual property and Internet law, which includes defamation, pornography and misinformation.
Anita Wahid, Activist, Gusdurian Network Indonesia and President, MAFINDO (Indonesia Anti-Hoax Society), from Indonesia is an activist at the intersection of human rights and anti-hoax who understands child safety issues and religious content needs.
The Council will convene quarterly for discussions on key issues, including online safety, child safety, digital literacy, mental health and human rights, report on observations and submit formal recommendations related to the issues discussed. To learn more about TikTok’s APAC Safety Advisory Council and its members, visit https://www.tiktok.com/safety/resources/tiktok-safety-advisory-council
TikTok is available in over 150 countries and regions in 75 languages. Download the TikTok app via iOS or Google Play.
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Tag Archives: perrella
PBC on Fox Sports 1 Results: Ugas Impresses with 4th Round Stoppage of Perrella, Karl and Valenzuela Victorious
Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) seems to have slowed down on the number of shows that they put on recently, but they put on a card from the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Photo Credit: Jane Phillips/Premier Boxing Champions
The opening bout of the night was between Dennis Galarza (13-1)and Cesar Alan Valenzuela (12-4-1) in the Super Featherweight division. Galarza had the height advantage but Valenzuela had the reach advantage.
Valenzuela had Galarza caught near the corner in the first minute of the opening round and was able to land a good shot to the head and body of Galarza. There was a good exchange in the final seconds of the opening round, but Valenzuela was pressing the action.
Galarza took control of the center of the ring in the second round and used his jab to control the positioning of Valenzuela. There wasn’t a whole lot of action, but Galarza appeared to be the busier fighter.
Valenzuela was more effective in the third and fourth rounds and was able to land the cleaner and harder shots. Galarza was too passive and appeared to be heistant to throw more than one punch at a time.
Valenzuela landed some very good right hands in fourth and fifth rounds and looked like he was taking over the bout. Galarza tried to get in tight and impose his will in the sixth round, but he wasn’t able to get much of an offense going.
Galarza most likely won the seventh round as he had Valenzuela moving backwards most of the time, and both fighters looked exhausted by the final round. The fight was close and many rounds could have been scored either way, but the judges scored it 77-75 Valenzuela, 77-75 Galarza, 77-75 for Valenzuela giving him the split decision victory.
The next bout of the night was in the super lightweight division between Ryan Karl (13-0) and Jose Felix Quezada (11-0).
Ryan Karl has knocked out five straight opponents heading into this match.
Quezada and Karl came out firing in the opening round and Quezada was sharp with his check left hook early on. Karl was throwing more combinations than Quezada, and had him hurt with right uppercut to the chin that wobbled the knees of Quezada. Karl went for that uppercut several more times and was able to score a knockdown after cracking Quezada with a right cross. Quezada was able to get back to his feet as the round came to an end.
Karl landed several hard right crosses in the second round and took the best shots of Quezada well. Quezada had a better thid round and was able to land some check left hooks, but Karl dominated in the fourth round.
Karl landed several hard right crosses in a row near the end of the fourth and had Quezada’s face bleeding badly. Quezada finally went down from one final right cross and was on wobbly legs when he rose to his feet.
Quezada stumbled to his corner and the end of the round and the fight was stopped before he could come back out.
Ryan Karl wins by TKO at the end of the fourth round on the advice of the corner of Quezada.
The main event of the evening was between Bryant Perrella (14-0) and Yordenis Ugas (16-3) in the welterweight division.
Perrella had the height and reach advantage, but Ugas was by far the more experienced amateur.
That experience showed early on, as Ugas landed an early over the top right hand on Perrella that sent him to the canvas. Perrella was able to get back to his feet, but Ugas stalked Perrella the remainder of the round and was looking for that right hand bomb.
Ugas was touching the body with a jab in the second round and was sharp with his right hands to the head. Perrella looked outclassed, and the difference in amateur experience was becoming more apparent.
Perrella started off strong in the third round, but likely lost it when Ugas landed a thudding right hand that had Perrella hurt as the round came to an end.
Perrella scored another knockdown in the fourth round when he landed a perfect right hand that sent Perrella crashing to the mat. Perrella showed incredible heart and got back to his feet, but Ugas jumped on the still hurt Perrella and unleashed combinations on him by the corner and forced the referee to jump in and stop the bout.
Yordenis Ugas wins with an impressive TKO stoppage at 2:20 of the fourth round.
PBC on ESPN Results: Beterbiev Wins by TKO, Perrella Stop Grayton
Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) was broadcast tonight from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Artur Beterbiev has defeated every single opponent by stoppage thus far in his professional career but is coming back from a year away from the ring.
The opening bout of the night was between Bryant Perrella (13-0) and David Grayton (14-0) in the welterweight division.
Grayton came out aggressively in the opening round but was wild and sloppy in doing so. Perrella was able to land a hard left counter, but Grayton kept up the pressure and was outworking Perrella.
Perella was able to quickly turn the tide in the second round with a quick left hand and countering the aggression of Grayton. Perella was able to land a glancing blow on Grayton that sent him to the mat, but he followed it up with several hard combinations when he got back to his feet, including a lead right hook that wobbled his legs and several hard left crosses and right hooks.
Grayton was badly hurt by the combinations of Perrella and the referee jumped in to stop the bout. Perrella wins by TKO at 2:19 of the second round.
The next bout of the night was a six round bout in the super welterweight division between Edgar Ortega (16-5) and Jamontay Clark (9-0).
Ortega was an underdog coming into the bout, but started off strong by landing a quick straight right to the body. Clark showed some good quick hands and hard a large height advantage over his opponent, but Ortega was able to catch Clark by surprised with a looping right hand that sent Clark to the mat.
Clark was able to survive the round and re-establish control in the second round. He picked up his aggression in the second round and had Ortega in trouble by the ropes. He was able to land several hard body shots in the third round and Ortega looked like he was tiring by the fourth.
Clark buckled the legs of Ortega in the fifth round and Ortega was never able to capitalize on his opening round knockdown.
The judges scored it 58-55, 58-54, and 58-54 for Clark.
The main event of the night was between Artur Beterbiev (9-0) and Ezequiel Maderna (23-2) in the light heavyweight division.
Beterbiev was a heavy favorite going into this fight and his power advantage showed early on by stumbling Maderna with a left hand in the first round and several hard straight rights to the body.
Beterbiev lands a rabbit punch in the second round that sent Maderna to the mat but it doesn’t count as a knockdown. Beterbiev controlled the remainder of the second round with his jab and hard combinations.
Beterbiev blew open the doors in the third round with two hard right hands that sends Maderna to the mat. Maderna was wobbly when he gets back to his feet and is sent to the mat for a second time from a combination by Beterbiev. Maderna does all he can do to survive the round, including spitting out his mouthpiece and getting deducted a point, but he is able to last the round.
Beterbiev ended Maderna’s misery in the fourth round by dropping him two times before Maderna convinced his corner to stop the fight.
Artur Beterbiev wins by TKO at 0:56 of the fourth round.
PBC on ESPN Preview: Perrella vs. Grayton, Beterbiev vs. Maderna
On Saturday night the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada will be the host site of another Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card on ESPN.
Al Haymon’s company will televise at least two bouts on Saturday night. HBO will be televising a competing card around the same time as the PBC card.
The following is a preview of both the televised bouts.
Bryant Perrella (13-0) vs. David Grayton (14-0); Welterweights
The first bout of the evening will be between two rising prospects that have yet to face any significant competition at this point in their careers.
Grayton has significant power, as he has stopped ten of his opponents. Perrella however, has stopped twelve of his opponents and his last ten victories were by KO or TKO.
They are both of a similar age, Grayton is twenty eight years old and Perrella is twenty seven. They both had successful amateur careers. Grayton is a former national golden gloves champion, and he even defeated Errol Spence as an amateur in 2010. Perrella was a bronze medalist in the National Police Athletic League Tournament in 2010.
Neither boxer has faced anyone of note in the amateurs. Grayton has only defeated two people with winning records, Martin Wright and Daniel Souza Santos. Every other opponent he has faced has losing records. Perrella has defeated the likes of Ramon Ayala and Patrick Boozer, but his professional resume is only slightly better.
On paper, this is a tough fight to pick. Not much is known about either boxer as a professional. However, a slight edge will have to go towards Grayton since he was able to defeat Errol Spence Jr. as an amateur and was a former National Golden Gloves Champion.
Artur Beterbiev (9-0) vs. Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna (23-2); Light Heavyweights
Artur Beterbiev is a young gun in the light heavyweight division that is on the fast track to a world championship.
Beterbiev is from Dagestan and is of Chechen Descent, but he currently resides in and fights out of Montreal, Canada. Most of the fans in attendance will likely be supporting him.
Beterbiev was very successful as an amateur in Russia and won a silver medal at the 2007 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2009 World Championships. He even beat Sergey Kovalev as an amateur.
Maderna also had a successful amateur career, but not on the same level as Beterbiev. Maderna competed for Argentina in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Beterbiev has won every fight by stoppage as a professional. He has defeated the likes of Alexander Johnson, Gabriel Campillo, and former world champion Tavoris Cloud.
Maderna has fifteen stoppage victories to his resume. He has not been very active and only fought once in 2015 and zero times in 2016. He has lost to the likes of Thomas Oosthuizen and Edwin Rodriguez. His resume lacks any big victories, but his best ones to date have come against Ronaldo Mansilla and Jose Alberto Clavero.
Beterbiev will be giving up about three inches in height and five inches in reach to Maderna. He is also two years older than his opponent.
But this will be an easy fight for Beterbiev and it should end in another knockout victory for him.
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Adjudication: Decisions and Limitation Periods
Construction lawyers have been closely following the case of Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) Ltd v Higgins Construction Plc which ultimately landed in the Supreme Court with a decision made on 17 June 2015. The case concerned a report prepared by Aspect in relation to asbestos containing material (“ACM”). A dispute arose in which Higgins argued that Aspect had failed to carry out its survey and prepare the report with reasonable skill and care as ACM was found where there should not have been any (according to Aspect’s report).
Higgins was successful in adjudication proceedings although it was awarded only part of the sum claimed. The sum awarded was paid by Aspect and Higgins took no further action in respect of the balance of its claim. The limitation period for bringing the original claim eventually expired. Aspect then commenced litigation proceedings to recover the sum it paid to Higgins on the basis that the adjudicator’s decision was wrong.
At a preliminary issue hearing in the TCC, the Court found in Higgins’ favour that there was no implied term or restitutionary right which would allow Aspect to pursue its claim based on a new cause of action (to seek final determination of the adjudicated dispute and the return of the sums paid to Higgins). Aspect appealed, and the Court of Appeal reversed the TCC’s decision. Finally, Higgins appealed to the Supreme Court and argued that if a new cause of action was created for the paying party, it should be entitled to counterclaim the balance of the sum it claimed in the adjudication proceedings.
The Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision, finding that the adjudicator’s decision did create a new cause of action for the paying party creating a new limitation period of 6 years and rejected Higgins argument that it should be entitled to pursue its counterclaim.
The judges took the view that Higgins could at any time have pursued the balance of its claim in litigation if it was not happy with the adjudicator’s decision and/or could have asked Aspect to agree that the decision was final and binding. The Court also confirmed that it must be able to look at the whole dispute when considering the sums paid and would not be restricted to considering only the issues raised in the adjudication, which suggests that the paying party will be able to raise matters in support of its position which it perhaps did not set out during the adjudication proceedings.
What does this mean for the future? Parties to adjudication proceedings (or indeed who have taken part in adjudication proceedings in the last 6 years) will need to consider whether to take any action to try to make those proceedings final and binding, whether through direct agreement with the other party if that is possible or through pursuing any outstanding matters in litigation. It may also be worth considering including adjudication provisions in your contracts to make adjudication decisions finally binding unless a claim is brought within a set period of time following the adjudicator’s decision.
For more detail on this case and its implications (or if you have any burning questions) please contact the team on construction@bpe.co.uk to book onto our next seminar on 6th October.
You can contact Emilie on emilie.sclater@bpe.co.uk or 01242 248296. Please note that Emilie will be on maternity leave from 16th September. If you have any queries after that date, please get in touch with Jon Close.
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'Old school' parenting: Dad forces bully son to run a mile
Airline recruits Men in All Blacks to promote safety
Mice filmed in McDonald's playground
Missing Mum survived on breast milk
Dad punishes son with 'old school' lesson
REMEMBER old school parenting?
Bryan Thornhill certainly does and now, thanks to some "creative" thinking, so does his son.
Thornhill, from the US state of Virginia, dished out some 'old school' punishment by forcing his son to run to school after the 10-year-old was caught bullying.
"Growing older is inevitable, ageing is optional": SIGN UP to Seniors News
Following an incident that had Thornhill Jnr kicked off the school bus, Bryan implemented some tough love and had his son run the mile (1.6km) to school for the week.
"This right here is just old school, simple parenting," Bryan says in footage showing him trailing his jogging son.
"This ain't killing nobody, this is a healthy way for a child to be punished.
"This right here is called parenting. Guys, if you don't what it's like, here you go."
Do you agree forcing a child to run is a good form of punishment?
This poll ended on 31 March 2019.
Not even a rainy day could water down the punishment - Bryan doubling down on the punishment after his son again misbehaved.
And Bryan, in the video posted to YouTube, says the unusual punishment is working wonders.
"Ironically, since he's been running to school this week, his behaviour has been much better," Bryan says.
"Teachers have approved of his behaviour this week, he hasn't got into trouble at school this week."
And for anyone who may rail at the sight of a parent forcing a military-style punishment on their child, Bryan has a simple retort.
"Thornhill does not tolerate (bullying)," he says.
"I get creative with stuff, I've done all kinds of different things but we're going to make sure one way or another his teachers are able to enjoy his company at school and his not disrupting his classmates.
"(So) teach your child a lesson.
"You don't have to kill them, you don't always have to beat them, but sometimes it sucks for them and that's what teaches them."
bullying parenting
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‘Disgraceful act of greed’: Pensioner pleas for help in bank battle
Elaine and Keith Garnett are battling with their bank to keep their home.
by TONY RAGGATT
The ANZ Bank has been accused of greed in its dealings with a Kirwan pensioner who has fallen into financial strife after being loaned $260,000 against his family home.
Meanwhile, the ANZ says the bank is working with the customer but that it doesn't comment on individual circumstances.
Townsville lawyer Evan Sarinas said pursuing Keith Garnett, 66, and his wife Elaine, 63, for whatever little they had was a "disgraceful act of greed".
Mr Garnett said their son had been released from jail and they were trying to "give him a leg up" when they bought a property for him at Majors Creek in 2006.
ANZ financed the $260,000 needed to acquire the property with an interest only loan and no deposit because it was consolidated with a mortgage on the family home in Kirwan.
This is a common practice provided the homeowner has sufficient equity.
The Garnetts said they didn't understand at the time that if anything went wrong, they were also putting the family home at risk.
But the arrangement has turned sour and they have fallen behind in payments so the amount outstanding on the loan is now more than $284,000 and growing.
To make matters worse, financiers, including the ANZ, now times have changed, are declining offers from buyers on the Majors Creek property even when a substantial deposit is offered.
The Garnetts say ANZ has told them there is "limited appetite" for property at Majors Creek.
Mr Sarinas said that if ever there was a case deserving of compassion and leniency, this was it.
Mr Garnett, a boilermaker, works as a handyman and is on the aged pension, while Mrs Garnett is on Newstart and volunteers at Meals on Wheels four days a week.
The bank's lawyers have threatened that they would take possession of the Majors Creek property "without further notice".
Asked what she would say to the bank, Mrs Garnett said: "Help us so we can keep our home and get as good a price as we can for the other place."
ANZ said in a statement: "While ANZ doesn't comment on individuals or their specific circumstances, there are still a number of options available that we are working through with these customers.
"ANZ also has an independent Customer Advocate to assist customers when they feel dissatisfied with their situation or they disagree with the outcome of a complaint."
Originally published as 'Disgraceful act of greed': Pensioner pleas for help in bank battle
Reality show rocked by furious exit
ATO reveals new working from home rules
anz bank finance loan money
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150-motorcycle escort for family-less RAF hero’s funeral
People have rallied round after being moved by the veteran's heartbreaking story
Tom Pilgrim
A parade of 150 motorcycles will escort the coffin of a family-less RAF veteran after an appeal was made for people to attend his funeral.
84-year-old Kenneth White recently died leaving no living relatives to mark his passing.
Earlier this month the News reported on the appeal for Cambridgeshire residents to help give the former military man a fitting send off.
Moved by Kenneth's story, people have rallied around to contribute to a celebration of his life.
Reader Paul Beard got in touch to say friends and serving RAF personnel would attend the funeral on March 26.
Flowers, wreath and a small collection for a plaque in Kenneth's memory are being organised.
Before the planned funeral service at Cambridge Crematorium, 150 motorbikes will travel with Kenneth's body from St Ives.
The bikers are from several groups from across the country. They came together after learning about Kenneth on Facebook.
The escort will be met by an armed forces bugler ahead of the funeral in the crematorium's West Chapel.
More than 150 people are now expected to attend the service after Kenneth's story was shared through social media.
Download the CambridgeshireLive App for iPhone and Android
If you're looking for a way to keep up to date with the latest news from across Cambridgeshire, the CambridgeshireLive app has you covered.
Available for free on both iOS and Android devices, the clean and tidy interface is the easiest way to follow our news updates.
The team at CambridgeshireLive are committed to bringing our readers the latest breaking news, in-depth features, and exclusive content from all across the county.
Once installed, you can even select the area in which you live to receive dedicated notifications whenever we post a story that is relevant to you.
If you have an iOS device, you can download it from the App Store online by clicking here.
If you have an Android device, you can find the app on the Google Play Store here.
Rob Moores, senior funeral services assistant at Dennis Easton Funeral Home in St Ives, said: "Everyone has been touched after hearing the story of Kenneth and so many people want to help honour the life of this veteran.
"We hope that people will come out and play a part in helping to honour and celebrate the life of a military veteran."
Anyone who would like to pay their final respects to Kenneth is welcome to attend the funeral service at Cambridge Crematorium on Huntingdon Road at 9.45am on Monday, March 26.
His coffin will leave Dennis Easton Funeral Home, in Broad Leas, at 8.30am before heading down Ramsey Road to meet the motorbike procession at The Seven Wives Pub.
The journey will then head down to The Waits onto The Broadway before heading over the old town bridge, along London Road and onto the A14 before arriving at Cambridge Crematorium.
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Clarity Zedd Feat. Foxes Download 'Clarity' on iTunes
Tinie
Tinie Home
Tinie Tempah Promises "Beautiful Music" On Second Album
3 February 2012, 15:40 | Updated: 3 February 2012, 15:52
The 'Written In The Stars' rapper says he is pleased with the progress of his next studio outing.
Tinie Tempah says he is "in the zone" during recording for his second studio album.
The 'Pass Out' rapper is currently working on the follow-up to 2010's 'Disc-Overy', and says he has been writing some "beautiful" songs for the highly anticipated record.
"Writing some beautiful music @ the moment," Tinie tweeted earlier today (3rd February). "I'm in the ZONE! #ALBUMNO.2ISONTHEWAY."
Tinie also says he has higher expectations for his second release, and wants to beat the sales of his two times platinum debut album.
He added: "Last album did 2… I'm just tryna do 3."
The 'Earthquake' rapper recently reunited with his 'Written In The Stars' collaborator Eric Turner to feature on the singer-songwriter's new single 'Angels & Stars'.
Tinie Tempah is expected to release his second studio album later this year.
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2012 Ford Fiesta ST revealing spy shots
Ford has again been spotted testing the upcoming Ford Fiesta ST on the Nurburgring in Germany. This time there was hardly any camouflaging placed over the car and almost all is revealed.
From the front we can see there's going to be a very aggressive front bumper set for the production model. The example on this test mule does seem a bit strange though as it incorporates a large central fascia mould, covering up the Ford badge and grille design. But as per previous shots, we already have a pretty good idea of what the front end will look like.
The front end may also incorporate LED lights behind the plastic mould on this particular test car, which will feature on the production model in accordance with new European design rules. This test car also appears to be wearing a new set of alloy wheels, unseen on previous spy shots, which could be the wheels that will feature on the production model next year.
Providing power for the new model is likely to be a 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing around 140-150kW of power. The engine will help the car sprint from 0-100km/h in around the six-second range, rivalling the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GTI and the Renualt Clio RS 200.
Even though it is yet to be confirmed, the 2012 Ford Fiesta ST is expected to be unveiled in full at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show in September. We look forward to providing all the coverage.
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3 Pamphlet
5 Prologue: On a Trip of Self-Questioning
6 Chapter 1: A Morning Change
7 Chapter 2: Meeting of Steel
8 Chapter 3: Scent of Light
9 Chapter 4: Greeting at the Entrance
10 Chapter 5: Machine Footsteps
11 Chapter 6: Driving Questions
12 Chapter 7: Painful Guard
13 Chapter 8: Nighttime Visitor
14 Chapter 9: That Which a God Desires
15 Chapter 10: A Chance Meeting of Questions
16 Chapter 11: Running Metal
18 Satoyasu Omake
Name: Hiba Ryuuji
Class: Underclassman
Faith: Kind Person
Name: Mikage
Class: Normal Person???
Faith: Hiba’s Partner
About 3rd-Gear
This Gear possesses metal and light gravitational control concepts.
Metal possesses life, its weight and hardness is altered, and it is moved with gravitational control.
3rd-Gear used that power to create large gods of war and a great number of automatons.
At the time of the Concept War, they used their power in an attempt to dominate the other Gears.
Diagram:
Top: There are stars outside the atmosphere and empty space lies beyond them.
Middle: Main floating continent
Bottom left: Atmosphere surrounding the land
Bottom right: Floating land
3rd-Gear is a collection of giant floating continents.
The people who live there live for thousands of years and each individual controls the world’s concepts and has some level of control over the weather and time as well.
When they die, a device known as the Tartaros Machina sends their concept and will to the Concept Core.
The concept stored in the Concept Core is extracted and inherited when a new life is born, but the formless will remains in the Concept Core as it is difficult to individually extract.
For that reason, the Concept Core acts as a world of the dead from which one cannot escape once one enters it.
Name: Sibyl
Pamphlet[edit]
Top: Issued by: Pamphlet Team of Japanese UCAT General Affairs Training Camp Unit – July 10, 2005
Yellow Text: Time for the (mandatory) summer training camp
Blue text: Seto Inland Sea Edition
Over Shinjou’s stomach: Background added digitally
Red text: Another year, another fun, fun (make sure to say it twice) Japanese UCAT summer training camp!
Right box:
To all of you Japanese UCAT members who are constantly fighting for the sake of the world, how has your early summer been?
As opposed to last year’s Mt. Osore medium tour or the year before that’s Russian border nuclear submarine salvage tour, this year we are going to a normal sea.
The Seto Inland Sea. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
A deserted island. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Only one ship a day. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
The surrounding sea is filled with whirlpools and sharks. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
You can’t escape. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
The events to look forward to are as follows:
*A bald instructor who strikes the depraved.
*A yakiniku festival with a random chance of any kind of meat from any country.
*Training in escaping giant fireworks fired at the ground.
Have fun and try to survive.
Left box:
Fisherman – Age 40
Tabuchi Kenji-san
We asked a local about the island.
“It scares me. No sane person would ever approach that island. Everyone in the village calls it the wonderfully mysterious island.”
Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?
Prepare yourselves
For what it means to accept it
Prologue: On a Trip of Self-Questioning[edit]
What exactly is a question?
Do you go and continue on?
Or do you go and come back?
Two automatic doors led to a large white airtight space. The fifty square meter white walls, floor, and ceiling were all covered with light emitting panels.
The placard at the entrance illuminated by that light was printed with the name of the space: Training Room 9.
Four people sat in the center of the training room. They were taking a break after completing their training. They all wore white and black armored uniforms and they were looking at small handmade documents.
The first one to speak was the well-built young man in the center. He held up the document in his hand as he did.
“Anyway, we have three days until Team Leviathan’s summer training camp known as the ‘we have less than five months until the world grows too negative and is destroyed, so let’s go to the beach and hope someone’s top falls off’ training camp, but… What is it, Sayama you idiot?”
Before he could say anymore, the boy who had raised his hand spoke.
“Izumo, while the name of the camp is surprisingly good, I must ask…”
“I know, I know. You want to know about the next Leviathan Road, right?”
Sayama nodded and turned to the long-haired girl sitting to his left.
“We need to take action soon, but that will likely make us quite busy. Did you have any plans for summer break, Shinjou-kun?”
“Hm. I want to beat some of the new games I got, but I guess the Leviathan Road is more important.” Shinjou smiled bitterly and turned to the other two people. “Kazami-san, what about you two?”
“No, I don’t think we have anything,” answered the girl directly across from her. She brushed up her short hair as she continued. “But do you know where 3rd-Gear is, Sayama? I hear we still have a few of the 3rd-Gear automatons that fell into our possession when 3rd was destroyed, but I’ve never heard anything about the location of the other 3rd-Gear remnants.”
“The other day, the old man gave me a hint concerning that. He mentioned a large-scale string vibration abnormality in the Kurashiki region about five years ago.”
“Kurashiki? You mean…?”
Shinjou looked up at the ceiling in thought and Kazami immediately spoke up.
“That’s in Okayama. It’s the Kojima Peninsula. According to the Divine States-World Interaction Theory, that’s Greece. So are they there?”
“No. It seems the Okayama branch immediately investigated but was unable to detect 3rd-Gear’s presence. But we might find some sort of hint if we go there. And before that, I would like to meet the automatons kept in UCAT custody.”
“I see,” muttered Shinjou.
…3rd-Gear.
That Gear became the basis of Greek mythology and had created automatons and the giant humanoid weapons known as gods of war.
“The Concept Core was split in two and one half is held by Typhon, right?”
“Yes, and Typhon is most likely a god of war.” Izumo scratched his head as he continued. “But we don’t know where the other half is. And with 3rd-Gear, we’ll probably be up against gods of war, so the Leviathan Road is probably gonna be tricky.”
Shinjou nodded.
Thanks to the concept activation ten years prior, UCAT was able to stabilize the operation of automatons and gods of war. Before that, they had only been able to construct an unstable concept space for humanoid machines, so their development of automatons and gods of war had been mostly guesswork.
“I wonder if 3rd-Gear’s remnants are living in this world with Typhon.”
“If they were not caught in 3rd’s destruction, they must be. There probably are not very many of them, though.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Merely a guess. They have yet to do anything at all, so the odds are high they have few usable personnel. That is all.”
Hearing Sayama’s words, Shinjou tilted her head. She had a certain thought.
“Then,” she began. “Why are they hiding? If they really don’t have many people like you say, they could always surrender. If they don’t, they have to act.”
“The answer is simple: they have something to feel guilty about. If they show themselves, whoever finds them might take some form of revenge. They may have that sort of reason for their reluctance to make an appearance.”
As he spoke, Sayama looked at Shinjou, Izumo, and finally Kazami.
“We should be careful. 3rd-Gear’s Leviathan Road will not be resolved so simply.”
“When have we ever resolved something simply? Maybe if we didn’t have a certain idiot complicating things.”
Izumo’s comment caused Sayama to nod deeply, fold his arms, and give a serious expression.
“Yes, you are very right. But you should not refer to yourself as an idiot. Let me say it for you: you are a damn idiot. How was that? Will that make a sufficient replacement for your self deprecation?”
Izumo ignored him and glared at Kazami in annoyance.
“I want to get this conversation back on track. Can you force it in that direction?”
“Sure. I’m good at forcing things. …Anyway, let’s move from the Leviathan Road to the training camp. Shinjou, did you see where we’re going?”
“Eh? No. The location is chosen randomly every year and the thought of the Mt. Osore medium tour for last year really got me down, so I don’t check it until the day we have to leave. That way I can resign myself to it the instant I see it.”
“Perfect. And I’m sure Sayama is the same.”
Kazami showed off the pamphlet in her hand with a smile. She narrowed her eyes and laughed.
“Heh heh. We’re going to the Seto Inland Sea. Specifically, a deserted island owned by IAI. It’s officially a test site, but it’s actually a UCAT training ground. And…that area feels like it’s related to 3rd. Right, Sayama?”
Sayama did not immediately react, but after a short pause, he cleared his throat and spoke disappointedly.
“It sounds like a nice place.”
His casual tone caused Shinjou to smile bitterly in her heart.
…He’s actually really happy.
“We might be able to do some preliminary investigation of 3rd-Gear, Sayama-kun.”
“Perhaps so, Shinjou-kun. But… Kazami, how will the tents be arranged?”
“Unfortunately for you two, you will be separate. There will be a boys tent and a girls tent.”
“I-I don’t particularly see that as unfortunate,” said Shinjou.
“I certainly do. And on top of that, there is a problem with that arrangement.” Sayama nodded quietly. “If we are separate, I will be unable to continue my standard inspection of Shinjou-kun’s bod-…”
Shinjou frantically tightened Sayama’s tie. With her eyebrows raised, she lightly shook him back and forth.
“Stop saying that in front of people. Your morals may be set to a foreign level or even an animal level, b-but I want to treat that kind of thing with more-… Are you listening?”
“Shinjou, I’ll answer for that idiot: he can’t breathe.”
She looked past the tightened tie and saw a happy and nonresistant look on his face.
Shinjou supported him as he limply collapsed.
…Oh, no. I went too far. Oh, well.
Izumo watched as Baku mimicked Sayama’s collapse from atop his head.
“Okay, let’s leave that idiot be and leave for the day. I’ve gotten hooked on winning prizes at the batting center upstairs. They have a bunch of great prizes and Chisato loves them.”
“But, Kaku, stop making a fool of yourself by winning a prize you already have. …Oh, and I guess it would be dangerous to abandon Sayama here. Whoever is using the place next would be worried. Right, Shinjou?”
“Um, yes… I suppose the others do view him like that.”
Shinjou took a breath, but Sayama still appeared to be sleeping. After some hesitation, she placed his head on her stocking-covered lap.
She grabbed Baku from his head, placed the creature on her shoulder, and faced forward.
“Kazami-san, why do you look so impressed?”
“I was just surprised you do that without being asked.” While sitting to Izumo’s left, Kazami slapped her own lap. “Resting him on your lap, I mean.”
Shinjou nodded and looked to the white staff engraved with Ex-St which lay to her side. She recalled the first time she had done this several months before…no, only about three months before.
“Sayama-kun wanted to do this the first time we met. And he asked me the other night as well. I think he sometimes wants to depend on someone like this.”
“The other night?”
“Yeah, I played cards with him and lost horribly. And then…um…”
He had asked for a lot more than just to rest on her lap, but she was naturally hesitant to mention any of it.
She frantically formed a smile as she decided to change the subject.
“S-Sayama-kun said his grandfather taught him how to play cards. He’s really good. I can only ever win at video games. In the new fighting game ‘Virtua Leader 2’, I can use the American representative to get in some good air combos.”
“Chisato. I think she’s trying to hide something.”
“Yeah, I sense it too.”
“I-I’m not hiding anything. I’m not.”
She waved her hands in denial, but Kazami gradually gained a bitter smile.
She shrugged dismissively and looked Shinjou in the eye.
“Well, whatever. But not letting himself do this unless he beats you at cards sounds like him.”
“Yeah.” Shinjou smiled bitterly as well and lightly brushed up Sayama’s bangs as he lay unmoving on her lap. “I’m willing to do this whenever he wants, but he seems to have trouble with it.”
“I see. That’s nice. …By the way, Chisato, sometimes I want-…”
“A fist to the face? That’s perfectly fine. Do you want the right? The left? Or maybe both?”
Shinjou looked around the training room while ignoring Izumo who was pretending to cry while collapsed to the side. She saw that they were the only ones there.
“Where are Sibyl-san and the others?”
“Sibyl left with Ooshiro-san. They apparently had someone to meet.”
“I see.” Shinjou nodded and looked down at the training camp pamphlet in her hand. She then looked at Sayama’s face as he breathed shallowly on her lap. “By the way, Sayama-kun has been a bit irritated lately because the Leviathan Road has been progressing so slowly.”
“In the two months since the negotiation with 2nd-Gear, our only orders have been to train and we haven’t tried to contact any other Gears. And now we have to go on a training camp? It must be horrible for someone as impatient as him.”
“But holding the camp near land related to 3rd has to be Old Man Ooshiro’s doing,” said Izumo. He sat up, folded his arms, and looked toward Sayama. “It is true the other countries’ UCATs complained about our actions after we dealt with Yamata. They said kids shouldn’t be sent into such danger without training. American UCAT was especially annoying.”
“The Divine States-World Interaction Theory associates America with 5th-Gear, right? Something likely happened between them in the past. American UCAT may not want us taking the initiative in the negotiations and advancing to negotiations with 5th. They’ll probably interfere with that Leviathan Road.”
“The world is a real pain.”
“Oh? Quit acing like you understand. The problem isn’t the world; it’s the pride of the people living in it. …I have my own pride and I’m sure Shinjou does too.”
Shinjou thought when she heard that. She had a feeling she did indeed, but she also wondered what exactly she had inside her.
As she focused on that thought, her gaze dropped and the boy sleeping on her lap entered her vision. She brushed up his hair with her right hand which had a ring on it. That was when she naturally found her answer.
“Yes. I think I probably do too.”
She nodded and Kazami smiled.
“Sayama must as well. And it’s his understanding of that that irritates him so much. He also has his grandfather to pursue, so he must want to begin the Leviathan Road with the next Gear right away.”
Shinjou nodded and remembered something.
“The training camp and the Leviathan Road are important, but we also have to worry about summer homework. We have a lot.”
“That’s a rather carefree concern when the world might be destroyed.”
“I know what you mean, but Ooki-sensei used the wrong book for our first term classes. We found out the day before yesterday and Sayama-kun set up an inquiry commission, but the only result was ‘Oh, no! I’m so sorry!’ …Our school is a surprisingly careless organization.”
“Heh heh heh. Don’t worry, Shinjou. The way I see it, it’s a surprisingly thrilling organization. …And I forgot this was your first time for this. That means it will be your only time. Third years get no homework because we have entrance exams to worry about.”
Hearing that, Shinjou suddenly raised her head. On the other hand, Kazami and Izumo remained relaxed.
“Why do you look so interested, Shinjou?”
“I just had a thought: what will we do once you two graduate?”
“Needless to say, Chisato and I will- gah! I didn’t even finish the setup!”
“Shut up,” muttered Kazami while ignoring Izumo as he once again lay to the side and pretended to cry. “I plan to go on to university, but we’re doing the Leviathan Road, right? So once I graduate high school, I might try studying abroad at different universities. Who knows what will have happened to the world at that point, but the different UCATs should be busy. I was thinking of helping them out a bit. Oh, and Kaku would be with me.”
Shinjou was unsure what to say.
“You’ve thought that through… Surprisingly.”
“That’s not exactly a compliment.”
“S-sorry. But…um…how should I put it?”
“Saying anything more would just dig yourself deeper, so stop. And this is normal. Next year, you’ll be thinking about it too. In your third year, there’s no one above you and simply flipping through the calendar gets you thinking. You think about it even when staring out the classroom window.”
After saying that, a sudden look of realization came over Kazami and her eyebrows rose slightly while she tried to retain her smile.
“I’ve practically been lecturing you while soaking in self-satisfaction, haven’t I? Well, you can let me act like an upperclassman every once in a while, right? I can’t say this kind of thing in front of Sayama.”
“True. Sayama-kun worries about people a surprising amount, so he would probably be overly considerate.”
Shinjou lowered her gaze toward Sayama.
He lay motionlessly on her lap. She did nothing but stare at him, but it still put a smile on her face.
Seeing them, Kazami let out an exasperated sigh.
Izumo remained in his position collapsed next to her.
How quiet, thought Shinjou.
But then a noise filled the training room.
“An alarm?”
Kazami stood up as the repeating high-pitched noise stabbed through the air.
Next, an announcement filled the room.
“Um, this is an official announcement. Currently, um, two huge philosopher’s stone readings are flying in from the left side of Japan. So, um, the special division and the…standard division? Both are to send all personnel in training or on standby to the main entrance.”
Hearing Ooki’s voice, Shinjou frantically looked at Sayama. His eyes remained closed, so she spoke.
“Sayama-kun! Sayama-kun! Wake up! Wake up! Ooki-sensei is saying something strange!”
But his eyes did not open. Shinjou panicked, thought for a moment, and then whispered in his ear.
“I’m on my way to the bath.”
He jumped to his feet with his arm held out as if holding a wash basin under it.
The moon-filled night sky was colored a dark blue.
The sky, the air, and the shadows created by the moonlight were all dark blue and they all seemed to blend into each other.
And below all that dark blue, forested mountains and valleys were visible.
The area was filled with the murmuring of the rivers flowing through the valleys and the sounds of forest insects.
The river noises seemed to continue without end.
But the insect noises were different. In some parts of the mountains, the insect cries would cease.
That silence of the insects was not contained to a single place. The silence climbed the unlit road leading up and into the mountain.
Two figures were visible on that silent mountain road.
One of the people treading on fallen branches was an old man in a lab coat.
“Sibyl-kun, how should I put this? Can we rest for a moment?”
As he gasped for breath, a blonde girl wearing a white summer coat turned toward him.
Sibyl’s blue eyes bent in a smile.
“I apologize, Ooshiro-sama. It has been so long that I began to hurry without realizing it.”
“And are we going to rest?”
“Testament. No, we are not.”
As she smiled, Ooshiro looked up into the sky and continued to walk. He stared beyond the overhead leaves and branches.
“I get the feeling that everyone has my priority level set very low of late…”
“Testament. Do not worry. If everyone has it set low, it means you do not have to worry about people treating you differently.”
“Wah! Are people abusing the elderly with sophistry these days!?”
His shout was followed by bird cries from the branches overhead. The panicked cries were followed by a few sounds of flapping wings and Sibyl coming to a stop.
Ooshiro stopped as well and she looked at him with her smile gone.
He waited for the bird cries and flapping to end before speaking.
He bowed and Sibyl had vanished by the time he raised his head again.
“Ah! Being ignored is the worst of all!”
He began to run, but the mountain road ended before long and the forest opened up.
“The old Hiba Dojo.”
With that comment, he arrived below the moonlight.
The space was twenty meters square and the ground had been packed down by countless feet.
But while the ground was hard, it was also unmaintained. Cracks had formed in places and grass was growing up from them.
This was the old Hiba Dojo.
“The Hiba family used this outdoor dojo until the end of the war.”
As he looked across the unmaintained dojo, he saw two people on the northern end.
The first was Sibyl in her white summer coat. The other wore a white T-shirt and shorts.
“Hiba-sensei.”
“Oh? Ooshiro’s kid is here too?”
Hiba Ryuutetsu raised a hand in the moonlight and faced Ooshiro.
As he smiled, his red left eye reflected the moonlight.
“Why did you call me to this location of the past on this early summer night?”
“It is beginning again, Ryuutetsu-sama.”
“ ‘It’ being the cleanup of that conclusion?”
Sibyl turned toward Ryuutetsu’s voice as she bathed in the moonlight.
A train could be heard in the distance and the moon illuminated a slight smile on her face.
“That is correct. We will be purifying the vestiges of that battle over the search for a human form,” she said. “That is why we have called you, warrant officer of the former National Defense Department and bearer of the power that destroyed 3rd-Gear.”
In the moonlight, Ooshiro pulled a pile of documents from his lab coat’s pocket.
When he handed the clip-bound pile to Ryuutetsu, Ryuutetsu’s expression grew serious.
“If you look that stern, it makes me want to make a joke.”
“Go right ahead. But it’ll cost you an arm if it isn’t funny. That’s the rule.”
Hearing that, Ooshiro froze in place and Sibyl smiled at him.
“Ooshiro-sama? There is no need to force yourself.”
“That really pisses me off! I’m definitely going to say something funny now!”
“Better not, boy. Not even five arms would be enough for you.”
Being called ‘boy’ made Ooshiro smile bitterly. He scratched at his head while unsure how to respond.
“That really takes me back.”
“I’m sure not many people call you that anymore, but I remember when you were born. Hiromasa was so happy. I was…24 and Hiromasa was 37, I think.”
Ryuutetsu flipped through the documents he had been given. He just looked like a little old man in the moonlight.
“You look good for someone turning 85 this year.”
“I haven’t had a longevity treatment like Chao or Siegfried and I’m not near all sorts of concepts in combat like Abram, so the years are really starting to catch up to me. Fortunately, my wife is the same age,” he said. “But I think Thunderson or I will be the first of that group to die.”
His words caused Sibyl to close her eyes next to him.
She thought closing her eyes had hidden her expression, but Ryuutetsu said nothing to her. He continued flipping through the documents before speaking again.
“Are you going to retrieve you-know-what in UCAT’s Kanda laboratory tomorrow?”
“Yes. It was repaired in the Kanda lab, so we’ll be picking it up tomorrow. Would you like to come along?”
“Not after all this time. I only brought it back because I couldn’t bear to throw it out. And that’s Kaoru’s jurisdiction anyway.” He looked up. “But remember. I’m giving it to you, but in exchange…”
“Yes. UCAT will not interfere with your grandson’s actions.”
“Heh. When did you get so obedient? What happened to the ten-year-old Peeping Tom who would peep on the women’s bath with me?”
“Oh, c’mon.” Ooshiro scratched at his head, but suddenly turned to Sibyl. “S-Sibyl-kun? Why are you silently taking notes?”
“Testament. I think Chisato-sama will find this information useful.”
“Wh-what information! And why!?”
Sibyl ignored him. She continued to ignore him as he sadly sat on the ground with his arms around his knees.
“Anyway, Ryuutetsu-sama,” she said. “Japanese UCAT wishes for a mutually beneficial deal. In exchange for the object we will retrieve tomorrow…”
“You will temporarily put 3rd-Gear’s Leviathan Road on hold. Officially, at least.”
Ryuutetsu’s comment brought silence.
A silent wind blew through and Ryuutetsu’s voice filled the air once more as that wind shook the mountain’s trees.
“3rd-Gear has an impurity, so their Leviathan Road should not be carried out. The survivors from that time in the other UCATs told you the same thing, didn’t they? If we accept 3rd-Gear to our side, something best avoided would occur.”
“What is this impurity?”
“There are actually two. The first is the official one and the other one is more personal. The latter should only be known by me and the survivors of 3rd-Gear, so the other UCATs would be talking about the former. But both will be cleansed before long. 3rd-Gear is approaching a second destruction.”
“You mean…?”
“I will tell you about that now. I will tell you what 3rd-Gear is most likely doing right now and what we are doing. Once you hear that, you will be forced to think about the Leviathan Road with 3rd-Gear as an adult.” The corner of Ryuutetsu’s mouth rose in a smile. “I wonder what will happen. Once the adults learn of these impurities, they will certainly move to stop the Leviathan Road with 3rd-Gear. But what will Mikoto and his friends do?”
“Testament.” Sibyl looked somewhat disappointed, but she still gave a small smile. “Sayama-sama and the others generally have a certain extent of free reign over the Leviathan Road. If they come into contact with your grandson while learning of the past on their own and working to clear that barrier…”
“Will that change where those inexperienced children are headed?”
“Testament.” Sibyl nodded, but she was truly smiling now. “I think it will change where you are headed as well. They may be inexperienced, but… Chisato-sama said she was wondering what they would do once the Leviathan Road ended.”
She continued smiling.
“They have already started forward along with the entire world. And they have done so whether you wish for it or not.”
“Heh heh. I hate how sharp you are with things like this. …I really have gotten old. I’ve started worrying about sending kids to dangerous places.”
Suddenly, Ryuutetsu brought a hand to his face.
He brought it to his crimson left eye.
His action brought tension to Sibyl’s face and Ooshiro turned around.
“It can’t be…”
“It is. That idiot really is drawing the battle this way.”
“What idiot?”
“Take a guess,” said Ryuutetsu. His eyebrows were raised, but he had a smile on his lips. “The one I have allowed to cleanse the impurities!”
Below the moon, the lights of a train travelled east.
The train was on its way to Okutama on the Oume Line. It was leaving Ikusabata Station near Oume and it was travelling east along the Tama River.
The light could be seen leaving from a paddy field on the southern side of the river.
The area had no external lights and the green heads of rice were illuminated by the moonlight. The sounds of the insects in the grass and the frogs in the paddy field filled the area.
The wind shaking the rice plants travelled down from the mountains and across the river, so it was fairly chilly.
The moonlit breeze crossed the paddy field and travelled downstream as if pursuing the train.
But that wind suddenly danced about.
A single figure stood on the gravel farm road travelling down the center of the paddy field.
This young woman had her back to the distant station lights.
The beige suit coat hanging over her left shoulder was worn out and faint disorder could be heard in the sound of her pumps treading on the gravel road. She lightly swung around the bag in her right hand.
She let out a weary voice and brushed up her hair with her left hand.
Below her semi-long bangs was a face with flushed cheeks. But that face was accompanied by the smell of alcohol on her breath and eyebrows brought together in a troubled look.
The motion of brushing up her hair caused her suit coat to fall from her left shoulder.
She paused for just a second and looked down at the coat on the gravel road.
She then sat down on top of the dropped coat and started to cross her legs.
But the hem of her tight skirt was too narrow, so she kept her right knee raised. With a click of the tongue, she opened her bag. She pulled out a single sheet of paper: her resume.
The name field said Tsukuyomi Miyako.
The young woman named Miyako held the resume in both hands and held it forward in the proper reading position. She let out a nauseous groan before looking at the writing with a blank look in her eyes.
“What am I supposed to do? Mom’s gonna let me have it when she hears I couldn’t say anything at the interview.”
She suddenly glanced to the right which was the west. In the dark mountains of Okutama, she could see a few small gatherings of light.
“She’s always saying she’ll introduce me to IAI, but I’m not gonna use connections to get a job.”
Still sitting, Miyako brushed up her hair with her right hand and turned back to the resume.
The paper clearly described all the results she had produced so far: middle school, high school, university, the clubs she had belonged to, and whether she had a license.
She let go with her right hand and searched through the bag. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
She brought the flavorful smoke into her mouth, savored it, and breathed it out in a ball.
“That isn’t what I want them to see…”
She turned toward the fields for hobbies and special skills. Cooking and engineering were written there in ballpoint pen.
This just isn’t working out, she thought as she looked at it.
“I hate relying on people, but now it’s past mid-July and I still don’t have a job.”
She folded the resume in two and then folded it in half again.
She stuck it in her bag and sighed. With the cigarette still in her mouth, she collapsed backwards onto the ground.
She thought it was pathetic, but she grabbed the cigarette and held it up toward the moon.
“Even a former delinquent like me wants to flee this cruel world.”
She smiled bitterly, flicked the cigarette to knock off the ashes, and watched them scatter in the wind.
“Can’t something good happen for once? Like a meteor destroying society or a wealthy Prince Charming proposing, dying right after the marriage, and leaving me an easy life with tons of maids to do everything for me.” She showed her teeth in a smile. “Ridiculous.”
Her smiling face slowly grew serious.
“I just want to be a proper adult.”
As soon as she muttered that, she heard a voice.
She heard it in her mind rather than her ears and it resembled her own voice.
—Minerals have life.
Wondering what that voice had been, she got up.
She started to ask “who’s there”, but never finished.
Something fell to the ground directly to her right.
It was a giant mass of wind. As she was almost blown away by the great roar and wind, she looked up.
“That’s no meteor…”
The moonlight illuminated a white giant.
A giant white figure stood in the moonlit paddy field.
The white armored warrior was over ten meters tall.
As she sat at its feet, Miyako realized this white oddity was not disappearing, so she slowly looked around the area.
Once the wind produced by the giant vanished, everything grew still.
All the movements, insect noises, and frog croaks had vanished.
The silence and stillness was so great that a sense of confusion fell over her. It was as if all life had vanished from the area. And the giant standing next to her was more than just confusing.
She called all of her engineering skills and knowledge into her inebriated mind and stood up.
“This isn’t an anime, so how sturdy does that thing have to be to stand like that?”
The unmoving white giant was close enough to reach out and touch. And so she took a step closer to do exactly that.
As she did, two lights appeared on the giant’s head.
They formed the eyes on what appeared to be its face. The lights were yellow and she felt a certain warmth in them.
They may have been a signal that something was activating.
…I feel like I’ve seen those eyes before. But where? No, I’ve never seen glowing eyes before. It’s the general feeling they give me.
Looking at those eyes brought a brightly warm and weak feeling to her chest.
With that thought, her drunken mind prioritized curiosity. As if tempted, she reached a hand out toward the white giant.
And just before she touched it…
The light in the giant’s eyes suddenly strengthened and it moved.
It took a half step to the side as if avoiding her.
…It’s running away.
As it reacted like a frightened animal, it produced a powerful noise and wind. When it stepped into the paddy field, it tore off heads of rice and produced a splashing noise. The foot sinking into the mud produced an equal volume of muddy water flowing onto the gravel road.
It had moved approximately three meters away and Miyako still could not hear any insects or frogs.
In that silence, she looked at the fingers of her outstretched arm and the giant beyond them.
She saw the white giant look down at her as if hanging its head.
The giant’s head suddenly produced some sort of noise. She could tell it was a male voice, but she did not know what language it was.
But after speaking, the giant turned its back to her.
“Wait,” she called out.
But then she gasped in realization.
She had gotten drunk after failing an interview and now she was telling a white giant to wait.
Just as she wondered how much of that was normal, the giant made its next move.
The six large wings on its back spread out.
It had three pairs of main wings with ailerons. The main wings were over five meters long and their flaps rose and fell. She even saw in-wing thrusters which should not have existed in reality.
The wings spread out like a living creature and they blossomed in the moonlight.
What is this? she wondered. This shouldn’t exist.
But that sense of reality was wiped out by the truth before her eyes.
The spread wings gave off a dignified glow in the moonlight and wind suddenly exploded out.
The white giant flew into the sky.
Miyako crossed her arms in front of herself, but it was too late. Uh, oh, she thought as her body floated up a bit. In the next moment, she fell onto her butt.
The impact itself was not as bad as the pain of the gravel stabbing at her.
But she immediately forced herself through the wind and back to her feet.
She had seen the white giant turn toward her in the instant it jumped up.
Its yellow eyes had seemed afraid of something.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She did not know what to say.
She felt a strange sense of frustration, but she must have sympathized with the giant to have read fear in its eyes. Something similar to that giant’s fear resided within herself.
But what was it inside her?
Instead of an answer, she heard a noise. It was a muffled sound as if something were tearing at the wind.
A reverberation of the wind fell from the previously silent sky above.
She looked up and saw a single white cloud drawing a line through the night along the path in which the white giant had flown.
Something else came from the sky behind her.
With the sound of something tearing at the wind, a new figure swiftly cut by overhead.
As if showing its intention to whip up the wind, the figure repeatedly accelerated as it passed by above her head. It flew through the night sky while producing a chain of roars resembling the flapping of wings.
Miyako put up with this second wind as she watched. This new figure wrapped in wind and noise was another giant much like the white one from before.
But it was colored a dark black.
The black giant pursued the white giant as it flew through the night sky.
The night sky was chilly and clear.
The black giant flying through the air had four metal wings extending from its back.
The two pairs of four meter long wings were spread out with two toward the sky and two toward the ground.
This action should have created air resistance, but it did not. The pale light emitted from the front of the wings cut through the air and only the necessary amount of air was brought inside the front slit to be stored inside the wing.
The swing-down portion of the wing would then beat down the air.
The atmospheric explosion emitted from the wing’s rear thruster accelerated the metal giant upwards.
The distance to the sky above vanished in an instant.
As the black giant ascended, a sharp red light appeared on its face as eyes.
It then located its enemy in the wind, the night, and the sky.
That enemy was the white giant.
The white giant’s back was visible at a high enough altitude to be called “the heavens”.
It was ascending, so the black giant ascended even further.
As it flapped the wings on its back, a noise came from the black giant.
It was a voice coming from the mouth portion of its face.
“Are they planning to leave the concept space they set up themselves?”
The voice that seemed to be questioning itself might have belonged to a boy or a young man.
And another voice immediately replied. This time, a feminine voice came from that same black machine.
“I don’t know. But if we can end this here, we should use our weapon of destruction.”
A male and female pair spoke within the same craft and the female voice continued.
“Keravnos!”
That name produced movement.
A concept space expanded around the black right arm and the weapon known as Keravnos appeared in pieces.
First, the frame of a spear was emitted from space. The claws on the bottom of the frame locked onto the arm and combined with the rail meant to fire the spear shell. Next, side guiderails and an upper counter-head were emitted from space. Those parts surrounded the top and either side, forming a cannon.
After that, a shock absorber appeared and connected to the back. With the inside complete, the spear shell entered.
The spear shell was made up of three spears, all which glowed white. They were the color of a thunderbolt.
Finally, twelve steel bolts were emitted from space. With six on either side, they drilled into Keravnos one pair at a time. The six-fold harmony of metal closed the weapon, fixed it in place, and made sure it would not budge.
It all occurred in an instant.
“Finished. We can do this!”
Just as the female voice cried out, something happened above the black giant’s head.
The white giant flipped around with the moon above it and the black giant below it.
It almost seemed to collapse backwards until its head was pointed down toward the black giant.
Immediately afterwards, the white giant flapped its wings.
It charged down toward the other giant and toward the ground.
It had been carrying a sword over each shoulder and it was now holding the right one down toward its left waist.
“Here it comes!”
But the black giant also flew. With a large flap of its wings, it calmly soared.
And then music came from the black giant’s mouth.
The boy’s voice sang a song.
As if riding on the gentle rhythm of the hymn, the black giant accelerated without rushing.
—God’s Son laughs, o how bright
At such great speeds, contact would only last an instant.
—Love from your holy lips shines clear
The descent at greater than free fall speeds and the ascent fighting against the pull of gravity crossed paths.
—As the dawn of salvation draws near
The sword on the left and the spear on the right clashed.
—Jesus, Lord, with your birth
The song’s final line transformed into a shout as the spear easily broke the sword.
Something odd happened.
The white giant vanished and suddenly appeared to the side. It appeared on the right with zero time lag.
“Did it take our attack again!?” The boy’s voice seemed to forcefully turn around in the sky. “Mikage-san, what was that!?”
“It’s no use! The attack is already here!”
As she had said, the white giant’s sword had already been swung down.
“That isn’t just teleportation! It’s an instant attack!”
With teleportation, the giant’s movements afterwards would continue from before, but when it had appeared an instant after vanishing, it had already been swinging the attack.
This was not high speed, invisibility, or teleportation. It was as if the black giant’s attack had been taken away.
“What’s the trick to this!?”
As he asked that question, evasion and attack crossed paths.
With a great noise, the white giant’s sword deflected the firing device at the base of the spear.
And then the white giant crashed into the black giant.
The sound of destroyed metal filled the sky.
Sounds of pain and surprise came from both and the result of the crash showed itself.
The white giant was larger and was moving faster. To eliminate the lingering effects of the impact, it rotated and dropped straight down. But the black giant was knocked through the air with its chest armor and back wings broken.
Its altitude quickly dropped and it approached the surface.
The black wings spread out. It flapped them at just above the ground to throw its body sideways, but it was too little, too late.
It used all of its leg strength to kick off the ground and forced another strike of the wings to correct its path. It flew in a high-speed horizontal glide and pursued the white giant which was similarly skimming along the surface approximately one hundred meters ahead.
“Sorry. This is because I am incomplete.”
The boy did not respond to the female voice’s comment. After a short pause, she spoke again.
“Did you see Typhon back there?”
“Yes, but what about it?”
After another short pause, the female voice spoke as if checking with herself.
“Its eyes were yellow. …The color was different when we fought it before.”
“True,” muttered the boy.
The black giant’s head tilted as if to ask why, but the female voice cut off the boy’s puzzlement.
“Typhon is slowing down.”
“I do not know, but this is our chance!”
The black giant nodded at her words.
It continued forward. It kicked off the ground once to leap into the air and then flapped its wings. It was taking a low-angle yet high-speed dive.
And it charged in. It swung Keravnos on its right arm toward the white back it approached.
“Cry out, crushing lightning strike!”
The male and female voices cried out in unison and the stabbing spear was fired while wrapped in light.
As the white giant glided along, it frantically turned around and swung its sword toward the other giant.
“What!?”
Keravnos devoured the sword. The metal sword shattered in an instant and it scattered through the sky.
But the black giant saw where the white giant was headed.
“A person!?”
A woman wearing a white shirt and a beige skirt looked through the sky while walking. It looked like she had lost sight of the giants and was searching for them. She slowly turned her head toward them.
She caught sight of the approaching white giant and her expression filled with shock and paled.
Seeing that, the white giant took action. It fully spread its wings, drastically lowered its speed, crouched over, and spread its arms.
It moved to protect the woman from the attack approaching from behind.
As the pursuing black giant swung its right arm, it altered the trajectory away from the white giant.
The attack could not punch through the white giant.
But the fired spear produced a lightning strike.
Light enveloped the two gods of war and a great rumbling rang out.
Miyako stood on the gravel road which was scorched, broken, and giving off heat.
She was surrounded by an intense light that had fallen from the sky, but she did not close her eyes.
She saw everything that happened. The heat- and light-filled wind brought slight tears to her eyes and made her tremble, but she continued to watch.
It started when the flying white and black giants had descended toward her.
As soon as the one with white wings landed in front of her, the light had come.
Sound raced by around her like she was surrounded by a waterfall and light filled everything. She could tell the hot wind was blowing from below her feet.
She did not remember much else. She had simply suddenly noticed the white giant standing before her.
…Did it protect me as I carelessly wandered around?
She tried to speak her confusion aloud, but she could not form the words.
Her lips were trembling. As were her face, head, abdomen, and knees.
But her eyes looked steadily up at the white giant. She looked up at its face.
Those eyes emitting a yellow light would be there.
As if responding to her thoughts, the giant lowered its head slightly. She could now see its face.
…It’s different.
It was a pale blue.
Rather than the yellow light, the white giant’s face gave off a pale light.
This is the same color as moonlight, she thought.
In the next instant, the white giant moved. As if refusing to lower its head any longer, it suddenly spread its arms slightly and bent backwards.
It let out a roar. The roar sounded like a mix between an “ah” and a “gah” and it was clearly a female voice. The foreign-sounding male voice from before was gone. It now produced a pure, bestial, and scream-like voice.
The cry blew away the steam and exposed the moon above.
The entire chilly sky was now visible. The sight made Miyako shudder. She then heard a noise. Something was shaking the air as it approached from behind the white giant.
“The black one…”
The dark giant moved in. It skimmed across the broken paddy field at high speed and instantly arrived from a distance. It was already swinging the spear attached to its right arm.
Miyako heard it give a war cry.
In response, the white giant ended its cry and swung its right arm toward Miyako.
“What?” asked Miyako as the white giant grabbed her.
In no time, the steel fingers had wrapped around her tense body.
She was restrained.
She was lifted up in an instant and then forcefully squeezed.
As she wondered what was happening, the white giant turned around, bringing her with it.
And it held her out toward the black giant.
“I’m a hostage!?”
Even as she almost passed out, she saw the black giant stop when it saw her.
She once again wondered what was happening.
The white giant which had shown her fear had protected her but then taken her hostage once the color of its eyes had changed.
Meanwhile, the black giant had stopped moving upon seeing her despite continually attacking the fearful white giant.
…Which is the good one and which is the bad one?
While held by those five steel fingers, her breath was squeezed from her lungs and she had difficulty drawing in more air. Her breathing was shallow and her vision grew blurry.
And then the white giant flapped its wings.
Just as she felt her body grow heavy, she found herself in the sky.
Her vision had reached the heavens.
The large moon was visible overhead.
She saw the pale color of the moon just before her consciousness cut out.
The black giant stood on the paddy field’s gravel road.
After the triple spear on its right arm was dismantled and stored in the concept space, it lowered its right arm.
Afterwards, its shoulders clearly drooped.
The face was clearly turned toward two things on the ground.
Sitting on the gravel were a balled up woman’s suit coat and a black bag.
After a moment of silence, it spoke with the boy’s voice.
“The concept space will vanish soon, but should we pursue them? They got someone else involved.”
The response came from a weak and quiet female voice.
“We can’t. I can’t send power to the wings properly.”
“I see,” said the boy’s voice.
At the same time, light arrived. This was not the moonlight from above. It came from directly in front of the black giant.
The white light pointed directly at the black giant’s face.
More lights illuminated its face and body from the sides and back.
And then the black giant saw it. A great number of large forms were visible beyond the hands holding the lights. And several human forms were visible on top of them.
“Are those…?”
They were trucks. The large trucks had surrounded the giant as a barricade.
The lights were approximately fifteen meters away. The giant had not noticed them as they approached. Which meant…
“Did they use some kind of concept?” muttered the male voice.
He received a response from a boy standing in the center of the people lined up on one truck. His hair was slicked back, it had some white mixed in, and his sharp face was turned toward the giant.
“To use the stereotypical phrase, we have you surrounded! Feel free to resist if you like. We have already prepared a stupid but sturdy shield and a beautiful gunner that can shoot through anything as long as she has enough guts!”
“Am I that shield you mentioned, you son of a bitch?” said a well-built young man standing to the boy’s left and holding a giant sword.
The girl standing to the boy’s right then spoke while holding a giant staff.
“U-um… My Ex-St doesn’t use my guts for output. It uses my spirit.”
“That’s the same thing!”
The girl cowered down as everyone else shouted at her, but the sharp-faced boy in the center patted her shoulder.
He then faced the black giant once more.
“Now, what will you do?”
Rather than the male voice, it was the giant’s female voice that answered.
“What should we do?”
The line of people took defensive stances when they heard that question. Except for one of them.
That one was the sharp-faced boy who had spoken before.
Rather than going on the defensive, he loosely folded his arms and placed his left hand on his chin. It looked like he was evaluating the black god of war.
“Will you fight?” he asked.
“Are you picking a fight?”
“That depends on you.” He nodded and calmly continued. “If we do fight, you may come to regret it.”
The black giant did not move, but the male voice muttered to himself.
“I give up…”
“Ryuuji-kun?”
“Please shut it down, Mikage-san. These people are not our enemy. Not that they are our ally either.”
“You are from UCAT, aren’t you?”
As the sharp-faced boy answered, the black giant trembled.
The hatch on the bottom of the stomach opened outward.
A short figure jumped out and to the ground. He was a boy wearing black jeans and a white tank top. He had short hair and a white bandanna wrapped around his forehead.
He gave a troubled smile as he heard that comment from the surrounding people.
“I get these red eyes from my grandfather. …Also, I request protection. Will that suffice, student council members?”
Sensing confusion and surprise, the red-eyed boy spoke with a smile.
“I am Hiba Ryuuji from Class 1-F of Taka-Akita Academy. The one about to appear from this god of war is Hiba Mikage. Sayama-san, do you remember me? I’m the grandson of that troublesome old man, Hiba Ryuutetsu.”
As he spoke, the boy named Hiba raised his hands. He also stopped between the black giant’s legs.
He held his raised arms forward as if to catch something.
“Mikage-san.”
As soon as he spoke that name, the black giant transformed.
No, it was not a transformation. Starting with its limbs, the entire body folded and bent inward until it vanished into thin air.
With the sound of building blocks being piled up, the black craft disappeared.
And just before it did, the back of the craft opened and a human figure fell out.
It was a female figure. The blonde girl wore a black shirt and a white dress.
As she fell, Hiba caught her from below.
The girl, Mikage, did not move. She did not fix her disheveled hair and she merely took repeated deep breaths.
…Is she okay?
As he thought that, Hiba felt something damp in his right hand. Something warm began to cover that hand.
As that warmth caused him to gasp, he heard a voice from above.
“Is she injured? We can treat her.”
“We always handle it ourselves, but it looks like that won’t happen today.”
He realized that everyone surrounding them was staring at Mikage.
He knew why she was drawing their focus. Her visible skin at the neck and hands was different from that of a human. The material resembled human skin, but the joints were black and made with a geometric pattern.
“An automaton,” someone said.
That comment caused an even deeper silence to fall which Hiba did not like.
But that silence was broken by Sayama giving instructions.
Hiba took a breath as he heard the footsteps of people frantically beginning to move.
A white-clothed rescue team quickly arrived and spread out a white sheet, so he gently lowered Mikage to the ground behind him. He placed her on the sheet and lightly placed her hands on top of her stomach.
“It’ll be okay,” he said reassuringly and the rescue team smiled at him.
“We will make sure she is okay.”
His smile in response was weak, but he raised his head as he heard the sounds of medical equipment.
He turned around and turned his red eyes in that direction.
“Thank you very much. Please take her to a good doctor.”
And then he looked around the area once more.
He first noticed that Sayama was looking his way.
“This is Team Leviathan, isn’t it?”
“Did you hear about us from Hiba-sensei?”
“Yes, but only a bit. Something about winning each Gear to your side, right?”
“Correct. Are you fighting 3rd-Gear?”
As Hiba wondered whether he should answer, Sayama continued speaking.
“This is not just a casual request. I am sure you have your reasons, but could you end your fighting? It will hinder the Leviathan Road with 3rd-Gear.”
“No,” replied Hiba reflexively. His eyebrows rose. “3rd-Gear is our opponent. And…I cannot hand them over to you. If you want 3rd-Gear’s Concept Core, then wait until we have settled things with them.”
“An impurity.” Hiba chose his words carefully. “3rd-Gear has an impurity. If you touch them, you will be stained, so we will cleanse that impurity and then give you the Concept Core.”
“And until then, you want us to leave you alone?”
Hiba nodded.
After a moment, Sayama folded his arms and a small animal that had climbed to his head mimicked the pose.
“I see. An interesting proposal. According to my horoscope, I am a bit short-tempered today and my lucky word is ‘anger’, so-…”
“W-wait, Sayama-kun! Don’t do anything rash based on the astronomy department’s fake horoscopes!” cried a voice from behind the truck.
Sayama frowned and turned toward the voice.
Hiba tilted his head as he thought the voice sounded familiar.
“U-um, we just received word from Ooshiro-san. Is there a Hiba-kun here!? If so, please raise your hand!”
Hiba did as requested. But after a few moments of silence, Sayama looked at him and then on the other side of the truck once more.
“Can you see him from there?”
“O-of course I can!”
“Then answer me this: which hand is he holding up?”
“U-um… Um, uh… The middle one!”
“Please redo your evolution from the microscopic stage. At any rate, what is it?”
“Well,” said the voice. “It seems we’re supposed to secure Hiba-kun and the girl with him without asking them anything! It sounds like a complicated situation and I didn’t really understand it.”
“Ha ha ha ha ha. Thank you for being so wonderfully useless, Ooki-sensei.”
“Teh heh heh. Stop flattering me.”
That was flattery? thought Hiba, but then the name Sayama had mentioned made him recall a famous teacher from his school. Oh, so that teacher is part of Team Leviathan too.
…Now I’m worried about the world.
Sayama and the others faced him and Sayama gave him an expressionless look.
“There is a lot I would like to ask you, but we will prioritize the organization here.”
Hiba looked up and around at the people surrounding him.
They were UCAT members, but they were mostly quite young. A lot of the girls were about his age.
The same was true for the girl standing next to Sayama. She did not seem to be a member of the student council, but…
She looked familiar, so he tilted his head.
…Isn’t that the person named Shinjou who is always with Sayama-senpai? But isn’t Shinjou…
“…a boy?” he muttered.
He suddenly shuddered.
As sweat poured down the back of his body, Shinjou spoke to him.
“What is it? You don’t look too good.”
“Eh? Oh… U-u-u-u-uh… Well…”
He looked around to find something to say. As he did, he looked up at the girls.
“With the design of the girls’ uniforms, it feels like I’m peeking up their skirts,” he muttered with a serious expression. “Does thinking that make me a pervert?”
Countless silent attacks flew his way.
I want to do this forever
But what am I supposed to do
If I feel a stirring in my heart?
—Thinking you are special is old-fashioned.
—Thinking you are normal is even more old-fashioned.
Chapter 1: A Morning Change[edit]
A lot is about to change
A morning of beginnings has made this clear
The moon of early summer remains visible in that morning
The air of a summer morning blew through the city.
The sun was beginning to rise, but few cars passed by on the street which was covered in a morning fog.
However, two figures were visible on the sidewalk. Two people were running as the shallow morning sun washed over them from the side. One was a boy in a black track suit and the other was a girl in a white track suit.
As they jogged, they entered the giant school alongside the road.
Their path curved ninety degrees away from the cherry trees along the road and toward the school building to the left. With the gym on their left, they passed by the first general school building and the second general school building (which contained the Kinugasa Library) on their right.
They then turned right and cut between the second and third general school buildings to reach the backs of the buildings.
Sayama then began the last spurt while almost destroying the gravel path below his feet.
“Ah, that’s too fast.”
Sayama waved to Shinjou behind him as he moved ahead. He also pulled Baku from his pocket and placed the creature on his head.
He quickly reached the emergency staircase on the east side of the second general school building.
He ran up to the second floor landing while taking three steps at a time. That was their usual gathering spot for meetings and private discussions.
And he arrived.
He looked over the railing toward the empty schoolyard and the sun rising into the sky. Far off in the vast schoolyard were the silhouettes of the strange monuments created by each successive graduating class.
…Such majestic scenery.
He took a breath, loosened his track suit’s collar, and made sure Baku was not falling from his head. He then pulled a stopwatch from his pocket.
The LCD time read 5:50 AM. He then glanced at the seconds display below the clock.
“Fourteen minutes for a half circuit. We still have a long way to go.”
As he spoke to himself, he turned toward the staircase behind him.
As Shinjou climbed the stairs, she looked up at him from the bend in the staircase.
The instant their gazes met, she mistook her footing as if strength had left her legs.
With a quiet voice of surprise, she threw her body to his side. She fell on her back while holding her hair so as not to get it dirty.
“Ha ha. I guess I got careless.”
She laughed while catching her breath while Sayama stood with his hips lowered and his arms spread forward.
…I thought she was going to leap toward me.
“Sayama-kun, why are you making that pose into empty air?
“It seems not everything goes as one might hope.”
He nodded as Shinjou tilted her head and then he looked across the landing. The morning light showed two things on the landing wall.
Sayama had used his finger to write two things in the filth on the wall.
1st-Gear – Fafnir Custom.
2nd-Gear – Yamata.
Sayama suddenly narrowed his eyes toward the two lines written one above the other.
“Is something the matter?” asked a voice from below.
He looked down and saw Shinjou was still lying on the floor. She brushed up her bangs which had stuck to her forehead with sweat.
She looked up at the wall, but the light prevented her from reading the writing from her angle.
She tilted her head, looked back toward him, and showed him a smile.
“It is nothing, Shinjou-kun. Does it bother you?”
“Yes.” She nodded and sat up with the ends of her eyebrows slightly lowered. “You had a similar expression to when your chest hurts.”
“That is worrisome. Perhaps I should visit a doctor.”
“Yes… No, wait! You can’t go to any of the doctors you know! A-and more importantly…”
For some reason, she frantically stood up and kicked the floor with her right heel despite having just run.
“U-um? What are we going to do about that guy from last night? Hiba…Ryuuji-kun, was it?”
Shinjou’s question caused Sayama to cross his arms.
“Hm.” He nodded. “You want to know what we are going to do?”
“Yes. I was wondering… No, wait! You shouldn’t think too much, Sayama-kun! Especially in the morning!”
“What has you panicking so much? I am thinking about this in a perfectly normal fashion.”
“…Just remember. There are some things people simply can’t do.”
“Ha ha ha. Do not worry, Shinjou-kun. I am perfect. …Why would you grab my collar when I say that?”
“Well, I suppose you are perfect in a way.”
“Calm down.”
He held out a hand to stop her.
She glared at him while they both leaned against the railing.
“At any rate, we were unable to meet with the Hiba boy since that incident.”
He recalled the previous night. The boy claiming to be Hiba Ryuutetsu’s grandson and his female automaton partner had been taken into UCAT custody, but they had heard nothing since.
What had he been fighting using that god of war?
It seemed the investigation team had found white armor fragments on the ground.
Hiba’s god of war had been black.
“He must have been fighting a white god of war. …Most likely one belonging to 3rd-Gear.”
“Do you think it was Typhon?”
“I cannot say for sure, but the odds are good. The Hiba boy’s god of war had wings and it used them in battle. It was on an entirely different level than the UCAT god of war attempting a triple axel underground. And do you remember Ooki-sensei’s announcement just before we headed out?”
“She said there were two huge readings. …Who would have thought she would ever teach us something useful?”
“I’m going to ignore that last part, okay? …Anyway, she uses the concept-related equipment, so can we assume these were on the level of a Concept Core for her to call them ‘huge’?”
“If so, the white one would be Typhon which is powered by half of 3rd-Gear’s Concept Core. We do not know where the black one came from, but this would mean it possesses half of a Concept Core. If only we knew how he acquired that god of war.”
They had waited in the front lobby to speak with Hiba and the others, but Abram had arrived and ordered them to leave.
…3rd-Gear’s Leviathan Road has yet to begin and we are forced to avoid the related people.
This almost confirmed that the boy named Hiba had some connection to 3rd-Gear.
“The real mystery is why we were not allowed to speak with him.”
“The higher ups must have decided there is some reason why we must not be allowed to meet with him. He is refusing to work with the Leviathan Road for some reason and UCAT also thinks we should stay away from him.”
“He said something about an impurity and that he would cleanse it.”
“Yes, but we were not even allowed to ask about that.”
After leaving UCAT last night, Izumo, Kazami, Shinjou, and Sayama had travelled by train and motorcycle before meeting back up in Oume. After leaving the station, they had discussed their plans at a fast food restaurant.
While folding his arms above the railing, Sayama restated their conclusion from that meeting.
“UCAT will not allow us to approach him, but we wish to know what this impurity is and who he was fighting. And he attends our school, so we can approach him if we want. …UCAT will have realized that much.”
“How about we act as students rather than as Team Leviathan? We have recently discovered an interesting underclassman and wish to speak with him as the student council. We can discuss his personal situation while we are at it.”
The smile in his voice produced a bitter smile from Shinjou.
As her eyebrows relaxed slightly, she glanced over at him.
“That is disobeying orders.”
“It is nothing more than a normal student council activity. Kazami is likely contacting him right about now. The Hiba boy will receive word from his homeroom teacher that the student council has summoned him. Basically, he is being told to meet us behind the school. Heh heh heh. No one in the school can disobey Kazami if she tells them that. We can look forward to this, Shinjou-kun.”
“Yes… She seems to be well-known among the freshmen. I think it’s because she kicked Izumo-san from the rooftop stage during the school band concert for the All Holiday Festival back in May.”
“It had something to do with the force of his shout, didn’t it? The first years panicked, but the second and third years knew it was coming. The cheers for Kazami and cries of ‘gung-ho’ made it quite an amazing performance. You can tell Kazami has grown accustomed to this. She made sure to finish singing all the songs before collecting Izumo from the pond he fell into.”
“Schools make for both good and bad memories, don’t they? And I’m stating that as kindly as I can.”
Shinjou’s shoulders drooped and she sighed. She then grabbed the railing and stretched lightly.
“Anyway, Sayama-kun, are you planning on 3rd-Gear for the next Leviathan Road?”
Sayama did not immediately respond.
He looked back toward the writing on the wall and then nodded.
“That would be the next one if we are to continue in order. Also…it depends on our meeting today.”
“I see. I wonder how it’ll go. And if we go up against 3rd, we’ll really be faced with gods of war, won’t we?”
As she muttered that, a slight wind suddenly gathered around her body.
As her hair shook and she twisted her body a little, a faint mist of white steam appeared around her.
But the mist vanished in an instant and she remained still while gently holding her own body. She shrank down with red tinging her cheeks.
“I-I just became Setsu…”
“I do not see why that is anything to blush over.”
Shinjou shook her head.
“I-it’s embarrassing. When I choose what to wear, I’m deciding which one I will be. When I’m in the dorm room with you, I can take it easy and just be Sadagiri, but I have to be either Sadame or Setsu while outside. Before I revealed my identity, I had to be Sadame during the day, so I was prepared to dress as a girl, but…”
“But now is different?”
She gave a small nod.
“I think it’s because I haven’t had to dress as a girl much lately due to being in the dorm. Maybe I’m being too self-conscious, but when I change without planning for it, my preparations such as clothing are all wrong. …It makes me feel naked. I find it hard to face forward and continue walking.”
“But you always wear Sadame-kun’s equipment at UCAT and sometimes train from evening into the night…”
“I view that more as my equipment than specifically Sadame’s equipment. There are also some normal clothes that I feel comfortable both ways in. Like pajamas for example. Also, I feel more comfortable if I change my clothes after the change, even if I’m changing right back into the same clothes. At the Tamiya house, I use their bathroom for that.”
As she spoke, she seemed to realize something and smiled bitterly while bringing a hand to her mouth.
“Thank you for staying with me even when I continue talking about Setsu and Sadame after you said Sadagiri is fine.”
“If being with you is enough to receive your thanks, how about we be together even more, Shinjou-kun? …Anyway, are you feeling naked as Setsu-kun right now?”
“Yes. Especially around the chest and butt… I don’t want to meet anyone before reaching the dorm.”
Sayama realized she was covering herself with her arms despite wearing the track suit.
“There is a way to resolve this.”
“Eh? There is?”
“Yes. Change clothes here so you feel more comfortable.”
After a moment, she began to panic.
“I-I was careless! Forget it! Forget it, Sayama-kun! I-I-I-I’m fine!”
“No need to worry. I am not so heartless that I would make you walk around outside while mentally naked.” He turned his back, looked up into the blue sky, and spread his arms. “Now, change clothes while my back is turned.”
He waited five seconds. When he did not hear the rustling of clothes, he turned around. He saw Shinjou taking small, tiptoeing steps down the stairs.
“Shinjou-kun! You need not force yourself!”
But then he realized what Shinjou was doing. He silently rushed down toward Shinjou who had reached the turn in the stairway.
“I see. So you are going to change in the shadow of the staircase? That is a most sensible idea, Shinjou-kun!”
“In what world is that sensible!?”
She stopped and turned around with her eyebrows raised.
And Sayama collided with her as he ran down the stairs.
“Eh? Ah…wah!”
They tripped down the stairs.
In that instant, Sayama had to make a decision. He had to decide between protecting Shinjou from harm and helping her change her clothes.
…Which one do I choose!?
He rolled down the stairs and out into the schoolyard behind the building.
I hit my back, he realized as he looked up. There he saw the sky…and Shinjou’s face.
She was frowning with her eyes closed and clinging to his chest as he lay on his back.
She was unharmed, so he muttered to himself.
“Th-this is not good. What if you’re hurt?”
She frantically got up and looked at him. Seeing the look of worry in her eyes, he nodded, raised his arms, and spoke in a calming tone.
“I am unharmed and neither are you. …That is what I deemed good. I made the right decision.”
“What decision?”
“The decision between protecting you from harm and helping you change your clothes.”
“There is quite a difference between those two options. But still…”
She sighed and the tension left her body. She leaned her warm and soft body on him once more.
“I am glad to hear you say that. I truly was not mistaken to choose both options.”
She questioningly touched her butt and felt her underwear.
The face lying on his chest paled in surprise for an instant and quickly grew red.
“W-wait! Sayama-kun! Where are my pants!?”
“If you are to change back into them, you must first take them off, Shinjou-kun.” He then pulled the folded track suit pants from under his head. “And without this, I would have hit my head. It is my turn to thank you.”
“Yes, yes. I’m glad I could be of some help. …Now give them back.”
“You must remove the top first.”
“Eh? S-stop! Don’t try to take off the top!”
As he lifted the track suit far enough to see her sweaty stomach, she frantically held it down with her hands.
“C-c-c-c-c-c-calm d-d-d-d-down, Sayama-kun.”
“I think you need to calm down first. And as you do, I will take care of this.”
“Eh?” she asked as he reached for the underwear covering her butt and tried to peel it away. “N-no!! The bottom is even worse! You can’t do this here!”
She frantically sat up.
She straddled his body to prevent him from removing her underwear.
But even if she said no, she had been the one to recommend changing her clothes, so he knew there was no problem with his actions.
“Shinjou-kun, why do you grow so flustered and reject what you yourself suggested?”
“Because you are insane!!”
Suddenly, several footsteps passed by.
A line of the blue uniforms belonging to the girls volleyball team passed by for their early morning training.
They all smiled and nodded as they passed, so Sayama waved and nodded back.
After a while, the footsteps disappeared into the distance and Shinjou slowly collapsed. Her forehead struck his chest.
“…It’s over. This is going to start more strange rumors.”
“Heh heh heh. The normal students do not know the truth. This is filling me with a sense of superiority.”
“That isn’t the issue! What are we going to do? They’ll spread a rumor that I was straddling you while wearing girls’ underwear!”
“It is not a rumor if it is true, Shinjou-kun. I intend to gladly accept this truth for the sake of history.”
“That’s just another fabricated truth in the History According to Sayama!!”
As her voice reverberated through the air, an electronic tone sounded.
It was Sayama’s cell phone. He pulled it from his pocket and saw it was from UCAT. As Shinjou looked up in surprise, he answered.
“It is I.”
“What is it, Sibyl-kun? I am busy undressing Shinjou-kun.”
Suddenly, someone began strangling him.
In a dimly lit room, someone suddenly sat up in a bed.
It was a boy. He was short and he wore a black T-shirt and shorts while sleeping. Below his short hair, he had a scar running in a diagonal line along his forehead and his eyes were not a normal color.
They were red.
He gasped for breath and pulled up the light blanket while bringing a hand to his face with a blank yet panicked expression.
He crossed his legs and leaned forward on the bed. He knitted his brow and his eyes focused on the room before him.
A curtain covered the window and blocked out the light of that summer morning.
A metalworking desk with a vise attached sat next to the window.
The bookcase next to the desk contained maps and specialized books on using bladed weapons and martial arts.
Everywhere else, the walls were completely covered by vests, work pants, and other clothes hanging on them. All of them were dirty from years of use.
The two picture frames hanging above the desk were the room’s only non-practical items.
The two frames contained school diplomas. They were from elementary school and middle school and they both contained the name Hiba Ryuuji.
The boy looked at his own name written there.
Silently, he moved the two fingers on his face. He let out a slow breath as he touched his forehead. He spent several minutes doing so.
And as he exhaled, sweat from his forehead travelled down his fingers.
Rather than wiping away the sensation, he closed his eyes, breathed in, and opened his mouth.
“What a horrible dream.”
His dream had been a reliving of a battle with 3rd-Gear’s god of war.
…Was that the battle from last year?
On that night, the black god of war piloted by him and Mikage had flown west in search of 3rd-Gear’s headquarters. They had ended up in the Osaka region.
Their god of war and the enemy’s one could both function in this Gear without expanding a concept space by using a philosopher’s stone.
But 3rd-Gear always fought after bringing his and Mikage’s god of war into a concept space.
He had never spoken with 3rd-Gear. According to his grandfather, most of the 3rd-Gear survivors were automatons and most of them could not function in Low-Gear.
The green god of war that had appeared before his eyes had likely been remotely controlled by the automatons and the battle had occurred inside a concept space in the plains of Osaka.
—Metal is alive.
In that concept, metal bodies truly held life. Hiba and Mikage’s god of war had undergone a philosopher’s stone treatment which allowed it to function in Low-Gear, but it was no different. That treatment allowed it to use its abilities as a machine.
A true god of war was a type of living machine.
Under the effects of the concept that gave metal life, Hiba’s body, which contained a single life, was broken down by the god of war’s dismantling mechanism and inserted into the different mechanisms of the god of war. This allowed him to join with the god of war. Rather than piloting it, he felt more like his body had transformed into the machine. He did not know the exact method used.
…But it feels like melting.
The eight meter giant was a weapon that used a frame as bones, replaced its muscles with cylinders and artificial muscles, sensed using devices, and controlled its power with a living mind.
Hiba understood that was how gods of war worked.
The battle that night had ended quickly.
As the green god of war had swung its sword on the surface, Hiba had backed away.
A song had escaped his lips. It had been the hymn titled Silent Night.
…The song from my memories.
Mikage had sung that song on the night his family had taken her in as an automaton.
His father had left Mikage with them and then he had never returned from his job.
That had been ten years before.
Hiba had fought while singing the song that had thoroughly permeated him.
The enemy’s sword had flown toward him along the shortest route.
It had flown in a horizontal line to the right and then back to the left. After he had opened some distance, it had stabbed forward as he landed.
That had been the timing.
He had looked at the moonlight shadow on the ground rather than directly at the enemy’s sword.
That jab had to be looked at in three dimensions, but the shadow had been only two dimensions. Using that, he had calculated just the height and slipped beneath the sword.
With a roar, he had succeeded.
His right fist had half-forcibly broken the green god of war. Its armor had split, the artificial muscles and frame inside had bent and broken, and the abdomen had been knocked diagonally.
This had produced the sound of heavy metals being destroyed.
Once his opponent could not move, he had kicked the green god of war as if sweeping it away.
With the sound of crumbling dirt, the green wreckage had rolled below the moon.
…Now I can rest easy for the moment.
But as soon as he had thought that, something else had arrived.
A giant white form had descended from the sky to his right.
He had once heard of this god of war from his grandfather. He had heard a god of war had been made as a pair to his black one and that it used half the Concept Core as a power source. It was Typhon.
He had recognized it in an instant.
And it had moved differently.
…Someone’s inside it.
Defeating it could kill the pilot.
But he had reflexively chosen to attack.
He had done so because the enemy had already been charging toward him.
…Can I do this!? No… I have to!
He had picked up the green god of war’s sword and attacked Typhon.
The silver weapon had flown diagonally up from the bottom left in almost a perfectly straight line.
Even if this attack was evaded, Hiba could defend by holding the sword at the middle right.
As if in response, Typhon had stepped in and drawn its own weapon from its right shoulder. It had been a large white sword. The blade had been straight and thick and it had been filled with a lingering light.
Its movements had not been as regulated as the remote controlled ones and it had attacked with pure strength.
Typhon had roared as it attacked.
Someone had supposedly been piloting it, but the voice had not sounded human.
The voice had sounded female and it had pierced through everything like a scream or cry of anger.
Hiba had gathered all his strength and repelled the roar. He had forcibly ignored it and taken action.
In the next instant, his sword had struck the enemy’s sword.
He had held the blade firmly and went in for a second attack.
The angular facial structure of the enemy’s face had contained blue lights for eyes.
…They look like the moonlight.
As soon as he had that thought, their blades had struck. Or they should have.
Something odd had happened instead.
The white god of war had suddenly vanished.
In the next instant, he had heard Mikage’s voice.
“Ryuuji-kun! An attack is coming from the right!”
He had reacted to Mikage’s shout coming from the voice device.
It had all begun again.
All thoughts had vanished from his mind and he had moved purely on reflex.
He had flown forward to move out of the way.
And that decision had saved him.
He had evaded the attack.
The large sword had scraped his metal right cheek and passed by.
He had felt the wind produced by the strike on the god of war’s skin. He had known the strike was powerful enough to decapitate him.
He had heard quick pursuing footsteps behind him.
…What is going on!? I thought I attacked it!
His enemy had stolen his turn to attack.
And so he had turned around. Cautious of that previous disappearance, he had taken a defensive stance.
An attack had come. It had been a fast, heavy, repeating, yet normal attack.
When he had deflected the sword with his own blade as the sword had swung down toward him, the enemy had then rotated at high speed by creating an explosion of air from its left wings. As it had rotated, it had sent the second strike. When he had moved back as the fierce horizontal slash arrived, the white god of war had purposefully let its sword fly wide through the air and thrown a reverse roundhouse kick as it continued to rotate.
The repeated large, swinging attacks had been similar to a constant rotation.
And Hiba had made a certain decision when faced with that rotation.
He had flown.
The black god of war had evaded upwards and into the sky behind it. As night approached morning, it had flown into the sky with the moon.
He had put some distance between them, but he had had no intention of stopping there. If his opponent was going to continue rotating its sword like that…
“I can throw in a wedge to stop the rotation!”
As the white god of war had rotated the large sword in a raised position, Hiba had thrown his sword down at it.
He had thrown the blade at close range like it was a spear. He had targeted the white god of war’s face.
But the metallic noise it had produced was the sound of the sword shattering in midair.
But that had been fine.
He had swung his right fist and quickly descended.
It had been a power dive with all his weight behind his right fist. If it connected, it would mess up his arm while smashing his opponent’s facial structure.
He had accelerated.
He had swung down his right fist while descending.
And in that instant, he had seen something.
This time he saw it more clearly.
The white god of war had vanished before his eyes.
It had been the same as before. Just as their swords had not clashed earlier, it had neutralized his attack.
He had recalled what he had seen a moment earlier.
…When I attacked, it disappeared and attacked from a blind spot!
“Then will it attack from a blind spot again!?”
Before he had even finished speaking, the truth had presented itself in the form of an attack.
But it had been an attack that could not exactly be called an attack.
Just before he had landed, a fist had struck him from behind.
It had been a light strike as if telling him to get down to the ground or to open up some space.
But the timing of the attack had been strange. The instant after Typhon had vanished had not been enough time to swing its fist. The fist had struck the very moment after Typhon had disappeared.
It could not have used this attack in that time.
All attacks had a stance to use them from and a movement that let the attack reach the enemy. Those things required a certain amount of time.
But in the instant Hiba had attacked from his stance, Typhon had appeared in his blind spot and attacked without any preparation time.
He had not known how it worked. All he had known was that his time to attack had been taken away.
The black god of war had fallen to its knees, so he had frantically stood up and swiftly stepped forward.
He had then turned around to look behind him. He had seen a white form floating in the sky there.
It had been Typhon. The white god of war had stood with its back to him in the spot he had been in a moment earlier.
…What was that attack just now?
If it had attacked with its sword rather than its fist, he would have been killed.
“Was that supposed to be a warning?”
Without giving him any answers, Typhon had turned just its head toward him.
He had seen Typhon’s eyes. Earlier, the eyes had contained a pale blue light similar to the moon.
“They’re yellow.”
As if to affirm the voice that had escaped the black god of war, Typhon had faced forward.
And an explosion of wind had occurred a moment later.
Typhon had flown.
He had stretched out his hand, but it had not been in time.
Before he had even been able to pursue, Typhon had accelerated away.
He had power, but he had been unable to pursue or fight.
That was when he had woken from the dream.
He took a breath and opened his eyes.
He no longer found himself in that dark space with the moon at the peak. He was in a small room filling with the morning light. It was his room, a room built around fighting.
“This really is a small room.”
He wiped the sweat from his brow, touched the scar, and got out of bed.
The feeling of the gaps between floorboards on the bottom of his feet was very different from the feeling of the ground on the bottom of the god of war’s feet from his dream. The scale was much smaller, but it was much more relaxing.
He then left the room. He opened the door and entered the second floor hallway. The second floor contained nothing but the stairs leading down to his right and Mikage’s room across the hall.
The landing window had no curtain, so he saw the morning light and heard the chirping of the birds.
He sighed and his shoulders finally relaxed. He then faced the opposite door.
“I need to wake Mikage-san.”
Morning sometimes came early for Tsukuyomi Miyako and sometimes it did not.
She had few classes now that she was in her fourth year of university and she could choose to take classes that started closer to noon. She had recently been waking up early to look for a job, but she would never wake up early without an alarm clock.
And at the moment, she heard no alarm.
As she started to doze off again, she felt light on the outside of her eyelids.
…It must be morning.
As she judged the time, she remembered she had the entire day off. She had no classes, the employment department had not called for her, and she had no interviews scheduled. Her mother would be at IAI for work.
…I guess I’ll eat some breakfast, take a short break, and go rent some DVDs or something.
She had taken a liking to the romance drama “A-Another Proposal” that she had started renting recently. The protagonist was a hardcore stalker and his persistent advances while always saying “just this once, just this once” had real intensity. During the last episode, he had been beaten up and thrown from a bridge into a ravine, but she knew that was not enough to kill him.
“I hope they have a copy left.”
As she spoke sleepily, her voice was surprisingly clear. She decided that meant her body had woken up. She focused and noticed she was wrapped in a soft blanket and resting her head on a large pillow.
But then she remembered that she slept in a futon and used a buckwheat pillow.
Doubt entered her mind, but she was unsure what exactly this doubt meant. She was sleeping peacefully, but her bedding was different. What was she supposed to make of that?
And as if to further her doubt, a young female voice spoke.
“Princess, lunch is ready.”
The words were oddly overlapped as if she were hearing two voices at once. She had been unable to quite catch one, but the one she heard clearly was perfectly understandable.
“Who are you calling a princess?”
With that question, she opened her eyes. As her eyes focused, she first saw the color.
Specifically, she saw white.
The ceiling was large and pure white. The dried surface measured about thirty square meters and she was surrounded by four walls made of the same material. A thick window on the wall to the left let in the outside light. She slept on a bed, she was covered by a blanket made of a glossy white material, and someone stood to her right.
She looked up from the pillow at the person.
…A foreign woman?
She had long blonde hair and blue eyes. She looked a little bit older than Miyako and her clothes were rather unique.
“A maid?”
And this woman was not the only one. Miyako lowered her gaze and saw at least a few dozen people surrounding her while making sure not to block the light from the window. And they all wore the same outfit.
She looked across the unexpected scene.
All of the maids gave looks of surprise and joy over the fact that she had woken up.
They all let out expectant breaths and tried to take a step toward her.
“Please wait a moment, everyone.”
The same voice as before gently stopped the others.
Miyako turned toward the older maid standing to the right of the bed.
The maid looked at her with a relaxed expression.
She turned to face towards her rather than look down at her. Noticing that, Miyako sat up. The others began to move as she did, but the nearby maid stopped them with a light wave of a hand.
…So she’s the leader.
Once she finished sitting up and the blanket fell from her, she realized she was naked.
“Whoa! I’m naked!? Where’re my clothes!?”
“They were very dirty, so we disposed of all but the underwear. You have been quarantined and cleaned, so you are not dirty, princess.”
Miyako tilted her head in confusion and the maid smiled.
“You are not dirty, so do not worry.”
“Y-y’know, you shouldn’t talk about people being dirty. …More importantly, what’s your name?”
“I am Moira 1st.”
“What? Say that again?”
Miyako brushed up her hair, raised a knee, and stared at the maid. She fully wrinkled her brow, but the maid’s smile never wavered.
“I am the first unit of the Moira series, so I am Moira 1st.”
Miyako truly was hearing some other language overlapping with the maid’s voice, but it would be impossible for a human to speak like that.
…Am I hearing a radio or television from somewhere nearby?
As she thought, Miyako thought on what she had just been told.
She did not know what the maid meant by “unit” or “series”, but this was a foreigner. Her speech may have been polite, but there was a good chance her interpretation of Japanese was wrong. It was a sad story of the wonderful depth of the Japanese language. And if that was the case…
“Does this facility belong to some other country?”
“Yes. From your perspective it belongs to another world.”
“I see,” she said with a nod.
She had found the truth. She was in some eccentric foreigner’s mansion.
As she tried to figure out why she was here, she came to a certain realization.
…I have no memories of last night.
What was going on?
“Is something the matter? Is the wiring of your brain out of order?”
“No. Um…listen. Why am I here?”
“Last night…we found you while you were passed out drunk, so we brought you here for your protection.”
There had been a slight pause after the words “last night”. Miyako whistled inwardly and asked herself what that meant.
“I was drunk? I remember drinking at Shinjuku. I remember that much.”
“You…remember?”
She looked up at the maid’s face and found the same smile, but she found that odd.
Normally, one’s expression would change when asking someone a question.
“Also, I didn’t let myself drink enough to pass out or anything. I remember riding the train to Oume. A perverted old man touched my butt on the way, so I kicked him, kneed him, and then stomped on his crotch. I remember dragging him out at Oume, getting on the train to Okutama, and leaving at Ikusabata Station.”
As she talked through it, her memories returned. She omitted mentioning what had led to the drinking. She never mentioned what the interviewer had said to her.
…Can I prove myself, hm?
She could not. There was no way she could. She had never actually gone out into the field. And so she had gone drinking.
She reminded herself that was from the past and focused on bringing back her memories.
But she stopped speaking there.
Her memories of what happened after leaving Ikusabata Station were gone. Her awareness of her existence was gone.
“What did I do then…?”
“As I said, you passed out drunk.”
“Are you mocking me? That definitely didn’t happen,” she declared firmly.
“Why do you say that?” asked Moira 1st while loosening her smile ever so slightly.
“I made a promise a long time ago.”
Moira 1st responded to her concise answer with a nod and did not press the matter further.
She then spoke so the others could hear.
“Princess, I believe you are tired. Shall we bring you your food?”
“Do as you wish. Bring me my clothes too. And…”
As she spoke, she searched through her mind, but could not find the memories. It felt like she could not clear her head.
“A cig. …You have some, don’t you? Some nice ones. I need something harsh to wake me up.”
“A cig?”
“Ahh, this is the problem with foreigners. …A cigarette. Tobacco.”
Despite the explanation, Moira 1st only tilted her head. Miyako smiled bitterly in her heart as she realized how little of the language these people seemed to understand.
“Fine then.” She gestured as if holding something in her mouth. “Y’know, the long skinny things made of wrapped paper. You’ve got some, right?’
“We do!”
The voice came from the entrance behind all the others.
Miyako looked up toward the energetic voice and saw a girl running forward through the wave of maids.
This maid also had blonde hair, but it was only semi-long. Her blue eyes approached.
“This was in the prizes Aigaion brought! Is this what you mean!?”
The maid held out a white stick poking out of a small paper box.
Miyako looked at the girl while taking it. She was a short girl with conspicuous blue eyes. She looked about five years younger than Miyako.
…This kind of underclassman would obsessively hang around me in high school.
“Moira 3rd! I created your fake mem- gh!”
Moira 1st gently yet forcefully grabbed the girls’ head from behind.
“My apologies. This is our youngest sister. She was rolled out before she had learned enough.”
“I’m not quite sure what you mean, but it’s good for kids to be energetic.”
“See, big sis! She praised me for being energetic! It’s a good thing!”
“Heh heh. 3rd? You are not energetic; you are hyperactive. Lower your brain’s thought level to energetic. Do you want to be spanked until your legs fall from their joints again?”
Miyako sighed as she watched Moira 3rd and Moira 1st who held the girl.
…This is quite the family.
But if there was a 1st and 3rd, there was likely a 2nd. And there had to be a master of the facility as well.
She wondered where they were.
She relaxed her shoulders while feeling dissatisfied at not being able to see everything.
“When can I leave this place?”
“We will discuss that later. Please wait a bit. We will bring you food and clothes first.
“Thanks,” she said while staying on her guard.
…This all smells fishy.
At any rate, she had a cigarette to fuel her. Now she was prepared to give this some real thought. She just needed a light to switch on her brain.
She wondered if someone would bring a lighter if she stuck the cigarette in her mouth.
As all the maids watched, she placed it in her mouth.
While aware of all the gazes on her, she breathed in on the unlit cigarette.
“Wait, you idiot! This is a chocolate cigarette! And it’s pickled seaweed flavored!? Is this made by IAI!?”
Light filled the room.
The white lace curtain was drawn and the window was open.
No one was in the bed by the window and no one sat in the chair in front of the opposite desk.
The boy named Hiba was peering inside the room.
He knocked on the door he had started to open.
“Mikage-san?”
She was not there. He saw no one on the pale green carpet either.
“Mikage-saaan. If you don’t come out, I’ll start searching through the room.”
As he called out quietly, he tiptoed into the room.
First, he peeked under the bed, but there was no one there.
Odd, he thought as he looked meaninglessly from left to right.
He placed a hand on Mikage’s bed and could still feel warmth. That was her body heat.
It’s so warm, he thought calmly before frantically shaking his head.
“Th-this makes me look like a pervert. I need to stop.”
But it is warm, he thought as he calmed down.
It did not help that he was exhausted from the previous dream. He kneeled next to the bed and collapsed his upper body on top of it as if bowing.
It was warm. He noticed a faint citrus smell which reminded him of her hair’s scent.
After staying like that for about ten seconds, he slowly and reluctantly got up.
He peeked under the desk behind him, but there was no one there either. He then glanced on top of the desk.
He saw three things there: a thick diary, a thick red mechanical pencil, and a Japanese language textbook.
The textbook was for the first year of middle school. The back cover was facing up and the name Hiba Ryuuji was written on it.
He stood up once he saw that. His expression softened and he turned toward the window with a slight smile.
The window led out to a balcony, but…
“Mikage-san wouldn’t be out there since her legs don’t work well.”
And so he approached the window and crouched down. The curtain was gathered around one side of the east-facing window and a person had sunk into the waves of the curtain.
It was Mikage.
Her blonde hair had not been brushed since she had woken up and she was wrapped in the lace curtain while wearing the white dress she slept in.
Hiba looked at her neck.
The skin peeking through the lace curtain and the dress had different colors.
Some was a flesh color so light it was almost white and some was almost black. The black portions drew the tendons of her neck and had the same composition as the muscles below her skin.
And on the upper part of her sternum from her neck to her chest was another color.
This part was blue
A small blue stone was inserted into her skin.
He watched as the blue stone gently reflected the morning sun.
“She’s been like this for five years now. Her body, her legs, and her voice.”
He hung his head down a bit.
“And it’s all because I can’t protect her and I can’t gather the Concept Core.”
His words fell quietly to the floor.
He had to win. He had to win the fight for her sake.
…But what will happen then?
What would happen once the fight was over?
The fact that he did not know caused his expression to change. His eyebrows and mouth twisted.
At the same time, Mikage moved slightly.
It was a small motion. Her eyelids opened and her eyes focused.
He quickly changed his expression back to normal.
Her black eyes looked up at him.
After a moment, he turned his scarlet eyes toward hers.
She tilted her head as if to ask why he was here.
But her expression quickly changed to a smile and her lips moved a bit.
She produced no voice.
Hiba knew why. Her vocal cords were still immature.
…She can only speak while combined with me in the god of war.
She produced her silent voice. They had continually practiced together in the hopes that she would speak, so he could read her lips.
“Uuih-uh.”
Ryuuji-kun.
“Ah ih ih?”
He read her lips and nodded.
“We got back late last night, so I thought you might still be asleep.”
He then gently removed the curtain from around her. As if peeling away the curtain, he produced the white dress within. He took a breath and picked up her body which was taller than his own.
She was not surprised. He always did this.
…I need to win.
At the very least, he felt the need to win so that he could protect these everyday things.
But he had a sudden thought about Typhon, the white god of war he had faced the previous night and before.
According to his grandfather, it was 3rd-Gear’s strongest god of war.
…It can instantly switch between offense and defense.
If it could do so repeatedly, he was unsure he could defeat it.
As he wondered what to do, he saw Mikage’s mouth open.
“Eh? Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking is all.”
The ends of her eyebrows were lowered, so he smiled reassuringly.
That was when he heard a woman’s voice from beyond the door and down the stairs.
“Ryuuji-san? The school just called.”
“Huh? What is it, mom?”
“Oh, dear. Did you go in Mikage-san’s room again? Listen. You’re an adult now.”
“Yes, yes, yes. You can give me the lecture later.”
Mikage’s shoulders shook slightly in laughter as he held her.
As he watched that, he heard his mother’s voice again.
“Your homeroom teacher called to say the student council wants to speak with you. They apparently said it is about last night and that you would understand what that means.”
His mother’s voice contained no emotion.
“It seems those UCAT members are fairly clever.”
Chapter 2: Meeting of Steel[edit]
Stare, stare
First, face each other
Then, either hit each other or pass each other by
A white hallway had no windows, but it did have writing on the wall.
That writing said BF2.
This was Japanese UCAT’s second basement floor and the hallway passed in front of the development department. The center of the hallway had a rest area with a sofa and a few vending machines.
A woman stared at the floor in front of the coffee vending machine.
Her long gray hair hung down over the chest of her lab coat which contained a nametag reading Tsukuyomi Chizuru.
She took a sip of the cold coffee in the paper cup she held.
“What is it?” asked a sudden female voice.
Tsukuyomi frantically tuned around and saw who was walking down the hallway.
“Diana Zonburg.”
“Is something the matter?” Diana wore a black suit and held a brown paper bag. “I heard you were travelling to Kanda this afternoon to retrieve an examination device for Georgius.”
“Eh? Oh, so talk of that has reached the higher levels, has it? UCAT Director Ooshiro was opposed to the idea, but our younger members offered to help him make a perverted game in exchange.”
“So a mysterious concept weapon is worth the same as an 18+ game?”
“Only when using the Ooshiro currency. …More importantly, what are you doing here?”
Tsukuyomi gulped down her coffee while Diana squeezed the paper bag in her arms.
“I just bought a swimsuit at the store up above and I was taking a stroll through UCAT on my way back.”
“A swimsuit? How luxurious.”
“No, this is part of my job as inspector. Team Leviathan is apparently having a training camp at the Seto Inland Sea the day after tomorrow, so I will be going with them. …This is a job. Let me spell it out for you: this is a j-o-b.”
“Well, it’s quite a luxurious j-o-b.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“The float sticking out of that bag makes it hard to.”
“Th-this isn’t a float. It is a beach mat to lie on while sipping on a drink.”
“How luxurious a time are you planning!?” shouted Tsukuyomi before sighing and facing Diana who was adjusting the contents of the bag. “If I was only five years younger, I would have gone with you.”
“U-um, did I mishear that? I thought I heard a number about ten times too small.”
“You’re supposed to laugh. But when I see you and Doctor Chao, it makes the longevity and anti-aging techniques look pretty good. I was already on the way to being an old lady by the time I joined UCAT, though.”
“Heh heh. But you decided to stay with Low-Gear, right?”
After a pause, Tsukuyomi nodded and narrowed her eyes.
“Yes. I have a daughter, so I can’t undergo the anti-aging techniques,” she said. “Have you heard? My daughter was abducted. And the rumor is that Typhon, that white 3rd-Gear god of war, did it. But they must be a terrible judge of character to abduct her.”
Diana remained silent, but her expression did loosen a bit.
The ends of her eyebrows lowered and she nodded once.
“I have no children, so I don’t really understand.”
“That’s fine. I’m sure there’s a part of it that any woman would understand.” Tsukuyomi gave a bitter smile in return. “Her bag and coat were found at the site the flying object fell last night. She was probably accidentally taken inside the concept space, but…”
“Don’t give me that look. It’s fine. That girl won’t die so easily. After all that idiot has done to disobey me and do what she wants, she’ll manage on her own.”
“I see she is worrying you.”
“Let’s just leave it at that.”
Tsukuyomi’s bitter smile deepened and Diana nodded.
At that point, a new female voice reached them.
“I am not sure you two should be speaking about 3rd-Gear so openly.”
Diana recognized the voice.
“Sf?”
She tilted her head, looked around, and spotted Sf.
She was standing sideways in the small gap between vending machines.
“U-um, Sf? Did you gain some strange habits when formatted for the Japanese language? Why are you crammed in that small space?”
“Tes. Monitoring Itaru-sama at all times is one of my duties, but he moved out of range of my senses. I have determined he is viewing the sky from a corner of the roof.”
“And that spot is just barely within range?”
“Tes. I have determined it was a dangerous situation. I was on my way back from disposing of some trash at the underground incinerator, and I would have lost him for the first time if I had been just a little slower.”
Tsukuyomi looked back and forth between Sf in between the vending machines and Diana next to her.
“So this is what they call German quality.”
“Th-this is because of the local formatting.”
Diana waved her hands in denial and glanced over at Sf.
“Should I go and tell Itaru to move from the roof?”
“Tes. However, that will not be necessary. Statistically, he never continues any one task for long, so I have determined he will return to his office soon. I will remain on standby here until then. His irregular action here is most likely due to him thinking about the coming Leviathan Road.”
“It is true he used to always go outside while thinking.”
Diana’s comment caused Sf to tilt her head between the vending machines.
“That information is worth adding to my records.”
“You didn’t know that? When we had all reached various dead ends, I was often dragged outside. Both by him and someone else I know quite well.”
“Who is that?” asked Tsukuyomi, but Diana only smiled weakly back.
“If you always choose to continue on, you will eventually arrive somewhere. You remember that too, Sf. And do not leave Itaru alone again.”
“Tes. I will make sure to never again leave him while he is thinking.”
Sf bowed from between the vending machines.
“My ability to wait is infinite, but I will never allow myself to leave him.”
The sun rose high into the sky.
Several large buildings were lined up below the sunlight.
The buildings all belonged to a school. The sunlight covered a large campus and students in summer uniforms walked between the buildings.
Most of the students were headed to the dormitories or their club activities. Some held graded tests in their hands.
Among them all, a few people sat in front of a school building in the center of the campus.
Four students sat on the lawn in front of the library protruding from the school building. Three wore male uniforms and one wore a female uniform.
They were Sayama, Shinjou, Izumo, and Kazami.
A large multi-layer bento box and a small multi-layer bento box sat between them.
With a black binder sitting next to her, Shinjou reached for the small box. She used chopsticks to grab a croquette and held it out toward Sayama to her right.
“Here, Sayama-kun. I even made the filling this time.”
Once it was put in his mouth, Sayama thoroughly chewed the croquette and swallowed it.
Shinjou looked a bit worried, so he thought for a moment and then spoke.
“Yes. A supreme flavor, Shinjou-kun.”
“Wow, I’m glad. I can almost feel the horrible rumor from this morning disappearing within me.”
She smiled and grabbed a new croquette.
“I used the cafeteria kitchen to cook these and this one contains some strange leaves that Old Lady Tome said make a good secret ingredient. She said they only grow on her balcony.”
“Hm. I think I see why that cafeteria has so many regular customers. I would prefer not to know any more details, though.”
Sayama smiled pleasantly in the sun and Shinjou’s cheeks reddened slightly.
Across from them, Kazami and Izumo stared at them with half-lidded eyes.
“Even though I know the truth, it feels weird to see them flirting in male uniforms.”
“I can’t believe they’re doing this when that rumor started only this morning.”
The two tilted their heads, but Shinjou continued feeding Sayama.
As students passed by, a few girls lowered their heads toward Kazami.
“Hello, Kazami-san.”
When she looked up and nodded back, they would bow again and leave.
Izumo looked impressed as she nodded in self-satisfaction.
“You sure are popular.”
“Heh heh. That’s because I’m the only one who can stop you and Sayama.”
That was when more people greeted her. A few boys with disheveled uniforms were passing by.
“Ah… K-Kazami-san. Good morning!”
They immediately covered their faces with their crushed bags and quickly ran away.
They left only the wind behind.
After a pause, Izumo nodded expressionlessly.
“Chisato, I’ll stick with you no matter what, so tell me what happened. And be honest.”
“What do you mean by that? I didn’t do anything too horrible.”
“Eh?” said Shinjou. She held her nose and made a gesture of something falling from it. “Drip drip?”
“Shinjou-kun, not even cute onomatopoeia can soften this, so do not even try. Now, Kazami, about last night.”
Kazami froze in place when she heard the term “last night”.
After a short pause, she looked around and nodded.
“You mean about Hiba Ryuuji? Don’t worry. I summoned him via his homeroom teacher, so he’ll be here soon. More importantly, I assume Sibyl contacted you this morning.”
“You heard that Director Tsukuyomi’s daughter was abducted, right?”
Shinjou looked up as she listened to Kazami.
“It happened in the battle that Hiba guy was fighting, didn’t it?”
“Yes. The items left inside the concept space last night show that Director Tsukuyomi’s daughter was there. And Hiba Ryuuji probably knows the truth of the matter. He was taken into UCAT custody, so he probably told them about it.”
She gave a bitter smile.
“Based on Ooki-sensei’s opinion and the fragment of white armor left at the scene, both Hiba Ryuuji’s craft and his opponent have power on the level of a Concept Core. We can’t say anything about Hiba’s, but his opponent was likely Typhon. That proves that some remnants of 3rd-Gear remain. …And Sibyl also mentioned that she discussed another matter with you two.”
“Yes. Sayama-kun received an additional call.”
As Baku mimicked him on his head, Sayama nodded.
“Director Tsukuyomi is headed to the UCAT Kanda laboratory to receive a device needed to examine Georgius and another important item. Shinjou-kun and I will be accompanying her as witnesses of the event.”
“Georgius is going to be examined? But why does Shinjou have to go too if you are only retrieving equipment?”
“Most likely to distract me from my interest in 3rd. Even if I refuse to act as witness for some reason, Shinjou-kun cannot refuse. …And thus I will go too.”
“Uuh… I-it’s true I can’t turn down jobs people ask me to do.”
“Oh, so Shinjou is the lure to get you to go.”
“Kaku, don’t say it like that. The term you want is ‘bait’. That sounds much more normal.”
“Y-you don’t have to make it normal!”
Hearing that, Sayama shook his head solemnly.
“Shinjou-kun, normal is best for humans. If you ever need a model, just watch me.”
“You’re right. Watching you is a good way of realizing normal is best.”
It was unclear if her meaning had reached him because he nodded deeply and crossed his arms.
“At any rate, 3rd-Gear’s Leviathan Road has yet to start and we are already meeting a boy who is personally fighting 3rd-Gear and 3rd has abducted someone. If Japanese UCAT does not wish to provide the other UCATs with any misunderstandings or excuses to interfere…”
“…then they wouldn’t want Team Leviathan to deal with anything problematic? …And then there’s that impurity that Hiba mentioned last night. He said he wanted some time.”
“Yes, but UCAT might be expecting us to do something. We have summoned the Hiba boy to meet us, but no one has interfered. And only Shinjou-kun and I are going to Kanda. Izumo, Kazami, that means the two of you can do as you wish.”
For once, clear irritation could be heard in Sayama’s voice. A hint of harshness had entered his expression as well.
Seeing that, Shinjou smiled in her heart.
…He wants to take the initiative and gather information himself.
And so she wrapped her ring-wearing right hand around his left elbow.
“Let’s eat lunch.”
He nodded, closed his eyes for a moment, and returned to his usual expressionless look. Shinjou was worried she was forcing him to do this, but he looked her in the eye.
“Come to think of it, Kazami, don’t you have something to give Shinjou-kun?”
“Eh? Kazami-san has something for me?”
What could that be? she wondered.
After a moment, she shook her hands in denial as Kazami’s shoulders rose in realization.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that! As thanks for helping me shop the other day, I bought her a raw milk gyuudon at the UCAT cafeteria, but you don’t have to pay me back for that.”
“Chisato, is that why you’ve been worried about your waistline recently?”
“N-no. I ran around the school buildings after I got back that night.”
As she pled her case to Izumo, Kazami pulled an envelope form her pocket and handed it to Shinjou.
“Can I open it?” asked Shinjou as she hesitantly took it.
“What would be the point if you could not, Shinjou-kun? It is for you.”
After a moment of hesitation, she opened it.
She read through the document inside and then spoke.
“I’m being appointed as secretary of the student council?”
Surprise filled her face and a bit of heat followed.
…Wait. Is this…?
“Did I get this position through connections while ignoring the election? Hooray.”
“Shinjou-kun, choose either suspicion or excitement. Kazami, explain it to her.”
“While this is ignoring the election, the student council has the authority to appoint new members. All the lower positions starting with secretary were open this year because a lot of people pulled out of the running during the election.”
“Yes. Last year, a certain female student performed a flying kick on a dumb yet large candidate during a speech. That led to candidates dropping out like the receding tide.”
“Oh, I-I see.”
“And what exactly do you mean by that?” asked Kazami with a smile.
Shinjou shrank back, but Kazami continued speaking.
“So will you accept the position? If you don’t like secretary, there are plenty of other positions: general affairs director, manager, animal official, and loser. You can also decline the offer altogether.”
Her question had a persuasive tone to it.
Shinjou hesitated for a moment and looked over at the black binder next to her.
…Is it worth having less time to work on this?
“Um, well… What exactly does the secretary do?”
“Well, you take notes on the proceedings of meetings. I’ll interpret for Kaku, so don’t worry about that.”
“I get the feeling you just casually insulted my humanity,” said Izumo. “In fact, I know you did.”
“Ha ha ha. Before you complain about that, try writing so that a modern human can understand it, you foolish primitive,” said Sayama.
“Ha ha ha. It must be nice having no humanity whatsoever and your mindset in the distant future.”
“Oh, and I will handle training these inhuman people, so don’t worry about that either,” added Kazami. She continued as the two boys glared coldly at her. “And once you join, we can talk about the Leviathan Road while claiming it is a student council meeting. We’ll be able to reserve the library and call Ooki-sensei to join us. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
She smiled bitterly.
“This school will be our base.”
With that voice of realization, Shinjou found her answer.
…It will give me ideas for my novel and help the Leviathan Road.
She felt that was looking at it too simply, but she still nodded.
“Th-then I will be the secretary.”
“Are you sure, Shinjou-kun? If you join the same group as our crazy president and violent treasurer, it will start some unwanted rumors.”
“Sayama-kun, I think you forget to mention someone.”
“Ha ha. Of course I did. It is not right to praise oneself needlessly.”
Kazami glared at him but then ignored him and looked down at her watch.
“Isn’t it about time for you two to leave? Get lost, Sayama. We’ll talk with Hiba and then go shopping. We need to make preparations for the training camp the day after tomorrow.”
Sayama stood up and Shinjou stood up next to him.
As she did, she suddenly saw an odd color. It was a red that resembled a flower or fresh blood.
She focused on that color that was not often seen in an outdoor lawn.
“Eyes?”
She turned around and saw a motorcycle parked on the road running alongside the yard. It had a sidecar attached and a boy sat on the motorcycle itself.
He had short hair, he wore a white bandana around his head, and he was looking their way with his red eyes.
He was Hiba Ryuuji and he had a troubled look on his face.
“Here I am. Just as you asked.”
As soon as he said that, Shinjou saw Baku stir on Sayama’s head.
And then the past arrived.
Shinjou found herself standing on a road surrounded on either side by green trees.
She had become nothing more than sight and hearing.
…This is the past.
She was on a mountain and the road running downhill was made of dirt. The light brown dirt was covered in tire tracks and weeds were growing up here and there.
She looked around and saw manmade objects to the left and right.
They were pillars. A wooden pillar hardened with turpentine stood on either side of the road.
The fronts of the pillars were split vertically and lacquer had been poured into carved words on the smooth surface.
“Izumo Aviation Laboratory – Tokyo Branch.”
That meant…
“This is the entrance to the National Defense Department!”
As she cried out with her mind, her pulse quickened.
If the National Defense Department lay ahead, there was one fact that drew her interest the greatest.
…There should be someone with my family name here.
The person had been Professor Kinugasa’s assistant during the National Defense Department days, but all records of them were gone by the time UCAT came about. This person had her family name and a connection to Sayama Kaoru, Sayama’s grandfather.
…And they might have some connection to my relatives.
With that thought, she tried to move her mind forward. She did not know how far the recreation of the past went, but that person might be in the National Defense Department up ahead.
“I want to see them.”
That comment made her realize her thoughts.
…I am yearning.
But she had no clear answer what exactly it was for which she yearned. She could only think up immature words, but she never thought about casting aside the desire.
And so she took a step forward.
But she stopped when she heard a noise.
Something was approaching from below the mountain behind her. She could tell it was a number of vehicles. She could hear the metallic noises of a dozen or so wheels and chassis.
…What kind of vehicles?
She turned around and saw the approaching convoy.
It was a line of green jeeps and trucks.
The flat hood of the jeep in the lead had a star mark on a white background.
This was the American military.
But Shinjou found something odd. A number of men rode that jeep, but something was off about their military uniforms. She could not quite place what was wrong with them, but she found the answer once the convoy grew closer and she could see them more clearly.
It was the crest on the shoulder of their jackets.
It had a blue shield and a collection of lines surrounded by white wings.
They were UCAT.
A closer look showed that the men in the jeep and those in the trucks behind them were made up of a number of different races.
“American UCAT is leading the different UCATs of the Allies.”
The convoy was approaching while acting as part of the occupying army.
Shinjou knew about the origin of UCAT, but she knew nothing more than that the National Defense Department became Japanese UCAT.
She did not know the details of how it happened.
Meanwhile, the convoy approached the two pillars that formed an entrance.
She could hear their engines as they approached.
And just as it felt like they were going to run her vision over, something fell from the sky right in front of her.
It was silver-colored and shaped like a long blade.
It was a Japanese sword.
The curved blade stabbed forcefully down in front of her eyes and audibly tore at the dirt.
The elderly soldier sitting in the jeep’s passenger seat raised a hand.
In response, the convoy came to a stop. All the vehicles’ brakes screeched, their chassis shook, and they tore up the dirt road surface.
The sounds of the dozen or so vehicles shook the leaves of the forest.
Shinjou heard the wind blow as a sudden wind arrived from behind her.
She turned around and saw motion.
It was a large green military motorcycle.
With a laugh, the motorcycle turned sideways and slid toward Shinjou.
A short young man drove it and his short hair waved in the wind.
“So you’ve decided to show up, have you!? Are you here to steal our position? We work in the same field, don’t we!?”
As he spoke, he forcefully planted his foot in front of the sliding motorcycle.
“There we go!”
And he used that foot to rotate the motorcycle around in front of Shinjou.
The high-speed spin stopped perfectly at 180 degrees.
The young man was directly in front of the Japanese sword that had landed earlier. He now faced the convoy with the blade between them.
He supported the motorcycle with both legs and observed the convoy with his black eyes.
“You want a fight?”
He narrowed his eyes and got down from the motorcycle.
His military boots made his footsteps ring loudly from the dirt.
At the same time, everything began to move.
The people in the leading jeep and the backs of the trucks stood up. Shinjou saw a fair number of women among them.
…And those weapons.
In addition to guns, they wielded plenty of swords, spears, and shields. And unlike normal blades, they had been modified with exposed cords, components, and tanks.
The technology was still undeveloped, but those weapons had been modified with cowlings.
The elderly soldier then stepped out of the jeep’s passenger seat. He held a spear.
“I ask that you surrender.”
She heard the Japanese meaning of his words over the English he was actually speaking. His tone was polite yet forceful.
However, the young man’s smile remained.
“I don’t have a damn clue what you’re saying, you old foreign bastard.”
The elderly soldier’s spear moved slightly.
And it produced a noise very near the handlebars of the young man’s motorcycle. The single rearview mirror on the right side flew into the sky.
“I am Sail Northwind, representative of American UCAT. My north wind can pierce even steel.”
“Oh, that’s a neat trick.” The young man’s smile did not waver. “I think I’ve figured out what you’re trying to say. This is what you’re saying.” He pointed at the elderly soldier’s face. “ ‘Oh, that was a hell of an entrance! You’re pretty cool!’ ”
As soon as he spoke, all of those standing in the vehicles jumped down. At least a hundred armed people covered the road and forest and prepared to fight.
Countless footsteps and the metallic noises of the weapons filled the air.
But something even more impressive arrived from further down the road.
A giant form suddenly fell behind the young man and his motorcycle.
The form was accompanied by the sound of something extremely heavy striking the ground. The ground split and Shinjou finally saw what it was.
…A god of war.
She heard everyone gasp as a silver-colored humanoid machine stood behind the young man and his motorcycle. It was approximately eight meters tall, it resembled a female armored warrior, and it had two pairs of wings on its back.
The god of war already held a long, narrow sword in its hands.
With a mechanical noise, the wings on its back moved. They folded up to allow easier motion on the ground.
Meanwhile, the opposing soldiers could not move. They clenched their teeth and stared at the god of war behind the young man.
The spear-wielding elderly soldier’s expression was the one exception. A smile remained on the corner of his mouth and he continued to look at the young man. The young man was looking back at him with an identical expression.
Time seemed to drag on, but it suddenly came to an end.
First, the silver god of war crouched down.
Next, a slender figure appeared from its back and climbed up onto its right shoulder.
It was a woman. The young woman’s blonde hair flowed across her back. As Shinjou looked at her thick eyebrows and strong-willed face, she noticed a certain color.
…Her eyes.
They were red. That deep scarlet below her inconspicuous eyebrows looked down at the young man.
She opened her narrow mouth as the wind whipped at her white shirt and flare skirt.
“Do not play around, Hiba.”
Both her awkwardly-spoken Japanese and the name she mentioned shook Shinjou’s mind.
…Hiba? As in, Hiba-sensei?
But something was off. Hiba Ryuutetsu’s left eye had been colored a deep scarlet, the same as the eyes of the woman on the god of war’s shoulder.
With no answer to her question, the woman continued speaking.
“Do any of you match me in power? If so, I will battle you. If not, Hiba will handle it.”
“Who are you?” asked the old man who had given the name Northwind.
The young man grinned when he heard the old man’s perfect Japanese.
“Oh, so you know Japanese after all.”
The woman smiled bitterly.
“I am Rhea, a refugee from 3rd-Gear. And I have decided to seek refuge in Japan’s National Defense Department. If you attempt to take this place from me, I will battle you whether you match me in power or not.”
The elderly soldier’s smile strengthened when he heard Rhea’s words.
At the same time, a black figure appeared next to Hiba. Shinjou recognized the tall man wearing a black cloak.
…Siegfried-san!
The young Siegfried calmly appeared next to Hiba as if he had grown out of the shadows of the trees. He wore black gloves and already held several pieces of paper.
When the elderly soldier saw him and the paper in his hand, he asked a smiling question.
“Siegfried Zonburg!?”
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Northwind. Did you perhaps read the reports I sent my nation? …However, you are being too hasty here.”
“It seems so, but I have learned one thing. This is the place that desires the world,” said Northwind.
Hiba folded his arms and nodded.
“You’ve got that right. But think carefully, Old Man Northwind. The Izumo Aviation Institute’s National Defense Department is working for important people right now, but if it is let loose, it will work for something else.”
“And what is that exactly?”
Hiba did not answer. Instead, the woman named Rhea spoke in a dignified voice.
“That would of course be this world itself. This world has nothing and sits at the lowest level, but that is precisely why it has everything!”
Shinjou looked up just as the others were. The red-eyed woman was smiling. Instead of looking down at the people, she faced them and looked across all of them.
“I fled to this world. I abandoned my own concept to the Tartaros and came here as an individual. However, I was treated as a guest rather than a prisoner of war. There were misunderstandings and conflicts, but I now stand here as a soldier because that is my wish! I wish to fight for this world. And…”
She looked across the surrounding area. She looked at the blue sky, the trees, the earth, and the rustling wind. She left a smile in the wind and gently brought her right hand to her stomach. Only then did she look back down toward the others.
“And so that I can be with this child here. We have already begun preparing for battle. If you wish to be with us, then let us speak. But if you obstruct us in the slightest, we will be your enemy!”
“Rhea, you’re sounding a lot more self-important than the rest of us. It might’ve been a mistake to let Kaoru prepare your Japanese lessons.”
“Ha ha. You men are always so slow. When preparing to be a mother, a woman wants immediate decisions. If you do not like it, then bring me something sour to eat. …Soldiers, give your answer.”
There was a clear smile in her voice.
“Do any of you wish to be the ally of my child!?”
That booming question signaled the end of the past.
As her sight and hearing rapidly fell into darkness, Shinjou thought about Rhea’s words.
…Her…child?
That had been sixty years before, so where was that child now if it had been born?
Shinjou had been in UCAT the longest of the group, but she had never heard about a descendent of 3rd-Gear. She had only ever heard that 3rd-Gear was the Gear of gods of war and automatons.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve heard it mentioned that there were people there.”
She wondered if Sayama was right and the Gear had few people, but she had no way of knowing. She assumed that would be one thing she would learn later. If she stayed with Sayama and the others, she would learn that along with how they were destroyed.
But, she thought. What if a descendent of hers is still alive?
Just like Shinjou, they would have no other members of their race and not know their parents.
“I wonder if they feel lost too…”
Shinjou awoke from the past.
She took a breath and focused on the scene before her eyes.
Standing on the yard around her were Izumo, Kazami, Sayama, and Hiba.
Further away, a lot of students were returning from school and only a few seconds of time had passed.
She let out a breath and looked around. The scenery was the same. Kazami and Izumo were exchanging a dazed look, but Sayama had experienced the past several times before.
“So that is one connection between Hiba-sensei and 3rd-Gear.”
He placed a hand on his chest, took a breath, and faced Hiba.
“I see there was a refugee from 3rd-Gear.”
“Yes. That was the first time I’ve seen something like that, though.”
Hiba’s face was pale as he sat on his motorcycle. He nodded weakly and stepped to the ground. He approached but stopped with a step still separating them.
Sayama grabbed Baku from his shoulder and held the creature up.
Baku looked to the left and right but suddenly hung its head and began to sleep when it noticed everyone focusing on it.
Sayama nodded deeply.
“I am sure you understand now.”
“I don’t understand at all!”
“Then let me put it simply. Listen and be amazed. Are you ready? Baku here can show people the past.”
“Oh, I see. …I-I mean, wow! That is amazing! I’m shocked!”
You could make it less obvious, thought Shinjou as she stared at him, but Sayama nodded in satisfaction.
“Hiba-sensei was quite young, but he looked somehow like you, Hiba boy.”
“Are you implying I’ll look like him when I grow old?”
Shinjou nodded and tapped on Sayama’s shoulder.
“You should give up now. The more I hear about Sayama-kun’s grandfather, the more they sound alike.”
“Shinjou-kun! That is an incredibly rude assertion. How am I anything like that self-centered old man who did nothing but eloquently mock others?”
Everyone fell silent at that.
Amid the silence, Sayama nodded, smiled toward Shinjou, and slowly spread his arms.
“Just look. Everyone is using their silence to show their agreement.”
“I’ll just jump to the conclusion: you need to go to the hospital.”
Before Sayama could reply, she turned to Hiba and he seemed to pick up on her intent.
“U-um, anyway.”
He frantically looked across the group.
Shinjou observed his expression. He looked frantic and his eyebrows were slightly lowered, so it seemed he was unsure whether he should say something or not.
She tilted her head toward that expression that she herself had often made until recently. She also lowered the ends of her eyebrows.
“There’s something you want to say, isn’t there?”
“Eh? Oh, yes. I hear you all are doing something called the Leviathan Road.”
“What about it? Do you wish to ask us to stop the Leviathan Road with 3rd-Gear?”
“Yes. This is a request from the one whose grandfather destroyed 3rd-Gear.”
His immediate response came with the relief of having said it.
Shinjou and the others judged his meaning and remained silent for a moment.
“W-wait a minute. Isn’t a bit sudden to just say your grandfather destroyed 3rd-Gear?”
Shinjou understood why Kazami was so hurriedly stopping him. They wanted to know what he had meant the night before.
…So we need to take this slowly.
Shinjou sat up a bit and spoke.
“Ryuuji-kun… Yeah, I’ll call you that to differentiate you from Hiba-sensei. Anyway, you’re from this Gear, right? So why are you stopping us from negotiating with 3rd-Gear?”
Sayama nodded and added to her question.
“We can discuss Hiba-sensei’s countless wrongdoings at a later date, but your mention of an impurity suggests a larger reason. Based on the situation from last night, you have an automaton, your grandfather belonged to the National Defense Department, and yet you are fighting Typhon without the help of UCAT.”
Hiba’s expression changed at the mention of the name Typhon.
He frowned a bit, so Sayama expressionlessly continued.
“And UCAT has officially told us not to get involved with you. In other words, getting involved in your fight would be a negative for us. Have you come here to tell us why that is, Hiba boy?”
“Y-yes. It is a long story and I am not sure what conclusion you all will reach, but this is what I know for sure,” said Hiba. “If you carry out the Leviathan Road with 3rd-Gear and bring them to your side, it will sully the name of the Leviathan Road.”
“Sully?” asked Kazami.
“There are actually two impurities we must purify. I came here to tell you about one of them.”
“This all sounds very pretentious.”
“I know what you mean. But…even though I intend to bear these impurities, I do not know what will happen once I truly face them.”
“In other words, you’re testing us, aren’t you? You’re going to tell us about a lighter impurity to see if we are prepared to face the true impurity.” Kazami smiled bitterly. “You’re underestimating us.”
But Hiba only smiled bitterly in return.
Seeing his smile, Kazami thought.
…A bitter smile, hm?
The smile he gave could only be made by one who had thought the same thing countless times. It was the smile of someone who had no other choice.
She wanted to hear him out and speak with him, but some of them had other things to do.
“Hey,” she said and showed her watch to Sayama.
He nodded.
“Hiba boy, I apologize, but I must ask that you give your test to Kazami and Izumo. Shinjou-kun and I already have plans.”
“And those plans are more important than speaking with me?”
“Is speaking with me more important than speaking with Izumo and Kazami? That extreme violence couple has been involved with the Leviathan Road longer than me.”
“Oh, I-I see. Sorry.”
Hiba frantically bowed.
Kazami smiled bitterly and Izumo solemnly folded his arms and nodded.
“Look, Sayama. Underclassmen these days are so polite.”
“Hiba boy, courtesy is an expendable good. Choose wisely who you use it on. For example, you could use it all on me.”
Hiba did not seem to know what to say, so Shinjou turned a forced smile toward him.
“D-don’t worry too much about what they say. They’re all very strange.”
“Oh, I-I see…”
His gaze stopped on Shinjou’s arm.
Kazami then realized that Shinjou had her arm wrapped around Sayama’s.
“Oh, how passionate.”
“Eh? Ah! Wah! Th-this is just…”
“Ha ha ha. Shinjou-kun, why are you blushing? The opinions of those who do not know the truth about us are irrelevant.”
“Stop saying things that will only confuse this further!!”
Hiba tried to back away from them as he stared at them with half-lidded eyes.
…What is he doing?
Kazami stood up and tapped him on the shoulder. With an exasperated smile, she spread her arms.
“Do you understand now who the most wholesome and normal of us is?”
“…Using the process of elimination?”
“Nothing, nothing.”
He shook his head just as someone else cut in.
“Wait a minute, Hiba.”
Izumo suddenly stood up and Kazami saw him look Hiba in the eye.
“How about we continue our talk in the Kinugasa Library? You want to test us, right?”
“Yes, sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I’ll be testing you, too. I want to see what kind of person you are.”
Hiba tilted his head and took a light defensive stance.
With his arms crossed, Izumo stepped forward. Izumo was approximately 190 centimeters while Hiba looked about 160. Kazami thought Izumo was going to use that difference in height in some way, but he instead opened his mouth to speak.
“The test is simple, Hiba. I have one question about the past we were just shown. …Did you see it?”
Izumo glanced to the side a bit as he spoke and the look on Hiba’s face changed. A sharpness filled his eyes.
But he finally frantically shook his head.
“I-I didn’t see anything. …What is the point of this sudden test?”
Hiba’s arms were spread as if it had started raining.
…He definitely saw something.
Izumo continued speaking as if he understood what Kazami was thinking. He patted Hiba’s shoulder and looked him in the eye again.
“You saw the same thing in the past as I did, didn’t you?”
“N-no. I didn’t see anything.”
“No, you had to have seen them from below. At least a glimpse. They were blue, weren’t they!?”
“No, they were white! I happened to get a good look!”
Hiba’s reflexive response caused everyone to freeze in place.
Wind blew through the silence that lasted a few seconds.
As Hiba realized his mistake, Izumo nodded several times in understanding.
He folded his arms and spoke in a serious tone of voice.
“You have a promising future. I hope you can diligently-…”
Kazami swung her right leg and Izumo vanished.
After a short pause, she heard the sound of a human-sized object hitting the wall to the left, but she paid it no heed. She was used to this.
“Now then.”
She looked at the others who turned toward her after looking to the left.
She saw Baku staring rigidly at her from Sayama’s shoulder.
…This is the first time he has looked me in the eye.
That made her happy, but she had something to say.
“Next time you want to show us a past with a girl or woman in it, do it when Kaku isn’t around, okay?”
The smile on her face made Baku frantically nod repeatedly.
When she reached out to pet the creature, it fluffed up its fur and let her.
Shinjou gave a stiff smile from next to Sayama.
“C-come to think of it, this is the first time you’ve petted Baku, Kazami-san. Isn’t that nice?”
“Heh heh. I guess it’s true that animals can sense people’s emotions. I’m very calm right now. So calm I feel a strong urge to do this.”
Sayama seemed to have chosen not to comment, so she took Baku from his shoulder and held the creature to her chest.
Shinjou frantically took Sayama’s arm and looked back and forth between Hiba and Kazami.
“Um…what do we do now? Th-that leaves Kazami-san to handle Ryuuji-kun.”
“Eh? Ehh? Sh-she’ll break me!”
“Heh heh heh. Don’t be so shy, freshman. Don’t worry. It doesn’t hurt that much.”
With the same smile as before, Kazami cracked the knuckles of her right hand and faced Sayama.
“You two can leave now. I will handle this interrogation…I mean forced information extraction…no, that isn’t it either. Um… How should I put it?” She nodded once toward Hiba. “I’ll have you tell me everything about this test, the impurity, and everything else. How about that?”
With all the hair on his body standing on end, Hiba nodded repeatedly.
Sunlight filled a hallway.
A tall maid walked through the hallway. She was Moira 1st who had spoken with Tsukuyomi Miyako.
She was pushing an ornamented metal stretcher. The table-like surface contained silver plates with semispherical lids.
Outside of the hallway’s windows were a forest, a slope, and a city. The city was packed with small buildings and houses. She glanced over at them and narrowed her eyes.
“The princess will not remember us once she returns there.”
“That isn’t necessarily true,” immediately replied a fairly low female voice.
Moira 1st slowly turned around and saw two people standing by the wall behind her. One was a tall woman in a red suit and the other was a large man wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and a blue apron. Moira 1st looked at the two of them.
“Mistress Gyes and Master Aigaion. Are you working, Master Aigaion?”
The large man named Aigaion brushed up his short-cropped blond hair and looked down at his clothes. The thick material of his blue apron said “Dragon Grocer” in white.
“I have no other choice. I simply dropped by while out on delivery because I heard the princess had woken up.”
“I told you to stay away because your huge body only gets in the way.”
Gyes, the woman with short black hair, shook her head.
“But Cottus is bragging about being the first to see this princess,” said Aigaion. “After all, his position down there let him see her first when Typhon brought her back.”
“Moira 1st, why did Typhon abduct that woman?”
Moira 1st tilted her head.
“According to the maintenance maids, there was an intense scorch mark on Typhon’s back. It apparently came from Keravnos.”
“So it ran across that black god of war. Does that mean it took a hostage in the shock of the initial strike?”
“Most likely,” said Moira 1st.
Suddenly, a new male voice cut in.
“Are you three Hecatoncheires interested in her?”
The voice came from the wall even further down the hallway. A young man leaned weakly against it.
He wore white clothes and had long, blond hair. Moira 1st faced him and raised her eyebrows.
“Lord Apollo, should you really be up?”
“With all the noise out here, it sounded more interesting than the bed or garden.”
He got up from the wall and moved his yellow eyes.
He turned a weak smile toward the plates Moira 1st was transporting.
“Has she woken up?”
“She is quite energetic, Lord Apollo.”
Gyes twisted her head at Moira 1st’s informative tone.
“It might be feigned. All the others who wandered here were like that.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her expression changed.
The harshness left her face and she let out a regretful sigh.
“Sorry. I know this is a rare pleasure for you.”
“There is no need to apologize. What you said is true. But…” Moira 1st tilted her head as she chose her words. “To put it bluntly, she broke through the memory manipulation that Moira 3rd so delightedly applied.”
“It is not that unlikely a turn of events. If the memories you sealed or the story Moira 3rd told included something important to her, she would naturally reject them. Then the seal and the story would vanish, correct?”
“Yes, but the seal is still in place. The new princess believes those memories are missing. Perhaps we should have given more thought to Moira 3rd’s story.”
“What story did Moira 3rd tell? The princess was taken here from the eastern side of this country. No normal artificial memory would form a proper connection.”
“Yes.” Moira 1st nodded with a serious expression. “It was simple. The train the princess was riding from a station called Shinjuku was abducted by a flying saucer and all the people aboard were given physical examinations by aliens. After having her sitting height erroneously measured too high, the princess angrily punched the little greys until she had taken control of the bridge. She then shouted ‘take me to Hawaii!’, but the flying saucer underwent a Dutch roll and crashed in Okayama! The title is ‘The Naked Princess in Space: To Terra’.”
“Sounds exciting, but there’s no heroine.”
“In this case, the protagonist of the princess doubles as a powerful heroine. A meaningless shower scene partway through where she only washes her shoulders is a must. I have studied this with the limited resources available to me.”
Aigaion and Apollo folded their arms and nodded, but Gyes frowned doubtfully.
“At any rate, the fruit of your studies was rejected. …Are you going to try a second story?”
Moira 1st lowered her head but finally answered.
“I think it would be difficult. Moira 3rd’s stories are meant to be placed over the memories I seal, but there should be a half-erased blank there now. If we forcibly attempt to change the story…”
“It could apply pressure to her memories until they break, destroying her personality. …Humans are difficult to deal with.” Having said that, Gyes frantically turned toward Apollo. “My apologies. I was not trying to say that you are difficult to deal with.”
“But I am. I don’t do anything and I’m no use whatsoever.”
Gyes fell silent and Aigaion elbowed her in the side.
Moira 1st smiled bitterly as she looked at the two and then at Apollo.
“In other words, you are sensitive.”
“Yes, exactly. Well said, Moira 1st. Now, Lord Apollo, Moira 2nd says you have been in good health recently, so will you go outside today?”
“Are the dolls worried for their master? …But I do think I will wander around outside for a bit.”
Apollo smiled bitterly just as a maid arrived from down the hallway. Moira 1st saw her jog toward them.
“Do not run in the hallway, 43rd. Now, what is it?”
The maid named 43rd nodded and got down on one knee in front of Moira 1st.
“I apologize. But…the princess has escaped!”
“Escaped?” asked Gyes rather than Moira 1st.
The maid nodded and pulled a piece of cloth from her chest. It was a pillowcase with thick letters written using something brown.
“This was written with the chocolate Moira 3rd gave her.”
Moira 1st read it, let out a laugh, and then turned to Gyes.
“It says ‘Thanks for your hospitality’.”
“You sound happy, Moira 1st. Did you know this would happen?”
“No.” Moira 1st tilted her head and spoke to Gyes, who looked suspicious, and the two men, who looked a bit surprised. “But if you recall, I did say she was energetic.”
Chapter 3: Scent of Light[edit]
The moon and those eyes cannot be seen
But their presence can be felt
As if they are blooming high in the sky
Miyako ran down a wide hallway.
She wore a white sheet tied around her shoulders and waist. Her outfit could not have been any lighter.
…But this does make it easier to run.
However, a certain thought came to her as she ran down the white-walled and red-carpeted hallway.
“I need to quit smoking!”
She ran out of breath quickly.
Back when she had been a delinquent, she had been the master of chasing or being chased all night long, but she finally realized how much she had deteriorated.
She wanted to make her way downstairs. She had seen some kind of city out of the previous room’s window.
This seemed to be a facility in a mountain forest. The room had looked to be on the eighth floor and she was not sure if there were any higher floors.
…But what kind of facility is this?
Was it a large local corporation?
The white hallway had no windows, a width of about four meters wide, and not a speck of dust. It also continued for quite a while.
As she ran, she recalled the city she had seen outside. It had small-scale buildings along with an older-style cityscape.
This was likely an area with some history to it.
The few larger buildings in the distance had to have been the train station or hotels. But she had not seen the marks left by the type of rezoning Nara or Kyoto had gone through and it had not had the green of Kanazawa.
“But it looked somehow familiar.”
Wondering where she had seen it before, she tilted her head while running. Meanwhile, she heard footsteps from the other direction.
She turned a corner to wait out whoever was coming by. As she did, several maids rushed by at the T-junction up ahead. She pressed against the wall and took a breath.
…It would be too dangerous to head out now.
Her weak imagination then went wild wondering what would happen to her if she were captured by the kind of perverted corporation that would create a maid facility like this.
For a moment, she imagined herself having been transformed into a maid. In her head, she was sitting with one knee on the floor and smoking a cigarette.
“Keh.”
She clicked her tongue once, looked to the wall, and saw a few picture frames.
There were three and they all contained portraits. They were oil paintings rather than photographs.
The left painting showed a gray-haired old man. The center one showed a well-built slightly less old man with blond hair and a beard. The right one showed a young woman with long blonde hair and a slender face.
She assumed these were the owners of the building.
…So they really are foreigners?
She looked the smiling woman’s portrait in her pale blue eyes and tilted her head.
Miyako realized something was lightly tapping her left leg from below.
There was something there.
That fact and her own carelessness made her heart skip a beat.
She immediately glanced to the left and lowered down defensively.
“…A water fountain?”
It looked like the button-operated water fountains seen in the corner of a school cafeteria.
…Those things that won’t give you enough water but won’t stop shooting it into the air after you hit it a few times.
One of those was there.
The white and brown device was looking up at her from waist height.
It was staring silently.
…Looking…up at me?
As her own thought made her tilt her head, Miyako stared at the machine while standing in front of the frames on the wall.
And the water fountain gently twisted its metal body to tilt itself to match the tilt of her head.
Something was not right. But what?
…No, it’s obvious what isn’t right here. It’s just on such a huge scale that I didn’t realize it at first.
As she thought, she reached out to confirm the truth she had been ignoring.
The machine moved toward her hand and let her touch it. Its metal body bent so it could rub up against her just like a dog.
“It wants me to pet it?”
While muttering her thoughts as a question, she crouched down and slowly touched the machine with both hands.
The machine happily and gently swung its body back and forth. If it had had a tail, this motion would have been wagging that tail. She rubbed over its entire body to make sure it was made out of a metallic material.
…It’s a machine.
She took a step back while still crouched down.
And the machine bent its bottom installation parts to approach using an extending and contracting motion.
As the water fountain rubbed up against her again, it happily tilted its body.
“Is this a prototype of some new tech?” she muttered with a hand on her chin.
She tried petting the water fountains head and it pressed its head against her hand.
It sure is friendly, she thought while pressing the water fountain’s button to see what happened.
Water came from the top edge. She touched it and found it was nothing more than cold water.
The water fountain stayed perfectly still so that the water would not spill and it waited for her to drink it.
And so she tried drinking the water.
It was normal. It was quite cold and it felt good on her throat after running.
She petted the machine’s head again and it bowed.
After happily shaking its body again, the water fountain turned around and ran off while extending and contracting its legs.
Miyako stood up and tilted her head.
…What was with that machine?
It was metal, but it had seemed alive.
Suddenly, something moved in her head. Or at least, she felt like something did.
There was something she had forgotten and could not remember.
It was a memory. She tried to remember, but for some reason, it would not come to her.
She felt a thick fog of forgetfulness.
She did not know what she had tried to remember from the thought that metal had been alive.
But she realized something. That memory came from the previous night. After failing her job interview, going drinking, and heading back, she had started on the road home from Ikusabata Station.
She leaned against the wall, placed a hand on her head, and thought.
…What was it…?
She felt something on the verge of appearing from the depths of her memories.
For some reason, an image of herself striking a gray alien with an iron fist entered her head.
She strengthened the strike with the motion of her waist to defeat the little grey.
After one, two, and then three solid hits, the little grey began to tap on the ground to beg forgiveness.
“That isn’t it. …What is with that B-grade memory, anyway?”
She ignored the strange image and realized there was a lid.
That lid was sealing her memories. She felt as if her true self was shouting at her from beyond the lid. She wondered if a version of herself that understood everything lay there.
…I need something.
She needed something that would act as a key to open the lid.
And just as she nodded…
“Ah! I found her! She is in front of Lord Zeus’s portrait!”
Three maids appeared from the T-junction up ahead.
Miyako clicked her tongue and turned her head. In an instant, she observed that the approaching maids were positioned to the right, left, and right.
She had gotten some water, caught her breath, and wanted to learn the truth of her memories.
Nothing pointed to her loss.
And so she prepared herself. She stood on the central line and took on each of the maids in turn.
The first maid on the right was unarmed, the second one on the left held a broom, and the third one was also unarmed.
They likely planned to have the first one stop her with a tackle, the second one use the broom handle to hold her in check or strike her, and the third one restrain her.
Miyako first took a large step backwards.
With that shout, the maids began to run faster.
However, Miyako leaped backwards while still facing them.
While back stepping further, she partially matched her speed to the first blonde girl.
The maid opened her mouth, wrinkled her brow, and shouted out a question.
“Why are you trying to escape from us!?”
For an instant, Miyako did not know what she meant.
…It almost sounds like she doesn’t want me to leave them.
Suddenly, Miyako recalled something from a very long time ago.
One night, she had clung to the side of a man in a work uniform as that man had tried to go somewhere. She had still been a child and she had not been satisfied just with having her head rubbed.
She knew what it was like to not want someone to leave.
Despite recalling those feeling from ten years before, she replied while continuing to move backwards.
“I refuse to accept the situation I’m in right now!”
The maid did not reply. She only moved forward with an expression saying she would capture Miyako.
The maid approached quite close and her right arm reached for Miyako’s chest.
Just as the maid’s arm was about to reach her, Miyako suddenly took action.
She slowed down her back stepping.
The maid gave a look of surprise as the change in relative speed caused them to suddenly approach.
In an instant, Miyako brushed the girl’s outstretched arm upwards.
And Miyako shoved her body against the maid’s open side.
She gave a light tackle by pressing her shoulder into the maid’s side and she grabbed the maid’s slender body. She used the maid’s approaching momentum to lift her up onto her shoulder and used her back muscles to bend the maid backwards.
And she began back stepping once more.
As the girl on her shoulder gasped, she rotated to the right.
She rotated on one tiptoe.
“Left!”
And she threw the maid on her back toward the broom-wielding maid to the left.
For an instant, the broom-wielding maid stared blankly at the body thrown toward her.
And so Miyako shouted out.
“Catch her!”
“Oh, yes!”
The broom-wielding maid threw aside the broom just as Miyako finished her rotation.
She now faced the direction of the maids which was the direction she had originally needed to go.
And thus her back stepping came to an end and she could begin running forward.
She poured all of her backwards-moving momentum into the soles of her feet. She moved forward. She tilted forward as if trying to press her chest to the floor, she kicked off the floor, and she ran full speed from the very first step.
She ran as if flying.
To her left, she saw that the maid who had abandoned her broom had caught the thrown blonde. She immediately passed by them, but the blonde maid and the previously broom-wielding maid could not move quickly enough.
Two down.
Miyako faced the final one.
But that maid was watching her movements carefully. The third maid had black hair and she had stopped to prepare herself.
…A good decision!
Miyako continued forward without stopping and she reached for something in the air.
It was the broom the second maid had thrown aside.
She used the fingers of her right hand to spin it around and swung it. The end of the brush scraped against the white wall.
“Outta the way! Outta the way! Outta the way!”
Her shout caused her opponent to flinch.
But this final maid did not move out of the way. She seemed to have made some form of decision because she held out her white gloved hands as the broom approached her.
She intended to stop it and take her next action.
That pose says she’s confident she can stop it, thought Miyako. These are nice girls.
A smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
…If I had a bunch of people like this on my side, I could conquer at least Kantou.
With that thought, she swung the broom down toward the maid’s head.
In response, the black-haired maid lowered her hips in a defensive stance.
“You can have this. I’m terrible at cleaning.”
Miyako tossed the broom forward.
The maid watched the broom handle floating before her eyes.
As the handle slowly moved toward her, she reflexively reached out toward it.
And that signaled the end of the game. Miyako immediately slipped past her side. She accelerated much faster than before. Before the maid could turn around in sudden realization, she had already accelerated away.
Miyako made her way past the maid all at once.
Not even the maid’s gaze could keep up as she left through the T-junction. She turned right because she was closer to that end of the building.
She turned her head at the same time as lowering her hips. She took the step at the same time as throwing herself to the right.
The right hallway was empty and the air seemed to be telling her to continue on.
She felt a wind. Rather than the air of a stuffy room, this chilly wind came from outside.
As she ran and swung her arms, she started to think again.
…What is that memory? What is that memory from last night that I can’t remember?
It was faint, but she felt as if she was beginning to remember something.
As she wondered what it was, something appeared in her mind.
“A color?”
In an instant, the keyword of “night” caused the pale moon to flash into her mind. The night before, she had to have seen a nearly full moon.
…But that isn’t it.
The color that occasionally appeared in her mind was not the pale blue of the moonlight.
Just as she wondered what it was, she saw the color.
Ahead of her was an emergency exit that was sitting open to air out the hallway. Through that open door, she saw the outside light. She saw the color of the yellow sunlight.
That was the color she wanted to see and the color from her fragmented memories. But what meaning did that color have?
Her memories were from the night before, so where had she seen sunlight?
With that question in mind, she continued to run. She headed for the emergency exit rather than the staircase.
At the same time, a small figure came up the internal stairs to the right of the emergency exit.
It was Moira 3rd. She seemed to be trying to stop Miyako as well. She held forward her white gloved hands as she ran up the stairs.
On the other hand, Miyako paid the girl no heed. Before the short and young maid’s hands could reach her, she arrived at the emergency exit. Or she should have.
“Wham!!”
Miyako heard Moira 3rd’s delighted shout and then felt something strike her from down and to the right.
It felt like a mass of water struck the lower right of her body, but her surprise was even greater than the impact.
After all, Moira 3rd had yet to fully climb the stairs and was too far away to reach her.
Before she could wonder what had happened, all of the different forces involved produced a certain result.
She flew through the emergency exit and into the air at eight stories above the ground.
As Miyako flew over the fence around the emergency exit’s elevator and into the air, the first thing she saw was the sky.
Her vision was pointed upwards. Ahead of her, she saw the color blue and some clouds.
It’s so vast, she thought as her vision bent further backwards and brought the city into view.
It was a flat city. The only high ground was the mountain this building sat on. Everything else was just a dense collection of buildings and homes on a flat land. She also saw a Shinto shrine on the opposite side of the mountain.
The sense of familiarity the city gave her caused her to focus on one point.
An L-shaped area on the southern end of the city looked old. And it looked somehow artificially old. Amid the lines of white walls and tile roofs, she saw some of the Western architecture she had seen in text books.
…Is that Kurashiki?
She had gone there on a field trip during high school. That old part of the city was the Bikan historical district. In that case, the one huge building there would be the art museum. She had gone there only a few years before, but she did not remember much besides buying a horseshoe crab shell as a souvenir.
“But that’s probably where this is.”
Suddenly, the movement of her vision stopped.
She had reached the peak of her arc. She would now fall.
Strength quickly left her body and she felt as if something were tugging her back downwards.
…Am I about to die?
With that lighthearted thought, all strength vanished from her body.
She recalled many different things. She recalled the past and her hidden memories.
She first remembered an incident from elementary school. She had been playing baseball with a paper ball and the cloth case containing her recorder. She had completely missed with her swing, the recorder had come apart in the case, and the mouthpiece had flown out. The mouthpiece had struck the pitcher’s forehead and created a crescent moon-shaped injury. The pitcher had naturally been taken to the hospital.
She remembered another incident from when she had started noticing the opposite sex during middle school. She had grown fond of a certain upperclassman on the baseball team, so she had been watching him practice. When a ball had rolled up to her feet, she had thrown it back in her own type of girl’s throw, but it had gotten lost in the light of the sun. As soon as the upperclassman had looked down, it had fallen right on top of the hard, button-like ball on the top of his baseball cap. As blood had flowed from underneath his cap, he had fallen to his knees and then collapsed to the ground.
“These are all terrible memories!”
She came back to her senses and flailed her limbs around, but her hands only reached empty air.
She looked around in hopes of finding something to grab onto.
With her vision pointed upwards, she looked to the city and then back at the building.
It was a giant white building made of stone.
The stone building had been polished until it reflected light like glass. It had a giant warehouse-like metal door that stretched from the ground to about the sixth story. Above that were four stories of living space. The living space had a shallow triangular roof which gave the entire building a certain shape.
“It looks like a temple.”
That thought was immediately followed by a sudden impact across her entire body.
This was much too soon to be the ground. Her midair surprise was caused by the impact of landing on her butt, back, and legs. However, the surface continued to descend so as to absorb the impact.
As she wondered what was happening, she forced her numb body to sit up. She stopped moving and saw what lay below her butt.
“A hand?”
It was shaped like a hand, but it was much larger. A human hand would certainly not be a meter across. It would also not be colored blue or be made of a hard plastic-like material.
With an odd sense of déjà vu, she turned toward the blue hand’s wrist.
The temple-like door was open and a blue arm was sticking out at a height of about three meters above the ground.
The owner of the arm exited through the door.
It was a giant warrior wearing blue armor.
It was about ten meters tall. The joints of its giant arm were all coated with a plastic-like substance, but she could not sense the pulsation of a living creature.
And so she reached the following conclusion about the giant supporting her.
“A robot? What is this, an anime?”
As she muttered to herself, she looked at its face. Its facial structure was made from a collection of metal and the lights in place of its eyes were green and continued to blink faintly.
As she looked at the color of the warrior’s eyes, a certain thought came to her.
…This isn’t it.
But she did not know what that thought meant.
She then saw something behind the blue armored warrior.
A giant white armored warrior sat inside what looked like a hangar.
It was a size larger than the blue giant and it stood straight in the supporting hangar. Bluish-white writing appeared in a dark oblong hole on the side of the hangar.
She had never seen that type of writing before, so she could only tell that it was the writing of some other culture. However, she could tell what it said. The side of the hangar said “Typhon”.
She did not know what the word meant, but she understood that it was the name of the white giant.
That was when a memory returned to her.
For an instant, those hidden memories of the past revived within her.
First, she remembered herself.
…I screwed up the interview and…
After leaving Ikusabata Station, she had complained on the gravel road through the paddy field.
“And then I was caught in the middle of a fight involving this anime robot thing.”
As she replayed her memories, she took a certain action.
She looked upwards.
While ignoring how it was messing up her hair, she looked into the blue sky and saw a certain light in the center.
It was the light of the sun.
That warm light wrapped in the color yellow brought back another memory. Last night, the white giant had descended before her and she had seen the color of its eyes.
…And I felt something then.
What had it been?
She did not know.
But the rapid refrain of memories left her sitting blankly on the giant hand.
She had also been saved from falling, so her tension lessened and she merely sat motionlessly.
In response, the blue arm started lowering. It was a slow and gentle motion meant to keep her from harm.
She looked down.
A large crowd had gathered there. They were all maids.
Moira 1st was there, Moira 3rd was there, and a maid with short hair of the same color was the only one looking away from her. That may have been Moira 2nd.
All of the other maids there were looking up at her with looks of relief.
…And looks of expectation.
It looked like they thought her rescue meant that something enjoyable would continue.
Miyako sighed at the looks on their faces.
…Why are they looking that way toward someone like me?
Chapter 4: Greeting at the Entrance[edit]
A world full of questions lies there
Is that place desired?
Or does it desire?
Even at the beginning of summer, the afternoon mountain wind was chilly.
That pure wind did not shake or bend and it was not a mountain or a river that it washed over.
It covered a high place. Specifically, it covered the rooftop of Japanese UCAT’s transportation administration building which was built in the mountains of Okutama.
Currently, a single figure stood on the edge of the rooftop.
The figure in a black suit paid no heed to the early summer sunlight and let the wind blow through his white hair.
As he looked down through his sunglasses, he saw nothing but a long runway and the road leaving UCAT.
He looked into the distance to the east and he saw nothing on the road next to the runway or the valley road dividing this area from IAI grounds.
“They’ve gone.”
After muttering expressionlessly, he heard a female voice from below.
“Oh, dear. Itaru, are you seeing the princess and prince off?”
“Leave, German witch.”
His immediate response was followed by a figure rising from the edge of the roof. She was standing on the outer wall.
The woman wore a black suit as she walked up the wall and then stepped onto the edge of the roof. Her long, soft, and ashen hair blew in the wind.
“Diana, why are you here? And use the emergency exit like a normal person.”
“You seemed to be lost in thought, so I was hiding in case you said something embarrassingly sentimental. If I used the emergency exit, the creaking of the door would have given me away.”
“Oh? And did I say anything strange, newt woman?”
“A gecko would be better luck.”[1]
Diana smiled and lightly spun around on the edge of the roof.
“Itaru, you said quite a lot. Most of which only we know about anymore.”
“Is that so? I don’t recall saying anything.”
“You did not use words, but the voice of your will reached me,” she immediately replied. Her smile deepened and she closed her eyes. “Teasing you like this really takes me back.”
“Forget all about it. And get lost. It would be for your own good, Diana Zonburg.” Itaru sighed. “I alone will carry all of that hopelessly pathetic, hopelessly drunk, hopelessly broken, and hopelessly dense time. You only need to feign ignorance. If you do, it will all end without anyone knowing anything.”
“So you are going to greedily keep it all to yourself? Is that because you watched it all from the sidelines without being one of the Five Great Peaks? And…because you cried and shouted out back then?”
As soon as she said that, Itaru suddenly swung his right arm horizontally.
That arm held his metal cane and it flew toward Diana’s legs.
But she evaded the strike. She lightly swung her body away from the rooftop.
And she took a step.
That was all it took for her to move off the rooftop and set foot on the building’s outer wall.
She fell horizontal to the ground for an instant and then swung her body back toward the edge of the rooftop.
And when the cement floor of the rooftop came into view once more, Itaru had collapsed onto it.
“Oh, dear.” She lightly crossed her arms and smiled. “Of course you will fall if you swing your cane. I won’t help you up, by the way. I would be too embarrassed if you saw up my skirt from below.”
“If so, German UCAT must have a philosopher’s stone treatment to prevent the aging of one’s shame as well. At any rate, get lost. My stamina is already used up for the day. I’ve had to deal with too much worthless crap and worthless people.”
“If they are so worthless, why were you seeing them off?”
Diana pulled a handkerchief from her pocket.
She spread the thin cloth decorated with a brown pattern and pushed it down with a finger. Despite the blowing wind, the cloth fell straight down without wavering and landed on the edge of the roof.
She then lightly sat on top of the handkerchief and crossed her legs.
“Well, I do understand why you would be worried about them.”
“Hah. You make it sound like anyone else in the world thinks the same way you do.”
“Is that so strange? For example, I find this wind to be chilly and the past to be nostalgic.”
“Oh? Well, I find this wind to be annoying and the past to be unpleasant.”
“That is the same thing.”
“They provide us with emotions.”
Itaru fell silent and Diana sighed. Bitterness entered her smile.
“You really are fun to tease.”
At that point, the emergency exit onto the roof opened and a small figure exited.
It was Sf.
Sf jogged toward Itaru through the wind and bowed toward Diana.
“Thank you for your unneeded and unnecessary consideration concerning Itaru-sama’s movement.”
“That isn’t what I was doing. I just wanted to have some fun with him.”
“Tes. Then I retract my previous statement and my thanks.”
Diana glared at Itaru and he stood up.
“Wouldn’t that be your doing, German?”
“Are you still making excuses?”
Itaru ignored her and stood up without Sf’s help. He supported his unsteady body with the metal cane and Sf held his right side to help him. Sf then turned toward Diana again.
“Were you assisting Itaru-sama in my absence?”
“Tes. I have determined that was an excellent decision. Only I, German UCAT-made Sf, am permitted to assist him. If someone else were to do so, I would be forced to repay them by assisting them in some way.”
“Oh, I just remembered. I think I did indeed assist him in quite a few ways just now.”
“Tes.” Sf nodded. “Then I shall bring you dinner to repay you. Today’s menu is flavorless miso ramen and soft crackers.”
“I do not need that dinner. …Itaru, why are you looking at me with such pity?”
Sf tilted her head, looked at Diana, and then at Itaru.
“Sayama-sama, Shinjou-sama, and Director Tsukuyomi, left for the Kanda laboratory just now.”
“Do you want to go? That place holds a connection to 3rd-Gear and what we could call your relatives are there.”
“No, I only belong to you, Itaru-sama. I do not view myself as having any family. Also, I believe 3rd-Gear was the world of gods of war in addition to automatons.”
Sf’s knowledge caused Diana to clap her hands with a delighted smile.
“Well done. I see you have been learning.”
“Tes. Thank you very much. As the prided machine of German UCAT, I will not forget any praise, so do not worry. I will automatically reject any complaints, though. But…”
“Your comments seem a bit disjointed. Anyway, but what?”
Sf tilted her head again.
“Tes. In all the mentions of 3rd-Gear I can remember, the discussion was about gods of war or automatons. But what about the humans? I am an automaton. I was created by people. The same goes for gods of war. They are created by people. Then where are the people of 3rd-Gear?”
Diana narrowed her eyes, rested her chin on the arm placed on her crossed leg, and looked to Itaru.
“This perception is our doing.”
“No, this comes from Japanese UCAT’s Japanese language formatting.”
“Tes. Let us settle this fairly with rock-paper-scissors. Start with rock… Why did both of you start with paper?”
As Sf watched them, the man and woman both sighed.
As their sighs ended, Itaru spoke to Sf.
“There are many different issues in the world, Sf. In a way, 3rd-Gear might be where the advancement of the modern world will lead us.”
“The advancement of the modern world?”
“You will find out soon enough. The group at Kanda will tell you that we are all powerless here.”
Itaru struck the concrete roof with the tip of his metal cane.
“And then you will understand why 3rd-Gear was destroyed so quickly.”
An elevated roadway ran east to west through the center of Tokyo.
That central expressway was a long stretch of asphalt with a total of four lanes.
That large road had been constructed after the war and both cars and motorcycles travelled along it at all times.
An elevated portion just inside the city center was named Expressway #4. Below the early afternoon sun, eastbound vehicles travelled along that expressway, passed through several green or underground areas in Shinjuku, and joined the Inner Circular Route in Chiyoda.
After travelling northward on the Inner Circular Route, the vehicles quickly moved underground. Once they came back aboveground, they were north of the Imperial Palace. Travelling east between the palace and Budokan, they reached a land known as Kanda.
The vehicles exited from the expressway and entered the streets of Kanda. One of those vehicles was especially large.
It was a yellow truck. The cargo container was sealed and had a pallet at the bottom. Overall, it looked more like a crawler than a cargo truck. The side of the truck contained the IAI emblem.
The front of the truck seated four and Tsukuyomi sat in the driver’s seat.
She used the rearview mirror to look at Sayama and Shinjou in the back seat. Sayama had changed into a gray suit he had left at UCAT and she looked him in the eye.
“Now, how was that drive? I told you there wouldn’t be any problems.”
“I believe there was a bit of a problem, but it was good enough. What was that black foreign car that tried to forcibly pass us earlier?”
“I don’t know. It seemed dangerous, so I lightly knocked them away.”
With that nonchalant comment, Tsukuyomi shifted gears. After doing it wrong about three times, she smiled bitterly.
“Well, it couldn’t have been that bad a drive. Your neighbor there hasn’t moved an inch.”
Sayama turned toward Shinjou to his left.
She had not left a change of clothes at UCAT, so she wore the school’s summer uniform below her seatbelt.
A black binder sat next to her and she was facing straight forward with a blank expression.
She was perfectly silent and she shook limply with the shaking of the truck. The way her head bounced around, it looked like her neck had broken.
…Has she…?
She had passed out.
“Sh-Shinjou-kun, wake up.”
Even when Sayama grabbed her shoulders and shook her, she gave no response. A look of sudden realization filled Sayama’s face.
“This is not good. I must perform CPR!”
“I think you just skipped at least three steps.”
He ignored the old woman and began unbuttoning Shinjou’s shirt. It was only then that she opened her eyes with a sleepy look.
“Oh, Sayama-kun. Good morn-… What are you doing!? I’m Setsu right now!”
“Why would that matter? Whether Setsu-kun or Sadame-kun, I must perform CPR. And both bodies are equally gropable. …But I suppose these pads are indeed in the way.”
“Ahh… I have no idea where to even start with this.”
“Then I will not hold back.”
“Wait!” shouted Shinjou just as the truck took a right turn.
Tsukuyomi sharply turned the steering wheel, the six wheels on the bottom of the tractor unit performed their turning action, and a curving trajectory similar to a pivot was created.
An external speaker played a right turn warning in a synthetic female voice.
“Turning to the right. Hard to the right.”
Next, the large truck actually turned.
“Ah,” said Shinjou as everything outside the thick back window began to rotate.
The sealed pallet of the connected cargo container became visible as a shadow.
…What are we going to carry in that huge space?
The fact that it was sealed led Sayama to a certain conclusion which he voiced while placing his head on Shinjou’s lap.
“A god of war? Is that what we are retrieving in addition to the examination device?”
“That is correct, you perverted lady killer.”
Once the turn was completed, the sky outside the window stopped moving and a further question arrived.
“You heard that my daughter was abducted, didn’t you? I hear you were at the scene last night.”
“The pilots of the remaining god of war were a student at our school and an automaton. Who were they fighting? We are guessing it was 3rd-Gear’s Typhon.”
“The development department suspects the same. We received a request just before you left last night. We were asked to analyze the string vibration patterns of two large philosopher’s stone readings that were flying westward.” She took a breath. “We detected the concepts for metal and inertial control, the same as the automatons in UCAT. Did you know that the Kanda laboratory we’re headed to has some refugees from 3rd?”
“Refugees? Are they automatons?” asked Shinjou.
“Yes.” Tsukuyomi nodded. “They do not say much, but they have made a few things clear. When 3rd-Gear was destroyed, most of the gates were unstable and a lot of automatons fled to this world. Also, the automatons that fell into this world were ‘found’ in various places. However, they were only made to function in 3rd-Gear, so UCAT wasn’t able to activate them until the concept activation ten years ago.”
Tsukuyomi continued speaking while looking at them through the rearview mirror.
“All 3rd-Gear automatons have at least two abilities: powerful gravitational control to assist their movements and wirelessly shared thoughts with identical types. Due to the latter, the automatons under UCAT protection know that another 3rd-Gear force exists somewhere in Japan. They cannot communicate because they are separated by a concept space, but they can still feel their presence.”
“Then why did they join us? Wouldn’t they want to rescue the others?”
It was Sayama who answered Shinjou’s question.
“They may have feared being taken as hostages against 3rd’s main force. If they are viewed as an enemy, 3rd can act without concern for them. Am I wrong, Director Tsukuyomi?”
“No. That’s the rumor. It sounds like the thought process of a combat-oriented Gear’s automatons, doesn’t it?”
“But does that mean we are assuming we will fight them with no hope for negotiation?”
“Presumably, the automatons do not know the whole truth. However, the main 3rd-Gear force they know of was not a group that would surrender just because their world had been destroyed. My guess is that these automatons have carved that into their memories.”
Tsukuyomi nodded toward Sayama who lay in Shinjou’s lap.
After seeing that nod, he continued.
“Low-Gear’s concept spaces were poorly made, so these automatons could not move properly until ten years ago, but what about 3rd-Gear’s main force? If they can use Typhon to create a concept space, it means they have been active since sixty years ago and yet hiding the entire time.”
Sayama looked down from the rearview mirror and saw a white building through the large windshield. A closed metal gate separated them from the hospital-like building.
“That is the Kanda laboratory. Our department has been helping with its security recently. But, Sayama Mikoto, do you object to being called here today?”
“I do. I intended to meet with the pilot of that god of war today.”
“Well, I’ll handle the Georgius stuff, so you can spend your time getting as much information from the automatons as you can. Just like you did with us.”
“I see. It would seem non-humans are becoming my specialty.”
“Are you calling us inhuman?”
“Could you not say that a woman who has carried a human and given birth to them goes beyond the realm of humanity?”
That question brought a few seconds of silence.
Amid the silence, Sayama felt a small tap at his shoulder.
It was Shinjou. He could see her looking down at him with flushed cheeks.
“Um, Sayama-kun? That question reminded me.” She spoke quietly with the ends of her eyebrows lowered. “Do you think I will be able to do that with this body?”
Sayama directly answered her hesitant question while resting his head on her lap.
“You will.”
Shinjou narrowed her eyes.
“Do not worry. You definitely will.”
“Really. After all, I will do my part to help.”
“O-okay, but you could maybe word that differently…”
She drew back her head in order to hide her blushing face.
“Thank you,” she said even more quietly. “I’ll do some more research into that kind of thing. …And I’ll discuss it with you again.”
“Yes. Let us work hard.”
“Work hard? …I think we’re talking about different things.”
“Not at all,” said Sayama. “If we work hard, not only can we surpass humanity, but we can surpass godhood as well.”
“Eh? Ah, w-wait! You suddenly went way above what I was talking about!”
Sayama frowned at her panicked shout.
“What is it, Shinjou-kun? I was trying to put together a precise plan.”
“Don’t mention what that plan entails!!”
Just as she shouted, Sayama heard something else.
—Metal is not dead.
Those sudden words made him sit up.
“A concept!”
“I’m glad to see you’re quick to switch gears,” said Tsukuyomi. “And it looks like they’ve sent out someone to greet us.”
The truck gradually slowed down.
As it shook from momentum and Shinjou let out a sigh of relief, Sayama turned toward the driver’s seat.
The white building was still visible through the windshield.
But three things were different from before.
“There’s something odd about this.”
First, the metal gate was sitting wide open.
Second, several dozen figures wearing maid uniforms were lined up in waiting before the gate.
And third, a giant green armored warrior stood behind them. It was a god of war.
One of the maids stepped forward.
She had red hair.
The truck stopped fifteen meters in front of her.
The red-haired maid suddenly reached a hand toward her collar.
And she opened the collar to show her neck.
But the bones and flesh of a neck were not there.
It was a mechanical connector.
Two sockets were connected vertically and wires connected the collarbone to the head. Shinjou gasped when she saw it.
“An automaton.”
The red-haired automaton looked toward them.
Her orange eyes looked sharply up at them.
“Welcome, but please leave.”
She did not shout, but her voice reached the inside of the truck.
The voice seemed to quietly permeate the area as she continued to speak.
“I am sure this is part of a job, but we must make an exception when a relative of Sayama’s is involved. As an automaton of 3rd-Gear, I have a request for this relative of Sayama’s. There is someone here who you must not be allowed to meet. As such, please leave. If you do not…”
Sayama saw movement.
The giant armored warrior behind the maids took a step forward.
In the concept, its metal body had the litheness and gentleness of living flesh, but it also had great weight.
The one step produced a heavy metallic sound. It then took a second and third step. The fourth step brought the god of war in front of the automatons and next to the red-haired maid.
Its giant legs were spread at shoulder width and its arms were spread lightly to both sides.
It could freely begin battle at any time like that.
However, the red-haired automaton spoke without so much as glancing toward it.
“Please leave. I also ask that you hold no interest in 3rd-Gear. Dealing with 3rd-Gear will sully the Leviathan Road.”
Miyako was brought back to the previous room.
Moira 1st led her by a hand. After a few seconds on an elevator-like device from the side entrance, she was right next to the emergency exit she had fallen from.
What is going on? she wondered.
Moira 1st remained silent and did not rebuke her for what she had done and the other maids were not with them. The lack of defense and the lack of punishment seemed to indicate that they did not view her as an enemy.
…They are saying they will not harm me and so I shouldn’t run away.
Before they entered the previous room, Moira 1st looked over her shoulder.
With a slight smile on her face, she passed through the white knob-less door and entered the room.
“Princess, please come in.”
Miyako placed a hand on the door and asked the maid a question.
“Why are you going in first? What if I suddenly closed the door and ran off?”
“If you are willing to say that, I can assume you will not actually do it.”
“Oh? And what if I do?”
Miyako slammed the door shut.
The slamming noise satisfied her quite a bit.
Despite her thought, she remained motionless in front of the closed door. If Moira 1st was testing her, she would test Moira 1st. She had no intention of running, but she wanted to see how the maid would react.
Would all of those previous maids arrive? Would Moira 1st pursue her on her own? Either way, they would try to restrain her. Their style of no defense and no punishment would be meaningless once they restrained her. She would have plenty of reason to feel rebellious.
But nothing happened. Moira 1st showed no sign of speaking from the room and there was no sign of the other maids taking action based on the noise of the door.
And so Miyako left the door to continue this test. She intentionally produced footsteps on the red carpet, but there was still no sign of anything from the room or elsewhere.
And so Miyako continued walking. She turned at several corners and reached the previous emergency exit. It had felt like a long run before, but it was surprisingly close by.
The exit was still standing open.
She walked further. The wind and light coming in through the exit were those of summer, but something felt off about the wind.
She thought about what it was.
…There are no smells from the city.
The wind did not contain the slight heat, oppressiveness, or exhaust smell that a city produced.
This place made no sense. When she thought about it, the giant that had lowered her to the ground and the one in the hangar were odd too. If they showed themselves outside the building, someone would notice.
She looked up and saw Kurashiki through the emergency exit.
…That should be real.
She stepped outside the emergency exit. There were no stairs, but there was the elevator surrounded by a railing.
The rails of the elevator circled around to the side in order to avoid the hangar door below.
The hangar door was closed now and the blue giant was nowhere to be seen. The same went for the white giant.
As she leaned over the railing and looked at the distant city, she suddenly noticed something.
Beyond the twenty meter earth clearing in front of the hangar, a man stood in a forest primarily composed of broadleaf trees.
The young man wore white clothes. His back was turned toward her and his blond hair was even longer than hers. He did not turn toward her and he merely stood in the forest looking into the distance.
“Is he looking at the city?”
Did that young man live here?
When she had tried to escape, she had not seen him in the framed paintings. If those paintings were of the deceased, he might have been the current master.
In that case, she felt she could clear away a lot of the doubt in her heart.
She thought about using the elevator to head down, but she stopped.
There was no movement around her. No one came to pursue her and no one shouted at her.
“Dammit. What are they doing?”
While feeling reluctant to leave the figure standing below, she returned to the hallway. After arriving at the door with long strides, she threw it open.
“What the hell are you doing!? And what is this place!? Who are you people!?”
As she asked those questions, she saw Moira 1st standing before a table in front of the bed. She was transferring dishes over from the stretcher she had brought in. The maid smiled and turned toward her.
“It will take a little longer to prepare, so you can look outside for a little longer if you wish.”
Miyako moved closer to Moira 1st while aware of the harshness on her face.
After approaching so close their foreheads almost collided, she spoke the words she had prepared in her heart.
“Do you never get mad when people act like I do?”
“Have you ever done anything malicious to us, princess?” asked Moira 1st. “Have you ever tried to destroy us?”
“Well…” started Miyako as she recalled her actions.
At the very least, she was honorable enough not to punch someone who had not acted maliciously toward her.
But she still tilted her head.
“ ‘Destroy’ has an unpleasant ring to it. And why is your Japanese that poor? With that and that giant robot down below, there’s something odd about this place.”
“It is not odd because it is all only natural.”
Moira 1st stopped preparing the meal.
She placed a hand on her collar and scarf and removed the scarf from her neck.
“This is a temporary alternate world that exists out of phase with your world. It is known as a concept space. I will explain the details later, but we are the only residents.”
She opened her collar down to the chest, but this did not reveal what one would expect.
The flesh and bones that would form the neck, collarbone, and chest were not there.
Instead, there were rounded white parts connected at the joints like a doll.
“Our bodies are made from a metal and ceramic frame added to flesh that is modelled after a human’s. The joints are made with wires and plastic. We are automatons.”
Moira 1st’s smile deepened and the movement of wires caused her head to tilt above the neck which connected similarly to a light bulb socket.
“Will that be enough for you to believe me, princess?”
Chapter 5: Machine Footsteps[edit]
Even with one’s eyes closed, the differences in the piercing sounds are noticeable
The similarities are also noticeable
That is why it is so troublesome
Wind blew through a wide area between the large buildings of Kanda.
But that wind was not of this world. It had the thin scent of an alternate world.
Several automatons stood in the path of that wind that smelled slightly of metal.
The god of war and the red-haired automaton standing in front of them faced their opponent.
A boy stood in front of the truck stopped fifteen meters away. He wore a gray suit.
“I assume you are Sayama Mikoto,” she said. “Why have you exited the truck? We asked for you to leave.”
“That does not matter. However, I would like to ask your name.”
“And what will you do with that knowledge?”
“I will negotiate with you. I will ask what will sully the Leviathan Road and I will negotiate a means of cleansing that impurity.”
“I see,” said the red-haired maid with a nod.
She determined she needed to answer in order for the conversation to continue smoothly.
“#8. That is my ID.” #8 nodded. “You say you wish for knowledge of the impurity?”
“I will not say it a second time. Or a third time. Make sure you remember.”
“Understood. But I cannot speak of what the impurity entails. Telling you would produce unnecessary curiosity and cross a point of no return. Simply think of 3rd-Gear as inviolable and leave.”
“Knowledge of it would cross a point of no return? In that case, I do not see how anyone could know about it.”
Deciding his point was valid, #8 nodded and carefully chose how to express herself.
“Can anyone set foot in muddy water without growing dirty? We are considerately attempting to prevent anyone else from growing dirty.”
Sayama smiled when he heard that.
“So you are driving people away out of consideration? Is that because you have betrayed UCAT and returned to 3rd-Gear?”
The maids behind her began to move at that comment. They moved to restrain him.
But #8 stopped them by raising her right hand lightly.
“Why do you think we have betrayed UCAT?”
“After speaking for a bit, you have not once replied with ‘testament’. The one I know may be a bit unique, but automatons should strictly follow their own definitions. In that case, the lack of ‘testament’ means you have left UCAT.”
“I see. It is true that the importance of the word ‘testament’ has fallen for us. And do you know what that means?”
“If you are out front after betraying UCAT, it means you have taken control of this Kanda laboratory,” said Sayama. “Also, under some condition, your refugee definitions have switched to 3rd-Gear’s definitions. What might that condition be?”
“The linked self-defense instincts of an automaton. The specific condition was your arrival. We believe your presence will certainly result in our harm.”
“And what harm would that be?”
“That is a personal issue of the automatons at the Kanda laboratory, so I cannot answer.”
“And so you are driving me away in the name of protecting me from some impurity?”
“Yes,” answered #8. “The negotiation has already begun. Will you leave?”
She waved both arms as she spoke.
That motion produced black metal parts from her sleeves.
They belonged to handguns.
Barrels, grips, mechanisms, and magazines spilled out into the air.
“Or will you be destroyed here? Those are your only options.”
The metal firearms were assembled in midair using gravitational control.
As the parts fell into place and tightened, a spray of metallic noises filled the air and a gun flew into each of her hands.
She now held two handguns.
“We once welcomed someone in this same fashion. After falling to this world sixty years ago, we were gathered here, but we took control of the laboratory upon awakening when the concepts activated ten years ago.”
#8 struck her heel against the ground.
That metallic noise acted as a signal and the god of war next to her moved. It drew the two swords worn at its waist.
And she spoke over the metallic noises they caused.
“Those negotiations led to us taking up residence here. But we cannot allow the same result this time. Please leave, negotiator. We must ensure that 3rd-Gear’s impurity is untouched, that the people of the Kanda laboratory remain safe, and that no harm comes to our fellow automatons.”
“I see,” replied the boy. “So you have three bargaining chips to have me leave: your consideration concerning the impurity, your hostages, and the harm to your fellow automatons.”
“I have determined those three are enough.”
“Yes, it is enough. That is plenty for me to break down and create a path.”
With that comment, Sayama took action.
He pulled two objects from within his suit: a shotgun and a submachine gun.
He spread his arms with the shotgun in his left hand and the submachine gun in his right and he faced forward.
“I will now eliminate the foundation of your bargaining chips with a single statement.”
“And what is that?”
“It is simple,” he said. “The surname Sayama indicates a villain. It is incredibly simple, automaton.”
What a pain, thought Sayama. Truly a pain.
Someone was already fighting 3rd-Gear. And that person was younger, he was most certainly inexperienced, and his resolve seemed to be wavering.
But he was desperately fighting as if clinging to something. He had some reason for that and he was prepared to keep Team Leviathan at a distance.
And so Sayama thought about his role as the Leviathan Road’s negotiator.
…I must grow even more desperate and face 3rd-Gear.
“Are you going to stand in my way here, automaton? I am trying to learn about the world you came from.”
“We stand in your way specifically because it is our world you wish to learn about.”
“If you are going to call it inviolable, do not call it ‘our’ world.”
Sayama lowered the guns in his hands and walked forward.
“If no one can touch something, it belongs to no one. It becomes a closed world where you cannot even secure a firm footing for yourself. But a world is an open thing by nature.”
“There is no such thing as an inviolable world.”
He waved the shotgun in his left hand through the air and he looked up into the blue sky.
“Inside an inviolable cage, the sky is safe, the wind is safe, the earth is safe, and the night and day are safe. But that is why no one can grow desperate while surrounded by walls. Will you show your consideration despite that, hypocritical automaton? Only a child enjoys being shown consideration by someone in a glass box.”
As he continued to walk and smiled bitterly, #8 asked a question.
“But I have determined it is children who enjoy growing dirty in mud. Don’t adults avoid that?”
The first bargaining chip, thought Sayama. The negotiation begins.
He nodded and opened his mouth.
“So you say adults avoid the mud?”
“Am I wrong? And please do not simply say I am wrong. Give me a reason.”
“I see. Then let me say this: you are wrong.” A bitter smile. “Unfortunately, automaton, there are two types of adults: those who grow upset when dirtied by mud and those who laugh at themselves when dirtied by mud. And there are two types of those who laugh at themselves: those who will grow upset when someone scolds them for it and those who laugh off any scolding. …Listen.”
He continued forward and reached a distance of ten meters away.
“I do not know what this impurity of yours is, but there are definitely people who will view it as something other than dirty.”
“And you are one such person?”
“It is hard to say.” He tilted his head. “I may not be.”
“Then…!”
“But I am not the only person in the world. At the very least, there is someone in my world who is my exact opposite. There is also a foolish S&M couple, a perverted old man, a teacher who feigns ignorance, as well as plenty of comrades, enemies, and others.”
“Even those who have died and those yet to be born are my allies.”
Hearing that, #8’s expression changed.
Her eyebrows grew flat and all expression vanished from her face.
That expressionless look could only mean one thing.
…Her bargaining chip has changed.
The discussion of the first one was over. He did not know what she had decided, but he would not let his guard down until the entire negotiation was over and they had shaken hands in agreement.
As he walked even closer, #8 asked another question while raising the handgun in her left hand.
“Then what about the workers of the Kanda laboratory?”
The answer to this question was even simpler than with the first bargaining chip.
As he walked, he shrugged.
“Do I even need to say anything when you could have already killed them for all I know?”
“Then what if you could confirm their safety?”
At the same time, she pulled the trigger of the raised handgun.
A gunshot rang through the air.
And with that as a signal, the laboratory door opened.
Men in work uniforms exited the glass door with their hands in the air. A closer look showed even more inside the dark space beyond the door.
With them and their grim looks far behind her, #8 lowered her left hand and spoke.
“Our sharpshooting ability is unmatched. What do you say now?”
“I see. Then I have just one thing to say to them.”
“Which is?”
“Good luck. That is all.”
…This is only natural.
“I am here to complete the Leviathan Road. In that case, is it my job to rescue the captured workers of the Kanda laboratory? It isn’t, is it? They can handle their issues while I handle mine.”
“…You do not care if they die?”
“It would be a problem if they die, but their survival is their responsibility. No matter what decision I make, they should not leave their survival up to another person. If they do not wish to die by your hand, they should not die based on my decision either. That is all.”
“I have determined that is sophistry.”
“But I have moved forward. You need to learn that the world deals in facts, not sophistry.”
He was now five meters away.
And #8’s eyebrows moved. She was trying to decide whether to fire or not, but her decision was not immediate.
She was hesitating.
…Will she shoot them?
With a single bitter laugh, Sayama decided to speak.
“Now, then. Let us move on to your final bargaining chip.”
That comment returned #8’s eyebrows to their flat position.
She looked him in the eye and then lowered her gaze a bit. For just an instant, she glanced at the workers behind her.
“Thank you for your consideration,” she finally said.
“Make no mistake. I merely find this negotiation to be a pain and wish to hurry it along. You need not feel thankful.”
“Understood. Then let us discuss the final bargaining chip.”
“Yes. You said my arrival will bring harm to one of you, didn’t you?”
He was already only three meters from #8.
And he suddenly raised his left arm to point the shotgun forward.
He targeted #8.
“This is my answer,” he said expressionlessly. “If I destroy you here, it will prove that not even that hope of yours can be achieved.”
As soon as he spoke, #8 took action. She first opened her eyes wide.
And she vigorously swung her left hand up once more.
Before he could react, something arrived.
It was a wind. The god of war’s sword whipped up the wind as it was swung down overhead.
At the same time, a metallic noise rang out and the god of war flew up into the air.
With a clear noise, the armor plate on its chest broke and a beam of white light flew from its back.
Without turning around, Sayama smiled.
“Wonderfully done, Shinjou-kun.”
Shinjou held Ex-St atop the truck’s roof.
It had been quickly prepared when they left UCAT and Sayama would likely have been unable to take his weapons with him if Tsukuyomi had not been with them.
While her head felt heavy after focusing, she lowered Ex-St from her shoulder.
She heard the god of war collapse.
The sound of crashing heavy metal sounded like a musical instrument being played at random.
As she realized she had produced that result, she looked down.
Down and to the right, Tsukuyomi was leaning out of the truck window and watching Sayama.
“Now, what will he do? I was wondering what would happen ever since that stupid boy said combat was a possibility if we were dealing with 3rd-Gear automatons.”
“Yes,” agreed Shinjou. “That may be how the Leviathan Road works. If we are to rethink our relationships after the war, we can also redo everything from the beginning.”
Shinjou started to dismantle Ex-St to return it to its case that sat in the back of the truck.
“Let me handle that. You hurry to him.”
“Only you and his meagre self-restraint can stop him, right?”
Shinjou thought about that and finally smiled bitterly.
“I hope you’re right…”
She then heard several sounds from the front of the truck where Sayama was.
They were gunshots. And quite a few of them at once.
She turned around and cried out.
As he heard the god of war falling over, Sayama heard #8 shout.
“Defend!”
She did not say what to defend.
But in response to her shout, four automatons leaped forward to his left and four did the same to his right.
Their maid uniforms flipped up and they formed a half-circle around him with weapons in both hands.
But he had already started to move.
He moved forward.
As he saw them position themselves in an arc, he had a single thought.
…They have opened up gaps to avoid friendly fire.
His opponents were armed with firearms just like him.
In that case, a factor other than firepower would determine the winner.
There were three such factors.
First, there was speed.
Second, there was position.
Third, there was mentality.
Those factors could be affected by tactics.
And Sayama had lived with the Tamiya family until two years ago. They had originally been a yakuza family and they had weapons.
…And I have my grandfather’s training!
And so he did not hesitate to move forward. A skilled group and a firefight lay at close range. Distance was almost meaningless here and something else mattered more.
…Position!
What position would aid him and put his opponents at a disadvantage?
That would be right in front of an enemy. The other enemies would be unable to fire for fear of friendly fire.
The third maid from the right had black hair and she raised a handgun in her left hand.
She seemed to be the only one with a handgun.
And the short weapon could reach firing position fastest.
That was why he prioritized her and charged in toward her.
From there, his speed said everything.
Without killing the momentum of his charge, he used the shotgun in his left hand to sweep away the arm holding her gun.
With a light impact, her arm moved to the left.
That arm obstructed the path of the fourth maid from the right, slowing her movements.
Sayama then jumped to the left and charged toward the side of the fourth maid from the right who had stumbled a bit.
While sweeping the third maid’s arm upwards, he jabbed his left elbow into the now-unguarded side of the fourth one.
The fourth maid doubled over and collapsed.
One down.
In response, the second maid from the right and the fifth maid from the right raised submachine guns.
They moved to trap him where he was in front of the third maid and the collapsed fourth maid.
But they were too slow. His left arm remained bent from the previous elbow jab, so the shotgun barrel was pointed to the right. He also passed the submachine gun under his left arm to aim it to the left.
With his arms crossed as if in an embrace, he fired both guns.
He hit twice.
The second and fifth maids were blasted in either direction. Counting the fourth maid in front of him, that was three down.
But the first maid from the right and the sixth, seventh, and eight maids on the right had taken action.
The one on the right and three on the left had already raised their guns.
“Nn!”
With that voice, four gunshots rang out. As expected, there was one from the right and three from the left.
The bullets arrived. Also, the third maid in front of him had brought back her arm.
Sayama hurried forward while uncrossing his arms.
He jumped up. As his arms met in the middle in the process of uncrossing them, they deflected the third maid’s arm upwards once more.
He heard a metallic noise and her handgun flew into the air.
She was now wide open.
He spread his arms and moved forward while listening to the four bullets passing by behind him.
As he stepped forward, he raised his right leg and jabbed his knee into the third maid’s right side.
The strike knocked the third maid away, making four down.
He used the impact of the knee jab to rotate backwards to the right.
As he did, he saw #8 standing beyond the others.
“Wait there!”
He would make sure to take her on.
He felt faint irritation as he wondered why the representative of the Leviathan Road had to fight automatons who were not the representatives of 3rd-Gear.
Even so, he was aware that he had partially wanted this.
…Are they desperate as well?
He wanted to know why. He felt he needed to know. He mentally nodded twice, ended his spin to the right, and leaped toward her. He quickly ran to the right.
The only maid remaining to the right was the one originally first from the right.
She had brown hair and she raised a rifle in her left hand.
In the instant she took aim, Sayama swung his submachine gun to the right.
An instant later, she pulled the trigger.
The rifle fired at the same moment that his weapon struck her arm and knocked it to the right.
The gunshot passed by the right side of his face and the bullet grazed his hair, but it did not hit him.
He stepped forward and raised the shotgun in his left hand while holding her rifle away with the submachine gun in his right hand.
But this time, she defended.
She stepped back and swept his shotgun upwards with her empty hand.
And she did not stop there.
After sweeping the shotgun upwards, she grabbed the barrel.
Sayama pulled back the weapon so she could not swipe it.
But then he felt pain. It was the phantom pain from his left fist. That pain from the past made him grimace.
The shotgun was forcefully pulled from his grasp.
The maid in front of his eyes smiled as she held his shotgun.
She tossed it behind her and then looked behind him.
Sayama did not look behind him.
He understood what the maid before him wanted. She would stop him and let herself be shot by the three behind him.
…A ridiculous decision!
“So you dolls have decided to sacrifice yourselves!?”
And so he moved. He would not let this doll be shot by her allies. They were attempting to produce something from a death.
…No matter what, I cannot let them accomplish that idea!
His only weapon was the submachine gun in his right hand. He was using it to hold her rifle away.
But he let go of the submachine gun.
He lost his weapon.
“I have more than just guns.”
As the maid’s eyes widened in surprise, he charged toward her and jabbed his elbow into her gut.
With a sound of impact, she was knocked away.
He turned around while watching her rifle and his submachine gun fall to the ground.
Behind him, he saw the remaining three aiming rifles at him.
They were aiming and preparing to pull the trigger.
In that instant, he held his left hand out in front of him.
That hand was empty, but something fell into it.
It was a handgun.
This was the handgun he had used his crossed arms to knock from the hand of the third maid from the right earlier.
As soon as he had it in his grasp, he fired.
A great sound filled the area.
Of the three maids, the middle one was blown away. The remaining two fired, but their bullets passed by either side of him.
At the same time, he heard a metallic noise on the ground behind him.
The submachine gun he had let go of and the rifle of the maid he had elbowed had struck the ground.
With a snap of his wrist, he tossed the handgun overhead.
He crouched down, swung both hands backwards, and grabbed the submachine gun and rifle as they bounced off the ground.
He raised the weapons in front of him and fired.
The two remaining maids took direct hits and collapsed backwards.
The eight were down.
But Sayama did not catch his breath. He tossed aside both guns and used his left hand to grab the handgun he had tossed overhead.
He turned toward someone to his right.
It was #8.
Sayama ran.
In response, #8 took quick action.
She tried to raise both handguns she held to target his face.
“I am serious!”
Her shout seemed to pierce through the air, but Sayama paid it no heed and moved forward.
But he would not make it in time. It would not take her long to raise the handguns. She held them right next to each other to target the center of his face.
“Is this your decision!?”
Sayama replied with his actions.
As he took the last running step with his left leg, he swung the knee up and jabbed the shin and knee straight up toward the heavens.
As #8 tried to raise her arms, they struck either side of his knee.
Her hands stopped.
At the same time, he threw his body forward. He pressed his forehead against his raised knee.
His face passed between the guns held apart by his knee.
And #8 pulled the triggers.
Gunshots passed by either side of his face.
But they naturally missed. Sayama swung down his raised left leg to slam his heel down. At the same time, #8 frantically moved back.
And he moved forward to pursue her.
He maintained his forward momentum and threw his lowering left leg forward. He was already close enough to collide with #8 and he looked at her surprised expression.
At the same moment, his left foot reached the asphalt and he made his step.
Using the force of his step, he pointed the gun in his left hand at #8.
In that instant…
He heard Shinjou’s voice.
And so he took action. He first let go of his gun.
“I will now show you my conclusion.”
As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around #8’s waist from below and placed her over his shoulder.
As he lifted her up, she was surprisingly light.
With a bitter smile, he took a few light steps forward, lowered his speed, and came to a stop.
As #8 struggled atop his shoulder, he used his hands to stop her legs from moving and he spoke.
“I almost forgot. Dolls are meant to be held and handled with care.”
“I respect that sort of thinking.”
For just a moment after his comment, #8 stopped moving.
But she quickly began struggling once more as if she had suddenly remembered the situation.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this!?”
“Be still. Do you wish to go through the losing ritual in front of your fellow automatons?”
“What is the losing ritual?”
“I treat you like a doll.” Sayama nodded and spoke to the other automatons in the area. “After stripping you naked, I will restrain you within every splendid outfit I can think of. Then, after placing you in a seat where you cannot move, I will have you enjoy a fake meal made from mud and leaves. And we can sing: ‘Hi ho! Hi ho!’ As automatons who live by a motto of modest service, that would be unbearably painful, would it not?”
#8 gasped and the surrounding automatons all took a frightened step back.
Sayama nodded toward them all.
“While I am at it, I can place you in a glass box and continually play a music box until you fall asleep. How about that?”
“Y-you cannot be serious. If you did that, rumor would spread that the losers of the Leviathan Road are cruelly abused.”
“It is up to you whether this happens or not. I believe in democracy, so I respect the opinions of individuals. And in accordance with democracy, any who oppose me shall receive an individual vigilante punishment. …How about that?”
#8 stopped moving. The surrounding automatons did the same.
As the stillness reminded them of the wind’s presence, Sayama focused on his own body.
The heat lowering from the right side of his forehead was likely blood. He was sweaty and he was pleasantly exhausted.
He then heard a noise from behind him: footsteps.
When he took a breath and turned around, he saw Shinjou running toward him with a look of relief.
She nodded and smiled with the ends of her eyebrows lowered. Her smile said she was fine and that he should face his opponents.
He faced forward, looked each of the automatons in the eye in turn, and then gently lowered #8 from his shoulder.
Her red hair was disheveled, her shoulders were limp, and she had no expression on her face.
“I have determined this was unreasonable,” she said. “Why should we listen to what you wish to say?”
“That is simple: because you wish to find a new answer after listening to me,” he said. “You already have your answer, but is there no other acceptable answer? To find out, listen to what I have to say. I want you to help me think up a new answer.”
Unable to make a decision, #8 repeated the same word.
Just as she spoke that duplicate word, she was interrupted.
“I have determined that is sufficient.”
This was a new voice.
All the automatons, including #8, turned toward the main entrance. Countless figures stood in front of the white building.
They were mostly the Kanda laboratory’s workers, but one figure standing in front of the others was not. She was a blonde girl in a maid uniform and Shinjou spoke the common term for her identity.
“An automaton?”
“Testament,” she replied. “I am #4. I am the leader of the automatons here.” She was expressionless. “I am ashamed of my fellow automatons’ actions here. I hope you are not disappointed in their combat ability.”
“No, they were an excellent opponent for my first actual battle in a while.”
As he spoke, Sayama looked around.
The maids he had defeated were slowly beginning to get up.
“It was a good thing you were wearing UCAT maid uniforms. I assumed they would be at least bulletproof.”
“Well done. I understand now that this new negotiator to appear before us is also one who will force us to face him. In that case, please come this way,” said #4. “I will tell you and show you as much as I can concerning 3rd-Gear’s impurity and its destruction. We have been waiting ever since your grandfather provided us with this place ten years ago.”
The word ‘grandfather’ brought pain to Sayama.
He brought his right hand to his chest and Baku frantically hopped from his pocket and onto his shoulder. Despite the pain and pulse in his chest, he expressionlessly took a breath.
“My grandfather gave you this place?”
“Testament. When we awoke due to the concept activation ten years ago, we took control of this place. However, we had two problems. First, the foundation of our memories was created on the idea of serving people, so having others protect us would create a self-contradiction which we would reject by ceasing to function. Second, serving someone from this world would be a betrayal to 3rd-Gear.” #4 nodded and continued smiling. “Ten years ago, your grandfather was sent as a negotiator to eliminate our control of this place. He ordered us to join Low-Gear and serve one who lives here. He said that would not be a betrayal to 3rd-Gear because it would prevent us from being a burden to them in an emergency.”
“And so you have worked here for the decade since?”
“Testament. And we have been waiting for the good-for-nothing grandson that your grandfather would often mention. I must ask that you go along with these lingering feelings of a doll for a bit longer.”
She bowed.
“I believe I will now speak of the past with you and give you a test. As the one who once negotiated with your grandfather, I will determine what kind of person you are and whether you are actually good-for-nothing.”
Chapter 6: Driving Questions[edit]
Where does the initial question lead?
To question is to go and to return
They let you test yourself and look back
By the afternoon on the day before the closing ceremony, very few students remained in the Kinugasa Library.
The shouts and sounds of the sports teams could be heard from the schoolyard.
That provided the background noise for the three people who sat motionless at the table in the center of the library.
A cloth map of Japan was spread out on the table while Izumo, Kazami, and Hiba sat around it.
Hiba started by asking Kazami a cautious question with a serious expression.
“You aren’t going to hit me?”
“Y’know, I think you’ve gotten the wrong impression of me. I won’t hit you if you do nothing wrong.”
“Eh? R-really? Strange. That isn’t what everyone says…”
As he tilted his head several times, Kazami clenched her fist below the table while considering actually hitting him. Hiba seemed to catch on because he quickly put on a smile.
“Oh, s-sorry. Anyway…”
“Yes. What do you want?”
“Well… Before I explain 3rd-Gear’s impurity, I want to quickly go over their history.”
With her agreement urging him on, he reached for a piece of paper on the table. He also picked up a ballpoint pen and drew on the white back of the paper.
The drawing looked like a few floating islands.
“Um, this is actually a cross-section. 3rd-Gear was apparently a collection of giant floating continents.” Hiba tapped at the center of the drawing with the back of the pen. “It supposedly also had an ocean long ago, but it was always this shape and so it didn’t have very many people. The people of 3rd-Gear had long lives and they each had a special ability coming from one of the concepts supporting the world. In other words, they had lifespans of several thousand years and the powers supporting the world were distributed among them.”
“Distributed?”
“Yes. The Concept Core was divided up and they received a portion when they were born. You could say they were humanoid concepts rather than people.”
“When they died, was that concept extracted and returned?”
“Not just that. From what I’ve heard, they had a single device that took the wills of those bearing the concepts and stored them in the Concept Core. Do you understand what that means?”
“Their Concept Core worked like an underworld, right?” answered Izumo with little interest in his voice. “When those with the concepts died, their residual will and concept would be stored in the Concept Core. And when a new life was born, the concept would be recycled into them, but the wills would simply accumulate in the Concept Core. That’s an artificial Tartaros.”
“Yes. That is why 3rd-Gear called their Concept Core the Tartaros and called the device sending them there the Tartaros Machina.”
Kazami thought on what Hiba said with a smile.
“If they had technology like that, 3rd-Gear must have been a pretty advanced world.”
“Yes. That is why their civilization advanced with an extreme focus in one direction. They altered the world as they saw fit, they created automatons to make up for their lacking manpower, and they created machines modeled after themselves to increase an individual’s strength. Do you know how gods of war are piloted?”
Kazami thought about the device underneath UCAT. UCAT had experimentally created that large humanoid machine and it was primarily operated remotely, but she knew that was not the standard method.
“A human combines with it, right?”
“Correct. Because they could turn metal into a living thing, a god of war contains the same systems as a human. The pilot is broken down and taken inside those systems.”
Hiba raised his right hand and lightly rotated it, mixing up the warm gentle air of the library.
“It feels less like you’re riding it and more like you’ve grown and have armor and reinforced parts attached. When the god of war is damaged, the injury is sent back to your own body when it is reconstructed.”
A bitter smile suddenly replaced Hiba’s serious expression. He knew they would not understand.
He must have fought in quite a few battles up until now, thought Kazami as she watched him.
He clearly knew there were times when others would not understand his stance.
…I hope we can understand.
She sighed inwardly.
“Anyway, let’s get back on topic. How was 3rd-Gear destroyed?”
“Well, it was a floating continent civilization, but there was one thing that truly started the advancement of their civilization.”
“The Concept War?”
“Yes. When they learned of their world’s concepts and coming destruction, they realized their civilization and concepts were very powerful and gave them the upper hand. But…” Hiba scratched at his head and hesitated to continue. “Due to what I mentioned before, their civilization reached a dead end.”
“A dead end?”
Hiba looked up and compared the look on Kazami’s and Izumo’s faces.
“How does one increase the population?”
Kazami and Izumo fell silent.
After taking about five breaths, Izumo raised his right hand while facing forward.
“Chisato-sensei, may I give a clear and erotic answer?”
“…We all know the answer, so you don’t have to say it.”
“Hmm,” groaned Izumo as he lowered his hand.
Hiba slowly clenched his fist to show his agreement.
“Well done, Izumo-san. You’re exactly the kind of person I heard you were.”
“I see. Then do your best to show me some respect. Too many people have been unable to see my value recently. …Chisato, why are you giving me that displeased look?”
“Honestly, I don’t even care anymore. Anyway, Hiba-kun… No, I think calling you Hiba is good enough.”
“Wh-why would you drop the ‘-kun’? Aren’t I your adorable underclassman?”
Kazami ignored that comment.
“Anyway, Hiba, what does increasing the population have to do with 3rd-Gear’s destruction?”
“Well, you know how animals are said to need a population above a certain level to increase in number? What if they were only just barely at that level before the Concept War?” He took a breath. “They only ever had as many people as there were concept pieces supporting the world. …Now what if they went to war?”
Kazami froze in place. Wait, she thought to keep herself from reaching too hasty a conclusion.
“Wait a second. Don’t you normally encourage population growth before a war?”
“The Concept War isn’t something you see coming. The fight is suddenly brought to you. At least, that’s apparently how it was for 3rd-Gear. When 9th’s troops invaded 3rd, they were held off by the gods of war and automatons, but 3rd-Gear panicked. They did not know whether they should solidify their defenses or head out to war.”
“Then…” Kazami thought. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed when she reached her conclusion. “3rd-Gear went out to war, didn’t they? They wanted to finish things before their population could fall too far.”
“Yes. Their current king was named Cronus. I’ve heard that he was skilled at making automatons and gods of war and that he created further longevity methods to keep the population from falling. And he also modified the Tartaros Machina to be used for invasions. He made it so people’s concepts could be removed while still alive. Otherwise, 3rd-Gear would have been destroyed if more than half the residents left the Gear for an invasion.” Hiba shrugged. “But Cronus could not fully ease the people’s fears, so his position was usurped by his son.”
“Was his son named Zeus? According to Greek mythology, Cronus was kicked from the throne by Zeus and a culture of fighting and pleasure was created under Zeus’s rule.”
The corner of Izumo’s mouth rose in a smile and he brought a hand to the map before him.
He pointed toward Okaayama’s Kojima Peninsula in the Setouchi region.
“Is that fighting and pleasure the impurity that’s apparently somewhere around here?”
“You’re close. But when it is created for a war, what does that make it?” asked Hiba. “We’re getting to the main issue now.”
I hate studying, thought Miyako.
She faced forward while scratching at her head and sitting on the bed with one knee raised.
Moira 1st was on the other side of the stretcher that had previously contained a meal.
She was crouched down and used both hands to hold something on top of the stretcher.
It was a thin B4-size board with a drawing on the side pointed toward Miyako. The drawing depicted their world being destroyed and she read the explanation written on the back.
It was a kamishibai.
According to Moira 1st, when her fellow automatons had gone outside, an educational facility had taught about society using this method.
…They must have snuck into a kindergarten.
That had to have been a very long time ago when the Showa era was still in its middle period. If their story was true, it would have been about sixty years ago.
As Miyako thought about the past, Moira 1st flipped to the next board.
A king named Zeus was giving instructions to the people.
It was a crude drawing made with crayon, but Zeus was one of the people she had seen in the picture frames in the hallway. He was the man with a blond beard.
Past the picture, Moira 1st spoke with a slight smile.
“Now, the king was eager to get things started. ‘Wah hah hah. Be fruitful and multiply.’ It became okay for family members to have children together.”
“Wait a second. Don’t say that in such an exciting and enjoyable way!”
“But that is what happened. …Oh, are you out of snacks?”
“I still have this cigarette gum.”
With a smile, Moira 1st flipped to a board with a picture of a cell.
The cell contained some kind of laboratory and a gray-haired old man stood within it. He looked the same as one of the people in the hallway picture frames. He was holding the metal bars like a monkey.
“But the number of people decreased. It was partially due to underestimating the development speed of the other worlds’ civilizations, but Lord Cronus shouted from his cell claiming that ‘you shouldn’t do it within the family!’. However, it was mostly due to people dying in the war.”
As Miyako tried to decide what about that to take issue with, the next board was revealed.
“It all came to a head when the ninth world destroyed one of our continents. ‘Take this! Suicide bomber of rage!’ Kaboom! Kaboom!”
“Wait. The way you’re saying that doesn’t match the detail of this drawing! People are being blown up!”
“We divided up the work and each drew one, but Moira 2nd is a really good artist.”
The next board showed Zeus and several other people.
“The war dragged on and the people stopped being able to have children for some reason. Whether due to a limit of the species or just pathetic individuals, the number of men and women who could have children greatly decreased. And the loss of a continent made the world begin to fall out of balance.”
The next board showed Zeus sitting in a chair.
“The king was anguished. They tried cloning, but the technology must have been insufficient because the clones could not have children. The number of people continued to fall. Once not much more than his own family remained, the king made a decision.”
“To do what?” asked Miyako.
After a moment, she gasped at what her question meant: she was growing interested in 3rd-Gear.
She looked up and saw Moira 1st smiling beyond the board. She flipped to the next one which showed a line of giant robots similar to the ones she had seen before.
“Those who could not have children transferred their concepts and wills to the Tartaros while their bodies joined with machines and fought. Those who could have children did whatever they could to give birth to people of their world in an attempt to ensure the continued existence of their world.”
She flipped the board again and displayed a drawing of four men and women. One was Zeus, one was Cronus, and the other two were a young man and woman. The young pair both had long blond hair, but the man had yellow eyes and the woman had red eyes.
Neither of them had been in the hallway picture frames, but the man looked familiar.
He resembled the silhouette she had seen in the forest while looking down from the elevator.
But she did not recognize the woman at all.
The woman in the picture frame had had pale blue eyes.
All of them but Cronus had a robot behind them. Behind Zeus was a gray robot, behind the young man was a pale blue robot, and behind the woman was a silver robot.
“The few remaining people also became machines. Only four remained as humans: the king, his son Lord Apollo, Lady Rhea who served the king, and Lord Cronus who was imprisoned. And Lady Rhea carried the king’s child.”
Moira 1st continued speaking, but she spoke quietly as if testing her.
“It was known that Lady Rhea’s child would be a girl. If the child was able to have children, the king intended to duplicate her with new clone technology being developed and then create a large number of people for their world.”
When she heard that, something fell to the floor from Miyako’s hand.
It was the cigarette gum she had been toying with in place of an actual cigarette.
But she did not even look down toward it.
Not even she was sure why she had spoken.
…This isn’t good.
But despite her thought, she spoke in a quiet yet trembling voice.
“In other words, y-you mean the king…”
“What is it?” asked Moira 1st.
Miyako’s mouth hung open and she felt the emotion that had caused her to drop the gum.
“So… Before this kid was even born, your king was thinking about using her as a sample for cloning?”
She did not want to hear the answer.
“Yes.” Moira 1st gave a slight smile. “The child would be maintained at a young state in a preservation tank. Her growth would be stopped at a stage when she retained great possibility for growth, cells would be extracted, and the stasis would be removed to allow her to grow.”
“Stop!” shouted Miyako.
She recalled her job interview from the previous day. How had the interviewers viewed her then?
…Like a faceless member of a crowd or like a lifeless part of a machine.
She felt that interpretation was showing a bit of a persecution complex, so she stood up from the bed to wipe the thoughts from her mind.
“That Rhea woman’s kid was the king’s kid, right!? It was his own kid, wasn’t it!? How could he ignore the kid’s will and…try all that bullshit!”
“It is not ‘bullshit’,” declared Moira 1st.
Her words threatened to tear Miyako’s feelings to pieces, but that was stopped by Moira 1st’s own smile and dignified voice.
“An entire world was on the verge of destruction. There were only two options: try every means available to survive or give up and be destroyed.”
Moira 1st asked a quiet but clear question.
“Have you ever tried to choose the former or been faced with someone who did, princess?”
A certain underground space did not feel dark and sealed off. That underground maintenance area made full use of its excavated free space.
The concrete floor measured several hundred meters in all four directions and it was filled with people, light, and sounds.
The wall displayed the UCAT logo and said Kanda Laboratory in a black Gothic typeface.
Unlike UCAT in Okutama, the vast underground space was divided into research blocks with partitions. Each large partition had various objects and noises within.
“This first basement is primarily used for god of war research. The second basement is used for research on concept space production theory.”
While surrounded by the sounds of grinders and smells of welding, Sayama and Shinjou walked down the center path between partitions. An automaton in a maid uniform walked ahead of them.
The maid, #4, had sent a different maid to retrieve Georgius’s examination device with Tsukuyomi while she showed the two of them around. As they walked, she described the destruction of 3rd-Gear.
“Lord Zeus chose the path of survival no matter what.” She looked back toward them with an expressionless look below her short blonde hair. “Do you now understand what 3rd-Gear’s impurity is?”
Sayama saw Shinjou nod next to him.
She embraced her binder as if relying on it and paled a bit.
…Treating humans like tools is a difficult topic for her.
And so he took the initiative and spoke.
“Is this what you are trying to say? To survive the Concept War, 3rd-Gear did not treat its own people as human in those intra-family marriages and human modifications.”
“I do not know how exactly you are picturing the situation, but that is what happened. At the time, 3rd-Gear was the Gear with the greatest technology in such things.” She closed her eyes. “What you just mentioned was one of the methods used in the initial stage. Almost everyone but the nobles was treated that way. Most of those who disobeyed were sent to the Tartaros Machina, the empty shell of their body had the organs extracted, and the remaining parts were fixed inside a god of war. Once a temporary will was attached, the god of war was sent out to battle.”
“I believe a portion of that requires correcting. It was not just “most” of those who disobeyed, was it?” asked Sayama. “For the Gear to be destroyed, more than half the Concept Core had to be lost. But weren’t 3rd-Gear’s concepts held by each individual resident? To lose over half the core, more than half the residents would have to be sent to the Tartaros, bringing the core together into one mass.”
He heard Shinjou gasp.
But he went on to speak the truth she had realized.
“3rd-Gear’s king took almost all of the residents’ lives and sent them to the Tartaros, didn’t he?”
“Testament. That is correct.”
“But can you say anything more concerning 3rd-Gear’s actions?”
“Of course,” answered Sayama with slight laugh.
…That is a simple matter.
“Someone who is willing to do anything to survive would never limit himself to his own Gear. 3rd-Gear had to have reached for other Gears. They must have abducted people, taken them apart, modified them, and used them as tools for their own survival. Am I wrong?”
“Testament. Then do you understand the meaning of 3rd-Gear’s impurity?”
“They are the Gear that violated a great taboo and committed a holocaust in which they did not view people as human.”
#4 nodded and lowered her gaze slightly.
“This fact is known at least by the Gears higher than 3rd. Especially 9th which directly fought 3rd. And at the time, 3rd-Gear was known as ‘the Gear of fighting and pleasure’. Fighting referred to the gods of war and pleasure sarcastically referred to the forced production of children.” She closed her eyes. “But if Team Leviathan accepts 3rd-Gear to their side, it will mean accepting its past crimes. The people of our Gear were treated as tools and people of other Gears were treated the same. At the time, the people fighting 3rd-Gear knew some of their own relatives were being used as parts for the gods of war and automatons, so they took the initiative to destroy them.”
“But it was Low-Gear that ultimately did so?”
“Testament. I have heard that some people praise Low-Gear for that destruction. But what will they say if Team Leviathan now accepts 3rd-Gear?”
“In other words, we will receive the resentment of the other Gears?”
“Testament. The disturbing act of killing all of the Gear’s residents and the cruel act of desiring other Gears’ residents as parts has left a shadow of mistrust around 3rd-Gear. The Leviathan Road cannot be carried out without cleansing that impurity.”
“Cleansing the impurity, hm?”
Sayama thought about the impurity Hiba had mentioned and the conclusion the boy sought.
…Why did he say he would cleanse the impurity?
What would he do to completely cleanse the crimes that were something like the parting gift of a destroyed Gear?
Sayama spoke the answer he arrived at.
“There are survivors of 3rd-Gear, aren’t there? And the fight is not yet over, is it? The fight between 3rd-Gear’s desire to live on and Hiba’s wish to cleanse that impurity still continues.”
“Testament. Did you see the beginning of that fight?” #4’s words filled the air. “Did you see Lady Rhea who fled to Low-Gear out of dislike of that impurity?”
Moira 1st was not finished speaking.
“In their desperation to survive, they grew impure.”
With strength in her shoulders, Miyako let out a breath.
“Your king used any means necessary and he stopped treating people as human.”
She could not accept it, but she wondered what she would do if she were the leader. And what if she had been a resident of 3rd-Gear when the king had told her she was powerless.
…What would I have done?
She recalled the rest of her interview from the day before.
She was always shouting loudly and with an air of importance, but she had been unable to say anything to the decision the interviewer had made upon seeing her resume.
…He said there was nothing I could do for their company.
According to Moira 1st, those in 3rd-Gear who could not have children had been forcibly joined with machines known as gods of war.
Compared to a world where someone who could do nothing was sent to the Tartaros, her situation seemed almost carefree.
…But I’m still not being viewed as a human being.
She felt they were wrong, but she was not confident she had the ability to prove it.
What could one do?
Moira 1st’s voice made Miyako realize she had spoken her question aloud.
She looked up and saw the maid smiling at her.
Pathetic, she honestly judged herself and grew flustered. Ah, this isn’t good.
“U-um, isn’t there anything you can do when someone that stupid rules above you?”
“Yes. That is why there was one person who did not choose that method.”
With a smile, Moira 1st flipped to the next board. It showed a silver robot in a vast darkness. The slender craft looked feminine.
“Lady Rhea betrayed them.”
Moira 1st nodded at Miyako’s confusion and looked to the back of the board.
“When it was decided that Lady Rhea’s child would be taken, she fled to another world. She fled to the weakest and lowest world that no one had paid much attention to. She felt she would be safe there.”
The lowest world.
In the preliminary explanations, Miyako had been told that was this world.
She suddenly sat back down on the bed.
Her entire body went limp when she saw the image before her and heard Moira 1st’s words.
Why? she asked the silver robot in the picture, but it did not respond.
But the lack of an answer did not make the question disappear.
…Why did you choose this place?
But that was not the real question.
…Why did you choose to act?
Why had she been able to so fully trust her desire to reject the situation?
Naturally, she received no answer to her questions.
She simply listened to Moira 1st provide the sound of the silver robot leaving.
“Vwoosh!”
“Please stop providing sound effects.”
Miyako sighed, raised one knee, and looked at the board that Moira 1st flipped to.
The look in her eyes was much more serious now.
In the underground space, a maid walked through the maintenance and research space.
The sounds of welding and grinding formed the background noise behind her voice.
“In her dislike of the impurity, Lady Rhea travelled to Low-Gear. After her defection, Lord Zeus formed an alliance with 9th-Gear.”
Sayama and Shinjou listened as they walked behind her.
And Sayama asked about the fact just mentioned.
“He formed an alliance with the Gear that had attempted to destroy his world?”
“It is not an unlikely decision during a war, so allow me to continue. Lord Zeus decided to recover Lady Rhea’s child, enter the Tartaros himself, leave the rest to Lord Apollo, and prepare a god of war with a copy of his thoughts to act as an advisor.”
“And…what happened then?” asked Shinjou with a very bad feeling about the answer.
#4 nodded quietly and answered.
“Lord Zeus intended to have Lord Apollo begin an invasion against all the other Gears. On Lord Zeus’s orders, Lord Cronus had already created the base of Typhon, the strongest god of war, and he had developed Keravnos as its weapon of destruction. They both contained the Concept Core.”
Shinjou thought about what #4 had just said.
Her casual comment had contained two pieces of information. First, it revealed that the missing half of the Concept Core was contained within the weapon named Keravnos. And second…
…If Typhon was made as an invasion weapon…
“If Typhon left 3rd-Gear with half the Concept Core in itself and half in Keravnos, 3rd-Gear would be completely destroyed.”
“That was not a problem. 3rd-Gear intended to abandon its own Gear.”
After stopping, #4 swung her right arm and lightly pointed at the floor. She was pointing at the world itself.
And she smiled.
“Lord Zeus intended to create a new foothold here in Low-Gear, the Gear that had been abandoned and ignored by the other Gears due to its lack of concepts.”
Shinjou gulped and #4 continued speaking.
“Meanwhile, there were a few misunderstandings between the people of Low-Gear and Lady Rhea, but a certain incident led them to work together. Namely, Lady Rhea’s child was born.”
“What happened to that child?”
But #4 did not answer Shinjou’s question.
She silently turned her back and began to walk once more. She was headed toward a large metal door on one end of the floor.
…Is that something she doesn’t want to tell us?
Shinjou had seen Rhea in the past, so she had given it a bit of thought.
And so she asked a tentative question to the back leading her to the large door.
“The people of 3rd-Gear have long lives, right? If that 3rd-Gear child were still alive now, how much would they have grown?”
“It has only been sixty years, so a 3rd-Gear human would still be a very young child.”
Shinjou nodded at that brief answer and continued walking.
And she thought about Mikage.
She thought about the female automaton who had exited the black god of war and been held by Hiba the night before. That girl was with Hiba who was at the center of the incident.
They had assumed she supported him as he piloted the god of war.
…But something bothers me.
Her imagination led her to a possibility they had not considered.
And she thought about it.
…What if she doesn’t stand on the sidelines? What if she stands in the center of it all?
…What if Ryuuji-kun is with her in order to protect her?
Just like she and Sayama stood on the battlefield together.
In that case, what made her so important?
…Rhea-san’s child.
She continued thinking on this leap of logic for a while.
But she shook her head and gathered her thoughts.
Mikage was an automaton. She was not human.
And she had responded calmly to Hiba using the black god of war’s mouth. That response had been based in the kind of thought not present in a child as young as #4 had mentioned.
She was not a human and she was not a young child, so Shinjou had two means of denying the possibility.
But a sudden thought reached her.
It concerned the name Mikage.
She had heard that name before the previous night and it had been fairly recently.
…Where was it?
Her thoughts were cut off by a question from #4.
“Do you have a question for me?”
While walking, #4 looked toward Shinjou. In the corner of her vision, she saw her fellow automatons using gravitational techniques to carry tools and materials beyond the partitions on either side.
…Be quiet.
After giving that command over their shared memory, she waited for Shinjou to speak.
Shinjou held a black binder next to the boy with the surname Sayama.
“U-um?” She regulated her breathing and spoke. “Um? Last night, we met someone named Hiba who said he would cleanse 3rd-Gear’s impurity. But now that I know the history of 3rd-Gear, it sounds like you would need a certain right to cleanse the impurity. For example, Rhea-san fled to the National Defense Department due to her dislike of the impurity, so Low-Gear has a justification for getting involved in 3rd-Gear’s affairs.”
“I see,” said #4 with a nod.
She found it interesting that Shinjou was bringing up an issue of rights.
How would she go from there to draw out further information?
“Please continue.”
Shinjou nodded and brought a hand to her chest over the binder.
“What right does this Hiba Ryuuji-kun have? There is of course the fact that his grandfather destroyed 3rd-Gear, but if there is another reason, what is it?”
She lowered the hand on her chest and held her own body as if trying to support it.
Based on that action, #4 estimated her skeletal structure. She looked male, but there was also a strong possibility she was female.
While she gathered data on her, Shinjou spoke while choosing her words carefully.
“If there is something more, the person with Ryuuji-kun must be in a similar position to Rhea-san or at least dislike 3rd-Gear’s impurity. That person looks like an automaton, but what if that person became like that for some reason or another?”
“That is speculation,” said #4 before Shinjou could say anything further.
Shinjou wanted to know about the automaton who had been with the boy of the Hiba family.
#4 could tell her, but she decided to test her first. Would she pick up on the hint #4 was about to give her?
With no expression on her face, #4 tilted her head and asked a question.
“If I may ask, why do you think she is a human?”
She saw the answer to her question in the change to Shinjou’s expression.
…Has she noticed it?
While still expressionless, she saw Shinjou smile ever so slightly. It was a relieved smiled.
“That question was a test, wasn’t it?”
“It was too obvious. You asked me why I think she is human. But…”
#4 received her answer.
“I never once said that person was a she.”
Shinjou took a breath to relieve her tension. She then tilted her head toward #4.
“You know about the automaton I was talking about, don’t you? You were thinking about Mikage-san, weren’t you?”
Her question flew directly toward #4.
#4 brushed up her bangs to create a period of silence and let out a breath toward the floor.
As her breath dissolved into the floor, she turned her expressionless eyes toward Shinjou.
“You said this person was with a boy named ‘Ryuuji-kun’, so I assumed she was female. That is a perfectly natural assumption. It is no different from the two of you being together.”
Sayama immediately responded to that.
“Sorry, #4-kun. Shinjou-kun is a boy right now.”
His comment made #4 quickly look back toward Shinjou.
It was possible the truth about her had not left the Okutama UCAT.
…Come to think of it, there’s no need for anyone else to know because I won’t be working with them.
With a mental nod of understanding, she looked down at her own body.
She wore the school’s summer uniform and she had Setsu’s male body.
“Do I really look like a girl? …D-do you want to check?”
“Shinjou-kun, there is no reason to force yourself.”
“No, I was just interested that an automaton could be wrong about this kind of thing.”
“Hm. Then look closely, #4-kun. I will support Shinjou-kun’s courage.”
When her belt was suddenly removed from behind, she frantically jabbed her elbow backwards.
“Gh… Wh-what are you doing, Shinjou-kun? That came out of nowhere.”
“Stop trying to act so surprised. …Oh, sorry about the commotion, #4-san.”
“Do not worry. This is not an impossible turn of events.”
“Yet you were unable to predict this possible turn of events. Shinjou-kun, that means you win this round.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing…”
As Shinjou’s shoulders drooped, #4 turned toward her.
“At any rate, let us get back to this Mikage you mentioned earlier. If you wish to prove that she is Lady Rhea’s child, you must clarify her origin at least to a certain extent. Do you have any proof that this Mikage existed sixty years ago?’
Shinjou nodded without hesitation.
The phrase “sixty years ago” had helped her remember.
…That’s where I heard the name Mikage.
She had heard it only about two months before. The past she had received in order to fight had given her the answer.
“When 2nd-Gear’s Yamata was sealed, Susaou’s control device had a strange bed-like device in it. The creator of that control system called it the ‘Mikage format’. An automaton named Mikage must have laid there.”
“But that does not prove she is Lady Rhea’s child.”
“No, it doesn’t,” said Shinjou.
She had no proof of that. That was a fact. But…
“But proof of that is what we will work to find now. Why was Rhea-san’s child made into an automaton after Rhea-san fled to Low-Gear? Why has she grown so much in only sixty years if she is a 3rd-Gear human? I want to find the answers. Is that wrong?”
A clear change came over #4 when she heard that.
Her expressionless look changed to a different expressionless look.
Shinjou did not understand. She could not tell what that expression meant.
It was a small change that could barely be described, but Shinjou tried.
…Is that…kindness?
There was no hint of tension. Shinjou thought it was a perfectly natural expression and she quickly realized how the automaton had made it.
…It’s the angle of her head.
The actual expressionless look had not changed, but the way she had raised her head to look at Shinjou head on had made it look like she was smiling just a bit.
Shinjou felt it was an expression only an automaton could make.
…She is truly facing me.
And #4 opened her mouth as if to respond to that feeling.
“Will you not abandon your interest in 3rd-Gear no matter what?”
“Does it look like we will?” asked Sayama.
He reached out a hand and took the hand Shinjou wore her ring on.
He took a half step forward before continuing.
“The rest is my job, Shinjou-kun. So let me ask this, #4-kun. Does it look like we are withdrawing from the impurity you have described to us? If not, then test us to see whether we can cleanse it or not.”
“Test you?”
“We have fought our way through a few battles. However, we have not gained any combat ability to face automatons or the gods who control gods of war as their own bodies. Is the object we have come here to retrieve something that will fill that gap? I assume the old man has planned to provide us with some power.” He took a breath. “The other automatons have already tested us, but you have not. And after accepting that power, there is more I wish to ask about. That will of course include the automaton named Mikage, but it also relates to the 3rd-Gear survivors.”
He held Shinjou’s right hand in his left such that half of its back was showing and he squeezed her hand.
She squeezed back to strongly provide her answer.
The skin of their hands twisted and they heard #4 speak.
“I see. Then I shall test you. But let me say one thing first.”
“The further answers you seek are answers we seek as well. How was 3rd-Gear destroyed? How is the main force doing? By the time we noticed, the destruction of the world had already begun and we could do no more than escape through the gates created in various places.”
She lowered the ends of her eyebrows in a look of regret.
“All we know about the time leading up to the day of that final battle is that Lady Rhea’s child was retrieved, that Lord Zeus left behind a god of war with his will copied into it, and that Lord Zeus sent Lord Cronus to the Tartaros at the same time as sending himself. And when the final battle occurred, the only ones in 3rd-Gear’s central temple were Lord Apollo and Lady Mikage.”
“Then this main force you speak of must be led by that Apollo. Do you have any questions about that?”
“Testament. Unlike Lord Zeus, Lord Apollo was a pacifist.”
It took Shinjou a moment to understand what she had just heard.
…3rd-Gear’s next king was a pacifist?
And she had a thought: if that person was still alive, wouldn’t the Leviathan Road be possible?
After a few seconds, #4 resumed speaking.
“He hated 3rd-Gear. When it became clear his younger sister Artemis could not have children, he refused to send her to the Tartaros to the point of creating a conflict with Lord Zeus. If the Leviathan Road were presented to him, he would gladly accept. He was not the type to send out gods of war to fight.”
#4 hung her head.
Shinjou thought about this man named Apollo who she had never seen.
…These automatons really trust him.
And so she asked a question.
“Then is this your question? The main force is supposedly led by Apollo, a pacifist, so why are they hiding and hoping for a fight?”
“Testament. And there is one other question. Last night, we received word that Typhon abducted someone, but why would Lord Apollo pilot Typhon and do something like that? It is true that was made to be his personal god of war.” She shook her head. “But his previous god of war was created with Lady Artemis’s body. As an example to Lord Apollo and Lord Cronus, Lord Zeus sent Lady Artemis’s will to the Tartaros Machina and used the remaining body as parts.”
Shinjou was at a loss for words and #4 shook her head slightly.
“Feeling responsible for what happened to his sister, Lord Apollo declared it his own personal god of war so as to never let her slip from his grasp again.”
“Are you sure it was not destroyed during the final battle?”
“When a god of war is destroyed, the pilot dies. As long as Lord Apollo lives, Lady Artemis’s pale blue god of war remains.” She took a breath. “Please seek out the answers. There must be a reason. There must be a second impurity that exceeds the impurity we know of. Lord Cronus created four types of automatons. Three were the combat oriented Hecatoncheires who protect Typhon and act as bodyguards. The fourth was the three Moirai created to manipulate and manage people’s memories and the mass-produced models like us. Those automatons must be fighting for the sake of an impurity we are not aware of.”
#4 then looked ahead toward the wall.
The wall contained a giant metal door.
She hurried a few steps forward and turned around with perfectly silent footsteps.
“The power we have for you lies within here. That power will help you find all the answers. But I must give you a test before I can grant you that power.”
“I see. And what is this test?”
“Well,” said #4. “I will test your intentions.”
Chapter 7: Painful Guard[edit]
Why do flowers wither?
Why do they not stay in bloom forever?
A wall contained a giant metal door.
The basement of the Kanda Laboratory was filled with the scent of sparks and the sounds of welding and grinding metal. A cargo corridor on one end of the floor led to a metal sliding door at least eight meters wide and four meters tall.
Three people stood before that double door.
The automaton named #4 was leading Sayama and Shinjou.
Behind Sayama and Shinjou was the laboratory work space where a large number of people and automatons worked.
In front of them, #4 stood before the bulkhead door and her legs were placed slightly apart as if to stop the other two’s path.
She had a smile on her face.
“Now, let us begin the test.”
She spread her arms behind her and grasped the bulkhead’s locks.
Her gaze remained fixed on the other two.
“If you do not provide the proper answer, please leave. What lies beyond here is the embodiment of our great grudge. I will determine whether you can have it.”
“D-determine? What are you going to ask?”
Shinjou’s concerned question only received a smile from #4.
And so Sayama took a step forward.
“They are hoping for a villain, Shinjou-kun. A wonderful villain who is willing to reach for their impurity. …You would be unable to answer.”
“Testament,” said #4 quietly with a nod. “I have a single question. The people of 3rd-Gear had long lives, they corresponded to legends of this world, and their culture truly could control the weather, control heavenly bodies, and use giant gods of war as weapons.”
“You may be saying they were like gods, but it sounds like they were closer to being demons.”
“Testament.” #4 did not deny it and she slowly continued. “If you continue with this Leviathan Road, you will be fighting those demons and then accepting them to your side. But if you oppose and ally with those nigh almighty demons, it will cause the other Gears to avoid you. As the representative of your world, what do you think of such an action?”
“I see.” Sayama nodded. He had only one answer. “A worthless question.”
Sayama raised his left arm lightly yet still forcefully enough to produce a sound from the sleeve’s elbow.
The sound of snapping cloth rang loudly.
As if that were a sign, the sounds of work behind him slowly faded.
He could tell they were all turning toward him. He could sense them growing still and listening carefully.
Before him, #4 stood motionlessly with her arms spread to protect the door.
Silence ruled all.
But in the strained atmosphere of that silence, Sayama slowly lowered his arm.
And he began to speak.
“You wish to know what I think about opposing and subduing demons? Let me say it again: a worthless question.”
“Really? This is no different from inviting a murderer into your family. You may see no problem, but what about the rest of your family?”
#4’s gaze turned to the left where Shinjou stood.
She returned #4’s gaze and then turned toward Sayama. The ends of her eyebrows were lowered and she was attempting and failing to force a smile.
“U-um, Sayama-kun? How about you look at this politically? This may not be my place to speak, but people in the other Gears had family members killed by 3rd-Gear. And not in war. They were abducted and killed for experiments.”
“If you ally with them, you will likely need some form of compensation for such people.”
I see, thought Sayama. This question is indeed looking at the later negotiations with the other Gears. But…
“Do you really think I had not given that any thought, Shinjou-kun?”
Shinjou’s expression changed. Her eyebrows rose and she looked up.
“Y-you really thought about it, Sayama-kun?”
“Ha ha ha. I have of course given it no thought whatsoever.”
Shinjou’s expression froze over.
The atmosphere from those behind him hardened and all expression vanished from #4’s face.
But Sayama readily spoke to the surrounding atmosphere that had lost all emotion.
“Why would I need to think about that again now?”
He raised his left arm once more. With a snap of the sleeve, he brushed a hand through his hair.
“In this Leviathan Road, we must negotiate with 3rd-Gear and bring them to our side. That has nothing to do with the other Gears. Why must we listen to what the other Gears have to say? The whole world is equally under our rule.”
Shinjou was at a loss for words, so #4 spoke in her stead.
“Are you saying Low-Gear stands above all other Gears and will rule them? Is that how you view the Leviathan Road?”
“Make no mistake,” he said. “Bringing all other Gears to one’s side is something no other Gear could manage. Doing so requires bringing all Gears except Low-Gear to the same level. In other words, completing the Leviathan Road will automatically set Low-Gear above the other Gears. …And once I gather every Gear in that fashion, there is one thing I plan to say to them.”
Sayama answered #4’s question without hesitation.
“Low-Gear stands above you, so now bring us to your side.”
“I do not know how it will happen, when it will happen, or even if the Leviathan Road will ever end. But if they do that, all will be equal. In exchange for bringing the other Gears to our side, Low-Gear will take responsibility for all their negative aspects and it will fall. And that will be the end of it.”
#4 listened to the boy standing before her.
The others peering over the partitions were just as motionless as her.
…Bring Low-Gear to their side?
Sayama spoke as if to answer her question.
“#4-kun, you asked what I thought about opposing and subduing those demons or gods. But make no mistake. Demon and god are nothing more than a classification of race. Even if they have greater abilities, they are the same as you and your fellow automatons. What is there to be afraid of?”
“Even if the difference in ability is like that between an ant and a human?”
“If I saw them next to a bar, I would tap them on the shoulder and treat them to a drink.”
Sayama lowered his raised left arm and asked her a question.
“What is a demon or a god? One who tempts people and causes them to fall? An omniscient and omnipotent ruler? That demon or god is nothing more than an individual that uses the power to do those things.”
He let out a bitter smile. It was likely directed at what he himself was saying.
That smile gave #4 a sudden sense of nostalgia.
She had once seen someone give that same smile.
“And what do you intend to do with those individuals?”
“Well, if I find someone who is being feared or worshiped as a demon or god like that, I will knock them to the ground to wake them up. I will show them that there are more enjoyable things in the world. Yes, they would enjoy life a lot more if they cast aside their corruption or almightiness and gave it to all of you instead.”
“To…us?”
“You serve people, do you not?” he said. “The demons or gods can leave their omniscience and omnipotence with all of you and they can become human. Is that not a wonderful thing? You will be able to serve people without feeling any limit to your abilities. Also, demons and gods are created through belief. In other words, they are artificial. In which case, there can be no objection to making artificial creations such as you into them.”
His words brought a sudden change to #4’s expression.
A certain function activated. Her chain of thoughts chose a certain reaction from her emotional functionality.
She laughed. A small giggle escaped her lips.
“Testament. I apologize for that. I rarely use that function.”
“Then this was a good chance to inspect the function.” Sayama held his lowered left hand toward her and spoke directly to her. “Now, take this hand and use the other hand to open the door behind you. That is your job. Take pride in it, automaton. We will receive that which lies on the other side, investigate a past you are unaware of, and head out to fight. …And it is all to bring those mistaken demons or gods out drinking with us.”
“With you?”
“That is what we are here for. The party is sure to be lively. The misunderstandings of each Gear will be gathered together and you will be our waitresses. Although I would like for you to sit and laugh with us if possible.”
“Is that so?” #4 nodded. “I have determined that is certain to be enjoyable.”
Another function activated. This one created a smile. She determined that this was valuable as she rarely used the function, but she also determined that it was somehow not very machine-like.
Her smile may have been a reaction from her emotional functionality. Heat gathered in her cheeks and softness filled her eyes.
She did not understand it, but she lowered her head slightly because she did not want anyone aside from Sayama to see the smile.
An old record revived in her brain.
Ten years before, someone had caused her to use the exact same function and that person had often spoken of a certain boy. He had said the boy lacked a lot, but he had always smiled while speaking of him.
That person had died recently and a certain question had filled her mind in his place.
…What kind of person did that boy become?
She wondered what kind of smile was on her lips.
And she closed her eyes before speaking.
“Welcome to the entrance to 3rd-Gear’s question, Sayama Mikoto-sama.”
A pause followed #4’s words.
But Sayama did not try to hurry her. He did not hold his hand out any further and he did not speak.
And #4 remained motionless as she faced him. Her arms were still spread behind her and she was still smiling.
Her head was still turned slightly downward and her eyes were still closed.
The silence lasted a few breaths until it was broken by movement.
But that movement was not made by #4. Nor was it made by Sayama or Shinjou.
Several short figures arrived from behind Sayama as he held out his hand.
They were automatons.
Several dozen automatons slowly surrounded them. A few moved forward toward the bulkhead door.
As Sayama frowned in confusion, Shinjou trembled slightly to his right.
She was looking ahead toward #4 who was surrounded by a few automatons.
Her voice turned Sayama’s attention toward #4 as well.
“…isn’t moving?”
#4 was indeed not moving.
Even the slight movements of a doll had vanished, so she had frozen in place as if her entire body had hardened over.
The hands touching the door, her leading feet, her head she had tilted a few times, and her expression were all perfectly motionless.
She had stopped all of her functions as an automaton and she would never move again.
“Wh-why?”
Shinjou’s almost self-questioning shout served as a reminder of just how silent their surroundings were. One of the automatons standing around #4 turned toward them.
It was #8. Her red hair swayed as she shook her head. She was saying #4 would not move again.
“#8-kun, you said that my arrival would harm one of your fellow automatons.”
“Why is that? Why did #4-kun harm herself?”
As he asked, Sayama placed his right hand on the left side of his chest.
A slight pain acted as a prelude as #8 faced him and spoke expressionlessly yet quietly.
“When we took control of this place ten years ago, #4 handled the negotiations. She prepared the plan to defect by betraying 3rd-Gear and she planned to take responsibility for our betrayal with her own self-destruction, but she was stopped.”
“Who stopped this doll from destroying herself and how?”
“Testament. She was given a duty. She was made to serve a certain individual. And that duty has now ended by allowing you passage.”
“Was the one who gave her that duty who I think it was?” asked Shinjou.
It was Sayama who answered.
“My grandfather.”
“Testament. #4 just asked you a question, did she not? Your grandfather once answered the same question. Afterwards, he asked #4 to protect that which had been sealed within here since just after the end of the Concept War. He left her with what they had kept sealed for fifty years. And he told her to only allow passage to one she approved of.”
Sayama felt pain.
He swallowed a groan and Shinjou embraced him from the right.
The warmth and softness he felt through his clothes was enough for him to control his breathing.
He would be fine. His forehead felt damp, but the tension left him.
“I am fine, Shinjou-kun.”
He removed his weak right hand from his chest and pulled Shinjou close.
“Nn,” she groaned as she leaned in and supported him.
He stood tall once more and faced forward.
There he saw a door and a now unmoving automaton standing before it.
Everyone remained silent.
In the still air, he moved away from Shinjou and approached #4. As he did, someone spoke.
It was the red-haired automaton standing next to #4.
“Your grandfather would occasionally come here to suggest that she take on a new master once her duty was finished. However, she refused to stray from her own decision.” She tilted her head. “Why was that? Humans possess hearts, so do you understand?”
“I only understand one ridiculous truth here: she had terrible taste in people.”
“Testament. Your grandfather said the same thing.”
“Is that so?” Sayama endured a slight throbbing in his chest. “How did my grandfather respond to the question she asked him in their negotiations?”
“You would have to ask #4 as she is the one who heard the answers of both those with the name Sayama.”
#4’s skin was as hard as a doll and no longer moving.
However, one thing could be seen on her lips: a smile.
That unmoving smile remained.
While focusing on that, Sayama brought his hand to his chest once more.
“I thank you.” He took a breath and looked at her with no expression of his own. “But unfortunately, it seems you cannot take my hand and open the door yourself.”
As he spoke, he realized why she had not taken his hand.
The hands held behind her were placed on the door’s locks.
But her fingers were no longer holding the locks.
The door had already opened.
…Come to think of it, she did say ‘welcome’.
“You did an excellent job.”
Sayama raised his left hand and let out a shout toward the automatons to either side and behind him.
“Let us open the door.”
As the automatons nodded, Sayama stepped forward.
He raised his hands above #4’s head and placed his fingers in the gap between the two sides of the bulkhead door.
The question of whether it would open vanished from his mind in an instant.
The automatons were not touching the door.
…If these well-made automatons are doing nothing, the door must already be ready to open.
He spread his arms to either side and the gate quickly slid fully open.
The metal gate roared across its rails and loudly crashed into the openings that held it while open.
Wind blew through. It was released from the area beyond the door and it was accompanied by light.
Sayama took a step back and looked.
As #4 stood with her arms spread, the wind whipped at her clothes and she was backlit by the light within.
She continued to smile and still did not move. And something stood beyond her.
The lights illuminated something atop a ten meter long cargo platform.
“A black god of war!”
It resembled the one they had seen the night before.
#8 spoke from the side after moving away from #4.
“This was built based on a 3rd-Gear god of war recovered during the Concept War. It is the only Low-Gear made god of war that can use philosopher’s stones to function outside of concept spaces. It is the Susahito Custom. It has survived two almost complete destructions and one lesser destruction and it is a grim reaper of the past to 3rd-Gear!”
As he looked toward the metal figure referred to as a grim reaper, Sayama felt a tickle on his chest.
It was Baku.
From behind Sayama, Shinjou saw Baku climb up onto his shoulder.
…The past is coming.
She had experienced this more than once, so she could perfectly detect it in advance. All of her senses told her she was right. She was entering the past as nothing but sight.
The past revealing itself before her was in the early morning. The area was dim and rain was falling.
It appeared to be somewhere in the mountains. She was surrounded by the sounds of rain and the shadows of the mountain range, so all she could see clearly was what lay at her feet.
It was a twenty square meter area of empty land that had been cleared out.
The ground had been hardened by countless feet, but a large portion of the surface was cracked open.
It appeared to be a small battlefield.
The area was almost completely dark, but she could see two giant forms.
One was a black god of war standing on the cracked ground. Its right arm and the wings that said Susahito in white writing were broken. The armor panels of the torso were bent inwards into the chest.
The other was a silver god of war. It stood in front of the black one and its torso had been sliced apart. Both the top and the bottom of the split god of war were bent from great impacts and it had oil and lubricant leaking from the cut and other parts of its body.
Shinjou knew that damage to a god of war was returned to the pilot.
“Rhea-san was the one piloting that silver one.”
Before she could think about the implications of that, she saw motion.
A man rose up from behind the black god of war.
The short young man was Hiba Ryuutetsu. He roughly wore an army uniform, his right arm hung down limply, and he dragged his legs forward through the rain. His right eye had been destroyed by what looked like a vertical slash of a blade and his left eye could not see clearly through the blood flowing from his head.
But his single eye could see the two giant figures standing even further in front of him.
“A gray god of war and a pale blue god of war!”
Two gods of war even larger than the black and silver ones stood in the darkness.
One was gray and the other was pale blue. They both had four wings spread, but the gray one’s right hand held a sword covered in black oil and its left hand held a certain noise.
It was the crying of a baby.
The crying left the gray giant’s left palm and filled the rainy sky.
Shinjou’s vision saw a red-eyed baby shedding tears within baby clothes made by sewing together scraps of cloth.
Its long, intermittent crying caused Ryuutetsu to move forward.
He held his unmoving right arm with his left hand and he looked up at the gray and pale blue gods of war.
“Is that… Is that your answer!?”
The gray god of war did not answer with words. The pale blue one merely looked up at the gray one slightly.
It seemed to be asking the other one something.
The gray one then moved as if giving an answer. It raised the sword in its right hand.
And it sliced the sword through the wind and toward Ryuutetsu.
At the same time, the silver god of war collapsed in front of Ryuutetsu moved. Only the severed upper half of the body swung up its right arm like a living being.
A clear sound brought destruction. Everything past the silver one’s right elbow burst as the blade struck it. But the silver upper body suddenly leaped up and crashed into the gray one.
Needless to say, it did not move any more than that.
The ground shook and muddy water splattered around as the silver god of war fell back to the ground. Ryuutetsu shouted toward it through the rain with a voice that was near tears.
“Rhea!”
There was no response. But the gray god of war did look down at the silver god of war at its feet.
After that quick glance, it stared at the silver god of war’s oil on its gray fingers.
It produced a noise halfway between a groaning machine and a sigh.
Meanwhile, darkness appeared behind the gray and pale blue gods of war. It was a deep darkness. Unlike the darkness already surrounding them, this darkness seemed to solidify. It spread out in an instant as if to envelop the gray god of war.
It was a gate.
The gray god of war held up the crying voice in its left hand and sank into the gate.
Having completed what it came to do, it returned to 3rd-Gear without even a parting glance toward Ryuutetsu.
Next, the pale blue god of war turned its back, but it stopped for a moment.
It said something.
And then its giant form vanished in a gust of wind.
All that remained were the broken ground, the two destroyed gods of war, and Ryuutetsu.
He sat on his knees below the early morning sky. His head hung down, he bent forward, and he let out a moan.
Shinjou tried to close her ears to the cries of agony, but she could not.
“I won’t forgive you…”
His shout changed to crying, but the past quickly came to its end. She could not shut off her vision, but it now grew dark as if to say she had seen what she was meant to see.
And then the past switched out.
It did not come to an end. There was more. The next scene began as if to say there was more for her to see.
Rather than fading to black, the world changed as if she were moving.
The second past that revealed itself to Sayama was a dim warehouse wrapped in fog.
His first impression of the large warehouse was that it was old. But not because it was outdated. It was worn out from plenty of use.
The warehouse had no windows or doors and its floor was plain concrete. The concrete floor had been scraped away by great weights passing over it, so very little of it was flat anymore.
What resembled a large mountain sat in the center of the warehouse floor.
That mountain sank deeply within the darkness and fog.
But a certain form was visible in the early morning warehouse.
It was the wreckage of two gods of war. One was silver and the other black. The silver one had been sliced in two through the torso and its limbs had been crushed. However, the black one was almost undamaged save the smashed torso and right arm.
Also, three human figures appeared from behind the two gods of war.
The one in the lead walked along while checking the condition of the gods of war.
Sayama recognized him.
“Ooshiro Hiromasa.”
The one who averted his gaze from the gods of war was Hiba Ryuutetsu.
One eye and one arm were wrapped in bandages.
He looked silently behind him where an old man walked up. He wore a white cloak, his back was bent, and his gray hair and gray beard hung forward to the same length.
He walked slowly, but Sayama saw strength in his eyes.
The man stared at the two gods of war and suddenly stopped walking.
“Very interesting inventions.”
Another language could be heard on top of his words.
As Sayama wondered who he was, Hiromasa stopped walking and turned back.
“Thank you very much. It means a lot to hear that from the leading member of the god of war homeworld, King Cronus.”
“I am no longer king,” said Cronus in disinterest. “I am now a man who can only visit Low-Gear once his son lets his guard down.”
“It is a shame we must meet in a place like this. And you have to leave soon, don’t you? What do you need today? Surely you aren’t just here to see Rhea-san.”
“Rhea came here after properly removing her concept and sending it to the Tartaros. No will remains in her corpse, so there is no meaning in seeing her. Dispose of her as you would a human of this world.” Cronus adjusted his cloak’s collar. “I have two things to say. First, 3rd-Gear has formed an alliance with 9th-Gear and they have decided to bring the fight here to your world.”
His words caused Hiromasa and Ryuutetsu to freeze in place.
Ryuutetsu looked at Cronus with his one eye, but the old man said nothing.
Instead, Hiromasa pushed his glasses up his nose and asked a question.
“Can we win with these inventions of ours?”
“No. You seem to have mechanical dragons and concept weapons, but it will be a tie if they are on the same level as theirs and a loss if they are on a lower level. …Also, they will be arriving when this world reaches spring. Decentralize what is important and have your women and children evacuate. Leave behind only those who are willing to die or wish to gather wreckage from the battlefield.”
“I see,” said Hiromasa with a nod.
“Hey,” said Ryuutetsu.
He took a slow breath and faced Cronus. No expression remained on his face and he weakly asked a question as if letting the words fall from his mouth.
“Will Zeus and Apollo be coming?”
“You cannot defeat them.”
“I asked you if they’ll be coming.”
“Zeus will. But Apollo will remain in the temple. He annoyed Zeus because he could not bring himself to kill Rhea.”
“Is that so?” Ryuutetsu showed his teeth in the corner of his mouth. “It’s too bad Apollo won’t be coming, but we can still open the gate, right? Not the one that sends a single person and closes like you use. The one that a god of war can travel back and forth through.”
“Why do you wish to go that far?”
Cronus did not bother asking what he intended to do.
But it was not Ryuutetsu who responded.
It was Hiromasa. He grabbed Ryuutetsu’s unmoving right shoulder.
“Hiba, you should give it up. You need to look at the people you have by your side.”
“I know,” said Ryuutetsu. “But you can’t back down on some things. Hiromasa, you have a kid, don’t you? That healthy but stupid-looking one. Why’d you give him his name?”
“Because I want him to be #1 in everything, be it health or stupidity.”[2]
“Hah. Those of us from Low-Gear sure do like to get some actual benefit from things. I’m probably the same. If I have a kid, I think I’ll give him a name that will help him make something of himself. But…” He swept off Hiromasa’s hand with his left hand and smiled. “Rhea named her daughter Mikage. When Mikage was born, that was how she saw the early morning scenery outside the open-air dojo near my house. It was nothing more than the sun starting to rise, but she thought it warranted the name ‘beautiful shadow’. …But she said 3rd-Gear didn’t even have that. She said her daughter was a child of Low-Gear and she gave her that name to remind her daughter of that.”
“Mikage is a part of our world. I will take her back no matter what.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
The instant after Cronus’s voice reverberated through the warehouse, Ryuutetsu grabbed Cronus’s collar with his left hand.
“I don’t care what you say! If the enemy wants to come, let them come. And now it’s our turn to go to them. That’s all there-…”
“That is not all there is to it. Not when it comes to Mikage.”
“What else is there!?”
“Mikage could not have children.”
The words seemed to spill from Cronus’s mouth.
Ryuutetsu and Hiromasa were dumbfounded. Ryuutetsu’s eye opened wide, strength left his hand, and he let go of Cronus’s collar.
“Zeus had me examine her. When I viewed the future of her growth on the genetic level, I could tell she would grow to be a human who cannot have children.”
It took several seconds for his statement to sink into the air and for understanding to sink into the two men.
Ryuutetsu was the first to react.
“Hah,” he laughed while his shoulders shook.
His shoulders shook silently for a while, but his voice quickly joined them and then he doubled over.
“Ha ha! I-is that bastard Zeus an idiot? He caused such a huge commotion entering our world and he even killed a woman, but the daughter he got can’t even have children? 3rd-Gear will be destroyed! You may have Apollo, but he doesn’t have a partner!”
“That is why I created a partner for him. A partner created using Mikage.”
“Wha-…?”
Ryuutetsu suddenly collapsed to the side.
After a sound of impact, he fell to his knees, revealing Hiromasa behind him. Hiromasa rested a metal rod on his shoulder and smiled toward Cronus.
“Sorry about that. It seems monkeys these days have high blood pressure. I will speak on his behalf, so what exactly do you mean? Have you completed a method of altering an infertile mother?”
“No. I have recently been working with an automaton.”
“Functionally, it is simply an automaton with the gravitational ability omitted. …However, it can evolve into a human.”
The meaning of his words left Hiromasa speechless. Cronus gave a self-deprecating smile before continuing.
“Metal has life. And so metal should be able to evolve as life and become human. I have completed an automaton designed for that purpose. Just before coming here, I transplanted Mikage as the managing body for that automaton. And the surgery was a success. Mikage has cast aside her infertile body and now lives inside an automaton that might be able to have children eventually.”
Hiromasa fell silent and Ryuutetsu slowly stood up while regulating his breathing.
While standing, he instantly grabbed the metal rod from Hiromasa’s grasp.
“How much are you going to toy with us!?”
He swung the rod down at Cronus with all his strength.
He targeted the top of the old man’s head. The rod could not miss.
But he stopped it a hair’s breadth from Cronus’s forehead.
And yet the old man did not even look toward the weapon that had almost struck him. He only looked at the weapon’s wielder.
“Are you not going to hit me?”
“If I do, that bastard Zeus would notice. That would put Mikage’s life at risk.”
“Are you sure it is not that you cannot hit me? Because you do not wish to lower yourself to our level?”
Ryuutetsu let out a laugh and jabbed his elbow into Cronus.
The old man stumbled back two steps but did not fall. He also looked toward Ryuutetsu for a moment. The young man was wrinkling his brow and gathering strength in his shoulders.
“Interesting.” The old man nodded with an impressed look. “Humans are quite interesting. Ha ha. Especially those of this Gear!”
He brought a hand to his wrinkled cheek and touched his lips as he laughed.
“Is this a time when one should laugh? I apologize, but it’s been so long that I’ve completely forgotten. Ha ha. But you are so very amusing. It has been a while since I have seen anyone this amusing.”
“You’re a human too, you know? You saw my attack, but you didn’t avoid it. Do you think you should die? How naïve.”
Ryuutetsu looked away from Cronus and to his own god of war.
“Just wait, old man. I swear to you I’ll make my way there. If I’m gonna kill you, it’ll be then.”
“I doubt you can make it there alive.”
“Just shut up and leave,” said Ryuutetsu. “Hiromasa, I know you’re busy having fun with 2nd-Gear, but help me modify my Susahito. Once I bring back Mikage, I’ll pay you back for your excellent work.”
“How very selfish. I promise you I will ask you to pay me back in the worst possible way. I can no longer worry about appearances while dealing with Yamata.”
Hiromasa smiled bitterly and turned to Cronus.
“Still, I will make sure this monkey finds his way to 3rd-Gear, Former King Cronus.” He took a breath. “Mikage is indeed a child of Low-Gear. It was after her birth that Rhea-san began to cooperate with us. She gave us information on the Concept War and she had the mechanical dragon Xolotl 3 open a path to 5th-Gear. …We cannot ignore her or her family.”
“Such a foolish Gear. How very appropriate for the lowest level.”
“Isn’t that why you were laughing?”
Cronus nodded and began walking. He walked outside where it was still dark.
“I will send a messenger later. There is only so far you can modify that god of war.”
“We won’t thank you.”
“Fine by me,” said the old man as he passed through the warehouse entrance.
He vanished into the dark and foggy early morning.
“It is too bad that I must leave without seeing the world Rhea saw. I will also tell you one other thing I meddled with.” He paused a moment. “I set the path of Mikage’s evolution to become as much like a Low-Gear human as possible. Once her evolution begins, she will not have a long life like us and she will not possess a concept to control nature. She will be a powerless mother. But to defend her, she will be given the spare for Typhon which is currently under construction.”
“You thought of her as a part of this Gear from the beginning…”
“This is just for fun. And as proof, I will leave you with a certain game. Once this spare god of war is complete, half of 3rd-Gear’s Concept Core will go to Typhon, half will go to Typhon’s weapon named Keravnos, and then Zeus and I will enter the Tartaros.”
“What!? Is that bastard planning to quit while he’s ahead!?”
“He is creating a copy of his will. That copy will be placed inside the gray god of war as an advisor for 3rd-Gear. And instead of within Typhon, Keravnos will be sealed within the spare being given to Mikage.”
“If you wish to destroy 3rd-Gear, come take Mikage. But she is a baby. How will you defeat the god of war army led by Apollo, quiet a crying baby, and take her with you? That is the game. This is my final bit of fun after toying with so many lives.”
Cronus’s words dissolved into the warehouse.
And then the past slowly dissolved into darkness, into nothingness.
As he saw the past come to an end, Sayama muttered to himself.
“So Mikage-kun is at the center of it all.”
There was a wooden staircase.
The narrow staircase was illuminated by the red lights on the ceiling. The sides were left open to make it look bigger, so the single spiral of the stairs had only a thick railing on either side.
The lights illuminated a single figure halfway up the wooden stairs.
It was a girl with blonde hair.
She wore a long-sleeved black turtleneck and a white dress as she sat sideways on the stairs. She was writing in a journal placed on a step higher than her elbow.
She created a string of writing on the white page of the journal.
“What Happened Today – Hiba Mikage”
She was pressing down a bit too hard as she wrote, but the handwriting was neat.
She looked at the white gloves covering her hands, she looked at the words, and she nodded. She flipped through the past pages and compared her name.
Today’s handwriting closely resembled the handwriting on the previous day and the day before that.
She quickly flipped through the pages, moving further and further into the past of the thick journal. Photographs were inserted at points and she had made drawings at some points.
The drawings were detailed. The pencil sketches looked a lot like a black-and-white photograph.
Her expression clouded over a bit as she looked at them. She looked at her fingers, but she continued flipping the pages to the past.
The earliest ones were from January.
The first entry was about the Kagami Biraki. She compared the handwriting there to that of the current entry.
She could tell the past entry used a lot fewer kanji than the current one. That was because she studied a lot since then, but she had not had to worry about difficult kanji back then. Also…
“Ihs oh eet.”
It’s so neat.
A few of the characters in the past entry were much more detailed than now. They looked like the product of a printer.
She looked to her right hand and the glove covering it.
She slowly placed her left hand on the glove and removed it.
The removal of the white cloth revealed a hand too white to be flesh-colored. The joints and palm were still made of a material resembling black plastic.
“Ih oohs.”
It moves.
The hand made precise movements in accordance with her will.
She lowered the ends of her eyebrows and her shoulders drooped.
But she flipped back through the journal with one hand.
She returned to the current page and even more strength left her lowered shoulders. She sighed and tapped the journal several times with the tip of the mechanical pencil she held.
“I’ll ooh I ehs.”
She nodded and strength returned to her shoulders. She adjusted her grip on the pencil and began recording the events of the day.
She had a lot to write. She wrote instead of speaking, instead of making noise.
Rather than having Hiba take the time to read her lips every day, she felt it was less of a bother to write a journal entry and have him read it.
Once that had become customary, Hiba had started reading the journal entry aloud and she would move her mouth to emulate his. That was their latest speech training.
…When I woke up, Ryuuji-kun was there.
For some reason, Hiba always grew flustered when she wrote that in the journal entry. He had grown extremely flustered when she had written about how he would wash her body in the bath. She still could not move her arms and hands properly and her body was hard. She needed someone to do that for her and she could relax if it was Hiba, so she felt it was only natural.
She wondered what the problem was. His mother said it was because her body and mind still needed to grow as a woman. But in that case, she did not understand why her inexperienced and incomplete self would make Hiba grow flustered.
She wrote about the day, about waking up, about the morning, about midday, about the afternoon, about the evening, about the night, about what was to come, and about what she could never allow herself to forget.
“Ow ih I eel?”
How did I feel?
How did she feel about what?
She was not sure.
She often did not know what she felt about things. She had thought about a lot of things, started feeling sleepy, wrapped herself in the curtain, and fell asleep while waiting for the sun to rise. When she had woken again, it had been bright. How was that supposed to make her feel? That was when Hiba had arrived and woken her.
“I was happy,” she wrote.
She then added that she was happy that she had been able write that honestly.
Her journal entry jumped around in time a lot and contained a lot of comments.
But she had a lot to write. She filled the page as if getting the words out of her system.
During the evening, Hiba had called her. At a place called school he had spoken with people known as upperclassmen. He had told them about one of 3rd-Gear’s two impurities.
Of those upperclassmen, there were two named Sayama and Shinjou who Hiba had yet to speak with properly and Hiba speculated that they were an active hard gay couple. Mikage did not understand what that meant, but it was not often that Hiba’s voice trembled in fear like that. She could only assume those two were frightening.
He had said he would meet with them the following morning and speak some more.
He had hesitantly asked if she would meet them too.
From his tone, Mikage could tell he was unsure what to do.
And to be honest, Mikage was having difficulty deciding how to handle the battle with 3rd-Gear.
Her body would evolve into a human body.
But that evolution had stopped five years ago.
It had stopped the first time she had called out the black god of war for their first battle with 3rd-Gear.
They had tried various methods of starting it again.
…But we only have half the Concept Core.
That was Hiba’s theory. They had half of 3rd-Gear’s Concept Core in Keravnos, but 3rd-Gear’s strongest god of war had the other half. Hiba theorized that her remaining evolution could not be completed without obtaining that other half.
On the other hand, their opponent wanted her body. They wanted her as a 3rd-Gear human and as the final possibility for a mother.
But Mikage did not entirely understand what the word ‘mother’ meant.
She thought it was someone who could have children, cook food, and look after others, but she doubted she could ever act as considerately as Hiba’s mother.
She had no voice, she could not walk properly, and she had little knowledge of the world.
“Uh ah I uhoh oo oo?”
She had a feeling she knew what would happen.
…I can’t do it.
She had never told anyone about that thought. Not even Hiba.
She just wanted to be near Hiba. She did not care about her evolution or becoming a mother. As long as she could be by his side and see all sorts of things with him, that was enough.
But he was fighting for her evolution and to protect her.
She did not know why. However, she did not want him to be hurt, so she had all the damage done to the god of war sent back to herself.
The damage to its wings from the other day remained as a wound on the flesh she had received via her evolution. However, that wound would soon return to normal thanks to her natural healing.
That was the most she could do to help him.
She wondered whether she should write that thought or not.
It would worry Hiba. Should she expose all of her imperfections and inexperience and leave the decision to him?
She then heard a noise.
The door had opened downstairs. The footsteps in the entranceway were those of the new shoes Hiba had bought for school in April.
…I need to go.
She placed a hand on the stairway wall. She grabbed the railing, pulled her body up, twisted her waist, bent her back, and brought her shoulders up higher than the railing.
She had to go. If he saw her sitting there, he would immediately pick her up and carry her. She appreciated the thought, but she did not like that she had no choice but to go along with it.
She wondered if it was wrong of her to be so glad when he did things for her.
She stood up.
She stood on her trembling legs and her weak knees. As she grasped the railing, her field of vision rose quite high.
When she had first done this, the height had surprised her. As she recalled that, she descended the stairs. She moved ever so slowly toward where he was removing his shoes down below.
She approached him just like always.
Chapter 8: Nighttime Visitor[edit]
That which asks yet provides no answer
Acts for that very reason
The same goes for that which receives no answer yet asks
A large white space measured one hundred meters in each direction. That dining hall had a single table almost as long as the room and it shined brightly under the lights on the ceiling.
Those lights also illuminated a woman in white clothing.
The black-haired woman was Miyako. She sat in a chair with her legs crossed and her arms folded. Her legs were shaking up and down which produced a comment from Moira 3rd who sat on the ground at her feet.
“Are you nervous, princess?”
“These are nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Honestly, don’t you at least have some toothpicks?”
“Toothpicks?”
Moira 3rd tilted her head at first but then stood up with a sudden idea.
She ran toward the kitchen and the two automatons standing at its entrance moved out of her way. As Miyako watched, she scratched her head in confusion.
The table in front of her contained the standard fork, spoon, and knife, but it also contained chopsticks and a Chinese spoon for some reason.
A close look showed the Chinese spoon was meant for children and it was printed with pictures of characters from the recently popular children’s anime titled “Manga’s First Armored Infantryman”. Namely, it had the protagonist Second Lieutenant Hayato and the mascot armor Bottom-tan.
Everything’s been mecha recently, thought Miyako. And they probably set this table based on something they saw in a book.
She felt they were trying to be considerate, but she felt something else even more.
…Is the food still not ready?
Just as she was thinking it was taking far too long, Moira 3rd ran out of the kitchen. She held up a small container.
“Princess! Here are the toothpicks you wanted!”
“That’s garlic powder, you idiot! I can’t pretend to smoke that!”
She chopped the girl on her blonde head.
“Nwah! I-I was only a little bit off! Right!?”
“A little bit!? Garlic and toothpick rhyme, but that’s it!”
She was not entirely sure why it mattered if they rhymed, but she swiped the garlic powder and placed it on the table.
“I don’t need to take it back?” asked Moira 3rd with a tilt of the head.
“If you serve anything too bad, I can sprinkle this on to mask the flavor.”
“Wow! Low-Gear culture is amazing!”
“Of course it is!”
But the food was very late. Miyako rested her head on her hand and asked a sudden question.
“By the way, Moira 3rd, am I ever going to see 2nd?”
“Hmm. Our middle sister doesn’t like being around people. She didn’t used to be that way, though.”
Miyako tilted her head and Moira 3rd groaned and tilted her head as well.
There seemed to be a difficult problem.
…I see. I shouldn’t have asked that.
She reached out and rubbed Moira 3rd’s head without even looking toward her.
“Wa ha ha. Lord Cronus would do the same thing.”
“Is that so? …Oh, one other thing. Will your master be eating with us?”
The Moirai’s explanation had ended with Rhea’s child returning to 3rd-Gear and Zeus and Cronus entering the Tartaros.
Rhea had not returned, but Miyako assumed that was due to something they were hesitant to speak of.
She still did not know Rhea’s child’s name. Zeus had not made it public because it was an impure name, but Miyako did not even know if the child was alive or dead.
…This is the kind of suspicion horrible adults tend to have.
But depending how the final battle played out, it was entirely possible that the man named Apollo and Rhea’s child had survived. The figure with long blond hair she had seen may have been one of the two.
“Well?” she asked again.
“He probably will.” Moira 3rd nodded. “Typhon is quiet today too.”
“Typhon? You mean that white robot that grabbed me and carried me away last night?”
“Eh? Oh, yes. We hate it, though.”
“Does your master pilot it?”
“No, no. Lord Apollo is too pathetic for that.”
Miyako’s eyebrows rose when she heard the name.
“Is Apollo here?”
“Eh?” Moira 3rd tilted her head and spoke as if explaining the obvious. “Of course he is. He’s alive. It’s just that he’s so pathetic that he can’t voluntarily fight right now. I guess you could say someone else is piloting Typhon.”
That’s right, mentally agreed Miyako.
She recalled what Moira 1st had said during the kamishibai.
…He had a younger sister who was turned into a god of war after refusing to be sent to the Tartaros.
The pale blue god of war in the kamishibai was likely Apollo’s.
“Is the other pilot Rhea’s child? Or is there someone else?”
“Well…” Moira 3rd sounded troubled. “That isn’t it either. Lady Rhea’s child isn’t here. Our big sister might not have explained it, but a lot happened and so the one piloting Typhon is-…”
“The food is ready!”
When Moira 1st’s dignified voice filled the room, Moira 3rd’s shoulders jumped and she seemed to intentionally not finish her sentence.
…They must have their reasons.
As a guest, Miyako did not want to stick her nose in their business. She smiled bitterly at Moira 3rd who was hiding behind her and she turned toward Moira 1st who quickly pushed in a stretcher.
The stretcher contained a large round metal lid. It had a radius of almost a meter and Moira 1st smiled as she brought it over.
“I apologize for the delay. We made this especially for you, so we went all out and used some ingredients Master Aigaion brought in a hurry.”
“Can you guess?”
Miyako thought about it. It would be something from their culture, so she would never be able to guess. However, there would likely be some similarities, so she guessed the simplest, largest, and most expensive dish she could think of.
“A 250g steak.”
“Hm, not quite.”
“A fried food combination platter.”
“No, not that either.”
“The tempura B meal.”
“Princess, all of your guesses are very fatty. And what does ‘B meal’ mean?”
She wanted to say it was from her school cafeteria, but she resisted. She wondered what would require such a large lid. A whole roast pig seemed too much.
“Hm… I’m not sure.”
Moira 1st’s smile changed to one of obvious joy and she lifted the metal lid. As a large amount of steam escaped, the dish became visible.
“Tah dah! It’s a crab hot pot!”
“H-how the hell was I supposed to guess that!? Not to mention that it’s summer.”
“Do you not like crab? Master Aigaion’s book said it is a famous Japanese dish.”
“I like crab, but… what happened to Greek mythology? And…”
She started complaining and Moira 1st held out a ladle with holes.
Miyako stood up and took the red handle without thinking. The ladle bowed to her and then straightened its back.
…What a well-mannered ladle.
Suddenly, all the lights but the one above her shut off. A drum roll started somewhere.
“Okay, the princess will now carry out the cutting of the hot pot!”
“S-stop that! I don’t know whose wedding you spied on, but you only do that with wedding cakes! And you can’t cut a hot pot in the first place!”
The lights returned to normal, revealing a disappointed Moira 1st and an automaton holding a drum.
Miyako gave an exasperated sigh.
But then a new figure entered the dining hall. It was a blond man wearing white.
It was Apollo.
He walked through the dining hall while smiling and raising a hand toward the automatons.
His blond hair fluttered around his kindly face.
When she recalled the person she had seen from behind earlier, she knew this was him.
…He looks a lot like the woman in the hallway picture frame.
That woman was likely his sister Artemis.
That sounds like a sad story, she thought. I should stop asking questions.
To change her train of thought, she glanced toward him and whispered in Moira 1st’s ear.
“Will he be able to understand me?”
“If you can understand us, you will be fine. That means the common language concept is functioning.”
I didn’t exactly understand all of that, she muttered in her heart.
Moira 1st may have picked up on how she was feeling because she relaxed her smile and nodded.
“Do not worry. Lord Apollo has been reading and studying the books Master Aigaion brings back. He at least knows the Japanese words that are known around the world: konnichiwa, kore ikura, harakiri, etc.”
“Now you’re disgracing our country!?”
Moira 1st ignored her with a smile.
“At any rate, he is a royal, so he will give the greatest and most polite greeting of your world.”
Miyako froze momentarily when she heard the word “royal”.
But a click of the tongue later, she was back to normal.
She took three breaths. By the time the scent of crab had travelled from her nose to her mouth, Apollo had arrived in front of her.
He was tall. She had always ended up in the back of the class when lined up by height, but he was two levels taller than her. She felt his long blond hair was too old fashioned, but she also felt his slender face was nice.
A sudden question reached her.
…Why do I feel nostalgic?
She tilted her head with the ladle in her right hand.
She noticed the eyes of the young man whose smile could be described as weak or even sickly.
His eyes were the same yellow as the eyes of the white god of war she had seen the night before.
She felt a warm tremble travel up her spine.
She was not sure what to call that trembling that came with a realization.
But she recalled something as her memories of the previous night grew more distinct.
When she had seen the god of war’s eyes, she had felt an indescribable feeling.
What had that been?
And now Apollo’s eyes had the same color.
…Will he give me the same feeling?
But her question was not answered.
While she remained motionless, he closed his eyes and gave a smile with a hint of bitterness.
And he spread his arms.
He bowed elegantly in preparation for his greeting.
“Will you marry me!?”
She reflexively slammed the ladle onto his lowered head.
A dignified metallic noise sounded loudly.
3rd-Gear’s headquarters were wrapped in darkness.
The white-walled building glowed palely in the moonlight and a small figure stood at the bottom of one wall.
That figure was the automaton named Gyes.
The red of her suit sank into darkness under the night sky.
She suddenly looked up toward a light.
Above the giant hangar door behind her, light came from the top level of the four-story residential area.
“How unusual,” she muttered. “That would be the dining hall.”
The Moirai were likely working there for the princess who had been brought in the night before.
She thought she heard a strange metallic noise, but she suspected her hearing devices were malfunctioning because it made no sense for that to come from the dining hall.
Earlier, the princess had been introduced to her, Aigaion, and Cottus in the courtyard.
The Moirai seemed to like this princess. 2nd likely wanted to keep her distance because she had not been at the introduction, but the other maids seemed to have a favorable opinion of her. They liked the commotion surrounding her escape and they liked her attitude.
“She shows no restraint around us.”
That is a good thing, she determined. If only good things like that could continue.
“As always, she will lose her memories and be returned in about three days, but this was a first. If the situation does not change, we may have to dispose of her while the Moirai are not watching.”
The Moirai would criticize the decision, but letting someone leave with their memories intact was too dangerous. That danger took precedence over criticism from the Moirai. After all, the Hecatoncheires were meant to protect that place.
She then heard a noise. She detected movement in a thicket on the slope about ten degrees left of straight ahead. Her eyes could see in the dark, so she easily detected the person’s silhouette and spoke their name.
“Hajji of the Army?”
“Yes. That’s right. That’s exactly right, Gyes. It’s been much too long.”
The thicket parted and revealed a tall elderly man with brown skin and a white cloth wrapped around his head. He was slender, but his shoulders were plenty broad. A hemp jacket was draped over his right shoulder and his hemp trousers were held up by suspenders.
“I have a lot of information for you today. You want it, don’t you? Surely you do.”
“Of course.” Gyes folded her arms and looked at the old man’s left eye which was covered by a black eyepatch. “Say what you have to say and get lost, former 9th-Gear general. We had wondered what you had been up to ever since 9th-Gear’s destruction, but we did not expect you to wander up five years ago with an organization named the Army.”
“My motives are complex. I suppose that is a subtlety of being human. You have stayed in this area all this time, so you don’t know what happened in this country ten years ago or how things have changed since the destruction of the ten former Gears, do you? Hm?”
“I am not interested in that. It was a single hope that allowed us to remain active for the fifty years after 3rd-Gear’s destruction. The hope of 3rd-Gear’s humans surviving.”
Gyes’s words brought Hajji to a stop. He was three meters from her and he stood as if positioning himself directly below the moonlight.
But his one eye did not look toward Gyes; it looked toward the large hangar door behind her.
“Survival, hm?” He brought a hand to his mouth and held a smile in his eyes. “And that hope was answered when I found this place five years ago, was it not? It was thanks to those materials you hadn’t been able to obtain and the philosopher’s stones I had gathered.”
“Do not hope for anything more in return. Five years ago, we made the promise to repay you for awakening our master and we are not the kind of machine that will break a promise.” Gyes took a breath and glared at Hajji. “If we ever no longer need 3rd-Gear’s Concept Core, we will give you the wreckage of Typhon which uses it as its reactor. Not a surprising request for the Army as you barely have any gods of war.”
“Do you think that will be happening anytime soon? With the defeat of Typhon, for example.”
Gyes suddenly raised a hand.
That right hand was wrapped in light. A ring was embedded at the base of each finger.
She pointed the index finger toward Hajji.
And he turned back and to the right.
A silver arc cut through the darkness as if following his movement.
The sound of slicing air stopped right in front of his face.
The sound came from a long sword. It was at least a meter long and it floated in midair.
Hajji stared at the tip of the blade.
“How frightening.”
And his expression changed because the sword had cut the string to his eyepatch.
He remained silent as the black eyepatch fell from his face. His expression changed from surprise to a mix between anger and a smile.
And he let out a quick, sharp shout.
It all happened before Gyes’s eyes in an instant.
Hajji’s left hand grabbed the falling eyepatch and his right shot up.
That was enough to smash her sword. But that was not all. Starting from the location of the sword and moving toward her, everything – including the air – was loudly destroyed.
“Wha-…!?”
Before she could even finish the word, she chose defense.
She spread both hands and six swords flew from her suit’s long sleeves. The blades were made of soft metal and they bent along with the curved surface of her suit, but she used her gravitational control to condense them into a fixed shape. They all transformed into long, hard swords.
“Seyah!!”
She swung down her arms and the six blades swung down toward the destruction of the air travelling down the center.
A metallic noise rang out.
The six blades were instantly smashed into dust, but she did not care. She was facing the man who had managed the attack power of an entire Gear. The attack was not meant to defeat him; it was meant to buy enough time for her to evade.
“What power is this!?”
She tried to determine the power’s identity.
…Disintegration? No, and it isn’t a concept of destruction either. To eliminate this much…
That was as far as her thoughts got. She realized she would be completely destroyed if she did not evade.
And so she used gravity on her back to forcibly spin herself back and to the right.
Her red heels shot dirt into the air as she fell back. After moving four meters, her back was almost to the white wall, but the warning bells in her head were still ringing.
She jumped to the side.
An instant later, it arrived at the spot she had been in.
The destructive attack sounded like multiple attacks.
The invisible power smashed the air and gouged out a large hole in the wall. In quick succession, it created eighteen sounds and scars as if from driving a stake into the wall. The fragments of the wall turned to dust and nothing remained.
Gyes remained motionless to the left. The hole in the wall looked like fang marks from a giant beast. It looked like someone had jammed a large, twisted, and dull spear into it.
Gyes turned toward the voice.
Hajji stood in the same position as before, but his left eye was now covered by a shifted portion of the white cloth hiding his hair. He brought a hand to his mouth.
“I came here for business reasons, but I came so very close to losing you. At least until you lose your battle, we are…how should I put it? Business partners, I suppose. Isn’t that right?”
Gyes did not answer and made sure she could still pull three more swords from her suit.
“What was that power? Was it 9th-Gear’s Concept Core?”
“Is that question related to our business?” Despite the question, he had a smile in his eyes. “Well, I can tell you that much for free. This is purely out of kindness, okay? That is not a Concept Core. It is my concept weapon and its true form is not here.”
He removed his hand from his mouth and lightly tapped the eye hidden by the white cloth.
“To state it another way, it is a grudge.”
He smiled bitterly and then hid that smile with his hand once more. But the smile strengthened and he laughed quietly. He bent forward and laughed even more.
“Sorry about that. I really am sorry. Gyes, I have to thank you and not just for being a business partner. That reminded me what has happened since 9th-Gear’s defeat and why I created the Army. You said you do not understand my motives, didn’t you? Well, there is nothing simpler than this.” He straightened up but left the hand at his mouth. “I will destroy the villains. Those villains pretend to merely be playing the villain’s role so they can avoid facing their own evil, but I will destroy them as a failed villain who never succeeded in his past attempts to destroy the other Gears.”
“What a crazy thing to say. And why will you do this? For a personal grudge?”
“No,” declared Hajji. “Didn’t I tell you before? I will hand this Gear over to those who it truly belongs to.”
Hajji shook his head without answering.
“If you want to know that, Gyes, you must join the Army.”
“Ha. So it comes back to that? That is impossible and meaningless. All we wish for is a peaceful life. As long as Lord Apollo who we serve is fine, nothing else matters.”
“Oh?” said Hajji. “If you wish for peace, why do you occasionally head out to battle?”
…So they noticed.
Hajji seemed to read her mind.
“Typhon is powered by half of your Concept Core, but only half. It was designed that way, but you hope that adding in the other half would allow Apollo to-…”
Gyes sensed danger in his words. They were inside a concept space, so his words could not escape outside.
…But he is using his ability to leak this information as a threat!
She still had three swords left in her suit. Her decision-making ability told her she had a 100% chance of losing against him, but she could sacrifice herself if she cut off her self-preservation calculations.
Hajji shouted and held forward his right hand. Gyes stopped with her hands reaching for the back of her waist.
As she glared at him, he held forward his left hand as well and lightly waved them.
“Was that a secret? Hm, sorry. I couldn’t help but mention it.”
“Next time, I will take off your head.”
She returned her hands forward and put her self-preservation calculations back in place.
“And you may call it battle, but lately we have been sending out remote-controlled decoys to search for that black god of war. We Hecatoncheires have been doing that without Lord Apollo’s permission. And Typhon acts whether we want it to or not. It seeks the half of the Concept Core it lacks.”
“I see.” Hajji nodded and took a breath. “Then let us get down to business.”
“That lead in was much too long. How can you run an organization like that?”
“I’m good at grabbing people’s attention. It’s the first thirty seconds that really matter. A leader must be a skilled talker. Am I wrong? Hm? And in the ten years since the Army was established, I have gathered the people we need. We will capture UCAT before long.” He smiled bitterly. “Now for why I am here. Typhon flew east yesterday, didn’t it? It could no longer resist not having the rest of the Concept Core, so it flew away from you. And then it was intercepted by-…”
“We know. When Typhon returned, it had been hit by Keravnos. It ran into that black god of war.”
“Yes, and that god of war has met with UCAT.”
Hajji’s eyes narrowed.
“This information is new to you, isn’t it? The organization that contained the one piloting the god of war which destroyed 3rd-Gear has contacted the pilot of the god of war that is currently fighting 3rd-Gear. Also, lights have started appearing in UCAT’s training facility at the Seto Inland Sea. They are preparing for someone to arrive there.”
Gyes bit her lower lip.
…I hope Typhon didn’t leave any traces of its movement last night.
Either way, the black god of war would often attack them. They had been the first to attack, but the other side also seemed to have a reason to fight.
…Especially that black god of war.
With that thought, she nodded.
“You have my thanks.”
But by the time she looked up, Hajji was nowhere to be seen. Unlike with his arrival, he had not even made footsteps.
And then a male voice came from beyond a nearby thicket.
“He got away. And after I resisted watching that night game to keep an eye out.”
The thicket parted and revealed a large man. He wore a mountain vest and work pants and he had a hand towel hanging from his waist that contained a greengrocer’s logo. He clicked his tongue and looked around.
“I wonder if Hanshin won.”
“This world really has changed you. More importantly, what do you think of what Hajji said?”
“When he was dealing with you, he did not even take a step toward me. If he had, I was planning to crush his limbs with god of war level gravitational strength.”
“Don’t be so mad, Aigaion. He may not look it, but he is the general of 9th-Gear. That is a pure combat Gear where everything is known as a holy war and its people have the divine protection of the god of heroes. They destroyed our land by filling their people with the power of god and using them as bombs. This is the man who calmly commanded them.”
Gyes used gravity to draw the three swords at her waist and had them float before her eyes.
“If possible, I wanted to use these to…”
She trailed off. As Aigaion asked her what was the matter, she held the three swords up on her fingertips.
Only the grips of the swords remained. The blades had been made of soft metal, but they had still been smashed to dust.
“Did he guide that previous attack into them?”
That was a warning, she thought. If he had been serious, he could have destroyed me at any time.
“I see,” she muttered. “The Army is not our ally. I already knew that, but I had grown careless. We need to cut our own path forward.”
“Once they are finished eating up above, we will ask the Moirai to handle Cottus’s and my shifts. When I saw Typhon yesterday, it had fragments of the black god of war on its fist. That god of war was damaged. If it has contacted UCAT, we need to attack as soon as possible,” she declared. “Early tomorrow morning, we will attack that black god of war and secure it if possible. This is for the sake of 3rd-Gear’s human race.”
Chapter 9: That Which a God Desires[edit]
You think you said too much
But what you are thinking is the same
It is simply a difference in the sky you live below
A river flowed through the night.
The Aki River cut east to west across the southern end of Akigawa which was west of Tokyo. The city was named after the river and the river had quite a few fields and empty lots on its northern side and several residential areas along the mountain range to its south.
In the center of one residential area was a red-roofed building at the base of a mountain next to a Shinto shrine.
The nameplate said Kazami in black characters.
The kitchen window let light into the dark night.
The sounds and conversation coming from within were those of dinner.
The ten square meter kitchen had a wooden table in the center and the three members of the Kazami family sat around it.
Kazami’s parents were eating, but Kazami herself was not. She had placed a large rucksack on the table’s guest chair and was using it to pack.
Her father sprinkled some furikake on his rice and spoke.
“If you’re leaving the morning after tomorrow, can’t you visit here tomorrow? You’re making your father sad.”
“We’re meeting at the school, so I want to be at my dorm tomorrow just in case. And you have a job tomorrow, don’t you?”
“Yes, I have a meeting to get a new game project off the ground. It’s called Father Princess 2. The first one had twelve papas. Eleven of them were dandies and experts at something and the last one was a Hanshin fan, always hilariously drunk, and a pachinko addict, but that just made it all the more popular.”
“I see your projects are as weird as ever. It must be tough.”
“Your training camp is going to be tough too, right? Children and adults are the same in the end.”
Being called a child made Kazami smile.
…I only get treated like that at home.
“Well, I’ll do my best. And sorry I can’t come back here tomorrow.”
She wondered if this was a case of a child not understanding how much her parents worried. She then wondered if wondering that meant she did actually understand, but she also felt that was just an excuse.
Whatever the case, she had a reason to leave early the next morning.
She was going to visit Hiba’s home with Sayama and the others.
In the Kinugasa Library, Hiba had asked them if they were prepared to face the first impurity and they had found their answer.
…We have no choice but to do something about it.
And she had said she wanted to hear Sayama and Shinjou’s opinions.
But they had their training camp the day after the next, so they had decided to meet the next morning. She had contacted Sayama as he returned from Kanda and he had agreed.
I have to get up early tomorrow, she thought as she packed her bag. She left an open space in the bag, but there was a simple reason for that.
“What kind of souvenir do you want?” she asked.
Her mother thought with a finger on her chin.
“Hmm. As long as you come back safely, that’s good enough for me. And I’ve already gotten most kinds of souvenirs from your father’s business trips. I certainly don’t need another giant humanoid horseshoe crab like the one hanging from the ceiling on the second floor. I’ll knock you to the ground if you give me one.”
“U-um, mom? I won’t buy anything that senseless.”
“That’s right, mama. And that wasn’t a souvenir. It’s the costume I wore in the Kansai-only tokusatsu show ‘Übermensch Purge – Soukatsu’.”
“The theme song for that was amazing. Lightning~ flashes~ from the~ electric chair~! Is that how it went? I know it’s a bit late to look into the mystery of my parents, but why do we have it?”
“Well,” said her father as he crossed his arms. “After filming, I sat next to a fountain and started feeling really dehydrated, so I collapsed right into the fountain. Everyone was watching and they laughed at the ‘swimming horseshoe crab’, but I almost died. I brought it home to dry it, but the show was cancelled and I never got to return it.”
“Another cancelled show? What was it about?”
“An excellent question. To adapt to the impatient modern children, Soukatsu fired his Special Arrest Beam and started getting torture-induced confessions within seven seconds of the show starting. The remaining 25 minutes were spent verifying the misdeeds of his opponent. He would shout ‘find the evidence!’ But reality is harsh, so it would sometimes turn out his purging had been in error.”
“You can’t do that in a kid’s show!”
“Don’t worry. He would give a cheerful apology at the end of those episodes. ‘Hi, everyone! It’s Soukatsu! It looks like I killed an innocent today! I truly regret what happened!’ I think it didn’t catch on with the kids because the setting was just too complex.”
“I’m pretty sure it was more than just the kids who had problems with that show.”
…I need to stop asking these questions. Let’s see… I need toiletries and we’ll be swimming at the beach, so I should pack twice as much underwear. That leaves…
“Chisato? Your father might be a bit crazy, but you have to listen to him. It’s dangerous to let him talk to himself.”
“U-um, mom? Can’t you listen to him?”
“Chisato, I am speaking to you, not your mother. Even if what I’m talking about is completely pointless!”
“Kyaah! Your father is always so strict about the most pointless things!”
Kazami sighed as her parents laughed. She was reminded that she would never be a match for them.
But then her mother asked a new question.
“You said this student council training camp is on a desert island in the Seto Inland Sea, right? Will the people other than you be okay?”
“I’d appreciate it if you worried about me too.”
“You’ll be fine. Door-to-door preachers from a religion big on sacrificing stopped by the other day and I asked them to pray for my daughter instead of me.”
“Please don’t do that, mom!”
“Chisato, I have an important quote for you: one for all and…I forget the rest.”
Kazami hung her head. She tried sticking her head in the opened rucksack in front of her, but no convenient concept space created an escape route there.
“Chisato? Why are you shutting yourself in there? I don’t remember teaching you to play like that.”
“You didn’t have to teach me. This was naturally created by the environment here.”
“I see.” Her mother nodded. “Anyway, will you be leaving the island?”
“No. Is there a reason to?”
“Your mother is a nice person, so she has some concerns about Kansai.”
“Stop that,” said her mother with a glance and a sigh toward her father. The ends of her eyebrows were lowered for once. “I’m sure you have heard about the great Kansai earthquake.”
“That was when you were just a little kid, Chisato. A year later, we put together a charity concert.”
“Papa, you may be trying to help me, but stay quiet. I can handle this.” Her mother sighed again and turned to Kazami with a relaxed expression. “Back then, I was still refusing to sing because I was fixated on myself. …Silly, isn’t it? There were people who wanted to hear me sing regardless of my fixations.”
Kazami froze in place when she heard this sudden comment.
She realized her pose for packing was not good for listening, so she quickly straightened up.
She was unsure what to say, but she wanted to say something befitting her position as her mother’s child.
“Do you regret it?”
I feel like I’m digging up her past, she thought, but her mother shook her head with a smile.
“I do to a certain extent, but I also feel I mustn’t sing while lying to myself. Basically, the problem is being bound by my fixations. As long as they remain, both singing and not singing will lead to regret. …Sorry I’m so selfish, papa.”
“But it does seem your mother will be taking part in an event at the end of the year, Chisato.”
Kazami turned to her mother who shrugged.
“I wonder what will happen to the lies I am telling myself. Anyway, let’s get back on topic. And hurry up with the packing, Chisato.”
Kazami raised her head and thought. After managing to break out of her previous mood, she wondered if there was a way to get some proper information out of her parents.
Asking about the Seto Inland Sea area was likely taboo. That would only lead to unpleasant memories.
As she thought about the past and the Mediterranean area, she recalled the Divine States-World Interaction Theory.
“Have you ever been to Greece?”
Her parents exchanged a glance.
“Do you want to go there? I have a project coming up called ‘The 36th Chamber of Olympus’, so- gwah!”
“Sorry. My hand slipped and I dropped an alarm clock on you.”
“Don’t do that, Chisato. Only I’m allowed to beat up your father.”
“Okay, okay. But from that, I take it you’ve been there. Are you familiar with the local mythology?”
“Mythology again? Are they getting into that in world history classes these days?”
“That’s right,” she said with a nod.
Her father crossed his arms and gave an impressed groan. Her mother tilted her head, but she did not ask anything.
“What about the mythology do you want to know?” asked her father.
Kazami’s father’s question brought her relief and her shoulders relaxed.
“Well, maybe about dragons and divine swords… Y-y’know, like when I asked about Japanese mythology before. Can you tell me about that kind of thing?”
Her father crossed his arms even deeper and her mother glanced at the clock.
“Twenty seconds!”
“Ah, isn’t that being a bit harsh!? My heart’s racing like crazy!”
After he rejoiced for a bit, he finally spoke.
“In that case, I’ll start with the topic of dragons. As you probably know, Greek mythology is quite popular with the constellations and such.”
“The thing is, that mythology doesn’t have any dragons of the type we think of nowadays. They’re mostly multi-headed snakes or great serpents. Other than that, they’re all humanoid gods with a snake texture to them. There’s also Medusa with snake hair, but most of the monsters in Greek mythology are human based. Giants, for example. That area had a lot of war, so they may have viewed humans as the true monsters.”
“Then does Greek mythology not have any obvious examples of dragons or divine swords?”
“They actually do. The dragon was an embodiment of that which humans could not stand up to. In other words, that which not even the giants could stand up to was treated as a great dragon in Greek mythology. And that was Typhon.”
“What was it that not even the giants could stand up to?”
“Think about how Typhon is spelled.”
“Ah,” said Kazami.
She had finally realized that it was one letter off from “typhoon”.
“The typhoons created from shapeless wind were thought to have a spiraling dragon in the center. That Typhon was Greek mythology’s greatest monster and he was said to have a human torso, a dragon’s tail, and countless dragon heads. After he defeated Zeus, he was tricked and sealed below a volcano. Zeus’s divine spear of heavenly thunder was used to do that.” He smiled bitterly. “But it was the three Moirai sisters who controlled fate that successfully tricked him. If you think about it, even with fate on their side and the power of a volcano and lightning, he could only be sealed.”
“They couldn’t defeat him?”
“No. In a way, that is the greatest problem of Greek mythology. The question here is simple: how can one defeat Typhon who not even Zeus, father of the gods, could defeat?”
Her father’s tone was lighthearted, but Kazami could not speak.
In 3rd-Gear, Typhon was a god of war. Also, Hiba had clashed with it twice.
But he had been unable to defeat it.
The giant white god of war had been able to instantly switch between attack and defense.
…And it is different from the Art of Walking.
They had wondered if it might be 2nd-Gear’s Art of Walking, so Izumo had used it against Hiba. Even in the cramped library and against someone he barely knew, Izumo had pulled it off.
But Hiba had said that was not it. With the Art of Walking, one still took time to move. And he said Typhon’s technique could not be teleportation because it had already been attacking the instant after it disappeared.
It had some power that surpassed even the wind.
“How do you defeat something like that?” she muttered aloud.
“Yes.” Her father looked up at the ceiling with his arms still crossed. “But there is a way.”
“Think about it. Zeus sealed Typhon and brought prosperity to the world. Why was that? Why did he face the world by turning his back on a monster he could not defeat?”
Kazami did not quite understand what he meant.
Was he saying there was a way to defeat the dragon that not even the most powerful god could defeat?
As she frowned and tilted her head, her father smiled and nodded.
“Think about it. Your training camp is on the Seto Inland Sea, right? Perhaps that will help you think about Greece which also borders an inland sea.”
Kazami let out an admiring breath and placed a folded towel in the rucksack.
“My parents really are amazing.”
Her parents cheered and high-fived each other.
Once more, she realized she would always be no match for them.
Below the moonlit night sky, Miyako and Moira 1st sat outside the emergency exit.
They were high up. Once Moira 1st had brought out what she claimed was sake, Miyako had insisted they drink it while viewing the moon. They had brought a few cooked ingredients from the crab hot pot for snacks and Miyako drank while Moira 1st sat to her right.
The moonlight was a pale blue.
A bit of light escaped the hangar door down below, but it was not enough to interfere with the moon viewing.
She had asked to be let in there earlier, but she had been gently refused.
“We would need to clean up first.”
The sake had been produced to console her realization that there was some secret there, so she drank.
The cup seemed to be made of aluminum and it grew a bit soft whenever she took a sip. It may have been embarrassed.
…What a strange world.
She looked around and saw Kurashiki in the distance. It was already past nine. Based on her memories from her school trip, that city closed early. Even the theme park to the north end of the city had shut off its lights.
“Will Mr. Rich Boy be fine after I floored him?”
“You mean Lord Apollo? Moira 2nd said he should be fine.”
That name reminded Miyako of the maid who had entered the dining hall, grabbed Apollo’s collar, and carried him out with the other maids. Miyako had seen her short blonde hair and blue eyes, but the maid had never looked her way.
…Does she not like me?
Moira 1st shook her head as if in answer and Miyako’s eyebrows rose.
“You can’t read my mind, can you?”
“No, but you are honest, so I can tell from your expressions.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ve always been rebellious.”
Moira 1st only smiled in reply.
Miyako could do nothing but sigh and rest her head on her hands. She looked up in the sky and saw the moon.
“So when you get down to it, I can’t leave this place?”
“Yes. I am very sorry,” answered Moira 1st after a short pause. “And I must apologize again because we cannot allow you to leave until our problem is at least temporarily settled. This is all because your memories returned.”
“Can’t you give me new memories again?”
“Forcing it a second time would create interference and possibly fry your brain, so you must remain with us until our problem is settled.”
To sum up what she had learned that day, 3rd-Gear had not surrendered to an organization named UCAT and they were also fighting that black god of war which was not part of UCAT.
…Both sides must want to settle this.
“That sounds rough.”
“What does?”
“You all are betting your world and everything else on this. It’s pretty amazing. I can’t compare to that.”
She sighed and looked up at the moon. The pale blue light of the moon was connected to her family name.
That color made her think about the white god of war’s eye color. She thought about the feeling that the yellow light had given her and that the pale blue light had not.
Was it something only she could understand? She was not sure if that possibility made her happy or sad. She did not understand anything.
…After all, that white god of war suddenly grabbed me and carried me away after I ran across it.
When it had the pale blue eyes, its movements had grown much more vigorous.
She suddenly became intensely curious as to why.
“I asked Moira 3rd about that white god of war’s name and she said it was Typhon.”
“Yes, but why do you bring it up? It only took you hostage because it was afraid after receiving an attack for the first time. I will apologize in the pilot’s place.”
Miyako tilted her head and opened her mouth uncertainly.
“No, I was just wondering if I could speak with it. …Well, I suppose meeting with the pilot would work, but you won’t let me, will you?”
“No. Typhon is filled with secrets. If we could erase your memories, I could receive permission, but that is not the case.”
She ended her statement with a smile and Miyako held out her cup to receive more sake.
“I apologize for all the lack of freedom, but in exchange, you may freely use us while we are here.”
“C’mon, don’t get carried away. So if I told you to strip, you’d strip?”
“Are you interested in my joints?”
Moira 1st reached for her skirt, so Miyako frantically stopped her.
She’s serious, she thought. Although she might be more stupid than she is obedient.
“When you say ‘we’, how many does that include?”
“There are three primary models with the Moira designation which are numbered 1st to 3rd and there are 63 others. We all have numbers, but they are not all sequential because our family originally had 120 members.”
“So I’m supposed to just use the numbers? You three still have the Moira name, but just a number isn’t enough.”
“But we would never be insolent enough to take a name.”
That comment made Miyako tilt her head.
“My mom always says that even machines needed some kind of designator besides a number. …This is a world of living machines, isn’t it? If you’re alive, why should you be counted like you’re dead?”
“But… what should we do?”
Moira 1st was clearly older than Miyako, so Miyako was unsure what to say when she lowered her eyebrows and asked that.
“How about they give themselves names? Or you could give them names. You’re the head maid, right?”
“Hm… There are 63 of them. This country has fifty sound combinations, so by using combinations of two, a suitable number of names can be constructed. …Names like Geru and Gugu are simple enough, right?”
“Stop that. Can’t you come up with something cuter?”
“Hm… Can’t you think of anything, princess?”
She thought about it. When she occasionally played video games, she would choose a female character.
But she would always play with her real name. Seeing a character with her name level up and defeat the enemies of the final dungeon without breaking a sweat was a wonderful feeling.
“Following that wonderful feeling won’t work.”
“Are there names that feel wonderful?”
“Play games with your real name and you’ll understand.”
As she wondered what to do, a light suddenly appeared behind her. She turned around and saw a man standing in the light. He was over two meters tall and wore a blue apron.
“Master Aigaion, what is it?”
Aigaion nodded and turned toward Miyako.
“I see the new princess is with you. She is being quite…unreserved.”
“Don’t worry about being polite, old man. …Does that apron belong to a greengrocer in this world?”
Aigaion’s laughter filled the air.
“Gyes and I bring in supplies from outside and I took such a liking to the outside world that I live near the train station.”
“And do you help out at a greengrocer?”
A sudden thought came to Miyako and she turned toward Moira 1st and her maid outfit.
“Did you choose these maid uniforms for them?”
“Hm? Was that wrong? I was looking for clothes they could use while cooking and cleaning, so I borrowed these form a large dining hall’s storeroom late at night.”
“Don’t go around robbing strange restaurants!”
“Calm down, princess. We quite like these clothes. We look cute in them, don’t we?”
“I feel I need to ask: how old are you?”
“Hm… We go through a certain level of formatting every day, so my age would be zero.”
“That’s cheating.”
“Machines are long-lasting. If you replace the old parts, they can live forever.” Moira 1st then turned toward Aigaion. “Master Aigaion, do you need something?”
“Yes. We’ll be heading out tomorrow morning, so anyone with nothing else to do should handle Cottus and Gyes’s normal preparations.”
“Cottus?”
“He is the one who caught you after your dive today, princess. Even as large as he is, he is still an automaton.”
“I see,” said Miyako as she thought about what Aigaion had said.
When he said they were “heading out”, it had to mean more than simply going somewhere.
“Are you heading out to fight?”
“You saw that black god of war, didn’t you? That is the one who destroyed 3rd-Gear, so we cannot forgive it.”
“But isn’t it a human from my world piloting it?”
Aigaion and Moira 1st exchanged a glance and Moira 1st chose her words carefully as she started speaking.
“Princess, we do not want to kill that black god of war. For a variety of reasons, we would like to protect it if possible.”
“It sounds to me like you’re telling me not to interfere.” Miyako smiled bitterly. “It’s true that I want to interfere when I hear about the situation, the various possibilities, and what you can or can’t do. But I don’t know anything about what happened sixty years ago and I’m not a descendant of those involved. I’m trying to keep in mind that I’m a guest from the outside world.”
Miyako recalled the black god of war she had seen the night before. As it had tried to corner Typhon, it had used a powerful lightning strike.
…But Typhon successfully defended against it.
It was not that the black god of war was superior. Given the difference in build, she guessed that the black one was actually the inferior of the two.
…That was a desperate attack.
The pilot of the black god of war had to have his own issues just as the people before her eyes did. She could do nothing but give it some thought and there was only one thing she could say.
“Try to get along.”
“Long ago when I couldn’t fit in with those around me, someone told me ‘if you can’t fit in, at least try to get along’. I knew I couldn’t fit in, so I was supposed to resist my desire to cause conflict and truly try to get along with them. …And that’s what made me who I am today.”
“It may not be my place to talk when you’ve probably been doing this for thousands of years, but how about giving that a try if you haven’t already? By the way, this is a lecture.”
She looked forward and found Aigaion and Moira 1st staring at her with slightly surprised looks.
“Stop looking at me funny and give me more to drink.”
“Oh, yes. Right away.
“That’s right. Fill it all the way up. And, um, don’t laugh when you look at people, old man.”
“But you are quite amusing. The people of this world truly are amusing, princess.”
“Stop calling me princess. I’m a guest and you can call me Miyako. The princess would be your master’s wife.”
And that master would be the young man she had floored in a single blow earlier. He seemed unreliable, but he also had the same eye color as the yellow light in the god of war’s eyes.
“And as a guest, I have some thoughts about all this. I think I’ll try to motivate you a bit. Old man, if you work at a greengrocer, can you help me out tomorrow morning?”
“We will be heading out early tomorrow morning, but if you need something, I can leave a note for the owner. And we should return by noon. Most likely.”
“Okay, a working man is a good man. And a good woman helps out around the house. Moira 1st, can you prepare me two things? A note to give to him and documents introducing all of you.”
“Yes, right away.”
As Moira 1st stood up, Miyako did the same and leaned on the railing in front of her.
The metal railing gently bent into a curve as it supported her weight.
This is a surprisingly soft world, she thought as she looked into the night sky.
She faced the moon floating in the heavens.
“Things around here should be a bit busier tomorrow.”
Chapter 10: A Chance Meeting of Questions[edit]
Ask until you run out of questions
Once that happens, there are only two possibilities
Whether you have a full understanding or must give up, there is nothing more to say
A small room of about ten square meters had a six square meter kitchen attached. The room had no windows, but the gentle light of early morning passed faintly through the walls themselves.
The pale lighting showed books, CDs, and empty bottles of mineral water scattered on the floor.
In the center of the room was a single large object.
It was donut shaped and was at least two meters across. It was made of plastic and the circular space in the center had about thirty centimeters of water inside.
It was a kiddie pool.
Someone was currently asleep while soaking in the pool.
The woman was curled up while facing to the left. Her ears were longer than a human’s and her face was submerged. She wore a dress shirt instead of pajamas and her brown hair was soaking wet, but her shoulder and the line down to her stomach were rising and falling above the surface with an incredibly slow rhythm.
The water suddenly moved as her leg moved below it. The bottom of her foot lightly kicked the inside of the pool.
Ripples filled the pool which said “Ooki” on the side with magic marker.
The small waves struck the ear sticking above the surface and Ooki gave a ticklish expression below.
That was when an electronic tone filled the room. A faint light and a chilly, air-splitting noise came from the kitchen. A cell phone’s red light began flashing atop the portable stove that had an unused pot on it.
The sound caused Ooki to close her long ears without waking up. She rejected the sound.
But the ringing continued from the kitchen.
This continued for a few minutes. After some more time dozing, she slowly raised her closed ear.
She stuck it wholly out of the water and noticed the sound had not stopped.
She frowned in displeasure below the water, but she still got up.
“Fweh?”
With a gentle splashing noise, she sat up without brushing her wet hair from her sleepy face and with her shirt sticking to her bare skin. Her listless eyes stared at the duck toy floating on the water.
“Quiet down.”
She slowly stood up with a sleepy look in her eyes and water dripped down from her.
“So tired…”
She wobbled a bit, but she managed to brush up her hair and step forward. The wooden floor instantly absorbed the water that fell from her skin. She arrived in the kitchen in seven steps and picked up the cell phone.
“Ooki-sama? This is Sibyl from Team Leviathan.”
Oh… thought Ooki.
Her brain was not functioning very well, but she tried to remember what she should say.
“Ahh ah…”
It seemed like Sibyl nodded.
“Testament. You woke up quickly today. This was seven minutes faster than yesterday.”
She praised me. Yay! she thought, but her body would not keep up. Sayama-kun and the others are always so full of energy in the morning. I wish I was like that.
…Then again, I’m not sure I’d like it.
As she thought, her brain started moving bit by bit. She gave a weak laugh and asked a question.
“Um… What is it?”
“Testament. Are you listening?”
“Hm, I guess so.”
“Testament. Then I shall keep this short. …You are late. Please hurry to UCAT.”
“Hweh?”
Ooki looked to the clock on the kitchen wall.
“Ooki-sama, your kitchen clock had been stopped at 2:30 three months ago. You yourself said you need to put in new batteries, but what time does it give you now?”
“2:30.”
“Testament. It is actually approximately two hours after that. Ooshiro-sama is already here.”
“Eh? It’s 4:30? I don’t go to school until seven and why is Ooshiro-san at the school?”
After a few seconds, Sibyl cleared her throat.
“Starting last week, Japanese UCAT headquarters has been working with Kansai UCAT to search for any philosopher’s stone reactions. Team Leviathan is helping and you are in charge of concept related operations. Also, your shift is four to seven both AM and PM.”
“Testament. You were told at the initial meeting and each morning at around this time. Today, we have detected a faint reaction in Kansai, so it is possible another flying object will appear.”
“Oh, I see. But have I really been doing that job?”
“Testament. Normally, it takes you about five more minutes to remember this recent job. And then you always shout an apology.”
“Oh, is that so? …Ah! I’m sorry!!”
“That was a few minutes early. Have you finally woken up?”
She had, so she frantically held the cell phone with her shoulder.
“D-don’t worry! I’m on my way now!”
“Ooki-sama, are you a soba restaurant?”
“No, no, no, no.”
She put on her work heels and realized she would need to work at UCAT past seven to make up for being so late. She prepared herself to be late for school.
But that worried her because this was the final day of the first term. If she was late or absent, would the children be able to continue homeroom smoothly? She had read in the newspaper that modern children were poor at working in groups and tended to quickly make mistakes. She did not think that would be a problem with her students.
“But I’m still worried. Especially with a certain few.”
With that serious comment, she finished putting on her heels, opened the door, and left.
Outside was a mountain road through a forest. The morning air and light soaked into her body after passing through the surrounding trees.
Behind her was a giant wall made of wood.
Looking up, she found a large tree towering up in the forest. Its trunk was at least twenty meters across and it was her home.
“I really have grown up.”
The door at the base led to a living space modelled after the apartments she had seen in newspaper ads. She had created the interior after becoming conscious and being able to go outside. The space’s child string vibration was the same as her own. She told her students she lived in an apartment, but no one else could see the door or go inside. Oddly enough, roaches still managed to find their way in.
Even so, she never forgot to shut the door behind her or to shut off the new model of electromagnetic relay device installed in the trunk.
She reached for her waist pocket she always kept the key in.
It was not there. Both the key and the pocket itself were missing. Just as she began wondering where she had dropped the pocket, a voice came from the cell phone on her shoulder.
“Ooki-sama, you forgot to change into your clothes as usual.”
Two people rode a single motorcycle down an early morning road.
The sky was clear and the eastern sun was to their side as they travelled south.
The motorcycle was right next to the sidewalk and Izumo moved it forward by foot with the clutch disengaged. Kazami sat behind him in a T-shirt and hoodie and held a large rucksack.
Sayama and Shinjou walked along the sidewalk in their school uniforms.
Sayama checked his watch and Baku peered at it from his chest, but it was still before seven.
“I did not expect the Hiba boy to call us here this morning. Is he not afraid of Kazami?”
“Chisato, don’t kick him. The recoil would knock the bike over into the lane of traffic.”
“Kaku, I hadn’t started to do anything yet.”
“Yet?” asked Shinjou. Kazami turned toward her, so she frantically waved her hands. “N-nothing. I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t wondering if you were planning to do something. A-a-anyway, um… Did Ryuuji-kun really ask us to stop by in the morning?”
“He probably chose a time when no one else would be here. He also said he wanted to show us something.”
“I see.” Shinjou nodded and tilted her head. “What kind of person was he?”
Kazami looked up into the sky with a distant look in her eyes.
“He looks obedient enough, but I think he needs a decent beating.”
“Chisato, stop expressing everything through violence. You’d be a wonderful girl if it weren’t for that.”
“C-c’mon, stop complimenting me like that.”
She sent a left hook into the side of Izumo’s head to hide her embarrassment.
Instead of a scream, Izumo gave an awkward grunt and collapsed into the lane of traffic along with the motorcycle.
“Ah,” said Kazami as she jumped from the motorcycle, but Izumo landed sprawled out on the road.
A moment later the tires of a 12-ton dump truck grazed his hair as it travelled at well above the speed limit.
He frantically stood up amid the rumble of its engine and the shaking of the ground.
“Whoa! Y-you idiot, your flirting almost killed me!”
“That is quite an absurd cause of death,” sighed Sayama before spreading his palms to either side. “Seeing the current state of this indecent couple has me worried about your future.”
“Wow,” said Shinjou with a feigned smile. “You can actually worry about others, Sayama-kun?”
Izumo righted the motorcycle, made sure the stopper had not broken, got back on, and sighed. Kazami apologized and sat behind him.
“Anyway, about Hiba. Wouldn’t you know more, Sayama? You were both students of the Hiba Dojo, right?”
“I attended that bizarre dojo starting in middle school, but I only ever ran across him once or twice a year. According to the other long-time students, Hiba-sensei would take time out to teach him techniques he did not teach the others.”
Sayama recalled the black god of war from the other night.
“What did you think of him after speaking with him? To get right to the point, do you think he is dangerous?”
“I’m not sure. He didn’t really seem like a bad person. If anything, he seemed to like people too much. He’s the type who would definitely go buy you a can of coffee if you asked him. He wouldn’t if you ordered him, though.”
Sayama smiled bitterly at that last comment.
“The kind of person that draws that kind of line can be the most frightening.”
“There’s more.” Izumo nodded and shrugged. “That kid made a call on his cell phone after we finished speaking yesterday. And he called the person Mikage.”
“Yes. He’s slightly perverted, but the girl he cares for comes first. I’m the same, so I think we can get along!”
“You take it a lot further than just ‘slightly’ perverted!”
Sayama ignored Kazami’s shouting and actions. He wrapped an arm around Shinjou’s shoulders and walked forward. Behind him, he could hear flesh being struck, metal bending, and countless dump trucks driving by, but he paid it no heed.
“S-Sayama-kun? I’m not sure how to describe the sounds behind us. Wham and smash don’t do it justice.”
“Shinjou-kun, stop relying on onomatopoeia. And this scene is too brutal for practicing verbal descriptions. Let us continue on. The Hiba house should be just up ahead, so how about it?”
Shinjou let out a breath in his arm, her shoulders drooped, and she suddenly looked around the area.
She took a city map from the binder in her arms.
“Um, we’re going to the Hiba family house, right? Yeah, it should be around here… It’s pretty close to the school.”
As soon as she spoke, they heard an engine in front of them.
They both looked forward and saw a boy riding a motorcycle which had a sidecar.
“Huh? Harakawa-kun?”
“Hey,” said the boy as he stopped the motorcycle.
Their classmate Harakawa turned toward them. His wavy black hair was swept back, he had brown skin, and he wore his school uniform roughly.
“What are you two doing out this early?”
“We are on a student council job to save the world.”
“Oh, that sounds important. Are the perverted president and violent treasurer not with you?”
Sayama turned back, realized those two and their motorcycle had vanished from the road at some point, and heard the dull sounds of mounted punches coming from the thicket of a park next to the sidewalk. A close examination showed Izumo’s leg sticking out from the thicket and shaking along with the irregular sounds of impact.
“They seem to be busy,” he said after turning back to Harakawa.
“Sayama Mikoto, I hate how that sounds like the truth when you say it.”
After giving a bitter smile, Harakawa looked back and forth between Shinjou and Sayama.
“I see you two are getting along well.”
“Ha ha ha. Why of course. Every morning, I help develop Shinjou-kun’s bodily awareness by-…”
“Waaah!! How many times do I have to tell you not to say that in front of people!?”
She tightened his tie down to the base.
He had been in the middle of laughing, so his vision suddenly started to shake, but he quickly removed her hands. As she frantically tried to strangle him, he began struggling against her hands and the tie.
“H-Harakawa-kun, what are you doing here?” she asked while dealing with his hands. “I thought you lived in the other direction.”
“Shinjou-kun, a criminal tends to avoid the scene of his crimes.”
“Stop making things up, Sayama Mikoto. I was bringing some parts to an underclassman named Hiba.”
Hearing that, Shinjou finally stopped trying to grab the tie.
She turned toward Sayama, nodded once, and then looked back at Harakawa.
“Th-then you’re on your way to school now? We only have the closing ceremony today, so isn’t it a bit early?”
“It is, but I have to clean up my stuff in the automobile club and I have work right after the closing ceremony ends.”
“I see. But you never got your job approval sticker because you skipped the final homeroom the other day, right? Ooki-sensei has it, so you should probably get it before she forgets what it is and sticks it on her lectern.”
“What is she, a child? Anyway, I can still work without approval, Shinjou Setsu.” Harakawa smiled bitterly and shook the bracelet on his arm in displeasure. “More importantly, I know you two understand, so can you tell Ooki-sensei to stop asking about me at the hospital? My mom’s gonna find out I’m skipping classes. …Also tell her to stop calling my cell when I’m at work just because she can’t remember how to get home.”
“You tell her yourself, Harakawa. That is your duty as a student.”
“Is that so?” With another bitter smile, he moved his motorcycle forward to continue past them. “Oh, and one other thing. Pay attention to who’s watching when you put your arms around each other’s shoulders. Not everyone is as accepting as I am.”
Shinjou lowered her shoulders and blushed while Sayama simply nodded.
“Never fear. I do not feel embarrassment.”
“That’s called having no shame!”
“Calm down, calm down.”
With his arm still around her shoulders, Sayama began walking forward once more. As they heard the motorcycle drive off into the distance, a new sight reached them.
Amid the two-story houses was a blue-roofed house with a boy polishing a motorcycle in front.
Also, a girl with long, blonde hair sat in a wheelchair next to him.
Sayama approached Hiba and the boy looked up in realization.
He frantically stood and then bowed.
Meanwhile, Shinjou whispered to Sayama from his arm.
“Don’t say anything too weird, okay? This is more or less our first time speaking with him, so start with a topic you have in common. Like motorcycles or something.”
“No need to worry. I already have the perfect topic in mind.”
Shinjou breathed a sigh of relief and he nodded.
He raised a hand toward Hiba and charmingly greeted him with a topic they had in common.
“Good morning, slightly perverted Hiba Ryuuji-kun! I am well aware that you are slightly perverted. But do not worry! I too am a boy, so feel free to discuss- Wait, Hiba boy! Why are you running away!?”
Someone began strangling him from the side.
Even early in the morning, the development department and armories on the second basement of Okutama UCAT was filled with activity.
This was due to the announcement from Ooki being sent to only that department.
“Um… It looks like there are some philosopher’s stone readings around Akigawa. Three of them. This looks suspicious, so it would be appreciated if you prepared some equipment.”
Tsukuyomi had been up all night using her computer, but she managed to react now.
She stood up and spoke to all of those already preparing inside their partitions.
“Despite what Miss Ooki would make you think, this might actually be really bad. Remain on standby and prepare the anti-concept equipment for ground combat! We might have to break into a concept space, so prepare the assault models!”
Multiple voices voiced their understanding, so she snapped her fingers and began walking toward the large door out into the corridor.
As the others left their partitions and followed her, she barked instructions.
“Those remaining in the department are to be on standby state 3! We don’t know what unit will be selected in an emergency, so carry out all necessary equipment as if this were training! And anyone with nothing else to do should clean the armories! We don’t bring everything out very often, so this is our chance. Prepare the vacuums you can stick in the gaps on the pallets!”
She threw open the door to the corridor and those gathered behind her began to run. They were on their way to the armories, the maintenance team’s floor, and the equipment elevator room. Those still in the room contacted the other departments needed to move the equipment and ensured they could operate smoothly as an organization.
The corridor walls opened and the auxiliary equipment transport rails leading to the equipment elevator room appeared. The workers in the corridor divided into an inside and outside team as Tsukuyomi watched on.
They opened the doors to the armories, removed the weapon pallets from the inner garage, placed them on the rails, and sent them off. The larger pallets were set on the main equipment transport rails which led directly to the surface and they were rushed to those who needed them. The rails screeched as the pallets moved quickly to the standby post on the surface.
“Hurry it up! You! If it needs thawing, shove it in the large oven!”
As Tsukuyomi spoke, everyone around her ran off in different directions.
“This is going well,” she muttered.
At that moment, Kashima moved past her while scratching his head. He too had stayed up all night. He was in charge of swords and blades and was on the way to his subordinates.
“Ah, Kashima!”
“Oh, yes. What is it?”
A moment after asking, he pulled out his laptop with a look of realization.
“I understand, Director Tsukuyomi! You want to see how much my Harumi has grown to soothe the tension, don’t you? L-look at this amazing and valuable footage! She’s so interested in this toy!”
With a stiff smile, Tsukuyomi strongly grasped the laptop with just the thumb and forefinger of her right hand. She then threw it to the floor with a snap of the wrist.
“Ahhhhh! I only just finished editing today’s Haru-chan collection!”
“Pipe down. This is an emergency. More importantly, um…well…”
“Is it about Atsuta?”
“Yes, that’s right. Where is that idiot?”
“That creature has been in Niigata for the last three days.”
“What? Is there something there?”
“Only in his mind. He said the Sea of Japan was calling him.”
“Tell him to go during the winter next time! And here I was hoping to send him against a god of war so I could see him beaten to a pulp.”
Kashima pushed his glasses to the top of his nose with a serious look.
“A god of war?”
A cool voice seemed to ignore all the surrounding activity.
Tsukuyomi and everyone else turned toward the corridor entrance and found a woman standing there.
“Sibyl of the maintenance department.”
“Testament. But I am currently here as a member of Team Leviathan.”
As Sibyl walked forward, she was already wearing her white armored uniform and her brisk gait caused her skirt to flip up and cut through the wind.
“Are you listening? While Ooki of Team Leviathan was randomly operating our machinery, she discovered a few philosopher’s stone reactions near the city of Akigawa. There are three and all of them are god of war class. They have been judged to be 3rd-Gear’s combat automatons known as the Hecatoncheires.”
“Judged? How? Did you check their child string vibrations?”
“Testament. It was my decision.”
With a smile, Sibyl passed by Tsukuyomi and slowly raised her right hand.
“Please bring out my pallet from block eighteen on the fifth basement. Other than that, I only need enough personnel to transport it.”
“W-wait a minute. The fifth basement?”
“Do not be so surprised. With the Leviathan Road underway, Team Leviathan’s armory is bound to be used more frequently. And even it is less strictly guarded than the storage vault containing Georgious and Concept Core weapons whose exact location is unknown and is directly controlled by Ooshiro-sama.”
Still smiling, Sibyl turned toward Tsukuyomi, nodded, and spoke to all the others who had stopped to listen.
“With the authority of Team Leviathan, let me assure you that this battle will occur within a concept space. Please assist me in bringing it to an end.”
Shinjou and Sayama moved to the side of the Hiba house.
The area was similar to an alleyway. A two meter area of dirt existed between the trees and fence surrounding the Hiba house and the concrete wall surrounding the neighboring house.
Sayama looked through the dimly lit alley from a step ahead of Shinjou.
“Why must we speak here? Do you feel guilty about something, slightly perverted Hiba boy?”
Hiba was panting for breath after frantically pushing the girl’s wheelchair to the alley and he glared at Shinjou and Sayama.
“Wh-where did you hear about that? Peeking up that skirt in the past yesterday was just a bit of curiosity.”
“But… If you think about it, that was Mikage-san’s mother he was peeking at.”
“Shinjou-kun, you must not say that. If you say boys at his age feel their heart race when they notice a girl, it may sound pure enough, but it would be more accurate to say they act like dogs.”
“Stop whispering to each other!”
Shinjou looked over and saw Mikage suspiciously staring at Hiba.
She held a cane to help her walk and she used it to jab at him, so he frantically turned a smile in her direction.
“I-it seems these people are mistaken about some things. Okay, Mikage-san? Okay?”
“He’s trying to trick her,” muttered Shinjou with a half-lidded glare, but she then tilted her head and stepped up to Sayama’s left. “Um, I take it that girl is Mikage-san.”
“Yes,” he said while turning her wheelchair toward them. “That’s right. You have heard the details concerning her, right?”
“Yes. She was born sixty years ago and we heard what Cronus-san did to her in the other world. Is all that true?”
Mikage tilted her head weakly and turned to Hiba.
She spoke to Hiba instead of Shinjou and she spoke with exaggerated silent mouth movements. They had heard about this from Kazami over the phone the day before. It was part of Mikage’s incomplete evolution.
After Mikage finished speaking, Hiba tilted his head.
“Will you show them?”
Mikage nodded.
She faced Shinjou and Sayama once more. She was wearing a white turtleneck and a beige dress. Both were a bit big for her, so they looked baggy.
She raised her right hand and removed the white glove.
Shinjou spoke what it was that was revealed below the glove.
“A doll…”
Mikage’s right hand was made from a beige material that almost looked white. The flexible points at the joints were made from a black material and were the same as the soft armor on UCAT armored uniforms. As her fingers moved, black curves formed on the skin of her hand.
Still silent, she lowered her turtleneck’s collar.
Her neck was the same. It had a lot of flexible points, so the connection between her neck and breastbone was almost entirely black.
She expressionlessly opened her mouth and said something. Hiba read her lips and spoke in her stead.
“Do you need to see anything more to confirm the truth of the past?”
Hiba’s quiet words produced a reflexive shake of the head from Shinjou. She was well aware of how frightening it could be to show someone your body.
“That’s the body of an automaton that is evolving into a human.”
Shinjou fell silent and thought about the past she had seen the night before.
If what she had heard there was accurate, Cronus had given Mikage the god of war intended to be a spare for Typhon.
Hiba seemed to pick up on her thoughts because he nodded.
“Mikage-san was given Susamikado, a god of war meant to be Typhon’s spare and which was modelled after my grandfather’s Susahito Custom. Cronus placed it in a concept space that her body can draw it from.” He took a breath. “But the half of the Concept Core is not contained within Susamikado because it could make her evolution unstable. It is instead sealed within Keravnos, Susamikado’s special armament. In Greek mythology, that was the heavenly lightning Zeus used to seal Typhon.”
Sayama replied from Shinjou’s right by holding up his left hand as a sign to stop.
“Susamikado? That is the first time we have heard its name. …This seems like a good opportunity.” He snapped his fingers to show he was changing the subject. “It may be a sudden question, but could you tell us about the final battle with 3rd-Gear?”
Shinjou was taken aback.
She remembered what the automaton named #4 had said the day before.
…There are aspects of 3rd-Gear’s destruction that those automatons don’t know.
He was pursuing the answer to those questions.
She turned to face him and he spoke expressionlessly.
“We obtained a fair bit of information yesterday, but a lot is unclear about that part. I would like to know about it.”
Sayama saw Hiba frown and tilt his head.
“Why do you want to know that all of a sudden?”
There was no need to give a detailed answer to that question.
“A certain individual asked me for that information and I want to know. Why is 3rd-Gear still fighting? From what I heard, the Gear’s survivor, Apollo, is a pacifist, but-…”
“Nonsense.” Hiba laughed and cut him off. “Then what do you suggest? Surely you don’t think 3rd-Gear is fighting because I’m attacking them to gain the Concept Core and speed up Mikage-san’s evolution.”
“That is certainly one way of looking at it.”
“Well, it isn’t true. Five years ago, they picked a fight with us. A god of war suddenly appeared before us and attacked. That was when Mikage-san first called in Susamikado.” He hung his head a bit and placed a hand on his white bandanna. “Sorry. I can’t say anymore. But ever since then, we’ve been fighting them. Recently, we’ve been intentionally flying through the Kansai region to call them out, but we still haven’t narrowed down the location of their headquarters beyond the general region of Okayama.”
“I see,” said Sayama with a nod.
How strange, he thought with a renewed understanding of the importance of #4’s question.
If his fight had begun five years ago and had continued like that, it meant there had not been a single chance for negotiation. If Apollo was a pacifist, why had he attacked first and why did he allow continued fighting when it was not improving the situation? It was possible that those around him were acting on their own.
…But that means those following him have a reason to prioritize these attacks over their master’s wishes.
He did not understand, so he stopped thinking about it.
…Any more conjecture would be dangerous.
He turned back to Hiba whose head was apologetically lowered.
“As for your previous question, I don’t know much about my grandfather’s generation. All I know is that he entered 3rd and that he returned using Susamikado which carried a heavily damaged Susahito Custom. And afterwards, Mikage-san’s reflexive mechanisms were used as an intermediary for the controller of a giant machine known as Susaou.” He nodded. “Also, I do not know where Mikage-san was sleeping until ten years ago.”
“Then you know nothing about the result of 3rd-Gear’s final battle?”
“I know the result, but I don’t know how it happened.”
“Can you tell us the result?”
“What exactly do you want to know?”
How cautious, thought Sayama as he felt the resistance there and decided to ask it all at once.
“I would like to know what happened to Apollo. At the time, he should have been piloting a pale blue god of war. Typhon was made exclusively for him and it is active now, so why did he switch machines?”
Hiba hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke.
“I don’t know why that is either.”
He gave an exaggerated shrug and Sayama nodded mentally.
Shinjou poked her elbow into his side and spoke so only he could hear.
“He managed to avoid answering, but you asked too much all at once.”
“No, that reply told me a lot. This was plenty.”
Hiba had taken the bait splendidly and Sayama planned to later reveal what he had learned and be praised for it.
…Compliments from Shinjou-kun are a truly wonderful thing.
Hiba gave him a suspicious look, so he spoke once more.
“Now, let us get back on topic.”
“Very well. Mikage-kun, you do not remember the past, do you?”
Sayama saw the ends of Shinjou’s eyebrows lower at that nod.
…Shinjou-kun does not remember her past either.
They both knew nothing of their parents, but Shinjou had seen Mikage’s mother the day before. That may have been why her eyebrows had lowered.
And so Sayama asked Hiba something else.
“Have you told Mikage-kun about the past we saw yesterday?”
“Yes. I would like to thank you for that. It was a valuable record of her mother.”
Shinjou’s eyebrows moved partially back up.
No need to be so nosy, he thought. She already has someone to worry for her.
“Then let me make something clear,” said Sayama. “We have the ability to see the past. Would that ability be an effective bargaining chip against you?”
Shinjou trembled when she heard that.
“S-Sayama-kun!”
Shinjou’s hurried and emotional voice showed she felt they must not do that.
“We can’t! That’s someone’s past! People want to know about their past and we can’t take advantage of that.”
“Oh? Please do not take negotiations too lightly, Shinjou-kun. I am not taking advantage of that desire.” He looked her directly in the eye without looking away. “There is something we want to know about as well. If he uses that as a bargaining chip against us, would you view that as him taking advantage of our desire for knowledge? If it is exchanged for something of equivalent value, it makes a splendid bargaining chip.”
“B-but…” Her lips twisted down and she tightly grasped his left arm. “I don’t like that kind of deal.”
Her voice trembled and something welled up in the corners of her eyes.
Changing his plan because someone cried would accomplish nothing, so he would follow his own principles.
However, the tears in her eyes brought a smile to his face and relief to his heart.
“That is another way in which you are right, Shinjou-kun.”
Strength left the hand she held him with.
After a breath, Sayama brushed up his hair with his right hand and waited for Shinjou’s breathing to calm down.
“Then how about I make a small alteration, Shinjou-kun?”
He faced Hiba who looked slightly tense.
“What if I state it like this: if we work together, you will surely be able to see the past much like before. …What do you say now, Hiba boy? Will you gain nothing and fight 3rd-Gear while hindering our actions or will you view the past and fight 3rd-Gear while meddling in our actions? Which will it be?”
“I am inviting you to join us.”
…Join us?
Shinjou mouthed what Sayama had said and grasped its meaning.
…He’s letting Ryuuji-kun join us?
What did that mean? First, she thought about the positive elements.
1. UCAT would gain a new god of war.
2. Team Leviathan would gain a new member and its connections to the National Defense Department would grow.
3. Having more people her own age – especially an underclassman – would make her happy.
Then she thought about the negative elements.
1. She was nervous about inviting in an outsider.
2. What would he think once he discovered her identity?
3. Would he fall victim to Kazami’s attacks or Izumo and Sayama’s bad influence?
She weighed the pros and cons. The positives were decent. The first negative would become clearer later, the second was an issue of her own feelings, and the third was something he would just have to put up with.
“Sayama-kun, my opinion of you has improved a bit. Oh, but…only just a bit, okay?”
“Ha ha ha. Feel free to praise me even more. There have been so many misunderstandings about me lately that my satisfaction meter has been running past its limit. Anyway, Hiba boy.”
“Y-yes?”
He took a shallow defensive stance in front of Mikage which surprised Shinjou. He protects her so naturally, she thought while glancing over at Sayama. But he was currently focused on Hiba.
“Listen. Currently, anyone who joins us gets to join the student council as well. How does assistant treasurer sound?”
“Assistant treasurer? I-I couldn’t. That would put me right next to the school’s greatest fighter!”
“In a way, you’d be a step away from great influence. Not that you’d be able to control it. But I think you would do fine, Hiba-kun. You’d be able to dodge the attacks.”
“I notice you aren’t denying anything I said…”
“Do not worry about it, Hiba boy. Now, choose one of the following options: A) Become my servant. B) Beg to be a servant of the great Sayama. C) Do my bidding for the rest of your life.”
“How about ‘D) None of the above, asshole’?”
Hiba scratched at his head.
“Anyway, I’m not sure what to say about joining you.”
After speaking, Hiba turned toward Mikage. Both the ends of her eyebrows and her entire head were slightly lowered.
…She’s a little cautious.
Recently, they had been showing people and telling people what had previously been their secret.
She had coolly shown off her body, but she likely had some other thoughts about it. I need to keep that in mind, he thought.
The other night when they had been taken in by UCAT, he had spoken a lot with an old man in a lab coat as well as a young man with black clothes and white hair who had been accompanied by a maid. Mikage had shown them her hand and the maid had shown her arm.
…That was a strange organization.
Automatons and humans worked together there.
…If we joined them, could Mikage-san have more freedom?
But Hiba shook his head and decided it was too soon to say.
“At the moment, I only want one thing: please understand that we are already dealing with 3rd-Gear,” he said. “About five years after Mikage-san woke up, they began attacking us. We used to have our hands full just fighting them off, but after destroying several remotely controlled gods of war, the true prize finally started showing up.”
“And so you are claiming that as your target?”
Hiba nodded, circled behind the wheelchair, and held the handles.
He looked at Mikage’s impaired legs.
“We have half of 3rd-Gear’s Concept Core and they have the other half. If we get that, Mikage-san-…”
“…might become human,” finished Shinjou.
He saw her hold her body a bit. It was a casual action, but something about the situation must have gotten through to her. She then turned toward Sayama.
“What should we do? If they have half of the Concept Core, obtaining 3rd-Gear’s half won’t end the Leviathan Road.”
“Indeed.” Sayama crossed his arms. “It is a tricky issue. It comes down to which side will give in and how.”
Silence followed.
What a heavy silence, thought Hiba.
Neither side intended to back down.
Suddenly, he saw a bit of motion.
The small animal on Sayama’s shoulder had crossed its arms just like Sayama.
Mikage’s shoulders began to shake and she let out an amused laugh.
The laugh had been out of place, but it was not often that she laughed. That was why Hiba smiled as he supported her from behind the wheelchair.
But Sayama and Shinjou had not seen the source of the laugh.
After a moment, Shinjou caught on and smiled. Sayama then did the same. Baku looked back and forth between them and crossed its stubby arms even further.
“Baku must want to join the conversation.”
Sayama smiled bitterly and moved his foot casually to the side, but it struck something.
He looked down at the base of the trees surrounding the house and found a thirty centimeter metal stake.
“That is a protective stake with a philosopher’s stone inside. It suppresses the power of machines. The effective range is small, so we can move around them, but a god of war would not be able to.”
“So you use these as protective charms for your home?”
“Yes, but the neighborhood dogs and cats like to dig them up. I need to put that one back.”
Once Hiba picked up the stake and looked at it, his expression changed.
The top of it was smashed.
“Eh?” said Shinjou.
“The dogs and cats around here must be quite something,” said Sayama. “They appear to be able to break metal.”
“Yes, I’m surprised too. …Except that’s clearly not what happened!”
Hiba looked around and found more stakes lying under the trees surrounding the house. They had all been dug up such that an outsider would not notice.
“They’re all broken.”
Hiba trembled as a chill ran down his spine and Sayama glanced around.
“Is that concept limited to gods of war?”
“Because Mikage-san lives here, it primarily affects large objects.”
“Then I take it an automaton would be just fine. An automaton that can function in Low-Gear. And now that these are gone…”
“A god of war is coming!?”
Hiba looked through the trees and toward his house. With his mother out, it was empty, but there were two people standing in front of it.
One was a black-haired woman in a red suit and the other was a large man wearing a greengrocer’s apron.
The woman stood out front and she took a step to the side while jerking her chin over toward the man.
This isn’t good, thought Hiba as he prepared himself for a fight.
The man bent over and pressed the intercom button.
“Ma’am, this is 3rd-Gear. We have a battle to deliver.”
The woman raised both arms and Hiba saw giant swords appear behind her.
The blades were rectangular, they were over five meters long, and there were a total of six lined up.
The woman let out a shout and a red form appeared between her and the swords.
“A god of war!?”
As if Shinjou’s cry had been the signal, the six swords smashed into Hiba’s house.
The instantaneous attack crashed through the house and created an explosion.
The sudden turn of events led Hiba to take a battle pose.
As he prepared to fight, he tried to choose his partner. He reached a hand toward Mikage’s hand, but that hand found only empty air.
He looked at her through the stench of burning wood, scattering fragments, and smoke of the explosion.
But she was gone. Her empty wheelchair and cane were all that remained.
He blankly wondered why because this had never happened before.
They had been together for many long years, so how had she disappeared and where was she?
“What are you doing, Hiba boy? It seems 3rd-Gear has a thing for abductions because they have taken Mikage-kun this time. As soon as they attacked the house with those swords, they expanded a concept space and brought only Mikage-kun in with them!”
Sayama yelled at him while brushing aside the explosive blast and smoke with a wave of his hand and then he pointed at the empty wheelchair.
“She is right there waiting for you. Prepare to enter the concept space and fight!”
Chapter 11: Running Metal[edit]
Pursue, pursue
Bring your speed out below the sky
Below the blue sky, a single motion filled the city that had yet to get going in the morning.
Two boys had two motorcycles idling in front of a destroyed two-story house with a red roof.
The motorcycles belonged to Hiba and Izumo. They were both old, but they were 1 liter models and the two of them together produced a low drum-like rumbling. Sayama had helped Izumo remove Hiba’s sidecar and now he walked over to Shinjou who had nothing to do.
“How is the Hiba boy?”
“He went around the neighborhood telling people there was a gas explosion that caused their underground garage to cave-in.”
“I suppose UCAT will contact his mother and the police. Disguised police cars should be arriving soon, so that only leaves us.”
“Sayama! Shinjou! We’re ready over here! How about you!?”
Kazami stood up next to the motorcycle with motor oil on her cheek.
However, she heard no response from Sayama or Shinjou. Instead, she heard Sayama’s cell phone.
Everyone turned toward the boy and he lightly raised his hand while pulling out the black phone. He made sure to activate speaker phone.
“It’s me. Shinjou-kun and two miscellaneous others are with me.”
“Yes, yes. Tes, tes. This is your teacher.”
“Oh, what is it, Ooki-sensei? Are you informing us you will be late? Isn’t it a bit early for that? Ha ha ha. And how can you justify being late on the final day of the first term?”
“That isn’t it. Um, is there a huge concept space where you are by any chance?”
Strength filled everyone’s gazes when they heard that.
As the early morning wind blew through, Sayama asked Ooki a question.
“I see. Are you actually doing your job this morning, Ooki-sensei? Congratulations. You have taken one step up the staircase to normalcy. I fear you will soon trip and fall down several steps, though.”
“Wah! Why are you always like this, Sayama-kun! You’re going to make me angry!”
“Then be angry.”
“Are you quite done?”
“Tes. That’s enough anger for me.”
To his right, Shinjou doubtfully pointed at her own head and rotated the finger, but Sayama ignored it. He had been well aware of that since the previous year.
“Now, Ooki-sensei, please give me the details. I believe we are right in front of it.”
“Oh, right, right. It feels kinda 3rd-Gear-ish. Sibyl-san is preparing to head out, but do all of you have your string watches?”
Sayama looked down at the black UCAT watch on his wrist. Shinjou and Kazami did the same.
“Ah?”
But Izumo tilted his head and showed off his empty wrists with a stiff smile.
“This ain’t good. In my defense, no one told me to wear it today.”
“I’ll be nice and point out that Kaku never wears a watch or carries a cell phone when he isn’t out on a mission.”
“Ha ha ha. If you insist on rejecting modern society, you should go live in the mountains of Okutama. You can live in the wild with an old man who rejects human morality and a teacher who rejects the concept of time.”
“I-I actually woke up this morning!”
They all ignored Ooki’s comment.
Kazami folded her arms as she wondered what to do, but Shinjou held out her watch.
“Izumo-san, why don’t you use mine?”
Everyone turned toward her with questioning eyes, so she shrunk back a bit.
“U-um, if you think about it, I probably wouldn’t have anything to do in there. Without Ex-St, I can’t shoot at anything, so…um…”
“What are you saying, Shinjou-kun? With you by my side, my motivation increases eightfold!”
“Shinjou, give me your watch before Sayama does anything stupid.”
“Eh? Why you, Kazami-san?”
“Think about it, Shinjou-kun,” cut in Sayama. “If Izumo placed your watch around his filthy wrist, it would be infected with the Izumo virus and it would make you very strange and perverted. On second thought, that sounds wonderful.”
“Yeah, it’s because I had a feeling that crazy boy would say something like that.”
“You’re right,” said Shinjou as she handed Kazami the watch.
Kazami handed her watch to Izumo, put on Shinjou’s watch, and placed a hand on the stem of the watch.
“Listen, Kaku. We need to initialize the automatically recorded child string vibration. Just press this switch. …No, not there. Oh, c’mon. You have to know that isn’t right either. Yes, now push it all the way in.”
“Is that anything to say on an early morning road?” commented Sayama.
“Eh? Okay, now it will automatically read in a new vibration just like when you first put one on.”
Kazami and Izumo lightly twisted the watches to make sure they were on right.
Sayama nodded, but Shinjou looked worried.
“What is it, Shinjou?”
She nodded and turned toward the figure behind them.
It was Hiba. He had added a jacket and goggles to his outfit and his expression was serious.
“What should I do? I can’t enter concept spaces without Mikage-san’s Susamikado.”
He received an immediate answer from Sayama.
“Use my watch, Hiba boy. You are likely more normal than Izumo.”
“I’m not sure what that last part means, but are you sure? You’re Team Leviathan’s representative, aren’t you?”
“The high-mobility S&M couple behind me is in charge of fighting. From the looks of them, I doubt the two we saw possess the Concept Core, so there will be no room for negotiation. Act as violently as you wish and retrieve that which is important to you. And you will be indebted to me for lending you this watch. Not a bad deal, don’t you think?”
After a short pause, Hiba smiled bitterly.
“I can’t argue with that,” he said as he took the watch with a smile. “But you shouldn’t be so open about trying to make someone indebted to you. Anyway, how does this work?”
“You press this switch here. …No, not there. No, that isn’t right either. Yes, now push it all the way in.”
“Sayama-kun, I think you’re getting even crazier.”
By the time Sayama turned around, Hiba had finished operating the watch.
At the same time, Ooki spoke from his phone.
“The new child string vibrations just arrived and there’s one I don’t recognize. And from the look of Kazami-san’s, she has an upset stomach. You shouldn’t snack late at night.”
“She’s right…”
Kazami held her stomach with a displeased look and Sayama nodded in understanding.
“Ooki-sensei, can you get them inside?”
“Yes, yes. UCAT is about to interfere with the concept space in order to send in those wearing the watches and to prepare for Sibyl-san’s entry. We didn’t make this one, so please don’t remove the watches. Who knows what will happen if your stability is thrown a bit off.”
Kazami’s expression stiffened at the mention of Sibyl.
Izumo patted her on the back and she nodded and returned to her normal expression.
“What about our weapons?”
“It seems Sibyl-san is loading V-Sw, G-Sp2, and Ex-St on a transport helicopter. Once she arrives, the detailed concept space data she takes will be used to let the others in without watches. Is that okay?”
“Testament,” replied Sayama and Ooki continued.
“The shape of the concept space seems to have been modified. It’s an upside down funnel shape with a diameter of two kilometers. The end of the funnel reaches about 15 kilometers into the air. The enemy uses that to escape detection by travelling through Low-Gear at 12 or 13 kilometers up.”
“And without seeing inside the concept space, we cannot wait for them where they will exit. Our only choice is to settle this inside.”
“After meeting up with Sayama-kun and Shinjou-kun, Sibyl-san will enter from the northwest. Izumo-kun, your group should-…”
“Head in from here, right? That way we can cut them off from the south.”
Kazami straddled Izumo’s motorcycle and slid her butt to the back.
“Sensei, tell Sibyl to leave our weapons on the open pallet at the launch area.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Yes. Those cute things want to be with us enough that they’ll come to us on their own. And Hiba, do you have a weapon?”
“Yes. A sword with a philosopher’s stone. My father left it for me.”
“Your father?” asked Kazami.
Hiba gave a troubled smile.
“I don’t really know what he did, but he suddenly accepted Mikage-san into our family ten years ago and then went off somewhere that same evening. That was the night of the great Kansai earthquake.”
That final comment brought Sayama’s hand to the left side of his chest.
Kazami and Izumo’s expressions hardened and Shinjou leaned up against Sayama. That was all it took for him to remove his hand from his chest. He said he was fine, but his face was a bit pale.
When Hiba gave him a curious look, he nodded.
“Now, it is time we got going. We can speak some more once this battle is over.” He took a breath. “We can see if our fight and your fight can work together along with these impurities you speak of.”
Two figures travelled along a deserted road.
The morning sun lit up the man and woman who travelled north along the main road.
They were Gyes in her red suit and Aigaion.
They both kicked off the asphalt as they moved quickly to the north. They cut through the air as they ran and each step took them from one streetlight to the next, so their running was made up of several-meter leaps.
They were quite fast.
They passed between the scattering of empty and unmoving cars as they hurried north.
Gyes ran in front and Aigaion followed with a girl in a white dress floating ahead of him. She was curled up like a child and elevated a bit above his head.
He was carrying Mikage via gravitational control.
He watched her as her eyes remained closed and she did not move. His scratched cheek loosened.
“She put up quite a fight.”
“Until she lost consciousness, she believed her partner would come rescue her. …Is she human?”
Aigaion looked at Mikage’s neck.
“No. We need to have Moira 2nd look at her to be certain, but I’ve never seen a human like this.”
“Neither have I.”
She brought her right hand to her cheek which also had four parallel scratches on it, but they vanished as she traced her fingers across them.
“It took longer than expected to secure her. Should we call Cottus here?”
“Riding your god of war would be faster.”
“I can only use it for short periods of time. I don’t need the machine, but I want to preserve as much strength as possible when the enemy might pursue us.”
“How reliable,” said Aigaion.
Suddenly, light raced over their heads from ahead of them to behind them. The four beams of light continued for a few seconds.
“That was Cottus’s weapon!”
Just before the bombardment hit, Aigaion grabbed Mikage in his arms and leaped forward with Gyes.
At the same time, a rock-splitting explosion burst out behind them.
A powerful gust of wind from behind threatened to scoop their feet out from under them. The pressure of the wind rivalled a solid wall and it pushed them even further forward. Gyes glanced over her shoulder while in midair.
“Cottus! Why did you fire!?”
“Enemy approaching.”
That transmitted voice caused Gyes to focus more closely on her surroundings and she checked for movement behind them.
Fragments scattered from the main road and smoke trailed behind them.
She did not see anything there until something burst through the smoke.
She saw two motorcycles. They often saw those machines on Low-Gear’s roads. It depended on the specific model, but they tended to have good acceleration and they were a decent machine for transporting small numbers of people.
And the loud noises of their engines suggested these two could travel at high speed.
She did not recognize the boy and girl on one of them, but the boy on the other was a different story.
“The descendent of Hiba!”
Gyes made several decisions in midair and the danger she sensed in this opponent rose considerably.
The enemy had mobility, speed, the possibility of concept weapons, combat experience, the knowledge needed for concept combat, and a set objective.
She made a stern decision as to how to deal with them.
They would lure the enemy somewhere they could not use their mobility and speed. If the enemy did have concept weapons, they only had to use even more power than those weapons. She and her fellow automatons had thousands of years of combat experience and knowledge. And if this enemy had a set objective, they only had to divert them from it.
“Aigaion!” she shouted as she landed.
“Got it,” he said as he looked to the right of the road.
There he saw a large collection of buildings. The main entrance of the giant facility said Taka-Akita Academy.
“Let’s finish this here!”
Gyes pulled a palm-sized sheet of metal from her pocket. The steel had a blue crystal embedded in it and she laughed as she ran through the front gate with it in her hand.
She directed the laugh toward the two motorcycles pursuing them.
The wind blew across the two vehicles as they took tight corners that sent their back wheels skidding. Gyes turned toward the one with a boy and girl onboard and spoke to them.
“We will use this philosopher’s stone board to eliminate you two outsiders!”
As she faced them and ran backwards, she held up the metal panel and gave a shout.
“We will add on another concept!”
An instant later, the small metal board burst and the world changed accordingly.
In an instant, everything changed just as Gyes and Aigaion wanted.
There was a small break, but here is Owari no Chronicle 3-A.
This is a very long story, so thank you for sticking with me. Recently I’ve been hoping I can actually write the entire thing to the end.
Anyway, 1 and 2 laid the groundwork and now the story begins to move forward in 3. Everyone’s stances and connections to the past will become more involved from now on, so the story might get even longer.
I finally feel like I’m having an easier time writing this. There are still plenty of difficulties though, and I have tons of homework to do. At any rate, I’ll be doing the best I can.
Now let’s get to the usual chat.
“Did you read it?”
“I was looking at the afterwords with my other old upperclassman and I get the feeling I don’t really have to read it.”
“If you don’t follow the proper customs, you’ll be cursed, so be careful.”
“What kind of curse?”
“You’ll wake up in the middle of the night and find me at your pillow drinking tomato juice and playing Famicom. I’ll say ‘C’mon, that totally hit!’, so make sure to agree.”
“Please spare me that horrible scene. By the way, I see you finally put in one of those characters you like.”
“What character?”
“There’s already been an automaton.”
“No, I meant blondes with giant tits. You really like them, don’t you?”
“Oh, you’re finally using words like ‘tits’. You really have changed.”
“That isn’t how I thought you’d react!”
“And are you forgetting that she’s a doll? You can’t look at it the same way. …Just kidding. Did you really think I’d say that? What matters is the romance. Keep it spinning!!”
“That’s more like it. I was expecting that kind of a self-deprecating gag.”
“I’m glad I could live up to your expectations, but I’ve been using that kind of joke too much lately. I need to think up something new. Maybe it would have more impact if I was like you and insisted on someone below the age of ten.”
“My girlfriend is going to read this, so stop making things up!! We’re thinking of getting married soon, so saying I like babies is fine but little girls are out of the question.”
“I’m pretty sure both are out of the question, so don’t worry. And this will be going out to the entire nation, so it’s time to start regretting this.”
“I had a bad feeling about this when the other old upperclassman said he recommended me and that I should ‘prepare myself’. You never betray people’s expectations, do you?”
“Just so you know, that guy is a terrible person who barges in and only talks about cats and video games when I’m suffering from a cold.”
“Yeah, he did that to me too. He said he was thinking of starting to make doujins because he was turning thirty.”
“Is that some twisted version of going bungee jumping when you turn thirty? There really isn’t a single normal person around me. …And you aren’t helping!”
“Please stop getting mad at me for no reason. More importantly, why does the data on the next volume say it’s the middle part?”
“This is going to end up as text, so saying it cutely isn’t going to help. Why isn’t the second part the last part!?”
Don’t worry about it.
This time my proofreading music was “Art of Fight” from the game Ryuuko no Ken. (Am I the only one that thinks you could take that to mean “aesthetics of fighting”? And people have mixed opinions of music with no real context, but I find it’s good at getting me fired up.)
“Who exactly is hoping for a fight?”
You can try thinking about that.
Anyway, the next book will be out in June, so wait just a bit.
February 2004. A morning with pollen approaching.
Satoyasu Omake[edit]
Omake Robot (Tentative Title)
Satoyasu
↑ Geckos are considered lucky because the Japanese word can be written with kanji meaning “house protector”.
↑ Kazuo contains the kanji for 1.
Back to Volume 4 Return to Main Page Forward to Volume 6
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‘It became sort of lawless’: Florida vaccine rollout turns into a free-for-all
Islamic State claims responsibility for London attack; police arrest a dozen
By Danica Kirka and Jill Lawless and Gregory Katz
British police arrested a dozen people Sunday in a widening terrorism investigation after attackers using a van and large knives turned a balmy evening of nightlife into a bloodbath and killed seven people in the heart of London. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
Although the attackers were also dead, authorities raced to determine whether they had accomplices, and Prime Minister Theresa May warned that the country faced a new threat from copycat attacks.
The country's major political parties temporarily suspended campaigning with only days to go before the general election. May said the vote would take place as scheduled Thursday because "violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process."
The assault unfolded over a few terrifying minutes late Saturday, starting when a rented van veered off the road and barreled into pedestrians on busy London Bridge. Three men then got out of the vehicle with large knives and attacked people at bars and restaurants in nearby Borough Market until they were shot dead by police.
"They went 'This is for Allah,' and they had a woman on the floor. They were stabbing her," witness Gerard Vowls said.
Florin Morariu, a Romanian chef who works in the Bread Ahead bakery, said he saw people running and some fainting. Then two people approached another person and "began to stick the knife in ... and then I froze and I didn't know what to do."
He said he managed to get near one attacker and "hit him around the head" with a bread basket.
"There was a car with a loudspeaker saying 'go, go' and they (police) threw a grenade. ... and then I ran," he said.
London police said officers killed the attackers within eight minutes of arriving at the scene. Eight officers fired some 50 rounds, said Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the force's head of counterterrorism.
Islamic State's statement from its Aamaq news agency claimed the group's "fighters" were responsible, the SITE Intelligence Group said Sunday. IS has urged supporters to weaponize vehicles in attacks against the West.
It was the third attack in Britain this year that Islamic State has claimed — including the similar attack on Westminister Bridge in March and the Manchester concert bombing two weeks ago — and one of several involving vehicles in Europe, including last year's Bastille Day rampage in the French city of Nice.
The three attackers Saturday were wearing what appeared to be suicide belts, but the belts turned out to be fake. Investigators were working to determine whether others assisted them, Rowley said.
A bystander was also wounded by the gunfire, but the civilian's injuries were not believed to be critical.
Forty-eight people, including two police officers, were treated at hospitals. Twenty-one remained in critical condition Sunday. Among the wounded were German, French, Spanish and Australian citizens, officials said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a Canadian woman was among the dead, and a French national was also confirmed dead.
Counterterrorism officers raided several addresses in Barking, an east London suburb, and arrested 12 people there Sunday, police said.
Neighbors at the site of one raid in Barking said a man who lived there resembled one of the attackers shown in news photographs.
"He's lived here for about three years," Damien Pettit said. "He's one of our neighbors. I've said hello in passing more than 50, 60 occasions. He has two young kids. He was a very nice guy."
Armed officers also conducted a raid in the East Ham area of the city. Video showed police shouting at someone: "Get on the balcony. Stand up and show us your hands!"
The rampage was the third major attack in Britain in the past three months, including a similar vehicle and knife attack on Westminster Bridge in March that left five people dead.
On May 22, a suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured dozens at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, in northwest England. Grande and other stars performed Sunday night at a benefit concert for victims under tight security in Manchester.
"I don't feel or smell or hear or see any fear in this building. All we feel here tonight is love, resilience, positivity," said Pharrel Williams, who performed alongside Miley Cyrus.
May said the London and Manchester attacks were not directly connected, "but we believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face" as "terrorism breeds terrorism" and attackers copy one another. She said five credible plots have been disrupted since March.
"It is time to say, enough is enough," she said.
Britain's official terrorism threat level was raised from "severe" to "critical" after the Manchester attack, meaning an attack may be imminent. Several days later it was lowered again to "severe," meaning an attack is highly likely.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said Sunday that the level would remain at severe because police believe there are no perpetrators still on the loose.
London Bridge and a large area on the south bank of the River Thames remained cordoned off Sunday, and police told people to avoid the area.
Hours earlier, the area packed with bars and restaurants around the foodie magnet of Borough Market had been a scene of panic, as people barricaded themselves in pubs and restaurants or fled through the streets.
Medics treated the wounded near the market as shocked people cried and shouted around them. Police officers yelled at people to run from the area, and blasts were heard as officers performed a series of controlled explosions.
Renan Marquese, a sous-chef at a tapas restaurant, said he was working when he heard chaotic sounds outside.
"When I open the door I see three dead people on the floor," he said. "People running everywhere, police shouting to run away."
He said that he helped a man and his partner, even taking the woman into his arms because she was too upset to walk properly. He said it took him 20 minutes to carry her across the bridge, stumbling all the way.
"It was really scary," he said.
Amid the violence and fear were stories of compassion and heroism. The British Transport Police said one of their officers, among the first to arrive, took the attackers on armed only with his baton and was seriously wounded. He was later described as being in stable condition with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Witnesses described how passers-by threw chairs and beer glasses at the attackers in an attempt to stop them.
Richard Angell, who was in a restaurant, said he looked out and saw "a guy who is throwing a table at somebody, and it's very unclear about what is happening. And it turns out to be a heroic guy who saw what was happening and just bombarded these terrible cowardly people with stuff."
Vowls also saw people striking back at the attackers and said he joined in.
"I went 'Oi, terrorists, cowards, Oi!'" he told The Associated Press. Then he picked up a chair.
"I chucked it, but I think I missed one of them, and then I picked up a stool, and I threw it at him. And he looked at me. He started running towards me, and then he decided not to.
"Then I was screaming at them, picking up bottles from a beer barrel. I was just throwing it at them, trying to get them to chase me so I could get them out into the main road where the police could see them and obviously take them down."
LONDON — Associated Press writers Lori Hinnant, Sylvia Hui, Raphael Satter, David Keyton and Niko Price in London and Alison Mutler in Bucharest contributed to this report.
Latest Nation & World
Rebekah Jones bonds out of jail and says she has tested positive for COVID-19
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CCC student spreads love - one quilt at a time
CCC student Marsha Monestersky (right) shares a quilt with Emerson Hasgood of the Jeddito Chapter on the Navajo Nation.
Flagstaff, Ariz. - Coconino Community College has some of the most captivating students. Each of them has something special to bring to the College. One student in particular, Marsha Monestersky, has an extraordinary passion for helping others. The warmth in her heart—and the warmth of her delivered quilts—hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Monestersky is the Program Director for Forgotten People, a Navajo Nation organization that helps to build homes, sanitation structures and water systems, give out solar systems and lights, food items and blankets to support the development of Indigenous Holistic Sustainable Communities.
This past December, Monestersky collaborated with Quilts Beyond Borders (QBB), a charity dedicated to providing handmade quilts to those in need in different areas of the world. She and the organization gave more than 500 quilts to individuals on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona. She lived on the Navajo Nation for 23 years of her life and does everything in her power to give back.
“This is my fifth year working with Quilts Beyond Borders,” Monestersky said. “[We are] mostly focused on the former Bennett Freeze, where people were denied the ability to fix and repair homes for over 40 years, and the Hopi Petition lands where people are affected by relocation by the U.S. government.”
The CCC General Studies student explained that time, effort and love go into the making of each quilt. Plus, no two are alike. They come in various sizes -- for the lap, to hang on the wall and to put on the bed.
Monestersky visited schools, communities, various Chapter Houses and senior living areas to make sure everyone could reap the benefits of the comforting quilts.
“I was contacted by Quilts Beyond Borders [several years ago] and I heard about the work of their organization, and I said, ‘Wow, it would be really wonderful [if] we could set up something and give out quilts,’” Monestersky said.
Since then, she has delivered the hand-crafted pieces in Big Mountain, Black Mesa, Tuba City, Cameron and Leupp.
She explained that she does this deed around Christmas time, because she wants people on the Navajo Nation to have something to look forward to during the holiday, in addition to keeping warm and cozy.
“Christmas can be a lonely time, you know, if you don’t have the family support network,” Monestersky said.
Furthermore, Monestersky added that she wanted to do something special for the Navajo Code Talkers. She spoke with the President at QBB and decided to nominate them for Quilts of Valor.
According to the Quilts of Valor website, “The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
Monestersky noted that she was honored to spend her winter break away from CCC to give to the community.
“I’ve been able to sit with them [Navajo Code Talkers] and hear stories of their battles they were engaged in. It’s like a front seat to experiencing something that’s totally unique,” Monestersky said.
The next step for the scholar is to bring quilts to veterans because there are many individuals on the Navajo Nation who have served in the military.
“I feel like the true meaning of the holiday season is giving, not receiving,” Monestersky said.
- Brittany Viar
Friday, 9th February 2018
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Formation and Evolution of Color Patterns
Principal Investigator: Marie MANCEAU, Dr Cnrs
PSL / ERC
Our laboratory is interested in the developmental processes governing the evolution of adaptive traits in Vertebrates. As a model, we study color patterning (i.e., distribution of color across the body) in populations of songbirds and rodents. Using in ovo manipulation, genetics, and imaging, we test the function of pigmentation genes in color pattern formation and study how changes in these genes contribute to variation in this trait.
Color patterns (i.e., distribution of color across the body) are crucial for survival and reproductive success and vary tremendously among animals. Despite their ecological importance, the genetic and developmental mechanisms responsible for the formation and variation of naturally-occurring color patterns have remained a black box. To address this question, our laboratory takes advantage of (1) the typical color pattern of the zebra finch (genus Taeniopygia; Figure1), an Australian song bird which has the technical advantages of both an avian model (i.e., amenability to experimental embryology through in ovo manipulation) and a genetic model (i.e., sequenced genome, availability of molecular tools, transgenic strategies), and (2) the extensive natural variation in the periodic patterns of various species of rodents.
Figure 1: We use the simple color pattern of the zebra finch (Taeniopygiaguttata) to understand pigment pattern formation and variation.
download the picture
Pre-Pattern Formation
We previously showed in rodents that the formation of the simple dorso-ventral color pattern (present in most Vertebrates) relies on the establishment of an embryonic "pre-pattern" (i.e., the spatial restriction of pigmentation genes) causing regional differences in pigment cell behavior (Figure 2). What developmental pathways act upstream of pigmentation genes to create a pre-pattern? To answer this question, we use classical embryological manipulations, gene expression analyses and gain- and loss-of-function experiments in zebra finch embryos to (1) investigate the role of cell lineage and instructing neighboring organs on the formation of the pre-pattern and (2) study the molecular pathways controlling this process. Color pre-pattern formation is a great model to understand how developmental pathways establish discrete domains in the skin, and more generally, govern positional signaling in the embryo.
Figure 2: The spatial restriction of pigmentation gene expression in the rodent embryo forms a pre-pattern resulting in regional differences in pigment cell behavior and thus, in color distribution. Left panel: Agouti expression, in purple. Right panel: confocal and optical views of pigment cells in the embryonic skin, in green.
Color Pattern Variation
Small changes in the pre-pattern can provoke large changes in the adult color pattern that impact fitness in the wild. What type of genes and developmental mechanisms constrain (or promote) color pattern evolution in Vertebrates? In finches, we use existing natural variation in the extent and position of colored body domains characterizing closely-related species. In these birds, we integrate a quantitative genetic approach and developmental biology to pinpoint the genetic changes and the subsequent developmental modifications responsible for variation in color patterns in birds.
Complex Color Patterning
Many animals display complex and periodic patterns (from zebra stripes to leopard spots) superimposed to the typical colored domains observed in most Vertebrates. How do periodic patterns form? Using a combination of gene expression analyses and mathematical modeling in field-caught and museum specimens of rodents, we work to identify the molecular factors establishing periodic patterns in the skin. We test whether these pattern-forming mechanisms (1) rely on the formation of embryonic pre-patterns and (2) act through theoretical mechanismspredicted to produce naturally-occurring complex patterns. We also investigate how developmental and phylogenetic constraints shape the evolution of periodic patterns in the skin.
- Bailleul, R., Manceau, M., and Touboul, J. (2020). A “Numerical Evo-Devo” Synthesis for the Identification of Pattern-Forming Factors. Cells 9.
- Bailleul, R., Curantz, C., Desmarquet-Trin Dinh, C., Hidalgo, M., Touboul, J., and Manceau, M. (2019). Symmetry breaking in the embryonic skin triggers directional and sequential plumage patterning. PLoS Biol. 17, e3000448.
- Haupaix, N., and Manceau, M. (2019). The embryonic origin of periodic color patterns. Dev. Biol.
- Haupaix, N., Curantz, C., Bailleul, R., Beck, S., Robic, A., and Manceau, M. (2018). The periodic coloration in birds forms through a prepattern of somite origin. Science 361.
- Friocourt, F., Lafont, A.-G., Kress, C., Pain, B., Manceau, M., Dufour, S. & Chédotal, A., (2017), Recurrent DCC gene losses during bird evolution. Sci Rep 7, 37569.
- Mallarino, R., Henegar, C., Mirasierra, M., Manceau, M., Schradin, C., Vallejo, M., Beronja, S., Barsh, G. S., Hoekstra, H. E. (2016), Developmental mechanisms of stripe patterns in rodents. Nature 539, 518–523.
- Mallarino, R., Hoekstra, H. E. & Manceau, M. (2016), Developmental genetics in emerging rodent models: case studies and perspectives. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, Developmental mechanisms, patterning and evolution 39, 182–186.
- Metz H. C., Manceau M. & Hoekstra H. E. ( 2011), Turing patterns: how the fish got its spots. Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research, 24(1):12-4.
- Manceau M., Domingues V., Mallarino R. & Hoekstra H. E. (2011), The developmental role of Agouti in the evolution of color pattern. Science, 331:1062-5.
- Manceau M., Domingues V., Linnen C. R., Rosenblum E. B. & Hoekstra H. E. (2010), Convergence in pigmentation at multiple levels: mutations, genes and function. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 365:2439-50.
- Kingsley E. P., Manceau M., Wiley C. D. & Hoekstra H. E. (2009), Melanism in Peromyscusis caused by independent mutations in Agouti. PLoS One, 4:e6435.
- Lagha M., Kormish J. D., Rocancourt D., Manceau M., Epstein J. A., Zaret K. S., Relaix F. & Buckingham M. E. (2008), Pax3 regulation of FGF signaling affects the progression of embryonic progenitor cells into the myogenic program. Genes & Development, 22(13):1828-37.
- Manceau M., Gros J., Savage K., Thomé V., McPherron A., Paterson B. & Marcelle C. (2008), Myostatin promotes the terminal differentiation of embryonic muscle progenitors. Genes & Development, 22(5):668-81.
- Gros J., Manceau M., Thomé V. & Marcelle C. (2005), A common somitic origin for embryonic muscle progenitors and satellite cells. Nature, 435(7044):954-8.
- Manceau M., Marcelle C. & Gros J. (2005), A common somitic origin for embryonic muscle progenitors. Med. Sciences, 21(11):915-7.
Group leader:
Manceau Marie, CRCN CNRS
Postdoctoral fellows & PhD Students:
Curantz Camille, PhD student
Technical staff:
Desmarquet Carole, IEHC INSERM
Lectures are open to all, free of charge and without prior registration.
1530 la lettre
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IN MUNICH
Sessions are available for:
CASTING PREPARATION
BOOKED ROLES
E-CASTING SHOOTING
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ACTING SCHOOL AUDITIONS
ABOUT ME VIDEOS
Shoot an About Me that lets the audience see who you are and not what you think you have to present. Shine, be original and show your strengths.
Below is a selection of About Me's that I have coached, filmed and edited.
THE POWER OF FLOW
UNLEASHING THE MIND AND IMAGINATION
Biodanza Studio, Munich
THE ENERGY IN BODY LANGUAGE
ADRIAN CASTILLA (1983)
A born and raised New Yorker, Adrian began acting at the age of five when he stepped onto an off-broadway stage for the first time.
He acted throughout his childhood in Chile and NY, including in his father's films (Sergio Castilla) which participated at New York Film Festival 1996, Sundance Film Festival 2001 and Tribeca Film Festival 2007.
Adrian formally trained under teachers from New York University, Stella Adler Studios and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London as well as under Fernando Piernas in Madrid.
He has lived in Munich since 2011 teaching, coaching and directing in German, English and Spanish. He is currently also teaching at the München Film Akademie.
Telephone: +49 176 63497691
adrian@castilla-coaching.com
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Ireland - Latest News
Amid complaints, Irish broadcaster again apologizes for blasphemous NYE sketch
Jan 11, 2021 - 10:54 am .- After receiving thousands of complaints from citizens and vocal criticism from religious leaders, Ireland’s state broadcaster has apologized after a sketch on its New Year’s Eve programming joked about sexual assault, God, and the Virgin Mary.
Ireland’s Msgr. Hugh O'Flaherty, a Vatican ‘defender of the weak’
Dec 29, 2020 - 11:05 am .- Msgr. Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish priest who hid Italian Jews from the Nazis and went on to baptize the former head of the Gestapo in Rome, is world renowned for the heroism he displayed during and after World War II.
‘It places Christ at the center’: All-Ireland Primate’s rosary crusade against COVID-19
Oct 9, 2020 - 08:15 am .- The Primate of All Ireland has launched a nationwide Family Rosary Crusade, encouraging Catholics to pray the rosary daily in October against COVID-19.
6,666 abortions performed in Ireland last year after repeal of pro-life law
Jun 30, 2020 - 09:30 am .- A total of 6,666 abortions were performed in Ireland in the first year following the repeal of the country’s pro-life law, according to official figures released Tuesday.
Ireland highlighted in State Department human trafficking report
Jun 26, 2020 - 11:30 am .- Ireland received its lowest rating ever by the U.S. State Department for its efforts to combat human trafficking, in the agency’s annual trafficking report released on Thursday.
Irish churches exempted from 50 person limit during coronavirus reopening
Jun 26, 2020 - 10:00 am .- Churches and other places of worship in Ireland will be permitted to open to more than 50 people, following a new exception to the country’s Phase Three coronavirus reopening.
Filmmakers point to Knock Shrine as a place of hope for Ireland
Feb 2, 2020 - 02:11 pm .- As Ireland grapples with high rates of depression and suicide, Irish filmmakers point to the Knock Shrine as a place of hope and healing.
Push for buffer zones in Ireland follows pro-life vigil outside Dublin hospital
Jan 2, 2020 - 02:29 pm .- A pro-life rosary vigil on New Year’s Day outside Dublin’s National Maternity Hospital sparked calls by abortion supporters for “exclusion zones” around clinics in Ireland.
Catholic Church discovered in Dublin archeology dig
Dec 5, 2019 - 07:00 pm .- Following the demolition of a Dublin building, archaeologists recently discovered the foundations a 300-year-old Catholic Church that was used during times of persecution.
Dublin archdiocese to shift sacrament prep from schools to parishes, families
Dec 4, 2019 - 02:23 pm .- Catholic sacramental preparation must change to stress the primary role of families and to reach students who do not go to Catholic schools, said Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin this week. The archbishop announced a shift in sacrament prep from schools to parishes and families.
Irish nuns’ transfer of hospital land criticized over abortion plans
Nov 26, 2019 - 01:30 pm .- A pending land transfer from a religious community to the Irish government for the construction of a new maternity hospital has sparked new controversy, as the hospital is expected to perform abortions under new laws permitting the procedure.
Miraculous healing at Knock Shrine confirmed by Irish bishops
Sep 5, 2019 - 04:24 pm .- The Catholic Church in Ireland has for the first time recognized a miracle attached to the Knock Shrine, where a woman was cured of multiple sclerosis thirty years ago.
A Catholic group wants to honor Ireland’s oldest grandparents
Aug 16, 2019 - 12:04 am .- In anticipation of the Irish National Grandparents Pilgrimage, a Catholic group has launched a search for the oldest grandparents in Ireland.
In Ireland, Catholic group warns of housing discrimination against migrants
Aug 15, 2019 - 05:29 pm .- A representative from an Irish Catholic charity has warned that discrimination against immigrants in the private housing market has forced more people to pursue public housing.
Amid rise in gang violence, Irish archbishop calls for new temperance movement
Jul 10, 2019 - 12:18 am .- An archbishop in Northern Ireland has called for the reigniting of a “temperance movement” to address the problem of alcohol and drugs, in the wake of increasing gang violence in the country.
Japan awards priest for promoting friendship in Africa through judo
Jul 8, 2019 - 05:19 pm .- A Capuchin Franciscan priest from Northern Ireland who spent 50 years on mission in Zambia has been awarded one of Japan’s highest honors for his promotion of judo in Africa.
Thousands of Irish pro-lifers rally in Dublin, say abortion law must go
Jul 8, 2019 - 04:51 pm .- An estimated 10,000 Irish pro-life advocates attended the first major pro-life rally and march in Ireland since the country implemented permissive abortion legislation, with speakers emphasizing their determination to continue working to restore legal protections for unborn children.
Catholic foster child can attend Protestant school, Irish judge rules
Jul 8, 2019 - 10:00 am .- A judge in Ireland has decided that a Catholic girl in foster care can attend a Protestant Church of Ireland school, even though the girl was raised Catholic and her parents objected to her attending the school.
Right to life a 'core value' of newly-launched Irish political party
May 2, 2019 - 03:01 am .- The leader of a new political party that spans both Ireland and Northern Ireland promised to uphold the right to life as a key value at the party’s launch on Tuesday.
Catholic church vandalized in Northern Ireland
Apr 23, 2019 - 04:01 pm .- A Catholic church in Northern Ireland was desecrated with paint in the early hours of Easter Sunday morning, receiving disapproval from political officials.
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Policy Analysis No. 847
Government and the Cost of Living: Income‐Based vs. Cost‐Based Approaches to Alleviating Poverty
By Ryan Bourne
Federal, state, and local governments seek to assist poor households financially using transfers, minimum wage laws, and subsidies for important goods and services. This “income‐based” approach to alleviating poverty aims both to raise household incomes directly and to shift the cost of items, such as food, housing, or health care, to taxpayers. Most contemporary ideas to help the poor sit firmly within this paradigm.
A “cost‐based” approach would instead reform existing government interventions that raise living costs for the poor. Shelter, food, transport, and apparel and footwear alone account for 59 percent of spending by the average household in the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution, and government policies raise prices in all those sectors. Local land‐use and zoning regulations constrain housing supply, which raises housing costs and deters labor mobility. State child‐care staffing regulations reduce the number of infant centers in poor areas, increasing prices and reducing the payoff to work. The federal sugar program, milk‐marketing orders, and ethanol mandates make grocery shopping more expensive. Federal fuel‐standard regulations and state‐level automobile dealership laws increase the cost of driving. Protectionist tariffs raise clothing and footwear prices, and state occupational licensing creates barriers to entry that raise the price of many services, from hair braiding to dentistry, while reducing labor‐market opportunities.
Using cautious assumptions, I estimate that these interventions, combined, cost typical low‐income households between $830 and $3,500 per year directly through higher prices. Pro‐market reforms in these areas could significantly reduce living costs for the poor, while also improving labor mobility and job matching. With the federal budget deficit growing and demands for radical labor‐market policies proliferating, such an agenda would represent an economically efficient means of improving the well‐being of the poor without requiring more government spending or intervention.
American government at the federal, state, and local levels delivers policies intended to help households on low incomes. Total annual expenditure on U.S. anti-poverty programs is estimated to exceed $1 trillion per year.1 Governments redistribute income, provide benefits-in-kind, and subsidize the provision of certain services on the basis of need. They also pass mandates and regulations, such as minimum wage laws or limits on drug prices.
Though liberals and conservatives have different theories about the causes of poverty, the dominant paradigm for alleviating it rests on “income-based” approaches.2 Policies attempt to raise the incomes of the poor directly through cash transfers, tax breaks, and minimum wage laws or to raise the poor’s disposable income indirectly by shifting expenditure on goods and services to taxpayers through programs such as Medicaid.
This income-based approach underpins contemporary policy ideas. Senate Democrats advocate a $15 per hour federal minimum wage.3 Their 2016 presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), proposed new universal preschool and child-care programs.4 More recently, Senator Sanders backed a federal jobs guarantee designed to ensure a labor market wage floor.5
Universal basic income and negative income taxes, regularly touted as more efficient and freedom-enhancing means of income redistribution, nevertheless remain firmly in the income-based school of poverty alleviation.6 “Reform conservatives” have likewise long advocated for increasing the generosity of the earned income and child tax credits.7 Even conservatives who want to see less generous redistributive programs agree that income growth is important to reduce poverty.8 They want to improve incentives and broaden economic growth so that the poor can earn their own way out of poverty.
Income is important to well-being. But focusing on earnings and transfers overlooks another way to help the less fortunate: reforming existing government policies that raise the prices of basic goods and services and thereby hurt the poor through higher living costs.
In markets where low-income households spend significant amounts — on housing, childcare, food, transport, clothing, and services regulated through occupational licensing — interventions designed to achieve other objectives restrict supply and in turn raise prices. Since these goods are relative necessities, these interventions impose disproportionate burdens on the poor. They are left with less disposable income, heightening calls for further taxpayer-funded redistribution or government interventions to counteract the effects of the policy.
This paper sets out nine policy areas across all levels of government that, combined, directly raise spending for typical households in the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution by anywhere from $830 to $3,500 per year. This list is hardly comprehensive; to avoid subjective judgments about the effect on prices relative to other objectives, this analysis focuses exclusively on anti-competitive interventions and regulations that both raise prices and reduce overall economic efficiency.9 A “cost-based” approach to poverty alleviation through reform in these areas could therefore provide a significant financial boost to low-income households.
For too long, scholars on the left and right have thought about alleviating poverty as something that should occur after market-based activity has taken place. But removing misguided regulatory interventions would reduce poverty while expanding markets, simultaneously reducing the cost of living for low-income families and growing the economy. Even on cautious assumptions, the indicative numbers outlined here suggest that reform in these areas could be a powerful tool against poverty and should take precedence over new programs, regulations, and interventions.
Why a pro-market agenda for those on low incomes?
The dominant “income-based” approach to helping the poor can directly alleviate financial hardship. Accounting for federal cash benefits, tax credits, and benefits-in-kind, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that the U.S. poverty rate fell from 18.9 to 10.9 percent between 1964 and 2011, as redistributive spending increased substantially.10 Bruce Meyer and Derek Wu recently concluded that five of the six programs they examined — Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, housing assistance, and food stamps — help reduce measured poverty substantially.11
Of course, these types of analyses fail to model a counterfactual world in which extensive government redistribution does not exist. With lower tax burdens, civil society institutions and charities would surely offer more generous support for those in need. Without extensive welfare and entitlement programs, worker and household behavior in the long run would be very different. The real net effect of government redistribution on the financial position of poor households is uncertain and theoretically ambiguous.
But it would be unsurprising if government transfers and benefits-in-kind raised disposable incomes for some recipients above what they could obtain from market-based activity and civil society assistance, particularly in the short run. Minimum wage hikes likewise raise incomes for workers from poor households with low pay rates who are lucky enough to keep their jobs and hours (though minimum wages are not a well-targeted poverty reduction tool generally).12
Yet, even accepting that the “income-based” approach raises income levels for many today does not mean that further expanding this approach is the best way to help the poor going forward. Consider the following:
Diminishing returns. Economists Bruce Meyer and James Sullivan have estimated that less than one-third of the reduction in the after-tax income poverty rate seen between 1960 and 2010 took place after 1972, with no progress at all after 2000, despite massive spending increases.13 This is consistent with redistribution exhibiting diminishing returns as a poverty- reduction tool.
The fiscal environment. The federal deficit is projected to rise to 5.1 percent of GDP by 2022.14 This adds to an unsustainable long-term federal debt outlook, driven primarily by projected increases in Social Security and Medicare spending as the population ages.15 Increasing spending to further reduce poverty would, absent tax increases, worsen the structural deficit and make an unsustainable fiscal outlook worse.
Negative consequences of more redistribution. Substantial additional redistribution would eventually require raising taxes. This would depress the level of GDP by raising marginal tax rates, at a time when future potential economic growth rates are already expected to be low.16 The means-tested nature of redistributive transfers means that increasing their generosity also results in either steeper withdrawal rates for recipients or more people being drawn into the system. The higher effective marginal tax rates both these outcomes generate would further erode work incentives.
Negative consequences of minimum wage hikes. Set conservatively, minimum wages have modest effects on overall employment, with the burden falling heavily on those with low levels of labor market attachment (such as teenagers).17 Recent evidence from Seattle suggests much larger disemployment effects occur when minimum wages are increased from an already high level.18 Huge minimum wage hikes would therefore bring significant risks at a time when the labor market is looking increasingly healthy, with the unemployment rate at just 4 percent.19
Redistribution is vulnerable to changing sentiment. Attitudes to welfare can be volatile, and preferences for redistribution replaced by narratives about “moochers” and “welfare queens.” The experience of other countries suggests politicians find it easier to cut working-age welfare expenditure in times of fiscal crisis than other major spending categories.20
You do not have to believe existing anti-poverty programs have failed in order to acknowledge these unintended consequences, diminishing returns, and need for taxpayer goodwill.
A “cost-based” agenda focused on removing damaging government interventions, in contrast, would not require additional government spending. By making essential goods cheaper, such a policy may reduce spending levels by lowering the political demands for redistributive transfers. If delivered through reforms to policies that currently undermine economic efficiency, it would also raise GDP and market-obtained incomes without the risks of unemployment from minimum wage hikes or the need for higher marginal tax rates. A beneficial side effect might also be restored faith in the market economy to deliver affordable goods and services, resulting in a political environment more conducive to pro-growth reforms in other sectors.
None of this means a pro-market cost-of-living agenda would be easy to deliver. Powerful supporters of existing interventions will resist such change. Zoning and land-use planning reforms often run counter to the interests of existing homeowners and will be opposed by coalitions of NIMBYs.21 Professionals with occupational licenses will argue that licensing improves service quality. Industries that benefit from extensive government protection, such as dairy and sugar farmers, textiles producers, and automobile dealerships, will petition state and federal politicians to protect their own interests. The bureaucracies that implement these programs and regulations also have a vested interest in ensuring their continuation.
Yet, these interventions currently come at a high cost to the poor. A pro-market “cost-based” reform agenda to reduce prices of essential goods and services should be considered an important tool in an effective and enduring “first do no harm” approach to reducing poverty.
Where might a pro-market agenda have a big effect?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey shows the average amount spent by households across the income distribution on categories of goods and services. Table 1 shows households in the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution tend to spend a much higher proportion than the rest of the population on “essential” goods and services. Shelter, food, transport, and apparel together account for 59 percent of the $25,318 spent by the average household in the poorest income quintile, compared with 50.9 percent for the average household across the whole population and 46.5 percent for the average household in the richest quintile.
Table 1: Expenditure by category
Source: Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, https://www.bls.gov/cex/tables.htm#avgexp.
This masks substantial differences by household composition and region. The average single-parent family spends proportionately more on apparel than do two-parent families. Households in some major U.S. cities spend much more on shelter. In San Francisco, even the average household apportions as much as 28.7 percent of spending to shelter, and similarly high figures are seen in New York (26.5 percent), Boston (25.2 percent), Los Angeles (24.2 percent), and Miami (24.0 percent).22 Families with young children where both parents are employed face very costly child-care bills too. In Washington, D.C., Child Care Aware estimates an average annual cost of formal infant care of $23,089.23
Without data disaggregated by region, household composition, and income level, one cannot reach firm conclusions about the financial costs of existing policies to individual families. Nevertheless, this high-level analysis shows markets where a meaningful anti-poverty agenda will have the biggest effect. Housing and child-care costs are likely to be particularly significant for those households in major metropolitan cities or with young children.
The remaining analysis highlights current government policies that drive up the cost of housing, childcare, food, transport, apparel and footwear, and services with occupational licensing requirements, and estimates their likely cost to poorer households.24
The single largest expenditure for most families is shelter (rent or the cost of owner-occupied housing). It makes up 25.2 percent of total spending for the average household in the poorest quintile, and 21.8 percent for the average single-parent household. Since the poorest quintile includes many older and poorer households with low incomes, spending as a proportion of income is higher still. The Pew Foundation estimates households in the bottom third of the income distribution spent 40 percent of their income on housing in 2014, while renters spent nearly half.25
The United States has relatively cheaper housing overall than other major developed English-speaking countries. But prices and rents are extraordinarily high in certain metropolitan areas. Demographia’s median multiple index (median house price divided by median income) is over 9 in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and just below 6 for Seattle and New York (see Table 2).26 Thirty overall housing markets and 13 major metropolitan markets are defined as “severely unaffordable,” meaning they have median multiples of 5.1 or over. But even these are quite broad markets, including suburban areas on the outskirts of cities. The online housing marketplace Zumper estimates that the median one-bedroom rental price in March 2018 was $3,400 per month in San Francisco; $2,900 in New York; $2,450 in San Jose; $2,300 in Boston; and $2,220 in Washington, D.C.27
Table 2: Severely unaffordable housing markets
Source: Demographia.com, 14th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, 2018, January 22, 2018, http://demographia.com/dhi.pdf
Note: The median multiple is the result of dividing median house price by median household income.
High housing costs have major consequences for the poor, both in direct financial terms and, indirectly, in terms of labor mobility and job match. They encourage families to live in smaller apartments and condominiums, to commute greater distances to jobs, and can even act as a prohibitive financial barrier to taking up employment opportunities in certain cities.
Regulatory restraints at the local-government level have a significant effect on housing affordability. Land-use planning and zoning laws — including urban growth boundaries, minimum lot sizes, density and height restrictions, and design requirements — raise the costs associated with providing new housing, restricting the potential supply and making it less responsive to changes in demand. The result of the latter is structurally higher prices as incomes rise and the population grows.
Because of the vast, complex, and differentiated nature of regulations across the country, it is difficult to measure and compare the permissiveness toward development across regions, but economists have used two techniques to measure the effects of regulations.
Some estimate an implied “regulatory tax” as the deviation between new house prices and marginal building costs. Using this method, Ed Glaeser, Joseph Gyourko, and Raven Saks estimated that Manhattan condominium prices were 50 percent higher in the early 2000s than under a free development regime.28 For single-family homes across the country, their estimates show regulatory costs much higher in some areas than others — being indistinguishable from zero in cities such as Baltimore and Houston, but as high as 53 percent in the San Francisco Bay Area, 34 percent in Los Angeles, 22 percent in Washington, D.C., and 19 percent in Boston. Work by the Cato Institute’s Vanessa Brown Calder has subsequently found that regulatory burdens have intensified in many areas since the Glaeser et al. article appeared. We would therefore expect these implied regulatory taxes to be higher in many cities today.29
Other economists estimate the effect of land-use regulations on prices and rents econometrically. Results from these studies, again, consistently suggest that tighter regulatory constraints drive higher housing costs. A 1996 paper by Stephen Malpezzi examining metropolitan markets found that increasing regulation by one standard deviation from average lowered construction by 11 percent and raised house prices by 22 percent.30 A more recent assessment found that a similar one-standard-deviation increase reduced construction by a larger 17 percent, with twice the upward effect — 34 percent — on housing prices.31 A study of cities in Florida also found that restricting growth through farm preservation and open-space zoning made housing more expensive, with the most pronounced effects on the price of smaller houses.32
Anti-development regulations have regressive effects. Poorer households are more likely to rent (61 percent of households in the bottom quintile and 66 percent of single-parent households rent, compared with just 38 percent for the population as a whole). An increase in housing costs has unambiguously negative consequences for renters. Poor households also tend to spend relatively more on housing, are more likely to value lower housing costs over improved amenities, and are more susceptible to being locked out of rich, productive cities and the economic opportunities they bring. This can have a big macroeconomic impact. Chang-Tai Hsieh and Enrico Moretti estimate that lowering the level of housing regulation to the median level across all U.S. cities for New York, San Francisco, and San Jose alone would raise long-term U.S. GDP by nearly 9 percent.33
The negative consequences of land-use and zoning laws can also result in policies that exacerbate these regressive effects further. Local rent control laws, for example, are notionally justified as attempts to keep rents affordable, but binding controls deter investment in the rentable stock and encourage existing landlords to convert units to noncontrolled tenure types or to be more discerning about tenants. A recent study on the expansion of rent control in San Francisco in 1994 shows how this hurts the poor.34 Landlords converted some properties to owner-occupied apartments and condos better suited to higher-income families. The overall supply of new housing fell too, increasing market rents by over 5 percent. Rent control both increased the cost of rental accommodation and intensified gentrification.
Federal taxpayers foot the bill for these mistakes, with relatively more housing aid flowing to states with restrictive zoning and land-use rules.35 Treating the symptoms in this way helps entrench unnecessarily restrictive regulations. Subsidies ease the pressure on local governments to address the cause of high housing costs.
How much do existing regulations raise house prices or rents for households in the poorest 20 percent of the income distribution? It depends on where they live. Residents in many rural areas face no real housing cost increases. But estimates of regulatory taxes for major metropolitan areas by Glaeser et al. imply that average annual housing costs in New York are $2,060 more than in a competitive housing market; $3,200 in Boston; $5,230 in Los Angeles; $3,939 in D.C.; and a whopping $11,500 in San Francisco.36
Some degree of regulatory tax in major cities might be appropriate given the externalities associated with new building, not least congestion. In cities such as San Francisco, the income distribution is very different from the national average too, meaning that there are fewer poor people residing in the city who would benefit directly from liberalization (though this is partly the result of high housing costs).37 On the flip side, the Glaeser et al. estimates apply to the housing markets of nearly 20 years ago; since then the regulatory burden has intensified. New York as a whole has an income distribution similar to the overall U.S. population. Even using Glaeser’s older regulatory tax estimate implies that the poorest 20 percent there currently pay $1,044 per year more for shelter than they would under a permissive development regime.38 These calculations would be much higher still for several cities in California.
Calculating an average effect for poor households across the country is difficult. Salim Furth has estimated that the average household’s annual housing costs increase by $1,700 as a result of land-use regulation. This implies housing costs for the poorest fifth are about $1,000 higher than they need be annually, given relative differences in spending on shelter. A similar result arises using Calder’s alternative measure of land-use regulation. Making the assumption that those states with above-average regulatory burdens were able to reduce these to the average of the rest of the country implies annual savings of $1,075 per year for poor households. But given that poorer households are more likely to live in rural areas, those figures may somewhat overestimate the effect.
Nevertheless, the direct cost of land-use planning and zoning regulations on low-income households could reasonably be anywhere between $0 and around $2,000 per year in the long term, depending on location. The broader economic costs are much greater still, given the secondary effect of poorer families finding it more difficult to move to areas with high-paying jobs. For single-parent households the range would be even wider, with regulatory costs up to around $3,500 or more for wealthier single-parent households in California’s most restrictive cities. Land-use and zoning liberalization could, in the long term, reduce housing costs significantly and greatly increase economic opportunities.
Childcare is expensive. The average annual cost of infant-center care varies from a low of $5,178 in Mississippi to a high of $23,089 in D.C. (25.7 percent and 114.5 percent of the federal poverty income level, respectively).39 Even accounting for income variance by state, care costs for an infant average 89.1 percent of median single-parent family income in D.C.; 70.9 percent in Massachusetts; and 57.0 percent in New York. Even in cheaper states, these costs average 27.2 percent in Mississippi; 28.9 percent in Louisiana; and 30.0 percent in Alabama.40 For a family with two young children, the cost burden can be extremely heavy.
State governments control child-care policy, and variation exists in terms of assistance for poorer families.41 Overall, though, U.S. out-of-pocket costs for a typical single parent working full time are higher than any other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) country.42 Not only are U.S. market prices higher than average, but parents receive less in the way of taxpayer subsidies.
These high prices can have negative consequences for poor families. Poorer single mothers are sensitive to child-care prices when making decisions about entering the labor market.43 Mothers from poorer families, or those with low levels of educational attainment, are least likely to be working.44 Previous data from the U.S. Census Bureau also show that poorer families are price sensitive in the type of care they choose. Children with employed mothers living in poverty are more than twice as likely to be cared for by an unlicensed relative.45
More mothers of young children are choosing to work (in 1975, 28.3 percent of mothers with children under the age of 3 and 33.2 percent of mothers with children under the age of 6 were employed, compared with 59.4 and 61.5 percent, respectively, in 2016), making high child-care costs a salient political issue. Pressure is building for governments to help poor families with these costs.46
There are good reasons why prices for formal childcare are high. It is a labor-intensive personalized service entailing the care of children, whom parents tend to value highly. A strong correlation between areas with high child-care costs and costs as a proportion of income suggests childcare is strongly “income-elastic” too — richer people want to spend relatively more on it.
Yet economic evidence suggests child-care prices are also driven higher by state-level regulations. Input requirements designed to improve care “quality,” including staff-qualification requirements and minimum staff-to-child ratios, significantly raise prices, with little evidence that they achieve other objectives.
These regulations are particularly regressive but get justified on “market failure” grounds. Parents are supposedly unable to observe accurately the quality of care in the sector, or underestimate the social benefits arising from “high-quality” childcare, necessitating minimum quality standards.
But these theoretical arguments are not robust and ignore the market context.47 Most importantly, the regulations cannot ensure quality directly, not least because the true child-care market includes much more than formal infant-center care. If regulations affect prices, they can be the cause of substitution away from formal centers into more informal arrangements, the quality of which varies greatly.
Suppose a new regulation requires an increase in the staff-child ratio or child-care workers to achieve higher qualification levels. The former could increase quality by increasing staff interactions with individual children and the latter by making caregivers better trained to interact with the child in ways that foster development. The combination of the regulations may satisfy some parents that their children will be well cared for, and this “quality assurance” effect may raise overall demand for formal care.
Yet, raising the staff-child ratio has the effect of restricting the revenue-raising potential of each worker or of raising staffing requirements for a given number of children. These increased costs reduce the supply of formal care, thus increasing prices, and could lead parents to choose less costly alternatives. If centers compensate by paying staff lower wages to avoid this, the industry may attract lower-quality workers. Child-care providers likewise may respond to the cost increase arising from higher government certification requirements on caregivers by hiring cheaper, lower-quality support staff or purchasing lower-quality equipment. The effects of both regulations on the quality and use of childcare are therefore theoretically ambiguous.
Empirical work suggests that staff-child ratio regulation increases child-care prices substantially. Diana Thomas and Devon Gorry analyze variation in prices and staff-child ratios across states, estimating that loosening the requirement by one child across all age groups (regulations tend to vary by child age) reduces prices by between 9 and 20 percent.48 This supports an older result from Randal Heeb and Rebecca Kilburn, who found that reducing the number of children per staff member by two would raise the price of childcare by 12 percent.49
The poor suffer disproportionately from these higher prices. Thomas and Gorry show that a small but measurable number of mothers stop working altogether. These are more likely to be low-income people for whom the payoff for moving into work is smaller. Joseph Hotz and Mo Xiao, using a panel dataset across three census periods with extensive child-care center data, data on home care by state, and a host of control variables, find that tightening the staff-child ratio by one child reduces the number of child-care centers by 9.2 to 10.8 percent, without increasing employment levels at other centers.50 This reduced supply occurs exclusively in lower-income areas and leads to substitution to home daycare. Importantly, there is no evidence that increasing the stringency of this regulation improves quality. It simply reduces accessibility to formal care for the poor, making it more expensive and leading to substitution toward other care settings.
Staff qualification requirements also appear to have a big effect on prices. Thomas and Gorry find the requirement for lead teachers to have a high school diploma increases prices by between 25 and 46 percent. Hotz and Xiao likewise find that increasing the average required years of education of center directors by one year reduces the number of child-care centers in the average market by between 3.2 and 3.8 percent. Again, this effect manifests itself overwhelmingly in low-income areas, with quality improvements (proxied here by accreditation for the center) occurring in high-income areas.
Like housing, childcare is a sector where government regulations restrict the supply of the service to the financial detriment of the poor. For those on the margins of the labor market, child-care regulations can reduce the payoff to work. In return for these higher costs, there is little evidence that they yield much improvement in child-care quality. In fact, higher prices appear to cause demand substitution to potentially lower-quality childcare settings. (Though in the case of childcare, there is also a question about what “quality” actually means.)
Despite this evidence, some city and state governments continue undeterred. The D.C. government has passed regulations requiring teachers at child-care centers and caregivers at home-based centers to have associate degrees in early childhood education and assistant caregivers to obtain new child development associate certificates.51 Even if these do raise the quality of care, the requirements will further constrict supply — which is presumably why the District has delayed implementation and is engaged in new attempts to subsidize provision.52
Deregulation of staffing requirements could therefore significantly reduce prices to the benefit of the poor, who tend to put much less weight on the “quality” desired by richer families and regulators. The current costs of these regulations to low-income families are significant. The cautious end of Thomas and Gorry’s estimates suggests that even modest relaxation of staff-to-child ratios by one child at all age groups alone could reduce average child-care prices by $466 per year in Mississippi and $2,078 per year in Washington, D.C.53
Eliminating statutory regulations on child-care staffing entirely could reduce the cost of care even more significantly. Market mechanisms in the form of accreditation or certification agencies will arise if significant numbers of parents put a high premium on certain staffing structures and outcomes. Many major European countries already do not bother with mandated staff-to-child ratios, for example, seemingly with few ill effects.54
But extensive deregulation might be a leap too far for state policymakers. For the purposes of examining the cost of child-care regulations for a typical family with a young child in the poorest quintile, then, I assume that the “cost” of regulation equates roughly to the potential gains from a modest relaxation in the staff-child ratio, as outlined above. The net benefits to poor households of more extensive deregulation would be much larger. The broader economic benefits are greater still since lower prices allow more low-income family members to fulfill their labor market preferences.55
The average household in the poorest 20 percent of the income distribution spent $3,682 on food in 2016 (15.4 percent of total spending and the highest proportion of any income group). Single-parent households spend proportionately more than other household types. Yet, the federal government makes groceries more expensive through such policies as milk-marketing orders, sugar programs, and ethanol mandates.
Milk-Marketing Orders. The federal government operates a byzantine system of marketing orders, price and income supports, and trade barriers in dairy markets.56
Federal milk-marketing orders set monthly minimum prices that dairy processors must pay dairy farmers in 10 regions. These account for around 60 percent of total production, with another fifth of the remaining 40 percent from California, which operates similar schemes at the state level.57 The marketing orders set regional prices for fluid milk and use complex formulae to determine nationwide prices for three other classes (soft manufactured products such as ice cream, hard cheese and cream cheese, and butter and dry milk).
The Milk Support Program supplements this with guarantees that the government will purchase any amount of cheese, butter, and dry milk from processors at a set minimum price. In order to ensure that these prices are not undercut by foreign producers, import barriers then insulate domestic dairy producers from competition through tariff rate quotas.
With modern storage techniques, there appears to be little need for this regional balkanization of the sector. The marketing orders and price supports stymie entrepreneurship and producers’ ability to provide low-cost milk to regions with higher milk prices. Import barriers further raise product prices and distort economic activity toward the dairy sector rather than allowing resources to be used most efficiently. The main economic effect of all this is higher average prices borne by consumers.
The best evidence of these price effects comes from Chouinard et al., who review the existing literature on what would happen if milk-marketing orders and associated supports were abolished.58 All studies suggest retail fluid milk prices would fall by between 15 and 20 percent. The effect on manufactured milk and processed dairy products is less clear. Averaging previous studies suggests butter and ice cream prices would fall by 3 percent and 1 percent respectively while, counterintuitively, fresh cream, coffee additives, and yogurt prices would increase by 1.3 percent and cheese prices would rise by 0.5 percent.59
The average poorest quintile household spent $246 per year on dairy products in 2016 ($97 on milk and fresh cream and $149 on other manufactured products).60 But this masks significant variation. The average single-parent family spends $353 on dairy products.61 African Americans, who are more likely to be in poverty, experience high rates of lactose intolerance, so spending on dairy products for poor whites is likely to be higher than the average figures suggest. The Consumer Expenditure Survey is not sufficiently disaggregated to calculate the cost of these programs to the average household in the poorest quintile. We need information about how consumers would react to price changes and how far they will substitute away from some dairy products to others to calculate net savings.
The Chouinard et al. model seeks to do just that. It suggests that “lower income families [would] benefit more than wealthier families” from eliminating federal milk-marketing orders, meaning the regulations currently are very regressive. They also find that families with young children benefit far more than the childless.
Their results suggest annual savings for white families with annual incomes of $10,000 from the abolition of federal milk-marketing orders of $44; $38 for those with incomes at $20,000; and $33 for those with incomes at $30,000. They estimate the regulatory burden for black families to be somewhere between a third and a half of this, meaning that the average black family would save somewhere between $14 and $22 per year.
Taking into account these differential racial burdens, the average household in the bottom quintile faces a current regulatory cost of approximately $38 per year from dairy interventions, and the average single-parent family a higher cost of $54 per year.62
Sugar intervention. In similar fashion, the U.S. federal government also effectively cartelizes the sugar market. As Cato scholar Colin Grabow has explained in detail, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) facilitates loans to sugar processors using raw sugarcane and refined beet sugar as collateral, effectively creating a floor for the domestic sugar price.63 To ensure that loans will likely be repaid, it then restricts the supply of domestic sugar through allotment quantities, raises demand by making purchases, and limits the amount of sugar that can be imported either without tariffs or with low tariffs.
Unsurprisingly, these anti-competitive actions, which restrict supply and inflate demand, raise domestic sugar prices substantially. Data from the USDA show that in March 2018 the U.S. raw sugar price was 24.73 cents per pound, almost double the world price of 12.83 cents.64 Not only do consumers pay higher retail prices for sugar but they also pay more for manufactured foods that contain sugar as an ingredient.
Economic analysis of the consumer cost of the program has examined the aggregate effect on consumers. Economist Michael Wohlgenant has suggested that the burden amounts to $2.4 billion per year, or an average of around $19 per household.65 A 2017 paper by John Beghin and Amani Elobeid estimated the loss to consumer welfare from the sugar program at between $2.4 billion and $4 billion in 2009 dollars.66 Adjusted for inflation, that is equivalent to $2.8 billion to $4.7 billion today.
This suggests that the program costs between $22 and $36 per year for the average household.67 Determining a more precise figure for low-income households is fraught with difficulty. On the one hand, poorer households tend to contain fewer people, and on the other, some evidence suggests overall sugar consumption is highest among those with the lowest incomes.68
In the absence of more complete evidence, I take the midpoint of these household estimates and assume that the costs of the program are spread evenly across individuals, such that the average poor household (with 1.6 members) is $18 per year worse off as a result of the policy, and the average single-parent family (with 2.9 members) is $33 worse off.
Renewable Fuel Standard. The federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates quotas for the amounts of biofuels blended into transportation fuel sold. The origins of the standard are the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which amended the Clean Air Act, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which expanded the ethanol mandates.
These regulations raise food prices for consumers. The increased demand for corn for biofuels raises the prices of corn and corn-based products directly. This higher price then raises production costs for meat and dairy products, since corn is used as animal feed. Dedicating agricultural land to growing corn also restricts available land supply for other crops, such as soybeans, raising their price too.
A 2009 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis found that demands for ethanol subsequently raised total food spending by between 0.8 and 1 percent.69 This corroborates the work of Richard Perrin, who estimated that growth in demand for ethanol raised overall food prices by 1 to 2 percent in 2008.70 But how much consumers would benefit financially from the repeal of the RFS at any given time depends on the oil price.
In 2014, when oil prices were much higher than today, CBO analysis suggested “suppliers would probably find it cost-effective to use a roughly 10 percent blend of corn ethanol in gasoline in 2017 even in the absence of the RFS,” meaning that total food spending would fall only very slightly were the RFS repealed (by 0.1 percent).71 Today, however, oil prices are significantly lower, meaning that there is a bigger incentive to use relatively more oil in gas production.
Given that the price of oil today falls between the levels seen in 2008 and 2009, I assume that the RFS currently raises food prices by 1 percent. Assuming that food spending is price inelastic, the direct cost of this policy can be estimated at about $39 per year for the average family in the lowest income quintile, or $58 for the average single-parent family.72
The average household in the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution spent $3,767 on transport in 2016 (15 percent of total spending). The vast majority was on private vehicles: $1,332 on vehicle purchases; $902 on gasoline and motor oil; and $1,308 on other vehicle expenses.73 Just $225 was spent, on average, on public transportation.
Averages mask the real experience of families, of course. Whereas 9 percent of all households do not have a vehicle,74 this increases to 20 percent for households in poverty and 11 percent for households with incomes at 100 to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Spending on motor vehicles for vehicle-owning households is therefore higher than the figures above suggest.75
Two government regulations increase motoring costs: Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards at the federal level and dealership franchise laws at the state level. These not only increase transport costs for the poor directly, but also make it more difficult for poor families to have physical accessibility to jobs, health care, training, and childcare.76
Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. First created in 1975, Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE) sought to increase the fuel economy of cars and trucks to limit dependence on foreign oil. It was originally thought that consumers undervalued fuel savings from more efficient vehicles, though recent research suggests fears over consumer short sightedness were overstated.77 Now CAFE standards are justified as a tool to reduce carbon emissions.
The regulations require manufacturers to achieve a sales-weighted fuel economy average for car and light-truck fleets. Their stringency has increased since they were tied to a vehicle’s physical footprint beginning in 2012. President Barack Obama had agreed to raise the standards significantly from 2022 through 2025, to 60 miles per gallon for small cars and 46 for large cars, and 50 miles per gallon for small trucks and 30 for large trucks. But President Trump has outlined plans to relax these rules.78 More recently, the administration proposed freezing the standards entirely at 2020 levels and preventing states (particularly California) from unilaterally imposing stricter regulations.79
CAFE standards increase costs to consumers overall, although the effects are not uniform across vehicles. Meeting fuel economy standards requires high fixed-cost investments in technological improvements by manufacturers. But to hit the sales-weighted averages, manufacturers have to adjust prices to incentivize purchases. Evidence suggests consumers prefer larger, more powerful vehicles. Firms therefore have to offer discounts for smaller, more fuel-efficient models, cross-subsidized by higher prices for larger vehicles. Increased prices for new cars lead to higher prices in the used car market too, as consumers substitute toward older models of the larger vehicles they tend to prefer.
It is beyond the scope of this paper to assess the merits of curbing carbon emissions. Economists are, in any case, doubtful this type of policy will have large effects on emissions, not least because making vehicles more expensive leads consumers to keep older, less fuel-efficient cars on the road longer and incentivizes owners of the more efficient cars to drive more.
If one is worried about the externality of carbon emissions, theory and evidence show that CAFE standards have more regressive effects than an equivalent gas tax for such a goal.80 CAFE standards are roughly equivalent to a tax on the gasoline used per mile of travel. The difference between the consumption of rich and poor on this metric is lower than the total gas consumed. This makes CAFE standards more regressive than a simple gas tax. Additionally, larger vehicle categories also face less stringent standards. The fact that vehicle size tends to increase with income exacerbates the regressive impact of the standards.
Economists Lucas Davis and Christopher Knittel estimate the implicit tax from CAFE standards in 2012 to be around $180 per vehicle for those in the poorest income quintile.81 Adjusted for inflation, that’s more like $194 today.82 The standards have become much more stringent since then, suggesting the effect today would be far larger.
Other academic studies find larger effects for broader long-term consumer welfare losses (which include the welfare costs of substituting away from preferred vehicles). In today’s prices, for example, Mark Jacobsen estimates a long-run consumer surplus loss of $226 for every one-mile-per-gallon standard increase for people with incomes below $25,000.83 Assuming that this effect was linear (we might assume the marginal cost increases with the standard), this implies that the tightened standards seen between 2011 and 2018 caused consumer welfare losses of more than $2,230 per vehicle. If the standards planned by President Obama were implemented through 2025, this loss would more than double.84 This corresponds closely to figures from much older studies. David Greene found that for every one-mile-per-gallon increase in vehicle fuel economy, the average per-vehicle cost was from $225 to $450 in today’s prices, and figures of these magnitudes have been corroborated in a broader review of the literature.85
Given that the average used car price is now around $20,000, this suggests the ratchet in standards since 2011 is likely to account for over 10 percent of the price of a used vehicle.86 A 10 percent reduction in vehicle prices would save the average poorer household $133 and the average single-parent family $307 annually.87
This appears to be a reasonable estimate. A 2015 paper by Mark Jacobsen and Arthur van Benthem estimated that the standards enacted in 2012 would cause used vehicle prices to rise by $103 per year relative to the old standards enacted in 2007.88 An earlier paper by David Austin and Terry Dinan found an annual cost per vehicle per year of $153 for an increase in the standards of just under 4 miles per gallon.89 More recently, the Reason Foundation’s Julian Morris estimated that the average price of a new pickup truck has risen by 25 percent since 2013, overwhelmingly because of the CAFE standards. That works out to a net cost of about $100 per year.90
While a range exists, all these estimates suggest CAFE standards increase new and used vehicle prices for consumers. Theory and evidence suggests the effects are regressive. While manufacturers are unlikely to undo technological changes that have delivered improved fuel efficiency, President Trump’s planned policy of capping standards at 2020 levels would deliver significant annual savings for purchasers of vehicles relative to the trajectory planned by President Obama.
Dealership Franchise Laws. Every state has laws governing the economic relationships of car manufacturers with new car dealers. These require dealers to be licensed and can also incorporate restrictions on when franchise relationships can be terminated, canceled, or transferred, restrictions on opening new dealerships in existing market areas, and requirements that manufacturers buy back vehicles or other accessories when a dealership franchise is terminated.91
The most prominent effect of these laws is the restriction of direct sales by manufacturers. But the broad effect of all of them is to insulate dealerships from competition and prevent manufacturers from optimizing their inventory and distribution to best match the demands and preferences of consumers.
“Good cause” regulations, for example, mean manufacturers can only terminate a franchised dealership for a set of enumerated reasons, often not including efficiency. Manufacturers can face penalties and charges if they terminate dealerships because of demand patterns. Though states often allow termination for noncompliance of a franchise agreement, even then the manufacturer faces the burden of proof in showing that they have acted in good faith, the termination is reasonable, and they have given notice with an opportunity for the franchisee to deal with the issue at hand.
Plenty of states have laws that protect existing franchisees from “encroachment” too. Manufacturers must show the need for a new dealership if it is proposed within the same relevant market area as an existing one. Protection of exclusive territories creates effective monopoly power for dealers, raising profits, when manufacturers might prefer to increase the quantity of sales.
These regulations were justified in the early 20th century as correcting for asymmetric information between the franchiser (the manufacturer) and the franchisee (the dealer) that led to manufacturers exploiting dealers. But today, calls for auto dealership laws are based on the supposed “social benefits” of dealerships, including their roles in the community and as sponsors of local events. Because such claims could be made about all local businesses, they do not provide robust “market failure” justifications for the interventions.
These regulations raise consumer prices, though the magnitudes of the effect are disputed. A paper exploring data from 1972 suggested that new car prices were raised by around 9 percent.92 A report for the Federal Trade Commission in 1986 found an average price increase of just over 6 percent across all car types.93 In 2001, the Consumer Federation of America summarized the existing literature, concluding that these laws raised new automobile prices by between 6 and 8 percent.94 This was subsequently questioned by the National Automobile Dealers Association, which concluded that the true effect was much lower, at 2.2 percent.95 But papers focusing on other countries have found effects similar to the 2001 study.96
Unfortunately, little modern evidence exists on this subject, and it is beyond the scope of this paper to develop new calculations. The internet may have helped to reduce some of the burden on consumers, and though the price effects will induce substitution to the used car market, we perhaps would not expect prices to be affected to the same extent. Given the best estimates from older work, the average regulatory cost on a household in the bottom quintile is likely to be around $61 annually, or $140 for the average single-parent family.97
In 2016, the average household in the bottom income quintile spent $860 on apparel and footwear, or 3.4 percent of overall spending — the highest proportion of any income quintile.98 The average single-parent household put 4.5 percent of total expenditure toward these goods.99 The poor spend a disproportionate amount on clothing and footwear, and family structures most likely to be recipients of means-tested welfare programs (single-parent households) spend most of all.
Yet the federal government makes clothing and footwear more expensive through import tariffs, which are often higher than those imposed on other goods. The United States raised $33.1 billion overall in tariff revenue in 2017, but $14 billion of that came from tariffs on apparel and footwear alone. These items account for 4.6 percent of the value of U.S. imports, but 42 percent of duties paid. The average effective tariff rate for U.S. imports overall is just over 1.4 percent. Rates for apparel and footwear are 13.7 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively.100
The Cato Institute’s Daniel Ikenson has examined the evolution of clothing and textile protectionism.101 He concludes that such high tariffs do not exist to protect domestic apparel manufacturing. Data from the U.S. Trade Representative estimated that 91 percent of manufactured apparel goods and 96.5 percent of footwear are imported despite the tariffs.102 In February 2018, just 116,400 people were employed in domestic apparel manufacturing, a collapse from 939,000 in January 1990.103
Why then are such highly regressive tariffs imposed? The answer appears to be the lobbying efforts of the capital-intensive U.S. textile industry. Textiles are the major input for labor-intensive apparel production, which largely occurs overseas. To quote Ikenson:
The U.S. textile industry insists on preserving those tariffs as leverage to compel foreign apparel producers to purchase their inputs. Preferential access [to U.S. markets] is conditioned on use of U.S. textiles. The high rates of duty apply, generally, to all “normal trade relations” partners. But those duties are much lower or excused entirely for trade agreement partners, provided that the finished garment comprises of textiles made in countries that are signatories to the agreement.104
U.S. consumers pay the price of this protectionism, and poorer consumers especially. In fact, protectionism is doubly regressive. Not only do poorer households spend relatively more on clothes and footwear, but Edward Gresser’s work has shown how often luxury clothes and shoes face lower tariff rates than inexpensive products.105
Consider Table 3 (an updated version of Gresser’s work) below. Where duties are applicable, a pure cashmere sweater import incurs a 4 percent tariff, a wool sweater a 16 percent tariff, and an acrylic sweater a whopping 32 percent. Men’s silk shirts would see a 0.9 percent tariff, cotton shirts a 19.7 percent tariff, and cheaper polyester shirts a 32 percent tariff. Leather dress shoes have an 8.5 percent tariff, whereas cheap sneakers would see a 43 percent tariff. Windbreakers, leggings, tank tops, and other clothes made cheaply from synthetic fabrics face a 32 percent tariff if sourced from countries that the United States does not have a free-trade agreement with.
Table 3: Regressive tariffs (percentage on various goods)
Source: United States International Trade Commission, Tariff Database, https://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/tariff.asp
Note: The codes needed to find tariff rates for these products are: 64035960, 64029142, 64029160, 61109010/61101210, 61103030, 61059040, 61051000, 61052020, 71131921, 71131110, 71131120, 63012000, 63013000.
Assuming poorer households tend to buy cheaper products, these differential tariffs have perniciously regressive effects. (And not just for clothes; as Table 3 shows, similar trends are seen for consumer goods such as handbags, necklaces, and blankets).
It is difficult to calculate the true overall cost of these tariffs to poor families. That would require detailed information on the effect on domestic substitute goods prices, knowledge of products bought by poor families and their propensity to import in the absence of protectionism.
Nevertheless, we can develop cautious lower-bound estimates of the financial cost. The average household in the poorest income quintile spends $655 on apparel and $206 on footwear per year. Assuming the import propensities for the population as a whole apply to poorer people implies $595 of apparel spending and $199 of footwear spending is on imported goods. Taking average effective tariff rates for apparel and footwear for this spending (13.7 and 11.3 percent) implies a combined direct tariff cost of $92 per year for the average household in the poorest income quintile, or $204 per year for the average single-parent household.106
These figures underestimate the true burden, though, because they only represent the direct cost from current spending on imported goods. They assume tariffs do not raise domestically produced goods prices, though in reality the anti-competitive effect of the tariffs would be expected to raise prices here too. The calculation also assumes the same effective tariff rates for apparel and footwear apply for the poorest households as for the whole population, but we have seen that products that the poor are more likely to buy tend to face higher tariff rates. Consumer welfare losses from tariffs are higher than the implied savings here, of course, since tariffs make consumers less willing to buy imported products that they would otherwise prefer.
Nevertheless, these figures correspond well to calculations by Jason Furman, Katheryn Russ, and Jay Shambaugh that provide an estimate of the overall tariff burden (all goods, not just apparel and footwear) of around $100 and $238 per year for poorer and single-parent households, respectively.107
Occupational Licensing
State governments regulate numerous occupations through education, training, or test requirements, creating barriers to entry to practicing a trade. This restricts the supply of providers within the state and discourages movement of professionals across state lines, raising the price of services.
Licensing gets justified on grounds of imperfect information between buyer and seller, particularly when harm could result from low-quality service. This argument is most forcefully made about medical professionals, where it is argued that “quack” practitioners might do substantial harm to patients. Yet restrictions on entry come with tradeoffs, including higher prices and deterring talented people from entering a profession. Ideally, one must weigh up any benefits of reduced quackery against these supply-restricting consequences.
Other sectors commonly licensed include hair braiding, barbers, and sign-language interpreters, where any costs associated with low-quality providers are likely much smaller. In these cases, consumers are best placed to judge a price-quality bundle, and intermediate institutions such as online rating sites can provide information about the nature and quality of service. Markets may even deliver certification mechanisms for safety- or quality-sensitive customers. Instead, licensure boards are often dominated by existing providers with a vested interest against competition. The arguments that licensure corrects for some “market failure” are therefore increasingly difficult to justify. Yet 25 to 30 percent of Americans now work in licensed occupations.108
A plethora of research has found licensure raises wages in licensed sectors (relative to no licensure or no certification). A recent study found that “having a license when it is not required has no influence on wage determination, but, when it is required, licensing raises wages by 7.5 percent,” even controlling for a host of worker and occupational characteristics.109
Whether this raises prices depends on whether consumers would demand equally robust entry barriers in the form of certification absent government intervention. Without licensure constraints, prices of services are likely to be lower, unless state governments provide economies of scale in license provision relative to private certificates. However, in many cases consumers are unlikely to demand substitute certification at all, and so the wage premium would evaporate.
Research on individual markets confirms this intuition. Relaxing licensing laws to allow nurse practitioners to perform tasks without medical doctor supervision was found to reduce well-child exam prices by between 3 and 16 percent.110 Delicensing of funeral servicing providers in Colorado lowered funeral prices significantly.111 Older papers estimated that dental assistant and hygienist licensing raised prices of dental visits by between 7 and 11 percent, and optician licensing the price of eye care by between 5 and 13 percent.112
Two attempts have been made to estimate the aggregate costs of occupational licensing to consumers. Morris Kleiner, Alan Krueger, and Alex Mas estimated a $203 billion annual cost, or $1,567 per household.113 The Heritage Foundation’s Salim Furth estimates a lower figure, with a cost to the average household of $1,033 per year.114
Ideally, we would produce a more accurate estimate using detailed data of the cost of licensure by sector mapped against spending patterns for poor households. We know, for example, that poorer households spend relatively more on health care than richer households but also that richer households spend more on other grooming services affected by the licensure premium. Poorer households are likely to be more price sensitive and less discerning about “quality.” One must bear in mind, too, that because licensing restricts people from practicing certain occupations, the potential labor supply is increased in nonlicensed sectors, putting downward pressure on labor costs and hence prices in other industries.
Bearing these caveats in mind, I assume that the total spending ratio of poorer and single-parent households to the average household is the same as the ratio of spending on licensed services between the groups. Using the household costs of licensure from Kleiner and Furth implies an average annual cost to poorer households of between $450 and $690 per year, and between $760 to $1,160 per year for the average single-parent household.115 Again, this is a lower bound to the true economic costs for poorer people, not least because occupational entry barriers prevent individuals from taking up new and better job opportunities because of the time and financial costs of meeting the licensure requirements.
This paper has demonstrated how government interventions raise the cost of living for poor and single-parent households.
Debates on policies to help the poor tend to focus on redistribution, tax breaks, minimum wage hikes, and government-provided services. But liberalizing reform in the markets outlined above could improve the financial well-being of less well-off households without new government expenditure or risky labor-market interventions. A “cost-based” approach to poverty alleviation should be considered a key tool in helping the less well-off.
Table 4 summarizes the estimated direct costs to poorer and single-parent households of existing interventions. These are based on extremely cautious assumptions and likely understate the true financial impacts. The ranges are wide, reflecting differences in household location and composition. However, a reasonable central range for poorer households would be a lower bound cost of $830 per year for a household with no children living in a rural area, up to $3,500 for a poor family living in an expensive city such as New York with a young child in full-time infant care.116
Table 4: Summary of costs of interventions on the poor and single parents (dollars per year)
Source: Author’s calculations applied largely through the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, https://www.bls.gov/cex/.
Note: Housing costs range from areas with no effective regulatory tax through to the implied regulatory tax in expensive cities (adjusted to relative spending by poor and single-parent households). Child-care costs range from $0 for those with no young children in infant care to the implied savings from relaxing staff-child ratios by one child in the most expensive region for childcare (D.C.). Milk-marketing order costs calculated using information from Chouinard et al. Sugar program costs calculated applying per person midpoint cost of Beghin and Elobeid cost estimate, multiplied by average household numbers for poor and single-parent families. Renewable food standard cost based on 1 percent uplift in food prices applied to food spending levels. Corporate average fuel economy standards cost calculated as 10 percent increase in vehicle prices applied to vehicle purchase spending levels. Dealership franchise laws cost assumes new vehicle prices are increased by 6 percent and used car prices by 4 percent as a result of the regulations. Tariff costs estimated on current spending levels by poor and single-parent households, based on whole population import propensities and average effective tariff rates on apparel and footwear. Occupational licensing costs based on the average cost of licensure per household estimates from Kleiner et al. and Furth adjusted for spending levels of the poor and single parents. For more information on the assumptions behind these calculations, see the discussion in relevant sections of the paper.
The figures here relate only to the direct effects of these policies on prices and so ignore the broader effect on productivity and market incomes. For land-use and zoning laws, child-care regulations, policies that increase driving costs, and occupational licensure these secondary effects could be very large indeed. Liberalization could improve labor mobility, willingness to move into the labor market, and job options available to the unemployed and existing low-paid workers.
The calculations are cautious for other reasons. Estimates of the cost of sugar interventions and tariffs on clothing and footwear assume that the poor have the same consumption habits as the broader population, though there are reasonable grounds to suspect the cost borne by them is even higher. The cost of child-care regulations is pegged at the savings from very modest relaxation of existing staffing regulations, rather than full repeal, which could deliver huge price reductions. This analysis also ignores regressive interventions in other areas where the poor spend significant amounts, especially health care and utilities.
Individual households will face very different costs depending on exactly where they live, whether they have young children, their means of transportation, and other spending tastes and preferences. This paper has shown, though, that a “cost-based” reform agenda could deliver major financial savings for poor families.
A concerted anti-poverty agenda across all levels of government overturning these damaging policies could have political benefits too. The lower cost of living would lessen political demands for government to redistribute income. The aspirations of the “living wage” campaign would be much more likely to be achieved, but through lower living costs rather than demands for states or cities to raise minimum wages. Better financial outcomes for the poor through market activity might lead to greater support for economic liberalization in other sectors.
Reform would be politically challenging. But with the federal finances suffering from large and growing imbalances and widespread concern about the future of labor markets, now is an opportune time for a new approach to assist those on low incomes. For too long an obsessive focus on the role of government transfers and minimum wage laws in alleviating poverty has blinded campaigners and politicians to areas where existing policies raise living costs. We should aspire to undo this damage, rather than doubling down on a more interventionist agenda that, in part, seeks to treat the symptoms of current mistakes.
1. Michael Tanner, “The American Welfare State: How We Spend Nearly $1 Trillion a Year Fighting Poverty—and Fail,” Cato Institute Policy Analysis no. 694, April 11, 2012, https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/american-welfare-state-how-we-spend-nearly-%241-trillion-year-fighting-poverty-fail.
2. See discussion of theories of causes of poverty in Michael Tanner, The Inclusive Economy: How to Bring Wealth to America’s Poor, Cato Institute, forthcoming, December 2018.
3. Sean Higgins, “Democrats Officially Introduce $15 Minimum Wage Bill,” Washington Examiner, May 25, 2017.
4. See “A Living Wage,” BernieSanders.com, https://berniesanders.com/issues/a-living-wage/; and “Early Childhood Education,” HillaryClinton.com, https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/early-childhood-education/.
5. Ryan Bourne, “A Jobs Guaranteed Economic Disaster,” Cato at Liberty, Cato Institute, April 24, 2018, https://www.cato.org/blog/jobs-guaranteed-economic-disaster.
6. Dylan Matthews, “Hillary Clinton Almost Ran for President on a Universal Basic Income,” Vox.com, September 12, 2017; see also Charles Murray, “A Guaranteed Income for Every American,” Wall Street Journal, June 3, 2016.
7. Ramesh Ponnuru, “Tax Relief for Parents,” Statement before the Senate Committee on Finance on “Individual Tax Reform,” September 14, 2017, http://www.aei.org/publication/tax-relief-for-parents/; and Sen. Mike Lee, “Sens. Lee and Rubio to Introduce Child Tax Credit Refundability Amendment,” November 29, 2017, https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/11/sens-lee-and-rubio-to-introduce-child-tax-credit-refundability-amendment.
8. “A Better Way: Our Vision for a Confident America,” Poverty, Opportunity, and Upward Mobility, June 7, 2016, https://abetterway.speaker.gov/_assets/pdf/ABetterWay-Poverty-PolicyPaper.pdf.
9. For example, it is widely acknowledged that policies that seek to ameliorate climate change by raising the cost of carbon emissions hit the poor hard. But the objective of these policies is to internalize the social costs of carbon, which theoretically raises overall economic efficiency. Though one can debate whether existing policies do this well, or whether they are needlessly regressive, this paper avoids issues where these kinds of judgments are required, instead focusing on areas where market failure arguments are weak and the policies have clear regressive effects.
10. Arloc Sherman, “Official Poverty Measure Masks Gains Made over Last 50 Years,” Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, September 13, 2013, https://www.cbpp.org/research/official-poverty-measure-masks-gains-made-over-last-50-years.
11. Bruce D. Meyer and Derek Wu, “The Poverty Reduction of Social Security and Means-Tested Transfers,” NBER Working Paper no. 24567, May 2018, http://www.nber.org/papers/w24567.
12. David Neumark, “Reducing Poverty via Minimum Wages, Alternatives,” Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Letter no. 2015-38, December 28, 2015, https://www.frbsf.org/economic-research/publications/economic-letter/2015/december/reducing-poverty-via-minimum-wages-tax-credit/.
13. Bruce Meyer and James Sullivan, “Winning the War: Poverty from the Great Society to the Great Recession,” Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Fall 2012, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012b_Meyer.pdf.
14. Congressional Budget Office, The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2018 to 2028, April 2018.
15. Congressional Budget Office, The 2017 Long-Term Budget Outlook, March 2017.
16. See Karel Martens and José L. Montiel Olea, “Marginal Tax Rates and Income: New Times Series Evidence,” NBER Working Paper no. 19171, September 2017, http://www.nber.org/papers/w19171; and Robert J. Barro and Charles J. Redlick, “Macroeconomic Effects from Government Purchases and Taxes,” NBER Working Paper no. 15369, December 2011, http://www.nber.org/papers/w15369. Concerning the latter, Barro states in the Wall Street Journal that “My research with Charles Redlick, published in 2011 by the Quarterly Journal of Economics, suggests that cutting the average marginal tax rate for individuals by 1 percentage point increases gross domestic product by 0.5% over the next two years.” Robert J. Barro, “Tax Reform Will Pay Growth Dividends,” Wall Street Journal, January 4, 2018.
17. See David Neumark and Cortnie Shupe, “Declining Teen Employment: Minimum Wages, Other Explanations, and Implications for Human Capital Investment,” Mercatus Center Working Paper, February 7, 2018, https://www.mercatus.org/publications/declining-teen-employment-minimum-wage-human-capital-investment.
18. See summary of the literature in Ryan Bourne, “A Seattle Game-Changer?,” Regulation 40, no. 4 (Winter 2017–2018): 8–11, https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/regulation/2017/12/regulation-v40n4-6.pdf.
19. Neil Irwin, “The Unemployment Rate Rose for the Best Possible Reason,” New York Times, July 6, 2018.
20. In Britain, working-age welfare bore a hugely disproportionate share of the deficit reduction measures seen following the general election during 2010.
21. Andrew Hall and Jesse Yoder, “Does Homeownership Influence Political Behavior? Evidence from Administrative Data,” Department of Political Science, Stanford University, August 7, 2018.
22. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, Metropolitan Statistical Area Tables, https://www.bls.gov/cex/tables.htm#MSA.
23. Child Care Aware of America, “2017 Appendices: Parents and the High Cost of Child Care,” http://usa.childcareaware.org/costofcare.
24. The costs to the average poor household of anti-competitive, regressive regulations would be higher still if we also examined some utilities and health care interventions; but that is beyond the scope of this paper.
25. Pew Charitable Trusts, “Household Expenditures and Income,” March 2016. The poorest quintile are more likely to be renters: 61 percent of households in the bottom quintile and 66 percent of single-parent households rent, compared to just 15 percent of households in the top income quintile; see Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2016, Table 1101, Quintiles of income before taxes, and Table 1502, Composition of consumer unit.
26. Demographia, “14th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey: 2018,” January 22, 2018, http://demographia.com/dhi.pdf. It is worth noting that Demographia limits its analysis to metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million people or more.
27. Crystal Chen, “Zumper National Rent Report: March 2018,” Zumper.com, February 28, 2018.
28. Edward L. Glaeser, Joseph Gyourko, and Raven Saks, “Why Is Manhattan So Expensive? Regulation and the Rise in Housing Prices,” Journal of Law and Economics 48, no. 2 (October 2005): 331–69.
29. Vanessa Brown Calder, “Zoning, Land-Use Planning, and Housing Affordability,” Cato Institute Policy Analysis no. 823, October 18, 2017, https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/zoning-land-use-planning-housing-affordability.
30. Stephen Malpezzi, “Housing Prices, Externalities, and Regulation in U.S. Metropolitan Areas,” Journal of Housing Research 7, no. 2 (1996): 209–41.
31. Raven Saks, “Job Creation and Housing Construction: Constraints on Metropolitan Area Employment Growth,” Finance and Economics Discussion Series, Divisions of Research and Statistics and Monetary Affairs, Federal Reserve Board, Working Paper no. 2005-49, September 22, 2005.
32. Keith R. Ihlanfeldt, “The Effect of Land Use Regulation on Housing and Land Prices,” Journal of Urban Economics 61, no. 3 (May 2007).
33. Chang-Tai Hsieh and Enrico Moretti, “Why Do Cities Matter? Local Growth and Aggregate Growth,” Econometrics Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Working Paper, April 2015.
34. Rebecca Diamond, Timothy McQuade, and Franklin Qian, “The Effects of Rent Control Expansion on Tenants, Landlords, and Inequality: Evidence from San Francisco,” NBER Working Paper no. 24181, January 2018, http://www.nber.org/papers/w24181.
35. Vanessa Brown Calder, “Zoning, Land-Use Planning, and Housing Affordability.”
36. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2016, Tables 3004, 3024, and 3033.
37. Jordan Weissman, “So You’re Rich for an American. Does That Make You Rich for New York?” Slate Moneybox, August 29, 2014.
38. Calculation by author subtracting Glaeser et al. estimate of implied regulatory tax for New York (12.2 percent) from average New York household expenditure on shelter of $16,882 in 2016 (taken from Consumer Expenditure Survey 2016, Table 3004). This implies regulation raises average household expenditure by $1,836 per year. Given those in the poorest quintile, on average, spend 57 percent of average household expenditure on shelter across the whole of the United States (Consumer Expenditure Survey 2016, Table 1101), this suggests these households pay $1,044 more for shelter than they would if the regulatory tax was zero.
39. Child Care Aware of America, “2017 Appendices: Parents and the High Cost of Child Care,” Appendix I: 2016 Average Annual Cost of Full-Time Center-Based Child Care by State, http://usa.childcareaware.org/costofcare.
40. Child Care Aware of America, “2017 Appendices: Parents and the High Cost of Child Care,” Appendix III: 2016 Ranking of Least-Affordable Center-Based Infant Care, http://usa.childcareaware.org/costofcare.
41. Dawn Lee, “State Child Care Assistance Programs,” Single Mother Guide, January 10, 2018, https://singlemotherguide.com/state-child-care-assistance/.
42. OECD, Society at a Glance 2016: OECD Social Indicators (Paris: OECD Publishing, 2016), Figure 1.14. Childcare costs are around 15% of net family income across the OECD. Out-of-pocket childcare costs for a single parent: full-time care at a typical childcare center, http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264261488-en.
43. Rachel Connelly and Jean Kimmel, “The Effect of Child Care Costs on the Employment and Welfare Recipiency of Single Mothers,” Southern Economic Journal 69, no. 3 (January 2003): 498–519, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1061691?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents.
44. Allison Linn, “Opt Out or Left Out? The Economics of Stay-at-Home Moms,” NBC News, May 12, 2013.
45. Lynda Laughlin, “Who’s Minding the Kids? Childcare Arrangements: Spring 2011.” U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Reports no. P70-135, April 2013. Among children with employed mothers, those living below the poverty line were more than twice as likely to be cared for by an unlicensed relative (20.7 percent vs. 9 percent).
46. Author’s calculations based on data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Women in the Labor Force: A Databook,” BLS Report no. 1071, November 2017, https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/womens-databook/2017/pdf/home.pdf.
47. Ryan Bourne and Len Shackleton, “Getting the State out of Preschool and Childcare,” Institute of Economic Affairs, February 6, 2017, https://iea.org.uk/publications/getting-the-state-out-of-pre-school-childcare/.
48. Diana Thomas and Devon Gorry, “Regulation and the Cost of Child Care,” Mercatus Center Working Paper, August 17, 2015.
49. Randal Heeb and M. Rebecca Kilburn, “The Effects of State Regulations on Childcare Prices and Choices,” RAND Labor and Population Working Paper no. WR-137-NICHD, January 2004, https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/working_papers/2004/RAND_WR137.pdf.
50. V. Joseph Hotz and Mo Xiao, “The Impact of Regulations on the Supply and Quality of Care in Child Care Markets” American Economic Review 101, no. 5 (August 2011): 1775–1805.
51. Nicholas Clairmont, “D.C.’s Misguided Attempt to Regulate Daycare,” Atlantic, July 11, 2017.
52. Martin Austermuhle, “D.C. Delays New Degree Requirements for Childcare Workers,” WAMU, November 17, 2017.
53. Author’s calculation applying Thomas and Gorry’s lower bound estimate of price fall from loosening staff-child ratios by one across the board (9 percent) to the average annual cost of the most expensive care in the country (D.C. at $23,089 per year) and the cheapest (Mississippi at $5,178). This implies prices would fall by around $2,078 in DC and $466 in Mississippi, assuming a linear relationship.
54. Ryan Bourne and Len Shackleton, “Getting the State out of Preschool and Childcare.”
55. Though not analyzed here, it is likely that the cost of childcare is also pushed up by other, broader government policies which have damaging economic consequences. Zoning and land-use ordinances quite often prohibit new facilities in residential areas, and home daycare has to comply with requirements on lot size, parking, and architectural regulations. Barriers to immigration from poorer countries also restrict the supply of lower-cost child-care workers.
56. Chris Edwards, “Milk Madness,” Cato Institute Tax and Budget Bulletin no. 47, July 2007, https://www.cato.org/publications/tax-budget-bulletin/milk-madness.
57. Owen Townsend, Kenneth Burdine, and Tyler Mark, “The History and Class Pricing of Federal Milk-Marketing Orders,” University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Economics Extension Series Number: 2017-13, https://www.uky.edu/Ag/AgEcon/pubs/extfedmilkord06.pdf.
58. Hayley Chouinard et al., “Milk Marketing Order Winners and Losers,” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 32, no. 1 (March 2010): 59–76.
59. The averaged data are calculated by Chouinard et al., “Milk Marketing Order Winners and Losers.”
60. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2016, Table 1101, Quintiles of income before taxes.
61. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2016, Table 1502, Composition of consumer unit: Annual expenditure means, shares, standard errors, and coefficients of variation.
62. Calculated by author. Based on a regulatory cost of $44 for a white household earning $10,000 and $38 for a household earning $20,000, a straight-line extrapolation suggests the cost to a household with average income for the quintile ($11,363) would be $43. Assuming this cost holds for all nonblack households, and that the burden is one-third of this for black households, one can use the proportion of black to nonblack households in the bottom quintile (20:80) to calculate the overall average regulatory burden for the quintile (80% x $43 + 20% x $14) = $37.51. Given that we know the ratio of spending by the average single-parent household to the average household in the poorest quintile on dairy is 1.43, the average regulatory cost for single-parent households can be estimated $37.51 x 1.43 = $54.31.
63. Colin Grabow, “Candy-Coated Cartel: Time to Kill the U.S. Sugar Program,” Cato Institute Policy Analysis no. 837, April 10, 2018, https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/candy-coated-cartel-time-kill-us-sugar-program.
64. U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, “Sugar and Sweeteners,” https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/sugar-sweeteners/.
65. Michael K. Wohlgenant, “Sweets for the Sweet: The Costly Benefits of the U.S. Sugar Program,” American Enterprise Institute, July 12, 2011.
66. John C. Beghin and Amani Elobeid, “Analysis of the US Sugar Program,” Agricultural Policy in Disarray: Reforming The Farm Bill, American Enterprise Institute, November 2017, http://www.aei.org/publication/analysis-of-the-us-sugar-program/.
67. This number is calculated by dividing the $2.8 billion and $4.7 billion range of consumer cost by 129.55 million household units, as per Table 1101 of the Consumer Expenditure Survey.
68. Elyse S. Powell, Lindsey P. Smith-Taillie, and Barry M. Popkin, “Added Sugars Intake across the Distribution of US Children and Adult Consumers: 1977–2012,” Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 116, no. 10 (October 2016): 1543–50.
69. Congressional Budget Office, “The Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions,” April 2009, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/41173, pp. 8–10.
70. Richard K. Perrin, “Ethanol and Food Prices—Preliminary Assessment,” Faculty Publications: Agricultural Economics 49, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, May 9, 2008.
71. Congressional Budget Office, “The Renewable Fuel Standard: Issues for 2014 and Beyond,” June 2014, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/45477.
72. Calculations by author based on food expenditure data from Table 1101, Quintiles of income before taxes, and Table 1502, Composition of consumer unit, from Consumer Expenditure Survey.
74. U.S. Census Bureau, 2012–2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics.
75. Daniel C. Vock, “More Poorer Residents Are Driving Cars, Presenting New Issues for Transit Agencies,” Governing.com, April 9, 2018, http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-car-ownership-poverty.html.
76. Lisa M. Brabo et al., “Driving Out of Poverty in Private Automobiles,” Journal of Poverty 7, no. 1-2 (2003): 183–96, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239804081_Driving_Out_of_Poverty_in_Private_Automobiles.
77. For a summary of recent research, see Peter Van Doren, “Regulation without Results,” U.S. News and World Report, March 27, 2017.
78. Timothy Puko, Mike Spector, and Chester Dawson, “EPA Will Ease Vehicle-Emissions Standards,” Wall Street Journal, April 2, 2018.
79. Timothy Puko, “Trump Administration May Eliminate Increases in Fuel-Economy Standards,” Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2018.
80. For a full exposition of this argument, read Arik Levinson, “Energy Efficiency Standards Are More Regressive Than Energy Taxes: Theory and Evidence,” May 8, 2018, http://faculty.georgetown.edu/aml6/pdfs&zips/RegressiveMandates.pdf. Empirical evidence at Lucas W. Davis and Christopher R. Knittel, “Are Fuel Economy Standards Regressive?” NBER Working Paper no. 22925, December 2016, http://www.nber.org/papers/w22925 and Mark R. Jacobsen, “Evaluating US Fuel Economy Standards in a Model with Producer and Household Heterogeneity,” American Economic Journal 5, no. 2 (May 2013): 148–87, https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.5.2.148.
81. Davis and Knittel, “Are Fuel Economy Standards Regressive?”
82. Adjusted by Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items. Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL.
83. Mark R. Jacobsen, “Evaluating US Fuel Economy Standards in a Model with Producer and Household Heterogeneity.”
84. Calculations averaging standards in 2011, 2018, and 2025, assuming two-thirds of vehicles are ordinary cars and one-third light trucks. This would see average miles-per-gallon standards increase from 28.3 in 2011 to 38.3 in 2018, and then further to 50 by 2025.
85. David L. Greene, “Short-Run Pricing Strategies to Increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy,” Economic Inquiry 29, no. 1 (January 1991): 101–14. Paper shows for every one-mile-per-gallon increase in vehicle fuel economy, the average per-vehicle cost would be within the range of $100 to $200 in constant 1985-dollar terms, adjusted to 2018 prices. For a more detailed review of the literature see Thomas Klier and Joshua Linn, “Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards and the Market for New Vehicles,” Annual Review of Resource Economics 3, no. 1 (October 2011): 445–62.
86. Rob Looker, “Average New- and Used-Car Prices, and the Advantages of Flexible Financing,” RoadLoans.com, March 1, 2018, https://roadloans.com/blog/average-car-price.
87. Net outlay on vehicle purchases averages $1,331 per year for the average household in the poorest quintile in 2016.
88. Mark R. Jacobsen and Arthur A. van Bentham, “Vehicle Scrappage and Gasoline Policy,” NBER Working Paper no. 19055, May 2013, http://www.nber.org/papers/w19055.
89. David Austin and Terry Dinan, “Clearing the Air: The Costs and Consequences of Higher CAFE Standards and Increased Gasoline Taxes,” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 50, no. 3 (November 2005): 562–82, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0095069605000550.
90. Julian Morris, “The Effect of Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards on Consumers,” Reason Foundation Policy Brief, April 1, 2018, https://reason.org/policy-brief/the-effect-of-corporate-average-fuel-economy-standards-on-consumers/.
91. For a more comprehensive examination of these issues, see Francine Lafontaine and Fiona Scott Morton, “State Franchise Laws, Dealer Terminations, and the Auto Crisis,” Journal of Economic Perspectives 24, no. 3 (Summer 2010): 233–50, StateFranchiseLawsDealerTerminationsandtheAutoCrisis.pdf">http://faculty.som.yale.edu/FionaScottMorton/documents/StateFranchise">StateFranchiseLawsDealerTerminationsandtheAutoCrisis.pdf.
92. Richard L. Smith II, “Franchise Regulation: An Economic Analysis of State Restrictions on Automobile Distribution,” Journal of Law and Economics 25, no. 1 (April 1982): 150.
93. Robert P. Rogers, “The Effect of State Entry Regulation on Retail Automobile Markets,” Bureau of Economics Staff Report to the Federal Trade Commission, January 1986.
94. Mark Cooper, “A Roadblock on the Information Superhighway: Anticompetitive Restrictions on Automotive Markets,” Consumer Federation of America, February 2001, https://consumerfed.org/pdfs/internetautosales.pdf.
95. Brian Shaffer, “An Assessment of Franchise Laws and Internet Auto Sales,” National Automobile Dealers Association Public Affairs, August 2001.
96. See, for example, Frank Mathewson and Ralph Winter, “The Economic Effects of Automobile Dealer Regulation,” Annales d’Économie et de Statistique, no. 15/16 (July–December 1989): 409–26, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20075766; and Gerald Bodisch, “Economic Effects of State Bans on Direct Manufacturer Sales to Car Buyers,” U.S. Department of Justice Economic Analysis Group, May 2009, http://www.justice.gov/atr/economic-effects-state-bans-direct-manufacturer-sales-car-buyers.
97. Assumes new vehicle prices are increased by 6 percent and used car prices by 4 percent as a result of the regulations. Average spending on new cars and trucks is $462 and $843 on used for those in the lowest quintile. This implies the cost of the regulations for the average household in the poorest quintile is $27.72 and $33.72 on new and used vehicles, respectively, summing to $61.44; for the average single-parent household these figures are $55.74 and $84.60, summing to $140.34.
99. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2016, Table 1502, Composition of consumer unit.
100. U.S. International Trade Commission, “Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb,” at http://dataweb.usitc.gov. Data for imports for consumption, and effective rates calculated using “customs value” and “calculated duties” for 2017.
101. See, for example, Daniel Ikenson, “Threadbare Excuses: The Textile Industry’s Campaign to Preserve Import Restraints,” Cato Institute Trade Policy Analysis no. 25, October 15, 2003, https://www.cato.org/publications/trade-policy-analysis/threadbare-excuses-textile-industrys-campaign-preserve-import-restraints; and Ikenson, “Cutting the Cord: Textile Trade Policy Needs Tough Love,” Cato Institute Free Trade Bulletin no. 15, July 23, 2013, https://www.cato.org/publications/free-trade-bulletin/cutting-cord-textile-trade-policy-needs-tough-love.
102. Jason Furman, Katheryn Russ, and Jay Shambaugh, “U.S. Tariffs Are an Arbitrary and Regressive Tax,” Vox.com, CEPR’s Policy Portal, January 12 2017, https://voxeu.org/article/us-tariffs-are-arbitrary-and-regressive-tax. See in particular Technical Appendix to the CEX-HS Crosswalk and Matched Effective Tariffs.
103. Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, All Employees: Nondurable Goods: Textile Mills, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CEU3231300001.
104. Daniel Ikenson, “Washington’s Coddling of U.S. Textile Industry Is Hurting Shoppers,” Forbes, July 23, 2013.
105. Edward Gresser, “Toughest on the Poor: America’s Flawed Tariff System,” Foreign Affairs, November/December 2002.
106. The average single-parent household spends $1,402 on apparel and $512 on footwear per year. Assuming the import propensities for the population as a whole apply to single-parent households, this would mean $1,274 of apparel spending and $494 of footwear spending is on imported goods. Taking average effective tariff rates for apparel and footwear for this spending (13.7 and 11.3 percent) implies a direct cost of protectionism of $204 per year.
107. Jason Furman, Katheryn Russ, and Jay Shambaugh, “U.S. Tariffs Are an Arbitrary and Regressive Tax.”
108. National Conference of State Legislatures, “The National Occupational Licensing Database”; Morris M. Kleiner, “Reforming Occupational Licensing Policies,” Brookings Institution Discussion Paper No. 2015-01, March 2015; and Maury Gittleman, Mark Klee, and Morris Kleiner, “Analyzing the Labor Market Outcomes of Occupational Licensing,” Industrial Relations 57, no.1: 57-100.
109. Maury Gittleman, Mark Klee, and Morris Kleiner, “Analyzing the Labor Market Outcomes of Occupational Licensing.”
110. Morris M. Kleiner et al., “Relaxing Occupational Licensing Requirements: Analyzing Wages and Prices for a Medical Service,” NBER Working Paper no. 19906, February 2014.
111. Brandon Pizzola and Alex Tarrabok, “Occupational Licensing Causes a Wage Premium: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Colorado’s Funeral Services Industry,” International Review of Law and Economics 50, issue C, 50–59, 2017.
112. Nellie J. Liang and Jonathan D. Ogur, “Restrictions on Dental Auxiliaries: An Economic Policy Analysis,” Federal Trade Commission, 1987; and Deborah Haas-Wilson, “The Effect of Commercial Practice Restrictions: The Case of Optometry,” Journal of Law & Economics 29, no. 1 (1986): 165–86.
113. Morris Kleiner, Alan B. Krueger, and Alex Mas, “A Proposal to Encourage States to Rationalize Occupational Licensing Practices,” A Proposal to the Brookings Institution Hamilton Project, April 2011, https://www.hhh.umn.edu/file/9441/download.
114. Salim Furth, “Costly Mistakes: How Bad Policies Raise the Cost of Living,” Backgrounder No. 3081, Heritage Foundation, November 23 2015.
115. Author’s calculations based on the average cost of licensure per household estimates from Kleiner et al. and Furth and adjusting for spending levels of the poor and single parents using data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey, Tables 1101 and 1502.
116. Author’s calculations using estimates outlined in Table 4. The lower estimate assumes $0 regulatory cost for housing and childcare and the lower end of the range presented for the cost of occupational licensure. The higher estimate assumes a $1,044 cost of housing regulation; a $1,350 cost of child-care regulation (using calculations for New York State from Child Care Aware of America); and the top end of the occupational licensure cost range.
Download the Policy Analysis
pa_847.pdf
Ryan Bourne
Ryan Bourne holds the R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at the Cato Institute.
The Use and Misuse of Income Data and Extreme Poverty in the United States
The Economic and Moral Foundations of Americans’ Attitudes toward Paying Kidney Donors
Public Health Efforts and the Decline in Urban Mortality
Let America’s Radical Socialists Be a Warning to British Politics
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1. How do I register for a program?
There are multiple ways to register:
- Online utilizing the registration resource. Please call us if you need your username and/or password emailed to you.
- In Person: We are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (we do not close for lunch). Our address is 736 F Street.
- By Phone: 707-822-7091
- By Mail:
Please note: When registering by phone, we must have a registration form on file. If your child has not participated in any Arcata recreation programs in the current year, then we need a new form. All participants must have a current registration form completed each year. You can save time by emailing a registration form or sending it by fax to 707-825-2118, and then call our office. Online Registration Resource
2. Do you have a program for young children that promotes socialization?
Definitely! We have the Arcata Play Center that meets Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. All children ages 0 to 5 are welcome. Please note that the children must be supervised by parent/or guardian at all times. The play group is a partnership with First 5 Humboldt and offers a safe and comfortable environment for children and parents to socialize and play. Suggested daily donation is $3.
3. Does the City of Arcata have 65+ programming?
Definitely! The Humboldt Senior Resource Center operates a senior lunch and activity site at the Arcata Community Center at 321 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Activities include support groups, health assessments, exercise classes, dancing, arts and crafts and more! Please call 707-825-2027 or for more details visit the Humboldt Senior Resource Center Online Resource.
4. Are there sport leagues in Arcata?
Yes, depending on the season. View the fitness link on the programs and activities page to see what's currently being offered. Youth and adult soccer, football, and baseball/softball are organized by local non-profit groups that utilize our fields. Visit the Community Partners List to find their contact information. Programs and Activities Page
5. What is a “drop-in” program and how does this work?
"Drop-in” programs allow individuals the opportunity to participate in an activity for a day rather than commit to a full session or season. Examples of drop-in programs we have are sports (such as table tennis and basketball), music (such as ukulele and drumming), yoga and dance classes, gymnastics and martial arts. “Drop-in” fees vary depending on the activity and are paid onsite, pre-registration is not needed.
6. Where can I play tennis in the City of Arcata?
Our tennis courts are available to the public in Larson Park at 901 Grant Avenue (Grant Avenue and Eye Street).
7. Does the City of Arcata have a skate park?
Yes! We have a public skate park that is located at 900 Sunset Boulevard, just west of Highway 101.
8. How do I know if I am qualified as a resident of Arcata?
Anyone who has a physical address in the City of Arcata qualifies as a “resident”. You may also qualify if you own a business (however, please note that you must own a business, not just be employed in Arcata).
9. What indoor facilities does the City rent?
- Arcata Community Center - 321 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
- D Street Neighborhood Center - 1301 D Street
- Library Conference Room - 500 7th Street
- Redwood Lodge - 490 E Park Road, Arcata (Inside Redwood Park)
- Redwood Lounge - 490 E Park Road, Arcata (Inside Redwood Park)
For more information, access each facility listing.
10. How do I make a reservation?
To make a reservation request, call the City’s Recreation Office at 707-822-7091 or contact by email. You can also stop by the office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (we do not close for lunch). Our address is 736 F Street.
Reservations require a Certificate of Insurance of $2,000,000 liability coverage and an endorsement naming the "City of Arcata, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers" as additional insured. A deposit is also needed to make a reservation. Read more about making reservations.
11. Do I need to have a reservation to use a city park?
Not necessarily. Most city parks are open to the general public for use, however, if you would like to reserve a location we offer facility rentals for birthday parties and events. Available facilities include Larson Park Gazebo and/or Bocce Courts and the picnic area in Redwood Park.
The following conditions will require a reservation or permit:
1. Non-spontaneous large-group activities consisting of 50 or more persons
2. The charging of an admission or entrance fee
3. The use of City facilities not ordinarily available for public use
4. Regularly occurring organized team or league use of City sports fields or courts
5. The sale of merchandise, food or beverages
6. The setting up of booths, stages, vending carts or stands, kiosks, bleachers or similar structures
7. The barricading of any City street or other street use that would impede the normal flow of traffic
8. Amplified music or sound
9. The need for access to City electricity
10. The need for garbage collection specific to the activity or event
11. The staging or shooting of commercial, motion or television pictures, or still photography, exempting local businesses and tourism productions, as further defined by the City Council, when such activities do not otherwise require a City permit.
12. How can I reserve a park or Arcata Plaza for a special event?
To reserve a park or the Arcata Plaza please contact the city's Recreation Office at 707-822-7091 or by email.
Reservations require a Certificate of Insurance of $2,000,000 liability coverage and an Endorsement naming the "City of Arcata, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers" as additional insured. A deposit is also needed to make a reservation. Learn more about park reservations.
13. What are the City Park hours?
Public parks are closed between sunset and sunrise, except the Plaza, which is closed between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
14. Where can I find maps of City parks and open spaces?
Maps, pictures and information on playgrounds can be found by searching the Map of Play online resource. Enter your zip code and watch the map populate with local parks and playgrounds. Go outside and play! Map of Play
15. Where can I find more information on Arcata's natural habitat?
Learn more about Arcata's natural habitat by exploring our Environmental Services section.
16. How do I get involved with the farm or community garden at Bayside Park?
To learn more about the farm, purchase a farm share, or rent a garden plot, access the Bayside Park Farm and Community Garden resources.
17. How can I become an instructor for a recreational class?
We are always looking for instructors who are interested in leading specialty classes and workshops. If you have a skill or talent and wish to teach a class, submit your proposal to:
Arcata Recreation Division
ATTN: Heather Stevens, Recreation Supervisor
Find more information and download an Instructor Information Packet and Contract Class Proposal Form by checking out the Employment and Volunteer Opportunities Page
18. How do I become a Volunteer Trail Steward?
Help monitor/pick up litter and assist with restoration along with the Arcata Community Forest Trails Council. For more information, visit the Humboldt Trails Council online resource.
19. How do I report broken equipment or unsafe conditions at a playground or facility?
Contact the Arcata Environmental Services Department at 707-822-8184.
Environmental Services Department
20. Who should I call if the skate park gate is locked during normal hours?
Please contact the Arcata Police Department at 707-822-2428. Police Department
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DestinationsFood & DrinkNewsStayVideo
The couple who fell in love on an airplane
Francesca Street, CNN • Published 7th September 2018
(CNN) — August 2003. Noel Taxin, 33, pulled up at Salt Lake City International Airport and grabbed her bags from the car. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a man kissing a girl goodbye.
"I thought, 'Oh he's cute,' " she remembers, but he was a stranger and clearly in a relationship, so she pushed the thought away.
Little did she know that this man, Robert Moyer, a divorcee seven years her senior, had spotted her, too.
For Moyer, his upcoming flight was a culmination of a rough week. He'd just been laid off from his job and knew his three-month-long relationship was going nowhere.
"I just remember seeing this woman on the corner of my eye -- cute, dark hair..." he recalls.
Cut to a couple of hours later and the two of them board their flight to New York City.
Coincidence 1: They're on the same flight.
Coincidence 2: They're just seats from one another.
"I sit down and I'm on the aisle and he comes on and he walks by me looks at me, smiles and sits right behind me," says Taxin.
"I said, I'm going to make a point of talking to her," says Moyer.
For Moyer and Taxin, this serendipitous, airplane meet-cute was the beginning of a 15-years-and-counting romance. They'd met their future spouse in the place they were least expecting it -- 30,000 feet in the sky.
Robert Moyer and Noel Taxin, pictured here not long after they first met, have been together for 15 years.
Courtesy Robert Moyer
It was nearing midnight when the future couple boarded the airplane. Both of them had planned to use the red eye flight to catch up on some sleep.
But within minutes Moyer had introduced himself and they'd hit it off.
"I just was fascinated with her because she was so beautiful," he says.
They realized they'd grown up 13 miles from one another in coastal New Jersey and shared a love of exploring the outdoors.
As the cabin crew began preparing the airplane for takeoff and the rest of the passengers dozed, Moyer -- naturally spontaneous and outgoing -- noticed that Taxin had a row to herself and asked if he could move up and sit next to her.
Taxin, more reserved and thoughtful, said yes: "But I was actually really nervous and I scooted all the way over to the window."
For the entirety of the flight, that's how they sat -- sharing their life stories, hopes and ambitions and reveling in each other's company.
"It's funny how it charges you when you're excited about meeting somebody nice and it was just, like, nice conversation," says Taxin.
No alcohol, no caffeine and no food interrupted their flow.
"We were just drinking water and just really focused," says Moyer. "I mean this is a five hour flight in the air and not once we yawned or got bored of each other-- it was like this movie that just never stopped, that you just really like."
The couple were on board a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to New York City.
Courtesy Rober Moyer
1 in 50 people finds love on an airplane, study claims
Taxin adds: "We just started talking and really had a lot in common I guess and enjoyed each other's talk. I know he said we talked all night, which we did."
Still, Taxin wanted to address the elephant in the room -- who was the woman Moyer had embraced before departure? Moyer reassured her that it wasn't serious and was reaching a stalemate.
As for Taxin, she'd just come out of a seven-year relationship. "People were trying to set me up," she remembers. "I'm really not going to date a bunch of people, I wasn't at all sure."
But with Moyer, something clicked.
When the plane landed, they walked together to get their bags, still exchanging stories. Eventually, it was time to say goodbye -- Moyer asked for Taxin's number and she gave it to him.
"Then he gave me a hug goodbye," remembers Taxin. "It was good and it was nice."
She exited the airport in a state of dazed happiness, heading to where her uncle was picking her up. She got into his car, beaming.
"Hey, what's up, you seem all happy?" Taxin remembers him asking her.
"I just met this amazing guy," She told him. "I think I'm going to marry him."
World's 10 most romantic movie locations
Constant communication
Moyer and Taxin actually grew up in the same area of New Jersey but didn't know one another.
For the two weeks that followed, Taxin and Moyer spoke constantly on the phone.
The conversation flowed naturally as they quizzed each other on their families, their views on life, their ambitions.
"Every night we spoke for about two hours," says Moyer. "We couldn't put the phone down and it was fun, just talking to each other about everything."
Two weeks later, Taxin was already back in Utah. She offered to pick Moyer up from the airport.
"Oh my gosh I was really nervous because I was like 'OK is he as good looking as I remember, do I really like him?'" Taxin says.
She knew they'd established a rapport and had lots in common, but an airplane encounter was such an unusual way of meeting someone. What if she was wrong?
Fortunately, when Moyer walked into arrivals, Taxin realized her fears were unfounded. Days later he was meeting her loved ones as her date to a family wedding.
Noel Taxin on her wedding day.
9 romantic getaways for different types of travelers
"We dated for two years before we got married, so it wasn't like we met and just got married right away," she says. But she knew he was the one.
For Moyer, the realization that Taxin was his soul mate came a couple of months later, while celebrating Thanksgiving with her family.
"I knew then, when her family was around her at the dinner table," he says.
But something in him was certain from the beginning -- he tells CNN Travel he kept his airplane ticket to commemorate their meeting.
"We did a lot together before we got married, we traveled, we skied, we pretty much did everything. We really got to know each other very well before we actually got married -- but we were in love with each other and it was fun," he says.
The couple now have a 10-year-old son and the family spend their weekends exploring the outdoors -- biking, skiing and adventuring with him in tow.
"I love my wife, I am very fortunate," he says.
"We still have a lot of fun today."
Can you solve the mystery of this Paris love letter?
Lifetime of happiness
They now have a 10-year-old son, pictured here with his parents at Halloween.
So what's the secret to true love, whether it's born on an airplane or on the ground?
"You can meet somebody and just know in your heart and your soul that it's like a good match," says Taxin. "He's really talkative and outgoing and just full of life. Like, if he could ski and bike and play everyday he would and I enjoy working and I'm more of a serious person. But our personalities blend and balance each other."
Moyer adds: "She must have really saw something in me because here's somebody who is unemployed that she met and she'd fallen in love with."
Moyer now works for Utah's unemployment insurance division. Taxin directs programs which serve children with special health care needs throughout the state.
"Relationships are up and down, I mean not everything's cloud nine, we had to work things out," Moyer says. "But it's really funny, I really remember in detail the whole time of meeting her on the plane."
"We've been together for 15 years, which is pretty good, we still have a lifetime," says Taxin. "But I think we're both committed to that and I think it stems back to that communication that we opened up when we first talked."
Disneyland in the summer of '69
Airplane romance
A recent study suggested there's a 1 in 50 chance of meeting a future partner on a plane. Most of us don't get on board an airplane looking for love, but perhaps we should.
After all, Taxin and Moyer's love story is based on pure coincidence, as well as honest communication and connection.
They grew up in the same area, but a seven year age gap meant they never have crossed paths as kids. They went to the same orthodontist. He used to valet park her Grandma's car. They worked at the same grocery store when they were young, but at different times. They're even both convinced that they saw one another running in the park once, prior to their plane meeting.
But they didn't meet in New Jersey, they met on an airplane flying from Utah -- where they both ended up for college.
They are both adventurous and love to spend their weekends exploring.
From India to Sweden by bike -- an international love story
"It is kind of funny like different coincidences in life. How the energy force of life... we think our world is so big but there's sometimes really interesting coincidences that occur," reflects Taxin.
So do they think an airplane is a good spot for a budding romance?
"You're there on a plane for so long," says Taxin. "It worked out really well that we could really get to know each other [...] depending how open they are, it's like you can really get to know somebody pretty quickly.
"I honestly knew that he was going to be my future husband," she says.
A year of the world'sBest BeachesThere's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
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Jon Voight: ‘This Is a War…Between Truths Versus Lies’
By Craig Bannister | January 6, 2021 | 10:07am EST
“We shall not let America sink to these fools, who are Democrats, and now some Republicans, who have jumped to the trails of unrighteousness,” conservative Actor Jon Voight says, calling on Americans of every race, creed and color to unite and fight for the principles of righteousness.
Actor Jon Voight
Americans must wage battle against members of both parties who have turned against freedom and righteousness, Voight says in a Twitter video posted on Sunday, in which he warns of “dark clouds of destruction” threatening the country:
“America: my America, your America. We shall not let America sink to these fools, who are Democrats, and now, some Republicans who have jumped to the trails of unrighteousness.
“America, land of the free, will not stand for freedom if we allow these dark clouds of destruction. We must tear down the walls of Jericho. We must not allow our fears to follow the path of evil. We all must rise now, for God now has heard our cries.
“We all know how this election was false. We all know. But, is anyone standing up for the truths? Is anyone?”
America pic.twitter.com/3EDdW4mpCc
— Jon Voight (@jonvoight) January 4, 2021
America is now engaged in a war to defend truth, justice, freedom and God – which can be won only if all Americans unite in the fight for what’s right, Voight says:
“This is a war, a war that is about to open up now, between truths versus lies. We, the people, must open our eyes to this truth: that this election is, by far, the biggest scandal of 2020.
“Can justice prevail? Can truths prevail?
“Well, my friends of every religion, race, color: this is not a race. This is about God. This now is about safety, our trust, our given truths.
“We all ask now, ‘What will be? How will our nation be free?’ A land that once stood with pride, with freedom, and dreams for the American people.
“Well, my friends: it must still be. And, we all will understand this one day, because President Trump is standing, and will always stand, for America’s freedom and the words of our greatness: ‘In God we trust.’”
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“Bronzed” history is made for CVFR
Posted on August 20, 2012 by Beastie
If fell running were an Olympic Sport, China and the USA would have no chance against Yorkshire in Rio 2016. Calder Valley Fell Runners filled the void left after the closing ceremony by delivering a bonanza of fantastic results. On the domestic front, with a cross country like flat start and finish and three runnable climbs in between, there was no let up in the battle for English Championship places at the Weasdale Horseshoe (8.7miles, 2001ft climbing). Having previously never quite managed to get into the medals in either the British or English Fell Running Championships, the men’s team is now assured of a bronze in both this year. All five counters in this English Championship race – Jason Williams, Shaun Godsman, Tim Ellis, Karl Gray and Ben Mounsey – finished within 10 places of one another, in a formidable show of strength on a course which proved to be fast and furious.
With the prospect of medals in the offing, Team Captain Mounsey had ensured that there were plenty of Calder Valley runners in the field, and there were notable performances from Tim Black who also recorded a stunning Championship finish only a few places behind Mounsey. The flying postman Alex Whittem had a solid run back after a long injury lay off and Joe Washington dug deep to finish in a very respectable position on his Championship debut.
In the women’s race Holly Page was 4th, putting her in gold medal position in the U23 category, and silver medal position in the open category. Watch this space for the final rankings after the last Championship races in September.
Internationally, Helen Fines represented Great Britain in the 50th anniversary race of the Staffeta Tre Rifugi, which is a 3-stage mountain relay in the Dolomites, uphill, traverse and downhill. For the 4th time, Fines was running the downhill leg, 3000′ of descent over 6.5km of terrain over very steep grass slopes, a bit of rock, some steep woodland and finishing with 2.1k of ‘hideous’ tarmac with the last 400m up a slight incline. Fines has said before that doing this downhill leg of the relay she tries to switch the self preservation part of her brain off. Apparently she was successful and the energy saved by reducing brain function was in redirected to her legs, as Fines charged down the mountainside in pursuit of the Slovenian team who had gained a 7 minute advantage over GB at the second handover, who were now in 4th. Fines stayed strong to the end and overcame the harsh tarmac finish to narrow the gap to just 2 minutes and in doing so smashed the leg record and helped her team to a silver medal finish.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized by Beastie. Bookmark the permalink.
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International Water Law
Laurence Boisson de Chazournes +3 more instructors
In recent decades, international law has undergone a series of major developments in order to accommodate the many new facets of freshwater management and protection. The adoption of universal, regional and basin instruments highlights how important it is to study the evolution of international water regulations and to be able to identify the main principles in this field. This course aims to provide the necessary background to understand and examine the regulation applicable to transboundary freshwaters especially to rivers, lakes and aquifers. It presents the principles and legal standards that govern the use, sharing, management and protection of these resources.
The MOOC is made up of 5 modules. As each module addresses a different theme, they can be viewed in any order. However, the modules do follow a certain pedagogical logic and following in order will be especially helpful to those who are new to the subject. Each module is accompanied by an evaluation questionnaire or quiz. A certificate will be awarded to students who obtain an average of at least 80% in the quizzes. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) Describe the issues related to the regulation of transboundary freshwaters; 2) Explain how transboundary freshwater regulations have evolved; 3) Recall and interpret the key principles governing water resource regulation; 4) Understand the role of transboundary freshwater dispute settlement mechanisms in the development of international freshwater law (or to understand the role of international courts and tribunals in the resolution of conflicts) This MOOC was developed by the Platform for International Freshwater Law that is part of the Geneva Water Hub, assisted by the MOOC Team of the University of Geneva. Alongside the researchers and teachers of the Platform, several international experts have also participated. This MOOC is one of three courses supported by the Water Hub Geneva and the University of Geneva. The other MOOCS are "Water Management and Policy" (www.coursera.org/learn/gestioneau) and "Ecosystem Services: a method for sustainable development "(www.coursera.org/learn/ecosystem-services). The Global Water Program of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has funded this course. This MOOC was originally created in French. It has English subtitles.
Laurence Boisson de Chazournes
Department of Public International Law and International Organization, Faculty of Law
Makane Moïse Mbengue
Faculty of Law and Institute of Environmental Sciences
Mara Tignino
Komlan Sangbana
Associate Researcher
Founded in 1559, the University of Geneva (UNIGE) is one of Europe's leading universities. Devoted to research, education and dialogue, the UNIGE shares the international calling of its host city, Geneva, a centre of international and multicultural activities with a venerable cosmopolitan tradition.
Module 1: Introduction to international water law
With around two hundred and seventy-six (276) rivers and lakes and a large number of groundwater shared by two or more States, there is an increasing level of interest in the importance of international law in this area. This introductory module is designed to highlight how international regulation is fundamental to achieving a harmonious and peaceful management of these essential resources. It outlines the various issues and challenges related to the management and protection of water resources. Whilst emphasis is placed on the factors that can lead to conflict, the module will also show how water can be considered as an instrument of peace and cooperation among States. Within this context, the benefits of cooperation between States over transboundary freshwater are examined. We will also analyse the different uses linked to water resources and the relationships that exist between them. The module will be concluded by a quiz worth 15% of the final mark. You must have at least 80% of the answers correct to pass the module.
1.0 General Introduction - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva3m
Copy of 1.0 General Introduction - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva3m
1.1 Introduction - Dr Komlan Sangbana and Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva2m
1.2.1 Challenges in the Management and Protection of Transboundary Water Resources - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva11m
1.2.2. Transboundary Water Resources as a Possible Cause of Conflict - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva9m
1.2.3. The Benefits of Cooperation on Transboundary Water Resources - Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva9m
1.3.1. The Multiple Utilizations of Transboundary Water Resources - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva7m
1.3.2. The Characteristics of the Conflicts between Utilizations - Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue, Faculty of Law, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva10m
1.3.3. Case Study : Conflict between Uses in the Uruguay River (Argentina/Uruguay) - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva11m
1.4. Conclusion - Dr Komlan Sangbana and Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva3m
Fundamental Legal Instruments10m
Formative Assessment of the Lecture 1.230m
Quiz of module 130m
Module 2: The Evolution of the International Regulation on Fresh Water Resources
This module outlines the major milestones in the evolution of international freshwater regulation. It will present the scope and contribution of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997 Convention) and the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Water and International Lakes of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (1992 Convention). The role of international organizations, international academic societies and civil society in the development and promotion of these instruments will be highlighted. The unique nature of groundwater regulation is also addressed and we will look closely at the main features of the 2008 International Law Commission’s Draft articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers. We will also examine the best practice shown in the 2008 Convention on the Protection, Utilisation, Recharge and Monitoring of the Franco-Swiss Genevois Aquifer. The module will be concluded by a quiz worth 20% of the final mark. You must have at least 80% of the answers correct to pass the module.
2.1 Introduction - Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva2m
2.2.1. The Origin of Codification of the Law Applicable to International Watercourses - Interview with Professor Lucius Caflisch, Honorary Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Former Member of the UN International Law Commission9m
2.2.2. The Significance of the Entry into Force of the Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses of 1997 - Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue, Faculty of Law, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva8m
2.2.3. The Contribution of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes of 1992 to the Regulation of Transboundary Water Resources - Interview with Ms Francesca Bernardini, Secretary of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes11m
2.2.4. The Role of Civil Society in the Ratification Process of the United Nations Convention of 1997 - Interview with Ms Marie-Laure Vercambre, Director, Water for Life and Peace Programme, Green Cross International17m
2.3.1. The Challenges Linked to the Regulation of Groundwater Resources - Ms Raya Stephan, Expert in Water Law, International Consultant7m
2.3.2. The Work of the International Law Commission on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers - Ms Raya Stephan, Expert in Water Law, International Consultant9m
2.3.3. The Specificities of the Law on Transboundary Aquifers - Ms Raya Stephan, Expert in Water Law, International Consultant10m
2.3.4. Case Study : The Genevese Transboundary Aquifer (Switzerland-France) - Interview with Dr Gabriel de Los Cobos - Expert, Hydrogeologist, Department of Geology, Soil and Waste (GESDEC), Canton of Geneva16m
2.4. Conclusion - Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva2m
Quiz of the Lesson 2.330m
Module 3: The Principles of the Law on Transboundary Water Resources I
This module presents the general principles governing how water is shared and we will also examine the rules associated with planned measures on transboundary waters. We will take a look at the theory behind the principle of equitable and reasonable use, the obligation to not cause significant harm and the principle of cooperation. The rules of notification, consultation and negotiation in the case of planned measures will be examined in detail. We will also focus how these principles interact with each other. The module will be concluded by a quiz worth 25% of the final mark. You must have at least 80% of the answers correct to pass the module.
3.1. Introduction - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva2m
3.2.1a. The Key Principles of Water Sharing: the Principle of Equitable and Reasonable Utilization and the Obligation Not to Cause Significant Harm - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva8m
3.2.1. The Relationship Between the Principle of Equitable and Reasonable Utilization and the Obligation Not to Cause Significant Harm - Interview with Professor Lucius Caflisch, Honorary Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Former Member of the UN International Law Commission7m
3.2.2. Cooperation Between Riparian States and the Notion of the Community of Interests and Rights - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva6m
3.2.3. The Forms of Cooperation - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva9m
3.2.4. Case Study: The Experience of the Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS) on the Sharing of Transboundary Water Resources - Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue, Faculty of Law, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva8m
3.3.1. Aims and Modalities of the Obligation on Notification on Planned Measures - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva8m
3.3.2. Triggering and Conduct of the Procedures on Consultations and Negotiations in the Case of Planned Measures - Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva8m
The Principles of the Law on Transboundary Water Resources II
This module highlights how other bodies of norms such as international environmental law, human rights and the law of climate change have contributed to the protection of transboundary freshwaters. The module presents the main international conventions that deal with the environment and details the principles that apply to the management of shared water resources (such as prevention, precaution and the obligation to conduct an environmental impact study). We will examine new legal instruments that take into account these aspects of international freshwater law via the water charters (such as for the Senegal River, the Niger River Basin, the Lake Chad Basin). The module will be concluded by a quiz worth 25% of the final mark. You must have at least 80% of the answers correct to pass the module.
4.1. Introduction of Module 4 - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva1m
4.2.1. The Contribution of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to the Protection and Management of Water Resources - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva6m
4.2.2. The Fight against the Pollution of Water Resources - Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva8m
4.2.3. Water and Climate Change - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva8m
4.2.4. The Water Charters in Africa: An Innovative Instrument for the Protection of the Aquatic Environment - Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue, Faculty of Law, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva6m
Lecture 4.3.1 The Right to Water and Public Participation - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva9m
4.3.2. Case Study: Public Participation in the Context of the International Joint Commission (Canada/United States) - Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva7m
4.4. Conclusion - Dr Mara Tignino, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva1m
Module 5: Prevention and Resolution of Water-Related Disputes
This module presents the diplomatic and judicial mechanisms that exist for resolving water-related disputes. The essential role of basin organizations and commissions in the prevention and resolution of conflicts over water is also addressed. Finally, we examine the details of the decisions of international tribunals and courts about shared water resources and we assess their contribution to the development of international freshwater law. The module will be concluded by a quiz worth 20% of the final mark. You must have at least 80% of the answers correct to pass the module.
5.1. Introduction of Module 5 - Dr Mara Tignino and Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva2m
5.2.1. The Variety of Diplomatic Means to Settle Water Disputes - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva8m
5.2.2. The Judicial Means to Settle Water Disputes - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva7m
5.3.1. The Settlement of Disputes in the Context of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses of 1997 - Interview with Professor Lucius Caflisch, Honorary Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Former Member of the UN International Law Commission8m
5.3.2. The Contribution of Joint Mechanisms to the Settlement of Water Disputes - Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva8m
5.3.3. The Settlement of Water Disputes: Practical Aspects - Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue, Faculty of Law, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva12m
5.4. Conclusion - Dr Mara Tignino and Dr Komlan Sangbana, Platform for International Water Law/Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva2m
TOP REVIEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL WATER LAW
by UZJul 3, 2020
This coarse will give you a basic overview of Laws and mechanisms to resolve trans-boundary water disputes. Knowledge regarding issues and case studies related to ground water and fresh water.
by JJMar 18, 2018
This course really helps for all the legal field person specially for those who wish to build their career in ENVIRONMENTAL LAW not only at domestic but at also international level.
by MMOct 14, 2020
The program was very useful, and thanks to everyone who contributed to it I suggest that the student receive at the end of the program the course materials in pdf\n\nthank you
by KVJun 25, 2020
An interesting course on international water law. For me, this is a new area of study and I would be interested to learn how this law is applied in different parts of the world.
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Appeals Civil Rights International Politics
Turkish Court Rules Jailing of Top Rights Defender Lawful
December 29, 2020 December 29, 2020 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
detention, protests, Turkey
Osman Kavala at the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration in 2015 near Taksim Square, Istanbul. (Credit: Rupen Janbazian, Creative Commons, via Courthouse News)
ISTANBUL (AFP) — A top Turkish court on Tuesday sanctioned rights defender Osman Kavala’s three-year detention without a conviction in a case watched closely for signs of a political thawing under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A respected figure in international circles, the 63-year-old patron of culture and the arts has remained in prison despite being acquitted in February in connection with 2013 anti-government protests.
Before he could walk free, he was immediately rearrested and jailed on fresh charges of espionage and involvement in a failed 2016 coup against Erdogan.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 5 of next year.
The Constitutional Court ruled by an 8-7 margin that Kavala’s continued detention did not violate his rights to liberty and security, a court spokesman told AFP.
The formal reasoning for the ruling is expected to be published in one or two months.
‘Shameful day’
Amnesty International’s senior Turkey campaigner Milena Buyum called it “a shameful day that brings a dark cloud over Turkey’s beleaguered judiciary and highlights its lack of independence.”
The narrow majority ruling “exposes once more the politically motivated nature of Osman Kavala’s ongoing, arbitrary imprisonment,” she told AFP.
Kavala was a founding member of philanthropist George Soros’ Open Society Foundation in Turkey and headed Anadolu Kultur — a group that promoted cross-cultural ties through the arts at the time of his arrest.
In a court appearance this month, Kavala rejected the charges, telling the presiding judge: “I have opposed military coups my entire life and have criticized the army’s interference in politics.”
Critics are increasingly worried over the wider practice of arbitrary detentions and abusive prosecutions of journalists, lawyers and the government’s political foes, which have further complicated Turkey’s ties with the EU.
Emma Sinclair-Webb of Human Rights Watch called Tuesday’s ruling “another nail in (the court’s) own coffin” that came in “flagrant disregard” for the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) order to release Kavala in December 2019.
“Serving political masters gets you further than worrying about law in Turkey,” she told the court’s judges on Twitter.
Turkey is bound by ECHR rulings but has repeatedly ignored them under Erdogan.
Erdogan anger
Kavala would be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of trying to overthrow the constitutional order. The espionage charge carries an additional 20 years in jail.
Although he has never run for public office, the Parisian-born businessman appears to have drawn the personal wrath of Erdogan.
The Turkish leader branded Kavala the “red Soros of Turkey” a few days after he was first detained upon landing in an Istanbul airport from Gaziantep in the southeast in October 2017.
In a bid to repair Turkey’s global image in the middle of a deep economic downturn, Erdogan last month pledged to push through judicial reforms that secured broader independence of the courts.
But he also took aim at Kavala, saying he was responsible for the 2013 unrest — even after being cleared of involvement in court.
“We can never be with financiers of the Gezi events,” Erdogan said, referring to demonstrations against plans to demolish a park in the heart of Istanbul that snowballed into nationwide protests.
“We can never be with Kavalas,” Erdogan said.
U.S. academic Henri Barkey is being tried in absentia alongside Kavala in the new trial.
The accusations against Barkey stem from a conference he organised about Iran on an island off Istanbul at the time of the 2016 coup attempt.
The charge sheet alleges Barkey used the event as cover to coordinate the putsch with Kavala.
Barkey told AFP this month that the charges against him were “a travesty of the first order.”
by Fulya OZERKAN
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Home › About Us
Based on Prince Edward Island, Canada, COWS Creamery began making Cheddar Cheese in 2006. Our first Cheddar was Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar which is an English Style Clothbound Cheddar that is aged for 18 months in our aging cave.
COWS Creamery Extra Old Cheddar began shortly thereafter, and COWS Creamery Appletree Smoked Cheddar was added to the lineup in 2011.
In 2018, we expanded our COWS Creamery Cheddar line adding a 1 Year Old, 2 Year Old, and 3 Year Old Cheddars. Our cheddars have been awarded many awards over-the-years.
In 2014, our COWS Creamery Extra Old was named World’s Best Cheddar and our COWS Creamery Appletree Smoked was named World’s Best Smoked Cheddar at the World Championship Cheese Contest.
In 2015, our Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar was named World’s Best Vintage Cheddar at the World Cheese Awards.
We began making COWS Creamery Sea Salted Butter in 2010, Unsalted Butter in 2011, and added Cultured Butter in 2016.
Our COWS Creamery Butter has 84% butter fat (4% higher than regular butters) which gives it a richer, creamier taste.
COWS Creamery is a division of COWS Inc. that has made delicious, super premium ice cream on Prince Edward Island since 1983. Despite the growth that COWS has experienced, the same old-fashioned ingredients are still used today when making the 32+ flavors that are produced by COWS Inc. in Charlottetown.
Each COWS ice cream is served in a handmade waffle cone, created one at a time, right at the ice cream counter.An integral part of our dairy products is Prince Edward Island milk. It is the only milk we use when producing our ice cream, cheese, and butter. We know it helps add flavour and quality to our delicious products.
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Beer Institute releases white paper on drunk driving/underage drinking
December 5, 2014 Keith Gribbins
Earlier this week, the Beer Institute released a white paper, Commitment to Responsibility, which outlines the broad efforts by brewers and beer importers to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking through paid advertisements, programs to work with parents and retailers, and alternative rides home.
“People in the beer business think of responsibility every day. We are parents and neighbors ourselves, and like everyone else, we want safe communities and safe roads,” said Jim McGreevy, president and CEO of the Beer Institute. “This paper outlines just some of what brewers and beer importers do every day to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking. Our industry has been invited to be part of the conversation about solutions precisely because of the work outlined here in our Commitment to Responsibility white paper.”
The Beer Institute distributed the paper to every member of Congress and hosted an Industry Insights Panel on Capitol Hill, where congressional staff and others were invited to pose questions and engage representatives of brewers and beer importers involved in responsibility work.
Data in the white paper is largely collected from third-party sources, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Among the work outlined in the paper:
More than 63 percent of American adults report having been a designated driver or having used one.
In 2013 alone, brewers and beer importers supplied more than 856,000 consumers alternative rides home.
A 2014 report by the FTC found that more than 97 percent of all media impressions by the alcohol industry were seen by legal drinking age audiences.
More than 200,000 families have taken part in brewer-funded outreach designed to provide parents the resources they need to talk to their kids about drinking; public research demonstrates that parents are the most influential on teen attitudes toward drinking.
The core of what the public sees from brewers and importers is overseen by the Beer Institute’s Advertising and Marketing Code, which sets industry standards and guides company practices. But the paper also examines programs involving college students, support for training servers to check IDs, and engagement with law enforcement, retailers, and community leaders.
The white paper is available for download here.
“Drunk driving fatalities are half what they were in 1982. Underage drinking is near historic lows. But we know there is more work to be done. That is why the member companies of the Beer Institute are committed to responsibility,” McGreevy said.
Beer Institute releases September 2020 domestic tax paid estimates, and of course you’re interested
Beer Institute releases August 2020 domestic tax paid estimate (expect revisions)
Beer Institute releases July 2020 domestic tax paid estimate, adds 200,000 bbls to March because of delayed reporting
Beer Institute releases June 2020 domestic tax paid estimate, postponed reporting will skew it
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Philip B. Friedman
Steven E. “Tim” Riley Jr.
William P. Weichler
Business and Commercial Litigation
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What You Should Do When Under Investigation
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How Can I Afford Medical Care?
Injuries At Work
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Can I Appeal A Claim Denial?
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When Workers’ Comp And Personal Injury Overlap
Pennsylvania is serious about shoplifting offenses
On behalf of Conner Riley Friedman & Weichler | Sep 14, 2017 | blog, Firm News |
Shoplifting may not seem like a serious crime. Many people, especially teenagers or college-aged adults, may feel the temptation to try shoplifting. It may seem like a victimless crime, but, in reality, it can put jobs at risk. Because retailers mark up items to reflect a certain amount of theft, everyone else ends up paying for shoplifted items. The more items destroyed or stolen from a store, the greater the potential mark-up.
In Pennsylvania, shoplifting is called retail theft. Under the state’s laws, the seriousness of a shoplifting crime gets determined by the value of the items stolen and any previous criminal record by the person accused of retail theft. Even young people can end up in serious trouble over shoplifting.
What constitutes retail theft?
There are many kinds of behavior that qualify as retail theft. All of these actions are undertaken with an intention to deprive the rightful owner (the store) of the value of the item(s) in question. A shoplifter could do that in a number of ways. A common one is to hide an item inside clothing, under a coat, in a baby stroller or in a purse. That’s what most people think of when they think of shoplifting.
Retail theft also includes changing the price tag on an item to a lower price or swapping out price tags, packaging or containers to purchase an item for less than it was priced for. It is also retail theft to damage, remove or disable any security devices placed in retail merchandise.
A person accused of retail theft doesn’t always have to make it out of the store. People overseen by security or videotaped by cameras hiding items, changing tags or removing security devices could be charged without ever successfully stealing anything.
The value of the items determines the penalty
For items worth less than $150, shoplifting is considered a summary offense if the person accused has no previous retail theft on his or her record. That means this charge carries up to 90 days in jail.
For a second offense involving items worth less than $150, the accused will face a misdemeanor in the second degree charge, which could result in up to three years in prison. If the items were worth more than $150 but less than $2,000, the accused will face misdemeanor of the first degree charges for a first or second offense, which carry up to five years in prison.
Any third, fourth or higher retail theft offense, regardless of the item’s value, is a third degree felony charge. Shoplifting is also a felony when the merchandise is worth more than $2,000, or it it’s a firearm or motor vehicle. For felony retail theft charges, there could be as many as seven years imprisonment ordered by the courts.
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Review: State of Decay 2
2018-05-17 15:00:00by Ray Porreca
It's hard out here for a survivor
Let me introduce you to The Refugees. They're a hardy bunch, ten survivors who banded together in an abandoned strip mall. Every member of their post-apocalyptic community brings a little something different to the table. Oscar, or Grouch as he likes to be called, fashions himself as a lawful sheriff, quick to lend aid to other pockets of humanity and always prepared to dish out justice. Terri is a bit of a loner; a former goth teen who's knows her way around a building's plumbing system.
For two straight weeks, The Refugees pushed back against a world where walking, talking, and even breathing are significant detriments to a happy and healthy life. But now they're doing alright. Life seems manageable. Oscar and his computer-loving pal Zeke rigged solar panels to their base, and a few others have secured more than enough food and medical supplies. Sure, there are zombies everywhere, but for now, The Refugees plan to feast. They all might be dead in the morning anyway. State of Decay 2 is brutal like that.
It took a few dozen hours to build up The Refugees' resources to the point where the survivors could afford to relax. State of Decay 2 is a game where progress is measured in inches rather than miles. As a genre-bending experience that's equal parts survival game, post-apocalyptic management sim, and action romp, State of Decay 2 has a steep barrier to entry. But to a certain kind of person -- one who finds careful planning and resource management just as exciting and lopping off a few hundred zombies' heads -- this might be one of the year's most entertaining games.
State of Decay 2 (Xbox One, PC [Reviewed])
Developer: Undead Labs
State of Decay 2 starts with little fanfare. Its opening tutorial sequence leans hard into the established zombie canon. After selecting from a roster of prebuilt, two-person teams, players see their characters racing towards a military outpost with scores of undead at their heels. Although the goal is to make contact with the army, it becomes apparent that the site's been abandoned for a while.
With zombies nearby, players learn the game's core mechanics like scavenging and combat, before linking up with the outpost's last remaining humans and setting out to find a new place to call home. It's straightforward, but the first thirty minutes do a decent job of introducing the systems and tone that will come to dominate the next twenty-plus hours. (Fortunately, veterans can choose to skip this sequence and dive right into the central part of the game with a custom group of survivors.)
And those systems -- the slow-spinning process of carefully looting, squirreling away resources, and fighting zombies while avoiding their bites -- are the game's biggest draw. State of Decay 2 isn't the prettiest game on the market, and it's not without its rough edges, but as a piece of media that asks players to engage in an all-or-nothing approach to survival, it's completely and utterly engaging.
There's something powerful about the insistence on balancing long-term goals with shorter projects and dynamic events that drives State of Decay forward. Combating ever-dwindling resources by frequent supply runs and base-building upgrades might sound repetitive on paper, but within the context of the game, the process exists almost as if to say that our ability to follow a routine when the world's gone to shit is what defines a human.
That human element informs a lot of the design choices. State of Decay 2 relies heavily on randomization, ranging from the available loot in searchable containers to the pockets of survivors scattered about the map and even character personalities and traits. Every person has a unique backstory that manifests in varying quirks and passive abilities. Attributes like "awful singing voice" are just as meaningful as "surgeon," as every little detail causes ripples in a community's collective morale. Similarly, as survivors raise their status within a community, they unlock specializations and pre-defined classes, like a Warlord, that open up different questlines and facilities.
Despite being a randomly-generated collection of survivors, seeing how different characters you recruit interact and affect one another not only makes for colorful conversations, it also drives the game forward, as players can switch between their community members whenever they're at a base. Using the same survivor for too long means they'll become fatigued and accruing too much damage means they run the risk of serious injuries, so swapping characters is vital to survival.
It's a good thing, too, because State of Decay 2 gives players plenty of latitude when it comes to interacting with the world. After completing the tutorial sequence and securing a starting base on one of the three different maps, the game throws an overwhelming amount of information at you. In addition to looting and combat, concepts like base-building, outposts, and trading are rapidly introduced. The deluge of mechanics and steady decrease of resources can seem as insurmountable as an army of zombies, but by exploring -- cautiously at first -- and getting your feet wet, State of Decay 2's gameplay loop is compelling. What initially seems like an opaque list of potential chores becomes the rites of a ritual that, when completed, means you just might live to see another day.
And so, the bulk of a player's time in State of Decay 2 revolves around addressing their community's ambient needs while trying to take back some land from the zombies. Scattered around the map are locations overrun by Plague Hearts, which require preparation and serious firepower to topple. Destroying these infestations is the survivors' primary long-term goal while establishing outposts -- places that, once cleared of zombies and fully explored, can be claimed for a daily boost to resources -- and crafting new base facilities (or relocating to a bigger stronghold) make up the more immediate action. Along the way, it's not uncommon to hear radio requests from other groups in the area. Choosing to interact with factions adds another layer of tension to the mix. There's no way of knowing if your new neighbors are amicable, scrappy scavengers or a group of cannibals. Whether or not players interact with other survivors is entirely up to them, but more often than not, the jobs they need help with end with valuable material rewards.
During moments when there are few immediate concerns, proactive players can use a survivor's radio to hone in on specific supplies, locate Plague Hearts, contact nearby communities, and initiate multiplayer sessions (in which four players can play cooperatively). Using the radio requires spending Influence, State of Decay 2's catch-all currency, but its benefits far outweigh the costs. Because there's always so much happening during minute-to-minute gameplay, it's easy to forget about the radio services, but it's a useful asset whenever your supply cache is looking thin.
For as entertaining as its various systems are, State of Decay 2 isn't a perfect game. It lacks a few obvious quality-of-life features, like an easy way to swap items between survivors when they're exploring in a team and a less cluttered inventory system that can be read at a glance. These annoyances are compounded by technical hiccups, collision issues, and wonky physics that are frustrating at best and quest-breaking at worst. Fortunately, the radio has an "I'm stuck" function that warps characters back to their last stable location, which helps alleviate the pain of losing progress.
State of Decay 2 comes together as a game that feels designed for players who like to make checklists and chip away at long-term tasks. That notion might sound contradictory to existence in a zombie apocalypse, where death comes fast and often, but engaging with the game from this perspective makes its rough edges seem more like minor smudges. State of Decay 2's unique approach to survival and management might not appeal to everyone, but it certainly feels like an instant cult classic.
State of Decay 2 reviewed by Ray Porreca
Impressive effort with a few noticeable problems holding it back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Ray PorrecaContributor gamer profile
Kane & Lynch 2 forever. more + disclosures
Also on Destructoid: State of Decay 2 (14) From our database:
State of Decay 2 on Steam will have cross-play co-op - Jordan Devore
State of Decay 2's Heartland expansion is out today - Chris Carter
State of Decay 2 just got a big patch for stability and bug fixes - Jordan Devore
Review: State of Decay 2 - Ray Porreca
State of Decay 2's new trailer looks at the economic stability of survivalism, explodes some zombies - Chris Moyse
State of Decay 2 should really hit the spot - Jordan Devore
Fulfill your dream of being a Scooby-Doo villain with State of Decay 2 Collector's Edition - Chris Moyse
State of Decay 2 hits Xbox One and Windows 10 in May for $30 - Jordan Devore
State of Decay 2 is still on for a spring release - Jordan Devore
Filed under... #Action #Management Sim #PC #reviews #Survival #Xbox One
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Home News Dept of Education working on placing learners
Dept of Education working on placing learners
Boipelo Mere
The department has already missed deadlines.
File image. Picture: REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde
WHILE Northern Cape parents are anxiously waiting to hear about their children’s placement in schools for 2021, the Northern Cape Department of Education said that it was doing its best to finalise the outstanding placements on or before January 8, 2021.
The department previously indicted that parents would know by December 15 2020.
Parents will be expected to either accept or decline the placement offer on the www.ncdoeadmissions.org website on or before January 15.
Department spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said that the department will grant a 7 day window period for parents to do this, failing to do so, the department will place learners.
Parents are already fearful that they may have to queue at the department’s district offices in search of placement for their children in the new year.
“The department indicated that parents would know the outcome of their applications by December 15. We, however, heard that parents who applied to Afrikaans-medium schools already had feedback on their applications. It is only the English-medium learners who still need to know where they will be attending. It is so unfair.”
Other parents pointed out that their preparations for the 2021 academic year are being ruined.
“We wanted to get school uniforms before the school shops closed. There are rumours that we will only hear about the results of our applications a few days before schools reopen in the new year. We can already foresee that parents will be lining up at the department to appeal their placements and requesting space for their children. The department always acts like it is not aware of the number of learners there are in the Province,” they said.
According to the department, to date, 22 601 placement offers have already been issued to parents, of which 37,3% successfully accepted the placement.
“The Online Admission System will open for late admissions from January 11-18, 2021 for those parents who haven’t applied yet.
“Late admissions will be treated on a first come first serve basis.
“The department will avail walk-in centres in each district to assist parents with their online late application as well as parents wanting to accept or decline their placement offers,” Van der Merwe said.
He added that the walk-in centres will be operational from Monday, January 11, 2020, where parents who will be applying for late admission applications will have to either accept or decline their placement offer on or before Monday, January 25, 2020.
“Thereafter, the department will take the onus of placing the learner.
“Together with the cooperation of parents, we will be able to place all learners before the 2021 school academic year commences on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, fulfilling the right to education,” Van der Merwe said.
The department urged all parents who opt to make use of walk-in centres, to comply with the Covid-19 regulations and guidelines.
Parents who are able to access the online admissions website from their home, are also urged to do so, instead of visiting the walk-in centres for the smooth start of the 2021 school academic year.
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1,700 Northern Cape teachers have applied to work from home
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Home South African Education Department plans to eradicate pit toilets by 2022
Education Department plans to eradicate pit toilets by 2022
Bongani Nkosi
Data released earlier this year indicated that there were nearly 4,000 schools still using these dangerous types of toilets.
A parent looks at a school pit toilet. Picture: Dumisani Dube / African News Agency (ANA)
JOHANNESBURG – The Basic Education Department has set itself a deadline to eradicate pit toilets in schools.
Minister Angie Motshekga was replying to a written question in Parliament.
“The plan is to eradicate the dependency on basic pit toilets at the identified schools by March 2022,” she said.
“The SAFE programme (Sanitation Appropriate For Education) was launched to address the sanitation at 3,898 schools that reportedly were still dependent on basic pit toilets,” Motshekga said.
“Of these 3,898 schools, 427 have now been closed (mostly due to rationalisation).
“A further 725 of these schools have been assessed and the sanitation has been confirmed to be of an appropriate standard, although some of these sanitation facilities require some form of maintenance.
“The remaining 2,746 schools require intervention to eradicate the dependency on basic pit toilets,” said Motshekga.
The majority of these schools were in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. KwaZulu-Natal had 1,168 such schools while the Eastern Cape had 997.
Limpopo had the highest numbers among the inland provinces, with 298, followed by the Free State with 123.
There were 106 schools in Mpumalanga that still used pit toilets and 55 in the North West.
In the clearest indicator that this was a rural community problem, Gauteng and the Western Cape had no schools that used pit latrines.
Motshekga said work has started to eradicate pit toilets in the identified schools. “Of these 2,746 schools, the work at 612 schools is practically completed.
“There are construction projects at a further 420 of the schools,” she said.
A new report from the Public Service Commission (PSC) has decried the use of pit toilets in schools.
Commission representatives made unannounced visits to 60 schools to inspect compliance with regulations intended to limit the spread of Covid-19.
The PSC said: “Of concern for us was that some schools in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West are still using pit toilets.
“This is of serious concern since these facilities are essentially unhygienic.
“Expecting learners, teachers and staff still to use them is a clear infringement of their human dignity.
“Furthermore, these facilities have proven to be unsafe to use, particularly for young learners, as two in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo lost their lives while using such facilities.”
They were Michael Komape and Lumka Mkhetwa, both aged 5.
Michael fell into a pit toilet at Mahlodumela Primary School in Limpopo’s Chebeng Village and drowned on January 20, 2014.
Lumka drowned after she fell into one at Luna School outside Mbizana in the Eastern Cape in March 2018.
Later the same year, also in the Eastern Cape, another five-year-old almost drowned after falling into a toilet at Dalibango Primary in Centane.
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Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms
Home / Science & Nature / Science / Biology / Biochemistry / Difference Between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway
Difference Between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway
January 8, 2020 Posted by Samanthi
The difference between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway is that the Embden Meyerhof Pathway is the classic glycolysis that converts glucose into pyruvate in eukaryotes and many prokaryotes. At the same time, the Entner Doudoroff Pathway is an alternative pathway of glycolysis in few bacteria and converts glucose into pyruvate in order to produce ATP.
Glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration,, which converts glucose into pyruvate. There are a series of reactions occurring during glycolysis. It also generates two ATP molecules as the net production. Embden Meyerhof pathway is a synonym of glycolysis. glycolysis occurs in eukaryotes and many prokaryotes, and they use glucose to generate ATP. But in certain prokaryotes, especially in certain bacteria, there is an alternative for glycolysis. This pathway is known as the Entner Doudoroff Pathway. Thus, the Entner Doudoroff pathway substitutes classic glycolysis in a few types of bacteria.
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Embden Meyerhof Pathway
3. What is Entner Doudoroff Pathway
4. Similarities Between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway
5. Side by Side Comparison – Embden Meyerhof Pathway vs Entner Doudoroff Pathway in Tabular Form
What is Embden Meyerhof Pathway?
Glycolysis or the Embden Meyerhof Pathway is the first step of energy production. It takes place in the cytosol of both aerobes and anaerobes. It is a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. In fact, it consists of ten reactions. In glycolysis, glucose molecules are phosphorylated and trapped in the cell to catabolize into pyruvate molecules. Therefore, pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis.
Glycolysis has three main stages as described below:
The preparatory stage – In this stage, the glucose molecule, which contains six carbon atoms, is phosphorylated and trapped in the cell. The preparatory phase is an energy-requiring phase where two ATP molecules are utilized.
The cleavage-stage – During this phase, the 6 – carbon molecule is cleaved into two phosphorylated 3 – carbon residues.
The Pay off stage – This is the final stage of glycolysis where ATP and NADH are synthesized. For each glucose molecule, 4 ATP molecules, 2 NADH molecules and 2 Pyruvate molecules are produced; thus, it is the energy-producing phase of glycolysis.
Figure 01: Embden Meyerhof Pathway
At the end of the glycolysis, as the net production, only two ATP molecules are produced from one glucose molecule.
What is Entner Doudoroff Pathway?
Entner Doudoroff pathway is an alternative pathway of glycolysis. It substitutes a classic glycolysis pathway. It takes place in only in prokaryotes, especially in few bacteria. A series of reactions occur in the Entner Doudoroff pathway and it catabolizes glucose into pyruvate.
Figure 02: Entner Doudoroff Pathway
Moreover, these bacteria utilize different enzymes in this pathway when compared to the enzymes used in classic glycolysis. Some of the enzymes used in the Entner Doudoroff pathway are 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase and 2-keto-3-deoxyphosphogluconate aldolase. Moreover, the Entner Doudoroff pathway produces a net yield of 1 ATP from each glucose molecule. It also produces only 11 NADH and 1 NADPH.
What are the Similarities Between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway?
Both Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway convert glucose into pyruvate in order to produce energy.
Both processes occur in prokaryotes.
They produce ATP and NADH.
Moreover, both processes take place in the cytosol.
They are enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
What is the Difference Between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway?
Glycolysis or Embden Meyerhof Pathway is the first step of energy production in which glucose is converted to pyruvate. On the other hand, the Entner Doudoroff Pathway is an alternative pathway of glycolysis in which glucose is catabolized into pyruvate by a few bacterial types. Therefore, this is the key difference between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway. Embden Meyerhof Pathway has a net yield of 2 ATP while the Entner Doudoroff Pathway has a net yield of 1 ATP. This is another difference between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway. Moreover, the Embden Meyerhof Pathway produces 2 NADH while Entner Doudoroff Pathway produces 1 NADH.
The below infographic summarizes the difference between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway.
Summary – Embden Meyerhof Pathway vs Entner Doudoroff Pathway
Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway are two pathways which act as the initial step of energy production. Embden Meyerhof Pathway is the classic glycolysis while Entner Doudoroff Pathway is an alternative pathway of it. Both pathways produce pyruvate from glucose. But the enzymes involved are different in two pathways. The net ATP and NADH production is also different among the two pathways. Embden Meyerhof Pathway yields 2ATP and 2NADH while Entner Doudoroff Pathway yields 1ATP and 1NADH. In many living organisms, the Embden Meyerhof Pathway takes place while only in few prokaryotes, Entner Doudoroff Pathway can be seen. So, this is the summary of the difference between Embden Meyerhof Pathway and Entner Doudoroff Pathway.
1. “Alternatives to Glycolysis.” Lumen, Available here.
2. “Glycolysis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Dec. 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Glycolysis metabolic pathway 3 annotated” By Thomas Shafee – Own work (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Entner–Doudoroff pathway” By Yikrazuul – Own work; MetaCyt part I (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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Filed Under: Biochemistry
About the Author: Samanthi
Dr.Samanthi Udayangani holds a B.Sc. Degree in Plant Science, M.Sc. in Molecular and Applied Microbiology, and PhD in Applied Microbiology. Her research interests include Bio-fertilizers, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Molecular Microbiology, Soil Fungi, and Fungal Ecology.
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Edinburgh Napier University Recognised for Cybersecurity Work
Ross Kelly
16 December 2020, 01.00am
The NCSC accolade will now see cybersecurity integrated into programmes across the wider university.
Edinburgh Napier University is among the first institutions in the UK to be recognised for its commitment to cybersecurity education under a new initiative.
The university is one of eight institutions named by the NCSC as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education for delivering high quality cybersecurity education on campus and promoting cyber skills in the community.
Edinburgh Napier was recognised with the initiative’s Silver award for its ambitious vision in the field.
The University already has NCSC-certified undergraduate and postgraduate programmes – BEng Cybersecurity and Forensics, and MSc Advanced Security and Digital Forensics – which underlines the value of the qualifications and helps to attract high quality students from around the world.
The newly-announced NCSC accolade will now see cybersecurity integrated into programmes across the wider university, and greater emphasis on engagement with external stakeholders.
Professor Bill Buchanan, from Edinburgh Napier’s School of Computing, said: “The work of the NCSC is key to the development of excellence in cyber security education and knowledge exchange.
“These new ACEs will not only work within their own university departments, but also spread cyber security collaboration across their institution.”
Professor Buchanan added: “Moreover, they will support a core collaborative foundation around cyber security education and knowledge exchange within each of their geographical areas. This includes working with industry, the public sector, government agencies, colleges, and so on.
“It is hoped that the ACEs-CSE will develop as trusted fundamental building blocks for a safe, secure, resilient and enterprising country. The days of silos of knowledge have passed, and we all need to work together and share our knowledge.”
Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said: “I am delighted we can now recognise the first tranche of universities as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education, complementing our existing programmes which recognise high quality cyber security research and degree courses.
“It is a testament to the continual efforts of academics, support staff and senior management that cyber security remains high on their agenda.”
Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said: “The UK has some of the brightest minds in the world working in tech and it’s right we celebrate universities where so many people develop relevant and cutting-edge skills.
“We continue to work closely with academia to nurture the next generation of cyber security talent and I urge interested education institutions to apply for this recognition.”
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Uncover rare animation artefacts at this one of a kind gallery
Simone Massi
By Giacomo Lee | on January 03, 2019
The Miyu Gallery showcases unseen works produced in the making of some beautiful independent and artistic animation work.
The creation of animation generates a lot of visual content that goes unseen by the larger world: paintings, storyboards, sketches and research, animation sheets, layouts and more. These are little works of art in their own right, and treating them as such is the Miyu Gallery, Europe's first gallery devoted to auteur animation.
Based in Paris, the gallery comes curated by Cécile Noesser, a co-ordinator of the Bruz-Rennes Métropole Animated Film Festival who brought her experience and contacts to the plate when working on the Miyu. She told us how the gallery came from her passion for preserving these artefacts of independent animation, and a desire to publicise cartoon work of the non-Hollywood and CGI bent.
"The idea of the gallery comes from my partner, the producer and founder of Miyu productions Emmanuel-Alain Raynal," she explains. "We are both thrilled by the amazing creativity of auteur animation, which is mostly seen in short movies.
"We regret that it's not known by a larger audience outside of the festival or specialised audience, and we want this art to be showcased in all its dimensions."
Florence Miailhe
Hence the Miyu Gallery, with its exhibited artists all animation directors from France and beyond.
"They are true artists, illustrators and painters," Cécile says. "Their techniques or styles don't matter; we showcase digital art, but also paper cut, oil paintings and ink drawings. We chose well-recognised creators as well as young talents from any country, whose work is important for animation and art in general.
"Most of our artists are totally multidisciplinary, working either in film, illustration or contemporary arts, even through installations and performances," she continues. "They don't confine themselves to one field, so they should have a place dedicated to their art without restrictions of classification."
Marie Larrivé
The Miyu opened in November last year, and with it Cécile and co have high hopes for it to long be a champion of the scene.
"I hope that the gallery will help animation auteurs to break the artificial boundaries which prevent them from a larger fame," she reveals.
"I also hope it helps the artists to be considered and well-known by the contemporary art field on one hand, and from the general and adult audience on the other hand. Animation art is a secret too well kept."
Read next: Animator Marlies van der Wel on exploring loneliness and self-fulfilment
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Wildlife crossword 13
How's your wildlife general knowledge? Test yourself with our wildlife crossword.
By Richard Smyth
Instructions to copy the crossword grid for printing:
On a Mac computer, use the righthand button on your mouse and select ‘Save image to Downloads’. A jpg of the grid will then appear in the downloads folder on your computer.
On a Windows computer, use the righthand button on your mouse and select ‘Save image as’. This will open your files and you can choose where to save the image.
Once save as an image, you can either print the image as it is, or copy and paste it into a word document, where you will be able to resize it.
Find the answers here.
6 The two species of ___ sloth of Central and South America are Linnaeus’s and Hoffmann’s (3-4)
7 The larvae of the ___ fly feed on crops including garlic and other bulbs (5)
9 Bird such as the corncrake, moorhen and coot (4)
10 Common seed-eating garden bird, named for its bright plumage (10)
11 The ___ eel can shock its prey (8)
13 Multicellular organism – nota plant or a fungus (6)
15 Fairy ___ near Inverness is a woodland RSPB reserve (4)
17 Small, yellow finch, related to the canary, that visits south and east England in small numbers (5)
18 Long-horned antelope living in arid regions of Africa and Arabia (4)
19 The ___ tree is a species of yucca native to south-west USA (6)
20 Plant with violet-blue petals that can form thick carpets in old woodland (8)
23 Geological era in which most invertebrate life evolved and the first reptiles appeared (10)
26 Extinct flightless birds once found in New Zealand (4)
27 Endangered short-tailed baboon found in Cameroon and Nigeria (5)
28 US state, home to the Petrified Forest National Park (7)
1 Rare fish of the Indian Ocean, considered extinct until the 1930s (10)
2 The European ___ is the largest eel in the world (6)
3 Ipstones ___ in Staffordshire is a heathland nature reserve (4)
4 The ___ ash Sorbus aucuparia is also known as the rowan (8)
5 Flightless bird of New Zealand whose egg, relative to the size of its body, is the largest of any bird species (4)
6 A nature ___ is a signed pathway that introduces visitors to local flora and fauna (5)
8 The part of a flower where sugar-rich liquid is produced (7)
12 Evergreen shrub or tree, sometimes called locust bean, widely cultivated for its edible pods used to make a chocolate substitute (5)
14 Stiff, shrubby grass Ferrocalamus strictus, endemic to southern China (4, 6)
16 Big cat of Africa and southern Asia (7)
17 Flowering plant of the family Apiaceae, native to many European coastlines (3, 5)
21 A sea ___ is a small, spiny marine creature of the class Echinoidea (6)
22 Long-stemmed, woody vine of tropical and temperate forests (5)
24 ___ grassland is a tussocky habitat with nutrient-poor soils (4)
25 The ___ flower Lachenalia aloides is native to South Africa (4)
Main image: Coots. © Matt Staniek
This crossword originally appeared in BBC Wildlife Magazine. Take a look inside the current issue and find out how to subscribe.
Richard Smyth
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GPOs: Strength in numbers
Valerie DeBenedette
Valerie DeBenedette is a medical news writer in Putnam County, N.Y.
Joining a group purchasing organization can give an independent pharmacist the buying power of a big pharmacy chain
What can an independent pharmacy do when it is competing with the big chains and big-box stores, especially when a number of important branded prescription products are about to go off patent? The best idea - one that many pharmacies have already chosen - is to join a group purchasing organization (GPO).
Over the patent cliff
Within the next year, multibillion-dollar products, including Plavix, Seroquel, Singulair, and Actos, will go off patent.
GPOs can be funded by administrative fees paid by manufacturers or distributors, by fees paid by the buying members, or by a combination of these approaches. Fee structure may be set up as a percentage of the purchase or as an annual flat rate.
United Drugs, a subsidiary of American Associated Pharmacies (AAP), is a true cooperative, said Jon Copeland, RPh, president and chief executive officer of United Drugs in Scottsboro, Ala. The firm contracts with manufacturers and distributes products directly from its location to pharmacies. "As a true cooperative, any fees or margins that are made ultimately are returned to the pharmacies at the end of the year, if there is any excess profitability," said Copeland. United Drugs has approximately 2,000 member pharmacies across the country, he said.
Discounts that GPOs can provide vary by product and are based on the deals that a GPO can negotiate, said Clement. Those, in turn, depend on how much usage of a given drug can be promised to manufacturers. There are also GPOs that specialize in health and beauty aids and durable medical equipment.
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Tiotropium for asthma appears to be an effective adjunct in phase 3 studies
Phase 3 clinical trial data demonstrate tiotropium’s potential benefit as an add-on treatment for asthma patients.
At the 2014 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting recently in San Diego, Boehringer Ingelheim presented the results from phase 3 studies of the UniTinA-asthma clinical trial program, which evaluated tiotropium in adults, teens, and children with persistent asthma at various levels of severity. Tiotropium is not currently approved for asthma.
In the United States, more than 25 million people are known to have asthma. Approximately 40% of asthma patients remain symptomatic even while receiving treatment with currently available options and remain at risk for asthma exacerbations.
In the phase 3 GraziaTinA-asthma study (NCT01316380), tiotropium delivered via the Respimat SoftMist Inhaler improved lung function response, as measured by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), in patients with mild asthma who remained symptomatic while receiving low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment.
The primary end point of the study was peak FEV1 response within three hours post-dosing (change from baseline) at 12 weeks. The 5-ug dose showed an adjusted mean difference in peak FEV1 response of 128 mL (P=.0005) and the 2.5-ug dose showed an adjusted mean difference in peak FEV1 response of 159 mL (P<.0001).
According to a pre-specified subset of data from the phase 3 MezzoTinA-asthma trials (NCT01172808/NCT01172821), enrolled patients had moderate asthma and remained symptomatic while receiving medium-dose ICS therapy. With the addition of once-daily tiotropium, these patients demonstrated reduced airflow obstruction independently of allergic status, as measured by the Th2 phenotype biomarkers.
In another subset of data presented at AAAAI, the addition of once-daily tiotropium in the phase 3 PrimoTinA-asthma trials (NCT00772538/NCT00776984) improved lung function responses independently of concomitant use of a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) in patients with severe asthma.
Patients with prior use of LTRA showed an adjusted mean difference in peak FEV1 of 103 ± 51 mL (P=.0454) and those without prior LTRA use showed an adjusted mean difference in peak FEV1 of 111 ± 28 mL (P<.0001).
“Despite currently available therapies and detailed guidelines, many people with even mild asthma remain symptomatic; therefore, it is important to establish new treatments for this patient population,” said Tunde Otulana, MD, senior vice president, clinical development and medical affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim. “The GraziaTinA-asthma data found both tiotropium doses were statistically significant compared to placebo in mildly symptomatic asthma patients.”
Additionally, Dr. Otulana said, the efficacy of some asthma treatments (eg, ICS and omalizumab) appears higher in Th2-high phenotypes, but no specific treatments are available that work equally well in both Th2-high and Th2-low phenotypes.
“That is why it was important . . . to explore whether Th2 biomarker status influenced responses to tiotropium in pre-specified subgroups of patients with moderate symptomatic asthma in the MezzoTinA-asthma studies,” he said.
“Leukotriene modifiers are part of the standard treatment of asthma, as noted in the Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] guidelines, so it assessed whether pre-screening and concomitant LTRA use in severe symptomatic asthma patients in the PrimoTinA-asthma trials affected lung function improvements seen with tiotropium,” he added.
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Home > Challenges > False Coddling Moth
False Coddling Moth
False codling (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) is a Small moth (6-9 mm long) which is active at dusk and during the night. It is a significant pest because of its potential economic impact on many crops, including stone fruit, avocado, citrus, corn, cotton and macadamia.
The life cycle has four stages comprising of egg, larva, pupa and adult. Eggs: The eggs are laid singly or in bunch on bolls or fruits on ridges or near the calyx of fruits or on foliage and debris. The eggs are small in size (< 1mm), white to cream in colour when freshly laid, flat and oval with shinny reticulate sculpture. Eggs take 2-22 days to hatch depending on temperature. Larva: There are five larval instars and they vary in size and colour. On hatching, the larva chews through the skin and feeds within the fruit where larval development takes place. The first three instars are white to cream in colour while the fourth and fifth instar is bright red of pink. The head capsule is brownish black for the early instars tending to light maroon in fully grown larva. Larval size ranges from 1 mm in first instar to 20 mm in 5th larval instar. Mature larva exits the fruit and drops on the ground on silken threads for pupation or in dropped fruits, crevices under the back or within galls. Larval period lasts 12-67 days depending on temperature. Pupa: cream yellow to dark brown in colour when mature. Females take shorter period to emerge 11-39 days while males take 13-47 days. The male pupa is small in size than female and has two knobs side by side in the centre lacking in females. Both female and male pupae have serrated posterior ending. Adult: are active at night and spends days while resting in shaded portions of the host. Are poor flyers with limited dispersal and moth activity increases with the onset of host flowering thus larval presence is common in the late fruiting season. Adults measures 6-9 mm in length and 2.5mm in width while at rest 6 and are greyish-brown to dark brown in colour. Males are attracted to females for mating by pheromones release by females after dark.
Adult moths lay eggs on the capsicum fruit mainly near the calyx or in depressions of the fruit singly or in batches. First larval instars chew through the skin creating a small entry hole which is difficult to detect, mainly near the calyx. A scar may be left at the point of entry when healing occurs. Feeding is restricted near the skin surface by the young larvae but once they mature, they move deeper into the fruit. Fras (darkish in colour) and damage inside infested fruit Larvae feed on the fresh and darkish granular excreta can be seen when the fruit is cut open. A mature larva exits the fruit by eating through the skin for pupation leaving an opening for. Secondary infestation by fungus and scavengers may occur further damaging the fruit.
DELTA TRAP® (Trap)
STICKTECH® Yellow (Trap)
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EIW 2015 at ECDC
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of European Immunization Week, ECDC is releasing a new complement of data, tools, blogs and updates to support public health authorities in their work against vaccine preventable diseases.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of European Immunization Week (EIW), ECDC is releasing a new complement of data, tools, blogs and updates to support public health authorities in their work against vaccine preventable diseases.
ECDC is launching surveillance data on measles and rubella from EU/ EEA countries through the Surveillance Atlas of Infectious Diseases. The interactive tool shows, amongst other things:
Confirmed cases for the past 12 months
Notification rates
Age and gender distribution
Vaccination status
Complication rates.
The first elements of a vaccine-preventable communication toolkit will be released this week. It is made up of three adaptable and reusable leaflets that frontline healthcare professionals can use when discussing vaccination issues with parents.
ECDC's popular Vaccine Scheduler, that carries information on all the childhood immunisation schemes for EU/EEA countries has been updated, changes include:
New primary immunisation schedule for Romania
Several countries have moved to a two-dose schedule for HPV vaccination
Revised meningococcal vaccination policy in Belgium and Spain
New immunisation introductions for a hexavalent combination vaccine in Croatia and rotavirus vaccine in Latvia.
Zoster vaccination and catch-up campaign for the elderly in the UK.
A series of blogs and statements by ECDC experts will be posted on the EIW platform over the course of the week, covering a range of topics such as the role of vaccine hesitancy in undermining vaccine coverage in Europe today and the forthcoming toolkit and the Surveillance Atlas. Links to the blogs will appear here in due course.
Human papillomavirus infection
ECDC Vaccine Scheduler
The Vaccine Scheduler is an interactive tool that shows vaccination schedules for individual EU/EEA countries and specific age groups.
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Home > All news > Strikes, marches and sit-ins in Sudan
Strikes, marches and sit-ins in Sudan
July 10 - 2020 KHARTOUM / KASSALA
Khartoum state Water Corporation workers staged a rally yesterday (RD)
Striking workers of the Khartoum state Water Corporation marched to the state secretariat and the Council of Ministers yesterday, to invigorate the second day of their strike.
The workers demand that their salaries and allowances be adjusted according to the regulations.
The strikers seek the dismissal of the general manager. A committee must be formed to investigate the practices of the management of the Water Corporation. The protestors accuse the current director of corruption. He allegedly also protects members of the security apparatus affiliated with the Omar Al Bashir regime.
The workers said the director refused to meet with the Resistance Committees, saying they are “illegal bodies”.
Members of Resistance Committees of Soba El Aradi district in Khartoum reported that a brigadier general of the Sudan Armed Forces drove into the barricades of their sit-in with his vehicle on Tuesday.
Two people were injured when they attempted to stop the vehicle. The brigadier general attacked protesters with a cattle prod after he got out of his vehicle. Other protestors and soldiers accompanying the brigadier general prevented that the demonstrators assaulted him.
The police filed the complaint of the demonstrators as “a traffic accident”.
The Soba Resistance Committees confirmed that their sit-in has entered its sixth day. They say the sit-in will last until the governor of Khartoum and the prime minister respond to their demands.
The Resistance Committees of Kassala city organised a rally to the state government’s secretariat yesterday. They protested against the governor’s failure to respond to their demands submitted during their June 30 March of the Millions.
Participants of the rally chanted slogans calling for a speedy implementation of their demands. They warned of escalation.
They demand the dismissal of the officials affiliated with the ousted regime of Omar Al Bashir, including the Kassala Secretary-General, the directors of the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, and Urban planning, the humanitarian aid commissioner, and the director of the Water Corporation in the state.
Radio Dabanga’s editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.
October 3 - 2020
Salary strikes and vigils in Sudan
Khartoum university staff threaten strike
July 14 - 2020
Nine dead, dozens injured as militia break up North Darfur sit-in
Sit-ins spread in Sudan
July 8 - 2020
Protestors demand Port Sudan harbour authorities charged with corruption released
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Cannabis Conundrum Overview
We have been fed, ad nauseum, that Cannabis is just a plant and relatively harmless, right? If you say it loud and long enough, you might believe it? We were told by the consensus manufacturing #420 activists and their propogandist promotors, the evidence ignoring media, that if we legalize this stuff ALL will be well – on every front!
No more crime! Health will increase! Taxes and surplus revenue will be raised, well, so the cornucopian pronouncements went. Well, a chaotic conundrum has inevitably arisen. All promises have not only failed, but greater harms are being done to even more of our community, with the permission modelling pushing the drug onto a now ill-informed culture and clueless Gen Next.
Here you will find an ever growing list of data that is but a fraction of the evidence-based scientific research that reveals the social, mental, health, genetic, environment and community harms of this ‘harmless plant!’ If facts and evidence matter in making informed best-practice decisions, then this is your space!
Colorado. Pot Director Tells Massachusetts - That State Revenue Gains 'Are A Myth'
BY MEGAN ARELLANO ON 06/12/2015 -
Andrew Freedman, Colorado's director of marijuana coordination, said Thursday that most of the money from marijuana is going to the cost of legalization.
“You do not legalize for taxation. It is a myth. You are not going to pave streets. You are not going to be able to pay teachers,” Andrew Freedman, director of Marijuana Coordination for Colorado, said on Boston Herald Radio yesterday. “The big red herring is the whole thing that the tax revenue will solve a bunch of crises. But it won’t.”
Then the Herald asked a Massachusetts lawmaker who wants to legalize marijuana about Freedman's assertions. State Rep. David Rogers maintained that legalization will "raise some revenue." He offered no specifics, according to the paper.
If you're going to legalize pot, Freedman says, legislative action is preferable to a voter initiative like Colorado's.
Pot & Parent
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Check out the video clips on our YouTube Channel
Co-occurrence across time and space of Cannabinoid Exposure & Adverse Mental Health Outcomes 2020
Monday, November 30, 2020 35
Background: Whilst many studies have linked increased drug and cannabis exposure to adverse mental health (MH) outcomes their effects on whole populations and geotemporospatial relationships are not well understood. Conclusion: Data show all four indices of mental ill-health track cannabis exposure across space and time and are robust to multivariable adjustment for ethnicity, socioeconomics and other drug use. MH deteriorated with cannabis legalization. Cannabis use-MH data are consistent...
Cannabinoids Exacerbate Alcohol Teratogenesis (Alcohol & Cannabis Toxic Combination for Developing Babies)
Cannabinoids Exacerbate Alcohol Teratogenesis (Alcohol & Cannabis Toxic Combination for Developing Babies) Scientific Reports volume 9, Article number: 16057 (2019) Abstract: We tested whether cannabinoids (CBs) potentiate alcohol-induced birth defects in mice and zebrafish, and explored the underlying pathogenic mechanisms on Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling. The CBs, Δ9-THC, cannabidiol, HU-210, and CP 55,940 caused alcohol-like effects on craniofacial and brain development, phenocopying Shh...
Broad Spectrum epidemiological contribution of cannabis and other substances to the teratological profile of northern New South Wales-BMC2020
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 140
The perceived impact of legalized cannabis on nursing workload in adult and pediatric emergency department visits: A qualitative exploratory study
Thursday, November 12, 2020 36
Abstract Objective: To investigate changes in emergency nursing workload related to cannabis ingestion or inhalation by adult and pediatric patients in states and bordering states where recreational cannabis is legal. Results: The legalization of recreational cannabis in some US states is reported as resulting in an increase in patients presenting with cyclic vomiting syndromes, and increased difficulty in managing both associated behaviors and repetitive ED presentations. New presentations...
Cannabis in Pregnancy – Rejoinder, Exposition and Cautionary Tales
The recent paper by Stanciu discussing cannabis use in pregnancy 1 makes several useful and highly salient points. With a more complete understanding of the published literature further important patterns in the data emerge. They aid our understanding of the pathobiology of in utero cannabis exposure and thereby powerfully inform the community on the most appropriate manner in which to regulate cannabis and cannabinoids from an improved evidence base. For complete Article
2020 Marijuana Legalization Impact Report – SAM
Friday, November 06, 2020 53
Burden of cannabis use and disorder in the U.S. veteran population: Psychiatric comorbidity, suicidality, and service utilization
Friday, October 30, 2020 46
Highlights: Veterans with cannabis use and disorder had higher odds of psychiatric morbidities These veterans were also more likely to report suicidal ideation and attempt In line with these findings, they endorsed greater mental health service utilization Even so, <40% of veterans with cannabis use disorder reported mental health care Outreach and education about treatment are needed to mitigate cannabis-related harm Abstract Background: Cannabis use is associated with psychiatric illness and...
Cannabis as Medicine – An Evidence-Based
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 165
Review of Book Cannabis as Medicine – An Evidence-Based Approach by Dr K Finn ( Reviewed by: J. Michael Bostwick, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) “The book can also serve as a primer on what is known about cannabis as medicine, keeping in mind a slant throughout – not necessarily unjustified, at least from an allopathic or osteopathic perspective – that cannabis is neither legitimate as medicine nor safe, even for recreational use.” View PDF
Cannabis use appears to encourage, not replace, non-medical opioid use
SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF ADDICTION A study published in the scientific journal Addiction suggests that, contrary to what some are claiming, people in the US may not be substituting cannabis for opioids. This study examined the direction and strength of association between cannabis and opioid use over 90 consecutive days. Among adults who used non-medical opioids, the study compared the probability of non-medical opioid use on days when cannabis was used with days when cannabis was not used....
Missouri Medicine: Medical Fraud, Mislabelling, Contamination: All Common in CBD Products – Glaucoma Made Worse by Marijuana
Monday, October 05, 2020 191
Missouri Medicine: Medical Fraud, Mislabelling, Contamination: All Common in CBD Products – Glaucoma Made Worse by Marijuana – Other Critical Reviews of Unscientific Cannabis Claims Download PDF
Will Cannabis Commercialization be Followed by Increased Psychosis - JAMA
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 83
Is it inevitable that legalization of recreational cannabis will result in more dependence and psychosis? In theory, it is possible to legalize cannabis in ways that do not increase potency and prevalence of use but, so far, experience with commercialization in North America is not encouraging. Governments that decide to legalize cannabis should use some of the tax revenue to monitor cannabis price, consumption, and potency levels and to carefully evaluate the long term repercussions for...
Cannabis farms are a modern slavery 'blind spot' for UK police, study suggests
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 104
Date: September 15, 2020 Source: University of Cambridge Summary: Migrants arrested for tending plants in the flats, houses and attics where cannabis is grown in bulk are often victims of trafficking and 'debt bondage' - yet many are not recognized as such by police, according to a new study While growers -- often Vietnamese nationals -- are not always imprisoned within farms, many work under threat of extreme violence towards themselves or family back home, with little in the way of language...
Study of siblings finds moderate cannabis use impacts cognitive functioning
by CU Anschutz Medical Campus A new study led by researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine compares adolescent siblings to determine the impact of early and frequent use of marijuana on cognitive function. This study, published in the journal Addiction , contrasts with previous studies by finding that moderate adolescent cannabis use may have adverse effects that cannot be explained by the genetic or environmental factors that siblings may have in common. "We wanted to...
Cannabis Use & PTSD – The Science!
Friday, September 04, 2020 134
Interactive effects of PTSD and substance use on suicidal ideation and behavior in military personnel: Increased risk from marijuana use Background: The current study examines the unique and interactive effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and days using alcohol, opioids, and marijuana on PTSD symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior up to 1 year, later in a high‐risk sample of military personnel not active in mental health treatment. Conclusions: Results suggest...
Association of Depression With Past-Month Cannabis Use Among US Adults Aged 20 to 59 Years, 2005 to 2016
Tuesday, August 25, 2020 197
JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2013802. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13802 Findings In this repeated cross-sectaional study of 16 216 adults, those with depression increased their rates of cannabis use significantly faster than those without depression. In 2005 to 2006, individuals with depression had 46% higher odds of any cannabis use and 37% higher odds of near-daily cannabis use, while in 2015 to 2016, individuals with depression had 130% higher odds of any cannabis use and 216% higher...
Think Ya Know? Marijuana = Gateway Drug?
Thursday, August 20, 2020 155
Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health
The current article from the American Heart Association critically reviews the use of medicinal and recreational marijuana from a clinical, policy, and public health standpoint. While medical marijuana may play a therapeutic role in certain disease…data to date do not support its use as a therapy for cardiovascular disease. In fact, cannabis has been associated with adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction (especially in younger patients), arrhythmias, strokes, heart...
Kids Exposed to Cannabis In Utero Face Higher Risk of Autism
— "Another piece of the puzzle" of how marijuana use affects childhood outcomes Children exposed to marijuana in utero had a moderately elevated risk of developing autism spectrum disorder, according to a Canada-based retrospective study. Mothers who used cannabis while pregnant had a 50% higher likelihood of having a child with autism (adjusted hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.17–1.96), reported Daniel Corsi, PhD, of Ottawa Hospital in Ontario, and colleagues. Hints of increased risk of...
Marijuana Violence & Law
Review of Cases of Marijuana and
Wednesday, August 05, 2020 121
Cannabis in Medicine: State of the Evidence (Springer Press Release)
New Springer book deals with the use of cannabis in medicine and provides an evidence-based approach as well as different perspectives on this controversial issue. View PDF
Parents’ Marijuana Use May Increase Children’s Risk of Marijuana Use and Favorable Views of Marijuana
This study found: Children’s risk of marijuana and alcohol use and attitudes toward marijuana were influenced by their parents’ marijuana use pattern over time. Children whose parents used marijuana primarily during adolescence/early adulthood and those whose parents continued to use marijuana from adolescence through adulthood were at highest risk. When parents use drugs such as marijuana, their children may also be affected. Numerous studies have shown that current parental marijuana use...
New Trends in Cannabis Potency
Download PDF Check Also, Marijuana Potency and this link too Phytochemistry of Cannabis sativa L
Cannabis as a Gateway Drug for Opioid Use Disorder
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 162
Published July 6, 2020 Research Article https://doi.org/10.1177/1073110520935338 Abstract: Cannabis use in some individuals can meaningfully introduce de novo risk for the initiation of opioid use and development of opioid use disorder. These risks may be particularly high during adolescence when cannabis use may disrupt critical periods of neurodevelopment. Current research studying the combination of genetic and environmental factors involved in substance use disorders is poorly understood....
Cannabis use disorder trajectories and their prospective predictors in a large population‐based sample of young Swiss men
Wednesday, July 08, 2020 230
04 July 2020 Background and Aims: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is frequent in adolescence and often goes into remission towards adulthood. This study aimed to estimate trajectories of CUD severity (CUDS) in Swiss men from 20 to 25 years old and to identify prospective predictors of these trajectories. Participants: 5987 Swiss men assessed longitudinally at the mean ages of 20, 21.5 and 25 years old. Measurements: Latent CUDS in the last 12 months was measured at each wave with the Cannabis Use...
Two Sources of Cannabis Addiction
Monday, June 22, 2020 220
Brain changes from using THC too frequently cause withdrawal and craving. Cannabis causes two distinct changes in brain chemistry, physiology, and function that combine to create dependence. Its main psychoactive ingredient, THC, reduces the normal number of natural cannabinoid receptors, a process called downregulation. THC also alters reward circuitry, bending motivation toward continued cannabis use. For complete article
Using cannabis during pregnancy could be bad news for your baby: new research
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 206
Compared to babies of mothers who didn’t use cannabis before or during pregnancy, infants of those who still used it at 15 weeks had a smaller birth weight, head circumference and length. They were also born at an earlier gestational age. This is cause for concern as these outcomes are strongly linked to future child health and development. We saw bigger differences in these neonatal outcomes for women who used cannabis more than once a week than for those who used it less often. We also found...
Rapper Quits Waster Weed!
Tuesday, June 09, 2020 215
Rapper Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Omari, says he has stopped smoking marijuana, after realising the drug was harming his mental health. And because of who he is, his message is likely to reach a lot of people who urgently need to hear it. He said: “I have suffered with mental health problems for the past few years… When I used to feel depressed, I would lock myself away and smoke weed and I would just get worse and worse and worse.” Read More
Association Between the Use of Cannabis and Physical Violence in Youths: A Meta-Analytical Investigation
Conclusions: These results demonstrate a moderate association between cannabis use and physical violence, which remained significant regardless of study design and adjustment for confounding factors (i.e., socioeconomic factors, other substance use). Cannabis use in this population is a risk factor for violence. For complete research
Associations between Recent and Cumulative Cannabis Use and Internalizing Problems in Boys from Adolescence to Young Adulthood (March 2020)
Results showed that: increases in recent cannabis use and cumulative prior years of weekly cannabis use were each associated with increases in depression symptoms and anxiety/depression problems. After controlling for time-varying covariates, increases in cumulative prior years of weekly cannabis use, but not recent cannabis use, remained associated with increases in depression symptoms and anxiety/depression problems. Specifically, each additional year of prior weekly cannabis use was...
Anxiety – Cannabis is NOT your friend
Friday, May 29, 2020 298
The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study Findings: Between May 1, 2010, and April 1, 2015, we obtained data from 901 patients with first-episode psychosis across 11 sites and 1237 population controls from those same sites. Daily cannabis use was associated with increased odds of psychotic disorder compared with never users (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·2, 95% CI 2·2–4·1), increasing to nearly...
Don't be fooled by the medical marijuana smokescreen.
Smoking cannabis causes bronchitis and changes to lung function
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 374
May 2020 Cannabis is harmful to the lungs, but in a different way to tobacco, causing significant respiratory symptoms such as bronchitis with evidence to suggest it can result in destructive lung disease – sometimes referred to as ‘bong lung’ – in heavy cannabis users. These are the key findings from a review of research on the effects of smoking cannabis on the lungs undertaken by respiratory specialists, Professor Bob Hancox, from the University of Otago’s Department of Preventive and...
Cannabis Vs Alcohol: A Population-Based Analysis of the Relationship Between Substance Use and Adolescent Cognitive Development
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 217
Abstract - Objective: Alcohol and cannabis misuse are related to impaired cognition. When inferring causality, four nonexclusive theoretical models can account for this association: 1) a common underlying vulnerability model; 2) a neuroplasticity model in which impairment is concurrent with changes in substance use but temporary because of neuroplastic brain processes that restore function; 3) a neurotoxicity model of long-term impairment consequential to substance use; and 4) a developmental...
Motor vehicle accidents a leading cause of cannabis-related deaths
Monday, May 04, 2020 219
by National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre In the first Australian study of its kind, 559 cannabis-related deaths identified between 2000 and 2018 have been examined by researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), UNSW Sydney. The leading cause of death was accidental injury (30 percent), followed by suicide (25 percent), and polysubstance toxicity (17 percent). Lead author, Ms Emma Zahra said motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of accidental injury deaths...
The blind men and the elephant: Systematic review of systematic reviews of cannabis use related health harms
Friday, April 24, 2020 290
Abstract Cannabis is the third most used psychoactive substance worldwide. The legal status of cannabis is changing in many Western countries, while we have very limited knowledge of the public health impact of cannabis-related harms. There is a need for a summary of the evidence of harms and risks attributed to cannabis use, in order to inform the definition of cannabis risky use. We have conducted a systematic review of systematic reviews, aiming to define cannabis- related harms. We...
Study suggests frequency and severity of negative reactions to cannabis
Thursday, April 16, 2020 230
New research identifies the possible frequency and severity of a broad range of adverse reactions to cannabis use. A study featuring in the Journal of Cannabis Research identifies the possible frequency and severity of a range of acute adverse reactions to cannabis use. The researchers also investigate factors that might make a person more susceptible to these adverse reactions. The team was specifically interested in acute adverse reactions, in which negative side effects happen for a short...
Driving ‘stoned’ puts everyone at risk – The Innocent Pay!
Wednesday, April 15, 2020 309
A Mothers Nightmare: You cannot promote Mental Health and Marijuana
Prevalence of Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms Among People With Regular or Dependent Use of Cannabinoids: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(4):e202370. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.2370 Findings In this meta-analysis of observational studies including 23 518 participants, the prevalence of cannabis withdrawal syndrome was found to be 47%. Factors that were associated with higher cannabis withdrawal syndrome were clinical settings (particularly inpatient and outpatient vs population settings), concurrent tobacco or other substance use, and daily cannabis use. Meaning Cannabis withdrawal syndrome appears...
Rats develop cannabis-seeking behaviour
A recent study in which rats could self-administer cannabis vapor may provide a useful research model for humans. The study’s most significant finding was that the ingestion of cannabis resulted in drug-seeking behavior not unlike that common in human users of cannabis. Another significant observation describes some familiar behavior the rats exhibited after receiving the cannabis vapor. The rats consumed more food while under the influence, a phenomenon reminiscent of human “munchies,” and...
Psychoactive ingredient in marijuana (THC) may impair ability to produce viable embryos
Tuesday, April 07, 2020 385
Female eggs exposed to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, have an impaired ability to produce viable embryos, and are significantly less likely to result in a viable pregnancy, according to an animal study accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting… The eggs' developmental rates and gene expression were measured. The researchers evaluated the ability of embryos to reach critical stages of development at specific time points. With higher...
The Lancet - Single Dose of THC Could Induce Psychosis
Tuesday, March 24, 2020 367
The Lancet Psychiatry: Single dose of psychoactive component in cannabis could induce psychotic, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in healthy people THE LANCET In addition, the review found no consistent evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) moderates the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC - the psychoactive component of cannabis) in healthy volunteers Single dose of THC, roughly equivalent to smoking one joint, may induce a variety of psychiatric symptoms associated with schizophrenia and other...
'The legal stuff is garbage': why Canada's cannabis black market keeps thriving
Monday, March 23, 2020 350
North America’s biggest companies have seen their market values lose billions, prompting comparisons to dotcom bust 18 th March 2020 Cannabis may be legal in Vancouver but visitors looking to score are likely to run into a seemingly counterintuitive suggestion: try the black market. Recreational marijuana was legalised across Canada in October 2018. And yet on Reddit, the specialist forum website used by millions every day, many of Vancouver’s cannabis connoisseurs still swear by their...
SAY NOPE TO DOPE: Vincent's story - As an Ex-cannabis User and the Price he Paid
Sunday, March 22, 2020 386
Canadian Cannabis Consumption and Patterns of Congenital Anomalies: An Ecological Geospatial Analysis
PMID: 32187114 DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000638 Abstract Objectives: Cannabis is a known teratogen. Data availability addressing both major congenital anomalies and cannabis use allowed us to explore their geospatial relationships. Methods: Data for the years 1998 to 2009 from Canada Health and Statistics Canada was analyzed in R. Maps have been drawn and odds ratios, principal component analysis, correlation matrices, least squares regression and geospatial regression analyses have been...
The association between recreational cannabis commercialization and cannabis exposures reported to the US National Poison Data System
Friday, March 20, 2020 358
First published:20 February 2020 Abstract - Findings: the initiation of recreational cannabis commercialization was associated with 5.06–5.80 more exposures per 1 000 000 population per quarter (67–77% increase relative to the pre‐legalization average), depending on the composition of comparison states. The increase associated with commercialization was higher among minors than adults (7.97–9.53 versus 3.83–4.21 more exposures), higher among males than females (6.16–7.56 versus 3.76–3.91 more...
Thursday, March 19, 2020 243
The study finds that marijuana commercialization was associated with a 67-77% increase in marijuana exposure calls to poison control centers, with a dramatic rise in exposures among those below the age of 21 . According to the study, had all 50 states and DC commercialized marijuana in 2017, the total number of exposures nationwide would have risen by more than 60%. Also according to the study, marijuana commercialization increased the availability and accessibility of marijuana among minors....
Cannabis Use Survivors Describing Their Recovery
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 388
Pulmonary Illness Related to E-Cigarette Use in Illinois and Wisconsin — Final Report
Abstract – Background: E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid and deliver an aerosolized product to the user. Pulmonary illnesses related to e-cigarette use have been reported, but no large series has been described. In July 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Illinois Department of Public Health received reports of lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarettes (also called vaping) and launched a coordinated public health investigation....
Think marijuana isn’t addictive? Former users say think again
Guillermo, a 19-year-old Chicagoan, said the first time he got stoned “felt like I was a piece of butter melting on a stack of pancakes.” But the rapture faded quickly, and smoking weed soon became a joyless reflex akin to brushing his teeth in the morning, he said. Potent marijuana frequently put him into hangoverlike “kush comas,” he said, and sapped his motivation and alertness so thoroughly that his mother threatened to put him into a mental hospital. “I was just stoned all the time,” he...
Say no to Dope
Jake's story - mental illness, psychotic symptoms, dropping out of university
Grey Matter Volume Differences Associated with Extremely Low Levels of Cannabis Use in Adolescence
Journal of Neuroscience 6 March 2019, 39 (10) 1817-1827; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3375-17.2018 Abstract: Rates of cannabis use among adolescents are high, and are increasing concurrent with changes in the legal status of marijuana and societal attitudes regarding its use. Recreational cannabis use is understudied, especially in the adolescent period when neural maturation may make users particularly vulnerable to the effects of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on brain structure....
Association of Depression, Anxiety, and Trauma With Cannabis Use During Pregnancy
Depression, anxiety, and trauma diagnoses and symptoms were associated with higher odds of cannabis use among pregnant women in California. These results support previous qualitative findings that pregnant women self-report using cannabis to manage mood and stress3,4 and suggest a dose-response association, with higher odds of cannabis use associated with co-occurring depressive and anxiety disorders and greater depression severity. However, research is needed to determine the direction of...
All Young Cannabis Users Face Psychosis Risk - Medscape 2018
Friday, February 28, 2020 290
Charity warns over ‘safe’ legalisation of cannabis
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 259
9th Feb 2020 Psychosis link to high potency drug must be investigated, warn mental health chiefs Rethink Mental Illness charity warns over damaging effects of cannabis on the mind. Photograph: David Bebber/REUTERS One in 20 adults would take cannabis on a regular basis if it were legalised, similar to the number of people who currently use it, according to a poll for a leading mental health charity. A particular concern is the use of high potency cannabis, or “skunk”, which increases the risk...
Marijuana & Addiction for Profit
Thursday, January 30, 2020 469
QUESTION: What do these deadly poisons have in common: arsenic, radium, mercury, thallium, cyanide? ANSWER: At one time they were all considered by physicians and the public as useful medications and/or healthy supplements. They were taken in a wide variety of lotions, potions, notions, tinctures, tonics, and pills. These poisons were recommended, sold, and prescribed freely by physicians.1 It took thousands of deaths and many decades before the harmful nature of these substances was perceived...
Associations of Parental Marijuana Use With Offspring Marijuana, Tobacco, and Alcohol Use and Opioid Misuse
Monday, January 27, 2020 260
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cross-sectional study, parental marijuana use was associated with increased risk of substance use among adolescent and young adult offspring living in the same household. Screening household members for substance use and counseling parents on risks posed by current and past marijuana use are warranted. JAMA Network Open. 2019;2(11):e1916015. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16015
Increased Stroke Risk in Cannabis Users Aged 18–49 Years
International Journal of Stroke : Official Journal of the International Stroke Society The authors of this study examined stroke-related hospitalizations and outcomes in cannabis users aged 18 to 49 years from 2007 to 2014. They evaluated records from over 3 million hospitalizations and identified 34,857 hospitalizations for young-onset stroke. Compared with non-cannabis users, cannabis users had increases in all strokes (OR, 1.16; P<.001) and acute ischemic strokes (OR, 1.41; P<.001). From...
Adolescent Cannabis Exposure Increases Heroin Reinforcement In Rats Genetically Vulnerable To Addiction
Highlights Genetic background affects the outcome of adolescent cannabis exposure THC exposure increases heroin reinforcing properties in LEW addiction prone rats LEW, but not F344 rats, show increased motivation for heroin following THC THC exposure increases reinstatement by cues in F344 and by priming in LEW rats A common liability mechanism might be at the basis of THC gateway effect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002839082030040X (2020)
Marijuana Use in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: (Journal of American College of Cardiology) Science Direct - Review Topic of the Week
Highlights We estimate that >2 million U.S. adults who have reported ever using marijuana have cardiovascular disease. Observational studies have suggested an association between marijuana use and a range of cardiovascular risks. Marijuana is becoming increasingly potent, and smoking marijuana carries many of the same cardiovascular health hazards as smoking tobacco. Few randomized clinical trials have been conducted or are planned to explore the effects of marijuana on cardiovascular risk....
Majority of cannabis in Australia taken by a small group of users
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 341
January 16, 2020 People who use cannabis every day account for more than 80 per cent of the total amount of the drug consumed in Australia, a University of Queensland study has discovered. The finding suggests there are serious implications for a small group of people if there is a move to decriminalise or fully legalise the drug. UQ researchers examined data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey between 2007 and 2016. A UQ study has found a small proportion of daily cannabis users...
Marijuana detected in homicide victims nearly doubles: Over two-thirds of adolescent victims aged 15-20 tested positive in 2016
Date: January 8, 2020 Source: Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health Summary: Researchers assessed the time trends in alcohol and marijuana detected in homicide victims and found that the prevalence of marijuana almost doubled, increasing from 22 percent in 2004 to 42 percent in 2016. Alternately, the prevalence of alcohol declined slightly from 40 percent in 2004 to 35 percent in 2016. read more
Marijuana use during pregnancy can negatively affect baby, landmark Western University study finds (17.1.2020)
Marijuana use during pregnancy can have a significant impact on the health of unborn babies, a new joint study by Western University and Queen’s University researchers says. “This is the first study to definitively support the fact that THC alone has a direct impact on placental and fetal growth” study co-author and Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry associate professor Dan Hardy said in a statement. In lab rats, researchers showed regular exposure to a low dose of THC — meant to mimic...
Association Between Recreational Cannabis Use and Cardiac Structure and Function
Regular cannabis use was independently associated with adverse changes in left ventricle size and subclinical dysfunction compared with rare/never cannabis use. For complete study Download PDF
The New Cannabis: What You Aren’t Being Told!
What You Aren’t Being Told!
State-Based Drug Use Survey Finds Marijuana Use Skyrocketing in "Legal" States
Friday, December 20, 2019 280
Colorado, Washington, Nevada, and Massachusetts Post Increases in Youth Use Over Previous Year (Alexandria, VA) - Today, state-level data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the most authoritative study on drug use conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), finds that marijuana use in "legal" states among youth, young adults, and the general population continued its multi-year upward trend in several categories. Additionally, use rates in "legal"...
Frequent marijuana use could literally change a person's heart
This early study isn't conclusive, but its findings could have grave implications. Sports leagues , state legislators , and universities are changing the way they treat and punish marijuana use largely because the drug is increasingly perceived as harmless. But preliminary research suggests cannabis may have a dangerous side effect on one critical organ: the heart. The new study , which evaluated the health of 3,407 people in the United Kingdom, suggests a link between regularly using...
Cannabis, Genetic Impact & Cancer
Monday, December 16, 2019 457
As is known cannabis causes a dramatic increase in genetic junk by chromothripsis and other mechanisms. And is known to be linked with deformed chromosomes… Including small circular chromosomes. Such small circular DNA fragments have long been known to be detectable in the serum of cancer patient’s circulating blood. Now these small circular extracellular DNA fragments have been shown to be linked with cancer because they have lots of oncogenes on them, and because they lack normal chromatin...
Cannabis Use Based on Urine Drug Screens in Pregnancy and Its Association With Infant Birth Weight.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (DSH, DND, DSL) and Hatton Research Institute, TriHealth, Cincinnati, Ohio (CGD). Abstract OBJECTIVES: This study aims to clarify any association between infant birth weight and cannabis use in pregnancy based on urine drug screens. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review of singleton births from August 2013 through December 2014 with available urine drug screens (UDS) at initiation of prenatal care and delivery was conducted at a large tertiary...
Vaping: The Hit Your Brain Takes
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 463
Everyone at Risk, Teenagers more so!
Cannabis-induced psychosis blamed in beheading of father at Muskoka cottage
Warning: Graphic and disturbing content The court heard cannabis-induced psychosis, not a major mental disorder, spurred the brutal death of 67-year-old John Kehl by his then 31-year-old son Adam. Adam Kehl voluntarily entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter in front of The Honourable Michelle Fuest in Barrie court on Nov. 22 who called the incident "horrifying and unusually brutal."...
Cannabis dependence and abuse nearly doubled risk of heart attack post-surgery
St. Michael's Hospital Patients with active cannabis dependence and abuse were nearly twice as likely to suffer a heart attack after surgery, according to a study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto. For more
Marijuana vape users are getting incurable "cobalt lung"
This is just the beginning, pulmonary researchers caution. By Alexandra Pattillo on December 4, 2019 After using a marijuana vape pen for just six months, a 49-year-old retired dog trainer went to the doctor coughing and wheezing, reporting shortness of breath upon exertion. The woman had smoked off and on through her teens and twenties, but was healthy — other than her worrying throat symptoms. Her doctors gave her a rare and surprising diagnosis: hard-metal pneumoconiosis — a lung disease...
Association Between Marijuana Use and Risk of Cancer
Association Between Marijuana Use and Risk of Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Conclusions and Relevance Low-strength evidence suggests that smoking marijuana is associated with developing TGCT; its association with other cancers and the consequences of higher levels of use are unclear. Long-term studies in marijuana-only smokers would improve understanding of marijuana’s association with lung, oral, and other cancers....
Legalisation of cannabis IS a fool’s crusade
“Calls to make dope as freely available as cigarettes or alcohol are gathering support but ignore the real harm it does!” Clare Foges (Journalist – London Times 25.11.19) …highlighting hospitalisations and how ‘those tormented by devils today tend to seek sanctuary in the local A&E, where admissions for psychosis have been rising’. An omission in this otherwise tour de force was any mention of the gulag of over-subscribed secure mental health units. Psychiatrists have called them cannabis...
Saturday, November 30, 2019 322
CONCLUSIONS & RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study, parental marijuana use was associated with increased risk of substance use among adolescent and young adult offspring living in the same household. Screening household members for substance use and counseling parents on risks posed by current and past marijuana use are warranted. For Article
Weed: Can it kill you?
A 2014 study in Forensic Science International reported two cases of sudden death that doctors linked to health complications possibly worsened by marijuana use. The report indicated that before these deaths, the researchers were not aware of any other deaths related to marijuana use alone. It is important to note that only after excluding all other causes of death did the report assume the young men experienced fatal cardiovascular events brought on by cannabis. The report also concludes that...
California Cannabis Industry Sending SOS To State Leaders As Black Market Continues To Thrive
CBS Sacramento November 28, 2019 And as 2019 comes to a close, California is indeed home to the world’s largest cannabis market, totaling close to $12 billion in estimated sales. But here’s the rub: $8.7 billion of that is changing hands in the illicit market. Now, members of California’s cannabis industry are sending an S.O.S. to the state capitol, saying they’re struggling to compete against black market operators who don’t have to meet stringent regulations or pay taxes and fees. They’re...
Male Marijuana Use Might Double the Risk of Partner’s Miscarriage
BU researcher finds that miscarriages are more likely when the father uses marijuana weekly - If a man habitually uses marijuana even as little as once a week, could that increase the risk of his partner experiencing a miscarriage in early pregnancy? A first-of-its-kind study suggests so. By analyzing more than six years of lifestyle and behavioral data from 1,535 heterosexual couples actively trying to conceive, Boston University School of Public Health researcher Alyssa Harlow discovered...
Marijuana Effects on the Endocrine and Reproductive Systems
Monday, November 18, 2019 469
Teenagers suffer higher rates of addiction when recreational cannabis is legalised - study
Teenagers suffer higher rates of addiction when recreational cannabis is legalised - study New research about legal cannabis has revealed a sobering statistic. In states where recreational marijuana has been legalised, teenagers are suffering higher rates of addiction. The study of 505,796 respondents was carried out by researchers from New York University's School of Medicine. It compared use of the drug before and after legalisation in the US. The proportion of people aged 12 to 17 who...
Cannabis may be linked to strokes and heart rhythm disturbances in young people
Medical Xpress: Frequent cannabis (marijuana) use among young people was linked to an increased risk of stroke and people diagnosed with cannabis use disorder were more likely to be hospitalized for heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), according to two new preliminary studies to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2019 "The effects of using cannabis are seen within 15 minutes and last for around three hours. At lower doses, it is linked to a rapid...
How Marijuana Use Can Increase Your Risk for an Alcohol Overdose
A new study found that when people use alcohol and drugs together, their risk for an alcohol overdose increases. The study looked at 660 patients who had experienced alcohol poisoning, passing out, or blacking out events, and found only 20 percent had been using alcohol alone. The most common drug used in combination with alcohol users who experienced an alcohol overdose was marijuana. When used in combination with alcohol, several drugs have the power to increase alcohol intake beyond what a...
Evidence on the Development TOXICITY of Cannabis Smoke & THC
The growing and disturbing evidence of harms done invitro and lifetime impacts Download PDF
Marijuana legalization can’t fix mass incarceration
Friday, October 25, 2019 362
(The drug use infused lies continue – Let’s not let facts get in the way of a good marijuana myth!) We also don’t have good data for state prisons — where more than 87 percent of US prison inmates are held, based on federal data . But we do know that a minority of state prisoners are in for drugs: In 2015, 3.4 percent of all state prisoners were in for drug possession and 11.7 percent were in for other drug-related crimes. So, again, only a fraction of prisoners are locked up due to drug...
What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that sometimes develops due to the use of marijuana. The syndrome causes repeated and severe vomiting and nausea. It is important for people with CHS to stop using marijuana because this will resolve their nausea and vomiting. Preventing dehydration and stopping nausea and vomiting are the treatment goals during the hyperemesis stage of the condition. When people with CHS stop using marijuana, their symptoms of nausea and vomiting usually...
Marijuana Related Suicided of Young People in Colorado
Wednesday, October 23, 2019 444
Marijuana is the Number 1 substance now found in suicides of young people in Colorado who are 15-19 years old. Go to the below Colorado website and click on the box that lists “methods, circumstances and toxicology” and then click on the box for 15-19 years olds. The marijuana data found here Marijuana and Suicide – The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact Vol 6 In suicides in the age range 10 – 19 the most significant drug involved was Marijuana (Pages 41-46)
Portugal Mayor Supports Recriminalizing Public Drug Use
But what’s been a beacon of hope for North American drug policy reformers could be regressing towards punitive approaches that Americans are all too familiar with. On September 30, Rui Moreira, the mayor of Porto, contradicted his past pro-harm reduction positions, like the ones made at the 2019 Harm Reduction International conference in his own city, when he endorsed reintroducing criminal penalties for drug use in public spaces during a municipal assembly meeting. Drug decriminalization “is...
Quebec pot arrests behind the wheel up 54% since legalization
One year after the legalization of recreational use of cannabis in Canada, the black market for the drug — as well as its use behind the wheel — continues to keep Quebec police forces busy. In 2018, police collected 795 blood samples from motorists suspected of driving while under the influence, and sent them to Quebec’s medical legal centre for processing. That’s 254 more than in the previous year. The presence of cannabis was detected in 46 per cent of those cases. More than 670 officers...
USA Marijuana arrests rose last year despite more states legalising – FBI Data shows:
Fascinating, yet predictable. Legalize a drug and you supposed ‘radically reduce’ crime, right? No, all you do eradicate the crime of ‘possession’, but simultaneously opening the door to the escalation of other crimes due to (now ‘legal’) DRUG USE! More harms – No cost savings – Diminishing Community Safety! #preventdontpromote
Contribution of Marijuana Legalization to the U.S. Opioid Mortality Epidemic: (2)
Contribution of Marijuana Legalization to the U.S. Opioid Mortality Epidemic: Individual and Combined Experience of 27 States and District of Columbia Conclusions The marijuana protection hypothesis is not supported by recent U.S. data on opioid mortality trends. Instead, legalizing marijuana appears to have contributed to the nation’s opioid mortality epidemic. View PDF
Contribution of Marijuana Legalization to the U.S. Opioid Mortality Epidemic:
Contribution of Marijuana Legalization to the U.S. Opioid Mortality Epidemic: Individual and Combined Experience of 27 States and District of Columbia Conclusions The marijuana protection hypothesis is not supported by recent U.S. data on opioid mortality trends. Instead, legalizing marijuana appears to have contributed to the nation’s opioid mortality epidemic.
Father was in a 'drug induced psychosis' when he sent parcels laced with asbestos to embassies
Savas Avan, 50, posted the 52 packages in January this year to foreign diplomatic offices in Melbourne , Sydney and Canberra, while suffering a 'brief episode' of a cannabis-induced psychosis.
What Do I Need To Know About Marijuana? - Podcasts
Wjat Do I Need To Know About Marijuana? - Podcasts
Canada: Pot, alcohol most common cause of youth substance-use hospitalizations: C.I.H.I Report
VANCOUVER -- Marijuana and alcohol were the most common substances leading to hospitalization of youth aged 10 to 24 across the country, says a report that highlights the prevalence of mental-health conditions as contributing factors. About 23,500 people in that age group were hospitalized for harm caused by substance use, amounting to an average of 65 hospitalizations every day between April 2017 and March 2018, says the Canadian Institute for Health Information in a report released Thursday....
Cannabis risks must be faced – Illicit drugs linked to psychosis need to be discouraged!
Monday, September 30, 2019 482
Research presented to the International Early Psychosis Association last year showed a link between cannabis use and schizophrenia. Among a sample of more than three million people, researchers found that cannabis abuse increased the risk, by five times, of developing schizophrenia. Parental use of cannabis increased the risk of schizophrenia in children. As with alcohol, no safe level of foetal cannabis exposure had been established. RANZCP president John Allan told The Australian that since...
Can You Overdose on Weed?
Professor, Operations Research and Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, and the co-editor of Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know Whether one can overdose on cannabis depends on one’s definition of the word overdose. If overdose means any acute adverse health consequences of taking too much, then absolutely. There is no question cannabis can do that. If one means more narrowly death by the same physiological mechanism that is involved in opioid overdose (suppressed respiration,...
Marijuana may be bad for your junk: Weed may affect the testicles and hijack sperm production, study suggests
Monday, September 23, 2019 1093
Studies on marijuana's effects on sex and reproduction have yielded mixed results Some have suggested heavy pot users have poorer quality sperm A new Danish study is the first to find the central nervous system's cannabis receptors are in the testicles, too This system plays a role in how sperm is produced and matures Researchers say marijuana may effect these receptors and therefore sperm For complete article
Legalizing cannabis will reduce crime and raise Tax revenue...
“Legalizing cannabis will reduce crime and raise Tax revenue – All savings will come from reduced policing, lower crime rate, less supply reduction costs, and increased tax-revenue from licensing!” So pealed the promises to the unwitting population from the addiction for profit advocates! Well, as the following (and little broadcasted) data reveals, the cannabis chaos continues to unfold in California (and other states). It does not augur well the future of this always clearly ‘bad idea’!...
THC Exposure in Adolescence Disrupts Brain Maturation in Animals:
Exposing adolescent rats to THC disrupted normal maturation of a key set of neurons in a brain area that corresponds to the human prefrontal cortex. The disruptions produced structural differences that resemble patterns which have been observed in people with addiction and schizophrenia. For complete article go to NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Notes August 2019
Colorado Doctor Sounds Alarm on Marijuana Legalization
Colorado's experiment with marijuana legalization has been an epic disaster, according to one doctor seeing its effects on the front lines. Dr. Karen Randall, an emergency room physician certified in "cannabis science and medicine," said the legalization of marijuana has damaged, rather than helped, her home state. Randall said. "The grand experiment is not going so well. I don't think the public is hearing about this as they should be." Randall has seen a "marked increase in medical problems"...
Cannabis Concentrate Use in Adolescents
(We are perpetually ‘told’ by pro-drug sociologists, that ALL TEENAGERS are ‘risk takers’ – it’s just brain physiology. Besides being an incredibly inaccurate global statement, it also depends on the psycho-social environments and whether or not exposure to Anthropological principles for resiliency building have been employed pre-teen, that will have influence on how that ‘teen’ perceives and/or chooses risk. We know now from brain science that drug use altars the perception of both risk and...
US Surgeon General to teens and pregnant women:
Friday, August 30, 2019 373
Weed is way too risky for developing brains We do know that marijuana is a dangerous drug!
Gene linked to autism undergoes changes in men's sperm after pot use
A specific gene associated with autism appears to undergo changes in the sperm of men who use marijuana, according to new research from Duke Health. The gene change occurs through a process called DNA methylation, and it could potentially be passed along to offspring. Publishing online Aug. 27 in the journal Epigenetics , the researchers said…possible connection warrants further, urgent study, given efforts throughout the country to legalize marijuana for recreational and/or medicinal uses....
Study finds that teens are using a highly potent form of marijuana
Nearly one in four Arizona teens have used a highly potent form of marijuana known as marijuana concentrate, according to a new study by Arizona State University researchers. Among nearly 50,000 eighth, 10th, and 12th graders from the 2018 Arizona Youth Survey, a biennial survey of Arizona secondary school students, one-third (33%) had tried some form of marijuana, and nearly a quarter (24%) had tried marijuana concentrate. Marijuana concentrates have about three times more THC, the...
Cannabis Debates & Debacles 2-08-19.pdf
Canada’s marijuana laws are all about Trudeau’s hipster legacy
Canada was the second country in the world to legalize marijuana (Uruguay was the first). The legalizing act calls it “cannabis” of course. So much more genteel than marijuana, eh? “Cannabis” sounds scientific, well-researched – while marijuana sounds kind of louche and stoned, too close to low-rent, pejorative sobriquets like pot, weed, hash, grass, ganja, reefer et al. But it’s still marijuana, and I still call it that, because the people who worked hardest to get it legalized did their best...
Health effects of eating marijuana is subject of a new study
The study is among the first to report on voluntary oral THC consumption in animals, a method of consumption that is similar to the way humans take the drug. In a recently published paper in Drug and Alcohol Dependence , researchers at IUPUI and Indiana University Bloomington said they found the mice were less active, and their body temperatures were lower, after consuming the edible THC. Marijuana edibles can elicit extreme, adverse reactions, Smoker said. Many of the commercially made...
DOPE DISASTER: Legalising cannabis in the UK would fuel violent crime....
Monday, August 12, 2019 428
DOPE DISASTER: Legalising cannabis in the UK would fuel violent crime and turn a new generation into hard drug addicts, warn experts - LEGALISING cannabis will fuel violent conflict in our towns and turn a new generation of people on to hard drugs, experts warn. British drug counsellor Seven Graham has seen the damage that easily available cannabis can cause after moving to Los Angeles, where recreational marijuana sale is legal. Seven tells The Sun on Sunday: “If you think knife crime is bad...
Ten Cannabis Induced Psychotic Violence by Men Against Women
Ten Cannabis Induced Psychotic Violence by Men Against Women Cannabis users – ‘Justice’ or ‘Just US?” Read More
C.A.L.M (Californians Against Legalizing Marijuana) Interview: Californian Cannabis Chaos – Broken Promises, Broken Budget, Broken Community!
C.A.L.M (Californians Against Legalizing Marijuana) Interview: Californian Cannabis Chaos – Broken Promises, Broken Budget, Broken Community! http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/kfmbam/podcast/audio/mark_larson_27080.mp3
How Legal Marijuana Is Helping the Black Market
Friday, July 26, 2019 425
Expensive regulation and high demand across the country have made the illicit trade more profitable than going legit. Read More
Parents who use marijuana and alcohol are at a higher risk of ‘physical abuse’ at home
Thursday, July 25, 2019 418
Over 90% of parents who have used marijuana over the past year also reported using alcohol, according to a new study Parents who used marijuana and drank alcohol over the past year had some of the biggest risks for carrying out physical abuse…Parents who have used marijuana in the past year are more likely than non-users on average to discipline their kids through corporal punishment (like a slap or spank), physical abuse (like a hit on the head or a kick) and also nonviolent tactics (like...
Recent cannabis use tied to memory deficits, slowed mental processing
People who have recently used cannabis may be more likely to experience memory deficits or difficulties with cognitive function than those who don’t use the drug, a recent study suggests…cannabis users might have short-term impairments that aren’t easy to spot but could be dangerous in certain situations, said Mary-Ann Fitzcharles, a researcher at McGill University, in Montreal. That’s because the deficits aren’t verbal; they relate more to visual and spatial skills. “The impairment is...
GUILTY: Train-rage killer was schizophrenic cannabis-addicted gangster...
GUILTY: Train-rage killer was schizophrenic cannabis-addicted gangster with 30 convictions who psychiatrist had ruled was NO DANGER to himself or others - just 24 hours before he stabbed father 18 times in front of his son, 14 EXCLUSIVE: Darren Pencille ran with London's South Man Syndicate [SMS] gang Cannabis-addict was previously jailed for possession of a gun and a stabbing The 36-year-old murdered Lee Pomeroy, 51, on Guildford to Waterloo train Knife-obsessed killer brushed past his victim...
Sweden’s Supreme Court says CBD oil containing THC is a narcotic preparation
On 18 June 2019, the Supreme Court of Sweden ruled on a case involving possession of ‘CBD oil’ extracted from industrial hemp. Under Swedish law industrial hemp, defined as any variety of cannabis eligible for EU support, is exempt from the narcotic control laws. However, the oil contained THC (the concentration was not determined). THC and preparations containing it are covered by the narcotic control laws. The offender was charged with a minor case of possession of a controlled drug (a...
Italy and Sweden: court decisions on low-THC cannabis products
Italy’s highest court says low-THC cannabis cannot be sold On 30 May 2019, Italy’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, published a note of information on the legality of selling low-THC cannabis. This followed attempts to prosecute entrepreneurs who were openly selling cannabis flower and other extracts. The products were marketed in a way to avoid the attention of law enforcement by using labels such as ‘collectors item’ or ‘not for consumption’. The sellers claimed that these cannabis...
Cannabis Teratology Explains Current Patterns of Coloradan Congenital Defects
Abstract: Rising Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations in modern cannabis invites investigation of the teratological implications of prenatal cannabis exposure. Data from Colorado Responds to Children with Special Needs (CRCSN), National Survey of Drug Use and Health, and Drug Enforcement Agency was analyzed. Seven, 40, and 2 defects were rising, flat, and falling, respectively, and 10/12 summary indices rose. Atrial septal defect, spina bifida, microcephalus, Down’s syndrome,...
Cannabis Teratology Explains Current Patterns of Coloradan Congenital Defects: The Contribution of Increased Cannabinoid Exposure to Rising Teratological Trends
Rising Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations in modern cannabis invites investigation of the teratological implications of prenatal cannabis exposure. Data from Colorado Responds to Children with Special Needs (CRCSN), National Survey of Drug Use and Health, and Drug Enforcement Agency was analyzed. Seven, 40, and 2 defects were rising, flat, and falling, respectively, and 10/12 summary indices rose. Atrial septal defect, spina bifida, microcephalus, Down’s syndrome, ventricular septal...
Impacts of cannabinoid epigenetics on human development
Monday, July 15, 2019 544
Impacts of cannabinoid epigenetics on human development: reflections on Murphy et. al. ‘cannabinoid exposure and altered DNA methylation in rat and human sperm’ epigenetics 2018; 13: 1208-1221. Albert Stuart Reece & Gary Kenneth Hulse Published online: 11 Jul 2019 ABSTRACT: Recent data from the Kollins lab (‘Cannabinoid exposure and altered DNA methylation in rat and human sperm’ Epigenetics 2018; 13: 1208–1221) indicated epigenetic effects of cannabis use on sperm in man parallel those in...
Will Big Cannabis Turn into Big Tobacco?
Sunday, July 07, 2019 408
Cannabis smokers are 'FIVE times more likely to develop an alcohol addiction', experts warn
Cannabis users found to be 5 times more likely to develop alcohol problem Marijuana use also increases likelihood of drug dependency, experts say They warn pot smokers will also be more likely to develop a smoking habit Experts say 'adverse psychiatric outcomes' should be considered by doctors when considering the best treatment for patients Alcoholics, who did not use the drug, were significantly more likely to be seeking treatment in rehab, within three years, according to scientists at...
Rise of the CANNABIS allergy: 36 million Americans are allergic to marijuana - including other people's - causing asthma, inflammation and rashes
Sunday, July 07, 2019 1700
Figures show 73% of the 50 million people with allergies react to marijuana. A study looked at cases where people had suffered allergic reactions. Found marijuana like other pollen-bearing plants, is an allergen. They include a runny nose, itching and puffiness and swollen eyes - and the figure is rising. Scientists warn reactions even occur in people who are merely exposed to marijuana smoke, rather than consuming the drug themselves. Researchers found in some cases exposure to marijuana...
Early and regular cannabis use by youth is associated with alteration in brain circuits that support cognitive control
Conflict-related neural activations. Between-group t-map of conflict-related activations (voxel-wise cluster-defining threshold of p The development of neural circuits in youth, at a particularly important time in their lives, can be heavily influenced by external factors—specifically the frequent and regular use of cannabis. A new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ( JAACAP ) reports that alterations in cognitive control—an ensemble of processes by...
Warning! Warning! NHS is forced to open Britain’s first clinic for cannabis psychosis
Cannabis-induced psychosis has reached crisis levels, forcing the NHS [National Health Service] to open the first clinic specifically treating addicts of the mind-altering drug, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The clinic has been launched by a leading psychiatrist who warns that psychosis among users of skunk – a very strong strain of cannabis flooding the streets – has become ‘a crisis that we can simply no longer ignore’, with tens of thousands of people affected. Dr Di Forti, a consultant...
Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders Prospective Evidence From a US National Longitudinal Study
OBJECTIVE : To examine prospective associations between cannabis use and risk of mental health and substance use disorders in the general adult population. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE : Within the general population, cannabis use is associated with an increased risk for several substance use disorders. Physicians and policy makers should take these associations of cannabis use under careful consideration. For complete study Download PDF
Potent pot, vulnerable teens trigger concerns in 1st states to legalize marijuana
Calls to poison control centers and visits to emergency rooms have risen in Colorado and Washington. DENVER — The first two states to legalize recreational marijuana are starting to grapple with teenagers’ growing use of highly potent pot, even as both boost the industry and reap huge tax windfalls from its sales. Though the legal purchase age is 21 in Colorado and Washington, parents, educators and physicians say youths are easily getting hold of edibles infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, or...
Presence of Marijuana Dispensaries Appears to Influence Young Adults
A young adult's proximity to the location of medical marijuana dispensaries appears to be associated with a higher likelihood of marijuana use, with storefront advertising having the strongest influence on behavior. A RAND Corporation study examining trends in Los Angeles County drew this conclusion and is published online in the journal Addiction . “Our findings suggest that as the marijuana retail outlets become more visible and more numerous, they may influence the way that young adults...
The Health Eeffects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids
Thursday, June 20, 2019 496
Millions of Americans drive stoned and don't care about getting caught
Millions of Americans get behind the wheel while high from smoking marijuana, a study released on Wednesday said. An estimated 14.8 million Americans said they’ve driven while high at least once in the past month and nearly 70 percent believe they won’t get busted by cops, according to the American Automobile Association. “It’s terrifying,” said Helen Witty, the national president for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “Impairment is impairment. We should be terrified, as law abiding citizens,...
Negative Effects of Marijuana: Scientific Research Shows Pot is Harmful – it is a KILLER, in more ways than one!
imagine the suffering that could have been averted if these criminals hadn't been potheads: - Ferguson's suicide-by-cop Michael Brown - Aurora theater murderer James Holmes - Islamic Boston Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev - Miami cannibal Rudy Eugene - Trayvon Martin - Baltimore's Freddie Gray - Manchester Muslim terrorist Salman Abedi - Vegas Strip murderer Lakeisha Holloway - Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Lewis Dear - Infamous murderer Jodi Arias - Chattanooga's Islamic terrorist Muhammad...
Weed and fertility: Five things scientists want you to know
Friday, June 14, 2019 6338
Scientists have warned that smoking weed can affect fertility in both men and women. They say that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive ingredient in the cannabis plant – can have an effect on the reproductive organs. Here are five things the scientists want you to know about marijuana and fertility: The active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), acts on the receptors found in the hypothalamus, pituitary and internal reproductive organs in both males and females....
Smart Alternatives to Marijuana:
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 4580
Smart Alternatives to Marijuana: Commercialized Cannabis Recipe for Community & Health Care Chaos! Colorado Clear Contender!
Cannabis – NO CURE – for Opioid Crisis!
A new study took the same methodology of the previous study and expanded it to include states that legalized medical marijuana between 1999 and 2017 and found a surprising result: medical marijuana was associated with a 23% INCREASE in opioid deaths . The Misplaced Optimism in Legal Pot Legalizing medical marijuana does not reduce the rate of fatal opioid overdoses, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. (National Academy of Science...
Mum put fatal dose of fentanyl in baby's sippy cup so she could 'relax and smoke marijuana': prosecutor
(The Monster that is Marijuana A-Motivation; and people want governments to endorse this psychotropic toxin through law??!!) A woman found guilty of spiking her baby's sippy cup with a fatal dose of fentanyl committed the crime in order to quiet the child so she could "sit back, relax and smoke marijuana," a prosecutor said Monday. Assistant district attorney Diana Page told a Pennsylvania jury that Jhenea Pratt, 23, drugged her 17-month-old daughter, Charlette Napper-Talley, in April 2018...
Legalized Cannabis in Colorado Emergency Departments: A Cautionary Review of Negative Health and Safety Effects
June 3 rd 2019 Abstract: Cannabis legalization has led to significant health consequences, particularly to patients in emergency departments and hospitals in Colorado. The most concerning include psychosis, suicide, and other substance abuse. Deleterious effects on the brain include decrements in complex decision-making, which may not be reversible with abstinence. Increases in fatal motor vehicle collisions, adverse effects on cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, inadvertent pediatric...
Acute Illness Associated With Cannabis Use, by Route of Exposure
Colorado: Largest Marijuana Bust in State History – AND WEED IS FULLY LEGAL HERE!!! Three Markets Now In Play! (Cannabis Chaos Continues!)
Friday 24 th May 2019, Colorado law enforcement and federal authorities announced they have successfully completed the largest marijuana bust in state history. The bust resulted in the seizure of over 80,000 marijuana plants, 4,500 pounds of "finished marijuana products," and over $2.1 million in cash. "Colorado has become the epicenter of black-market marijuana in the United States," said Jason Dunn, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado in a press conference Friday. "We want people...
Cannabis can affect teenagers so severely that they end up three years behind their classmates, study finds
Results concluded from an investigation of 4,000 Canadian school children Researchers found cannabis more toxic for youngsters’ brains than alcohol Persistent use of the drug seriously affected basic reasoning skills Regularly smoking cannabis can affect teenagers so severely that they end up three years behind their classmates in terms of brain development, a landmark study has found. The results of the investigation, which involved almost 4,000 secondary school children in Canada , led...
Marijuana’s Ecological Impact
View Video The utterly staggering cost to environment (and on energy and water consumption) by Cannabis production (driven by demand just to get high??) is never raised by pro-weed lobby! No true environmentalist would promote pot! Check out Integral Ecology Research Centre , www.IERCecology.org and Silent Poison https://silentpoison.com
Legalization of cannabis sparks curiosity in people who haven’t used it in years – or ever
Government oversight and the now legal promotion of ‘getting high’ under government legislation, sees Canadian Government as the new promoter, permitter and pusher of weed! Regardless of outcomes! (Dalgarno Institute) Legalization has drawn a whole new segment of people who prefer to use legal cannabis and are willing to pay more for it, said Jennifer Lee, the lead partner managing the cannabis sector for consulting firm Deloitte. “Government oversight does bring a whole new cohort to the...
Growing up high: Neurobiological consequences of adolescent cannabis use
Adolescent cannabis use is associated with behavioral changes related to reward and motivation in humans. Paradoxically, this use has both been suggested to increase motivation for other drug use (the gateway hypothesis) and a potential "amotivation syndrome" in which individuals are less willing to expend effort to receive a reward. Growing up high: Neurobiological consequences of adolescent cannabis use ( May, 2019)
The False Arguments for Legal Marijuana
The rationale for legalization varies, from achieving “social justice” (even though racial disparities in arrests persist in legalized states like Colorado or Washington ) to more blatant appeals to greed. The global legal market has been estimated at $9.5 billion for 2017 , with investor testimonials projecting future markets at values between $300 and $500 billion in a few short years. But not all signs are rosy. The evidence to date—such as the consequences in states like Colorado where...
Clinicians and Scientists release Statement of Concern regarding marijuana policy (USA)
BOSTON – A consortium of clinicians and scientists from across Massachusetts has joined together to publicly release a "Satement of Concern” expressing their disagreement with how marijuana policy is being shaped in the Commonwealth. According to the Statement of Concern , marijuana is being governed and regulated as if it were an “ordinary commodity”, rather than following a Public Health Framework. This is of concern because scientific evidence clearly establishes that marijuana (and...
Effect of Cannabis Legalization on US Autism Incidence and Medium
Conclusion: ASD is the commonest form of cannabis-associated clinical teratology. Using two independent datasets and two categorization methods we confirmed that medical, decriminalized and legal cannabis regimes are associated with higher rates of ASD than illegal ones. Findings are consistent with molecular, cellular and epigenetic mechanisms. Formerly quadratic regression curves become exponential when projected forwards to 2030; predict a lower quantum than the 2014 ADDM CDC figure; and...
There's nothing funny about today's highly potent marijuana. It killed my son.
“I want to die,” he wrote before hanging himself at the age of 31. “My soul is already dead. Marijuana killed my soul + ruined my brain.” Andy wanted to quit. He couldn't A new study shows he's not alone The peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet last month published a major study that found people who use high-potency marijuana daily are five times more likely to develop psychosis than those who never partake. The researchers compared data for more than 2,100 people in multiple countries....
Canadian Government: Cannabis health warning messages
Part 1: Health warning messages for cannabis products that are dried cannabis or cannabis accessories that contain dried cannabis WARNING: Cannabis smoke is harmful. Harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke are also found in cannabis smoke. WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis during pregnancy may harm your baby and result in low birth weight. WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Substances found in cannabis are also found in the breast milk of mothers...
Cannabis use predicts risks of heart failure and cerebrovascular accidents: results from the National Inpatient Sample
Thursday, May 02, 2019 492
Abstract BACKGROUND: Cannabis for medicinal and/or recreational purposes has been decriminalized in 28 states as of the 2016 election. In the remaining states, cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug. Cardiovascular effects of cannabis use are not well established due to a limited number of studies. We therefore utilized a large national database to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and events amongst patients with cannabis use. RESULTS: Prevalence of heart...
Weed – Dismantling the Brain!
Cannabis Use & Violence – A Meta-analytical Investigation
Monday, April 29, 2019 523
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Marijuana investors are forgetting about legal risks faced by cannabis companies
Lawsuits could easily arise out of health risks and for several other reasons, lawyers say Like stoners, cannabis investors seem euphorically oblivious to marijuana risks. Weed smokers face health risks. Investors in companies including Tilray TLRY, +3.67% Canopy Growth CGC, +3.55% Cronos CRON, +3.87% and Green Thumb Industries GTBIF, +0.13% are taking on serious litigation risk. Marijuana-stock investors could see their investments tank if lawyers launch legal assaults based on...
Should We Blame Marijuana for a 14-Year High in Positive Work-Related Drug Tests?
Apr 14, 2019 Uh-Oh! Drug use is on the rise in the workplace This past week, Quest Diagnostics ( NYSE:DGX ), a leading diagnostic testing firm, and the company responsible for testing millions of Americans a year in the workplace for illicit substances, released its latest analysis , known as the Drug Testing Index, on workplace drug usage. Having tested more than 10 million urine samples in 2018, Quest found that 4.4% resulted in a positive test, which includes a combination of illicit (i.e.,...
Marijuana use kills Indiana teen, mother speaks out
April 2019 INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis mother has struggled to cope with her son's untimely death. He died from complications of using marijuana, and now the mother is warning parents about the condition that took her son's life. "He said mom I can't breathe. I rolled him over, and my son was gone," Regina Denney said. It was one year ago that Denney's son was diagnosed with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. A condition caused by chronic marijuana usage that leads to extreme vomiting,...
In 1997, this newspaper launched a campaign to decriminalise the drug. If only we had known then what we can reveal today...
(This was 12 years ago…it’s even worse now!!!) By Jonathan Owen Sunday 18 March 2007 Record numbers of teenagers are requiring drug treatment as a result of smoking skunk, the highly potent cannabis strain that is 25 times stronger than resin sold a decade ago. More than 22,000 people were treated last year for cannabis addiction - and almost half of those affected were under 18. With doctors and drugs experts warning that skunk can be as damaging as cocaine and heroin, leading to mental...
Cannabis & Psychosis: Understanding risk is of 'vital importance'
In Amsterdam and London, specifically, there was a strong tie between the use of high-potency cannabis and the presence of psychosis. The researchers linked four in 10 (43.8 percent) new cases of psychosis in Amsterdam to daily cannabis consumption and five out of 10 (50.3 percent) of new cases with the use of highly potent versions of the drug. In London, the researchers believe they could link 21.0 percent of new cases to daily use and 30.3 percent to a preference for highly potent cannabis....
Children aged NINE are damaged by cannabis: Shocking toll of young patients admitted to hospital with mental disorders
More than 3,400 patients under 19 went to hospital due to mental and behavioural illnesses brought on by cannabis last year NHS figures show the number of admission has risen 38 per cent since 2013/14 Teenagers say cannabis has become more accessible through social media sites Dealers may post cannabis bag pictures on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram James Hamilton had a cannabis addiction aged 14 and developed depression Last week a major study in the Lancet Psychiatry journal revealed that...
UK: The wards are full of lives wrecked by the evil drug that is cannabis
Walk on to any mental health ward as I have and you will be confronted with the tragic victims of our lackadaisical attitude towards cannabis. There is mounting evidence to show the drug is having a horrific effect on the young, not least the Mail’s disturbing story today. A third of psychosis cases in London are the result of smoking skunk, according to research. Another study by Oxford University showed it increases the risk of depression in teenagers by 40 per cent. They join the hundreds...
Top Yale Professor – Slams Weed!
One of the state’s most vocal opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana in recent years has been Dr. Deepak D’Souza , a research scientist and professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. In testimony before the legislature and in his role as a member of the state medical marijuana program’s board of physicians, an advisory group for lawmakers, D’Souza has laid out what he says are the dangers of legalization. His four areas of concern are the impact on young people and the...
The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe: a multicentre case-control study
Findings: Differences in frequency of daily cannabis use and in use of high-potency cannabis contributed to the striking variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across the 11 studied sites. Given the increasing availability of high-potency cannabis, this has important implications for public health. Read More Download PDF
What you should know about Marijuana and Sperm
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 1853
Mar 19, 2019 Mark Gold, MD Limited information exists on marijuana use and male reproductive health. A recent study from Duke University evaluated differences in sperm quality resulting from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure in both rats and humans. Findings suggest that paternal marijuana use, prior to conception, may present epigenetic risks to potential offspring. Key Findings Individuals who used marijuana can have higher and also can have significantly lower sperm concentrations,...
U.N. News – Recreational cannabis poses ‘significant’ health challenges to youth: drugs control body
The UN-backed International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned on Tuesday that poorly regulated medical cannabis programmes could step-up the “recreational” use of the drug while diminishing public concern over its harmful effects. “Legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes, as seen in a small number of countries, represents not only a challenge to the universal implementation of the treaties and the signatories to the treaties, but also a significant challenge to health and...
Adolescent Marijuana Use Is Linked to Altered Neural Circuitry and Mood Symptoms
In this research: Some teens' marijuana use has been linked to disrupted communication between two key regions in the brain's reward circuitry at age 20. Disrupted communication between the regions was associated with poorer psychosocial functioning at age 22. In a recent NIDA-supported study, males from low-income backgrounds who used marijuana in escalating frequency throughout their teen years exhibited disrupted connectivity at age 20 in a brain circuit that links rewarding experiences...
Failed Arguments that Support Legalizing Weed!
Whatever you think about marijuana legalization, it’s important to avoid making bad arguments. There may be good reasons to legalize marijuana. But if there are, the following arguments shouldn’t be considered to be among them. 7 Arguments For Legalizing Marijuana That No One Should Believe
The real cause of knife crime? It's hidden in a fog of cannabis smoke
(10 March 2019) Here is the problem. We are told that stabbings are at their worst since 1945. This is itself untrue. The year 1945 is chosen because that was when figures on stabbings began to be collected. In reality, they are the worst figures since this became a civilised country under the Victorians, really the worst figures since an unpoliced London was roamed by armed footpads, and highwaymen haunted the country roads. In a way, they are even worse than then. This is, by comparison with...
Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2018
Chapter I: Cannabis and cannabinoids for medical, scientific and "recreational" use: risks and benefits Recommendations Under medical cannabis programmes implemented in Canada and possibly in some other States, and in some states in the United States, the medical use of cannabinoids is poorly regulated. Those programmes are inconsistent with the international drug control treaties in failing to control cannabis production and supply. They fail to ensure that good-quality medicines are provided...
I Was Quite Shocked By My Last Visit To San Francisco
When it comes to foreigners visiting the US, while the general reaction is overall favorable, it appears that one city tends to draw a reaction of sheer shock if not disgust: San Francisco….San Francisco has always been one of favourite US cities, but the degree of homelessness, mental illness and drug abuse we saw on this trip was truly shocking. Walking round SF on a Sunday Morning and we saw sights we couldn’t believe. This must be one of the richest cities in the world – home to 4 of the...
Alesha MacPhail: Murder leads to calls to get tough on cannabis
THE abduction, rape and murder of Alesha MacPhail has prompted calls for ministers at Westminster and Holyrood to change their soft-touch stance on cannabis. Campaigner Ross Grainger has compiled a “catalogue of suicide and psychopathic violence committed by cannabis smokers in the UK and Ireland” over the past two decades including 200 murders, rapes and savage assaults. He said: “In this case, as in all such cases, I do not say that cannabis 'caused' the perpetrator to do what he did, but...
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis – a Nasty and Growing Affliction
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 1578
Explaining Contemporary Patterns of Cannabis Teratology
Sunday, February 24, 2019 1064
From the Abstract Cannabis has been shown to be teratogenic in cells, animals and humans. Particular targets of prenatal exposure include brain, heart and blood vessels and chromosomal segregation… Studies in cells, together with the above mentioned epidemiology, implicate cannabidiol, cannabichromene, cannabidivarin and other cannabinoids in significant genotoxicity and/or epigenotoxicity. Notch signalling has recently been shown to be altered by cannabinoids, which is highly pertinent to...
DR MAX: After seeing too many young lives blighted, why I'm sickened that we're still so soft on cannabis
We will, in years to come, look back and wonder how we could have been so foolish — so incredibly blind to the dangers of cannabis. We will be horrified at our reckless disregard for young minds. We will berate our liberally-minded politicians for their weakness, and the police for allowing, what is, in effect, its decriminalisation. And we will feel justifiable fury towards those who demanded the liberalisation of drug laws; who denied the mountain of evidence that this is a highly damaging...
Smoking cannabis in your teens IS linked to depression in later life: Major study reveals drug 'damages children's brains' and half a MILLION adults could avoid mental-health disorder if they had...
Largest study of its kind found that 7% of adult depression could be prevented Drug has also been linked to suicidal thoughts and attempts Researchers say tackling the use of millions of under 18s should be a priority PUBLISHED: 14 February 2019 Smoking cannabis in your teenage years raises the risk of depression and suicide in later life, a landmark new study has found. Researchers from the US and UK have revealed the drug could impair a child's brain to the extent it triggers mental health...
Smoking cannabis in your teens IS linked to depression in later life:
Major study reveals drug 'damages children's brains' and half a MILLION adults could avoid mental-health disorder if they had turned down marijuana Largest study of its kind found that 7% of adult depression could be prevented Drug has also been linked to suicidal thoughts and attempts Researchers say tackling the use of millions of under 18s should be a priority PUBLISHED: 14 February 2019 Smoking cannabis in your teenage years raises the risk of depression and suicide in later life, a...
Study ties heart disease, diabetes to cannabis exposure in utero
Wednesday, February 06, 2019 1022
February 2019 by Adela Talbot, University of Western Ontario Daniel Hardy, a Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor, led a recent study that found “alarming” damage to important organs in newborns who were exposed to cannabis – and, specifically, to THC – while in utero. This damage could lead to heart disease and diabetes later in life. Just because it's legal, doesn't mean it's safe. Exposure to cannabis – and, specifically, to THC – while in utero leads to heart defects and...
Cannabis Problematics Include but are not Limited to Pain Management
These newer studies bring into precise focus recent work in the cannabis field showing that adolescent cannabis exposure results in loss of whole dendrites including synapses (4) and a reduction in post-synaptic glutamate A2 AMPA receptors (5)… Cannabis dependence is notable for its wide spectrum of clinical presentations including psychiatric, respiratory, immune, cardiac, vascular, bony, reproductive and malignant manifestations…Tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and other cannabinoids have...
University students' grades plunge when cannabis is legalised, studies find
Monday, February 04, 2019 944
Studies have found that legalising cannabis leads to students failing exams Legalisation was said to lead to an increase in the assignment of D and F grades Researchers found ‘a much stronger effect on grades of men than women’ 4 February 2019 Legalising cannabis leads to more university students flunking their exams. Striking evidence that legalising the drug negatively affects undergraduates’ behaviour and makes weaker students particularly likely to fall behind is provided by three new...
What Would Legalizing Marijuana Cultivation Cost Taxpayers?
Saturday, February 02, 2019 875
Here's What It is Costing Colorado Taxpayers Download PDF Executive Summary
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence – What we are NOT told!
Position Statement on the Implications of Cannabis use for Safety-Sensitive Work (Canada)
Download PDF Document
Cannabis use disorder: The policy climate matters
Thursday, January 24, 2019 1030
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Adolescents and young adults living in states with more liberal policies reported higher average rates of past-year cannabis use than those in states with more conservative policies, according to a new study conducted at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Past year cannabis use was consistently higher in liberal compared to conservative states, and remained significantly higher for ages 12-17 and 18-25 after adjusting for...
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms & Side Effects From Daily Use
Monday, January 21, 2019 11805
Colorado Emergency Medical Doctors Open Letter to ALL Physicians!
Friday, January 18, 2019 1002
Dear Doctors, who are mandated to do 'No Harm'! My name is Karen Randall. I am an emergency physician (also residency trained in pediatrics and family medicine). I spent numerous years as an academic teaching physician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. I moved to Colorado to be back home. I moved here in 2013. I moved just in time to see this town I live in, Pueblo, go from a blue collar working town to a drug infested town that is not safe. I appreciate your article about brain sizes, View...
Exposure to cannabis and stress in adolescence can lead to anxiety disorders in adulthood
The work carried out by the Neuropharmacology Laboratory highlight the influence of environmental factors such as stress on the harmful effects of the exposure to cannabis during early ages A new study conducted on laboratory animals shows that exposure to cannabis and stress during adolescence may lead to long-term anxiety disorders characterized by the presence of pathological fear. The work carried out by the Neuropharmacology Laboratory-NeuroPhar at Pompeu Fabra University, was led by the...
Smoking cannabis just once can change a teenager’s brain, study reveals
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 868
The Independent - January 2019 Teenagers who use cannabis just once or twice may end up with changes to the structure of their brain, scientists have warned. A study, conducted by researchers at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, found that there were clear differences on brain scans between teens who said they had smoked cannabis a couple of times and those who had never tried it. For complete article
This reporter took a deep look into the science of smoking pot. What he found is scary
Alex Berenson’s new book delves into research linking heavy use with violent crime and mental illness. by Stephanie Mencimer Mother Jones (San Francisco), January 5, 2019. It’s been a few years since Alex Berenson has “committed journalism,” as he likes to say. As a New York Times reporter, Berenson did two tours covering the Iraq War, an experience that inspired him to write his first of nearly a dozen spy novels. Starting with the 2006 Edgar Award-winning The Faithful Spy, his books were so...
Is marijuana as safe as we think?
A few years ago, the National Academy of Medicine convened a panel of sixteen leading medical experts to analyze the scientific literature on cannabis. The report they prepared, which came out in January of 2017, runs to four hundred and sixty-eight pages. It contains no bombshells or surprises, which perhaps explains why it went largely unnoticed. It simply stated, over and over again, that a drug North Americans have become enthusiastic about remains a mystery! For more
Prenatal Exposure to Cannabis Affects the Developing Brain
Children born to moms who smoked or ingested marijuana during pregnancy suffer higher rates of depression, hyperactivity, and inattention. Yet, Seventy percent of women in the United States believe that there is “slight or no risk of harm” in using cannabis during pregnancy. Read More
Medicinal cannabis a honey pot for crooks
Monday, January 14, 2019 1184
The documents offer unprecedented insight into the challenges of establishing and regulating an industry where the product is traditionally illegal. Picture: AFP SEAN PARNELL 12:00AM JANUARY 7, 2019 High demand for a stake in Australia’s medicinal cannabis industry — including from people with links to organised crime — has caught the regulator unprepared and under-resourced, an internal audit has found. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws show independent auditors hired by...
Daily Patterns of Marijuana and Alcohol Co-Use Among Individuals with Alcohol and Cannabis Use Disorders.
Abstract BACKGROUND : The study aims were to examine daily associations between marijuana and alcohol use and the extent to which the association differs as a function of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and/or alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis. METHODS : Timeline Followback interview data was collected in a study of veterans (N = 127) recruited from a Veterans Affairs hospital who reported at least 1 day of co-use of marijuana and alcohol in the past 180 days (22,860 observations). Participants...
How Marijuana Legalisation Impacts Use Rates
Sunday, December 30, 2018 862
How Marijuana Legalisation Impacts Use Rates - Idho and National Comparision
Changes in Healthcare Encounter Rates Possibly Related to Cannabis or Alcohol following Legalization of Recreational Marijuana in a Safety-Net Hospital: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Saturday, December 22, 2018 891
Patients with encounters possibly related to cannabis were younger, more likely to be hospitalized and more likely to be admitted to the psychiatric unit than patients with encounters possibly related to alcohol. Initial and sustained effects of encounter rates possibly related to cannabis demonstrated an increased trend in slope before and after recreational marijuana legalization. The slope became more abrupt following legalization with a significant increase in trend during the...
New study finds that marijuana can reprogram sperm genes
Saturday, December 22, 2018 1011
December 20, 2018 We already know that cannabis lowers sperm count, but new research suggests that the drug actually causes genetic changes to the sperm itself — which might have implications for the health of a potential baby. For a study published today in the journal Epigenetics, scientists at Duke University Think of your DNA as a list of instructions for making proteins, and genes as small subsets of that list. Our body has little chemical tags (called methyl groups) that get added to the...
Cannabis Genotoxicity Chromothripsis Carcinogenicity and Fetotoxicity MR FMMM
Thursday, December 20, 2018 1057
One month of abstinence from cannabis improves memory in adolescents, young adults
A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) study finds that one month of abstaining from cannabis use resulted in measurable improvement in memory functions important for learning among adolescents and young adults who are regular cannabis users. The study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry is one of the first to prospectively track over time changes in cognitive function associated with halting cannabis use. “Our findings provide two pieces of convincing evidence,” says Randi...
Cultivating Crime – Colorado Cannabis
Monday, December 17, 2018 1124
Cannabis withdrawal can be 'highly disabling'
October 2018 By Maria Kohut Fact checked by Jasmin Collier Authorities are legalizing cannabis, particularly for medicinal use, in an increasing number of states. Many people stand by its alleged benefits, but new research warns that frequent use may lead to the "disabling" symptoms of cannabis withdrawal syndrome. The researchers also note that cannabis withdrawal symptoms appeared to be linked with mental disability and a family history of depression. Also, these symptoms were associated...
We must study marijuana's impact on the environment before it's too late.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018 1037
Often featuring in the lower rungs of priority when it comes to determining the safety of a drug, the impact of a pharmaceutical on the freshwater environment can be significant on the health of lakes, rivers and those who reside nearby. The gamut is wide and worrying – from limpets in the UK no longer able to cling on to rocks for survival as they “bathe in a soup” of antidepressants to Canadian male fish growing eggs in their testes after being exposed to the synthetic estrogen found in...
Marijuana – Man Made Disaster!
Cannabis: The case against legalisation
Executive Summary Cannabis can be both addictive and harmful. Our understanding of the precise extent and nature of the health implications of recreational cannabis use is developing but, at this stage, there is a great deal of uncertainty. On the eve of the first legal retail sales of recreational cannabis in Canada, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published an editorial which referred to legalisation as: a national, uncontrolled experiment in which the profits of cannabis producers...
The Marijuana Conundrum in North America – A recognized deficiency: Inadequate protective protocols
An evaluation of risk applied to marijuana products for recreational or medical purposes concludes that advanced mitigation strategies and new protective delivery protocols are necessary to adequately protect the public from harm. In Canada a controlled distribution program is in place called the RevAid ® . 1,2 This program assures consumers are monitored to prevent or minimize major side effects and or reactions. Under this program only prescribers and pharmacists who are registered or...
Low doses of widely consumed cannabinoids (cannabidiol and cannabidivarin) cause DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations in human-derived cells.
Thursday, November 29, 2018 1084
Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidivarin (CBDV) are natural cannabinoids which are consumed in increasing amounts worldwide in cannabis extracts, as they prevent epilepsy, anxiety, and seizures. It was claimed that they may be useful in cancer therapy and have anti-inflammatory properties. Adverse long-term effects of these drugs (induction of cancer and infertility) which are related to damage of the genetic material have not been investigated. Therefore, we studied their DNA-damaging...
How marijuana harms a developing baby’s brain
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 2037
Three studies in rodents suggest prenatal exposure to the drug may pose risks for infants DANA G. SMITH NOVEMBER 18, 2018 This article was originally published by Scientific American . One recent study revealed that in 2016 7 percent of pregnant women in California used marijuana, with rates as high as 22 percent among teenage mothers. In Colorado 69 percent of dispensaries recommended the drug to pregnant women to help with morning sickness. … prenatal drug exposure can be harmful to unborn...
Could medical cannabis be the new THALIDOMIDE? Fears of a crisis as doctors consider doling marijuana-based medicines out to pregnant mothers despite evidence the drug can damage foetuses
Sunday, November 25, 2018 1203
Pressure to loosen NHS guidelines on medical cannabis use is growing in the UK The British Medical Journal warned that widespread use could lead to disaster The potential crisis was compared to the thalidomide scandal of the 50s and 60s By GUY ADAMS FOR THE DAILY MAIL PUBLISHED: 24 November 2018 Each of the 400 phone calls to the cannabis dispensaries followed a script. ‘Hi,’ said a female voice. ‘I’m eight weeks pregnant and feeling really nauseated. Are there any products recommended for...
How smoking CANNABIS affects your lungs
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 1655
How Smoking CANNABIS for a Month Affects Your Lungs View Video See also Cannabis Impact on Your Lungs by British Lung Foundation
Teens are trying marijuana before alcohol and tobacco
It’s not because teens are consuming weed more, it’s because they’re using tobacco and alcohol less Teens used to try alcohol first, then tobacco, and then marijuana. Now, marijuana is increasingly the first “gateway” substance for adolescents, according to new research. This trend is not because teens are smoking cannabis more than ever. Rather, the change is because teens are smoking cigarettes and drinking less while the numbers for marijuana have held steady, according to Katherine M....
Licensed cannabis growers have ties to organized crime, Enquête investigation finds
Despite security checks by Health Canada, investors with Mafia connections involved in legal production Marie-Maude Denis · CBC News · Posted: Nov 01, 2018 An investigation by Radio-Canada's Enquête shows Health Canada has granted production licences to companies with individuals with links to the criminal underworld. (Tijana Martin/Canadian Press) An investor in a major Canadian cannabis company has had longstanding ties, including business dealings, with influential Mafia members and drug...
Marijuana in babies? Colo. researchers find new evidence
Tuesday, November 06, 2018 637
After a nursing woman smokes marijuana once, her baby through her breast milk will consume traces of the drug's chief psychoactive element for at least six weeks and possibly longer, according to a soon-to-be-released study out of Colorado. For physicians who see cannabis-associated birth complications and long-term brain development concerns with children, the research is another step to try to square growing public nonchalance about marijuana with medical guidelines about use. Researchers...
Isn't Two Enough? || Spoken Word
Friday, November 02, 2018 833
Isn't Two Enough? || Spoken Word View Video
Low Dose Cannabinoid Consumption Causes DNA Damage
A 21ST CENTURY PROBLEM: CANNABIS TOXICITY IN A 13-MONTH-OLD CHILD
Abstract —Background: Cannabis is one of the most abused drugs worldwide, with more than 20 million users in the United States (US). As access to cannabis products increases with expanding US legislation and decriminalization of marijuana, emergency physicians must be adept in recognizing unintentional cannabis toxicity in young children, which can range from altered mental status to encephalopathy and coma. Case Report: We report the case of a 13- month-old female presenting with...
Colorado Schools using marijuana test kit to show results instantly: Rossen Reports Spot the Pot
Friday, October 26, 2018 1114
Marijuana can be incredibly easy for kids to sneak into school, but now some school districts across the country are using a new gadget to spot it in just seconds. TODAY national investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen heads to Colorado, where marijuana is legal, to show viewers how the new “test kit” works. For complete storyFor complete story
Thursday, October 25, 2018 1287
Frequent users of cannabis may have 'disabling' withdrawal symptoms, researchers warn. This condition is included in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which was published in 2013. According to the DSM-5, a formerly frequent user of the drug has cannabis withdrawal syndrome when they experience at least three of the following symptoms within a week from cessation: irritability or hostility nervousness or anxiety poor sleep loss of appetite...
Dazed and confused: Canada cannabis legalization brings complex new laws
Canada legalizes marijuana: here’s everything you need to know Leyland Cecco Tue 16 Oct 2018 Canada will become the second country in the world to legalise recreational marijuana. Photograph: Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images Canada will this week become the second country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana, but as they negotiate a patchwork of new legislation and inconsistent enforcement, smokers may soon find that their enjoyment of weed is still blunted. New rules...
A Population-Based Analysis of the Relationship Between Substance Use and Adolescent Cognitive Development
Conclusions : Beyond the role of cognition in vulnerability to substance use, the concurrent and lasting effects of adolescent cannabis use can be observed on important cognitive functions and appear to be more pronounced than those observed for alcohol. read more Download PDF
Daily cannabis smoking as a risk factor for progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C
Thursday, October 04, 2018 943
Conclusion : Daily cannabis smoking is significantly associated with fibrosis progression during CHC. Patients with ongoing CHC should be advised to refrain from regular cannabis use. Read More
Maternal Cannabis Use During a Child's Lifetime Associated With Earlier Initiation...
Conclusions : As cannabis legalization expands across the U.S., adult use may become increasingly normative. This study indicates that maternal cannabis use may be a risk factor for early initiation among their offspring. Preventive interventions should consider strategies to delay initiation among children of cannabis users! Download Article
FORMER New York Times WRITER’S NEW BOOK WARNS OF MARIJUANA, VIOLENCE, MENTAL ILLNESS!
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 2131
October 2018 A former New York Times reporter and now a best-selling author, Alex Berenson has an important new book, Tell Your Children: The truth about marijuana, violence and mental health. Simon & Schuster will publish and release it on January 8, 2019 . “I know this topic is controversial……I spoke to scores of scientists and doctors and examined hundreds of studies and papers. Whatever you think of marijuana, you owe it to yourself and to your families to know the truth that legalizers...
Cannabis Use Increase – Worst in Recent History!
As the very, very false perception that ‘Weed is harmful’ goes down – consumption goes up, and up, and up! Big Tobacco 2.0 is now in full flight and like version 1.0 is conning too many people, particularly the young. Ah! But that’s the key demographic to seduce and manipulate if you want to drive your industry profits moving forward – customers for life – Addiction is the business model and the emerging generation will be the first causalities, then families, then communities, then…. In...
SHOCK REPORT: Large Numbers Of Child Slaves May Be Working On Cannabis Farms In London
"Potentially thousands of children and young people are being trafficked from Vietnam and exploited by ruthless criminal gangs." August 21, 2018 Experts warned Monday that large numbers of child slaves may be working on cannabis farms in London. Since 2016, authorities have found 314 illegal cannabis farms in London, according to police data. The most alarming figures, however, come via human trafficking experts, who warn that the number of children used as slave labor on these farms is likely...
Canada: Pot Permissible for Police Provided they Prove...Not 'Stoned'???
Police will be able to toke, but must be fit for duty September 15, 2018 While members of the Canadian Armed Forces must refrain from using cannabis in the eight hours before they report for duty and for 24 hours before handling a firearm, regulations for police officers don't appear to be as tight. Provided they show up at work fit for duty, your local police officers will be free to smoke a joint with the neighbours when recreational cannabis becomes legal under federal law on Oct. 17. While...
Spike in cannabis overdoses blamed on potent edibles, poor public education
Tuesday, September 04, 2018 1398
"He had eaten a [cannabis] edible and just couldn't handle it," MacIntosh said. Cannabis overdoses are something he said he's personally witnessed at the bar three times in the past year. That mirrors a trend happening across the country — as the Oct. 17 date for legalization of recreational pot looms, CBC News has learned that cannabis-related emergency room visits have spiked. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows that over the past three years the number of...
Marijuana found in breast milk up to six days after use
Researchers report 63 percent of breast milk samples from mothers using marijuana contained traces of the drug UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO With the legalization of marijuana in several states, increased use for both medicinal and recreational purposes has been documented in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Although national organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that breastfeeding mothers do not use marijuana, there has been a lack of specific data to support...
America’s Invisible Pot Addicts
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 1459
More and more Americans are reporting near-constant cannabis use, as legalization forges ahead. Evan, who asked that his full name not be used for fear of the professional repercussions, has a self-described cannabis-use disorder. If not necessarily because of legalization, but alongside legalization, such problems are becoming more common: The share of adults with one has doubled since the early aughts, as the share of cannabis users who consume it daily or near-daily has jumped nearly 50...
Huge surge in blackmarket cannabis trade and organised crime in California DESPITE drug being legalised, cops reveal in warning to UK
Friday, August 17, 2018 1292
After calls for cannabis to be legalised in the UK police chiefs in Los Angeles - the state’s largest legal weed market - say there’s been a rise in illegal cannabis market even though recreational marijuana was legalised back in January…. But there are hundreds of illegal cannabis stores where customers can buy the drug at cheaper prices than at the heavily regulated and taxed legal dispensaries. California regulators sent out almost 1,000 cease and desist letters to marijuana businesses they...
Energy Drinks – Drug Use link: Study suggests link between energy drinks and drug use
Teens who drink more than one energy drink per day are less likely to believe drugs like cocaine and heroin are dangerous, according to new research. University of Texas at San Antonio researcher Dr. Dylan Jackson and his team studied data from 8th and 10th graders between 2010 and 2016. Teens that drank an energy everyday are “125 percent more likely to fail to perceive any risk in trying to consume cocaine,” compared to their peers. And when it came to heroin, they were 143 percent more...
How cannabis and cannabis-based drugs harm the brain
A new study led by Ana Sebastião, group leader at Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes and Professor of Faculdade de Medicina of Universidade de Lisboa (iMM, FMUL; Portugal) and her team in collaboration with researchers from the University of Lancaster (UK), shows that the long-term use of either cannabis or cannabis-based drugs impairs memory. The study now published in the Journal of Neurochemistry reveals the implications for both recreational users and people who use the drug...
Crazed cannabis user, 31, who gouged a seven-month-old boy’s eyes then threw him and his mother out of a window is jailed for life!
Sean Ziemelis, 31, attacked a seven-month-old baby at a flat in Luton last year A court heard he was high on cannabis when he threw the child out a window He also threw the child's mother out of a window. Both escaped major injury Mr Lofthouse said there were concerns about Ziemelis' behaviour after he had taken cannabis the previous night. He had been discovered with his genitals out while on top of a dog in an alleyway. Then at 2am on August 1 last year the child's mother found him with his...
Big Marijuana Claims Vs Science States
Are There Any Alternatives When A Physician Offers My Child Opioids for Pain?
JULY 18, 2018 BY COREY W. HUNTER, MD, FIPP While opioid medications may be effective for treating pain in the short-term, they have an extremely high propensity for addiction and do nothing to address the underlying cause of the pain. The good news is that there are many alternatives to opioids that can help alleviate your son or daughter’s pain. Below, we’ve helped to spell them out for you and have provided guidance on how to ask your doctor about these alternatives. What if My Child Has...
Marijuana Users Grossly Underachieve
by Dr. Drew W. Edwards Republished from DrDrewEdwards.org All the independent, peer-reviewed research confirms what I and other experts have observed for years. Cannabis users significantly underachieve in education, their careers, and have significant problems with their most significant relationships. Two recent and eye-opening studies published in the medical journals Addiction, and Neuropharmacology respectively reveal gross deficits in cognitive ability (IQ) executive functioning,...
All Young Cannabis Users Face Psychosis Risk
Tuesday, June 26, 2018 1043
(Medscape and JAMA Psychiatry) June 15, 2018 Cannabis use directly increases the risk for psychosis in teens, new research shows. A large prospective study of teens shows that "in adolescents, cannabis use is harmful" with respect to psychosis risk, study author Patricia J. Conrod, PhD, professor of psychiatry, University of Montreal, Canada, told Medscape Medical News. The study included 3720 adolescents from the Co-Venture cohort, which represents 76% of all grade 7 students attending 31...
Canada has made a huge mistake in legalising recreational cannabis – it’s a gateway to serious addiction
I heard the news that Canada became the second country in the world to legalise the recreational use of cannabis and, in all honesty, it shocked me. Mums are smoking weed while pregnant to get rid of morning sickness The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, believes that legalising the drug will help keep marijuana away from underage users and reduce related crime, but in our experience of treating some 140 patients per month for various addictions, addiction to ‘harder’ drugs in our patients stems...
How THC Injures the Brain, By Mark Gold MD
The acute and long-term effects of THC on the brain and behavior are mediated via the vast endocannabinoid system (ECS), which was not discovered until the early 1990s and remains poorly understood. However, addiction is addiction and the psychopathology associated with marijuana, especially the high potency products, amid the drumbeat for full legalization in the absence of any serious scientific scrutiny is tantamount to political malpractice. Use can be associated with psychosis,...
How to Know if Your Kid is Vaping Marijuana — and What to Do About It
BY THE PARTNERSHIP First things first — how is marijuana vaped? Vaping refers to the inhalation of an aerosol produced by heating a liquid/oil or substance in a compact electronic portable vaporizer. While many young “vapers” say they inhale flavored liquids like Gummy Bear, German Chocolate Cake and Cotton Candy, youth can vaporize marijuana – either the ground plant itself, waxes often referred to as dabs, or THC and CBD oils. Selling equipment to vape marijuana in its leaf, dab or oil form...
Study finds THC increases false recollections of memories
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry indicates that THC, the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, can increase false recollections when trying to remember words and images “Previous work from our group had found that THC can impair the encoding (i.e., the acquisition or learning) of new emotional experiences…” For complete article
Cannabis puts 27,000 people a year in hospital: Rise in admissions could be due to increase in use of super-strength 'skunk', warns MP
There were 27,501 admissions linked to cannabis in England in 2016/17, a 15 per cent rise in just two years from 23,866 in 2014/15 Medical journal The Lancet takes unprecedented step of branding cannabis a ‘huge risk to health’ Tens of thousands of people are ending up in hospital with cannabis-related health problems, official figures have revealed. There were 27,501 admissions linked to cannabis in England in 2016/17, a 15 per cent rise in just two years from 23,866 in 2014/15. Labour MP...
Cannabis Intoxication Case Series: The Dangers of Edibles Containing Tetrahydrocannabinol.
Abstract STUDY OBJECTIVE: Cannabis and its principal active constituent, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are increasingly available as edibles resembling commercially available food products. In this case series, we describe a population of predominantly paediatric patients who were inadvertently exposed to a THC-containing product in San Francisco. METHODS : Twelve children and 9 adults were identified, with 16 patients having detectable serum THC and THC metabolites. All patients presented to...
Can You Be Allergic To Marijuana?
Prevention : Avoiding exposure to marijuana is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction to the plant or drug. A person who is using medical marijuana and suspects that they may be allergic to it should speak with their doctor to find an alternative treatment. Read More
Is Cannabis Use Associated With Increased Risk of Cigarette Smoking Initiation, Persistence, and Relapse?
Longitudinal Data From a Representative Sample of US Adults J Clin Psychiatry 2018;79(2):17m11522; 10.4088/JCP.17m11522 © Copyright 2018 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. Objective : The current study prospectively investigated the relationship between cannabis use and cigarette smoking initiation, persistence, and relapse during a 3-year period among adults in the United States. Methods: Analyses included respondents who completed Waves 1 (2001–2002) and 2 (2004–2005) of the National...
Marijuana Use Disorder, Subcortical Dopamine Hyper-Connectivity and Psychosis—Is There a Connection?
Author: Mark Gold, MD A continued effort to legalize the unrestricted access and use of marijuana in the U.S., primarily through voter initiatives, continues in spite of clinical trial evidence of lack of efficacy, increasing teen use, and reports of serious consequences from accidents to mental illness. As marijuana is currently viewed by the public as “safe until proven dangerous” rather than dangerous until proven safe and effective, by way of randomized double blind clinical trials for a...
DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE OF CANNABIS
As scans show drug’s impact on brain, a top doctor warns of a psychosis, paranoid delusions and a superskunk schizophrenia timebomb
The UK Mail on Sunday PUBLISHED: 25 March 2018 Britain could set off a schizophrenia timebomb if it ignores the dangers of super-strength ‘skunk’ cannabis, one of the UK’s most eminent psychiatrists warns today. Strong evidence now shows that smoking potent forms of the Class B drug increases the chance of psychosis, paranoid delusions and schizophrenia. But too many people – from teenagers to top officials – have little idea of the terrible toll it can take on the mind, says Professor Sir...
Are There Risks From Second-hand Marijuana Smoke? Early Science Says Yes
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 2013
March 19, 2018 The inspiration arrived in a haze at a Paul McCartney concert a few years ago in San Francisco. "People in front of me started lighting up and then other people started lighting up," says Matthew Springer , a biologist and professor in the division of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco. "And for a few naive split seconds I was thinking to myself, 'Hey, they can't smoke in AT&T Park! I'm sure that's not allowed.' And then I realized that it was all...
Alcohol and Marijuana Together Magnifies Driving Difficulties
Wednesday, February 14, 2018 813
13/2/18Bottom of Form Mixing Alcohol and Marijuana Amplifies THC in the System Three news stories exemplify the tragic results of mixing alcohol and marijuana before getting behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. Most recently, a suspected-DUI driver crashed into a California Highway patrolman in a parked vehicle on Christmas Eve. Andrew Camilleri, 33, died instantly. He left behind a wife and three children. A driver who drank alcohol and smoked marijuana killed CHP Officer Andrew Camilleri,...
Tampa man who blamed edible marijuana for airline melee pleads guilty
Associated Press Published: February 12, 2018 This July 7, 2017, photo taken the FBI and released via the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle shows the aftermath of a cabin on Delta Flight 129 from Seattle to Beijing, after authorities say flight attendants struggled with a passenger who lunged for an exit door. A Florida man who brawled with flight attendants and passengers when he tried to open the exit door of a Delta Air Lines flight bound from Seattle to China has pleaded guilty to four...
Cigarettes and pot linked to teen psychosis
January 29, 2018 - According to a recent study, the use of weed or tobacco cigarettes is connected to the increased risk of psychotic-like experiences, which could include hallucinations or delusions. The study, published by JAMA Psychiatry, is entitled “ Association of Combined Patterns of Tobacco and Cannabis Use in Adolescence With Psychotic Experiences ,” and analyzes data from a longitudinal cohort study of more than 3,300 teens. While both marijuana and tobacco smoking were associated...
Marijuana at school: Loss of concentration, risk of psychosis
January 26, 2018 10.17am AEDT Updated January 31, 2018 5.11pm AEDT One of the enduring myths about marijuana is that it is “harmless” and can be safely used by teens. Many high school teachers would beg to disagree, and consider the legalization of marijuana to be the biggest upcoming challenge in and around schools. And the evidence is on their side As an education researcher, I have visited hundreds of schools over four decades, conducting research into both education policy and teen mental...
Skunk user who bit, throttled and stabbed his mother 23 times in drug-induced frenzy leaving her fighting for her life is detained in hospital indefinitely
Thursday, February 01, 2018 942
By Stewart Paterson For Mailonline 18 January 2018 Jamil Jabbie stabbed his nurse mother 23 times in a cannabis-induced frenzy She considered sectioning him because of his unbalanced mind and drug use Jabbie, 19, stabbed his mother in the stomach, leg and chest before fleeing He left the home in south London covered in blood and then hid in a care home He was yesterday given an indefinite hospital order at Southwark Crown Court Read more
Marijuana addiction is real, and teenage users are most at risk
In the rush to legalize marijuana in Canada, medical experts are warning about weed’s alarming side, particularly for younger users . For more
Study reveals negative long-term effects of heavy cannabis use on brain function and behavior
January 16, 2018 New study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging looks at the effects of heavy cannabis use on brain function and behavior Young people with cannabis dependence have altered brain function that may be the source of emotional disturbances and increased psychosis risk that are associated with cannabis abuse, according to a new study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. The alterations were most pronounced in...
Stroke and cannabis use in patients with no cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review of case reports.
INTRODUCTION: Cannabis and its synthetic analogues are currently the most widely consumed illicit substances worldwide. Multiple alterations have been linked to its use, including cerebrovascular disease (CVD) or stroke, whose association with the substance has been based mainly on the hypothesis of transient vasoconstriction, which explains a large proportion of the cases reported. CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variety of reports of stroke associated with cannabis use in patients with no other...
Adverse impact of marijuana use on clinical outcomes among psychiatry patients with depression and alcohol use disorder
Highlights Patients with depression frequently used marijuana and nearly half met the AUD criteria. Fewer patients with AUD were using marijuana at baseline compared to patients without AUD. Patients with AUD using marijuana increased over 6 months compared to those without AUD. Patients with AUD using marijuana had worse clinical outcomes than patients without AUD. Addressing marijuana use in outpatient psychiatry treatment may help improve outcomes. For More
Teen marijuana use may lead to bipolar symptoms later on
Thursday, December 07, 2017 912
Published 4 December 2017 By Ana Sandoiu Fact checked by Jasmin Collier It's a well-known fact that many young people use cannabis, and studies have pointed to a link between the drug and psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia. However, the links between cannabis use and the development of bipolar symptoms over time have been insufficiently studied — until now. Using regression analysis, the scientists adjusted for gender, alcohol and other drug use, early environmental risk factors —...
Cannabis Use and Hypomania in Young People: A Prospective Analysis
Schizophrenia Bulletin, sbx158 Published: 28 November 2017 Background Cannabis use in young people is common and associated with psychiatric disorders. However, the prospective link between cannabis use and bipolar disorder symptoms has rarely been investigated. The study hypothesis was that adolescent cannabis use is associated with hypomania in early adulthood via several potential etiological pathways. Results & Conclusions Data were available on 3370 participants. Cannabis use at least 2–3...
Drinkable pot? Constellation Brands takes stake in marijuana company
Thursday, November 02, 2017 795
Oct 29, 2017 U.S. beer-industry executives have been debating whether legalized marijuana could cannibalize sales of beer. The U.S. distributor of Corona beer is chasing a new type of buzz. Constellation Brands Inc. STZ, -1.41% has agreed to take a 9.9% stake in Canopy Growth Corp., a Canadian marijuana company, and plans to work with the grower to develop and market cannabis-infused beverages. For more
Teenager believes legalization of cannabis is a mistake
José Laganière | VAT News| Published October 25, 2017 Even though she is now 17, Jessika already knows the serious repercussions that drug and alcohol use can have on a life. She says legalizing marijuana in Canada is a big mistake. The last few years have not been easy for Jessika. After smoking her first pot joint when she was only 11, she then fell into alcohol and other harder drugs. Powerless, her parents witnessed this drift until a six-month therapy at the Portage Center finally came...
Marijuana use disorder is common and often untreated
Survey shows marijuana use disorder linked to substance use/mental disorders and disability. Marijuana use disorder is common in the United States, is often associated with other substance use disorders, behavioral problems, and disability, and goes largely untreated, according to a new study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health. The analysis found that 2.5 percent of adults — nearly 6 million people —...
Marijuana Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opioid Use
Download PDF - Marijuana Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opioid Use
Marijuana News Periodical 20 October 2017
Download PDF Marijuana News Periodical 20 October 2017 (4.5mb)
Smoking cannabis increases violent behaviour in young people with mental health disorders
A new study on cannabis has found that users with mental illness present an increased risk of violent behaviour. The research conducted by the Institut en Santé Mentale de Montréal (Montreal Institute of Menal Health), studied 1,136 patients – from 18 to 40 years of age – with mental illnesses who had been seen five times during the year after discharge. And while previous research has already shown a link between cannabis and aggressive behaviour, this new study found that users who continued...
Endocannabinoids and Hippocampal Signalling and Function
Author: Mark Gold, MD Ground-breaking research on the hippocampus and ECs has enhanced our knowledge of the role of molecular mechanisms necessary to process lipid EC messengers. It has been established that circuitry between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex is disrupted by the introduction of exogenous cannabinoid and thus is correlated with impairments in behavior (Kucewicz et al., 2011). Cannabinoids may disrupt cortical function by desynchronizing neuronal communication across...
Smoking cannabis DOES make people more violent: Project confirms for the first time that using the drug is the cause of crimes
Cannabis users more likely to commit violent crimes, research has shown Study found there was a ‘more constant relationship’ between cannabis and violence than between alcohol or cocaine use and violence More than 20 US states have legalised cannabis for medical purposes By Steve Doughty PUBLISHED: 5 October 2017 Cannabis users are more likely to commit violent crime, pioneering research has shown. It warned those who smoke the drug regularly run an increased risk of using violence against...
'Dabbing' cannabis may release cancerous toxins
Published 1 October 2017 By Ana Sandoiu Butane hash oil is a cannabis extract made using butane. Researchers have analyzed the chemical composition of the vapors released by butane hash oil - a cannabis extract commonly used in "dabbing," or vaporizing - and found carcinogenic substances. In light of cannabis being legalized in several states across America, more and more people use marijuana recreationally. The practice of " dabbing " has also gained popularity; users think that dabbing is...
Cancer-Causing Compounds Found in Cannabis Oil
Friday, September 29, 2017 1054
The authors continued, stating that the current study focused on the “chemistry of myrcene and other common terpenes found in cannabis extracts. Methacrolein, benzene, and several other products of concern to human health were formed under the conditions that simulated real-world dabbing. The terpene degradation products observed are consistent with those reported in the atmospheric chemistry literature.” Many of the terpenes that the researchers discovered in the vaporized hash oil are also...
Marijuana and 'spice' could trigger seizures, study says
Thursday, September 28, 2017 789
September 2017 By Honor Whiteman Researchers suggest that the use of potent cannabinoids have the potential to trigger seizures. While a number of studies have suggested that marijuana may be effective for reducing seizures, new research cautions that potent and synthetic forms of the drug have the opposite effect. Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan found that natural tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the psychoactive chemical in marijuana - and the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018...
Marijuana 'may be worse than cigarettes for cardiovascular health'
August 2017 By Honor Whiteman Research suggests that marijuana use may raise the risk of death from hypertension by more than threefold. People who use marijuana may be three times more likely to die from high blood pressure than non-users of the drug, a new study finds. The researchers say that their findings indicate that marijuana use is a greater risk factor for poor cardiovascular health than cigarette smoking…Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for high blood pressure and...
Marijuana and Other Drugs – the Link We can’t ignore (S.A.M.)
Download PDF Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opioid Use Disorder in the United States View Website
Get Out Your Checkbook: What Legalized Marijuana is Going to Cost
Many people fail to realize that alcohol, although legal, costs employers and taxpayers millions of dollars each year. In 2010, the cost of excessive alcohol use in the United States reached $249 billion, and two out of every five dollars of those costs were paid by federal, state, and local governments—all funded by the taxpayer. In fact, of this $249 billion drain on the American economy, $179 billion is directly associated to workplace productivity, and an additional $28 billion to health...
In conclusion , we show a significant relationship between daily cannabis use and fibrosis progression in patients with ongoing CHC. We believe that patients with ongoing CHC should be strongly advised to abstain from daily cannabis use. This recommendation might be particularly beneficial in difficult-to-treat patients. Download PDF
Marijuana: Effects of teenage use may be reversible
Thursday, September 21, 2017 1842
Published 14 September 2017 By Catharine Paddock PhD Canadian researchers have found that they might be able to reverse the schizophrenia-like symptoms associated with prolonged teenage marijuana use. Scientists have identified a mechanism in the brain that seems to explain how long-term marijuana use in the teenage years might lead to schizophrenia and other similar psychiatric diseases in adulthood. For complete article Research Found at at
California is about to open its first legal cannabis shops and it's posing a huge problem for local pot farms
Wow! Check this out! These people are just openly admitting that they will sell to the black market in CA. Do these people expect us to feel sorry for them that decades long businesses of growing and selling pot ILLEGALLY (clearly drug dealers!!!) is going up in smoke because of legalization???? This is so amazingly absurd that it’s hard to believe it’s real. They cry when marijuana is illegal and now they are complaining that making it legal is too much of a hardship for them to follow...
Cannabis Use during Pregnancy: Pharmacokinetics and Effects on Child Development.
Grant KS 1, Petroff R 2, Isoherranen N 3, Stella N 4, Burbacher TM 5. Abstract The broad-based legalization of cannabis use has created a strong need to understand its impact on human health and behavior. The risks that may be associated with cannabis use, particularly for sensitive subgroups such as pregnant women, are difficult to define because of a paucity of dose-response data and the recent increase in cannabis potency. Although there is a large body of evidence detailing the mode of...
Marijuana Use Holds Three-Fold Blood Pressure Death Risk - The risk grows with every year of use.
Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - People who smoke marijuana have a three times greater risk of dying from hypertension, or high blood pressure, than those who have never used the drug, scientists said on Wednesday. The risk grows with every year of use, they said. The findings, from a study of some 1,200 people, could have implications in the United States among other countries. Several states have legalized marijuana and others are moving toward it. It is decriminalized in a number of other...
Black Market WEED Smashing Environment Yet Again...
Black Market WEED Smashing Environment Yet Again - Not so 'green' after all: Pollution from illegal California marijuana farms is forming toxic waste dumps that span thousands of acres (Remember – WEED is fully legal in this State!) In California, illegal marijuana farms are taking over thousands of acres of land as toxic wastes are increasingly corrupting ecosystems California is responsible for the majority of illegal U.S. marijuana farming New data says the state holds '731,000 pounds of...
Marijuana devastated Colorado, don’t legalize it nationally
In 2012, we were promised funds from marijuana taxes would benefit our communities, particularly schools. Dr. Harry Bull, the Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools, one of the largest school districts in the state, said, "So far, the only thing that the legalization of marijuana has brought to our schools has been marijuana." In fiscal year 2016, marijuana tax revenue resulted in $156,701,018. The total tax revenue for Colorado was $13,327,123,798, making marijuana only 1.18% of the state's...
Colorado official: 'Marijuana is gateway drug to homicide'
A Colorado district attorney drew attention this week after he pronounced marijuana to be a "gateway drug to homicide." The controversial remarks made by 4th Judicial District Attorney Dan May came at a news conference Tuesday about a large black market marijuana bust in the state, KKTV reported. Thirteen people have been indicted, Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman announced. For more Black market marijuana bust leaves bruises on Colorado's marijuana industry July 2017 Check out this...
Cannabis use and suicidal ideation: Test of the utility of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide
Wednesday, August 02, 2017 1034
Abstract Despite a documented relationship between cannabis use and suicidality, little is known about psychological vulnerability factors that may increase suicidality among this high-risk group. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS; Joiner, 2005) proposes that people are vulnerable to wanting to die by suicide if they experience both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Daily cannabis users may be especially vulnerable to these factors. The current study...
Chronic depression in young teens tied to marijuana use later
July 2017 Teens at risk for marijuana-use disorder - People with cannabis- or marijuana-use disorder often have symptoms of withdrawal when they stop using the substance. In some cases, it can take the form of a severe addiction . It has been suggested that 30 percent of marijuana users "may have some degree of marijuana-use disorder." The likelihood of developing marijuana-use disorder is four to seven times higher in people who start using the drug before the age of 18. Dependence on...
Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: A Review
July 14, 2017 | Substance Use Disorder , Addiction By Ruby S. Grewal, MD and Tony P. George, MD, FRCPC Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, and trends show increasing use in the general population. As cannabis consumption rises, there has been significant emerging evidence for cannabis-related risks to health.1 Numerous lines of evidence suggest a correlation between cannabis consumption and a variety of psychiatric conditions, including cannabis-induced...
“I feel like I've hit the bottom and have no idea what to do.”
“I feel like I've hit the bottom and have no idea what to do.”: Supportive social networking on Reddit for individuals with a desire to quit cannabis use Shaina J. Sowles , M.P.H, Melissa J. Krauss , M.P.H, Lewam Gebremedhn & Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg , Ph.D. Accepted 03 Feb 2017, Accepted author version posted online: 13 Jul 2017 Conclusions: This exploratory research highlights the potential of online communities as tools for individuals coping with addiction recovery, and future research...
Marijuana use linked to poorer school performance, major new research reveals
Teenagers who smoke marijuana regularly achieve poorer grades at school and risk their chances of going to university, according to a major new scientific study. A longitudinal study of more than 26,400 pupils in Canada found those who started using marijuana at least once a month were around half as likely to achieve high grades as they were before taking up the habit, and were ultimately less likely to pursue university ambitions. Marijuana users were also four times more likely to skip...
Marijuana use linked to greater psychosis risk in teens
Published July 2017 By Honor Whiteman Researchers say that adolescents who increase their use of the drug may be more susceptible to psychotic-like episodes. Studies have long suggested a link between marijuana use and psychosis. New research sheds further light on this association, after finding that teenagers who increase their use of the drug are more likely to experience psychotic-like episodes…Compared with teenagers in the general population, the researchers found that teenagers who...
Marijuana Lobby Admits Tobacco Industry Executives Pay-to-Play
6/07/2017 “What do you want, what do you hate, what’s going to turn you off so I can’t ask you for money?” This was the question the nation’s top pot lobbyist recently posed to tobacco executives in Michigan, where his lobbying group has drafted language for a recreational marijuana legalization law and is now collecting signatures to place it on the state’s 2018 ballot. That Rob Kampia, Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), went on-the-record to admit he asked this of...
Marijuana legalisation in the United States: An Australian perspective
This paper reviews the US experience to identify any potential lessons or hazards likely to emerge. It outlines the regulatory requirements of different US states for managing medicinal and recreational marijuana use, and the costs and benefits of these measures. It also critically analyses the most common commercial for-profit production and distribution model and examines the implications of this approach in terms of individual, social and criminological outcomes. Download Article
Legal cannabis laws impact teen use
A new study by researchers at Dartmouth has found that adolescents living in medical marijuana states with a plethora of dispensaries are more likely to have tried new methods of cannabis use, such as edibles and vaping, at a younger age than those living in states with fewer dispensaries. The study will appear in the August issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence. For more
Teen cannabis use and illicit drug use in early adulthood linked
Friday, June 16, 2017 744
One in 5 adolescents at risk of tobacco dependency, harmful alcohol consumption and illicit drug use Date: June 7, 2017 Source : University of Bristol Summary: Researchers have found regular and occasional cannabis use as a teen is associated with a greater risk of other illicit drug taking in early adulthood. The study also found cannabis use was associated with harmful drinking and smoking. For more
Dose-related effects of delta-9-THC on emotional responses to acute psychosocial stress
The University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Neuroscience, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC3077, Chicago IL 60637, United States Present address: The University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, 1601 W. Taylor St., MC912, Chicago, Illinois 60612 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.03.030 Highlights •We assessed effects of delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) in healthy volunteers. •THC produced nonlinear...
Teenage rugby player cut off penis while high on skunk, says father who wants drug made Class A
2 June 2017 The teenager's father is backing Lord Monson's call for skunk to be reclassified Credit:Matthew Fearn/PA wire Ateenage rugby player cut off his own penis and stabbed his mother while high on skunk, his father has revealed, as he called for the drug to be reclassified. The father, named only as Nick because he wants to remain anonymous as his son is rebuilding his life, is backing Lord Nicholas Monson's campaign to have skunk reclassified from a class B to a class A drug and for the...
Marijuana may complicate tobacco cessation
05/31/2017 Adults who have used tobacco and currently use marijuana are twice as likely as those who have never used marijuana to be continued tobacco users, according to a new study from the University of Washington School of Public Health. About 70 percent of adult marijuana users are also tobacco users, which may complicate tobacco cessation…“We do not yet know how the widespread legalization of marijuana for recreational or non-medical purposes will impact tobacco use and cessation,” said...
Marijuana Violence and Law
Friday, May 26, 2017 1228
Miller and Oberbarnscheidt, Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy 2017, S11:014 DOI: 10.4172/2155-6105.1000S11-014 Conclusion According to research studies, marijuana use causes aggressive behavior, causes or exacerbates psychosis and produce paranoias. Нese eوٴects have been illustrated through case studies of highly publicized incidents and heightened political profiles. Нese cases contain examples of repeated illustrations of aggression, psychosis and paranoia by marijuana users and...
Dr Randall's letter exposes truth of pot legalization
In 2012, Coloradans voted to pass Colorado Amendment 64 which led to the state-wide legalization of recreational marijuana beginning in January of 2014. Since then, the number of medical and recreational dispensaries in Colorado has grown to more than double the number of McDonald’s and Starbucks combined. While individual counties could and did choose to abstain from allowing recreational marijuana sales, my county, Pueblo, was one of many that embraced Amendment 64 and the projected benefits...
Callous Disregard for Human Life in Pursuit of Profit and Getting Stoned
Monday, May 22, 2017 1087
In Washington, a man high on marijuana killed policeman Jake Gutierrez. He was holding his 6-year-old daughter while in a standoff with multiple police that lasted 10 hours. The perpetrator claimed to be a sheriff named “Zeus.” Bruce Randall Johnson, 38, had been unravelling for weeks before police fired the shots that killed him. “A regular marijuana user, he’d been smoking more lately,” according to KIRO 7. The autopsy revealed: “Johnson’s body weighed in at a spindly 104 pounds. He had no...
High employees mean higher costs when marijuana legalized, oil and gas CEOs warn
CALGARY -- Oilpatch CEOs fear their costs will rise when the federal government passes recently introduced legislation to legalize recreational marijuana. The issue of drug use is closely watched in the industry, where workers tend to be young and hazards include long commutes to and from remote drilling sites, wells that produce poisonous or explosive gas and exposure to heavy machinery. Many oil and gas companies have strict bans on alcohol and drugs at work. Precision Drilling CEO Kevin...
Cannabis and schizophrenia: New evidence unveiled
"Our research demonstrates that cannabis has a differential risk on susceptible versus non-susceptible individuals. In other words, young people with a genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia - those who have psychiatric disorders in their families - should bear in mind that they're playing with fire if they smoke pot during adolescence." Dr. Barzilay For more
'Ice corridors' mean one-third of Queensland children in protection have parent using meth
Thursday, April 27, 2017 1111
BY KATHY MCLEISH APR 27, 2017 One-third of children who came into the care of the Queensland's Department of Child Safety in 2016 had parents who use or have used methamphetamines, most commonly ice, a new report has found. About 60 per cent of those 749 children suffered neglect, about a third were subjected to emotional harm, 11 per cent experienced physical harm and 1 per cent were sexually abused. Of the children with a parent who had used ice: 59pc were neglected 29pc experienced...
Kicking Pot to the Curb: Cannabis and Alzheimer’s?
“It is beyond epidemic proportions. There truly is a tidal wave of Alzheimers disease", says, Dr. Fortanasce. An estimated 200,000 people in the United States un rage 65 are living with younger onset Alzheimers disease. And hundreds of thousands more are coping with mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimers and other dementia. Through his research, Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, a clinical professor of neurology in Southern California, believes that there may be a link between chronic use...
Long-lasting alterations of hippocampal GABAergic neurotransmission in adult rats following perinatal Δ9-THC exposure.
Abstract : The long-lasting effects of gestational cannabinoids exposure on the adult brain of the offspring are still controversial. It has already been shown that pre- or perinatal cannabinoids exposure induces learning and memory disruption in rat adult offspring, associated with permanent alterations of cortical glutamatergic neurotransmission and cognitive deficits. In the present study, the risk of long-term consequences induced by perinatal exposure to cannabinoids on rat hippocampal...
Long lasting effects of chronic heavy cannabis abuse.
Nestoros JN1, Vakonaki E2, Tzatzarakis MN2, Alegakis A2, Skondras MD3, Tsatsakis AM2. Author information Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of short-term memory impairment and schizophrenia-like symptoms in heavy and systematic cannabis users and the association between the severity of abuse and the longevity of its persistent symptoms after refraining from such use. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of hallucinations, delusions, and organic brain...
Cannabis Harms: Here’s the Science that proves it!
Anandamide regulates how active neurons are, and how much neurotransmitter they release. This acts as a sort of ‘dimmer’ switch, slowing down communication between cells and keeping all the circulating chemicals on an even keel and in balance (homeostasis). Levels of the neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin, endorphins etc for pleasure, mood, appetite, motivation, body movement, cognition, concentration. memory, brain development etc are all kept in balance by anandamide. But THC is much...
Study shows marijuana use interrupts adolescent brain development
Regular marijuana use by teens can stop the brain from maturing. This new study is the first to establish a causal link between repeated cannabinoid exposure during adolescence and an interruption of the normal maturation processes in the prefrontal cortex, a region in the brain's frontal lobe, which regulates decision making and working memory and undergoes critical development during adolescence. Scientists at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL For more
Cannabis use may predict opioid use in women undergoing addictions treatment March 29, 2017
A new study suggests that the use of cannabis may impact treatment in women undergoing methadone treatment therapy. Researchers from McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton have found that women in methadone treatment who use cannabis are 82 per cent more likely to continue using opioids. This means that women who use cannabis are at high risk of failing methadone treatment. "About 60 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women who are undergoing methadone treatment therapy also...
Eight of 16 people indicted in Colorado marijuana trafficking operation listed as having state pot licenses
Michael Alan Stonehouse, the alleged ringleader, is listed as having an active “key” license (Legally allowed to sell ‘Weed’, but operating a Black Market operation? Surprise, surprise – now you have TWO markets, legal and illegal trafficking? Promise of the demise of criminal enterprise was ALWAYS a myth!) By JESSE PAUL | jpaul@denverpost.com | The Denver Post | UPDATED: March 25, 2017 at 5:31 pm Eight of the 16 people indicted on charges they ran a massive illicit marijuana operation that...
Cannabis users 'are four times more likely to suffer a heart attack'
Scientists say users suffer more cardiac-related illness than those who do not smoke the drug Users in their late 20s were three times more likely to have a cardiac illness Most concerns over cannabis use are associated with mental health disorders Researchers in Ohio said users are tend to have higher blood pressures Read more
Marijuana use may raise stroke, heart failure risk
Thursday, March 16, 2017 1046
Written by Honor Whiteman Published: Friday 10 March 2017 In the United States, marijuana is becoming increasingly legalized for medicinal or recreational purposes. However, new research warns of the harms of marijuana use after finding that the drug may have negative implications for cardiovascular health. New research has found a link between marijuana use and greater cardiovascular risk. From an analysis of more than 20 million health records across the U.S., researchers have uncovered a...
Experts ask: Can cannabis be made safer?
2 March 2017 As cannabis laws become liberalised in many countries, experts writing in The Lancet Psychiatry argue that there is an urgent need to explore how cannabis use can be made safer. "Although most users will not develop problems from their cannabis use, it is vital, especially now that cannabis is becoming increasingly liberalised, that we explore alternative and innovative ways by which we can reduce and mitigate cannabis related harms" says Dr Amir Englund, lead author from King's...
Longitudinal influence of alcohol and marijuana use on academic performance in college students
Abstract BACKGROUND : Alcohol and marijuana are the two most abused substances in US colleges. However, research on the combined influence (cross sectional or longitudinal) of these substances on academic performance is currently scant. METHODS : Data were derived from the longitudinal 2-year Brain and Alcohol Research in College Students (BARCS) study including 1142 freshman students who completed monthly marijuana use and alcohol consumption surveys. Subjects were classified into data-driven...
Marijuana and Suicide:
A Growing Risk for our Youth March 6, 2017 When Hamza Warsame fell six floors to his death in December, 2015, the social media was abuzz with suggestions of a hate crime against the Muslim teen. Warsame, an immigrant from Somalia, was living in Seattle and had been invited to the 21-year-old classmate’s apartment. Hamza Warsame. The 16-year-old killed himself after using only once, a reflection of the high potency of today’s pot. However, the news came out that Warsame had smoked marijuana for...
Countering the Threat of Legalized Marijuana: A Blueprint for Federal, Community, and Private Action
A more specific scenario has been presented by the economists of the RAND Corporation, who projected the impact of legalization on the state of California. Their analysis focused on marijuana consumption by Past Month users. The California Society of Addiction Medicine offers a summary of their findings, some of which are: Cannabis legalization would plausibly lead to a 58 percent increase in consumption Increased consumption would result from price reduction and removal of legal penalties....
Cannabis industry opposes call for plain packaging and bans on advertising
LAURA KANE, THE CANADIAN PRESS 02.14.2017 VANCOUVER - Garfield Mahood has spent 30 years fighting for the Canadian government to require plain packaging for cigarettes. So, the long-time non-smokers' rights activist says he doesn't have much faith in the government's ability to regulate and restrict the marketing of marijuana. "They identified tobacco products as a cause of disease back in the 1950s," said Mahood, president of the Campaign for Justice on Tobacco Fraud. "They've never been able...
Cannabis Treatment and Child Exploitation
A new report by the Children’s Society on behalf of Public Health England highlights the relationship between sexual exploitation and drug use. Like their adult counterparts, young people in specialist drug treatment have a range of complex problems that extend beyond drug use. The latest treatment data from England reveal that 38% of young people (anyone under the age of 18) had at least 4 problems such as mental health, sexual exploitation or were affected by someone else’s drug use. So,...
Cannabis use and its associated disorders: clinical care
Jan Copeland December 2016 Source: Australian Family Physician : Link to Resource : Background Globally, cannabis is the most widely used and variably regulated illicit drug. The rates of use appeared to be stable in Australia at the time of the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, but levels of cannabis use disorder are rising and treatment seeking is increasing internationally. Objective/s This article describes the prevalence of cannabis use, associated disorders (e.g. harms with...
Marijuana use dampens brain's response to reward over time
Date: July 6, 2016 Source: University of Michigan Health System Summary : Changes may increase risk of continued drug use and addiction Most people would get a little 'rush' out of the idea that they're about to win some money. In fact, if you could look into their brain at that very moment, you'd see activity in the part of the brain that responds to rewards. But for marijuana users, that rush just isn't as big -- and gets smaller over time, a new study finds. And that may open them up to...
Irish general practitioner attitudes toward decriminalisation and medical use of cannabis: results from a national survey
DOI: 10.1186/s12954-016-0129-7 Published: 13 January 2017 Abstract Background - Governmental debate in Ireland on the de facto decriminalisation of cannabis and legalisation for medical use is ongoing. A cannabis-based medicinal product (Sativex®) has recently been granted market authorisation in Ireland. This unique study aimed to investigate Irish general practitioner (GP) attitudes toward decriminalisation of cannabis and assess levels of support for use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes...
10 Marijuana Truths
1) It causes death. The most frequent types of deaths are suicide , murder, traffic fatalities and child abuse deaths. Just because toxic overdose is nearly impossible doesn’t mean that deaths don’t occur. BRAIN DAMAGE is quantitative too. A doctor from the Netherlands, Dr. Martien Kooyman , said chronic marijuana use is “ more dangerous than chronic heroin use .” 2) Marijuana is NOT safer than Alcohol. The percentage of adults age 21 and over who use marijuana in the U.S. is roughly between...
Marijuana use and schizophrenia: New evidence suggests link
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Written by Yvette Brazier: Published 26 December 2016 A new study, published in Psychological Medicine, has added to the body of evidence pointing to a link between schizophrenia and the use of cannabis…Studies show that cannabis use is more common among people with psychosis than in the general population, and that it may also increase the risk of psychotic symptoms. Its use has been linked to symptoms of psychosis, such as paranoia and delusional thinking, in up to 40 percent of users. Read...
Effects of Cannabis Use on Human Behavior, Including Cognition,Motivation, and Psychosis: A Review
Friday, December 23, 2016 1023
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Inslee Seeks $300 Million in New Funding for Mental Health
Governor Jay Inslee of Washington submitted a budget asking for $300 million to fund the state’s mental health system . Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper asked his state to increase the funding for homelessness and for school counselors. The first two states to legalize pot are grappling with a host of new problems. Are California, Nevada and Massachusetts ready to expand their mental health care services? Legalizing marijuana is costly and has many victims, including those who fall into the...
Could marijuana use increase vulnerability to Alzheimer's?
Written by Honor Whiteman, 29 November 2016 A new study warns that marijuana use may increase susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease, after finding the drug severely reduces blood flow in an area of the brain affected by the illness. [A man smoking marijuana] Researchers suggest marijuana use may increase susceptibility to Alzheimer's by reducing blood flow in the hippocampus. Published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, the study reveals that individuals with a marijuana use disorder...
Galli JA, et al. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2011 Abstract Coinciding with the increasing rates of cannabis abuse has been the recognition of a new clinical condition known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is characterized by chronic cannabis use, cyclic episodes of nausea and vomiting, and frequent hot bathing. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome occurs by an unknown mechanism. Despite the well-established anti-emetic properties of marijuana, there is increasing...
Marijuana Threat Assessment, Part One: Recent Evidence for Health Risks of Marijuana Use
David W. Murray, Brian Blake & John P. Walters Summary : Thanks to advances in science, we have never known so much about the effects marijuana use has on the human body, particularly, the fragile brain. Yet, in a political era when scientific research is regularly marshalled to end public policy debates, the powerful, growing scholarship on marijuana has largely been ignored or dismissed. Indeed, marijuana use seems to be one of the glaring areas in modern life where wishful thinking reigns...
Lessons Learned After 4 Years of Marijuana Legalisation in Colorado & Washington State
How marijuana causes memory loss
Friday, November 18, 2016 1560
Written by Honor Whiteman Published:12 November 2016 Researchers have long suggested marijuana can cause memory loss. Now, a new study provides insight on this association, revealing how cannabinoids in the drug activate receptors in the mitochondria of the brain's memory center to cause amnesia. Researchers have shed light on how cannabinoids affect the brain to cause memory loss. Study leader Dr. Giovanni Marsicano, of the University of Bordeaux in France, and team believe their findings -...
Marijuana use may be linked to temporarily weakened heart muscle
American Heart Association Meeting Report - Poster: S4054 - Session: HF.APS.P14 American Heart Association NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 13, 2016 -- Active marijuana use may double the risk of stress cardiomyopathy, an uncommon heart muscle malfunction that can mimic heart attack symptoms, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2016. The researchers found that marijuana users were almost twice as likely to develop stress cardiomyopathy compared to...
Marijuana IQ Study Successfully Defended by Scientists - CADCA Jan 24, 2013
A highly-publicized study finding that marijuana use is linked to a severe drop in IQ has been successfully defended by the scientific community overseas and in the United States, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow. The original study, published last August in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Madeline Meier of Duke University, and colleagues, was the strongest evidence yet that teen use of cannabis could cause a drop in IQ....
Smoking marijuana regularly as a teen may lower IQ scores as an adult
By CBS News Staff (CBS/AP) Teens who smoke marijuana frequently are more likely to experience a long-term drop in their IQ, according to a new study. That could be a potential pitfall for millions of teens, given recent estimates show about one in 10 teens in grades nine through 12 smoke marijuana at least 20 times per month. The researchers however didn't find the same IQ dip for people who became frequent users of pot after 18, suggesting pot use is especially dangerous for the developing...
Legalized Marijuana Boosts High School Dropout Rates
Fran Lowry October 20, 2016 Legalizing medical marijuana may have an adverse effect on educational attainment, new research shows. A study examining the impact of laws that legalize marijuana on educational attainment shows that states with these laws had an increase in the high-school dropout rate among 12th graders. In addition, among those who did graduate from high school, fewer went on to attend college or to graduate from college. The study was published online October 11 in Drug and...
Marijuana Threat Assessment, Part One: Recent Evidence for Health Risks of Marijuana Use (Hudson Institute)
A Public Health Framework for Legalized Retail Marijuana Based on the US Experience: Avoiding a New Tobacco Industry
Summary Points The US states that have legalized retail marijuana are using US alcohol policies as a model for regulating retail marijuana, which prioritizes business interests over public health. The history of major multinational corporations using aggressive marketing strategies to increase and sustain tobacco and alcohol use illustrates the risks of corporate domination of a legalized marijuana market. To protect public health, marijuana should be treated like tobacco, not as the US treats...
Lessons Learned After 4 Years of Marijuana Legalisation(Colorado and Beyond)
Study adds to evidence that high strength cannabis is associated with an increased risk of becoming dependent
October 22, 2016 New data presented at this year's International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA) meeting in Milan, Italy (20-22 October) adds to accumulating evidence that high-potency cannabis in associated with an increased risk of users becoming dependent on cannabis. The analysis is by Dr Tom Freeman at University College London, UK. Estimates suggest around 182 million people worldwide use cannabis each year, a number that could rise as legalisation of recreational use and/or medical...
Colorado visitors are using pot and ending up in the ER
Marijuana-related ER visits are on the rise in Colorado, especially among out-of-state visitors Experts say more education is needed for consumers at pot retailers Colorado legalized retail marijuana in 2012 and sales began in 2014 (CNN)Weed-related emergency room visits are on the rise in Colorado since voters approved the legalization of retail marijuana in 2012 and sales began in 2014. And these incidents are increasing more dramatically among out-of-state visitors, according to research...
Colorado Physician talks candidly about legalised Cannabis Health Chaos
Marijuana is a hard drug, Dutch Doctor compares to Heroin
A Growing Threat to Our Youth There are several reasons that marijuana should no longer be called a soft drug, which is misleading. The cannabis of today is undeniably a hard drug. Dr. Darryl Inaba, Director of an addictions recovery center in Medford, Oregon was recently interviewed on the science of marijuana addiction. He said: “As a clinician who has worked with those who experience medical, emotional and social problems from its use for the past 40 years, I am concerned about the life...
Cannabis excess linked to bone thinning
People who regularly smoke large amounts of cannabis have reduced bone density and are more prone to fractures, research has found. The study also found that heavy cannabis users have a lower body weight and a reduced body mass index (BMI), which could contribute to thinning of their bones. “Our research has shown that heavy users of cannabis have quite a large reduction in bone density compared with non-users and there is a real concern that this may put them at increased risk of developing...
Marijuana use trajectories during college predict health outcomes nine years post-matriculation
The University of Maryland’s Center on Young Adult Health and Development released a paper from their ongoing College Life Study. This study followed 1,253 students for 10 years, beginning in their first year of college. Students were assessed annually on their marijuana use and 9 health outcomes including functional impairment due to injury and psychological distress, and physical health service utilization. The study found that students who did not use marijuana had better outcomes than...
Heavy Marijuana Use May Damage the Brain
Heavy marijuana use over a long period of time may severely damage the brain, according to a new review of previous research. "When we looked at the brain, it had horrible degenerative changes," said Dr. Suzanne M. de la Monte, a professor of neurosurgery at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, who co-authored the review and examined the man's brain after his death. For complete article
Marijuana use rising as more people think it is safe
Written by Honor Whiteman Published: 1 September 2016 The perception of marijuana as a harmful drug has reduced among American adults, leading to an increase in its use, according to new research published in The Lancet Psychiatry. Researchers suggest a rise in marijuana use in the U.S. is down to a reduced perception that the drug is harmful. Study co-author Dr. Wilson M. Compton, of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and colleagues found that between 2002-2014, marijuana use among...
Marijuana Tied to Persistent Subclinical Psychotic Symptoms in Teens
Megan Brooks August, 2016 Adolescent boys who regularly use marijuana are at increased risk of experiencing persistent, subclinical psychotic symptoms, particularly paranoia and hallucinations, even after they stop using the drug, a new study suggests. "Perhaps the most concerning finding is that the effect of prior weekly marijuana use persists even after adolescents have stopped using for 1 year," lead investigator Jordan Bechtold, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh...
Legalized pot is making America’s lower class poorer and less responsible
By Naomi Schaefer Riley August 20, 2016 | 5:35pm Pot for the poor! That could be the new slogan of marijuana legalization advocates. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the use of medical marijuana. There are now 25 states that permit the use of marijuana, including four as well as the District of Columbia that permit it for purely recreational use. Colorado and Washington were the first to pass those laws in 2012. At least five states have measures on the ballot this fall...
Study: Americans are using marijuana a lot more often, and poorer users are smoking the most Pot users profile closer to cigarette smokers than alcohol drinkers
PUBLISHED: AUG 15, 2016 By Christopher Ingraham, The Washington Post A massive study published this month in the Journal of Drug Issues found that the proportion of marijuana users who smoke daily has rapidly grown, and that many of those frequent users are poor and lack a high-school diploma. Examining a decade of federal surveys of drug use conducted between 2002 and 2013, study authors Steven Davenport and Jonathan Caulkins paint one of the clearest pictures yet of the demographics of...
A minute of second-hand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels - American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, July 27, 2016 -- Rats' blood vessels took at least three times longer to recover function after only a minute of breathing second-hand marijuana smoke, compared to recovery after a minute of breathing second-hand tobacco smoke, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. When rats inhaled second-hand marijuana smoke for one minute, their arteries...
Smoking cannabis DOES dampen your emotions 'and increases the risk of addiction to ALL drugs'
Friday, July 08, 2016 1222
Smoking cannabis affects the reward centre in a user's brain, scans show That is the region responsible for releasing 'pleasure' hormone dopamine In cannabis users, scans show less activity in the reward centre, so a smaller amount of dopamine is released That dampened, blunted emotional response means a marijuana smoker will need more of the drug to illicit the same reward - raising addiction risk By LIZZIE PARRY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM PUBLISHED: 07:21 EST, 7 July 2016 | UPDATED: 07:37 EST, 7 July...
Marijuana, alcohol use may harm teens' mental health, academic outcomes
"Many youth tend to think that alcohol use has more consequences than marijuana use and therefore view marijuana use as safer than drinking. However, youth need to better understand the harms of marijuana use, such as the potential effect on their developing brain and how it can affect performance in both adolescence and adulthood." Elizabeth D'Amico For complete article
Marijuana addiction is real: Overcoming the fall from the mellow high
Thursday, July 07, 2016 1038
“It’s just so difficult… you wouldn’t know." Megha Varier | Wednesday, July 6, 2016 Being fired from his job in May was a wake-up call that permeated through the relaxed mellowness induced by the marijuana Devank was hooked to. “I realized I had to get my act together before it was too late,” Devank says. Devank smoked pot for the first time during a college fest at the age of 19, giving in to his friends’ cajoling. After that first time, it became a weekend affair, but soon, he was cutting...
Do we need health warnings about cannabis and pregnancy?
If you’re pregnant or planning to be, tobacco and alcohol are high on the list of things not to use. But do we need an equally loud message about avoiding cannabis too? Yes, say some Australian researchers who’ve linked cannabis smoking both before and during pregnancy to a higher risk of preterm birth – and possibly an increased risk of birth defects. It’s a message that should make would-be dads prick up their ears too. Some studies have already found a higher risk of health problems and...
Marijuana Legalization Has Led To More Use And Addiction While Illegal Market Continues To Thrive
Author: Robert L. DuPont, M.D. It comes as no surprise that the prevalence of marijuana use has significantly increased over the last decade. With marijuana legal for recreational use in four states and the District of Columbia and for medical use in an additional 31 states, the public perception about marijuana has shifted, with more people reporting that they support legalization . However, there is little public awareness, and close to zero media attention, to the near-doubling of past year...
Cannabis use during pregnancy may affect brain development in offspring
(putting new spin on the term ‘THICK as a BRICK’!) “Compared with unexposed children, those who were prenatally exposed to cannabis had a thicker prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in complex cognition, decision-making, and working memory. Author of the study Dr. Hanan El Marroun, of Erasmus University Medical Center in The Netherlands, said: "this study is important because cannabis use during pregnancy is relatively common and we know very little about the potential...
BY MEGAN ARELLANO ON 06/12/2015 - Andrew Freedman, Colorado's director of marijuana coordination, said Thursday that most of the money from marijuana is going to the cost of legalization. “You do not legalize for taxation. It is a myth. You are not going to pave streets. You are not going to be able to pay teachers,” Andrew Freedman, director of Marijuana Coordination for Colorado, said on Boston Herald Radio yesterday. “The big red herring is the whole thing that the tax revenue will solve a...
In Patients with Psychosis, Cannabis Use Is Associated with Adverse Clinical Outcomes
The link between cannabis use and the development of psychosis is established. This systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 studies summarizes the evidence of the impact of cannabis use after the onset of psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar if outcome was reported as number of psychotic episodes). Researchers compared the outcomes of those who continued using cannabis, those who stopped, and those who did not have cannabis use. Irrespective of the stage of the psychotic...
Marijuana use may reduce dopamine in the brain
Written by Marie EllisPublished: Friday 15 April 2016 “Results showed that, compared with the control group, the marijuana users' striatum had lower dopamine release. There was also lower release in subregions that play a role in associative and sensorimotor learning, as well as in the globus pallidus.” For complete Article
Australia needs to take marijuana addiction more seriously, experts say
THERE’S a secret addiction sweeping across Australia and we aren’t hearing about it. We all know the damaging effects of the monster drug ice and other hard narcotics, but what about the substances that are a little easier to get and widely spread? Marijuana is not something you often associate with the word “addiction” or consider it to be dangerous, but many people are hooked on the drug and it’s a problem experts say we need to take more seriously. A National Epidemiological Study of...
Colorado prosecutor: Marijuana-related murders are skyrocketing
According to the latest reports coming out of Colorado, marijuana is a major cause of homicides in the state, and the problem is only getting worse. Read More at Americian Thinker
Cannabis and tolerance: acute drug impairment as a function of cannabis use history
“Executive function, impulse control, attention, psychomotor function and subjective intoxication were significantly worse after cannabis administration relative to placebo.” "Overall, the present study demonstrates that cannabis induced impairment does not depend on cannabis use history and indicates that tolerance to impairing effects of cannabis on neurocognitive function is generally absent in frequent users. These data confirm previous suspicions that neurocognitive impairments during...
Marijuana use is associated with worse outcomes in symptom severity and violent behavior in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Wilkinson ST1, Stefanovics E, Rosenheck RA. Abstract OBJECTIVE : An increasing number of states have approved posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, although little evidence exists evaluating the effect of marijuana use in PTSD. We examined the association between marijuana use and PTSD symptom severity in a longitudinal, observational study. METHOD : From 1992 to 2011, veterans with DSM-III/-IV PTSD (N = 2,276) were admitted to specialized...
Marijuana use in the immediate 5-year premorbid period is associated with increased risk of onset of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
Authors Kelley ME, Wan CR, Broussard B, Crisafio A, Cristofaro S, Johnson S, Reed TA, Amar P, Kaslow NJ, Walker EF, Compton MT. Abstract OBJECTIVES : Several studies suggest that adolescent marijuana use predicts earlier age at onset of schizophrenia, which is a crucial prognostic indicator. Yet, many investigations have not adequately established a clear temporal relationship between the use and onset. METHODS : We enrolled 247 first-episode psychosis patients from six psychiatric units and...
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Parekh JD, Wozniak SE, Khan K, Dutta SK. Abstract The antiemetic properties of marijuana are well known, but there is increasing evidence of its paradoxical hyperemetic effects on the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system, known as 'cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome' (CHS). We report a case of CHS encountered in our outpatient clinic. We also completed a review of the literature using PubMed in patients over 18 years of age with CHS. Understanding the diagnostic criteria and risk...
Legalizing marijuana will increase our opiate epidemic
By Heidi Heilman | March 3, 2016, 14:23 EDT We have, for some time, known that the more marijuana there is in our communities, the more opiate and heroin use rises. Now, brain science is beginning to explain why. Studies reveal that the cannabinoid-opioid systems of the brain are intimately connected. There is a functional interaction between the mu and Cb1 receptors of the brain and these receptors commonly exist together on brain cells. In the areas of the brain where cannabinoids bind,...
Cannabis 'kills 30,000 a year'
Tuesday, May 03, 2016 1123
by JENNY HOPE, Daily Mail More than 30,000 cannabis smokers could die every year, doctors warn today. Medical experts blame the Home Secretary for creating confusion about the risks posed by the drug - leading young people wrongly to believe it is harmless. They claim David Blunkett's decision to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug - putting it on a level with anabolic steroids and prescription painkillers - sent out the wrong message and played down the devastating health effects of its...
Study Claims to Find First Two Deaths Caused by Marijuana
Cuts against many other studies that have showed pot doesn't have fatal health implications A recent German study claims to have documented the first known deaths resulting from marijuana use. While researchers studied 15 people whose deaths were allegedly linked to marijuana use, 13 of those deaths were confirmed to be caused by other factors. Researchers said, however, that the drug was to blame in two isolated cases of two seemingly healthy people, one 23 years old and another 28. Autopsies...
Marijuana Use: Detrimental to Youth
American College of Pediatricians – September 2015 ABSTRACT : Although increasing legalization of marijuana has contributed to the growing belief that marijuana is harmless, research documents the risks of its use by youth are grave. Marijuana is addicting, has adverse effects upon the adolescent brain, is a risk for both cardio-respiratory disease and testicular cancer, and is associated with both psychiatric illness and negative social outcomes. Evidence indicates limited legalization of...
World Federation Against Drugs
World Federation Against Drugs (W.F.A.D) Dalgarno Institute is a member of this global initiative. For evidence based data on best practice drug policy in the global context.
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The Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc. is to reduce the use of illegal drugs. We work to achieve this mission by conducting research, promoting ideas that are affordable and scalable...
Drug Free Australia
Drug Free Australia Website. Drug Free Australia is a peak body, representing organizations and individuals who value the health and wellbeing of our nation...
Drug Advisory Council of Australia (D.A.C.A)
Drug Advisory Council of Australia (D.A.C.A) Dalgarno Institute is an executive member of this peak body. For updates on current illicit drug issues.
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(I.T.F.S.D.P) This international peak body continues to monitor and influence illicit drug policy on the international stage. Dalgarno Institute is a member organisation.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana. SAM's leaders are among the world's most prominent voices calling for science-based marijuana education and awareness.
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There isn’t merely data sharing - it isn't about promoting a 'one dimensional' legislative solution to a complex problem
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Drug Policy Futures believes in engaging in an open dialogue about the strengths and weaknesses of global drug policies...
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The National Alliance for Action on Alcohol is a national coalition of health and community organisations from across Australia that has been formed with the goal of reducing alcohol-related harm.
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Greater Risk Website - The younger they start the greater the risk...
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RiverMend Health is a premier provider of scientifically driven, specialty behavioral health services to those suffering from alcohol and drug dependency, dual disorders, eating disorders, obesity and chronic pain.
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SAMHSA is committed to improving prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for mental and substance use disorders.
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El Salvador Perspectives
News, history, culture and analysis of El Salvador and the Salvadoran people.
Better news
It would be wrong to call almost 500 murders in 60 days good news, but for El Salvador, it is better news than the country has had in a long time.
According to statistics from the country's National Civilian Police (PNC) reported in El Faro, the homicide rate in the country has fallen steadily in the past three years to a much improved, but still bloody, level.
In January and February there were 491 homicides in El Salvador. Compare that to January and February of 2016, when there were 1404. This was the lowest total for the first two months of a year since 2004, except for the years 2013 and 2014 during the so-called tregua, or gang truce.
El Salvador has averaged about 8 homicides a day this year compared to an average of 18 daily during the bloodiest year, 2015. These improved numbers continue a downward trend which started in 2017 and has continued.
The government takes credit with the policies put in place by its security ministries.
The improvements have been seen across the country. During the first two months of the year, for example, there was not a single homicide in the entire rural department of Morazan. In 125 of the country's 262 municipalities there have been no homicides this year.
If this pace were to continue, El Salvador would finish 2019 with a homicide rate of 45 for every 100,000 inhabitants. That's a number still well above the 10 per 100,000 which the World Health Organization classifies as an epidemic, but a big decrease from the level of 103 per 100,000 in 2015 when El Salvador was easily the most violent country in the world not engaged in military conflict.
In other statistics cited in Diario CoLatino, the police also report declines in other types of crimes as well including robberies and car theft.
At this point, we do not know who Nayib Bukele will appoint to be the Minister of Justice and Security or the head of the PNC. Bukele did not talk in detail about public security issues while on the campaign trail, so it is not clear whether he would change course form the current path.
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The European environment — state and ...
SOER 2015 — The European ...
The latest "State of the Environment" report can be found here: The European environment — state and outlook 2020
SOER 2015 — The European environment — state and outlook 2015
A comprehensive assessment of the European environment's state, trends and prospects, in a global context.
Synthesis report
Global megatrends
European briefings
Cross-country comparisons
The synthesis report informs future European environmental policy in general and its implementation between 2015 and 2020 in particular. It includes a reflection on the European environment in a global context, as well as chapters summarising the state of, trends in, and prospects for the environment in Europe.
1. The changing context of European environmental policy
2. The European environment in a wider perspective
3. Protecting, conserving and enhancing natural capital
4. Resource efficiency and the low-carbon economy
5. Safeguarding people from environmental risks to health
6. Understanding the systemic challenges facing Europe
7. Responding to systemic challenges: from vision to transition
References and bibliography
Synthesis report content index
Download report (PDF)
Synthesis in more languages (PDF)
Synthesis report in several languages
The global megatrends report assesses 11 global megatrends (GMT) of importance for Europe’s environment in the long term. In assessing key drivers, trends and implications for Europe, it aims to provide an improved basis for strategic European environmental policymaking.
Diverging global population trends (GMT 1)
Towards a more urban world (GMT 2)
Changing disease burdens and risks of pandemics (GMT 3)
Accelerating technological change (GMT 4)
Continued economic growth? (GMT 5)
An increasingly multipolar world (GMT 6)
Intensified global competition for resources (GMT 7)
Growing pressures on ecosystems (GMT 8)
Increasingly severe consequences of climate change (GMT 9)
Increasing environmental pollution (GMT 10)
Diversifying approaches to governance (GMT 11)
Download report (PDF) - Use username/password received via email.
Download all global megatrends
European briefings present the state, recent trends and prospects in 25 key environmental themes, grouped in three clusters: environment; socio-economic; and systemic perspectives.
Environmental themes
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Freshwater quality
Mitigating climate change
Socio-economic dimensions
Maritime activities
Systemic perspectives
Hydrological systems and sustainable water management
Land systems
Natural capital and ecosystem services
The air and climate system
Download all European briefings
Cross-country comparisons provide an analysis of progress across European countries for selected topics. They are based on EEA and Eurostat indicators.
Agriculture — organic farming
Air pollution — emissions of selected pollutants
Biodiversity — protected areas
Energy — energy consumption and share of renewable energy
Freshwater quality — nutrients in rivers
Mitigating climate change — greenhouse gas emissions
Resource efficiency — material resource efficiency and productivity
Transport — passenger transport demand and modal split
Waste — municipal solid waste generation and management
Download all cross-country comparisons
Country briefings provide an overview of state of the environment across 39 European countries, based on national state of environment reports. Regional briefings cover three regions, identified as priority areas in the EU's 7th Environmental Action Programme.
Countries briefings
Albania country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Austria country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Belgium country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Bosnia and Herzegovina country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Bulgaria country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Croatia country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Cyprus country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Czech Republic country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Denmark country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Estonia country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Finland country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
France country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Germany country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Greece country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Hungary country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Iceland country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Ireland country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Italy country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Kosovo* country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Latvia country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Liechtenstein country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Lithuania country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Luxembourg country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Malta country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Montenegro country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Norway country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Poland country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Portugal country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Romania country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Serbia country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Slovakia country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Slovenia country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Spain country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Sweden country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Switzerland country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
The Netherlands country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Turkey country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
United Kingdom country briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Regional briefings
Arctic region briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
Black Sea region briefing - The European environment — state and outlook 2015
*under the UN SCR 1244/99
Download all countries and regions
SOER 2015 presentation (PDF)
Transport: While progress has been made in meeting certain policy objectives, including efficiency and short-term greenhouse gas reduction targets, major challenges remain toward meeting longer term objectives. The European Commission's target of a 60%... See briefing
Land systems: Limiting 'land take' is already an important policy target at national or sub-national level. Balancing land-recycling, compact urban development, place-based management and green infrastructure will provide positive effects. See briefing
Land systems: 'Land take' dominates in Europe, with artificial areas and agricultural intensification, resulting in land degradation, worsened by high fragmentation on 30% of land area. Conflicting demands on land impact significantly on the land's potential... See briefing
Air pollution — emissions of selected pollutants: Emissions of NOX, SOX, NH3 and NMVOC have decreased significantly in most countries between 1990 and 2012. However, air pollution still causes significant harm to health and the environment in Europe. See briefing
Waste — municipal solid waste generation and management : The number of countries recycling and composting more than 30% of municipal waste increased from 11 to 17 out of 35, and those landfilling more than 75% of their municipal waste declined from 11 to 8. See briefing
Hydrological systems and sustainable water management: Full and coordinated implementation of water and nature legislation would restore aquatic habitats and foster water efficiency. See briefing
The air and climate system: Scientific understanding of the interaction between air pollution and climate change has improved over the last two decades. In particular, there has been a greater realisation that some air pollutants also act as short-term drivers of global... See briefing
Transport — passenger transport demand and modal split: There was an increase in passenger transport demand between 2005 and 2012, although overall it has been stable in recent years. However, national trends varied significantly, with demand increasing in 23 countries and decreasing in 10. See briefing
Biodiversity: The main EU target of 'halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services' by 2020 remains a serious challenge. See briefing
Energy: The EU has adopted two new energy targets: increasing renewables to minimum 27% of EU energy use and improving energy efficiency by a minimum of 27% by 2030. Further efforts beyond currently implemented policies are needed to keep the EU on... See briefing
Mitigating climate change: The EU aims to decarbonise its energy system and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050. To achieve this goal, it has set a binding target of reducing emissions by at least 40% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. Further efforts... See briefing
Diverging global population trends (GMT 1): The world population may rise beyond 9.6 billion by 2050, despite a slowing rate of growth. Most of the increase is likely to occur in urban areas in developing regions. Growing and younger populations in the developing world, the global growth... See briefing
Diverging global population trends (GMT 1): Demographic trends are likely to increase global resource demand and related environmental pressures. This points to the need for Europe to persist with efforts to decouple resource use from economic development. See briefing
Waste — municipal solid waste generation and management : Generation of municipal waste per capita has declined slightly from 2004 to 2012, but it is clearly better managed now than ten years ago. See briefing
Climate change impacts and adaptation: Adaptation to the observed and projected impacts in coming decades is needed, complementary to global climate mitigation actions. The EU strategy on adaptation to climate change supports national adaptation strategies and other actions in countries... See briefing
The air and climate system: Although air pollutants and greenhouse gases often come from the same sources, international agreements generally treat them separately. One way that European policy seeks to connect climate and air quality policies is through the inclusion... See briefing
Natural capital and ecosystem services: Europe's natural capital is under growing cumulative pressure from intensive agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and urban sprawl. A substantial volume of relevant EU legislation already exists but lacks adequate integration in sectoral policies.... See briefing
Air pollution — emissions of selected pollutants: The majority of countries are making progress towards meeting their 2020 targets under the 2012 revised Gothenburg Protocol. As a result, air quality in Europe is slowly improving. See briefing
Energy — energy consumption and share of renewable energy : There has been progress in energy efficiency policy but there is significant variation in the level of ambition and coherence of policy measures amongst countries. See briefing
Continued economic growth? (GMT 5): Economic output is projected to treble between 2010 and 2050, although growth is expected to decelerate in many countries as they become more prosperous. Rapid economic growth has brought reductions in global poverty and increases in well-being... See briefing
Towards a more urban world (GMT 2): Urban growth is driving land-use change in Europe, with peri-urban areas developing at four times the rate of towns and cities. Integrated urban management could increase the environmental resilience of Europe’s cities, particularly in the... See briefing
Growing pressures on ecosystems (GMT 8): The demands of a growing global population with rapidly changing consumption patterns for food, mobility and energy are exerting ever-increasing pressure on the Earth's ecosystems and their life-supporting services. In combination with climate... See briefing
Air pollution: Continued improvements in air pollution levels are expected under current legislation, but beyond 2030 only slow progress is expected. Additional measures are needed if Europe is to achieve the long-term objective of air pollution levels that... See briefing
Maritime activities: Exploitation of European seas and coasts is increasing as new industries emerge and traditional ones move further off-shore. The main pressures include: extraction of species and genetic resources, seafloor exploitation, pollution and the spread... See briefing
Freshwater quality — nutrients in rivers: Nutrient enrichment of Europe's freshwaters is a concern, with pollution from agriculture a cause of poor water quality. See briefing
Agriculture: European agriculture — 40% of the land — serves societal demands for food production, pollination and energy. Long-observed environmental impacts are mixed: decreasing GHG emissions, less pesticide use but exceedance of nutrients, diffuse... See briefing
Freshwater quality — nutrients in rivers: Average nitrate concentrations in European rivers reduced by over 20% between 1992 and 2012, whilst orthophosphate concentrations more than halved. See briefing
Air pollution: Despite considerable improvements in past decades, air pollution is still responsible for more than 400 000 premature deaths in Europe each year. It also continues to damage vegetation and ecosystems. See briefing
Tourism: Responses to sustainability challenges are dispersed across EU legislation and policies, while the evidence base to track progress is still fragmented. See briefing
Freshwater quality: Water management should improve with the second round of river basin management plans covering the 2016-2021 period resulting in the realisation of more policy objectives through stringent, well-integrated implementation and public participation. See briefing
Waste — municipal solid waste generation and management : The large differences in performance indicate room for further improvement and actions to meet the 2020 target to recycle 50% of municipal waste. See briefing
Intensified global competition for resources (GMT 7): Global use of material resources has increased ten-fold since 1900 and is set to double again by 2030. Escalating demand may jeopardise access to some essential resources and cause environmental harm. Uneven geographical distribution of some... See briefing
Increasingly severe consequences of climate change (GMT 9): Recent changes in the global climate are unprecedented over millennia and will continue. Climate change is expected increasingly to threaten natural ecosystems and biodiversity, slow economic growth, erode global food security, harm human health... See briefing
Increasing environmental pollution (GMT 10): Although Europe’s pollutant releases are expected to continue declining, European ecosystems and citizens are likely to be affected by developments in other regions. For example, despite a fall in air pollutant emissions there has not been... See briefing
Mitigating climate change: EU greenhouse gas emissions have been decreasing and are now 19% below 1990 levels. Latest data confirm that the EU is on track to overachieve its 2020 target of a 20% reduction compared to 1990 levels. See briefing
Urban systems: The role of cities is critical in achieving Europe's objectives for a low carbon, resource-efficient and ecosystems resilient society. See briefing
Transport — passenger transport demand and modal split: In 2012, the car was the dominant mode of transport in all countries. Car passenger transport has generally decreased in the last three years (2009 to 2012) with a significant drop in some countries. See briefing
Hydrological systems and sustainable water management: Intensive agriculture, urbanisation, energy production and flood protection have altered European hydrological systems and freshwater habitats for decades. Climate change adds to these challenges (higher water temperature, more floods or water... See briefing
Biodiversity — protected areas: The total area of nationally designated protected areas currently covers about 21% of terrestrial territory and inland waters, although further expansion of the marine network is required to meet targets. See briefing
Energy — energy consumption and share of renewable energy : From 1990 to 2012 there was an increase in the share of renewable energy in GIEC in 32 out of 34 countries. See briefing
Climate change impacts and adaptation: Most European countries report that the level of public awareness regarding the need for adaptation has increased during the past five years and that adaptation has reached the national political agenda. See briefing
Biodiversity — protected areas: Designation of protected areas is not a guarantee of biodiversity protection. Effective biodiversity conservation within protected areas also requires management with a focus on species, habitats and ecosystems; measures to tackle the causes... See briefing
An increasingly multipolar world (GMT 6): Driven by structural change, fast-growing workforces and trade liberalisation, developing regions are rapidly increasing their share of global economic output, trade and investment. See briefing
Soil: The ability of soil to deliver ecosystem services — in terms of food production, as biodiversity pools and as a regulator of gasses, water and nutrients — is under increasing pressure. Observed rates of soil sealing, erosion, contamination... See briefing
Transport: The economic recession led to reduced pollutant emissions by lowering transport demand. Transport is still responsible for 25% of EU greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes significantly to air pollution, noise and habitat fragmentation. See briefing
Intensified global competition for resources (GMT 7): For Europe this is a major concern as its economy is structurally dependent on imports. Although growing scarcity and rising prices should incentivise investments in technologies to alleviate supply risks, such innovations will not necessarily... See briefing
Growing pressures on ecosystems (GMT 8): Exacerbated by climate change and continued pollution, rates of global habitat destruction and biodiversity loss are predicted to increase, including in Europe. Continued degradation of global ecosystems and their services will influence poverty... See briefing
Biodiversity: Europe's biodiversity continues to be eroded resulting in ecosystem degradation. Recent data show that 60% of species and 77% of habitats continue to be in unfavourable conservation status. Constant habitat loss, diffuse pollution, over-exploitation... See briefing
Consumption: European systems of production and consumption generate diverse environmental, social and economic impacts — supporting livelihoods globally but also creating significant environmental pressures. Household consumption expenditure in Europe... See briefing
Soil: A coherent soil policy at EU level would provide the framework to coordinate efforts to survey soil status adequately. See briefing
An increasingly multipolar world (GMT 6): For Europe, this rebalancing presents competitive threats but also economic opportunities in meeting the demand of a fast growing global middle class. The emergence of a larger and more diverse mixture of major economic powers may, however,... See briefing
Diversifying approaches to governance (GMT 11): In the context of rapid globalisation, governments are facing a mismatch between the increasingly long-term, global, systemic challenges facing society and their more national and short-term focus and powers. See briefing
Forests: Forests provide a range of ecosystem services from capturing and storing carbon to providing bio-fuel, timber as well as social benefits. However, our forests, which have increased in area by 17 million hectares since 1990, face growing pressure... See briefing
Marine environment: Seas and oceans act as a coherent ecosystem. Across all of Europe's regional seas, marine biodiversity is in poor condition: only 7% of marine species assessments indicate 'favourable conservation status'. Effects of climate change (e.g. acidification)... See briefing
Agriculture: There are fewer farmers and less arable land but demand for food is growing. Europe faces a continuous challenge to reconcile low environmental impact, food security and the viability of rural societies. See briefing
Agriculture — organic farming : Reducing agriculture's environmental impacts requires a transition towards innovative, low-input systems. Organic production plays a role in increasing the efficiency of nutrient management and reducing pesticide use. See briefing
Increasingly severe consequences of climate change (GMT 9): The risks of pervasive and irreversible impacts are expected to increase. They could, however, be reduced by further emissions abatement and adaptation measures, building on past actions in Europe and internationally. Key risks for Europe include... See briefing
Climate change impacts and adaptation: Global climate change impacts Europe in many ways, including: changes in average and extreme temperature and precipitation, warmer oceans, rising sea level and shrinking snow and ice cover on land and at sea. These have led to a range of impacts... See briefing
Resource efficiency: EU-28 domestic material consumption declined by 10% between 2000 and 2012, despite a 16% increase in economic output. Environmental pressures such as waste generation and harmful emissions were also reduced. Policies have contributed to this... See briefing
Tourism: Largely due to its combined natural and cultural attractiveness, Europe is the world's primary tourism destination and tourism generates 10% of EU GDP. New types of tourism and increased frequency of holidays have serious environmental impacts... See briefing
Freshwater quality — nutrients in rivers: Enhanced integration of water policy objectives into other policy areas, especially agriculture, is essential to ensure that a sufficient quantity of good quality water is available for people's needs and the environment. See briefing
Towards a more urban world (GMT 2): Urban areas in developing countries will absorb most of the global population increase, with 67 % of people living in cities by 2050. Most of the growth is expected to be in megacities, particularly slums. Compact cities are the most efficient... See briefing
Accelerating technological change (GMT 4): The pace of technological change, particularly in the fields of information, communication, nano- and bio-technologies, is unprecedented. This provides opportunities to reduce humanity’s impact on the environment and reliance on non-renewable... See briefing
Accelerating technological change (GMT 4): The risks and uncertainties associated with technological innovation can be managed using regulatory frameworks and the precautionary principle. By recalibrating its institutions, policies and environmental knowledge base, Europe can support... See briefing
Waste: Guided by diverse policies, European countries have improved waste management. Manufacturing and service sector waste declined by about a quarter in 2004–2012, while municipal waste generation fell 2%. Along with increased recycling, these... See briefing
Agriculture — organic farming : While there has been rapid development in recent years, in 2012 the total area under organic farming was still only 5.7% of total utilised agricultural area, with more than a 60-fold difference in the share of organic farming amongst countries. See briefing
Mitigating climate change — greenhouse gas emissions : The majority of European Union Member States expect to meet their individual emission targets for the non-trading sectors under the Effort Sharing Decision. However, for 14 countries, additional measures are needed to bring emissions below the... See briefing
Increasing environmental pollution (GMT 10): Globally, levels of air pollution and releases of nutrients from agriculture and wastewater remain high, causing acidification and eutrophication in ecosystems, and losses in agricultural yield. In the coming decades, overall pollution levels... See briefing
Diversifying approaches to governance (GMT 11): The need for more coordinated governance at the global scale has been reflected in the proliferation of international environmental agreements, particularly during the 1990s. More recently, businesses and civil society have also taken an increasing... See briefing
Marine environment: Effective policy implementation can reduce impacts. For example, for several stocks the number of fish caught at 'maximum sustainable yield' levels continues to increase, suggesting healthier stocks. See briefing
Maritime activities: In calling for an ecosystem-based approach, the EU's Blue Growth Strategy recognises the balance that must be achieved between 'use' of the sea and achieving the objective of 'good environmental status' by 2020. See briefing
Changing disease burdens and risks of pandemics (GMT 3): Europe has achieved major improvements in public health. However, an ageing population and the impacts of climate change, including new vector-borne diseases, may necessitate additional public health interventions and adjusted environmental policies. See briefing
Energy: The EU's energy intensity decreased between 1990 and 2012 while renewables increased strongly. Latest data confirm that the EU is on track towards its 2020 energy targets: increasing renewables to 20% of energy use and reducing primary energy... See briefing
Resource efficiency — material resource efficiency and productivity: Per capita consumption of material resources increased between 2000 and 2012 in 13 countries and decreased in 19. Significant increases were primarily due to large-scale infrastructure investments, with the largest declines related to the economic... See briefing
Health and environment: The quality of Europe's drinking and bathing water have improved but air and noise pollution continue to cause serious health impacts. About 460 000 premature deaths were attributed to fine particulate matter in 2011. Further reductions in pressures... See briefing
Mitigating climate change — greenhouse gas emissions : Almost all European countries with an individual greenhouse gas limitation or reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol are on track towards achieving their targets. See briefing
Energy — energy consumption and share of renewable energy : There was a small overall increase in gross inland energy consumption (GIEC) from 1990 to 2012, however national trends varied significantly with consumption increasing in 20 and decreasing in 13 countries. See briefing
Changing disease burdens and risks of pandemics (GMT 3): The global burden from non-communicable disease now outweighs that from communicable disease. However, the threat of global pandemics continues, partly driven by increasing mobility. Around 25 % of the burden of disease and deaths is attributable... See briefing
Green economy: Europe's resource efficiency has improved in recent years but this has not always translated into improved ecosystem resilience or reduced risks to health and well-being. Creating a green economy will require fundamental changes in the production-consumption... See briefing
Industry: While legislation has delivered concrete achievements in reducing pollution, a transition to a greener European industrial sector will require integrated approaches, with stronger control of pollution at source, incentives to change operating... See briefing
Resource efficiency — material resource efficiency and productivity: Four countries have consistently been the most resource-efficient economies, with six remaining at the bottom of resource-productivity rankings, indicating opportunities for further improvements and actions. See briefing
Freshwater quality: Much cleaner than 25 years ago, many waterbodies are still affected by pollutants and/or altered habitats. In 2009, only 43% showed a good/high ecological status; the 10 points expected increase for 2015 (53%) constitutes only a modest improvement... See briefing
Urban systems: 75% of Europeans — and more in the future — live in or around cities. The quality of life therein depends much on the environmental conditions. Insufficiently managed urbanisation leads to an increase in 'land take', soil sealing, fragmentation... See briefing
Forests: The claims on forests services are increasing. Understanding the role of more than 14 million forest owners/managers is imperative to developing balanced, sustainable policy on forest resources. See briefing
Industry: The environmental performance of European industry has improved in recent decades. However, the sector is still responsible for significant amounts of pollution to air, water and soil, as well as generation of waste. See briefing
Continued economic growth? (GMT 5): The limitations of gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of human well-being and the sustainability of growth have prompted international efforts to identify better indicators of societal progress. See briefing
SOER 2015 - The European environment - State and Outlook
About SOER 2015
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SDCC 2016: Daredevil renewed for Season Three, The Defenders coming in 2017
Entertainment, News, Television
There was some suspense, considering that months have passed since Daredevil’s second season released on Netflix this past March, but Marvel Television finally gave the good news during today’s Luke Cage panel at San Diego Comic-Con; Daredevil has been renewed for a third season!
Season Three of Daredevil has no release window yet, let alone details, but Netflix’s official Twitter feed confirmed the news as well, by posting a blood-stained subway sign depicting a path to Hell’s Kitchen. Hell’s Kitchen is of course the neighbourhood of New York that Daredevil is set in, alongside sibling Marvel series, Jessica Jones, where it’s become seedy and run-down in the wake of being largely devastated during the climactic alien attack in Marvel’s 2012 crossover movie, The Avengers.
Aside from confirming that Daredevil is renewed at last, Marvel also naturally divulged some teases about this September’s debut season of Luke Cage, which will see the titular hero, originally introduced as a supporting character in last year’s first season of Jessica Jones, return to his home neighbourhood of Harlem, and disrupt some less-than-legal business dealings behind some ambitious criminals, and a very suspicious local politician. Luke Cage was touted at length by cast and crew, with Cage and the other heroes of New York’s underbelly being compared by showrunner, Cheo Hodari Coker to the Wu-Tang Clan. The show will also spotlight a more close-knit batch of villains, as antagonists such as Cottonmouth and Mariah Dillard represent a shady family unit that has them torn between the law and their honour. Best of all, the first proper teaser for Luke Cage, beyond a brief post-credits snippet in Jessica Jones, was released both to the crowds, and later online.
Despite Luke Cage purporting to be the panel’s focus however, plenty of attention was given to the other upcoming Marvel Television projects that will be hitting Netflix over the near future. While previously speculated, Iron Fist was finally confirmed by Marvel to be hitting Netflix for a debut season at some point in 2017. A brief teaser was also shown of the titular hero being found in a snow-covered area by monks, the survivor of a plane crash, and later escaping from a mental institution with his martial arts abilities. Marvel also teased that Iron Fist is set to feature more villains than any other Marvel Television series made to date in its first season, with legendary baddies from both Marvel’s past and present showing up to challenge Danny Rand in the show’s debut season. Finally, a teaser poster was revealed for Iron Fist, which you can check out below:
The biggest revelation however, was the showing of a small teaser for crossover miniseries, The Defenders, which didn’t show any actual footage, but still gave a very stylish tease of what the various Marvel-made Netflix shows are heading towards. The teaser depicts the show’s logos and colour themes all being peeled back from a pile of comic book-style pages, before their disparate letter schemes finally cobble themselves together to spell, “Defend.” Afterward, Scott Glenn’s Stick from Daredevil speaks briefly in voiceover, stating, “You four want to save New York? You can’t even save yourselves…” The teaser then confirmed that, contrary to initial belief, The Defenders will be coming to Netflix in 2017, rather than 2018. This seems to corroborate that the second season of Jessica Jones won’t be ready until 2018, where it will likely join the first season of the recently-confirmed Punisher series, also claimed to be a project for after The Defenders.
Keep striking Eggplante for all major news and updates on Luke Cage, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, The Defenders, Punisher, and other Marvel Television projects.
daredevildaredevil season threeiron fistluke cagemarvelmarvel cinematic universemarvel televisionnetflixnetflix original seriesthe defenders
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LEGO Marvel’s Avengers gets slight delay, now releasing in January
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Bad Moms Review
Moms sure are special, aren’t they? For males like me most notably, we can never truly appreciate the real depth of the stress and pressure that comes with being a modern mother. Given the recent R-rated comedy renaissance of this decade as well, it seemed like only a matter of time before someone took another very stressful scenario, motherhood, and mined it for some hopeful comedy gold. Thus, we have STX Entertainment’s Bad Moms, a movie that proudly declares throughout the marketing that it comes from the same duo that wrote 2009’s mega-hit R-rated comedy champion, The Hangover.
Obviously, The Hangover is a pretty tough act to follow, and as you can imagine, Bad Moms doesn’t quite measure up to that masterwork. What the movie does succeed at however is being an entertaining comedy that is exceptional comfort food for women with children, and even women in general, yet is funny and well-written enough to still be quite enjoyable to a male viewer. Bad Moms still trails the highlight comedies that came from this Summer blockbuster season’s earliest weeks though, since it ultimately wimps out of truly challenging the status quo of Hollywood comedy endings, but if you’re a mother, or merely appreciate the challenge of being a mother, there’s still plenty of enjoyable shenanigans to bring the laughs with.
Bad Moms stars Mila Kunis as Amy Mitchell, a privileged, but over-stressed working mother who assumes almost all of the duties in her house. Amy’s husband, Mike, played by David Walton, is something of a layabout who aggressively tries to get out of contributing anything to the household, and when an indiscretion of Mike’s ends up turning Amy’s world upside-down, right when the overzealous PTA boss, Gwendolyn, played by Christina Applegate, pushes Amy over the edge with her demands, Amy decides that she no longer cares about being a good mother.
This is a fairly rudimentary setup for a comedy of this nature, and despite Kunis delivering a good performance throughout, Bad Moms does take a short while to actually get going, having a slightly drab, overly chatty intro with sparse laughs to offer. Once Kunis does kick off her crusade to rebel against modern motherhood however, her character becomes a lot more interesting, finely balancing Amy’s revolt without truly abandoning her likability. Actually, even when Amy is supposedly being a ‘bad mom’, the movie’s script clearly takes her side, making her more of a blunt crusader that’s simply saying what many modern mothers are thinking, and are usually afraid to speak up about in any serious capacity. Even during the obligatory ‘dark moment’ later in the movie, where Amy must examine her actions and behaviour, she’s never truly portrayed as being flat out wrong, which does somewhat hurt the movie’s climactic and equally obligatory redemption sequence.
Of course, it also helps that Amy is complemented by two humourous extremes in her new mom buddies, those being Carla, played by Kathryn Hahn, and Kiki, played by Kristen Bell. Carla feels like the only true ‘bad mom’ in the movie, if I’m being honest, and even then, she’s never portrayed to be a true monster. As with many Kathryn Hahn portrayals, Carla is simply a fiercely independent person who can’t be bothered with dwelling on details, especially when she doesn’t mince her words regarding her overgrown, unintelligent son, and her lack of interest in said son’s affairs. Because Carla is the one character that actually veers closest to truly challenging the modern perception of what a mother should do and how she should act, Hahn is arguably the movie’s funniest actress, often owning many of the biggest laughs and most humourous lines.
Bell’s character meanwhile has moments of amusement, though she represents the other, more bland side of Amy’s character as a yes-woman people-pleaser, being an even more put-upon mother with an even more ungrateful husband and even more children to look after. Bell, like Hahn and Kunis, has lots of talent as a comedy actress, but her character here feels like she has to play off of the other personalities to get real laughs, with Bell doing her best to inject Kiki with energy and lovable misery, even if many of her best jokes come with the help of Hahn especially.
Surprisingly though, it’s Applegate that ends up being the movie’s best and most memorable character, despite being the supposed antagonist that viewers aren’t supposed to aspire to. There’s a very interesting twist with Applegate’s character later in the movie that sort of throws your whole perception of her for a loop, and while one could argue that the resolution with the Amy/Gwendoline rivalry is a little too easy when it does arrive, it’s surprisingly Applegate that will tug at your heartstrings the most in Bad Moms, even when she spends so much of the movie being an over-the-top bully. That makes the head-scratching moments where the script is clearly contriving inexplicable, over-the-top behaviour for Gwendoline and how she oppresses the PTA as a whole feel a bit frustrating, straining several jokes, and hurting the otherwise relatable credibility of the story.
Lastly, if you’re wondering whether the men play any real role in the storyline, honestly, they’re shallow plot devices and not much else. In fact, this is another area where Bad Moms is occasionally guilty of straining jokes, and, for a movie written and directed by two men especially, it sometimes feels like the movie is trying way too hard to portray every male character as either an idiot or a sex object, and the latter especially includes Amy’s conveniently-widowed, impossibly perfect, unrealistically attractive love interest, Jessie, who literally serves no other purpose in the movie. This has the aftertaste of pandering to frustrated, unappreciated housewives and mothers, which I understand is kind of the idea behind Bad Moms in general, but considering the smart ideas that the movie occasionally examines through its personalities, its treatment of the male characters is a bit too tacky and on-the-nose. I doubt that the target audience will dwell on this much though.
Bad Moms, like I said, doesn’t quite hit its stride in the opening moments, and takes a bit of time to truly start getting reliably funny. Once the inciting incident occurs though, the movie becomes a lot more amusing and fun to watch, even if it does check off a lot of familiar boxes as far as domestic revolt-themed comedies go. The laughs are what matter, and Bad Moms certainly delivers a good chunk for its target audience of real-life mothers especially, though it’s doubtful that you’ll be truly surprised by almost any turn of the plot, especially when the plot sometimes feels like it’s actively contorting itself to fit into expected tropes of so-called ‘chick flicks’.
Despite the fact that Bad Moms is overall a funny movie, that contortion is another major factor that somewhat drags it down in the movie’s later reaches especially. For all of its desire to be raw, insightful and straight-shooting about the plight of modern mothers, Bad Moms only partially taps on those ideas. It’s sadly yet another R-rated comedy that wimps out of truly baring its teeth in the eleventh hour, and its conclusion feels too convenient and milquetoast to truly upend convention the way that the movie wants to. Before that excessively convenient ending portion though, at least the movie is fun, comforting and satisfying for the bulk of its duration, which definitely isn’t bad.
Not content to simply write the script, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore also direct Bad Moms, after previously misfiring with 2013’s rather weak 21 & Over, which served as their directorial debut. Bad Moms is a clear cut above 21 & Over, thankfully, and while it still feels like Lucas and Moore are refining their craft as directors in this movie, which can be noticeable between presentation inconsistencies and just plain weird editing at times, they do manage to get quite a bit of solid mileage out of this movie’s great lead cast.
Lucas and Moore wisely let the women carry Bad Moms, with minimal intervention too. Everyone is clearly having fun, and it’s tough not to smile at the end credits, which show the actresses in small interviews with their real-life mothers next to them, talking about how they were raised. This is actually a pretty cool touch by Lucas and Moore, and solidifies the clear heart that beats beneath even Bad Moms’ less successful gags and story elements. Perhaps Bad Moms would have been more impactful and sharp if it was a full-blown dark comedy that wasn’t afraid to reject a clean conclusion, but you can’t deny that the movie still works as a feel-good celebration of mothers and appreciating what they do for us.
Bad Moms is a satisfying comedy that probably won’t be recalled beyond 2016, but it does show that its writer/director duo is gradually improving, and as a comedy that’s taken on its own merits, it’s a pretty good time, especially for women. The fact that the movie can still be enjoyed by men for its charm and solid humour also speaks to the fact that Bad Moms is pretty well-made for what it is, and it definitely succeeds as a crowd-pleaser, if not a standout.
Like many responsible mothers though, Bad Moms parties pretty conservatively in the end, and is perhaps too afraid to truly unleash its potential fury on the double standard of modern parenthood and the ludicrous expectations that are now placed on modern mothers. The fact that it sometimes misguidedly seems to point the finger at husbands and fathers doesn’t help either, and sometimes has the movie skimming too close to being yet another throwaway chick flick that’s meant to be used and discarded like a wet nap, a feeling that’s also made worse by the disappointingly toothless resolution to the story.
Still, the great lead cast and the glimmers of true insight make Bad Moms well worth the trip to the theatre for hard-working wives and mothers that need a girls’ night with their friends (or children/spouses), and if you happen to be a man, the movie is more or less comparable to the fairly amusing Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, if you’re looking for another acceptable big screen comedy to help you beat the heat this Summer, or are just in the mood to rent one down the road. It’s too bad that the movie doesn’t fully manage to truly challenge social convention, since it doesn’t go all the way with many its ideas, but the fact that it’s clearly trying to do a good thing, and entertain its audience all the while, still certainly counts for something.
Bad Moms is a funny, likable examination of the plight of modern motherhood, but it's let down by its excessively milquetoast progression and conclusion.
CHARACTERS75%
PLOT65%
DIRECTION70%
Lead actresses all deliver great performances
Taps into true, effective insight on modern motherhood
Funny shenanigans that don't disturb the charm
THE NOT-SO-GOOD STUFF
Clean-cut ending takes the easy way out
Story doesn't fully avoid needless 'chick flick' cliches
Some may be bothered by the excessively brainless male characters
70%Overall Score
Reader Rating: (0 Votes)
bad momschristina applegatejada pinkett smithkathryn hahnkristen bellmila kunisstx entertainment
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Tagged mlb
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AN HONEST MISTAKE KL LIFE CENTRE STUDIO C
11:52 PM an honest mistake , concert , studio c 4 Comments
My favorite local band, An Honest Mistake at My Studio C, KL Live Life Centre!
This time with a new bassist in the band, Kevin Tan!
Support them by buying their new Dino Dino AHM T-shirt!
Darren Teh with his new head band
Leonard Chua so fierce wannnn? Rock star all like that lah!
The new AHM bassist, Kevin Tan
Danny New, the pro in violin
Mr. Baldwin Chua, damn pro wan this guy, big gig only appear haha!
AHM with the crowd
wah darren so yeng with his new shoes!
oh wait cannot see, he got a new shiny dunk low..
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BLOG Category Archives: In-the-News
Stanpro announces strategic merger with Standard Products
Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Standard Products Inc. In-the-News
We have some exciting news to share with you! We are pleased to announce that, after careful deliberation and planning, we have decided to merge the Standard & Stanpro businesses together.
Strategically, this merger will allow the two companies to utilize each other’s strengths and synergies. This will allow the combined entity to increase its value proposition and to invest and grow at an accelerated pace.
Merger benefits and features
This said, some of the key benefits and features of this combined business are as follows. It will:
Be one of the largest lighting companies in Canada, employing close to 400 people
Be 100% Canadian owned and managed
Have Design, Engineering & Manufacturing capabilities in Canada
Possess core strengths in Construction Projects, Retrofit, & National Accounts
Enjoy extensive business development capabilities at Specification, Contractor, and End-User levels to create demand for its products and to support its distributor network
Include the following major categories:
Decorative Lighting for Commercial & Residential Applications
Explosion Proof and Harsh Location Lighting
Accent Lighting (Tapes, Strings, Pucks, Undercabinet, etc.)
Combining the two businesses will be a major effort, of course. We plan to “go live” as a combined business in the fourth quarter of this year once we migrate to a uniform platform on SAP. Between now and then, we will combine parts of the businesses that make sense and leave other parts as is. For example, you will continue to call the same inside sales people, place purchase orders, and receive orders for Stanpro separately from Standard. From an outside sales perspective, each company’s reps will be able to offer both Standard and Stanpro products for stock as well as for project and retrofit opportunities.
In the next week, we will be busy communicating and rolling out the plan to our employees and will be providing a further update on February 7th. It will outline detailed changes that we will be implementing. We feel confident that our updated structure will allow us to serve and support you in an even more significant way moving forward.
In the fourth quarter, once we “go live”, the combined company name will change to Standard-Stanpro Inc. All services and support, namely, will be integrated. Currently, distribution centers and sales offices are located in multiple buildings in BC, Ontario, Quebec, & Nova Scotia. While we plan to keep the same footprint, we will eventually be consolidating into one facility in each area where we have more than one property.
In terms of Management, Standard’s David Nathaniel will be the CEO of the combined business. On the other hand, Stanpro’s Sam Rimoin will be President, and Stanpro’s Rob Nadler will be Executive Vice-President. Sam and Rob have done a fantastic job building Stanpro over the past 18 years. They have the experience and capabilities to take our new business successfully into the future.
We are proud of the teams at both Standard and Stanpro and thank them for putting us in a position that allows us to join our forces. We will move forward stronger and more capable than ever to bring value to you, our employees, and the marketplace.
Emergency Lighting Principles: Safety and Security on the Path of Egress
Friday, November 1, 2019 Kevin Smee, Vice President Sales at AimLite In-the-News
Most of us take light for granted. It has become so ubiquitous and cheap to use that we don’t really stop to think about emergencies. Thankfully most buildings are required by law since 1974 to be equipped with emergency lighting that automatically activates during power failures to facilitate our exit.
Emergency lighting is only one component of a building’s life safety systems, but perhaps one of the most important. It provides a minimum level of visibility to help direct the building’s occupants safely out of it. Moreover, it also helps personnel and emergency responders locate safety equipment, perform safety functions, or shut down hazardous equipment or operations.
Requirements for emergency lighting differ from facility to facility, but we will attempt to shed some light on the subject so you can better be acquainted with the emergency lighting category.
About emergency lighting
An emergency light is, in its most simple definition, a battery-backed lighting device that switches on automatically when a building experiences a power outage or when a lighting circuit fails.
Emergency lighting is mandated by federal, provincial and/or association codes and criteria. These are borne out of those collective governing bodies’ desire to achieve safety and security on the path of egress, in residential, commercial and industrial areas.
Path of egress refers to a continuous and unobstructed way to exit a building, structure or space. Buildings or portions of buildings thereof must, in accordance with various safety codes, have a sufficient amount of lighting on paths of egress. These must be maintained and well lit in the random event of an emergency. The lighting used in these emergency exit paths must also fit certain codes.
Emergency lighting other than emergency signs must provide an average level of illumination of 10 lx or 1 foot candle and cannot be less than 1 lx or .1 foot candles (luminous flux per unit area) at floor or tread level in places such as exit ways, principal exit routes, corridors serving the public, underground walkways, and more.
How does emergency lighting work?
When power is lost, AC power is therefore lost, so the backup battery unit turns on and transfers power to the lighting system (this is called DC power). When AC power is restored, the emergency lighting batteries must be fully charged within 24 hours.
The National Fire Code of Canada (FCC) requires that emergency lighting be tested for one minute each month and once a year a full discharge for 30 minutes (repeated 24 hours later)
The reason is simple, cyclic operation is required for all batteries; otherwise it will probably not work when the time comes. It’s proven that non cycled batteries have a lifespan of no more than 3 years, whereas regularly cycled batteries have a minimum lifespan of 7 years. Most battery units can comprise an auto-test function to facilitate meeting code requirement. The 30-minute discharge test is intended to simulate an emergency situation in accordance with FCC requirements. The second 30-minute discharge test performed 24 hours later aims to ensure that the product is ready in case of power failure CSA requires all emergency power supplies to be fully charged in less than 24 hours.
About exit signs
An exit sign is a device used in any public facility and denotes the location of the closest emergency exit in case of a fire or other emergency. It has to be powered, show the exit direct, and can be mounted in various ways depending on preferences or location (ceiling mounting, recessed mounting, end mounting, wall mounting or pendant mounting).
There are different types of emergency exit signs, depending on environment and application.
Electrical signs include:
• Running Man
• Exit
• Exit-Sortie
Non-electrical signs include:
• photo-luminescent signs
• tritium (radio luminescent) signs
Currently, new constructions are required by code to install the new green running man signs, consisting of a green and white pictogram and arrow, which display the direction of the exit. Older constructions are required to gradually update the old red exit text signs to the running man ones, to conform to the 2015 National Building Code.
Every exit sign must be visible from a distance of 100 feet and on approach of the exit. It can be internally or externally illuminated, in conformance with their respective codes. Internally illuminated signs are powered by an electrical circuit. Externally illuminated signs are not powered by an electrical circuit, but by regular luminaires and must maintain 5’ candle per legend 24/7.
The breaker serving emergency signs cannot light anything else but the sign it was wired for. It must also be connected to an emergency power supply at all times and remain on even when there is no AC power failure. In short signs must be on a dedicated breaker.
No, we’re not referring to the 80s band! AC/DC refers to the current that powers the emergency light.
The abbreviations are defined as follows:
• AC = alternating current (hydro)
• DC = direct current (batteries)
Alternating current (AC) is an electric current that periodically reverses direction, in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences, and it is the form of electrical energy that consumers typically use when they plug kitchen appliances, televisions, fans and electric lamps into a wall socket.
Direct current (DC) is constantly self-powered, such as with a battery, so that the current (voltage) is always constant, with no dips or spikes.
Normally on/off
• “Normally on” means the unit is on all the time, 24/7. It is active when AC power is present or when DC power kicks in. Exit signs are always “normally on”.
• “Normally off” means the unit is off when AC power is running, but turns on when DC power kicks in. Remote heads are usually “normally off”.
Types of emergency lighting
Traditional: battery units utilizing sealed lead batteries in various configurations to give 6vdc, 12vdc or 24vdc output to normally off remote heads when AC power is lost to the panel they are connected to.
Battery packs will operate to a maximum of 120 minutes to the minimum required by code of 30 minutes.
Inverters: there are two types:
• IPS interruptible power supply... in short standby system non instant transfer
• UPS Inverters uninterruptible power supply... in short no break load. Maintains 1 cycle of load 24/7 unnoticeable transfer
Both types work off of batteries IPS (mini inverters up to 1440w), utilize a 12vdc or 24vdc battery source, and convert to 120vac for a minimum of 30 minutes with one single circuit allowing regular luminaires to be lit 100% normally on and during a power failure.
UPS Inverters work utilizing 10 12vdc batteries in series to handle normally on loads up to 55kw in single phase or 3 phase applications (loads may vary pending on which phase using).
Inverters are a continuous AC supply and are a single point of service for large commercial, industrial and institutional projects.
To learn more about our inverters, check our Inverters Brochure.
Generators: no batteries required but a backup of diesel or propane tanks are needed to fuel this standby system, which will back up critical lighting and signage in case of a power outage.
The transfer time varies on these 120v or 347v systems but normally is 10-16 seconds pending on loads and age of systems.
These systems are generally used in large condos and industrial jobs.
As we’ve seen, there are many things that make the emergency lighting category particular. We looked at emergency light principles and codes, how it functions, the exit signs subcategory (including electrical and non-electrical signs), and what AC/DC and normally on/off mean. We hope we were able to enlighten you on the subject and that it will help you on your next emergency lighting project.
E.L.S. Becomes Authorized Dealer for STI
Friday, May 24, 2019 ELS In-the-News
E.L.S. is now an Authorized Dealer for STI Products.
Landlord fined $71,000 after fatal Jane St. apartment fire
Friday, December 2, 2016 Metronews In-the-News
A stairwell door that did not latch properly let smoke fill a stairwell of the Jane St. apartment block.
The owner of a Jane St. apartment building where a woman died in an April 2015 blaze will pay $71,000 in fines for fire code infractions.
The landlord pleaded guilty July 15 to breaches including exit signs not being illuminated, no records of tests for emergency lighting and a stairwell door not closing or latching properly, Toronto Fire Service said Monday in a news release.
Firefighters responding to a fire in a second-floor unit of found a 3-year-old boy and his mother unconscious in a fifth-floor stairwell of 2850 Jane St., south of Finch Ave., and the boy’s father unconscious in the same stairwell three floors below.
The woman, believed to be in her 30s, died. The man and boy were hospitalized in critical condition but survived their injuries.
Of the fine, $50,000 was related to the stairwell door not latching properly, which let smoke fill the stairway.
The Ontario Fire Marshal's office said the fire was started by an unattended candle in a bedroom in a second-floor apartment.
“Toronto Fire Service offers its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop in the news release. “Fire Services is committed to ensuring that life safety risks to Toronto residents — and to our firefighters responding to incidents in the community — are addressed.”
Product Alerts and Recalls 2
Product Alerts, Safety Notices and Recalls
In-the-News 4
Previous and current store flyers
Currently running promos
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Cumulative RE Capacity Estimated at 120-125 GW by December 2022, Aided by Utility Solar & Wind
Nonetheless, the overall medium to long term investment outlook for the renewable energy sector remains strong supported by highly competitive tariffs, policy support and new schemes such as peak supply, round-the-clock supply, and RE plus thermal blending, which mitigates the risk of intermittent RE supply to some extent
July 29, 2020. By News Bureau
The capacity addition in the renewable energy (RE) sector is expected to remain subdued at about 8.0 GW in FY2021 given the continued execution challenges amid Covid-19, because of disruption of supply chain as well as labour availability issues. This has added to the woes of the sector which continues to remain plagued by issues such as delays in land acquisition and receipt of evacuation approvals, regulatory delays in tariff adoption and obtaining financial closure in a tight financing environment. Nonetheless, the overall medium to long term investment outlook for the renewable energy sector remains strong supported by highly competitive tariffs, policy support and new schemes such as peak supply, round-the clock supply and RE plus thermal blending, which mitigates the risk of intermittent RE supply to some extent.
Commenting further, Sabyasachi Majumdar, Group Head & Senior Vice President - Corporate ratings, ICRA, says, “The renewable energy-based capacity is likely to reach 120-125 GW by December-2022, with the solar capacity constituting 50% of the overall capacity followed by 38% from wind power segment and the balance from other sources. While this is lower than the capacity target of 175 GW set by the Government of India (GoI), the incremental capacity addition is estimated to be healthy at 33-38 GW with investment outlay of more than Rs. 2 lakh crore over the next two and half years. ICRA expects this to be supported by a large pipeline of projects awarded by central nodal agencies and state distribution utilities (discoms) and likely improvement in execution timelines. Within the renewable segment, the utility scale solar segment is expected to be very close to the 60 GW capacity target set by GoI, though there is likely to be a shortfall in the rooftop solar and the wind power segments.”
The renewable IPPs have been facing significant delays in receiving payments, especially from discoms in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The discoms finances have been further constrained by the adverse impact of the lockdown imposed to control the Covid-19 pandemic. To address this, the GoI announced a liquidity support of Rs. 900 billion for the discoms, in the form of loans against receivables, from the Power Financial Corporation (PFC) and the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package. Adds Girishkumar Kadam, Sector Head & Vice President - Corporate ratings, ICRA, “On the positive side, the discoms in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have now started clearing past dues to the renewable IPPs, using the proceeds from the liquidity support scheme. While this is a positive short-term measure providing liquidity relief to the affected IPPs, a sustainable improvement in discoms finances remains crucial for future investments in the RE sector, which is linked to improvement in operating efficiency of the discoms and aligning the tariffs in line with the cost of supply for the discoms by the respective state electricity regulators. This apart, a favourable resolution of the tariff issue for wind and solar power projects in Andhra Pradesh remains important for sustaining investments in the RE sector.”
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Entertainment, Events, Internet, Web
KZ TANDINGAN SUPREME WORLD TOUR SHOW AT CULLEN PERFORMANCE HALL, HOUSTON 9/28/2019 CANCELLED
September 28, 2019 EPR Internet News Leave a comment
HOUSTON, Texas, 2019-Sep-28 — /EPR INTERNET NEWS/ — Cornerstone Entertainment, Inc. released an “Official Statement” informing the public that “it will no longer push through with KZ Tandingan’s U.S. shows” including the show in Houston, Texas on September 28, 2019 “due to promoter’s (JRC) – failure to comply with its obligations, protocol and show requirements.” This public statement was the first notice of any kind Happy Owl Productions, who was producing and organizing the Houston show, received related to any potential cancellation or issues regarding obligations or show requirements. Happy Owl Productions was looking forward to the show and had fulfilled all obligations related to the venue and hosting of the event. Unfortunately, a number of failures by tour promoter, Jimmy Reyes Cruz (aka “Jemalicious”) or (“JRC”) based on statements provided by Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. (“Cornerstone”) forced the show’s cancellation. Apparently, as occurred with prior dates on the tour, JRC failed to cover certain expenses it was obligated to cover, including travel, and also failed to secure proper visas for entry into the United States. Happy Owl Productions paid additional amounts in a last-minute attempt to make sure the Houston show would happen, but circumstances outside its control forced cancellation and it has been left with substantial expenses for a show that will no longer occur. As other event producers have announced (including Edren Entertainment, who was producing the cancelled San Jose and Stockton shows) Happy Owl Productions will be pursuing all available legal remedies as to Jimmy Reyes Cruz / JRC and other responsible parties. Happy Owl Productions apologizes to fans who were looking forward to the Houston KZ show and is working to ensure full refunds will be provided to ticket purchasers.
Contact-Details:
Cornerstone EntertainmentEntertainmentHappy Owl ProductionsHoustonJimmy Reyes CruzKZ Tandinganshows
B2b, B2C, eCommerce, Internet, Online, SEO, Services, Web, Web Marketing
Launch of new global property portal Commercial People and Residential People
DURBAN, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2019-Sep-26 — /EPR Network/ — Introduction of Commercial People and Residential People global property portals to the international market now live in South Africa, UK, UAE, India & Nigeria.
Global property portal allows agencies to target international buyers and reduce their overheads with free property listings.
Commercial & Residential property portals now live across five countries (South Africa, UK, UAE, India & Nigeria)
Over 350,000 listings worldwide – Aiming for 1 Million by Q4 2019.
Major agents include Annenberg Property Group, Baker Street Properties, Broll, CCH, Chas Everitt and Meridian Realty
Imminent launches planned for Mainland Europe, China and the Middle East.
Two up-and-coming global property portals Commercial People and Residential People are helping to provide a beacon of hope for real estate agents across the country with their listings and international coverage.
Currently operating across South Africa, the UK, UAE, India and Nigeria, Commercial People (and its residential property equivalent Residential People) are uniquely positioned to attract both local and overseas buyers & investors interested in purchasing property throughout South Africa.
The portals which will also launch across France, Germany, China and other key markets in 2019, is threatening to disrupt the Property24 & Private Property duopoly, offering support for agents across the country struggling to pay the high costs of membership with a radical free to list solution.
In just a few months since their launch, both Commercial & Residential People have attracted some of the biggest names across the property sector including the likes of Broll, CCH, Chas Everitt and more.
Commercial & Residential People Co-Director Christopher May says: “We are targeting both merging and established markets alike. Alongside South Africa, we are currently operating across the UK, UAE and India, and despite our brand infancy, we are well on the way to being one of the biggest portals in the UAE and on the way to becoming one of the largest in India as well”
“Our USP is simple. Every agent we’ve spoken to is concerned about the rising costs of property portals; Commercial & Residential People are both global property portals that helps to eliminate some of the expenses agencies face.
”Since launching, Residential People has found that a growing number of searches on its UK site come from prospective overseas buyers looking to relocate here or investors keen to enter the market, this figure is replicated across the South African market as well, with a particular interest in Johannesburg, commercial property for rent in Cape Town and houses for sale in Pretoria.
Mr May continues: “One of our key selling points is that we are international. It is a fact that thousands of properties in certain areas – especially commercial and new build apartments are not being bought by locals but international buyers.”
“In the UAE, for example, after only a few months, we have a 75% market share of all properties.”With the global reach of Residential People, any local South African estate agent can tap into the growing foreign investment across the country, gaining more exposure on their listings for free not only from potential customers in the UK but also from successful expats across the UAE, and soon China.
Mr May concludes: “We want to make it abundantly clear that our aim is to work with agents and build an alternative to some of the portals that exist today. While we understand that international attention doesn’t appeal to every South African agent, our nationwide coverage can ensure increased exposure for the local market as well. With agents’ support, we are hoping to disrupt the status quo and give agents an alternative to the current duopoly”
Christopher Maycommercial peoplecommercial property south africaglobal property portalhouses for sale pretoria south africaproperty for rent cape town south africaproperty portalresidential peopleresidential property south africa
B2b, eCommerce, Internet, Online, Services, Web, Web Design & Development
BelVG Offers High-Level and Reliable Magento Support
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Data Centres, Internet, News, Software, Web
Dr. Kurt Lauk joins Tachyum Board of Advisors
SAN JOSE, California, USA, 18-Sep-2019 — /EPR INTERNET NEWS/ — Today, Tachyum announced that Dr. Kurt Lauk has joined the company’s Board of Advisors. Dr. Lauk served on several management boards, including Daimler and Audi, and as a member of the EU Parliament. For 15 years, he was Chairman of the Economy Council (Wirtschaftsrat) and advised Angela Merkel in that capacity. He is Founder and President of Globe CP GmbH, a personally owned family office since 2000.
Dr. Lauk brings to Tachyum’s Board of Advisors valuable insights regarding European industries, including his deep understanding of European manufacturers and suppliers, along with expertise in international strategy and extensive experience bringing technology innovations to market.
Dr. Lauk has extensive European business experience, primarily through his positions as a Member of the Board of Management and Head of Worldwide Commercial Vehicles Division of Daimler Chrysler (1996-1999), as well as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Audi AG (1989-1992).
Dr. Lauk currently serves as independent director on the supervisory boards of Magna Inc (Toronto), and Fortemedia (Cupertino). In July 2018 Nomura, Asia’s global investment bank, appointed him as Germany and Austria Advisory Board Chairman. Since 2000 he is a Trustee of IISS (International Institute of Strategic Studies in London). He previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Zinser Textil Machinery GmbH, 1978-1984 Vice President/Consultant/Partner at Boston Consulting Group, and Chief Financial Officer & Controller for VEBA AG (today E.ON SE).
Dr. Lauk earned a graduate degree from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, an MBA `77 from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a doctorate in international politics from the University of Kiel. His extensive and varied experience includes service as a Member of the European Parliament (2004 2009), including as a Member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, and as a Deputy Member of the Foreign and Security Affairs Committee.
“Tachyum is honored to have an international business and technology luminary of Dr. Lauk’s caliber on our Board of Advisors,” said Dr. Radoslav Danilak, Tachyum’s Founder and CEO. “I am personally excited to work directly with Kurt, to be able to rely on his advice and counsel, especially regarding EU business strategies and how Tachyum can help facilitate EU technological sovereignty.”
“Today, Slovakia is the world’s largest per capita car producer. I look forward to working with Tachyum and Dr. Lauk to identify Prodigy value-added insertion points within Industry 4.0 and the automotive sector,” said Adrian Vycital representing Tachyum’s lead investor IPM, “We believe Tachyum will play an essential role in creating an innovation ecosystem, which is a key factor in the transformation of the Slovak economy from manufacturing to knowledge-based.”
Tachyum is on track with the design of its flagship product, code named Prodigy, the world’s first Universal Processor. High performance and ultra-low power, Prodigy offers industry-leading performance for data center, AI, and HPC workloads. With telecoms transitioning to 5G, Prodigy will bring AI from cell tower mounted datacenters to power intelligent IoT devices and autonomous systems. Tachyum is planning a 7nm tapeout next year, with volume production in 2021.
Tachyum’s Prodigy Universal Processor Chip is the smallest and fastest general purpose, 64-core processor developed to date, requiring 10x less processor power, and reducing processor cost by 3x. Prodigy will directly enable a 32-Tensor Exaflop supercomputer and allow the building of machines more powerful than the human brain by 2021, years ahead of industry expectations. Prodigy reduces data center TCO (annual total cost of ownership) by 4x, through its disruptive processor architecture and a smart compiler that has made many parts of the hardware found in typical processors redundant. Fewer transistors, fewer and shorter wires, due to a smaller, simpler core, translates into much greater speed and power efficiency for the Prodigy processor.
5GAdrian VycitalAIAI workloadsAngela MerkelAudiautomotiveBoston Consulting GroupchipChip 32-Tensor Exaflop supercomputerDaimlerDanilakdata center TCOdata center workloadsDr. Kurt LaukDr. Radoslav DanilakEU ParliamentFortemediaGlobe CP GmbHhardwareHigh performanceHPCHPC workloadsIndustry 4.0IoTITLaukLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenMagna IncNomuraProcessorprocessorsProdigysemiconductorsSlovakiasupercomputersTachyumtransformational productsVEBA AGWirtschaftsratworld’s first Universal ProcessorZinser Textil Machinery GmbH
Entertainment, Internet, News, Online
French producer Philippe Diaz and financial executive Aaron Brill join Fight To Fame, blockchain-based sports entertainment platform
PARIS, 11-Sep-2019 — /EPR INTERNET NEWS/ — Fight To Fame, the first blockchain-based sports entertainment platform paving new paths to fame for action superstars, today announces Fight To Fame Europe, combining the search for up-and-coming action stars with a growing network of local media and entertainment partnerships. Fight To Fame is creating the future of sports entertainment, powered by a blockchain-based platform to fuel everything from global fan engagement to fair and more transparent monetization opportunities for fighters.
With the backing of world champions like South Africa’s Chris Van Heerden—and more to be announced—the company is leading a worldwide talent competition to uncover the next generation of best-in-breed fighters. The European expansion includes the appointment of two new executives who will play strategic roles in the entertainment and finance components of the platform.
French producer Philippe Diaz, Chairman of Cinema Libre Studio, joins Fight To Fame as Chief Executive Officer of Film Committee. In addition to his long legacy of international film production and distribution experience in Europe and Hollywood, Diaz will help bring Fight To Fame’s vision to life through a production partnership with Cinema Libre, an award-winning independent studio. Cinema Libre will help secure roles for Fight To Fame’s winners in upcoming action films, and ensure a strong distribution and marketing strategy to fast-track the new talent to stardom. “It’s incredibly exciting to take part in something so unprecedented—especially in my hometown of Paris. I’m looking forward to being part of the Fight To Fame journey, and launching new talent into the spotlight with films that can really showcase their skills,” said Diaz.
Aaron Brill joins Fight To Fame as Chairman of European Operations. Brill’s expertise in finance began at World Savings and Loan in the 1990s and has continued into some of the world’s largest financial institutions, including JP Morgan and Wells Fargo. He also was instrumental in growing one of the largest privately held wholesale mortgage banks in the US, with annual closings surpassing $3 billion. Said Brill, “I’m excited to join the Fight To Fame team and help realize their vision of the BMS—or Blockchain-Movies-Sports—business model. I’ve long believed in the power of blockchain to fuel the next great cultural revolution. Applications like that of Fight To Fame stand not only to transform how we conduct business, but how we come together as a global community to solve shared challenges.”
Said Tim Smithe, Spokesperson and Chairman of Global Operations for Fight To Fame: “We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Philippe and Aaron to the Fight To Fame family, and harness their respective talents and expertise to realize our vision. They represent a veritable one-two punch in helping us highlight the next generation of Jackie Chans and Stallones and ensure our platform’s technology delivers on its intended benefits.”
Beyond the talent competition, Fight To Fame’s greater mission is to foster new opportunities for people around the world and from all walks of life. The company has also teased its plans for additional components to its business model, including a reality TV show, eSports gaming, and additional entertainment partnerships to be revealed at a later date.
This European expansion is a major milestone in growing the company’s global footprint as it prepares to kick off its search for the next big action film star in Europe.
For more information, please visit www.fighttofame.com.
Aaron BrillAction Film Staraction filmsaction superstarsappointmentBerlinBlockchainBlockchain-Movies-SportsChris Van HeerdenCinema Libre StudioeSports gamingFight To FamefightersFilm Committeefilm productionmonetization for fightersParisPhilippe Diazreality TV showsportssports entertainmentsports entertainment platformtalent competitionTim Smithe
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कला एवम् वास्तुकला
ब्रह्मसूत्र
बौद्ध
चौखंबा
More Books In Hindi (26666)
Books > Hindi > हिंदू धर्म > वेद > Vedic Hermeneutics
Vedic Hermeneutics
by K. Satchidananda Murty
This book maintains that the Veda is what makes known knowledge not accessible to empirical means of knowledge and what is not contradicted by what is knowable through history, science, reason and common sense. Its content is only what relates to Dharma and Brahman. It can be rightly interpreted through principles laid down by the Nirukta and the two Mimamsas.
What is taken to be the Veda by the principal tradition is indeed so. It has been rightly said, "The meaning of its earlier portion is illuminated by the smrtis and its later by itihasa-puranas" The bhasyas of Madhva, Sayana, Atmananda and others are of invaluable help in comprehending its purport. This work endeavours to show this to be the case. The Rgveda asserts the unity of Being and yields the knowledge of it. The Yajurveda informs us about the supreme action. The Samaveda chants and meditates on what the first Veda lauds or describes. The Atharvaveda propounds the closeness, if not the identity, of Being and Man.
Prof. K. Satchidananda Murty (b. 1924) has been a university professor of philosophy for a quarter century, a vice-chancellor, UGC National Lecturer and National Fellow, General President of the Akhila Bharatiya Darshan Parishad (1963) and the Indian Philosophical Congress (1968). Since 1980 he is the Chairman of the latter, and from 1988 Member, Steering Committee, the Federation International des Societies de Philosophie. From 1984 to 86 he has been the National Fellow of the Indian Council of philosophical Research and from 1986 to 1989 the Vice-Chairman of the University Grants Commission.
Pro. Murty was the first to receive the coveted Dr. B. C. Roy National Award, the highest available in India, for Philosophy. The President of India awarded him Padma Bhushan in 1984. Starting with the "Vachaspati" (Hon. D. Litt.) degree of Sampurnananda Sanskrit University, Varanasi, in 1980, in subsequent years he received the honorary doctorates of a number of Indian universities. He is hon. Dr. Phil. of the University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, and the USSR Academy of Sciences, and Hon. Sc.D. of Sofia University, Bulgaria. He has been Visiting Professor at Princeton, and is Honorary Professor of the People's University, New Delhi; Banaras Hindu University; university of Hyderabad and Andhra University.
Back of Book:
This work is an attempt to understand and interpret the Vedas by a contemporary leading Indian philosopher, who while aware of modern Indian and Western Vedic scholarship and exegesis, prefers to rely on the Nirukta, the two Mimamsas the smrtis-itihasas-puranas, and Sayana and other bhasya-karas.
From the Preface:
I am neither a "Vedavratasnata" (i.e., one who has "completed one's Vedic and scientific studies and one's vows"), nor a "Vedaparaga" (i.e., "one thoroughly conversant with the Veda"); I wonder how many of those who have written on the Veda in Western or modern Indian languages, or have translated it into them, have been such. I have been only endeavouring to do upasana of sruti-bhagavati for quite a long time: From the middle of the 30s to the beginning of the 40s one of my major preoccupations was to understand and elucidate the work which, according to the understand and elucidate the work which, according to the Varaha-purana, is "the three Vedas, ultimate bliss and united with the knowledge of the import of Reality", and which, according to A.K. Coomaraswami, is a "compendium of all Vedic doctrines", viz., the Bhagavadgita. As I have not so far succeeded in this task to my satisfaction, it still engrosses me and is likely to be life-long. In the first half of the 40s I intensely studied the Isa, the smallest, but one of the most profound and the only Upanisad which is to be found in the Samhita portion. Then, from the mid-40s to mid-50s I was obsessed with srutipramanyavicara" (=thinking about the authority and validity of the Veda). As I find I cannot be satiated by Vedartha-cintana (meditation on the import of the Veda), however much I may indulge in it, I may never become free from this passion also. The results of my study of texts dealing with yajna along with relevant sociological and anthropological literature, were published in 1973.
One of the gratifying things I could do at Tirupati when I headed the S. V. University there (1975-78) was to make its Oriental Institute prepare and publish in Telugu in 1978 a 'vivrti' (explanation) of the first forty suktas of the Rgveda, according to the bhasya of Madhvacarya and Raghavendra Svami's Mantrarthamanjari based on it. It contains word-by-word meaning (pratipadartha) of every mantra, followed by its substance in simple prose, written by Dr. S. B. Raghunathacharyulu. It appeared with a 22-page introduction by me. Thus was published for the first time in a modern language-a monotheistic interpretation of these suktas according to the greatest Dvaita teachers.
When I was with the University Grants Commission (1986-89), one of my first acts was to help establish a centre for Vedic studies in a state university in the East of India, and later I could provide special assistance to promote Mimamsa studies in a premier central university in the North. After sanctioning grants, as universities are autonomous, the UGC could only hope they would be utilised properly for purposes earmarked.
The chapters in this book and the notes of them will give an indication of some of the books I more often used. But I may mention that among the older works those of Yaska, Sayana and Atmananda, and among the modern those of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Sri Aurobindo and T.V. Kapali Sastry were very helpful. I am indebted to the two epics and the Srimadbhagavata, as well as to the writings of the great masters of Mimamsa and Vedanta for enabling me to comprehend to some extent and assess however inadequately the purport of the Veda. Every modern Indian like me, who has used the Western editions and translations of the Veda and the monographs and articles on it by Western scholars, ought to be grateful for the immense benefit derived from them. Since the mid-80s I have used the Samhita texts edited by Pt. S.D. Satvalekar, and published by Svadhyaya Mandal, Paradi, Gujarat.
Preface xix
A Right Approach to Sacred Lore
I. Nature & Contents of the Veda 1-6
II. Importance of Knowing the Meaning
of the Veda 7-9
III. Interpretations of the Veda 9-13
IV. Eligibility for Study of the Veda 14-17
Notes 18-20
The Content of Sacred Lore
I. Interpretative Methodology 21-27
II. Interpretative Freedom Through Tarka 28-31
III. The Vedic, An Argumentative Faith 31-34
IV. Attitudes to the Veda 34-56
V. Epitome 56-65
Unity and Essence of the Veda
I. Harmonising the Vedas 73-79
II. The Veda and Empirical Knowledge 79-81
III. Yajna 81-90
IV. The Meaning of the Veda 91-93
Index 101-105
NAB478
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“She did not seem entirely pleased with it afterward. I think that was the root of everything. But honestly it was so long ago, and I have damaged my brain so badly in the last few years, I have a hard time even recalling what it was about or even who was supposed to be mad at who, and I have no bad feelings towards her at all, honestly.”
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What is Child Abuse
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Emojis may help kids communicate abuse
Blog - May 29, 2015
Emojis, small, digital images or icons used to express an idea or emotion have come a long way since the days of using a colon and close paragraph symbol to electronically express a smile. And where they once were pretty lighthearted, today they are taking a more serious tone on much more serious subjects – violence and abuse.
BRIS, a Swedish nonprofit, has created an app – Abused Emojis – it views as a tool to help children seek help in dangerous situations and report abuse. The set of 15 emojis represent abuse victims – hear-no-evil, see-no-evil monkeys convey upset; hands have red cuts across the wrists; and children’s faces are being slapped, have bruises or Band-Aids.
The campaign encourages kids to not sit quietly and try to cope with their troubles, but, rather, to reach out to others, to report if they are in a potentially dangerous situation, Silvia Ernhagen, communications director for BRIs, told The Huffington Post.
“There’s no wrong way to communicate, and we want children to communicate more,” said Ernhagen. “Through Abused Emojis, we want to give them a wider range of emotions and feelings to choose from.”
The app has its supporters and detractors, even creating mixed feelings in some. A representative for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, for example, said the app raises questions. Would one make a report to Child Protective Services if they received an “abused” emoji from a child, he pondered.
A fair question, but the same representative also acknowledged the app’s potential. “It offers a new way for victims to express themselves about traumatic events, which can be difficult to put into words,” he said. “If something doesn’t feel right … and an emoji could convey for clarity or be able to initiate conversations, it’s huge.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/26/abused-emojis_n_7421844.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067
http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/28/technology/abused-emojis/
http://national.deseretnews.com/article/4614/these-new-emojis-will-help-children-report-child-abuse.html
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The Fastest Growing Demand for Lower Skilled Jobs Across the Seven CAEHRS Regions
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In the last installment of Shedding Light on the Labour Market, @EMSI_UK looked at which skills have seen the biggest percentage growth throughout this year.
In October, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed which organisations had been successful in tendering for inclusion in the new Commercial Agreement for Employment and Health-Related Services (CAEHRS).
The new agreements, which are set to replace the existing Umbrella Agreement for Employment and Health Related Services (UAEHRS) in January 2021, are due to run for five years and will support the provision of employment and health related services across seven different lots across the country.
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The new CAEHRS framework comes at a critical time.
As we go into 2021, it is clear by now that there are going to be huge unemployment problems, with official estimates from the Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) forecasting job losses rising to levels not seen since the 1980s, and possibly higher. It is also clear that with much of the strain being felt in sectors such as retail and hospitality, many of those being made unemployed are likely to be at the lower end of the skill spectrum.
If the organisations who have won a place on the CAEHRS are to be successful in getting people back into work, it will be critical for them to get a good understanding of which jobs at the lower skill level are in demand in the area(s) they are working in. With that in mind, we wanted to show how this can be done by taking a quick look at employer demand in each Lot region, using our Job Posting Analytics data.
Fastest Growing Demand for Lower Skilled Jobs
The slide deck below contains seven interactive charts -- one for each region --, and you can toggle between these by using the arrows at the top. Each chart shows the fastest growing job demand for jobs at the lower end of the skills spectrum, which we broadly define as those within the 1-3 digit Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) groupings, from January to October this year:
There are a number of commonalities highlighted by the data:
In all regions, we can see a contraction in demand during the period of the initial Lockdown, followed by an uptick from July onwards.
In all regions except Wales, demand for Couriers has grown massively, particularly over the last couple of months. This is a clear reflection of the increase in demand for home deliveries during the course of the year.
There are also a number of other jobs that have seen growth in demand across most regions, which are related to some of the changes we've seen this year. For example, Delivery Drivers, Warehouse Assemblers, and Forklift Truck Operators, have grown across most regions, as demand for online services and therefore warehousing has increased.
The data also highlights some specific regional nuances, and in fact there are a number of jobs that only appear in the data for one region. These are:
Central England: Machine Operators; Labourers
London and Home Counties: Blending Operators; Structural Fitters; Backhoe Operators
Southern England: Potters; Shop Supervisors; Trades Helpers
North East: Warehouse Leads; Sales Assistants; Yard Drivers
North West: Commercial Drivers; Non-Commercial Drivers; Housekeepers
Scotland: Driving Instructors; General Supervisors
Wales: Driver Managers; Catering Assistants; Customer Service Advisors; Customer Service Assistants
Of course, by looking at the regions as a whole, we are only scratching the surface of our data, and it is really down at the Local Authority level that we begin to see many more of the locally specific nuances that will be vital to understand in order to see people quickly redeployed into the workforce, or being given the right retraining. But hopefully this gives an idea of the sorts of common trends in demand for low skilled jobs emerging in these regions, as well as some of the differences that the data can highlight for us.
DfE asked schools and Colleges in England to get ready for daily mass
Two Consultations have been launched for the 2021 exam replacements fo
Improving prisoners’ Internet access will develop their employment p
Watch out for the final Shedding Light on the Labour Market piece of 2020 on 16th December.
To find out more about how the crisis is affecting your local area, contact Emsi for more info.
Why #VR tech is key to remote talent development and Learning From Hom
Steven Hope, head of independent learning @LeedsCityColl, explores how
Education unions, associations and representative bodies have joined f
The Secretary of State for Education @GavinWilliamson writes to @Ofqua
With the ever-changing global climate, the impact of Covid-19 has see
Fujitsu’s (@fujitsu_uk) Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing �
When the UK entered its third national lockdown in early January, empl
@UKLabour today (13 Jan) reveals that the Government’s own guidance
@educationgovuk - New £135 Million #TLevel Capital Fund, to upgrade c
Improving prisoners’ Internet access will develop their employment p
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COVID Resiliency
Michigan Studio
Minnesota Studio
Maryland Studio
Rhode Island Studio
Innovative Spaces for Interdisciplinary and Project-Based Learning
Student-Directed Learning, Project-Based Learning
Designing a STEM Innovation Center for Mound Fort Junior High School
Article By Mike Posthumus and Charlie Gaidica
Rob Stettler is the type of teacher any parent would want for their child. He has big ideas about what students can do and pushes every learner to reach the goals they set.
Until recently, there was just one huge problem: Rob’s classroom space wasn’t equipped to help his aspiring engineers, computer scientists, biologists, and doctors practice the skills they needed to succeed in STEM disciplines after leaving Mound Fort Junior High School.
His “cells-and-bells” learning environment just wasn’t cutting it. Something needed to change.
The Ogden School District in Ogden, Utah, is a socially and economically diverse community of learners situated in an urban landscape that provides proximity to educational, industrial, and business leaders.
With these conditions in place, the district recently adopted a district-wide effort aimed at meaningful and relevant individualized learning. The district recognized that regional industry and business partnerships could play an important role in strengthening connections between the concepts students were learning and their application beyond the school walls.
However, the district was handcuffed by the constraints of traditional cell-block classrooms and needed a fresh vision for merging individualized learning with innovative spaces.
Embracing that learning environments must support the experiences a school offers its students, the district pledged to build a STEM Innovation Center at Mound Fort.
The district’s commitment to individualized, project-based learning and community engagement and improvement directly aligned with Fielding International’s approach to learning environment design, leading to a natural partnership.
Local architects Design West rounded out the collaborative team with ways to transform Mound Fort Junior High’s STEM education efforts.
As Fielding International’s integrated team of architects and educators led workshops and visioning sessions about Ogden’s students’ futures and the future of learning, it quickly became clear that Mound Fort could serve as a model of reinvented learning for the entire district.
This belief became a driving force for the final design of the Innovation Center. A framework of big ideas could even act as design principles for the types of spaces the district was looking to create for its students, both now and in the future.
A team of school leaders, architects, educators, and community members began to explore the question, “How can we make the building itself a tool for learning in unique and meaningful ways?”
From that collaborative process, the goal of the project became to create spaces that naturally reinforce project-based learning, allow students to practice 21st-century skills, and strengthen the capacities and habits of mind that offer students an advantage far beyond junior high school.
The Innovation Center was designed as a tool to help model active, collaborative, and inventive teaching and learning for every inhabitant:
The extensive, open project commons allows classes to spread out, gather to share their work, or display formal exhibitions.
Large spaces between this commons area and the lab areas encourage self-directed inquiry or station-based instruction.
Ample transparency allows teams of teachers to supervise their students as they move through the center.
A centrally-located makerspace is equipped with tools and resources for rapid prototyping and iterative design.
The spaces are further supported by an enclosed 3D-printing hub and a “dusty” workshop to tackle the truly big ideas that students develop.
Finally, the innovation center is anchored by a teacher collaboration room, where STEM educators can convene and collaborate.
The successful partnership between the Ogden School District, Fielding International, Design West, educators, learners, and the community proves that no problem is too big when it comes to providing learning environments that inspire, educate, and allow teachers, like Rob Stettler, to bring big ideas for teaching and learning to life.
A Look at Our Process
A team of school leaders, architects, educators, and community members began to explore the question, “How can we make the building itself a tool for learning in unique and meaningful ways?” From that collaborative process, the goal of the project became to create spaces that naturally reinforce project-based learning, allow students to practice 21st-century skills, and strengthen the capacities and habits of mind that offer students an advantage far beyond junior high school.
STEM Spaces
The Aging Facilities Problem: How Do You Innovate with 22 Old Buildings and a Limited Budget?
Fielding International Is Our New Name!
EMAIL: info@fieldingintl.com
© 2003-2021 FIELDING INTERNATIONAL
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Home >> Blogs >> Editor's blog >> ATF Online+ Announces Full Event Line-up
ATF Online+ Announces Full Event Line-up
The four-day event will see five power-packed segments and new In Development programs
SINGAPORE, Nov 26, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) 2020 returns in less than a week with a jam-packed schedule tailored for the online audience.
Pictured: Mornings with Industry Leaders: Adam Lewinson, Dr Michael Gryseels, Archana Anand, Jon Penn, Jimin Fang, Priya Dogra and Jacques du Puy (L-R)
Charging forward into 2021 and into the realm of content connectivity, commerce and beyond, the programme line-up will see industry leaders discuss and provide insights on a range of topics from digital transformation to partnership announcements and an exclusive look at how China's Film & TV Industry has developed in 2020 with a 2021 forecast.
Leading the line-up are key Asian brands at the forefront of digital innovation and adoption. Dr Michael Gryseels, President of True Digital Group from Thailand and Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer of Zee5 will expound on the significance of sustainable models and investments in the digital economy while industry heavyweights such as WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks who are also doubling down on digital transformation efforts will be sharing strategies for manoeuvring the challenges in the year ahead.
At the forefront of partnerships in the new world, a panel discussion will see the Singapore Tourism Board, Studio Dragon and iQIYI come together to provide insights and share more about their latest partnership to promote the Destination Singapore story. Studio Dragon is best known for the popular drama series "Crash Landing on You", while NASDAQ-listed iQIYI is a streaming giant from China, with over 500 million monthly active users.
Yeow Hui Leng, Group Project Director of ATF says "Digital convergence and COVID-19 have changed the way content is consumed, and they have also inspired new ways of collaborating and story-telling. This 21st edition of ATF underlines its coming of age in a new era and we look forward to facilitating conversations and connections, as we head into 2021."
Grooming and discovering talents through In Development program
ATF has always been about providing talents, creators, and producers with a platform to launch their ideas further for development. This year, the intention is to offer an accelerated approach to content discovery and development regionally and globally through the ATF In Development program.
The In Development component comprises of its pitches and Speed Dating Program for co-production and commissioning. Producers and creators alike will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects to key decision-makers who include commissioning editors, distributors, co-producers, investors, and talent agencies.
Following are the commissioners taking part:
- Justin Deimen of 108 Media (Animation / Format / Drama)
- Agathe Vinson of Film Development Council of the Philippines and Mil Alcain of Film Philippines Incentives (Animation / Format / Drama / All Genres)
- Chelsea Yang of Hunan TV (Format)
- Chenfei Zhu of IQIYI, Inc (Animation)
- Janet Zhang and Lulu Zhao of IQIYI Kids & Family (Animation)
- Brenda Bisner of Kidoodle.tv (Animation)
- Jesslyn Wong and Doreen Neo of MediaCorp (Drama)
- Ray Wang and Cici Zheng of Reesee Entertainment (Animation)
- Qing Fan of Tencent Video (Animation)
- Richard Rowe of WildBrain (Animation)
- Danna Stern, Tal Amram and Maya Biton of Yes Studios (Drama)
The pitches have proven to be an effective platform to spot ideas and nurture young talents from the Asian region. The ATF Formats Pitch calls for new and exciting originals from unscripted (non-fiction) entertainment formats. Lending a critical eye to the judging panel this year are industry heavyweights from 108 Media, Nippon TV, ITV studios, MongolTV and The Format People.
The ATF Animation Pitch calls for the most original, creative animated programs with edutainment value for the children in our lives within Asia. This year, experts from Kidoodle.tv, Toonz Animation India, Warnermedia Entertainment Networks and WEKIDS are part of the judging panel that will decide on the winner.
"The competition was tough, but we are so grateful that the experts recognised the potential for Weatherville and our network of other Southeast Asian creatives and developers have grown exponentially. With that, the potential to take the show to the markets have increased as well," said
Diana Yurinova, VP, International business development and distribution of Riki Group, winner of ATF Animation Pitch 2019.
The Chinese Pitch, which calls for original innovations in movie or drama formats that appeals to Chinese-speaking territories, is currently going through the judging process.
Winners of the pitches will be announced at ATF. ATF Online+ takes place from 1 to 4 December 2020, with on demand available up till 28 February 2021. ATF Online+ is part of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF). For more information, please visit www.asiatvforum.com.
Industry luminaries who will be speaking at ATF:
http://www.acnnewswire.com/clientreports/5349/Annex.pdf
About Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) 2020
Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) - the region's leading entertainment content event - is the platform of calibre to acquire knowledge, network, buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce across all platforms. It is the premier stage in Asia to engage with the entertainment industry's top players from around the world. It's where the best minds meet and the future of Asia's content is shaped.
ATF facilitates opportunities to discover vital trends, crucial statistics and significant foresight particularly in TV's digital, kids and formats arenas. Its business match-making programme open doors to new connections in the region. With over 5,700 international buyers and sellers from more than 60 countries and regions, ATF presents valuable business prospects for top-of-the-line benefits. For more information, please visit www.asiatvforum.com
About ScreenSingapore 2020
ScreenSingapore - Southeast Asia's definitive marketplace for filmmakers, producers, distributors, financiers and film buyers to explore co-production opportunities, seek financing, make deals and learn about the changing film landscape.
In 2020, ScreenSingapore will once again host the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market and Conference, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) and Ties That Bind: Asia/Europe Producers Workshop (TTB) to connect promising filmmakers and producers from Southeast Asia and Europe with international coproducing partners, festival programmers, distributors, commissioners, and financiers. For more information, please visit www.screensingapore.com.sg
About Reed Exhibitions (RX)
Reed Exhibitions is a leading global event organiser, with more than 500 events in 30 countries. In 2019, Reed Exhibitions brought together more than 7m event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed Exhibitions' events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 38 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. For more information, please visit www.reedexpo.com
About the Singapore Media Festival (SMF)
The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority, is one of Asia's leading international media events, where the industry meets to discover the latest trends, talents and content in Asia for film, TV and digital media. Taking place from 26 November to 6 December 2020, the Singapore Media Festival brings together the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore, and Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). SuperGamerFest will also be held in conjunction with SMF. For more information about the Singapore Media Festival, please visit www.imda.gov.sg/sgmediafest.
Cat. : Markets FESTIVALS PROS
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Facebook,Twitter on defense in U.S. Congress over foreign bids to tilt politics
By: Reuters |
Washington | September 5, 2018 10:30 PM
Executives from Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc defended their companies to skeptical U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday over what many members of Congress see as a failure to combat continuing foreign efforts to influence U.S. politics.
Moscow denies involvement, and Trump – backed by some of his fellow Republicans in Congress – has repeatedly dismissed investigations of the issue as a partisan witch hunt or hoax. (PTI)
At the start of the hearing Senator Mark Warner, the committee’s Democratic vice chairman, said the companies were not doing enough to stop the flow of foreign influence and threatened Congressional action.
Joe Biden to propose 8-year citizenship path for immigrants
US-China row: China dubs Mike Pompeo as 'Mr Liar'; dismisses US charge against Wuhan's bio-lab as 'conspiracy'
Indian-American arrested for living in Chicago airport for 3 months due to fear of COVID-19
Social media stocks fell after his remarks, with Twitter down 5.7 percent and Facebook around 1.8 percent lower. Shares of Alphabet Inc, the parent of Google, sank 2.7 percent.
Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, who testified alongside Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey, acknowledged that the company was too slow to respond to Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election, but insisted it is doing better.
“We’ve removed hundreds of pages and accounts involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior – meaning they misled others about who they were and what they were doing,” Sandberg told the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“When bad actors try to use our site, we will block them,” she said. Dorsey, sporting a straggly beard, nose ring and open-collared shirt, insisted Twitter’s monitoring has tightened, including notifying law enforcement last month of accounts that appeared to be located in Iran.
The committee also asked Alphabet Inc’s Google to testify, but declined an offer to send Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker rather than Alphabet Chief Executive Larry Page.
Facebook, Twitter and other technology firms have been on the defensive for many months over political influence activity on their sites as well as concerns over user privacy. “Unfortunately, what I described as a ‘national security vulnerability,’ and ‘unacceptable risk,’ back in November remains unaddressed,” Senator Richard Burr, the committee’s Republican chairman, said. “Clearly, this problem is not going away. I’m not even sure it’s trending in the right direction,” he added.
Warner said social media companies were doing better at combating disinformation, but their efforts were insufficient.
“I’m skeptical that, ultimately, you’ll be able to truly address this challenge on your own. Congress is going to have to take action here,” Warner said. Republican Senator Susan Collins said she had learned from a university report that she had been targeted some 270 times by Russian-linked tolls on Twitter, asking Dorsey why the company does not tell users when they have been attacked.Dorsey said it was “unacceptable” that she was not told.
Before the hearing, President Donald Trump, without offering evidence, accused the companies themselves of interfering in the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections, telling the Daily Caller that social media firms are “super liberal.”
Trump told the conservative outlet in an interview conducted on Tuesday that “I think they already have” interfered in the Nov. 6 election. The report gave no other details.
Executives from the companies, which have repeatedly denied political bias, have traveled to Washington several times to testify in Congress, including 10 hours of questioning of Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg over two days in April. Senate Intelligence has been looking into Russian efforts to influence U.S. public opinion throughout Trump’s presidency, after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Kremlin-backed entities sought to boost his chances of winning the White House in 2016.
Moscow denies involvement, and Trump – backed by some of his fellow Republicans in Congress – has repeatedly dismissed investigations of the issue as a partisan witch hunt or hoax.
REPUBLICANS CHARGE BIAS
Some Republicans have also charged social media companies with bias against Trump and other conservatives.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones held a press conference outside the Senate hearing room as the testimony began to criticize the social media companies for banning him and his website Infowars from their platforms.
Twitter’s Dorsey was to follow his Senate testimony with an appearance at an afternoon hearing looking at that issue in the House of Representatives.
Dorsey will tell the House Energy and Commerce Committee that Twitter “does not use political ideology to make any decisions,” according to written testimony released on Tuesday.
Trump faulted Twitter on July 26, without citing any evidence, for limiting the visibility of prominent Republicans through a practice known as shadow banning. Last week Trump accused Google’s search engine of promoting negative news articles and hiding “fair media” coverage of him, vowing to address the situation without providing evidence or giving details of action he might take.
Republicans control majorities in both the Senate and House, but the House’s approach to the election issue has been far more partisan than the Senate’s. In the Senate, both Burr and Warner pressed the social media companies to do more.
Many senators expressed anger at Google, which was represented in the hearing room by an empty chair next to Sandberg. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said the company might have skipped the hearing because it was “arrogant.”
Google did release written “testimony” from Walker ahead of the hearing, even though he was not expected to appear. Walker said in his statement that the company was taking the issue of foreign interference in politics very seriously. A committee spokesperson said Walker’s “commentary” was not testimony, adding, “We wish his enthusiasm for participating in the company’s public hearing extended to his company’s senior leadership, and that they were willing to answer the committee’s questions.
FacebookTwitter on defense in U.S. Congress over foreign bids to tilt politics
1Joe Biden to propose 8-year citizenship path for immigrants
2US-China row: China dubs Mike Pompeo as ‘Mr Liar’; dismisses US charge against Wuhan’s bio-lab as ‘conspiracy’
3Indian-American arrested for living in Chicago airport for 3 months due to fear of COVID-19
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Booting up The Golden Years: Way Out West with the 4 year old Radeon RX 570 8GB looks like it will return a consistently high 200+ frame rate. Note that those results would be running at High and 1920x1080 screen res.
And so following those results you could of course play this at 1080p, but this GPU is somewhat wasted at that resolution. We would suggest running The Golden Years: Way Out West at 4K Ultra instead, where the Radeon RX 570 8GB would still get 200+ FPS at these performance hungry settings and resolution. When considering the GPUs release price, this comes in at $0.32 per Ultra 4K FPS or $0.19 at 1440p Ultra.
This is a powerful graphics card for The Golden Years: Way Out West and we can certainly recommend it to deliver 4K screen res at ultra settings. Get a system with at least 1GB of RAM though. The PC’s processor would also want to be around the AMD Ryzen R5 1400X’s performance to get a smooth experience.
To summarise, this is an easy one, the Radeon RX 570 8GB solution can play The Golden Years: Way Out West at Ultra settings despite the desired screen resolution (up to 4K) you want to play it on. 4K Ultra gets 200+ frame rate, whereby we see 200+ frame rate for the 1440p Ultra and if you wish to look at 1080p gaming then 200+ frames per second is the type of results. Using the graphics card launch price we calculate the cost per frame to look like this for the different resolutions - 1080p Ultra costs $0.14, 1440p costs $0.19 and 4K costs $0.32.
Radeon RX 570 8GB Cost Per FPS @ 1080p for The Golden Years: Way Out West
AMD RX 5000 Series Low Vs Ultra for The Golden Years: Way Out West
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Design by Muse & Trafalgar Theatre Productions
By Sebastian Barry
On Blueberry Hill was originally produced by Fishamble and will be produced in London's West End by Trafalgar Theatre Productions and Fishamble in 2020. The production will debut on Audible on 19 November.
‘Now we’ve lived together in contentment, more or less, for nigh on twenty year. Like turtle doves. – In prison, I mean, for fuck’s sake, the chances of that.’
Directed by Fishamble’s Jim Culleton, this new play is bursting with humanity, as it explores forgiveness, survival and, ultimately, love.
In Barry’s beautiful style, On Blueberry Hill features best of friends and worst of enemies Christy (Niall Buggy) and PJ (David Ganly), who are destined to share their lives for twenty years. As the two men reflect on the hope and torment of life outside - they slowly uncover the events that have led them to their world with explosive, bittersweet consequences.
On Blueberry Hill was developed and produced in 2017 and 2019 with the support of Arts Council Ireland, and has toured internationally to the CCI in Paris and 59E59 Theaters as part of 1st Irish in New York, with the support of Culture Ireland.
#OnBlueberryHill
‘one of the most powerful theatrical experiences since that last stage-closing contagion 412 years ago’
Mark Lawson, Standpoint Magazine
The Dublin-based Fishamble company is only rarely in New York, and when they are, you’ve got to go. On whatever hill they’re on, you'll find a thrill.'
★★★★ Time Out New York
‘It’s hard to find a word that captures it adequately. ‘Superb’ will have to do.’
★★★★ Irish Times
Donate to Fishamble to support our work and the arts workers that create it
Written by Sebastian Barry
Directed by Jim Culleton
Set & Costume Design Sabine Dargent
Lighting Design Mark Galione
Sound Design Denis Clohessy
Dramaturgy Gavin Kostick
Stage Manager Steph Ryan (Miriam Hyffler in NYC)
Production Manager Marie Tierney
Produced Eva Scanlan
Niall Buggy
David Ganly
On Blueberry Hill By Sebastian Barry
Published by Faber & Faber, 2017
Now we’ve lived together in contentment, more or less, for nigh on twenty year. Like turtle doves. – In prison, I mean, for fuck’s sake, the chances of that.’
In Sebastian Barry’s unique style, On Blueberry Hill features best of friends and worst of enemies Christy and PJ, played by Niall Buggy and David Ganly. This new play is bursting with humanity, as it explores murder, forgiveness, survival and, ultimately, love in the prison of the human heart.
'ravishing… confirms the writers’s gift for finding the holiness in the everyday… the past they summon... almost blinds in its radiance before being swallowed by night... steeped in a luminous wonder'
- Ben Brantley, New York Times
Click here for the production page.
2020 Performances
5 March - 2 May
Run shortened due to Covid-19
TRAFALGAR STUDIOS, London
From 19 Nov
A radio play produced in association with Trafalgar Theatre Productions
'ravishing… confirms the writers’s gift for finding the holiness in the everyday… the past they summon... almost blinds in its radiance before being swallowed by night… ravishing...consummate Irish actors... steeped in a luminous wonder… directed with a slow caressing hand'
Ben Brantley, New York Times
‘Jim Culleton’s rapt production for Fishamble wonderfully captures the idea of bullseye moments, of episodes of an electric awareness – the cell “vibrates” with the energy of the two men – but also a stately mythology, the bringing of shades to life.’
★★★★ The Guardian
‘Prison play by Sebastian Barry is sublime… An enchanting evening from a major literary voice.’
★★★★ The Telegraph
Gripping and heart-filling … It’s a finely crafted piece, with some lines sweet enough to drink, others capable of breaking you apart.
★★★★ The Stage
‘This two-hander, which is brilliantly executed by two supremely gifted Irish character actors, has a fierce beating heart.’
★★★★ Sunday Times
‘An absolute thrill… lyrical prose that lifts the mundane to the sublime. Barry paints a vivid Ireland, rich in texture, breathtakingly beautiful and bleakly gritty. Ganly and Buggy are wonderfully in tune with the rhythms, humour, and tragedy of their distinctive monologues. But language is undeniably the star of the show…Director Jim Culleton gives Barry's words space to shine unencumbered.
★★★★ Londonist
‘a play with great emotional power, that engages your compassion for human frailty and the power of forgiveness.’
Irish Mail on Sunday
‘Sebastian Barry weaves spells out of language, tugging you into his stories, making you lean into his world. Pitch perfect acting, profounding moving and deeply engrossing.’
What’s on Stage
‘You feel a writer luxuriating in the sheer seductiveness of words… wondrous acting’
‘beautifully shaped, mesmerising and mysterious’
‘fantastic…an inspiring play…masterful performances…imaginative set.’
‘A masterpiece… heartfelt and absorbing’
★★★★★ The Upcoming
‘You will definitely be thrilled by On Blueberry Hill.’
★★★★★ London Living Large
‘a work of rich intimacy and sublime lyricism’
‘absolutely riveting…utterly unforgettable… powerful play…two astonishing performances…first class direction…just go and see it.’
★★★★ TheArtsReview
‘Jim Culleton’s intricately calibrated production…compelling’
‘Phenomenal…a superb, devastating play…fine performances…triumphantly directed…not to be missed.’
Sunday Independent
'Beautifully pitched performances’
‘fantastic…outstanding’
Arena RTE
‘a charming production…finely crafted characters’
‘outstanding’
Sunday Business Post
‘ravishing… both performances are thrilling.. is beautifully orchestrated by Jim Culleton’s direction..spectacular’
The Philly Enquirer
‘a pleasure to the ear… electric… gorgeously described… transcendent performances… marvelous’
Lighting and Sound America
‘Beautifully told, full of warm wit and language you want to luxuriate in. Brilliant.’
‘beautifully-crafted drama… Jim Culleton’s carefully unfurling production has two cracking actors: David Ganly and Niall Buggy’
purely beautiful… pulsates with language so intense you can feel the sonic wave breaking on your chest… two incredible performances … The Dublin-based Fishamble company is only rarely in New York, and when they are, you’ve got to go. On whatever hill they’re on, you'll find a thrill.'
‘Barry’s subtle and aching dialogue… and Fishamble’s superb production, beautifully directed by Jim Culleton… Naill Buggy is his usual excellent… David Ganly is equally superb… this is a play of storytelling triumph’
★★★★★ British Theatre
‘an absolute masterpiece…spellbinding and marvellous…one of the most transcendent experiences you can have in the theatre’
"...extraordinary... mesmerising…the pair of powerhouse performances on display in this production will indeed provide a thrill, and then some."
★★★★ NY Stage Review
‘This is truly timeless theatre; staggering performances, a captivating use of language that gives the play a pulse and rhythm that is totally absorbing.’
★★★★★ Boyz
“Under Jim Culleton’s subtle direction, Buggy and Ganly give what are among the finest demonstrations of restrained, totally believable acting on the current New York stage.”
★★★★.5 Theatre Life
‘a mesmerizing Two-Hander… superbly directed…Don't miss the opportunity to experience a drama that deftly combines heartache and humor in a story that you will long remember… a riveting tale… Compelling… must be seen'
Broadway World
'...as close to small-scale theatrical perfection as you are ever likely to get... Ganly and Buggy deliver the kind of moving performances that take a beautifully written, poetic piece of writing and make it something haunting and quite extraordinary...'
British Theatre Guide
'...a tour de force... a riveting experience... Barry's writing is beautifully crafted... two superb actors...'
'compellingly lyrical… dynamic and engaging… beautifully written by one of Ireland's finest playwrights... On Blueberry Hill is sublime.
Time Square Chronicles
‘vivid, poetic… a simply wonderful piece… brilliantly conceived… David Ganly and Niall Buggy are marvellous… a terrific sense of theatrical composition… closure is inspired’
Woman Around Town
2020 International Touring
5 - 15 March: TRAFALGAR STUDIOS, London (run cut short due to Covid-19)
2019 Irish and International Touring
6 Feb: HAWK'S WELL THEATRE, Sligo
8 - 9 Feb: WATERGATE THEATRE, Kilkenny
12-16 Feb: PAVILION THEATRE, Dún Laoghaire
18 Feb: TOWN HALL THEATRE, Galway
20-21 Feb: LIME TREE THEATRE, Limerick
23 Feb: GLÓR, Ennis
26 Feb: CORK OPERA HOUSE, Cork
28 Feb & 1 Mar: THEATRE ROYAL, Waterford
2017 Irish and International Touring
27th September – 8th October: PAVILION THEATRE, Dún Laoghaire as part of Dublin Theatre Festival
11th – 12th October: CENTRE CULTUREL IRLANDAIS, Paris
24th October: MOUNTJOY PRISON, Dublin. Click HERE to read about this very special performance.
Sebastian Barry was born in Dublin in 1955. His novels and plays have won, among other awards, the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Prize, the Costa Book of the Year award, the Irish Book Awards Best Novel, the Independent Booksellers Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. He also had two consecutive novels, A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008), shortlisted for the MAN Booker Prize. He lives in Wicklow with his wife and three children. Sebastian Barry is the current Irish Fiction Laureate.
Jim Culleton
Jim Culleton is the artistic director of Fishamble, for which he has directed productions in Ireland, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. His productions for Fishamble have won many Irish and international awards, including an Olivier Award for Silent by Pat Kinevane at Soho Theatre. He has also directed for the Abbey Theatre, Woodpecker/Gaiety, 7:84 (Scotland), Project, Amharclann de hÍde, Tinderbox, Passion Machine, the Ark, Second Age, RTÉ Radio 1, the Belgrade, TNL Canada, Dundee Rep, Draíocht, TCD, Frontline Defenders, Amnesty International, Fighting Words, CoisCéim/Crash Ensemble/GIAF, RTÉ lyric fm, APA and Vessel (Australia), Solas Nua and Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Odyssey (LA), and Irish Arts Center, Origin/1st Irish, 59E59 and IAC/Symphony Space Broadway (New York). Jim has taught for NYU, NUIM, GSA, Uversity, the Lir, Notre Dame, UM, Villanova, UMD, TCD and UCD.
Niall Buggy is one of the leading Irish actors of his generation who has worked extensively on the stage and screen in Ireland, the UK and the US. Some of his better known roles include: the title role in Brian Friel’s Uncle Vanya, for which he won Best Actor at The Irish Times Theatre Awards and for his role as Casimir in Aristocrats for which he won the Time Out Award, Obie Award in New York, Drama Desk Award and a Clarence Derwent Award. He also received the Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance in Dead Funny. His performance in Juno and the Paycock won him Best Actor in the TMA Awards. Most recent theatre includes: Furniture by Sonya Kelly (Druid Theatre),You Never Can Tell (The Abbey Theatre), St. Joan (Donmar Theatre, London), The Importance of Being Earnest (Harold Pinter Theatre) and Translations (Sheffield Crucible), The Hanging Gardens (Abbey Theatre) and A Whistle in the Dark with the Druid/Murphy season. His later work also includes The Invisible (Bush Theatre), Plough and the Stars (Lyric, London and The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin), Translations (Broadway), Penelope (St Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn), Haunted by Edna O Brien, and Beckett Trilogy (Jermyn St Theatre). Film appearances include: The Duel by Chekhov Mr. Turner/Mike Leigh, Mamma Mia, Casanova, The Butcher Boy, Alien 3 and The Playboys. Television credits include: My Mother and Other Strangers/BBC, Jack Taylor 3/Taylor Made Films, Inspector Lewis, Dalziel and Pascoe, Father Ted, The Bill and The Professionals.
David Ganly
A native of Dublin, David trained at The Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College.
Theatre includes: Girl from the North Country, Shakespeare in Love (Noël Coward); On Blueberry Hill (Fishamble); The Velveteen Rabbit (Unicorn); Once, Grease, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz (Olympia, Dublin); The Lonesome West (Tron, Glasgow); The Plough and the Stars (Abbey, Dublin/Irish Tour/US Tour);Shadow of a Gunman (Abbey, Dublin/Lyric, Belfast); The Threepenny Opera, The Weir (Gate, Dublin); King Lear (Theatre Royal, Bath); Drum Belly, Uncle Vanya, The Cavalcaders, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Abbey, Dublin); Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith); Macbeth (Sheffield); Of Mice and Men (Watermill, Newbury); The Wizard of Oz (Palladium); Beauty Queen of Leenane – OFFIE nomination for Best Actor (Young Vic); Chicago (Cambridge Theatre); The Wizard of Oz (WYP); The Field, John Bull’s Other Island, The Cavalcaders (Tricycle); Bedtime Story/The End of the Beginning (Young Vic/Union); Translations (NT); Hamlet, The Weir, Waiting for Godot (Northampton); Americans, The Quare Fellow (Tricycle/UK Tour); The Full Monty (Prince of Wales); The Lonesome West (Druid Theatre/Royal Court/Sydney Festival/Lyceum, NY); Russian Tales, The Cavalcaders (Meridian Theatre Company); The Talented Mr Ripley (Watford); Amphibians (YMCA, Wexford); Dancing at Lughnasa (Salisbury Playhouse); Shoot the Crow, Summerhouse (Druid Theatre);The Merchant of Venice (Lyric, Belfast); The Risen People, The Snow Queen (Gaiety, Dublin); The Plough and the Stars (Second Age); Sexual Perversity in Chicago (TCD); Extremities (Andrew’s Lane); Carousel (Tivoli); Lunch with me Bloom (Dublin Castle); F! (Dublin Festival/Belfast Festival).
Film includes: Sunset Song; Body of Lies; Hippie Hippie Shake; Space Truckers.
Television includes: Casualty; Citizen Charlie; Dorothy Mills; Widow’s Peak;Upwardly Mobile; Doctors.
Sabine Dargent
Set & Costume Design
Sabine Dargent has won two Irish Times Best Set Design Awards and been nominated for two others. She is a freelance Set and Costume Designer, working mostly in theatre, with various directors and companies. Sabine has designed a few times for Jim Culleton and Fishamble Theatre Company which she always enjoys! As well as other shows for Jim, including Monged, Strandline, Tiny Plays for Ireland 1 & 2, and Spinning, she designed set and costumes for The Pride of Parnell Street, also written by Sebastian Barry, and designed by the same team. Sabine works with Mikel Murfi very often, also for Michael Keegan Dolan, Conall Morrison, Enda Walsh, Paul Mc Enaney, Selina Cartmell, and a lot of others in Ireland and abroad. Some productions she has designed have been very successful and toured for a long time, such as Swan Lake, The Walworth Farce, Rian, The Pride of Parnell Street… She loves theatre, dance, and physical theatre, but has also designed for exhibitions, films, and has designed big events, such as the GAA 2016 celebration in Croke Park, and street theatre, such as the St Patrick’s Dublin Parade sections City Fusion and Brighter, taking care of the visuals for costumes, floats, props, and make up, for about 200 participants. Her website is www.sabinedargent.com
Mark Galione
Mark Galione’s designs in Ireland include works for Irish Modern Dance Theatre, CoisCéim, Dance Theatre of Ireland, The Peacock, Fíbín, Hands Turn, Classic Stage Ireland, Barabbas, Vesuvius, The Derry Playhouse, The Ark, Peer to Peer, Gonzo, Theatre Lovett, Second Age Theatre Company, Barnstorm, Riot and I’m Your Man for THISISPOPBABY and Fishamble: The New Play Company most recently Swing and Inside The GPO. Recent TV includes Jack Lukeman 27 Club, All Ireland Schools Talent Search, TG4 – Country Music Legends and The All Porter Christmas Show RTE2. Mark is a staff Lighting Designer at High Res Lighting.
Denis Clohessy
Denis Clohessy has previously worked with Fishamble, including the productions The Pride of Parnell Street, Silent, Underneath, Spinning, Mainstream and Strandline. He has also produced work for theatre and dance with The Abbey Theatre, The Gate Theatre, Rough Magic, Corn Exchange, Junk Ensemble and many others. He won the Irish Times theatre award for Best Design Sound in 2011 for Rough Magic’s Sodome, My Love, he was a nominee in 2015 (for Junk Ensemble’s ‘It Folds), was an associate artist with the Abbey in 2008 and was a participant on Rough Magic’s ADVANCE programme in 2012. His composition work for Film and Television includes the films Older than Ireland (Snack box Films), The Irish Pub (Atom Films), His and Hers (Venom Film), The Land of the Enlightened (Savage Film), In View (Underground Cinema), The Reluctant Revolutionary (Underground Films) and the television series Limits of Liberty (South Wind Blows) performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
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The Best and Worst of Last Night’s ‘SNL’ with Scarlett Johansson
We’re in the final stretch of SNL’s big 40th season with a trio of hosts who are probably feeling the pressure. Scarlett Johansson kicks things off, followed by Reese Witherspoon and Louis C.K. on May 9 and 16, respectively. This isn’t Johansson’s first time on the Studio 8H stage, but it’s been a while — and now she’s a mom with, perhaps, a new perspective. We get a hint of that in her opening monologue, but it’s her Black Widow side that gets the biggest laugh of the night. Marvel at how it all went down last night (sorry), below.
“Right Side of the Bed With Scarlett Johansson”
Too many gay jokes and not enough of Scarlett Johansson’s Jersey girl (basically reprising her role opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Don Jon), but I’ll take it.
Naturally, Marvel gets the funniest sketch of the evening with this romantic-comedy twist on Johansson’s Black Widow character. She’s coping with life in the big city. Her gay BFF is Thor (Taran Killam in the worst wig ever), while her love interest (with a robotic penis) is Ultron. Fingers crossed some Marvel rep doesn’t see this and attempt to fix the superhero genre’s gender problem by copying SNL‘s model.
“Girlfriends Talk Show With Scarlett Johansson”
This “Girlfriends” sketch lacked some oomph, but stick around for Aidy Bryant’s Morgan calling Johansson’s character a “basic B.”
The appearance of Kate McKinnon’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg should please you, while Bobby Moynihan and Vanessa Bayer play the “hottest couple in Westeros” from Game of Thrones. Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson as Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley talk the NBA playoffs. We get a few words on the Baltimore riots and Bruce Jenner, but ultimately there’s not a lot of inventiveness happening here.
An ’80s-inspired parody about police brutality that keeps the message short and to the point.
“Virgin Flight”
Vanessa Bayer and Johansson are “bionic flight attendants,” but there seems to be a glitch in the system.
“Mayweather-Pacquiao Cold Open”
SNL airs a sketchy version of the Mayweather/Pacquiao boxing match, but offers no real social commentary to speak of.
“Scarlett Johansson Monologue”
Johansson sings Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You Baby” to put her daughter to sleep, going right to the sexy for a cheap laugh.
“Baltimore has been on fire this week!” Blerg.
“Dino Bones”
Taran Killam’s museum hair flips are the best thing this sketch has going for it.
“Jingle Writers”
If SNL called this one “Lesbian Witches from the Oregon Trail” it could have been a Portlandia sketch. The “coke for breakfast and ass for dinner” line is something, though.
Musical Guest: Wiz Khalifa
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Muslim Cool: The Playlist
December 16, 2016 | nyupressblog | Anthropology, Islamic Studies, Multimedia, Religion
—Su’ad Abdul Khabeer
What is Muslim Cool? Muslim Cool describes a way being and thinking about what it means to be Muslim in the US. I encountered Muslim Cool when doing research young US Muslims of diverse backgrounds who had one really important thing in common: hip hop music and culture. Yet they were not just music fans but they were finding and making meaning for themselves, through hip hop, as young Muslims of color living in a post-civil rights and post-9/11 United States. Hip hop is so meaningful to these young Muslims because of its long-standing relationship to Islam. From its inception over 40 years ago, hip hop music has drawn from the social justice teachings of Black American Muslim communities in crafting its own principles of justice and equality. My young US Muslim teachers (interlocutors) were drawn to these hip hop principles of social justice, which became their entry point not only to hip hop but to constructing their own sense of Muslim identity.
Importantly, their relationship to hip hop is an engagement with Blackness to counter anti-Blackness. My teachers—young Black, Arab and South Asian American Muslims—engage with hip hop to challenge racist norms in the U.S. as well as within dominant ethnic and religious structures within American Muslim communities. And they do Muslim Cool in how they think—ideas, epistemology and discourse—and how they “be”—social justice activism and personal style—and how they tangle with state power.
Since Muslim Cool engages Blackness through hip hop music and culture, it begs the question: What does Muslim Cool sound like? What are the rhythms and rhymes that fortify and carry young Muslims forward in the work of challenging anti-Blackness and all forms of inequality?
It sounds like the Public Enemy chant “Fight the Power.” It sounds like Yasiin Bey whispering “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah) over Native American drumming. It sounds like Maimouna Youssef flipping the script on a pop track to remind us we are already royal. It sounds like the audacity of looking good a la Slick Rick, but this time a Black man suited and booted in the front ranks of the prayer line—a hype you can believe in. It sounds like the boom-bap laced with the throaty tunes of Liza Garza telling us we can make it through. It sounds like Aja Black of The Reminders saluting Coretta Scott King, Angela Davis, Kathleen Cleaver, Assata Shakur and Dr. Betty Shabazz.
It sounds like Muslim Cool.
https://open.spotify.com/user/nyupress/playlist/4cyb6ZXNI3ahCDNgW1cvZq
Su’ad Abdul Khabeer is Assistant Professor of Anthropology and African American Studies at Purdue University (IN) and the author of Muslim Cool: Race, Religion, and Hip Hop in the United States (NYU Press, 2016).
Feature image: “Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def live at Stall 6 Zurich” by Michelle Ettlin. CC BY 2.0 via flickr.
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Fry Funeral Home
Send Flowers for Gladys
Gladys Jean (Thurston) Simmons
May 12, 1936 ~ December 14, 2020 (age 84)
Gladys Jean (Thurston) Simmons, 84, passed into eternity while surrounded by loving family at her home on the evening of Monday, December 14, 2020, after losing her battle with cancer.
Family will hold a public graveside service at 11:00 am on Friday, December 18, 2020, at the Tipton Masonic Cemetery with Rev. Ron Lashmit officiating.
In memory of Gladys, a memorial fund has been established for the Iowa City Hospice. Family asks that all cards and memorials be mailed in c/o Donald Simmons, 303 Orange St. Tipton, IA 52772. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com
Gladys, daughter of Samuel Herbert and Leona Mae (Wagner) Thurston, was born at home on Tuesday, May 12, 1936, in Tipton, Iowa. She graduated with the Tipton Class of 1954.
On October 13, 1956, Gladys was united in marriage to the love of her life Donald Lewis Simmons at the Methodist Chapel in Iowa City. They were blessed with two daughters: Tina Renae and Darcy Lynn.
Gladys was a homemaker who also helped the handicapped for 15 years while working at the Cedar County Workshop in Tipton. Apart from two years in Cedar Rapids she lived her whole life in Tipton. Gladys loved watching the red cardinals outside her window, was a member of the Cedar County Peacemakers Quilt Guild and was a very talented and avid crafter. She had an adventurous spirit; she enjoyed going to craft shows and on outings with her family. She also loved her grand-dogs, Chloe and Dallas; but more than anything, she enjoyed being with and watching videos of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family will always cherish the memory of her telling them, “Love you to the moon and back.”
Gladys is survived by her husband, Donald Simmons of Tipton, IA; daughters, Tina Renae (Roger) Woode of Lake Mary, FL and Darcy Lynn (Kary) Miller of Ely, IA; sisters, Marie Aegeter-Ratcliff of AR, Velma Mae Robinson of Stanwood, IA and Joanne Daufeldt of Tipton, IA; brothers, Rudy Thurston of Tipton, IA and Dan Thurston of MI; granddaughters, Jennifer (Matt) Hahn and Jamie (Matt) McClung; and four great-grandchildren, Dylan and Mia Hahn, and Olivia and Chase McClung.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Violet Wiskus and Margaret Garmon.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gladys Jean (Thurston) Simmons, please visit our floral store.
Tipton Masonic Cemetery
Cedar Valley Road
Tipton, IA 52772
© 2021 Fry Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
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Global - US
Vestas Returns to No. 1 Spot in Global Wind Turbine Supplier Ranking in 2016
FTI Intelligence Releases Preliminary Findings from Its Global Wind Market Update – Demand & Supply 2016
LONDON, Feb. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN) today released FTI Intelligence’s preliminary rankings for the world’s top five wind turbine original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), which found Danish manufacturer Vestas reclaimed the title as the world’s largest supplier of wind turbines in 2016.
These rankings will be published in the Global Wind Market Update ― Demand & Supply 2016, which will be released in March 2017. Preliminary results are subject to change between now and the release date of the actual report. The report is part of a series of data-driven market intelligence publications evaluating competitive markets, policy, finance, technology and business models across the energy spectrum.
Vestas’ return to the top spot was particularly driven by increased installations in the U.S. market, where it overtook U.S. manufacturer GE as the No. 1 supplier, according to preliminary findings from FTI Intelligence. GE and Enercon rose to second and fifth place, respectively, by taking advantage of strong domestic market growth in the United States and Germany.
Chinese supplier Goldwind fell two positions to third place, primarily due to a 24 percent drop in China’s wind power installations, according to FTI Intelligence research. Spain’s Gamesa moved up one position to No. 4, largely attributable to its strong presence in India and emerging markets.
At this time, FTI Intelligence assigns the following OEM market rankings:
Ranking Turbine OEM Change Commentary
1 Vestas * +1 Up from 2nd position in 2015
2 GE * +1 Up from 3rd position in 2015
3 Goldwind ** -2 Down from 1st position in 2015
4 Gamesa* +1 Up from 5th position in 2015
5 Enercon* +1 Up from 6th position in 2015
* Based on preliminary data analysis
** Based on installation data released by CWEA
Note: Gamesa and Siemens are ranked separately as the merger between Siemens Wind and Gamesa is not yet finalised.
Among other highlights, FTI Intelligence notes that Siemens dropped out of the top five for the first time since 2012, mainly due to its decreased annual installation in both the United States and offshore wind sector in 2016. In addition, Nordex returned to the top 10 after its recent acquisition of Acciona’s turbine business.
The Global Wind Market Update – Demand & Supply 2016 report examines the evolution of the global wind market in 2016 and addresses key market and technology trends and policy updates. It also forecasts global demand trends through 2026. This report will be available free of charge on FTI Intelligence’s website in March 2017.
Preliminary Findings in the Global Wind Market Update – Demand & Supply 2016:
14 percent drop year-on-year in new wind installations in 2016 vs. 2015. Following a record 2015 with 63 GW of installations, the best year ever for the wind industry, 2016 showed a 14 percent drop in installations. A slowdown of installations in China is the primary reason for the decrease. That said, there were a few notable achievements for the wind power sector in 2016. Wind overtook coal as the second-largest form of power generation in the EU in terms of total installed power capacity, just behind natural gas. In the United States, wind passed a historic milestone to overtake hydropower as the largest renewable energy source of energy. The UK generated more electricity from wind than from coal in the full calendar year of 2016.
Solar PV replaced wind as the No. 1 non-hydro renewable energy source in 2016. Due to explosive growth in China, global solar PV installations in 2016 passed 70 GW. In addition, solar PV is emerging as a strong competitor to wind in regard to its cost, beating wind in the first and second power auctions in Mexico in 2016. Wind, however, eclipsed solar in the renewable tenders launched in Chile and Argentina in 2016. Interestingly, four out of the world’s top 10 wind turbine vendors have already entered the solar industry.
Paris Agreement came into force. On 5 October 2016, the Paris Agreement, the UN international agreement on climate change, entered into force. Out of 197 parties to the convention, 132 have ratified the agreement. Such international support reflects strong momentum behind the global transition to clean energy.
Near-term stable growth in the United States is secured, but medium-term outlook is uncertain. The U.S. wind market outlook in the near term remains stable, as the new Treasury secretary has confirmed support for the existing smooth phase-out of the Production Tax Credit (“PTC”). However, U.S. market development in the medium term remains uncertain as President Trump has repeatedly called for the repeal of the Clean Power Plan (“CPP”) and the United States exiting the Paris Agreement.
Consolidation continues to occur across the value chain. In the past 12 months, large turbine vendors not only snapped up rivals (Siemens/Gamesa, Gamesa/Adwen, Senvion/Kenersys and WEG/Northern Power Systems) to gain new strategic positioning, but also acquired assets upstream in the value chain (GE/LM Wind Power, Senvion/EUROS and most recently, Nordex/SSP). In addition, state-owned Chinese companies were very active in the overseas market and acquired renewable assets around the world (SPIC/PacificHydro and China Three Gorges/Meerwind).
Offshore wind cost reduction targets have been beaten. Results of the awarded offshore wind tenders launched in Denmark (the lowest bid, €49.9/MWh at Kriegers Flak) and the Netherlands (the lowest bid, €54.5/MWh at Borssele III+IV) in 2016 (both excluding transmission costs of around €14/MWh) indicate that the LCOE (levelised cost of electricity) for offshore wind in Europe has reduced significantly in the past five years, and they also suggest that returns on investment are compressing here.
Corporate PPAs continue to grow. The wind industry saw the increased use of power purchase agreements (“PPAs”), self-consumption and direct contracts with customers in the past three years. Cumulative corporate renewable PPA capacity contracted in the United States passed the 7 GW milestone at the end of 2016. With 1 GW contracted today, Europe lags behind the United States, but this is expected to change as the commercial and industrial (“C&I”) segment wants secure green energy on a long-term basis due to rising electricity prices and the competitive prices offered by renewables.
Digitalization. Increased data quality, data access and grid integration are enabling increasing data analytics across the value chain in siting and design, asset performance management, asset health management and trading and balancing in the wind sector. Major turbine OEMs continued to launch advanced analytics packages in 2016 that can be applied throughout value chain. Following GE’s launch of an industrial data and analytics product, Predix Cloud, to the market in August 2015, Vestas and Envision launched Clearsightᵀᴹ and Ensightᵀᴹ, respectively, in 2016, and the data analytics market is expected to grow significantly.
“The drop in wind power installations in 2016 has brought the wind industry back to reality, as 2015 was an unusual year due to strong demand in China ahead of a change in Feed in Tariffs (‘FiTs’),” said Feng Zhao, a Senior Director at FTI Consulting. “The relatively poor performance of Chinese turbine OEMs in 2016 has shown that relying heavily on the home market for growth is not a guarantee for sustainable success.”
Aris Karcanias, a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting and Co-Lead of the Clean Energy practice, added: “Solar PV not only replaced wind as the most popular renewable energy source in 2016, but also beat wind power in the power auctions launched in Mexico. However, we view this as positive news because the competition is certain to create another wave of technology innovation in the wind industry in order to further bring down the LCOE and make renewable energy even more competitive and affordable.”
The Global Wind Market Update – Demand & Supply 2016 report is authored by members of the FTI-CL Energy practice, a cross-practice team of energy experts from FTI Consulting and its subsidiary, Compass Lexecon. The views expressed in this piece are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views of FTI Consulting, its other professionals, its management or its subsidiaries and affiliates.
To learn more about FTI Intelligence’s Global Wind Market Update – Demand & Supply 2016, please visit the FTI Intelligence website at www.fti-intelligence.com or contact fti-intelligence@fticonsulting.com.
About FTI Intelligence
FTI Intelligence clean energy research concentrates on the global, rapidly evolving renewable energy market, with a focus on wind, solar, biomass, wave, tidal and small hydro technologies. The foundation of these publications is primary research that delivers a wealth of market intelligence supported by hard data, competitive analysis and strategic insight. Our team members include leading energy industry experts and an extensive network of professionals who deliver cutting-edge focus and insight.
FTI Intelligence research delivers:
Market forecasts for installations
Analysis on new policy initiatives, business models, technologies and financing initiatives
Supply/demand balance across the value chain
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organisations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 4,600 employees located in 29 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $1.78 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2015. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Football Rumours on Wednesday 9th December 2020
last updated Wednesday 09th December 2020, 8:54 AM
MLS side DC United are leading the race to sign Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil, 32.
(DHA)
West Ham are looking into the possibility of bringing former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen, 28, back to London as he struggles to make an impact at Inter Milan.
(Eurosport)
Manchester United could offload France midfielder Paul Pogba to his former club Juventus and get Argentine forward Paulo Dybala, 27, in a swap deal.
(The Athletic)
Pogba, 27, is willing to take a pay cut from his reported £290,000-a-week salary to return to the Italian champions, who he left for United in 2016.
(Calciomercato)
Barcelona are interested in signing Chelsea and Germany centre-back Antonio Rudiger.
(ESPN)
Juventus and AC Milan could also be in the running to land 27-year-old Rudiger.
Juventus could sell Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey next summer after the 29-year-old failed to make an impact at the Serie A giants since his move from Arsenal in 2019.
(Daily Mail)
France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has told Rennes he wants to leave next summer. The 18-year-old is of interest to Manchester United.
Samuel Umtiti's return to the Barcelona squad after injury is another step towards leaving the club in January, with Everton and Juventus both interested in the France defender, 27.
(Sport)
Brazil striker Hulk, 34, could join a Premier League club on a free transfer in January after ending his four-year spell in China with Shanghai SIPG.
Everton's Italy striker Moise Kean, 20, has opened the door to a permanent move to Paris St-Germain after a positive start to his loan spell with the French champions.
(Goal)
Leeds United have continued to monitor Marcus Edwards, 22, after the English winger left Tottenham to join Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes in 2019.
(Football Insider)
Manchester City defender Pedro Porro, 21, is likely to make his loan move to Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon into a permanent transfer next summer, with the Spanish full-back having never played for Pep Guardiola's side.
(Manchester Evening News)
Several Premier League clubs are interested in Spanish midfielder Mikel Vesga, 27, who is out of contract with Athletic Bilbao next summer.
(AS) Championship side Bristol City are among a number of clubs plotting a move to sign English left-back George Cox, 22, who made a permanent move from Brighton to Dutch side Fortuna Sittard last summer.
MANAGEMENT STUFF
Patrick Vieira is poised for a quick return to management with Nantes - just days after being sacked by French club Nice.
Marine FC's fairytale FA Cup run has taken another welcome twist after it was revealed their third round tie against Tottenham was selected for broadcast.
Premier League and Championship clubs will lose £110 million per year if a Government review of gambling, launched today, leads to a ban on betting companies sponsoring football shirts.
Manchester United were dumped out of the Champions League after losing 3-2 to RB Leipzig on a disappointing night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
(Sky Sports)
Leicester City have opened talks with defender Jonny Evans over a new two-year contract.
Source BBCSport/SkySports
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EPL results
Liverpool boss Klopp reveals why he started 'top talent' Kelleher over Adrian
Caoimhin Kelleher
Liverpool v Ajax
The Irishman was lauded by his coach after the Reds win over the Dutch side in Europe
Jurgen Klopp praised "top talent" Caoimhin Kelleher after the goalkeeper helped Liverpool overcome Ajax 1-0 in the Champions League.
Starting as Alisson deals with a hamstring injury, Kelleher became just the second goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his debut for Liverpool in the Champions League.
Kelleher, 22, made four saves as Curtis Jones' 58th-minute goal proved to be enough to send the Premier League champions into the last 16 from Group D.
Klopp hailed the shot-stopper and said the Irishman's distribution was a key reason he decided to start Kelleher over Adrian.
"Top. Top, top, top," the Liverpool manager told a news conference.
"It is a situation, which I have to say, it was easy to decide for Caoimhin because he just deserves it, but it was difficult to decide against Adrian because he did really well for us: a lot of clean sheets, what a season last year, Super Cup final and all these kind of things.
"He did a really good job, but we needed the package of Caoimhin – and he is a top talent anyway, but a really good shot-stopper and a top footballer, so I like that.
"We needed that for the pressing of Ajax, we needed his chips from him into the half-spaces and these kinds of things. That was really good, but of course in the end it is all about saving, keeping the ball out of the net, and he did that at least twice in an exceptional manner. I am pretty sure he will either sleep really well or not at all, but he will enjoy both."
pic.twitter.com/h5JB6ax7Wi
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 1, 2020
Kelleher completed 30 of 42 passes for Liverpool, who have further injury concerns over Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson.
But Klopp was optimistic about the pair ahead of Sunday's clash at home to Wolves.
"We have now two days more than we had last week until the next game," he said.
"I don't know, things like this show up the next day slightly different. In the moment I am rather positive about it but I don't know.
"But that's a problem of the next few days and not tonight."
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